Build the team your business needs

In partnership with: Blackpool & The Fylde College

Whether you’re looking for new talent, want to develop the people already in your team, or need to build the skills your business will need next, there’s support available.

Blackpool & Fylde College works with local employers to understand what their business needs and create training, apprenticeship and skills solutions around them.

This support is free for Blackpool businesses.

Some of the ways we can help:

• Workforce development and commercial training: Tailored training built around your business needs, to close skills gaps and support growth.
• Apprenticeships and talent pipelines: Recruit new talent or upskill existing staff, from entry level through to higher and degree-level apprenticeships.
• Skills planning and business support: Work with the team to map your current and future workforce needs and build a plan to match.
• A dedicated point of contact: One person to coordinate support, simplify the process, and connect you to the right training, funding and recruitment options.
• Student and apprentice recruitment: Connect with motivated candidates through vacancies, job fairs, placements and work-based learning.
• Industry partnerships and networking: Join employer advisory boards and sector events to shape future skills provision and connect with other local businesses.

This support is free for Blackpool businesses.

Support for every stage – from starting and growing to scaling and becoming more sustainable

In partnership with: Blackpool Unlimited

Whether you’re starting something new, growing an established business, looking to scale or exploring ways to become more sustainable, there’s support available to help you move your plans forward.

From experienced mentors and practical masterclasses to finding the right premises, reducing your carbon footprint and connecting with other businesses, Blackpool Unlimited can help you turn your plans into action.

This support is free for Blackpool businesses.

Some of the ways we can help:

• Fully funded growth support: Access personalised mentoring, coaching and masterclasses through the Blackpool Growth Business Academy, whatever stage your business is at, from start-up to scale-up.
• Free sustainability toolkit: Download practical guidance to help cut costs, reduce your carbon footprint and take meaningful steps towards net zero.
• Flexible workspace (fees apply): Modern offices, meeting rooms, co-working and virtual office services at The Robinson and the Enterprise Centre, giving your business a professional base.
• Property search support: Find the right premises for your business through our dedicated property locator, covering sites across Blackpool and the Fylde.
• Enterprise Zone support: Find out if your business could benefit from incentives available within the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.
• Events, insight and networking: Join workshops, guest speaker events and masterclasses, plus access the latest business news and advice to help you make informed decisions.

See how we can help

Practical support for your team’s healthy and wellbeing

In partnership with: Positive Steps

Looking after your people isn’t always straightforward. Someone in your team might be struggling with their mental health or wellbeing, need support to stay in work, or be returning after a period of absence. Sometimes, knowing how best to help can be difficult.

Positive Steps offers practical, hands-on support for Blackpool businesses and their people – helping valued team members stay in work, supporting a positive return after absence, and helping new starters settle into a role that works for everyone.

This support is free for Blackpool businesses.

Some of the ways we can help:

• Early support for your team: Practical mental health and wellbeing support, including help for people experiencing mental health conditions, substance misuse or musculoskeletal conditions, with the aim of helping them stay well and remain in work.
• Supporting people on sick leave: Help for employees who are currently absent from work, supporting them towards a positive and sustainable return.
• Recruitment support: Help identifying and shortlisting suitable candidates in line with your job description, across all sectors.
• In-work support: Regular check-ins with both employer and employee to help create a positive and productive working relationship.
• Full recruitment cycle support: Support from job design and advertising through to interviews and ongoing in-work support.
• Work experience placements: A four-week placement option with no obligation to recruit, giving you the chance to identify future talent while providing someone with valuable workplace experience.

Find the right people for your business

In partnership with: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Whether you’re looking to fill a vacancy, need extra people in your team or would like to give someone an opportunity to take their first steps into work, there’s support available.

DWP works with employers across Blackpool to connect businesses with potential candidates, create work experience opportunities and help you access recruitment initiatives and financial support that could make taking someone on easier.

This support is free for Blackpool businesses.

Some of the ways we can help:

• Youth Guarantee – financial support to recruit young people: Employers could receive financial support when taking on eligible young people, including £1,000 for employers hiring apprentices aged 16–18, £2,000 for SMEs hiring apprentices aged 16–24, and £2,000 for employers hiring foundation apprentices aged 16–21.
• Up to £3,000 to recruit eligible 18–24 year olds: Employers taking on a young person who has been receiving Universal Credit for more than six months could receive £3,000.
• Jobs Guarantee: Access fully subsidised work opportunities for eligible long-term unemployed 18–24 year olds, giving young people valuable experience while helping businesses discover new talent.
• Recruitment support: Get help connecting with suitable, job-ready candidates for your vacancies and finding people with the potential to become part of your team.
• Work experience opportunities: Give someone the opportunity to experience the world of work while building your future talent pipeline and making a difference in your local community.
• Savings when employing younger people: Employers do not pay employer National Insurance contributions for employees under 21, or apprentices under 25, subject to eligibility.
• Wider support: Access signposting to skills, training, health, wellbeing and specialist services that can help people overcome barriers to work and thrive once they’re there.

See how we can help