Funding boost ensures innovative apprenticeship scheme continues in Wigan Borough

Funding boost ensures innovative apprenticeship scheme continues in Wigan Borough

A funding boost of £200k is helping more young people secure employment and training opportunities across Wigan Borough.

The £200k grant is ringfenced for the Future Apprentices for Business (FAB) scheme, which has already delivered £500,000 to local employers looking to invest in their business and recruit new starters.

A total of £59,000 has already been committed since the extra funding came into effect in April 2026, with the investment so far helping to fund around 330 grants and 150 placements since the scheme launched in February 2023.

Councillor Laura Flynn, portfolio holder for children and families, said: “Supporting young people with employment and training opportunities has long been a major focus for the council, and the number of approved grants and placements from the FAB scheme is a success story in its own right.

“At a time when career opportunities are reported to be shrinking for young people across the country, these apprenticeship figures highlight the results of putting young people at the forefront of our agenda.”

Last month, a government report revealed that more than one million young people were not in education, employment, or training (NEET) between January and March 2026, the highest in more than 12 years.

Wigan Council has made positive strides with the FAB scheme and matching young people to employers across various industries, although the national figures clearly show that there is further work to be done.

Locally, part of this work is already underway. Under the FAB scheme, a talent pool of priority groups has also been set up to include care leavers, looked after children, those with special educational needs, and NEET young people.

Following this, a programme named PULSE (Progress, Unity, Learning, Skills, Experience) has been launched to match NEET care leavers with local employers, while a second cohort of the ‘Build Our Borough’ construction programme has recently started to help young people secure placements with construction businesses.

In addition to these schemes, the council provides further offers to upskill residents and prepare them for the world of work, through the provision of free Adult Learning courses such as Maths, English, and Digital Skills, as well as In Work Progression support to improve resident’s CVs, skills, and interview techniques in the search for better paid work.

The council’s Aspiring Futures team also supports and identifies potential NEET young people within education settings, and help them to gain the necessary skills, training, and experience for future work. Additionally, partnerships with local organisations such as Wigan Youth Zone and Leigh Youth Hub help to provide a range of activities and guide disadvantaged young people into training or employment.

Councillor Dane Anderton, portfolio holder for economic development and regeneration, said: "I’m immensely proud of the impact that the council’s apprenticeship programmes and employment support are having across our borough, and will continue to have thanks to further investment.

“By investing in young people and helping residents of all ages upskill, we’re not just helping them gain skills and confidence - we’re opening doors to long-term, meaningful careers.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see local talent thrive, and I’d encourage any young person or local business thinking about an apprenticeship scheme to get in touch with the council so we can continue building a skilled, confident, and competent workforce across our community.”