8848 joined our client Realise in Blackpool to turn the Tower orange to celebrate the company’s latest training success.
The iconic landmark dazzled residents and visitors with its striking new colour as leading training provider Realise celebrated 200 local residents who have enhanced their career opportunities through training.
Blackpool Skills Hub
8848 helped Realise — which has orange brand colours — launch its Blackpool Skills Hub on Church Street in May 2024. Since then, 207 learners have either completed or are currently undertaking a course to improve their employability. This puts Realise on track to meet its target of 500 learners in its first year of operation in Blackpool.
The orange Tower illumination coincided with Realise’s annual Celebration Day at the Blackpool Conference & Exhibition Centre, which brought more than 500 employees to Lancashire from around the country, providing a boost in excess of £150,000 to the local economy.
Realise Chief Executive Officer Gregg Scott said: “We were thrilled to see Blackpool Tower turn orange to celebrate this special milestone.
“It was fantastic to have all the team together in Lancashire for our Celebration Day and they all loved seeing the Tower in all its splendour. I hope people in the area enjoyed the spectacle too.
“We launched our Blackpool Skills Hub to support both unemployed residents in the town and those in work who are looking to enhance their skills.
“We are here to provide life-changing opportunities to learners and to support employers across the town. Our talented trainers are making a significant difference in people’s lives.
“Supporting 200 people so far is fantastic, but Blackpool is a key area for us as a training provider, and we are just getting started.”
Free courses
The courses are free. They include training in teaching assistant skills, security, hairdressing, customer service, employability skills, and supporting children in their development. Maths and English qualifications are also available, alongside courses in logistics, digital IT skills, and more.
Realise worked closely with local employers and other stakeholders to ensure the courses meet the current and future needs of Blackpool’s economy. In conjunction with Jobcentre Plus, the centre supports Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) for unemployed individuals. They also offer adult education short courses for both employed and unemployed residents.
The Church Street Skills Hub delivers the vast majority of training face-to-face. The Education and Skills Funding Agency awarded the contract to Realise. The contract funds training for non-devolved areas of England.
The Blackpool Tower has 5,752 light bulbs and illuminates in 21 different colours.
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