Supporting local people into work through COVID

6th July 2022

Over the last two years, thousands of local people have been helped forward in the jobs market or into self-employment, softening the impact of COVID, reports REDA in its Employment and Skills Plans (ESP) Annual Progress Report, which will be presented to Reading Borough Council’s Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport Committee on 7 July 2022.

The report outlines how the ESPs have helped those people who would, in any normal year, struggle to break into the jobs market and how they have also helped those directly adversely affected by the economic impact of COVID. The report also lays out how, over the coming two years, these programmes will be developed to upskill local people for green jobs, 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 has been further complicated due to the impacts of COVID.

The focus of the ESP programmes has been to 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 at 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 has severely impacted what could be delivered in-person in the last two years, we are proud of the innovative way in which our many partners have found ways to support young people and adults towards the workplace despite the pandemic.”

Jason Brock, Reading Borough Council Leader, said: “Reading’s economy has proved resilient, even in the face of the pandemic. And while it boasts one of the most powerful economies in the South-East and the UK, there is little doubt that some people in Reading do not have access to the opportunities that others do. It is hugely gratifying to note the early success of this joint initiative, as outlined in the report, which sits alongside this Council’s ethos of doing all it can to ensure that everybody can share in Reading’s success.”

This work has been 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.