Fylde Coast enjoys free employability event with Lancashire Adult Learning and Blackpool Council

Lancashire Adult Learning has teamed up with Blackpool Council and the Department for Work and Pensions to raise the aspirations of residents on the Fylde Coast.

The Raising Aspirations event saw almost 200 people walk through the doors of Blackpool Central Library seeking a change in career, a better job or the chance to sign up to a range of educational opportunities to improve their employment prospects.

Visitors had the opportunity to meet local employers and apply for live vacancies on the day, as well as find out more about free Work Clubs and Functional Skills courses, gain expert careers advice and take part in free employability workshops to develop skills including CV writing techniques and correctly completing job applications.

The Raising Aspirations event is the third roadshow of its kind delivered by LAL this autumn, after Lancaster and Skelmersdale, and a fourth will take place in South Ribble on Tuesday 29th October at Leyland Civic Centre.

Tom Gee, head of curriculum for employability, volunteering and skills at Lancashire Adult Learning, said: “We have a successful model for our Raising Aspirations events, which we adapt to different community needs throughout Lancashire. I’m delighted that our Raising Aspirations on the Fylde Coast has been another positive and impactful showcase.

“It's also been another brilliant example of our approach to partnership work, and I’d like to thank Blackpool Council, Blackpool Adult Learning and the Department for Work and Pensions for their receptive attitude to collaboration and their support to ensure successful delivery of this event.”

Wendy Stevenson, curriculum manager for Adult, Community and Family Learning at Blackpool Adult Learning, said: “The Raising Aspirations event has been very successful. We're very pleased at how many people have attended and overall it has been a great day for those seeking employment opportunities or a change of career in the Blackpool area.”

Cathy Ross, employer advisor manager at the Department for Work and Pensions in Lancashire, said: “Working in partnership with Lancashire Adult Learning and Blackpool Council brings lots of benefits to our customers, particularly in relation to employability and moving them towards the labour market. The Raising Aspirations has been very encouraging and I am delighted with the results.”

As well as its targeted delivery and partnership work, Lancashire Adult Learning offers a huge range of planned provision across the Red Rose County, from Arts and Crafts to Humanities classes, Languages to Health and Wellbeing sessions and Functional Skills English and Maths and Employability courses.

LAL’s new course guide for Autumn is now out, and is packed with a wide range of courses to help adults across the county learn a new skill, enhance their social life, or develop their career prospects during the first term of the new academic year.

In February 2018, Lancashire Adult Learning was named as the inaugural winner of the national Adult and Community Learning Provider of the Year at the TES FE Awards.

Further information about Lancashire Adult Learning can be found at www.lal.ac.uk or by calling 0333 003 1717.