News & Events

For many businesses across Cheshire & Warrington, finding and developing the right talent remains one of the biggest challenges to growth. The Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is helping employers turn that challenge into an opportunity. At its heart, the LSIP brings Cheshire & Warrington’s businesses, educators and local leaders together to align skills with […]

Are you an experienced electrician living or working for a business based in the Cheshire West and Chester area, but missing the Level 3 qualification needed to access low carbon  technology training? Thanks to full funding approval from the DESNZ Industrial Decarbonisation and Clean Power 2030 Regional Skills Pilot, we are pleased to offer a fully

SGS United Kingdom Limited, a leading provider of inspection, verification, testing and certification services with locations throughout the country, and Head Office at Ellesmere Port, employs a diverse workforce dedicated to quality and innovation. With a strong commitment to developing talent and supporting the local community, SGS has taken proactive steps to maximise the impact

National Apprenticeship Week 9th-15th February 2026: Cheshire & Warrington Businesses Encouraged to Get Involved As National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) returns on 9–15 February 2026, employers across Cheshire and Warrington are being invited to celebrate the impact of apprenticeships and explore how they can strengthen their future workforce. This year’s theme, “Skills for Life”, highlights how

Thursday 13th November 2025, Chester Racecourse We are delighted with the feedback following our third LSIP Business & Skills Conference! The event brought together inspiring leaders, forward-thinking businesses and passionate changemakers – all united by a shared goal: shaping the future of work, skills and community collaboration. We are grateful to our brilliant speakers who

The UK Government’s Autumn Budget 2025 has introduced significant reforms to apprenticeships, skills, and employer costs. These changes are designed to make it easier for businesses, particularly SMEs, to recruit, train, and retain young talent while reducing financial barriers. Budget Highlights for Employers Fully Funded Apprenticeships for SMEs employing under 25 year olds From August

Skills England has published fresh guidance to support the next phase of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), empowering regions like Cheshire and Warrington to tailor training to local economic needs. Skills England has unveiled a strategic roadmap to strengthen local skills systems across England, marking the start of the second round of Local Skills Improvement

Alliance launched in Cheshire to collaborate on filling local electrical skills gaps  An alliance bringing together local electrical businesses, industry bodies, education providers and public authorities has been launched in Cheshire. The collaboration, known as the Cheshire & Warrington Electrotechnical Training and Careers Alliance (ETCA), aims to take meaningful joint action to strengthen electrotechnical skills

The Youth Voice Census 2025, based on insights from over 8,000 young people aged 11–30 across the UK, delivers a sobering message: the next generation of workers is not thriving—they’re surviving. For businesses, this isn’t just a social concern. It’s a strategic imperative. With nearly a million young people not in education, employment, or training

Apprenticeships Work is a new campaign with a simple goal: to encourage more small businesses to take on apprentices. SMEs are the backbone of our economy and our communities, but often struggle to engage with the apprenticeship system. They represent 99.8% of businesses and 60% of total employment in the UK, but only employ 37%