LANCASHIRE County Council has received the highest quality standard for its range of work experience placements and traineeships.

The council was awarded the Fair Train Gold Standard award, the highest quality award available for work experience.

County Coun Jennifer Mein, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “As one of the biggest employers in Lancashire we have a responsibility to help the county’s young people prepare for the world of work.

“I am really proud that we are one of the first councils in the north of England to receive this award which demands such high achievement.”

Jo Turton, chief executive of the county council, said: “A huge amount of work goes into providing meaningful work experience placements for young people but we think it is worth it.

“I would like to congratulate staff from our employment and support team, who arrange and support these placements, but also the many individual members of staff who put so much effort into ensuing that young people have a worthwhile time with us.”

The county council’s placements and traineeships have worked to help benefit more than 650 young people over the last year and the hope is that the trend will continue as the country emerges from one of the longest recessions in history.