Home Boost Business Lancashire logo

Businesses urged to access funding for workforce growth

Welcome mat

Businesses across Lancashire struggling to recruit the right candidates, or who are looking to grow their workforce, are being reminded to take advantage of a fully-funded support programme before the funding comes to an end in summer 2018.

The Lancashire Employment and Skills Executive Partnership (LESEP) secured £6.7million in November 2016 from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and European Social Fund (ESF) to deliver Access to Employment (AtoE) across Lancashire. As well as supporting unemployed or inactive adults to gain employment, AtoE provides businesses with access to ready and willing candidates to help support objectives and achieve growth, in addition to pre-employment training through LESEP’s delivery partners located across the county.

The training can be designed by the individual business to ensure it is tailored to their needs and that individuals are equipped with the relevant skills. The service also provides support with the recruitment process, by assisting with the sifting of applications to ensure only suitable candidates are put forward.

Raeleen Duthoit, support and development manager at LESEP, said: “Recruitment is one of the biggest challenges faced by businesses, and it can often be an expensive and long process. “Organisations may be inclined to look to recruitment agencies to help fill vacancies, but by going through the Access to Employment service, there’s a range of benefits to be had.

“In addition to ongoing support with the recruitment process, businesses will also benefit from being put in touch with an experienced delivery partner to aid the creation of bespoke pre-employment training packages to help close the skills gap, at no cost to the business. “The funding for the programme is limited, so it’s vital that businesses access it now while they still can.”

Businesses interested in finding out more about the programme can visit www.access-to-employment.co.uk/ or email info@access-to-employment.co.uk.

Share

You may also like...

Boost roundtable: Growth through recruitment and retention Boost skills RT   web
18th December 2025
 | 
News
Boost roundtable: Growth through recruitment and retention
Recruitment and skills are key issues for the whole UK economy. A 2024 report by the Open University, in partnership with the British Chambers of Commerce, found 62 per cent of organisations were facing skills shortages. Boos gathered a range of businesses and Lancashire support partners for a special roundtable debate around the key challenges and solutions.
Lancashire Growth Hub Pulse | December 2025 Andrew Leeming Web
10th December 2025
 | 
News
Lancashire Growth Hub Pulse | December 2025
The Lancashire Growth Hub Pulse, written by Andrew Leeming celebrates successes, flags real concerns and highlights the opportunities and challenges facing Lancashire’s businesses.

Sign up to our newsletter

For insights and events to help your business thrive.

In completing this form, you understand that Lancashire County Council (Boost) has a requirement to process your personal data. Lancashire County Council will only ever process your personal data where it has a clear lawful basis for doing so in full compliance with data protection legislation - UK GDPR and The Data Protection Act (2018). We will ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal data at all times. For full details of how Lancashire County Council handles your personal data please see our privacy notice here . Some information relating to this public funded project may be declared to third parties under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
BGS_logo_network partner stacked Sml
Funded by local govmt
Lancashire County Council

The website uses cookies.

Some are used for statistical purposes and others are set up by third party services. By clicking 'Accept all & close', you accept the use of cookies. For more information on how we use and manage cookies, please read our Cookie Policy.