Praise for Lancashire businesses upskilling and hiring local people

By Rob Kelly

19 Dec 2024

Delegates at the Lancashire Skills Pledge event

Businesses from sectors ranging from recycling to construction, and from navigation to sales and marketing, met at County Hall in Preston to celebrate their success in upskilling and recruiting local people as part of the Lancashire Skills Pledge.

This is a ground breaking initiative, run by the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub, which supports Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council.

It provides a simple 'front door' for businesses to get support in providing skills and employment programmes across Lancashire, meaning that they get to build their future workforce, support young people in schools, universities and colleges, recruit locally and reskill their employees.

Since the launch of the Lancashire Skills Pledge in May 2019, 448 business have registered their interest, 257 businesses are members who are actively engaged in 582 Pledges, and since last year's event, membership has grown by 32 businesses and 108 pledges.

Lancashire businesses received certificates for their commitment to the scheme from County Cllr Ashley Sutcliffe, while special trophy awards were also given to those businesses that had shown outstanding commitment.

Among these were Lancashire businesses including local metal and waste recycling business Recycling Lives, Rossendale construction firm B&E Boys, specialist navigation firm Forsberg, Preston based sales, marketing and management firm whY-us and Blackpool software development firm Code Galaxy, who revealed the benefits in being part of the scheme.

Also in the spotlight was Blackburn College, who praised the network of opportunities for their students thanks to work experience, helping them to develop technical and professional competence, while Ribblesdale High School also highlighted how the scheme's Enterprise Adviser (business volunteer) inspired students in assemblies, giving tours and helping with mock interviews as well as CVs.

Apprentice and apprentice ambassador Dan Ogden spoke of his positive experience and how other young people can access apprenticeship opportunities.

Meanwhile, a new Skills Pledge called 'Support Care Leavers' was also launched, which will encourage businesses to support young people who've been in the care system to move from education into the world of work.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson said: "This was such an inspirational event to be involved with and it was brilliant to see so many businesses who are committed to re-skilling and up-skilling their employees.

"I am passionate about this subject, as having a highly skilled workforce is so important to the Lancashire economy.

"That is why it is one of the flagship areas within our devolution proposal as well as championed by Lancashire County Council."

Mo Isap, interim chair of the Lancashire Business Board said: "It was excellent to see so many businesses celebrating their commitment to the Lancashire Skills Pledge at the annual celebration. 

"As interim chair of the newly formed Lancashire Business Board, I am keen to encourage as many Lancashire businesses as possible to sign up to the pledge and commit to growing our future talent pipeline and skills base – to the benefit of both our people and our businesses.

"Together we can grow our businesses and accelerate economic growth, to the benefit of Lancashire people."

Are you a local employer who may be interested in finding out more Lancashire Skills Pledge?

We encourage you to join a growing group of fabulous Lancashire employers and embrace the benefits that being a Skills Pledge member will bring to your business. You can do this by visiting lancashireskillspledge.co.uk  

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy Tom Grattan MD and Daniel Wallace

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy

02 Apr 2025

2

College excellence highlighted in Ofsted report Fazal Dad

College excellence highlighted in Ofsted report

02 Apr 2025

3

Boost the value of your business through planning and preparation Andrew Hancock

Boost the value of your business through planning and preparation

02 Apr 2025

4

Business voice needed now - It's time for change! Miranda Barker OBE

Business voice needed now - It's time for change!

02 Apr 2025

5

January was bleak as insolvencies hit unwelcome peak Natalie Hughes of Simply Corporate

January was bleak as insolvencies hit unwelcome peak

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April
Chamber logo - new-02.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – April

The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, LA1 1QE

08:00 - 10:00

WHN Charity Quiz Night
Evenbrite Quiz 2025.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
03 Apr 2025 - 03 Apr 2025

WHN Charity Quiz Night

The Stables Country Club, Bury , BL9 1PU

18:00 - 22:00

Lancashire Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880395853-4862066883-1-original.20241022-091152-2.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
04 Apr 2025 - 04 Apr 2025

Lancashire Business Expo 2025

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin