Oxley Group has been shortlisted as a finalist for the prestigious Best Community Involvement Award in the in-Cumbria Business Awards.

The ‘Best Community Involvement’ category recognises businesses that have shown productive commitment to putting something back into the local community.

Oxley is a globally leading LED lighting and electronic components business based in Ulverston with a team of 160 people.  The team works on world class technology projects across the globe.  Oxley needs a highly-skilled workforce to maintain its leading position on technology and it is vital that Cumbria builds the skills of local young people in order for them to be the workforce of the Cumbrian economy in the future.

In order to address this challenge Oxley has become involved in range of skills and engagement programmes aimed at six to 16-year-olds in South Cumbria.  Oxley started this work in 2014 and to date has had meaningful interactions with over 10,000 young people through a number of schemes such as Bright Stars, Furness Future Leaders, Inspiring Barrow, Building My Skills and UlverSTEM.

The benefits of this activity are that Oxley is building employability skills for the future, helping young people to raise aspirations and resilience as well as developing interest in STEM careers. Oxley are proactively supporting young women into STEM and providing positive career role modelling. Oxley is committed to this activity long term and is ensuring the programmes are sustainable and deliver wide spread benefits for young people.

Oxley Group CEO Darren Cavan commented: ‘We’re absolutely delighted to be selected as a finalist for this award, it is credit to the whole team that actively engage in skills work to help young people to develop confidence and raise aspirations. Oxley has been in Cumbria for 77 years and the team feel an enormous sense of pride in giving something back to the community and ensuring a legacy for future generations.’

Cumbria is home to world-leading companies at the forefront of global innovation, the in-Cumbria Business Awards are designed to celebrate the success and enterprise of Cumbrian businesses and present an opportunity for companies to showcase their best work and brightest talent.

in-Cumbria editor Luke Dicicco commented: “Yet again, me and the in-Cumbria team have been overwhelmed by both the quantity, but most important of all, the quality of entries this year. Businesses from across the entire county have yet again done themselves proud.”

The winners will be revealed at an awards event hosted by Cathy Newman at the Halston Hotel in Carlisle on November 14.