8 The Business Newsletter of South Ribble Borough Council Local Businesses Get Social Savvy Our recent series of social media workshops hosted by UCLan at Northern Lights were a huge success. Delivered by our social media ‘gurus’, the three free workshops helped business owners to understand how to enhance their presence across numerous social platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. With customers more likely to purchase from brands they’ve interacted with on social media, the topics included current trends, best practice, engaging with customers and generating leads. For more information on business support, come along to the Central Lancashire Business Event, now in its 11th year, at The Invincibles, Preston North End on October 3rd, or contact us today. Follow @LancsBusEvents. UPSKILLING LOCAL TALENT £15million BAE Training Academy Takes Off BAE Systems is providing a huge skills boost to future generations after opening its new £15.6million training academy on the Lancashire Enterprise Zone at Samlesbury last December. The 7,400 sq m Academy for Skills and Knowledge (ASK) is situated at the Samlesbury Aerospace Enterprise Zone and is leading the way in training future cohorts of apprentices and graduates in the company’s military aircraft business. The facility will also deliver educational sessions for school children aged five to 14-years-old and will provide new skills to around 13,000 employees over the next 40 years. The Academy comprises 26 modern classrooms and mirrors the latest advanced manufacturing and factory environments used by BAE Systems, featuring robotics, 3D printing, electronic and welding facilities along with a virtual reality cave. The Academy also includes a Hawk jet trainer to help its apprentices understand engineering complexities and gain real experience of building an aircraft. Chris Boardman, managing director of BAE Systems Military Air & Information, said: “The Academy for Skills and Knowledge is the single biggest investment in skills in the aerospace industry and offers an unrivalled modern engineering and manufacturing environment in which BAE Systems can deliver the highest quality training. “We are committed to playing our part in developing skills for the future, for our business, those in our supply chain and in education. “In our experience, well-trained people are both socially mobile and very productive, which in turn generates economic wealth for the UK.” In total, BAE Systems recruited 667 apprentices in 2016, with 182 joining the military aircraft business. The new ASK facility Supporting South Ribble Businesses Jennifer Clough (Economic Development) would like to work with your business to make sure that we and our partners provide the services and conditions that you need to thrive. In order to help businesses, South Ribble Borough Council offers a range of help free of charge. LOCATION A great place to do business VALUE Fantastic value for money for investors CHOICE A great choice of highly accessible business premises SKILLS Access to a range of specialist skills to meet your business needs TO FIND OUT MORE CONTACT OUR ENTERPRISE TEAM T: 01772 625567 E: info@businessinsouthribble.com W: businessinsouthribble.com Upskill Your Staff with TrED learndirect, the UK’s largest integrated provider of skills, training and employment services, has received £14million from the Skills Funding Agency to support 2,000 businesses across South Ribble and the wider county, upskilling the workforce. The TrED programme draws upon hundreds of qualifications to create training packages that meet individual business and employee needs. In doing so, learndirect can provide skills in areas such as leadership & management, customer service and business admin, as well as more industry-specific programmes such as construction, health & social care and hospitality. To find out more, visit www.learndirect.com/tred or email TRED@learndirect.com.