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Part 3 - Talent attraction and retention

We want to develop a new demand-led skills programme in close collaboration with employers. This will offer innovative pathways to high-quality jobs and curate bespoke training, recruitment, and continuing professional development and progression solutions that will increase productivity and sustain growth.

1.1 Action plan aim: Drive down levels of economic inactivity within the district.

What we already have and do

  • Economic Inactivity increased in Ashfield during 2023 - 2024
  • Covid-19 impact has been major cause for this increase
  • mental health is a big contributor to those out of work due to ill health
  • school Holidays present issues for lone parents when it comes to taking time off work etc.
  • transform your Future programme is currently being ran to support with this..
  • NHS offering support with how to get into the NHS and roles. How to apply, how to fill out the necessary forms, advice and guidance
  • futures do SWAPs with NUH – supporting with applications
  • individual Placement and Support (IPS) has a referral scheme through the NHS (Buddy Scheme), Business Support Service, and has Training providers operating in Ashfield.

What we need to do

Long Term Health conditions

1.1.1 Confidence building / issues to support recover to job market, what are their skills what roles do they want?

1.1.2 Can GPs promote and raise awareness of support. Integration of a referral process. Social prescribers.

Ex-Offenders

1.1.3 Education on employers on the DBS for this group to not just say no to this type of applicant.

1.1.4 Skill matching and transferable skills advice

50+ Retirees 

1.1.5 DWP targeting this group and deed to engage to increase awareness and knowledge.

1.1.6 Raise understanding of what training is available and transferable skills

Lone Parents

1.1.7 Nottinghamshire County Council have been supporting this group through the Family Hub

1.1.8 More accessible childcare for lone parents.

Overall

1.1.9 Access to retraining courses for those that want to switch careers.

1.1.10 Understand the breakdown of those considered to be economically inactive.

1.1.11 Students should be identified separately from the group of economically inactive.

1.1.12 Clarity of the pathways that are available.

1.1.13 Diagnostic tool through the career boost portal

1.1.14 Grant funding to support employers who would employ economically inactive as training people comes with an associated cost.

1.1.15 Careers portals to demonstrate salaries for positions clearly.

1.2 Action plan aim: Ensuring new businesses are supported to achieve sustainable growth within the district:

What we already have and do

  • Currently lower than East Midlands average
  • EU exit has been a major cause due to change to funding structures, leaving gaps in provision and lack of awareness
  • complicated business support structure
  • not all businesses are aware of offerings.
  • Ashfield District Council delivers a business support service and has a business support information website.
  • East Midlands Chamber of Commerce runs Ashfield Accelerator programme until 31 March 2025
  • Nottingham Trent University runs Enterprising Ashfield programme until 31 March 2026
  • West Notts College deliver sector specific training programmes for businesses including Construction, Engineering, and Healthcare.

What we need to do

Offer support to businesses to ensure they continue trading after 1 year from their incorporation date.

1.2.1 Ensure the new High Pavement Business Hub in Sutton has available space for partners such as East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, Nottingham Trent University, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver their business support services. 

1.2.2 Ensure partners that deliver business start-up programmes are referring their customers to a business support service after the course, delivered by Ashfield District Council and partners such as the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce.

1.2.3 Ensure manufacturing businesses are linked up with manufacturing skills offer, including the development of the Automated Distribution and Manufacturing Centre.

1.2.4 Ensure there is enough fully funded “Digital Marketing” provision available for employers.

1.2.5 Explore how employers can have more involvement with Colleges and Universities.

1.2.6 Develop the membership of local employers into Ashfield District Council’s “Succeed in Ashfield” social media platforms and local business networking events.

1.2.7 Work with partners to make languages provision available for small to medium-sized enterprises as well as unemployed adults. Virtual delivery allows businesses to work with international partners.

1.2.8 Work with partners to help more businesses create and develop a website and / or e-commerce platform. Opportunity to “level up” in the digital age and access new markets. Through grant funding/training programmes

1.3 Action plan aim: Supporting residents to develop their skills to level 3 or above.

What we already have and do

  • Current demand for courses outstrips the supply
  • costs associated with level 3+ qualifications provide a barrier
  • skills must be matched to roles
  • courses must be up to date and reflect current need
  • Free courses for jobs (FCFJ) is a funding stream which which sits within the Adult Skills Fund but is managed as a distinct delegated allocation and is part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee. The funding is aimed at enabling those without a level 3 qualification or higher to achieve a recognised qualification fully funded. Those who already hold a level 3 but earn below the national living wage, and those who are unemployed are also eligible for FCFJ
  • The purpose of of free courses for jobs is to reduce sector skills shortages, support individuals in enhancing their career prospects within their current industry and enable individuals to reskill within a new sector. Eligible courses are available in sectors such as health and social care, childcare and early years, hospitality and catering, accounting and finance, and construction. As part for the 2022 / 2023 DFE changes, non-devolved and devolved authorities can fund up to 50% of their allocation on non-national approved level 3 qualifications and develop local level 3 provision to meet local needs and priorities
  • Skills boot camps - Boot camps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for adults aged 19 or over. They give people the opportunity to build up valuable sector-specific skills based on local employer demand and provide a direct path to a job on completion. Skills boot camps are primarily aimed at delivering flexible training at levels 3-5 (medium to higher level technical skills), and level 2 in some sectors. They are co-designed or shaped with employers to respond to their skills shortages
    This training is for adults who are either in work, self-employed, unemployed or returning to work after a break.

What we need to do

1.3.1 Level 3+ courses need to align with industry demands.

1.3.2 Raise the awareness and promotion of those courses that are available.

1.3.3 Ensure that West Notts College Construction Training Centre are linked up with partners that focus on delivering construction sector skills provision (e.g.: CITB and Van Elle Training Centre). Ensure there is a vocational route way for residents wanting to progress within the Construction sector. Capture good news stories from the Construction Training Centre.

1.3.4 Ensure that Ashfield’s Civil Engineering Centre are linked up with partners that focus on delivering civil engineering sector skills provision. Ensure there is a vocational route way for residents wanting to progress within the civil engineering sector.

1.3.5 Explore the vocational route way for the residents wanting to progress within the Healthcare sector, through partners that focus on delivering Healthcare sector skills provision (e.g.: Care4Notts, AEB providers and Think Ahead)

1.3.6 Engage with the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) to ensure Ashfield businesses are accessing the “Skills boot camps”.

1.3.7 Further Education providers to provide FE Collaboration Group updates

1.4 Action Plan aim: Support the DWP to reduce the Claimant Count figures within the district.

What we already have and do

  • Claimant rate is currently quite high when compared to the rate of the East Midlands.

What we need to do

1.4.1 Partners to continue promoting opportunities they have across:

  • training and courses
  • careers advice and support
  • inclusive recruitment practices
  • educating employers and individuals on the opportunities available.

1.4.2 Explore funded provision to offer community-based careers guidance to all adults in Ashfield.

1.4.3 Work with Nottinghamshire County Council and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) to develop their job matching services, improving traffic from residents and businesses.

1.4.4 Department for Work and Pensions to develop their redundancy support “Triage” package for Ashfield residents.

Page last reviewed: 14 November 2024