In summary
January has been a buzz with activity across Lancashire and Cumbria. Met with MP Lizzi Collinge at the response event for Kirkby Lonsdale businesses, arranged by Enterprising Cumbria and Westmorland and Furness Council to help those affected by the fire in December. It was a great turnout with lots of support.
We hosted the Women in Business virtual event in early Jan with the next in person event in March.
Featured news and events
FSB Seeks New Regional Chair
We are currently seeking nominations from FSB members in the North West to become our new, regional Chair with effect from 1st April 2025. Working alongside staff the regional Chair promotes and champions FSB to external stakeholders and audiences, supports our lobbying on issues important to local businesses and supports activity and membership growth within the region. To find out more, request a copy of the full role description, please contact [email protected] Thu 13 Feb. Selection will take place between 14-28 Feb.
T Level Placements
T Level placement changes are a step forward for small employers FSB has welcomed a number of changes to T Level industry placements introduced by the Government this week. The updates to T Levels, which are in line with recommendations from FSB’s Scaling Up Skills report, are intended to help employers in England offer more comprehensive industry experience. The changes include allowing more students to complete a percentage of placement hours remotely; broader occupational subject placements; and the ability to do up to a third of placement hours on the provider site to help develop technical skills. More information is available on the Gov.uk website.
FSB are supporting the changes by hosting two free face to face events in Lancashire, open to members and non-members. 11 Mar in Preston and 18 Mar in Wyre.
Boost your business, shrink your footprint
Join FSB and Chamber Low Carbon to save money, increase productivity and become more competitive. Are you a Lancashire based business? Do you want to save money, reduce your carbon footprint and drive efficiencies? FUNDED SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH 2025.
FSB have teamed up with Chamber Low Carbon to help businesses reduce their utility costs by exploring ways to improve efficiency and reduce consumption. Using expert knowledge, we navigate businesses through the many opportunities which can bring significant cost savings and environmental benefits. Offering 1-2-1 support services including energy, resource, water efficiency to a wider environmental audit and action plan including a baseline carbon footprint analysis.
In other news
Building a digital community
Would you like to connect with other digital, innovation and tech workers, web builders, social media marketers, freelancers, contractors, home workers or consultants!? Northern Reach is working with Wyre Council to build an active digital, innovation and tech community in Wyre and Fylde Coast. Interested? Please get in touch with Mark today
Have your say
Last chance for small firms to have a say on future regulation in FSB’s survey There’s still time for small businesses to take part in FSB’s Regulation Survey before it closes on 29 January. Whether it’s about data protection, product safety and standards, or workplace health and safety, FSB would like to hear your views about what regulators and Government can do to mitigate the challenges that small businesses experience.
Still in the news
Cumbria Devolution Update
Cumbria has taken one step closer to potentially having an elected mayor. Westmorland and Furness Council cabinet members have voted in favour of joining a fast-track devolution programme, and Cumberland's council leader has signed a Leader's decision notice to be part of it. The move kickstarts a government-led consultation process on the creation of a strategic mayoral authority, with any final decision requiring council approval in the autumn. If devolution is agreed by all involved, the election of a mayor could take place in May 2026.
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