LOCAL businesses are being asked to back a new work and skills campaign.

The 5-3-1 campaign, launched today by the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, hopes to get 1,000 businesses to commit to one of five pledges by the end of 2012.

The five pledges are: doing more to invest in skills; enhancing links with education; offering a work placement to an unemployed person; offering an apprenticeship or mentoring a budding entrepreneur.

The LEP has outlined three reasons for the campaign: you will help someone reach their potential; your business will benefit and the wider economy in which you do business will grow; leading to one outcome: our economy will grow.

Stephen Kennedy, a board member of the LEP and chief operating officer of CPP, who is leading the 5-3-1 campaign, said: “The board is determined to promote the campaign far and wide and get as many businesses as possible to take action and actively support the campaign.

“It is a straightforward action campaign and companies can commit to one or more actions that suit their needs.”

Tom Sharp, creative director of The Beautiful Meme in York, is backing the campaign and the importance of business mentoring. He said: “I started my business straight from university and I understand the trepidation and uncertainty new entrepreneurs face. We make a point of giving time to anyone setting up for the first time and answering any questions they may have. On many occasions we’ve gone on to develop a partnership with what are invariably energetic and exciting new businesses.”

John Horvarth, group hotel director at Cedar Court Hotels, said the business regularly offers work placements to schools, colleges and universities and some of its trainees still work for the company. He said: “We are committed to training and think that the LEP’s campaign will help young people build their careers and businesses to grow and be successful.”