Cash Boost for East Lancs Employers
20 February 2009
Businesses in East Lancashire are set to benefit from nearly £1m to help them survive and thrive through the economic downturn.
The £988,000 cash boost is the result of a successful bid by Lancashire social enterprise CXL who have won the funding through the ESF Inward Investor and Restructuring Response programme, backed by the Learning and Skills Council North West (LSCNW).
The Inward Investor and Restructuring Response programme aims to help companies stay competitive and to up-skill workers facing redundancy so they can find new jobs.
CXL is working in partnership with East Lancs Chamber of Commerce, Blackburn with Darwen City Strategy and the 6 Pennine Lancashire local authorities to deliver the programme between now and July 2011.
Around 20 businesses and 370 employees are expected to be supported through the project over the next two and a half years, with employers receiving up to 60% funding from the LSC’s regional ESF programme towards the cost of staff training.
“The aim is to give companies in Pennine Lancashire access to a bespoke rapid response service that will both address workforce development issues and stimulate demand for further workforce development” said CXL’s Commercial Development Director Liz Larner.
“Priority will be placed on supporting businesses that are committed to expansion and inward investment or which find themselves faced with downsizing and creating redundancies”.
Companies who successfully apply for support will undergo a Training Needs Analysis and receive bespoke support from trained Business Advisers.
“CXL has over 10 years’ experience of delivering bespoke training packages to companies as well as excellent links with colleges, work based learning providers, Business Link North West, Jobcentre Plus and the Skills Brokerage Service” said Liz Larner.
“Working with our partners, we are confident that we can make a positive and lasting difference to help local businesses and their employees survive the current economic climate”.
For more information on the Inward Investor and Restructuring Employer Response programme click here.

