To mark the milestone, The LightBulb Limited, from Basildon, was presented with an engraved memento by ALP chairman Martin Dunford OBE at the association's annual conference in London yesterday.

More than 60 new employment and skills organisations have joined ALP from the private, public and third sectors in the past 12 months.

TheLightBulb's recruitment by ALP is the latest in a successful drive to boost membership.

ALP spokesman Aidan Relf said: "The new members see ALP as a leading and highly effective voice for vocational learning and welfare to work provision within government circles, especially when departmental budgets are coming under so much pressure.

"TheLightBulb, for example, recently attended an ALP workshop as a non-member on the government's proposals to introduce minimum contract levels for BIS-funded skills programmes and it then recognised the value that ALP membership could add to its business."

ALP members include some of the largest employment and training providers in the country, but TheLightBulb is a more typical addition. It has 450 learners split between apprenticeships and Train to Gain across various sectors, such as construction, health and safety, financial services and logistics.

Graham Hoyle, ALP's chief executive, said he was "delighted" to welcome TheLightBulb as its 500th member.

Mr Hoyle, said: "Like many of our members, TheLightBulb has grown its business by listening closely and responding to the needs of local employers. This is the key to delivering more relevant training for the economy in a very challenging fiscal climate."

Lesley Jones, TheLightBulb's chief executive, said: "Our early experience of being an ALP member has informed us that ALP is working to the good of all its members.

"There is no question that over the next five years, providers like us are going to need a seat at the top table for the decision-makers to understand what value we bring to our recovering local economies and I am certain that ALP will fulfil that role admirably for us."

John Hughes

(Pictured: ALP chief executive Graham Hoyle)