In order to get young people into training in Hyndburn, North Lancs Training Group have launched a free bus pass scheme, in conjunction with Pilkington Buses, for 16-18 year olds attending their courses. They’ve even liveried up their own bus, which cannot be missed as it drives by!
NLTG, based in Accrington, provide many free courses for people of all ages. It’s a chance to gain skills, retrain, and give people a better chance of entering the workplace with the skills that local employers need. They have live vacancies for apprenticeships, in diverse areas from Hospitality to Furniture Making.
For the 16-18 year old trainees, nationally recognised certificates are available in diverse areas such as IT, Employability Skills, Hospitality, Furniture Manufacturing, Retail/Customer Service, Health and Safety, Food Safety, Maths and English. These lead to further training, apprenticeships and ultimately real jobs in the local area – and can be life-changing for learners.
Gareth Lindsay, Managing Director of the North Lancs Training Group said, “Although we offer a bursary on our courses, we recognised that the cost of a bus pass might be preventing young people from being able to attend our courses. We want as many people as possible through our doors and into work, we’ve got some amazing placements on offer and the free bus pass will be a real helping hand.”
Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, added: “The bus looks fantastic and the free bus pass offer is a great idea, it’s a really useful initiative. Anything that will help young people in Hyndburn to train and ultimately end up in work and contributing to the local economy is a positive step. I hope to spot the bus around the area!”
Cllr Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, added: “Alan Pilkington has kindly offered to support NLTG with this bus pass offer – it also covers all the service bus routes and is valid at all times, so it’s a really generous offer. Great news for the borough!”
NLTG have over 200 live vacancies for apprenticeships right across the region on their website, and offer courses to people of all ages and abilities. For more information please visit www.nltg.co.uk
