Blackpool Skills Academy

Blackpool Skills Academy was formed in 2022 and registered as a Community Interest Company (CIC) to help communicate its social values and support not-for-profit objectives. It built on the success of Unique Training Group (UTG), founded by David Hodge and Rick Jennings, two successful building contractors in the Blackpool area with a history in teaching.

Here is an article and video from the Blackpool Gazette that celebrates the early days. They were joined by Andy Iredale, a further education expert who has led and collaborated on a range of Blackpool projects including the Opportunity Area, Careers Academy, Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (Blackpool Build Up), and the delivery of 14-16 education.

He works nationally with the DfE and Careers Enterprise Company and supports many hundred schools with their digital, governance and growth strategies.

Their vision for the training business is borne from many years teaching thousands of young people in large further education colleges, where it was often difficult to maintain close relationships with schools, students and employers.