News

Prima PR is helping to launch a new initiative designed to stimulate skills and attract economic investment in Lincolnshire and Rutland. A communications strategy for the new Lincolnshire & Rutland Employment and Skills board is being devised, to encourage businesses to get involved.

Businesses can help boost economic upturn

A volunteer taskforce is calling on local companies to help put Lincolnshire and Rutland on the map to win a bigger share of future economic development investment.

Fifteen senior level appointments have been made to create the Lincolnshire & Rutland Employment and Skills Board. All are volunteers, and are drawn from a cross section of industries and organisations across the two counties.

The Board aims to boost economic development through improving skills in the local workforce.

Millions of pounds are invested in learning and skills through national funding and the board hopes to provide the local, ‘knowledge link' needed to draw in and direct the funding.

“To help win future economic investment in Lincolnshire and Rutland we need a more highly skilled workforce,” said board chairman Herman Kok, group finance director of Lindum Group.

“Our role as a board is about getting the right support for employers to achieve this.”

The board will be looking at ways for business to have their say over the coming months, to prepare the case for the two counties at regional and national level.

It will also be encouraging employers to use the current downturn as an opportunity to develop their workforce, by using spare capacity of skilled staff to train others, and taking advantage of quiet periods for training.

“In a competitive market, a better trained workforce gives you the edge,” added Herman Kok.

The board will work closely with Lincolnshire Enterprise, an independent partnership which provides economic regeneration investment for the county.

ENDS

Media enquiries to:

Maggie Taylor , Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile : 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk

Roy Harper, Project Manager for Lincolnshire & Rutland Employment and Skills Board
Mobile: 07721499494 Email: roy.harper@lincolnshire.gov.uk

PICTURE CAPTION:

Board chairman Herman Kok, centre, with the members of the Lincolnshire & Rutland Employment and Skills Board, which is calling on local business to help boost the upturn.

PICTURE ONE:
Pictured: left to right standing :
Heather Lee, Head of People and Performance, Lincolnshire Co-operative Society
Mark Silverman, Principal, Rutland College
Angela Borman, Collaborative Projects Officer, Siemens Industrial Turbo Machinery
Roger Begy, Member, Rutland County Council
Chairman : Herman Kok, Group Finance Director, Lindum Group
Lorraine Palmer, Centre Manager, Birchwood Access and Training Centre
Roy Harper, Project Manager for the Board
Mick Gill, HR Manager, Mortons of Horncastle

Seated:
Peter Duxbury, Director of Children's Services, Lincolnshire County Council
Mike Johnson, Group Training Manager, Gelder Group
Gillian Doughty, Personnel Manager, RPC Containers
John Allen, Principal / Chief Executive, Lincoln College

Board members not pictured:
Adrian Axtell, Regional Secretary, UNITE
Val Braybrooks, Dean of Riseholme College , University of Lincoln
Heather Crocker, Director of Workforce, NHS Lincolnshire
Geoff Middleton, Director of Shared Services, e-QAS Training