The Liverpool City Region Be More Portal wins prestigious technology award

The LCR Be More Portal, the innovative digital careers solution launched by Mayor Steve Rotheram in 2019, won the Technology category at the prestigious LGC Awards in London last night.

Originally launched in 2019, LCR Be More is a first of its kind UCAS-style apprenticeship and training portal connecting young people across the Liverpool City Region with career opportunities, information, advice and guidance.

In 2022, it was completely re-designed to put the user first, making everything available in one place. This included the launched of a fully accessible app featuring videos, case studies and personalised push notifications. Early data showed monthly users tripled on the new portal.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“I am enormously proud of Be More, my UCAS style apprenticeship and training portal, for winning at the LGC awards last night. While it’s nice to be recognised, the real reward is the difference we’re making by connecting our residents with the chance to get on in life.

“For far too long, our young people have been held back from fulfilling their full potential, not by a lack of talent, but a lack of opportunity – and I’m on a mission to change that. Like my Young Person’s Guarantee, Be More is an important tool in ensuring the next generation get the guidance and signposting they need to move into the careers of their dreams.

“Through devolution we are charting our own course and piloting new, innovative projects that Westminster and Whitehall never would have had the capacity or willpower to deliver. The results speak for themselves. We need the government to recognise that by extending devolution and giving us more powers to shape our own destinies.”

Katherine Fairclough, Chief Executive of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:

“It is testament to the innovative and impactful work taking place right across the Liverpool City Region that we should have three finalists at last night’s LGC awards and I’m very proud of everyone involved.

“The range of projects demonstrates the difference we are making to the people of our city region. From helping people progress in their careers, to creating an ultra-fast digital network, to fitting energy efficiency measures to 10,000 homes, the Combined Authority is creating a fairer, stronger, cleaner city region, where no-one is left behind.”

The Combined Authority was also shortlisted in two more categories: Public-Private Partnershipfor LCR Connect, its joint venture creating a 212km ultrafast, gigabit capable digital network across the city region; and the Future Places Award, for its innovative approach to delivering a £100 million housing retrofit programme, fitting energy efficiency measure to 10,000 low income homes.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority had no fewer than three finalists at the LGC Awards, billed as “the biggest celebration of excellence in local government”. The awards are run by the Local Government Chronicle, which has been reporting on local government since 1855.

Speaking when the shortlist was announced, LGC editor Sarah Calkin said:

“The LGC awards seeks to recognise and celebrate the absolute best in local government, and as this year’s shortlist shows there is no shortage of new ideas and fresh thinking across the whole host of council services.

“From tackling homelessness and supporting our most vulnerable children, to helping local businesses succeed and leading their places towards a net zero future, council staff up and down the country are constantly seeking to improve despite challenging circumstances.

“Massive congratulations to everyone on the shortlist, making it this far is a huge achievement in itself.”