8 IN VIEW
Frankly speaking
WHY LANCASHIRE NEEDS AN ANDY BURNHAM
by Frank McKenna Downtown Lancashire in Business
The recently published ‘Levelling Up’ white paper presented by government minister Michael Gove got mixed reviews.
However, what was made clear is that, like it or not, local government structures matter, and to get your hands on funding pots available, you are more likely to be successful if you have a mayor and a combined authority.
Not only does Lancashire have neither – but our politicians seem as far away from making progress on this agenda than they have been for some time.
Despite producing an impressive ‘Greater Lancashire’ plan, the urgent need to have a mature debate about local government reform in the county has been kicked into the long grass- again.
Meanwhile, Manchester, the Liverpool City Region, and West Yorkshire all continue
to win extra resources for infrastructure, innovation, skills, and training.
We abandoned the opportunity to become City of Culture and the outstanding Eden for the North project has received warm words from Gove, but crucially no money as yet.
Maybe, if the dilly- dallying continues, it’s time for the private sector to
take a lead in this important agenda
The government will invest its limited resources into places that it feels can deliver – and where there is a clear and transparent
line of responsibility and accountability for that delivery.
With a county council, two unitary authorities, 12 borough councils, and a Local Enterprise Partnership, Lancashire’s government landscape looks like a recipe for chaos rather than a vehicle for delivery.
Lancashire needs local government reform because its structures are not fit-for- purpose in the modern world. But when the government is saying, as clearly as it possibly can, that having a more streamlined model will give you a much better opportunity of getting additional resources into your area, then surely our councillors and MPs ought to be considering having an ‘Andy Burnham’ for Lancashire.
Maybe, if the dilly-dallying continues, it’s time for the private sector to take a lead in this important agenda?
APPRENTICESHIPS ARE BACK!
There was a real buzz about National Apprenticeship Week 2022, I thought.
Perhaps it was the fact that we were back ‘face to face’ again to celebrate. Perhaps it’s the fact that we’re seeing an upturn in business across so many different sectors. Perhaps it’s because the number of vacancies – and applicants – is starting to rocket.
Whatever the cause, it’s great news for apprentices, employers and industry.
It’s important, however, that we don’t let apprenticeships disappear from the headlines after National Apprenticeship Week. We should be beating the drum for them all year round and making sure that every school leaver - or individual looking to reskill or upskill - and employers in all sectors have the information they need to make informed choices regarding apprenticeships.
At Themis, the apprenticeship training arm of Burnley College, we’re on a mission to do just that.
Neil Burrows
As you may be aware, 2022 is our Year of the Themis Apprentice with great news stories and social media posts every day to raise the profile of our amazing apprentices and employers, our expert trainers and tutors, our state-of-the-art facilities and the apprenticeship vacancies we have.
We’re making sure our success stories reach the local, regional and national
media; we’re making sure our voice is heard - and those of our apprentices - on local radio and we’ve appeared on regional and national TV.
Hearing our apprentices’ success stories - such as robotics engineer Bethany making the finals of the national Enginuity Awards and James securing a place to study engineering in Boston after his apprenticeship - makes me proud. Their confidence in front of the cameras and radio mics always impresses me - they’re always a hard act to follow!
Those who know me, are aware that being in the media spotlight isn’t my thing, but if I can make just one more young person think again about the opportunities an apprenticeship would give them or encourage an employer to invest in their future prosperity by hiring an apprentice, then it’s worth it!
Join me in 2022 to shout about apprenticeships and how they can change lives and boost business.
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