A successful training initiative between Blackpool and The Fylde College, Job Centre Plus, Global Renewables Lancashire and the Learning and Skills Council is to be celebrated with a presentation ceremony for learners.

More than 80 candidates have completed Global Renewables Lancashire’s Employability Programme, a bespoke training programme designed to help both long-term unemployed people, and employed people, into sustainable work by giving them skills and qualifications directly linked to a job.

Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council have invested in the development of two new State-of-the Art waste treatment facilities. One located at Thornton and the sister plant in Leyland. These facilities will help recover over 85% of the waste produced by Lancashire's households. Global Renewables Lancashire has been awarded the contract to operate these facilities for the next 25 years and have created more than 160 operational roles including fork lift truck drivers, composting operatives, manual handlers and cleaners.

The three week course, run at the College’s Bispham Campus, provided learners with certificates in First Aid, Moving and Handling and Introduction to Health and Safety as well as an award to show they have completed the programme. They will also earn themselves an interview at the company and it is hoped a large proportion will be successful in gaining employment.

Gary Parker, Job Broker at Blackpool and The Fylde College hopes the scheme will lead to more companies following specialised training programmes:

“It’s a boost for the local economy to have large companies such as Global Renewables locating in the area and creating jobs and thanks to this scheme, we are able to offer them a bank of trained applicants keen to join their workforce. I hope other employers will see the benefit of working with the College and follow suit.”

Cllr. Albert Atkinson, Deputy Leader of the County Council is delighted with this initiative

"Lancashire County Council has been very keen to see as many of these new jobs as possible go to people who live in the local area. Global Renewables, Job Centre Plus and the Blackpool and Fylde College have done a fantastic job in taking this forward and helping local people get a foot in the door. Its great to see this kind of support being delivered locally and I hope that others can learn from this.

Tracey Robinson, Human Resources Manager at Global Renewables Lancashire is pleased with the partnership:

“Setting up the Employability Programme with Blackpool and The Fylde College has been an instrumental tool in opening up recruitment opportunities to those local people looking to get back into employment, or switch careers. The Lancashire Waste Project is a local initiative and we are thrilled with the calibre of local people hoping to join our team”

The Thornton waste treatment facility will begin accepting Lancashire’s household waste in the spring , whilst the Leyland facility is due to open in the summer.