Recruitment, Training & Skills
Recruitment
The Job Centres in Lancaster and Morecambe offer a free recruitment service. You can advertise a job using Employer Direct online to post job vacancies on the Jobcentre Plus database. Employer Direct is a totally free service offered by Jobcentre Plus for employers that are looking for staff.
Funded Work Trials are a short period in work that an employer offers to a jobseeker on benefits, to see if the role is right for them and they are a good fit for the company.
Restart - The Restart Scheme gives Universal Credit claimants who have been out of work for at least 9 months enhanced support to find jobs in their local area.
A range of government programmes, are available for employers who are considering hiring employees, offering work experience or upskilling existing staff, some of which offer financial incentives.
Paid employment for over 16s, combining work and study in a job allowing you to develop your workforce and business.
Cost
Apprentice minimum wage and 5% training contribution depending on business size
Benefits
You develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce with knowledge of your business
Time
Minimum of 12 months employment
Offering a T Level placement gives you early access to the brightest young people entering the market and the opportunity to develop your workforce of the future.
Cost
Free government scheme but you may have your own business costs
Benefits
Allows you to grow your workforce in the short-term with little or no cost and scout future talent in your area
Time
Short term 45-day industry placement
Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP)
Up to 6-week placement for benefit claimants for those aged 18 and over designed to help you recruit a workforce with the right skills to sustain and grow your business.
Cost
Free government scheme but you may have your own business costs
Benefits
Helps you recruit or train staff through fully-funded pre-employment training
Time
Up to 6-weeks
Flexible training courses for aged 19 and over to fast-track specialist skill development, for existing or new talent for your business.
Cost
Cost is dependent on the size of your business. There is no cost to the employer if the learner is not currently employed by you
Benefits
A new starter will be trained in a specialist skill specific to your business and be highly motivated by a guaranteed interview afterwards
Time
up to 16-weeks
A 6-week to 12 months skills development programme that includes an unpaid work placement to help 16- to 24-year-olds prepare for an apprenticeship or employment.
Cost
Free government scheme but you may have your own business costs
Benefits
Provides a stepping stone for your future apprentices or employees to gain valuable skills relevant to your business
Time
70 to 240 hours work placement
Supported Internships for learners with an education, health and care plan
An unpaid 6 to 12-month work placement for 16 to 24-year-olds with additional needs, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), supported by a qualified job coach.
Cost
Free government scheme but you may have your own business costs
Benefits
Increases your confidence and ability to employ individuals with additional needs, improving and expanding your business’ recruitment prospects
Time
6 to 12-months
Help 16 to 25-year-olds who were in local authority care become independent through practical job-related support, in whatever way suits your business.
Cost
Free government scheme but you may have your own business costs related to the practical offer you make to care leavers
Benefits
Helping care-leavers to move to independent living and bring their life skills to enrich your business
Time
Length of time can vary
Employing prisoners and prison leavers
Employ prisoners and prison leavers aged 18 and over to help your business fill skills gaps and develop a loyal and talented workforce.
Cost
Free government scheme but you may have your own business costs
Benefits
Access a workforce that is highly motivated to grow through work
Time
Variable depending on employer and prisoner and prison leaver
Free courses and additional training for your employees
Additional ways to train up existing employees through free qualifications, career advice and financial support.
Cost
Courses are fully funded for eligible adults but employees may need time to study and attend classes
Benefits
Help improve productivity, and develop a loyal and talented workforce in a rapidly changing labour market
Time
Length of time can vary
Is your business looking to recruit a student on placement to work on a business project?
- UNITEplus provides university graduates or placement students from Lancaster University and UCLan to assist on specific projects
- Lancaster University's employer services can also provide acess to student and graduate talent from short placements to permanent positions.
Recruitment Agencies - Using or considering a recruitment agency? Employers using agencies to find temporary or permanent workers have certain responsibilities. Find out more from GOV.UK
Contact business.support@lancaster.gov.uk for help navigating the support available.
Apprenticeships
Do you need skilled workers to safeguard the future of your business? Are you looking for new ideas and energy in your business? Offering apprenticeships can help your business grow.
Apprenticeships allow you to bring new talent through the ranks and train your team with the skills they need to help your business succeed, and they allow people to earn whilst they learn and train for a career, gaining structured qualifications whilst acquiring valuable work experience.
To find out which providers and colleges deliver apprenticeships in Lancashire and their offer visit www.lancsforum.co.uk/sorted
The Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub has created a new Employers’ Apprenticeship Toolkit to help small and medium sized businesses get to grips with the issues surrounding taking on and developing apprentices.
For more help with apprenticeships contact the Business Support Hub
Training and Skills
Skills Bootcamps
Skills Bootcamps are intensive and flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector specific skills and fast track to an interview with a local employer. Designed with employers, participants will gain the in-demand skills to move into or progress in their chosen sector. Participants will be offered a guaranteed job interview upon completion. They are also available for employers wishing to upskill employees.
We recently held "Dragons Den" events in Lancaster and Morecambe, where the Bootcamp providers pitched their courses to interested candidates.
There are a number of skills bootcamps beginning in January 2024 in:
- CAD for Construction
- Estimating for Construction
- Business Management for Construction
- Advanced Manufacturing 3D Printing in CAD
Lancaster City Council has signed the Lancashire Skills Pledge and urges as many local organisations and businesses as possible to do the same.
We support the future talent pipeline through apprenticeships and work placements, and working in partnership with our local education providers and the wider community to inspire and develop people to achieve the skills required.
We need more local businesses to get involved, either as Enterprise Advisors working with careers leads to open students up to the world of work, or you could choose to "give an hour" by talking to students about your industry, the career opportunities and entry points, to inspire the next generation. You can also upskill your own workforce through bespoke support and training.
Numbers, finance and money management
Support is available through the Multiply Fund, through various education and training providers. This includes general maths, finance for non-finance people, budgeting, saving, using excel and managing money. Maths, Finance & Numbers courses 2023 (PDF, 519KB)
Training for specific sectors
Tech Lancaster - Electronic Skills Programme
These programmes are open to all ages and require no pre-existing experience or specific qualifications unless otherwise specified. They provide an easy route to entry-level careers in the electronics industry for those with no prior experience of the sector.
- Basic Electronics - 8 week Online Course
- Lab/Worskhop based trainining - 4 weeks in Lancaster and Morecambe.
Construction Industry
Are you a Lancaster district based construction company?
Are you passionate about climate change and either interested in, or already installing green measures to improve the energy performance of properties across Lancaster district?
Do you want to see greater opportunities for local job growth in green skills?
Do you want your business to gain Trustmark accreditation and become trained installers as part of a Lancashire wide framework?
What do we mean by green measures? Green measures include:
- Internal and External insulation, room in roof and floor insulation
- Energy efficient replacement doors and windows
- Installation of solar panels and heat pumps
To find out more please email business.support@lancaster.gov.uk
Management & Leadership Skills and Support
Help to Grow: Management: A 12 week-programme delivered by Lancaster University Management School and accredited by the Small Business Charter. The programme combines a practical curriculum, with 1:1 support from a business mentor, peer-learning sessions and an alumni network.
Designed to be manageable alongside full-time work, this programme will support you to develop your strategic skills with key modules covering financial management, innovation and digital adoption. By the end of the programme you will develop a tailored business growth plan to lead your business to its full potential.
NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme
Nat West’s Accelerator, Pre-Accelerator and Fintech Accelerator programmes have been tailored to empower entrepreneurs at any stage. Early stage start-ups, Scaling up and Specialist fintech support. The programme is fully funded, and you don’t even have to be a NatWest customer.
Lancaster & Morecambe College run a number of leadershp and management courses, some of which are funded.
Business Masterclasses Lancaster University Management School’s Masterclass Series provides SMEs across the region with the opportunity to learn from and be motivated by leading business professionals with a passion for business, sharing their knowledge and expertise on campus or online.
For more information contact the Business Support Hub
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