Levelling Up for Local Skills
14th December 2022
Reading’s Economic Development Company, REDA, presents its next programme of skills and employment work to Reading Borough Council’s Policy Committee on 15 December. Building on successes over the last two years as the region emerged from COVID and the economic shocks of lockdown, the new report sets out support for people during one of the worst cost-of-living crises the region has faced.
The report outlines how Employment and Skills Plans (ESP) are a key part of the town’s strategy to drive opportunity for all, using S106 contributions from new developments, and working with contractors who can offer training at sites such as Station Hill and Domain. The report also lays out how, over the coming two years, these programmes will be developed to upskill local people for jobs in the low carbon sector, create opportunities through the new film industry developments locally and make large-business procurement processes more accessible for SMEs.
While Reading typically enjoys high employment levels and one of the highest levels of productivity in the UK, it also has areas of deprivation and residents who struggle to break into the job market. This employment picture is being further complicated due to the impacts of the cost of living – for both individuals and business.
Upskilling, retraining and self-employment are all powerful tools to help people improve their job prospects, earn additional income and find quality work in a jobs market that is desperate to recruit skilled people. ESP programmes will find routes into employment by matching local people to local job and enterprise opportunities created by new commercial developments in the town. Reading Borough Council’s planning policy¹ obliges developers to work with REDA to produce an ESP to support local employment. This can either be in the form of direct work opportunities as part of the development or a financial contribution towards the delivery of training and employment programmes.
Sue Brackley, Economic Development Manager, REDA said: “The employment and skills programme helps REDA deliver against its mission to create a more inclusive economy in the town. While the pandemic severely dented our economy Reading did bounce back relatively quickly - but we are now facing a new level of challenges. We will be working with partners to find innovative ways to support young people and adults towards the workplace, better pay and more resilience.”
Micky Leng, Lead Councillor for Planning at Reading Borough Council, said: “The challenges brought about by this cost of living crisis, undoubtedly impacts on many communities, it is therefore important that we continue to use every tool at our disposal to create training opportunities for young people in our town. Our ethos as a Council is to ensure everybody, no matter their background or personal circumstances, can share in the benefits of Reading’s success and the Employment and Skills Plans initiative is the perfect example of how we are trying to deliver that.”
This work is being delivered as part of the Powered by People Reading Economic Recovery Strategy, set up to respond to the economic impacts of COVID to ensure every part of our community benefits from support and that our economy is capable of adapting to changing demands both during and beyond the pandemic.
The ESP programmes specifically target people who have been identified as facing barriers to access the job market – those with supported employment needs, the longer term unemployed, over 50s and single parents. In the future it will also include work to develop “Green Skills” and more jobs in the creative industries – working to future proof our jobs market and create more opportunities for all.
In the last two years, working with the contractors and developers, the ESPs have delivered 35 work experience opportunities, 18 apprenticeships, 416 local job opportunities and 126 education projects. In addition, developer financial contributions have funded employment events such as Reading Job Fest, Workplace Wellness events, Sustainable Business Model workshops, careers and life skills coaching, new employment opportunities promotion, start your own business training courses and the development of a networking community for SMEs.
Since 2020, much of the programme has had to be delivered online and has included the creation of the Reading Business Network, 1-to-1 support for start-up businesses, skills and employment roundtables, student support, immediate economic recovery business support. All of which have benefitted over 2000 local people.
An example of one of the schemes funded by ESPs is The Real Business Club. The start-up training course delivered three courses and two programmes of 1-2-1 support in 2021 through online channels, reaching almost 100 budding entrepreneurs, 95% of whom had no previous business experience.
This level of support has been achieved by excellent partnership working with the planning authority - Reading Borough Council - the private sector and community partners such as DWP JobCentre, New Directions, Activate Learning, Reading Business Network, University of Reading and local schools such as JMA and Blessed Hugh Farringdon, among others.
Reading’s Economic Development Company, REDA, presents its next programme of skills and employment work to Reading Borough Council’s Policy Committee on 15 December. Building on successes over the last two years as the region emerged from COVID and the economic shocks of lockdown, the new report sets out support for people during one of the worst cost-of-living crises the region has faced.
The report outlines how Employment and Skills Plans (ESP) are a key part of the town’s strategy to drive opportunity for all, using S106 contributions from new developments, and working with contractors who can offer training at sites such as Station Hill and Domain. The report also lays out how, over the coming two years, these programmes will be developed to upskill local people for jobs in the low carbon sector, create opportunities through the new film industry developments locally and make large-business procurement processes more accessible for SMEs.
While Reading typically enjoys high employment levels and one of the highest levels of productivity in the UK, it also has areas of deprivation and residents who struggle to break into the job market. This employment picture is being further complicated due to the impacts of the cost of living – for both individuals and business.
Upskilling, retraining and self-employment are all powerful tools to help people improve their job prospects, earn additional income and find quality work in a jobs market that is desperate to recruit skilled people. ESP programmes will find routes into employment by matching local people to local job and enterprise opportunities created by new commercial developments in the town. Reading Borough Council’s planning policy¹ obliges developers to work with REDA to produce an ESP to support local employment. This can either be in the form of direct work opportunities as part of the development or a financial contribution towards the delivery of training and employment programmes.
Sue Brackley, Economic Development Manager, REDA said: “The employment and skills programme helps REDA deliver against its mission to create a more inclusive economy in the town. While the pandemic severely dented our economy Reading did bounce back relatively quickly - but we are now facing a new level of challenges. We will be working with partners to find innovative ways to support young people and adults towards the workplace, better pay and more resilience.”
Micky Leng, Lead Councillor for Planning at Reading Borough Council, said: “The challenges brought about by this cost of living crisis, undoubtedly impacts on many communities, it is therefore important that we continue to use every tool at our disposal to create training opportunities for young people in our town. Our ethos as a Council is to ensure everybody, no matter their background or personal circumstances, can share in the benefits of Reading’s success and the Employment and Skills Plans initiative is the perfect example of how we are trying to deliver that.”
This work is being delivered as part of the Powered by People Reading Economic Recovery Strategy, set up to respond to the economic impacts of COVID to ensure every part of our community benefits from support and that our economy is capable of adapting to changing demands both during and beyond the pandemic.
The ESP programmes specifically target people who have been identified as facing barriers to access the job market – those with supported employment needs, the longer term unemployed, over 50s and single parents. In the future it will also include work to develop “Green Skills” and more jobs in the creative industries – working to future proof our jobs market and create more opportunities for all.
In the last two years, working with the contractors and developers, the ESPs have delivered 35 work experience opportunities, 18 apprenticeships, 416 local job opportunities and 126 education projects. In addition, developer financial contributions have funded employment events such as Reading Job Fest, Workplace Wellness events, Sustainable Business Model workshops, careers and life skills coaching, new employment opportunities promotion, start your own business training courses and the development of a networking community for SMEs.
Since 2020, much of the programme has had to be delivered online and has included the creation of the Reading Business Network, 1-to-1 support for start-up businesses, skills and employment roundtables, student support, immediate economic recovery business support. All of which have benefitted over 2000 local people.
An example of one of the schemes funded by ESPs is The Real Business Club. The start-up training course delivered three courses and two programmes of 1-2-1 support in 2021 through online channels, reaching almost 100 budding entrepreneurs, 95% of whom had no previous business experience.
This level of support has been achieved by excellent partnership working with the planning authority - Reading Borough Council - the private sector and community partners such as DWP JobCentre, New Directions, Activate Learning, Reading Business Network, University of Reading and local schools such as JMA and Blessed Hugh Farringdon, among others.
