The UK's first national e-business qualifications, designed by Edexcel, were launched this month.

The BTEC qualifications are the first below HND/degree level to be offered by a national awarding body and were welcomed by the e-commerce minister Stephen Timms.

The courses enable students to learn a wide range of e-business skills, such as how to design a web site, set up a virtual bank account and operate security features like firewalls.

Business issues like planning, marketing and distribution are considered in the light of the internet.

Employers' need for staff who can understand and use new technology in a growing range of business contexts prompted Edexcel to develop the courses.

Edexcel business specialist Gerry Rogers said: "E-tail sales are growing at 15 times the High Street rate. Selfemployed farmers and musicians are promoting their businesses online and IBM has dispensed with paper invoices altogether.

"Employers need people who can use computer-

based systems across all business applications."

The qualifications were suitable for fulltime students, people in work or running their own business and those seeking jobs.

Courses could be taken part-time alongside other qualifications or work.

More than 400 business teachers attended meetings to review the courses during the past year and the qualifications have been welcomed by the National Association for Business Studies Education.

Spokeswoman Hilary Cowell said: "The knowledge and skills students will gain from Edexcel's new e-business qualifications will make them attractive to employers."

Early indications suggest about 1,000 students will sign up for the courses this year, with the numbers expected to grow significantly in the future.

Mr Timms said: "It is the Government's aim to make the UK the key global player in e-commerce.

Equipping people with the necessary skills to drive forward our e-business capabilities is a vital element in achieving this aim.

"The launch of these first national e-business qualifications is a step in the right direction.

"They will open students up to the wealth of benefits ebusiness technologies have to offer and help to nurture the right culture for businesses to benefit in the future."

Henry Ball, executive director of the Sussex Learning and Skills Council, said: "This is one of a range of new qualifications being planned to recognise the changing skills requirements of key industry sectors in Sussex and nationwide.

"Such qualifications will play a crucial part in achieving our goal of increasing participation in learning and, at the same time, help to support economic growth."