08:45 – 09:15

Registration & Refreshments on arrival

09:15 – 09:20

Welcome – Jaydee Davis, Operations Director, Community & Business Partners

09:20 – 09:35

Watchtower overview & introduction

Watchtower is a 2-year £1,000,000 initiative from Lancashire County Council to support the Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing (AEM) sector targeted at tackling some of the economic impacts of Covid-19 and stimulating growth and is delivered by;

• North West Aerospace Alliance – Kyle Hatchard, Support to innovate and diversify
• Community & Business Partners – Yusuf Musa, Recruitment support; matching at risk or redundant skilled employees with suitable businesses that have recruitment needs

09:35 – 10.00

State of skills base in the sector – Geoff Mason, Lancashire Local Skills Improvement Plan

An overview of the skills challenges within the sector and how employers can take a central role in directing local skills provisions

10:00 – 10:30

Hear from Lancashire businesses on how they have overcome their challenges.

• Chris Mayne – MD, Forsberg Service Ltd
• David Stanley – Finance Director   - ELE Advanced Technologies Ltd
• Ella Beardsworth – Pipeline Induction Heat Ltd and Neil Burrows, Burnley College. Why a career in engineering was the choice for recent Themis Platinum Apprentice Award Winner and how other businesses can attract the future workforce  

10:35 – 11:00

Recruitment for the Sector – Mike Steel, CreateIT Recruitment    

How do I recruit? The steps you can take to address skills gaps and find the people you need, including why employer branding is so important, how to really write your job adverts and where to advertise to get the best candidates.

11:00 – 11:25

Retention and onboarding of staff – Laura Hartley – Talent For Good

You’ve recruited, now what? Steps you can take to onboard and retain your talent, focusing on retaining your existing skills base and reduce the risk of losing your talent to competitors.

11:25 – 11:50

Q&A’s session with Keynote speakers and Watch Tower partners:

ELE/Forsberg/Create IT Recruitment/LHR/Burnley College/CBP/NWAA

11:50 – 12:00

Way forward and Close 

12:00

Networking & Lunch Event Close – Community & Business Partners