The Employment and Skills Strategy (ESS) for the period 2011-2015 is now complete, and has been formally approved by the Council's Executive. It will be subject to annual review by partners, through the Employment and Skills Board (ESB) with an annual progress report to the Executive. This strategy has been the subject of wide consultation and comment (on previous draft versions) by partners and stakeholders.
It also links to and seeks to inform the emerging Leeds City Region Work and Skills Plan and the Regional Integrated Skills Strategy.
By recommendation of the Leitch review of skills and the development of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, the establishment of an employer-led Employment and Skills Board (ESB) in the district has ensured that employers are firmly at the heart of skills planning and provision.
It is envisaged that the final Employment & Skills Strategy will provide the ESB and Bradford District Partnership with the strategic vision to align its ambitions and priorities, and therefore delivery, with the skill needs of its businesses and its people. It is a statement of employment and skills priorities, now and over the next five years, and what needs to be done by the Council, funders, stakeholders and delivery partners to address them.
Employer Skills Survey
Bradford Chamber were commissioned to undertake a survey in March/April 2010, of Bradford businesses on behalf of the Council, in order to ascertain their future skills needs and any issues they face in Bradford with regards to skills. A report on the survey's findings can be accessed below, which gives an indicative picture of the recruitment and skills issues faced by Bradford businesses.
Barriers to Recruitment and Skills Development in Micro Businesses in Bradford
Bradford Chamber were commissioned to undertake research on the above in spring 2011, on behalf of the Council and the Employment and Skills Board, in order to ascertain the issues involved and thereby inform any future support for this significant sector for the district. A report on the survey's findings can be accessed below, which gives an indicative picture of the barriers and issues faced by micro businesses in Bradford district.
EVALUATION OF FUTURE JOBS FUND
FJF was introduced in October 2009 to support the creation of subsidised jobs primarily aimed at 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for six months or more, and for a smaller number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) customers aged over 25 in unemployment hotspots.
Between January 2010 and March 2011 Bradford Council, in partnership Aspire-i and Incommunities, worked with more than 80 local employers to offer over 2,300 job opportunities. A total of 1,038 unemployed people were placed into temporary jobs during the contract.
The Future Job Fund Evaluation Report summarises the benefits and areas for improvement related to this approach to tackling unemployment among young people, and the FJF’s impact and value for money. It draws on the lessons learnt from the FJF as a temporary job initiative in order to inform the sub regional Work Programme and local Transition Fund providers and the work of the Employment and Skills Board, Partnership and network going forward under the local Employment and Skills Strategy. The report can be downloaded below.
