SKILLS minister Matthew Hancock visited Worcester today - insisting his party wants to all but scrap youth unemployment and reform business rates.

The Conservative, tipped in some quarters to be the next Business Secretary after the General Election, went to the impressive new £1.6 million Heart of Worcestershire campus at the old Russell and Dorrell furniture store.

During a Q&A with small businesses owners, part of a gruelling pre-election tour of 100 firms in 100 days, he said:

- Every single young person should be "learning or earning", with the party aiming to wage a new drive to tackle so-called NEETS if it wins in May

- The business rates reform before 2017 will aim to make the system "much fairer" for small traders

- From this year further education league tables will no longer reflect just academic results, but the 'end destination' of each pupil, giving people a better idea of what value each course brings

Mr Hancock, David Cameron's business, innovation and skills minister, said: "I'm pleased to be here, I'm doing a tour of 100 businesses in 100 days which has been enormously insightful.

"I've learned a huge amount which we've been able to use in our small business manifesto.

"We have a simple goal, which is to help businesses create jobs.

"I know, I've looked it up on the train that unemployment in Worcester is down by half (since 2010), 2.2. million new jobs have been created (across the country) and we need to support businesses to create even more."

He said a future Conservative Government would "promise to listen" about giving people better skills and supporting further education, and praised city Tory Robin Walker.

"Robin has been a very powerful campaigning voice in parliament, you wouldn't expect me to say anything other than we need a Conservative Government to continue to progress," he said.

He said he'd "urge people to tick the name Walker at the ballot box", before saying recent changes to education league tables will begin to show imminently.

"League tables should not just be about results but what 'value added' they bring, just before the end of this parliament we managed to change it so it includes destinations and I've seen the draft impact of that already," he said.

"The change so it doesn't just include academic results but 'destinations' will hopefully make the incentives more broader."

During his visit he also talked about EU reform, insisting he supports a referendum even if the negotiations are successful, saying if Britain gets what the current Government wants he would then campaign to stay in.

"I wasn't even born the last time we had a say," said the 36-year-old.

"I do think it needs a resolution and I'm confident we can get a good deal."

He also told your Worcester News the party was aiming for three million apprentices around the UK over the course of the next five years, beating the 2.2 million since 2010.

"I think it's achievable, absolutely," he said.

"What we also want to do is end youth unemployment, there should be an opportunity for every single young person for learning or earning."

After his visit to the college campus he visited Blackpole-based Aeromet, based in Cosgrove Close, which is looking to expand hugely by taking on 70 new staff.

The firm, which produces aluminium and magnesium castings, is trying to secure cash from the Government's Regional Growth Fund to enlarge, saying its annual turnover of £10 million could be tripled because orders are going so well.

The Heart of Worcestershire's new city campus, which opened last year, features a hair and beauty training centre, commercial salon, IT rooms and a fashion, art and design multi-media suite.