Liverpool City Region Actress Eithne Browne to host 2020 Culture and Creativity Awards

CRITICALLY acclaimed Actress Eithne Browne is set to present the 2020 Liverpool City Region Culture and Creativity awards which, due to the Covid19 Pandemic, are being celebrated online this year.  The Huyton born Actress, who has most recently appeared in Coronation Street and Emmerdale, but who is most well known for her role as Chrissy Rogers in Brookside, will host the glittering digital event, on 19 February 2021, and will be joined by a number of guest presenters from the City Region including the:- Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet Matthew Ball, Music Artist and DJ Yousef, Actress Leanne Best and Chef Paul Askew.

45 finalists have been shortlisted for the awards by a judging panel led by Chairs of the Culture Partnership, Phil Redmond and Maggie O' Carroll. There were more than 700 nominations from across the whole of the City Region this year, in a huge show of support for the cultural sector which has suffered a massive impact in the face of Covid19.  6 of the finalists are up for the public vote in the People's Choice Award for Outstanding Contribution to Culture, where they have made a significant difference to the quality of life at either a local, Borough or City Region level.

Host Eithne Browne said:- "I am honoured to have been asked to host the Culture and Creativity awards this year. It has been an incredibly tough year for the industry, for everyone involved in the arts due to the Covid19 Pandemic. Celebrating everything that people have done to go above and beyond to adapt and be creative within their communities as well as across our cultural organisations; with events moving online and socially distanced performances; is much needed in this climate and good for our wellbeing to recognise them for their hard work in terrible circumstances."

The Covid19 Pandemic has brought a different feel to the 2020 awards ceremony which is taking place online, but it is hoped that while it may be missing the glitz and glamour of a big night out, you can still enjoy the magic of the red carpet, from our own living room. Anyone can register to watch the event and join in by going to:- Eventbrite.Co.UK.

And if you want to really get into the spirit of things you can participate by entering the #DressItUp competition which invites both professionals and amateurs to create a spectacular outfit, head dress or accessory for the event for a chance to win a special prize. There are more details here.

The Culture and Creativity awards were created as part of the Metro Mayor's Percent for Culture initiative, to recognise the value and power for change that the arts, cultural and creative sector can bring in reinforcing the City Region as one of the most vibrant and exciting places to live, work, study, visit or do business. The 2020 awards are delivered in partnership with Sefton Borough of Culture 2020 and sponsors include LuBan Restaurant, LuBan Kitchen, INNSiDE by Melia Liverpool, Davies Partnership and Accountable Recruitment.

This year's awards cover arts and cultural events, innovation and creative activity that has taken place within the Liverpool City Region during the period:- 1 April 2019 to 12 November 2020.

HS2 Ltd, the company leading the delivery of Britain's new high speed low carbon railway,  has launched  a  brand new jobs site  to promote the  estimated  20,000 roles that phase 1 of the project is creating in the months and years ahead. The new digital platform, which is hosted on the HS2 website,  offers those looking for work or a change of career, the opportunity to search the very latest vacancies with HS2's construction partners and station contractors delivering the London to Birmingham section of the railway.  The jobs board allows prospective candidates to search for vacancies by Region, or by specialism, so they  can quickly identify opportunities that match their criteria. In September 2020, HS2's 4 main works contractors and 2 Station construction partners estimated that they would create over 20,000 jobs  to support  the  10 year construction programme for Phase 1 of the project. The jobs board is the 1st time that opportunities to work on HS2, within the  supply chain, have been brought together in 1 place, making it easier for job seekers to navigate and find a job that matches their career aspirations.  The initiative has the backing of the Department for Work and Pensions and a Memorandum of Understanding, which sets out the agreed roles and responsibilities of HS2  Ltd  and  its  job  brokerage  partners, is in place between the 2 organisations.  Minister for Employment Mims Davies MP said:- "HS2 is helping us drive forward plans to build back better and level up the nation; it's connecting people to fresh possibilities and creating exciting jobs along the way. As we look ahead, helping so many people to secure new employment is vital to our recovery and is exactly why we've invested ₤30bn in our Plan for Jobs to protect, support and create opportunities across our communities."

HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said:- "HS2 will play a vital role in kick starting the UK's economic recovery as we build back better from Covid19. In fact, it is already doing so, with 13,000 jobs supported so far. I'd encourage anyone who is interested in working on the UK's largest infrastructure project to check the new HS2 jobs board, whether you work in health and safety, engineering, catering, logistics, or the many other sectors where HS2 is already creating huge opportunities."

HS2  Ltd's  new  jobs board been developed  as part of a  job broker age  partnership model, which brings together Local Authorities, enterprise partnerships, charities and employment support services along the 140 mile route of the  1st Phase of the new railway. HS2's job brokerage partners will play an integral role in supporting individuals from local communities, disadvantaged  and  under represented  groups into employment on the project, in line with objectives set out in HS2  Ltd's Skills, Employment and Education Strategy.   Kate Myers, HS2  Ltd's  Head of Skills, Employment and Education said:- "HS2 has a crucial role to play in the UK's economic recovery and fight back from Covid19. We are creating and sustaining thousands of jobs in the UK starting right now, when people need them most.  Our new  job brokerage  model is an important step in  simplifying  the  job search  process, and ensuring individuals  receive guidance and support so that pathways into employment on HS2 are accessible for all."

HS2 has already supported 13,000 jobs, including over  400  new apprenticeship starts and  over 550  individuals  who were previously unemployed.  Throughout the Covid19 crisis, HS2  Ltd  and its contractors have also supported over 100  work experience placements, in a bid to ensure that individuals are actively engaged with the programme and have the very best opportunity to capitalise on future career openings. The start of main construction  works  in September  2020  was a catalyst for  the project,  spear heading  ₤12bn of contract opportunities which  British businesses  are beginning to bid for.  As HS2's tier one contractors begin the process of procuring the suppliers and services they need to deliver their work packages, the number of job opportunities  on the project  will grow. This heightened demand has created new career pathways and long term career prospects for individuals at all levels, in both blue and white collar roles. Kevin Williams, who was formerly homeless,  joined HS2's  contractor Skanska Costain STRABAG Joint Venture as a labourer  in May 2020. He  is now  an  essential part of the team helping HS2 tunnel 13 miles beneath London.  Kevin said:- "Everyone has made me feel so welcome. I've worked hard and I'm progressing while I'm  working. I'm still learning  and  I'm  still training,  so that I can improve my skills and go  even  further in the construction field." 

For more information about HS2's job brokerage programme, or to search for vacancies on the new jobs board  visit:- HS2.Org.UK.