25.11.13
European Social Fund awards £6m workforce contract to Lancashire
A £6m contract has been awarded to Lancashire County Council to support training for SME employees.
The European Social Fund (ESF) contract will support employees aged over 19 in small or medium sized businesses with a workforce of up to 250 employees.
The two-year project across Lancashire Economic Partnership (LEP) will deliver training to address workforce skills and identify other areas suitable for training and development and leadership management.
The council will support over 4,000 people through the programme, which will be run in partnership with further and higher education institutions, third sector organisations and specialist providers.
Jennifer Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “Making sure that our local residents are fully equipped to compete in the workplace and have the skills to help our local businesses to be profitable and competitive is one of our highest priorities.
“The signing of the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal on 12 September illustrates the importance of having a highly trained and well-skilled workforce in Lancashire. This ESF funding will enable us and the organisations we're working with to ensure the training courses meet the needs of the county's employers.
“There's enormous potential in Lancashire which this contract will help us to develop further. I'd like to thank and congratulate everyone who was involved in the hours of detailed work in preparing and submitting the bid.”
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