Colleges group receives £4.5m to deliver in-demand skills

By Tim Aldred

15 Nov 2023

The Lancashire Colleges

The Lancashire Colleges Group has received £4.5m of government funding to help deliver the skills most in demand by employers across the county.

The Local Skills Improvement Funding has been awarded by the Department for Education (DfE).

This additional investment will allow colleges from across Lancashire to build new training facilities, providing students with the opportunity to learn on the latest technology and develop skills needed for successful careers.

The colleges will continue their work with local employers, designing and developing new, flexible courses that align with needs identified in the Local Skills Improvement Plan which was published earlier this year.

A Skills for Sustainability project will be led by Preston College working in collaboration with Blackburn College, Lancaster and Morecambe College and Nelson and Colne College Group.

It will support the development of cutting-edge teaching facilities and learning resources to enhance the training opportunities available related to the implementation and adoption of new net-zero carbon technologies in the Construction, Energy and Transport sectors.

A Digital, Cyber and AI Employability Skills project will be led by Burnley College working in collaboration with Blackburn College, Preston College, Runshaw College and West Lancashire College.

Bespoke courses will be designed to grow the digital skills of Lancashire’s current and future workforce from programming and coding to artificial intelligence and robotics.

Skills from Farm to Fork will be led by Blackburn College working in collaboration with Myerscough College, Blackpool and The Fylde College, Lancaster and Morecambe College, Runshaw College and West Lancashire College.

They will create new, sustainable kitchens and a demonstrator farm to showcase the most sustainable practices and offer students ‘hands-on’ training.

Rosie Fearn, director of the Lancashire Colleges Group, said:  "The additional funding will help our colleges to continue their work with local employers, to help prepare young people for rewarding careers and to provide the current workforce with the skills needed to embrace new technologies.

"Lancashire’s colleges will create new, responsive and flexible skills programmes working with local employers and industry specialists. By working together our colleges will ensure that state-of-the-art facilities and inspirational learning environments are available across Lancashire.

"Many of these will have added-value as demonstrator facilities, allowing the colleges to raise awareness of the opportunities that the latest low-carbon and digital technologies can bring."

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Burnley aircraft firm sees profits soar Safran Nacelles

Burnley aircraft firm sees profits soar

19 Aug 2025

2

Lancashire marina bought by Aquavista Fettlers Wharf Marina

Lancashire marina bought by Aquavista

18 Aug 2025

3

Work starts on new business units at Enterprise Zone Danny Pinkus Cllr Mark Smith and Robert Pinkus at Phase Two Of Enterprise Court

Work starts on new business units at Enterprise Zone

15 Aug 2025

4

Preston City Council helps lift the weight of setting up in business Freya Wood (Female Body Workouts), Mayor of Preston, Cllr Sue Whittam, Becky Platt (FBW) and Nina Cowell, Project Manager at Selnet

Preston City Council helps lift the weight of setting up in business

15 Aug 2025

5

Digital drive helps five companies on one industrial estate to embrace technology for growth Mark Haworth MJH Joinery Paul Bimpson Reverse Engineering Andy Walsh Rustic Tubs Sarah Woodhams Made Smarter Steve Hill Surefit Lee Ellis And Mike Cripps CE Aluminium Systems

Digital drive helps five companies on one industrial estate to embrace technology for growth

15 Aug 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
Linkedin Cover.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
03 Sep 2025 - 03 Sep 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Harewood House , Leeds, LS17 9LG

09:30 - 16:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin