Dame calls on businesses to support their communities

Dame Julia Cleverdon, who earned her honours for a life dedicated to serving communities and charitable causes, sounded a rallying cry for Fylde businesses to support young people.

Dame Julia served for 16 years as chief executive of Business in the Community and was honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2008. She made her remarks to 150 attendees at the Fylde Coast Responsible Business Network’s 5th Anniversary event held at Blackpool Football Club.

She said: "When it comes to energy, drive, resilience and the can-do factor the Blackpool business community has it in spades. Can we harness that and get the business community to work collaboratively to make Blackpool an unstoppable force?

"It’s the business world who can make so much difference. Everyone needs something to do, someone to love, something to look forward to. By concentrating on doing what only you can do, you in the business community can help make that happen for people across this community.”

The Fylde Coast Responsible Business Network, funded by local business Beaverbrooks since its inception, connects those with the passion and expertise to support community projects which deliver the town’s plan of making Blackpool an even better place to live and work.

Sean Egan, director of DES Energy, told the meeting that his business had taken on 83 apprentices in 23 years. He said: "When Dame Julia gave us all the call to action 12 months ago we thought about what we could do to help so we have created more opportunities for young people by taking on more local apprentices.”

JJ Fitzgerald, managing director of Evolution, shared how he is giving a second chance in life to young people who might have had a tough start, including those outside mainstream education across Blackpool, Fleetwood and the rest of Fylde Coast.

Thanks to connections made through the network JJ linked up with Viv Thomas of Educational Diversity, Blackpool, to work with young people at a pupil referral unit and was blown away by their entrepreneurial spirit with one young person delivering an 84.4 per cent return on a £10 investment challenge.

JJ said: “I am determined to fight for people in our communities, so that if you are someone who grows up here you have the same opportunities as someone growing up in a more affluent area of the country.

“Our experience of working with these young people is that they are amazing, and we want to do more to help young people get on the right track. If you have a rewarding job and a decent home you have the foundations to build a better life.”

Through linking up with the network on a range of initiatives, Eddie Nelder, managing director of Choice Hotels, has given 120 young people work experience opportunities and employed three full-time care leavers.

Matt Porter, managing director of Hesketh Press, has also engaged with young people to offer opportunities through a link-up with Claire Gilmour, headteacher at Larkholme Primary School, Fleetwood.