Wigan businesses are being encouraged to invest in local skills rather than look further afield

Businesses across Wigan are being encouraged to invest in local talent as the borough continues to strengthen support for apprenticeships, workforce development and skills training.

Wigan Council has committed a further £200,000 to its Future Apprentices for Business (FAB) programme for 2026/27, taking the total funding committed to the scheme to £700,000 since it was launched.

The initiative is designed to help local employers create new apprenticeship opportunities while building a stronger pipeline of skilled workers.

The additional funding comes as employers continue to face pressure from rising operating costs and changing workforce requirements.

The local authority says its apprenticeship grants are intended to make recruiting and training new workers more viable for businesses, while giving younger people valuable opportunities to gain qualifications and workplace experience.

The FAB scheme has already supported hundreds of grants and placements across the borough.

Since its launch in February 2023, the programme has helped businesses create apprenticeship opportunities across a range of industries, with a particular focus on helping young people move into sustainable employment.

Eligible Wigan businesses with fewer than 250 employees can receive grants of either £3,000 or £5,000 when recruiting a qualifying young apprentice.

The enhanced grant is available to employers recruiting candidates from priority groups, including care leavers, young people with special educational needs and those who are not currently in education, employment or training.

The council is also working with local organisations to connect employers with potential recruits.

Programmes such as PULSE, which matches young people leaving care with local businesses, and Build Our Borough, which provides construction placements, are intended to help employers access emerging talent while giving residents practical experience.

Wigan's wider employment support also includes free adult learning opportunities covering areas such as English, maths and digital skills.

The council says these programmes can help residents improve their CVs, develop confidence and prepare for better-paid employment.

Local education providers are playing a role too.

Wigan and Leigh College offers more than 75 apprenticeship programmes and works with employers to identify suitable candidates from its talent pool.

Businesses can also use apprenticeships to develop the skills of existing employees, providing a route towards long-term workforce development rather than simply filling immediate vacancies.

For some companies, however, developing a workforce locally will need to sit alongside recruitment from further afield.

Businesses facing shortages in specialist roles may increasingly look beyond the borough or even the UK when searching for experienced workers.

That can create additional administrative challenges when employees are recruited internationally.

Businesses using a specialist UK recruitment agency can access support when searching for candidates, while allowing internal teams to concentrate on workforce development and retention.

The combination of apprenticeship funding, adult learning and recruitment support gives Wigan employers several ways to strengthen their workforce.

For smaller companies in particular, developing young employees could provide a cost-effective way of building skills that are closely matched to their own requirements.

As competition for capable workers continues, investing in people is becoming increasingly important for businesses looking to grow.

Wigan's latest support measures are designed to ensure local employers have greater opportunities to develop that talent while helping residents build the skills needed for the borough's future economy.