Preston enlists Calico for construction skills programme

Preston City Council has partnered with Calico Enterprise on a programme designed to boost construction skills in Central Lancashire.

Calico Enterprise, part of the Calico Group, will provide  resources, expertise and experience to construction companies and training organisations to meet the objectives laid out in the Central Lancashire Employment Skills Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Coun David Borrow, Cabinet member for planning and regulation, said: "Fundamentally, this will help with addressing the national skills shortage across the country by ensuring that developers in this region work with local employers and training providers on specific skill sets and training, and to consider creating apprenticeships.

“The council is committed to Community Wealth Building. This initiative encourages developers to add to the social value of their contracts by providing local training and employment opportunities. Importantly now more than ever, there’s a need to engage the local supply chain and encourage a local, post-Covid19 pandemic economic recovery, particularly targeted towards people in deprived communities and boosting education opportunities.”

Sam Howarth, head of social impact at Calico Enterprise, added: "We’re delighted that this service has now received the go ahead from cabinet. As a company, we’re committed to creating genuine opportunities for local people to gain skills and access employment. This service will help ensure that developers meet their commitments to creating these opportunities and achieve maximum impact in their communities.”

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