Business leaders back Wigan business charter (From Leigh Journal)

Business leaders back Wigan business charter

9:00am Friday 3rd December 2010 in News By Brian Gomm

TOP business leaders from across the borough joined council employment experts this week to show their support for the local economy.

Firms from the area including Birse Civils, Mears, Hitchen Food and Tudor Heating are spearheading the brand new ‘Wigan Borough Employment Charter’ which is a pledge to employ local people in local training opportunities and jobs.

Twenty five businesses formed the groundbreaking first group of organisations to receive recognition from charter organisers. They were presented with framed certificates by Joyce Redfearn, herself the chief executive of one of the borough’s leading employers, Wigan Council, and also by council deputy leader and economy champion, Cllr David Molyneux.

Cllr Molyneux said: “The Wigan Borough Employment Charter is a solid demonstration of our local businesses supporting the local economy and therefore the people of our area. I’m proud and delighted to present these certificates in recognition of the pledges made by these firms and thank them for joining us tonight as a demonstration of a genuine partnership between local people and the public and private sectors.”

The project is funded through the Communities and Local Governments’ Working Neighbourhoods Fund and managed by the council’s Economic Regeneration Office.

The council has met with major players in the area – from banks and credit unions to top-name employers and business groups – to help protect jobs and services during the economic downturn. The result has been a huge increase in the numbers of new businesses being created – an average of one each day this year and a better than average performance on unemployment than our neighbouring authorities.

Chief Executive Joyce Redfearn said: “The aim of the Wigan Borough Employment Charter is to help develop the social and physical regeneration of local communities within Wigan Borough. A high level of employment is a key factor in its regeneration and in developing a successful and healthy borough.”

Business leaders reaffirmed their commitment to support local people to access employment, apprenticeships and training opportunities arising from economic regeneration and development activities.

The full list of firms presented with their charter recognition: Wigan Council, Birse Civils, Hughes Brothers, Mears, Leighton Packaging, Tudor Heating, ProCo NW Ltd, Hitchen Foods Ltd, ABH Builders, Shaw Community Services, Westhoughton Roofing, Leigh Building Services, Alexandra Grange, The Farmshed, Hesketh Design, Caring Alternatives, Red Pepper Sandwich Company, Lemon Zest Designers, Link Contracting Services, Lobster Property Management, Nugent Care and Mint Joinery.

Businesses who are interested in finding out more about employment charters can contact Damien Halligan on 01942 828961 or D.Halligan@wigan.gov.uk or visit: www.wigan.gov.uk