One hundred and forty Lancashire employers who signed the Skills Pledge were recognized at a special ceremony.

The organizations, which include The Wellbeing Farm, Balfour Beatty, Velocity Composites, Conlon Construction and West Lancashire Borough Council, have each committed to initiatives that improve skills and inspire current and future generations of the county’s workforce .

These include volunteering for an hour at local schools, becoming a learning ambassador and funding bespoke training for existing staff.

Employers were thanked at the event for officially joining the Lancashire Skills Pledge, an initiative run by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Skills and Employment Hub which offers seven skills and training initiatives to local organisations.

Gabriela Hammond, Head of Human Resources at VEKA plc, said: “We got involved with the Lancashire Skills Pledge because we have already worked on many of the businesses it runs and it really helps to provide tangible direction and value. to the work we do.

“It’s all about skills, really investing in who we are now, who we want to be in the future, and empowering people in the community.”

Debbie Francis, Chair of Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said: “It is more vital than ever that we focus on equipping our current and future workforce with the skills they need to succeed and help transform county economy.

“I want to celebrate and thank all Skills Pledge members for the important work they do to support the county’s workforce. These employers deserve recognition for the valuable opportunities and inspiration that they offer to local people.

“The Skills Pledge has great potential to promote economic growth and job creation, and it is fantastic to see how much it has grown in recent years since its launch. I strongly encourage more employers to consider get involved and reach out to us to find out how they can also benefit from signing up.”

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