Leading Lancashire project will benefit county’s small businesses

European funding means local colleges, of which Myerscough is one, can put on training courses for the county’s small businesses. The Leading Lancashire programme will enable Lancashire’s SMEs to develop the leadership and management skills of their workforces to create the leaders of the future.

The Leading Lancashire project is getting £4.6 million from the European Social Fund (ESF) for the next three years. UCLan is the lead partner in the consortium.

It will provide the county’s SME workforce with access to training focussed on developing skills for current and future managers and leaders, enabling them to progress into, sustain and develop within leadership management roles.

Short accredited courses from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and Chartered Management Institute (CMI) will offer bespoke training to meet individual employee needs.

Apprentices will also be supported to develop additional leadership and management skills. Coaching and mentoring will assist SMEs with their leadership succession plans as well as providing support for individuals progressing into management and leadership roles.

By taking part in the Leading Lancashire project, people will create their own training plan enabling them to develop effective leadership and management knowledge, skills and behaviours; improve their potential for career development and advancement and gain nationally recognised leadership and management qualifications.

Chris Pyke, executive dean of Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise at UCLan, said: "Leading Lancashire has been developed in partnership with key educational institutions from across the county in order to support a main sector of Lancashire’s workforces, employees of SMEs. It’s imperative they have access to the support required to meet their own needs, and this programme presents a fantastic opportunity from which there are many benefits to be had.

"Lancashire’s business community is thriving and has many inspirational leaders, and what we want to do is help SMEs achieve their full potential and bring out the best in their workforces.

"By equipping more people with improved leadership and management skills, we will be in an even better position to support SMEs with sustainability and growth.”