In summary
A fabulous February by all accounts. FSB & Chamber Low Carbon hosted a fantastic Zero Carbon event for businesses in Preston Town Hall this month. It was extremely insightful and supports FSB’s net zero hub.
We zoomed over to the Lakes Hospitality show, where the team met hundreds wonderful businesses and members. Followed by a great day at the Convention of the North hosted in the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.
Featured news and events
Devolution Announcement
Angela Rayner has made a statement in Parliament providing an update on the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme. Cumbria has been included within the programme, alongside Cheshire and Warrington, Greater Essex, Hampshire and Solent, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Sussex and Brighton. She said "These places will get a fast-track ticket to drive real change in their area. While devolution can sound techie, the outcome is simple - it's a plan for putting more money in people's pockets, it's a plan for quicker, better, cheaper transport designed with local people in mind, a plan for putting politics back in the service of working people."
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer said "This is good news for Cumberland and Cumbria as a whole. Being included in this priority programme is a vote of confidence in our ability to drive investment and deliver for local communities. Devolution will unlock more funding and more powers for our area, with decisions being made in Cumbria rather than in London.".
Apprenticeships
Small firms marked National Apprenticeship Week with call for £3k incentive to help them hire new talent Increasing the financial incentive for small businesses that employ an apprentice could help encourage more to do so, according to new data from FSB. To mark this year’s National Apprenticeship Week in England, the business group has released statistics that found almost half (47%) of small business employers say reintroducing a £3,000 incentive would encourage them to take on apprentices. Of those small firms that currently employ an apprentice, almost three quarters (73%) say the financial incentive could mean taking on more in the future. Currently, employers are given £1,000 when they hire an apprentice under 19 years old. FSB is calling on Government to use the summer’s Spending Review to update this to a £3,000 incentive for those hiring an apprentice under 25 years old, exclusively for SMEs.
Lancashire Skills: Invest in tomorrow
Discover apprenticeships, the Lancashire Skills Pledge, and AI solutions at FSB's upcoming Lancashire business events. FSB and the Lancashire Skills and Employment Board have teamed up to deliver a skills event helping to address the skills gap in Lancashire and support Lancashire's Local Authorities. Find out about how apprenticeships could work for your business and how to get involved in the Lancashire's Skills pledge. Dive into an intro into AI and how it can benefit your business going forward.
In other news
Cumbria Accelerator Countywide
Are you facing challenges in expanding your business or exploring new opportunities? Are you looking to reduce your costs or make more sales? Are you thinking about launching new products or services? The Cumbria Accelerator Programme is here to support you with one-to-one guidance, practical resources and expert advice. For more information please email: [email protected]
3 Question Work Well Survey - Blackburn with Darwen Council
If there's one more thing you could do today, it's completing this quick, 3-question survey about your experience and issues with staff sickness. Why? Because the Council is offering support for employers like you. As the head of a busy company, you know that your team needs to be productive and present. When someone goes off sick, that work needs to be covered by someone else. Your views and experiences are crucial as they will help shape service delivery to make it fit for purpose and ensure this funding is spent on the right things.
Click here to complete the survey>
Still in the news
Women in Business - Lancaster
Connect in-person with inspiring women in business! Network, share advice, and grow your contacts in a supportive environment. We're delighted to be inviting you to join us for a relaxed early afternoon session. We are looking forward to seeing you at The Borough Pub, Restaurant and Hotel, Lancaster. This is a regular opportunity to bring together Women led businesses to network together, advise each other and build connections. These female-focused events are a great option for those new to networking and looking for a friendly place to start, but also great for those with more networking experience who would like to grow their contacts within a community of inspiring women in business!
More news and activity near you
- Greater Manchester
- Merseyside and Cheshire
- More from FSB North West
Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager for Lancashire and Cumbria is Katy Smythe. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch.
- email us: [email protected]
- follow us on x: @FSBLancsCumbria
- follow us on Facebook: @FSB.Lancashire.Cumbria