Richard Singleton at whY-us? Marketing, took part as a panel member in the Lancashire County Council, Annual Lancashire Skills Pledge event at County Hall, Preston on Friday 6th December.
The Annual Lancashire Skills Pledge event celebration brings together over 150 businesses that have pledged to support our youth through providing Apprenticeships, Work Experience, Workshops, Volunteering Time and their expertise to students across the County. There are 9 pledges in total.
whY-us? have supported the initiative since it’s inception providing Apprenticeship , T-Level and Work Experience placements in their office, as well as Live Briefs and Presentations in the classrooms to students from Blackburn College, Burnley College, Shuttleworth College, Our Lady and St John High School and University of Central Lancashire.
Work Experience & Industry Award Winners
whY-us? Marketing are proud winners of the Lancashire Skills Pledge ‘Work Experience & industry Award 2023’.
whY-us? Marketing owner Richard Singleton explains. “whY-us? Marketing focusses its CSR commitments to supporting the next generation of employees and business owners.
We have involved our learners in CRM and website software developments as well as setting projects to students in class to help them understand how to develop a new product launch plan.
This gives them a greater understanding of different software’s, process mapping, problem solving and understanding the needs and processes of businesses and their customers’ demands.
It also benefits our company through listening to their ideas and fresh perspectives of the digital world from Gen Z and soon Gen Alpha users.
We have seen students come alive in developing their confidence and personality too, which is great to see. It highlights the importance of supporting them through a key milestone in life, as they transition from education into the world of work and its demands”.
Lancashire Skills Pledge Event
This year, Dr Michele Lawty-Jones opened the annual Lancashire Skills Pledge event dedicated to celebrating and recognising the inspiration and achievements of both the companies and students that embraced the initiative in 2024.
We also heard from Mo Isap, Interim Chair of the Lancashire Business Board, explaining the opportunities that lie ahead for the pending Lancashire devolution and counties combined authorities.
The Q&A panel session that Richard Singleton took part in, also included business leaders David Pearson at Recycling Lives, John Bovs at B&E Boys, Mary Speakman at Code Galaxy and Chris Mayne at Forsberg. Each panel member explained relevant mutual benefits to them, their businesses and the young people that they have supported.
Award winners were chosen and presented by leading business, council and education representatives including Daniel Barry, Michelle Fox Employer Engagement Enterprise Coordinator at Lancashire Careers Hub, Lauren Capstick Strategic Partnership Manager for Adults at The Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub, Claire Shore Senior Business Development Manager at Blackburn College, Joanne McCaffrey Skills Pledge Project Officer at Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub, Cath Robinson Project Manager at Lancashire WBL Executive Forum, Martin Blunt Head of Enterprise & Engagement Unit at University of Central Lancashire Joanna O’Donnell Skills Bootcamps Project Manager at Lancashire County Council and Sara Gaskell Manager of Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub.
Join The Lancashire Skills Pledge
You and your business can get involved in the Lancashire Skills Pledge too. With a wide variety of pledges available you can choose as many as you like, ranging from supporting students to upskilling your existing employees and ambassadorial roles, championing the need to support young people.
Simply head to the Lancashire Skills Pledge website and choose as many Pledges as you like.
2 more pledges have been added in 2025
- Support Lancashire Care Leavers
- Offer A Placement To A University Student
The other pledges you can support are currently
- Help young people to get work ready
- Be an Apprenticeship Ambassador
- Be an Enterprise Adviser
- Recruit Lancashire People
- Work Experience & Industry Placements
- Upskilling your Workforce
- Take on an Apprentice
You can also find out more about how the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub can support your business by visiting https://www.lancashireskillshub.co.uk/skillsbootcamps
