Boom in skilled migration predicted
31st March 2008
The number of highly skilled migrants in the UK is set to rise to 812,000 by 2012, representing an increase of 14% over the next four years, according to global recruitment consultancy Harvey Nash...

Small business owners sacrifice family life
27th March 2008
Leading UK-based accounting software company Kashflow has claimed that small business owners are making big sacrifices to ensure that their businesses are getting off the ground...

Enterprise strategy making UK the best for business growth
12th March 2008
The Government has published Enterprise: Unlocking the UK's Talent, a new 10 year strategy to make the UK the most enterprising economy in the world - and the best place to start and grow a business.

Apprenticeship Week: 25-29 February 2008
20th February 2008
A week-long celebration of the unprecedented success of Apprenticeships will take place from 25th-29th February across England...

New support for Employers and GPs to tackle stress-related sicknotes
27th November 2007
The Government will treble the number of employment advisers in GP surgeries and pilot a new £8m advice and support service for smaller businesses as part of a new approach to help people with stress and other mental health conditions find and keep work, Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain and Health Secretary Alan Johnson has announced...

Employers criticise GPs for inadequate support when managing people off work with mental health problems
12th November 2007
Employers are calling for a radical revamp of the way in which GPs work to help people with mental health problems successfully return to work. The call comes from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), and is based on findings in the latest CIPD / KPMG quarterly Labour Market Outlook report...

Employers called to action to help employees take control of their finances
23rd September 2007
AXA is calling on all UK business owners to make a commitment to helping employees take control of their finances by giving them one hour off work to spend on personal money management...

Public perceptions about Ethnic minority women at work are out of touch with the times
21st September 2007
New research reveals that people's perceptions of ethnic minority women in the workplace are lagging behind the reality...

Health Minister announces £10m to improve health at work
6th September 2007
Health minister Ivan Lewis has announced £10 million of capital funding to finance new NHS Plus demonstration sites to improve the occupational healthcare services offered to small and medium sized businesses...

Taxing wellbeing initiatives will not help the Government in its bid to reduce stress and depression
2nd August 2007
Plans by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to tax employee assistance programmes (EAPs) will not help the Government in its bid to reduce stress caused by financial concerns and should be scrapped, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)...

New rules for Colleges who teach overseas students
26th July 2007
Any college recruiting students from abroad will in future need to be registered on a new Home Office Sponsors' Register...

Education, Education, Education - not if you want to be an entrepreneur!
16th July 2007
A new survey of small business bosses has revealed that less than half have a degree and only 11 per cent believe that having a good education is crucial to being a success in business...

UK entrepreneurs refuse to mix business with pleasure
11th July 2007
SME bosses shun pub and golf club to do business and don't use the Internet for professional networking...

England goes smokefree
1st July 2007
At 6am on Sunday 1st July, the Health Act 2006 came into force making it illegal to smoke in virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces...

New measure of quality and performance will help learners and employers make better training choices
20th June 2007
Employers, adults and young people in post-16, Government-funded training will soon be able to judge more easily for themselves how colleges and other learning providers are performing...

Minister calls on employers to do more for disabled people
25th May 2007
DWP Minister Lord McKenzie has called on employers to play their part in aiding social inclusion for disabled people...

Stark warning from Sir Digby Jones at start of Work Wise Week
15th May 2007
Sir Digby Jones, UK skills envoy and former director general of the CBI, said at the Work Wise UK Summit, marking the start of Work Wise Week: “The world is changing fast, and unless businesses in this country rise to the challenges of the new global economy and adopt new working practices, they will miss out...

Friday is National Work from Home Day!
15th May 2007
On National Work from Home Day (Friday, May 18), organisations and employees across the UK, both public and private, will be taking part in the national day to demonstrate the benefits of home working...

Young people have their say - staying on in Education or Training to 18?
15th May 2007
Education Secretary Alan Johnson has launched a young people's consultation on whether the education and training leaving age should be increased to 18...

Record success rates in Further Education
24th April 2007
Success rates in the Further Education sector increased dramatically in 2005/06, beating a number of Government targets...

Government must recognise the training and investment by firms in their staff
23rd April 2007
British workers are wrongly branded as low-skilled because the national qualification system does not recognise the excellent training schemes many undertake at work, the CBI has said...

Major new initiatives aims to take the confusion out of health and safety training
19th March 2007
Health and safety training and development, across all UK industries, is to undergo a major review to remedy the current situation in which many employers, particularly SMEs, are confused by the mass of health and safety occupational standards and training courses...

Meeting Your Business Skill Needs
9th March 2007
Do you know what training opportunities are available to up-skill your staff and give your business the competitive edge?

Small businesses back Train to Gain
6th March 2007
Employers around the country, even those who would not normally think about training, are seeing the results and getting behind Train to Gain...

Free training for town centre businesses in Blackburn
21st February 2007
Businesses in Blackburn town centre can get free deaf awareness training, thanks to a partnership between East Lancashire Deaf Society and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council...

Professional development for marketing professionals
15th February 2007
Local student, Paul Vincent was named top marketing student in the North West at a prestigious awards ceremony recently.

Would you benefit from a human resources and employment law service that won’t break the bank?
15th February 2007
Small employers in the Tourism industry have a unique opportunity to access a service that will help them comply with employment law at no cost, and allow them to develop a proactive attitude to people management...

Would you and your business survive a crisis?
14th February 2007
Invitation to the South Ribble Economic Partnership Forum on Tuesday 27 February 2007 at Farington Lodge Hotel, Leyland. Arrival and light refreshments available from 5.30 pm. The event starts at 6.00 pm and finishes at 7.30 pm.

Paying for your job with your life
12th February 2007
Lancashire businesses need to do more to protect their staff, a health and safety boss has suggested...

Food and drink companies urged to sign up for cut-price training
24th January 2007
Food and drink manufacturers in England are being urged not to miss out on an opportunity to gain heavily subsidised training for their female employees...

Identifying learning and training needs
24th January 2007
New factsheet from CIPD that gives introductory guidance on identifying learning and training needs...

Fresh* People Course
12th January 2007

Fresh* Marketing Workshops
12th January 2007
It is estimated that the lack of marketing or poor marketing accounts for the failure of 38.1% of SME’s in
the UK

£2.6m for chain of command
10th January 2007
Aerospace industry in East Lancashire is to benefit to the tune of millions of pounds in training schemes, thanks to a grant...

From kitchen table to sell out for £10 million in 4 years!
4th January 2007
Helen Colley, Managing Director and Founder of Farmhouse Fare

8th February 2007, 6.30pm – 8.00pm Venue – Bolton Ramada, Blackrod, Bolton

Professional Development for Marketing Professionals
13th December 2006
Local student, Paul Vincent was named top marketing student in the North West at a prestigious awards ceremony last week.

Creating a healthy workplace
12th December 2006
Your employees spend more than half their waking hours in your workplace, so it makes sense to ensure they are as comfortable and productive as possible while they’re there. We investigate how to give your premises a health check...

The TUC has today launched a 'secret santa' generator to help keep the Christmas spirit alive at work
7th December 2006
The TUC has launched a 'secret santa' generator to help keep the Christmas spirit alive at work...

Mental health 'next big workplace issue'
6th December 2006
Employers should ensure that staff can recognise mental distress...

£10m drive to boost number of women in the workforce
20th November 2006
Women are to be encouraged to consider careers in traditionally 'male dominated' professions thanks to a new £10 million initiative...