Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub

Hire Young Talent. Receive £3,000.

Every great career starts somewhere. By taking on a young apprentice, you can bring fresh ideas and new skills into your team while giving someone the opportunity to begin their career journey.

Through the Lancashire Young Apprentice Grant, eligible employers could receive up to £3,000 in support to help make that investment more affordable.

Your business may be eligible if you:
✔ Are based in Lancashire (This excludes the unitary authorities of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen).
✔ Employ fewer than 250 people.
✔ Are recruiting a new apprentice aged under 25.
✔ Haven’t recruited an apprentice in the last two years.
✔ Pay at least the National Minimum Apprenticeship Wage.

Thinking about recruiting? Don’t wait until you’ve found someone. Applications must be made before recruitment begins.

🔗 Visit www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/lancashire-skills-pledge and select “Take on an Apprentice” under “Register now”.

There is no obligation or commitment to proceed.
Eligibility criteria apply.

We’ll work with you to understand what you need and help you move forward. With Connect to Work, you can get up to 12 months of free one-to-one support.

👀If you’re looking for work, we’ll help you find the right job and support you every step of the way.

👋If you’re in work but struggling, we’ll help you stay in your job and feel more supported.

This programme is voluntary - you choose if you want to join.
🔄 And if Connect to Work isn’t right for you, we’ll help you to find something that is.

👉 Ready to take the next step? Visit LancashireSkillsHub.co.uk/connect-to-work to find out more.

Looking to bring new talent into your business?

You could access up to £3,000 through the Lancashire Young Apprentice Grant.

Eligible Lancashire employers recruiting a young apprentice aged under 25 could receive up to £3,000 to help make that investment more
affordable.

You may be eligible if you:
✔ Are based in Lancashire (This excludes the unitary authorities of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen).
✔ Employ fewer than 250 people.
✔ Are recruiting a new apprentice aged under 25.
✔ Haven’t recruited an apprentice in the last two years.
✔ Pay at least the National Minimum Apprenticeship Wage.

If taking on an apprentice is part of your plans, now is the time to check.
You need to apply before recruitment begins.

🔗 Visit www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/lancashire-skills-pledge and select “Take on an Apprentice” under “Register now”.

There is no obligation or commitment to proceed.
Eligibility criteria apply.

Hire Young Talent. Receive £3,000.

Every great career starts somewhere. By taking on a young apprentice, you can bring fresh ideas and new skills into your team while giving someone the opportunity to begin their career journey.

Through the Lancashire Young Apprentice Grant, eligible employers could receive up to £3,000 in support to help make that investment more affordable.

Your business may be eligible if you:
✔ Are based in Lancashire (This excludes the unitary authorities of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen).
✔ Employ fewer than 250 people.
✔ Are recruiting a new apprentice aged under 25.
✔ Haven’t recruited an apprentice in the last two years.
✔ Pay at least the National Minimum Apprenticeship Wage.

Thinking about recruiting? Don’t wait until you’ve found someone. Applications must be made before recruitment begins.

🔗 Visit www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/lancashire-skills-pledge and select “Take on an Apprentice” under “Register now”.

There is no obligation or commitment to proceed.
Eligibility criteria apply

Are you a VCFSE organisation or Housing Association working with communities in Lancashire?

You may be eligible to apply for up to £40,000 through the new Skills for Life and Growth Community Grants programme.

The funding will support locally delivered projects that help unemployed and economically inactive residents develop essential skills and progress towards further education and inclusive employment.

Projects must take place between August 2026 and July 2027, with applications available for individual boroughs or multiple areas across Lancashire.

Funding available: £10,000–£40,000
Application deadline: 5pm, Friday 28 August 2026

Complete the eligibility form to receive the full application form and guidance:

🔗

Lancashire Combined County Authority Community Grants | WEA Local voluntary, Community, Faith & Social Enterprise organisations and Housing Associations across all 14 Lancashire boroughs can bid for funding.

Toby* had been out of work for more than two years. He was referred to Connect to Work in Lancashire. Toby has a long‑term health condition and mild learning difficulties. He often felt he was “in between services” and found it hard to look for jobs and manage Universal Credit on his own.

🤝 Working closely with his Employment Officer from Lancashire County Council made a big difference. With regular check‑ins, steady encouragement, and help to organise his job search, Toby started to see the strengths he had gained from caring for family and volunteering. His confidence grew, and he began applying for more jobs.

📝 When Toby was invited to an interview for a job supporting adults and children with disabilities, his Employment Officer helped him get ready. They practised questions and made prompt notes to help him stay focused. Toby went in prepared, did really well, and was offered the job.

🚀 The support continued as he started the role, helping him understand the employer’s systems and paperwork. Toby began his new job feeling confident and proud of what he had achieved.

🌟 Toby's journey shows how personalised support and his own determination helped him succeed.

👉 Find out how Connect to Work can help you: http://www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/connect-to-work



*name has been changed.

💻 Scott* lost his long‑term job because of health problems. He joined Connect to Work because he wanted to get back into work and use his IT skills.

🤝 With regular support from his Employment Officer at Lancashire County Council, Scott had chats about his wellbeing, help with job searching, and interview practice. This helped him stay motivated through several interviews.

🚀 His hard work paid off. He got a full‑time senior IT job that suits him perfectly. After some time, Scott felt confident enough to tell his employer about his health condition. This was a big step for him. His Employment Officer also helped him look at what support he might need in his role.

🌟 Scott is now doing really well in his role, feels valued at work, and is making a strong contribution to his team.

👉 Find out how Connect to Work can help you: http://www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/connect-to-work



*name has been changed.

Peter* has Autism and Dyspraxia. Learning lots of new things at once can feel hard and overwhelming for him.

Peter left a job where he did not get the help he needed. When he joined Connect to Work, his confidence was low but he had lots of skills and potential.

With support from his Connect to Work Employment Officer at Lancashire County Council, Peter found a full-time job in Business Support with his local waste service.

Before Peter started, his Employment Officer spoke with his new manager. They talked about what Peter is good at and what help might make work easier. Together, they agreed on simple changes so Peter could do well at work. His Employment Officer helped him apply for Access to Work so he could get the equipment he needed.

Five months on, Peter is doing really well. He feels more confident each week and has settled into his job.

Peter’s story shows what can happen when people are supported, listened to, and given the right help at work.

👉 Want to know how Connect to Work can help you or someone you know?
Visit http://www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/connect-to-work



*name has been changed.

John* is autistic and lives in supported accommodation. He wants to get his first paid job in a shop or as a Library Assistant, which is a good match for his love of books and music.

John does not have many qualifications, has only done a little voluntary work, and does not have references yet.

John’s Employment Officer at Lancashire County Council suggested that a structured work placement was the best next step to help him move toward paid work. They are looking for quiet, supportive placements, ideally in a bookshop or library. This will help John build confidence and learn skills like customer service, stock work, and product knowledge. It will also help him get a reference and add real experience to his CV.

When a placement is found, John will keep getting one‑to‑one support and regular check‑ins. He will also keep looking for jobs to build his confidence and get ready for interviews. His long‑term goal is to move into a paid retail job. 🚀

👉 Find out how Connect to Work can help you: http://www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/connect-to-work



*name has been changed.

After finishing Project Search, Henry* joined Connect to Work. He had a clear goal: he wanted a job linked to his love of history and museums. 🏛️

With support from his Lancashire County Council Employment Officer, Henry got help to update his CV, look for the right jobs, and prepare for interviews. His Employment Officer spoke with employers about any adjustments he needed. Henry slowly became more confident and more independent.

🙌 Henry's hard work has paid off. He now has a casual job with the local council, working in a museum – exactly the work he really wanted! He also has another interview soon for a part‑time permanent job, which could help him grow in the future.

🚀 This shows how much personalised support can help. Henry is now gaining experience, building his skills, and creating a bright future.

👉 Want to learn more about how Connect to Work can help you? Visit https://lancashireskillshub.co.uk/connect-to-work