Website for furloughed workers to access free training

As of May 31st, there are just over 170,000 private sector workers in Lancashire who have been furloughed and they could access free training. Training while furloughed could help you to prepare to re-enter the workplace which may function very differently.

Steve Fogg, chairman of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said: ''When considering our working lives it is clear to see that many people have been affected in some way due to the impact of the pandemic.

''Unfortunately the number of people who are unemployed has risen significantly, as have the number of people who are at risk of redundancy. There is support in Lancashire to help you if you are in this situation, to find another job or start your own business.

''For those people who are working, it is highly likely that the way they work has changed. Remote working has led to a leap in everyone needing digital skills, from communicating with each other and managing teams remotely, to digital marketing and innovating to find new customers. There is a range of support available to learn new skills or improve on the skills you have while you are in work.''

The organisations have come together to provide over 100 different offers of fully funded and free support for people in Lancashire at www.skillsforwork.info

The website provides Lancashire residents with one place to get information about skills and employment support, with coaching and wellbeing support throughout.

Amanda Melton, chairman of the Lancashire Skills and Employment Panel and LEP Board Member, said: ''The Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub, working with dozens of partners, has listened to the skills needs of people in Lancashire, developing a single source of information to boost skills and employability.

"These are free to those wanting to improve their skills whether unemployed, facing redundancy, in work, or currently furloughed. This great resource at www.skillsforwork.info can help us all progress positively from the exceptionally difficult circumstances of recent months.

''We have experienced great changes to our lives and working environments over the last months, some of which are temporary and some which will become normal ways of communicating and working as the future unfolds.

"What is clear is that to continue to progress as individuals and as businesses, different skills may be needed and existing skills may need refreshing.''