Councillor Nick McDonald
Portfolio Holder for Jobs,
Skills & Business
Nottingham City Council
Employment & Growth
In Nottingham
The Broader Context & Challenges
• 14,154 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (April
2013) – 6.7% of the population, significantly above the
national rate 3.7%.
• 21,000 children (under 20 yrs) live in workless
households (34.5%).
• 39% of adults lack a level 2 qualification (Dec 12).
• 32% of children living in poverty (2012), 11th highest in
the UK
Unemployment in Nottingham
• There are now 13,767 (6.5%) people claiming Job
Seeker’s Allowance in Nottingham May 2013, compared
to 14,327 (6.7%) in May 2012
• This represents a decrease of 3.9% over the last 12
months, compared to 6.6% nationally
• 54.1% of claimants in Nottingham are now classed as
long term unemployed (out of work for more than 6
months)
Key Employment & Skills Targets
Nottingham Plan:
• Increase the employment rate to 75% by 2020.
• Raise the proportion of adults (ages 16 – 65) with at
least level 2 qualifications to 90%.
Manifesto Commitment:
• Reduce unemployment by 25% (as of May 2011) by
2015.
• Increase the number of people qualified to level 2 or
above by 10%
The Nottingham Growth Plan
Actions focused on three key areas:
• Fostering Enterprise
Providing business support structures and financial
incentives to encourage enterprise
• Developing a skilled workforce
Creating a skilled productive workforce to support new
industries and making it simpler for employers and
potential employees to connect with each other.
• Building a 21st century infrastructure
Including sustained investment in office and business
accommodation and digital infrastructure
Growth – Key Initiatives
• Nottingham Investment Fund
Providing equity investments to help both established
and early stage growth companies to develop
• Nottingham Technology Grant Fund
for companies in the clean technologies, life science
and digital content sectors who are looking to expand
their premises or exploit technology or intellectual
property
Growth – Key Initiatives
• Retail and City Centre Strategy
Supporting independent retailers and encouraging
investment through a flexible approach.
• Growth 100 programme
Offering intensive business support for SMEs through a
12 month bespoke programme delivered by The
University of Nottingham Business School.
Employment & Skills - Key Initiatives
1. The Nottingham Jobs Fund
• Established in 2011 to place 400 young people into work
by March 2014.
• £2.2m has been made available by the City Council.
• Up to 75% wage incentive is designed to encourage
employers to create new jobs for unemployed young
people in the city.
• Over 300 job opportunities created since
1st April 2012.
Employment & Skills - Key Initiatives
2. The Apprenticeship Hub
• ‘City Deal’ – to create 1,000 apprentices in Nottingham
over the next 3 yrs.
• Department of Business, Innovation & Skills has
provided over £1m to establish an Apprenticeship Hub.
• The Apprenticeship Hub will stimulate employer
demand, raise awareness in young people, parents and
ensure the provider base meets the needs of local
employers.
Employment & Skills - Key Initiatives
The Apprenticeship Hub
Financial Incentives
• Nottingham Apprenticeship Grants - between £1,000
and £2,300
• Age Grant- NAS funded - £1500
• Nottingham Jobs Fund - £4,836 + £500 training
Total incentive to employers= £9,136 per apprentice
Employment & Skills - Key Initiatives
3. The Employer Hub
•The Employer Hub provides a recruitment service for City
Employers and matches local people to local jobs.
• Uses City Council planning and procurement system to
secure employment and training opportunities for
Nottingham City residents - over 500 into employment
since 1st April 2012 (including 50+ apprenticeships).
• Activity has been largely focused on the construction
sector.
Employment & Skills - Key Initiatives
The Employer Hub Model – Capturing Job
Opportunities
• Via Section 106 agreements, developers are required to
use the EH for their recruitment and training,
• Developers pay a ‘social contribution’ to support this
recruitment service
• This approach is applied to all developments over 10
houses or projects over £2m
• Procurement – Local employment requirements
considered for all contracts over £200,000
Employment & Skills - Key Initiatives
4.
Community & Partner Engagement
• The City Council works in partnership with local
community organisations to help unemployed young
people find work.
• Annual Jobs Fair and a series of smaller community
fairs. In 2012 over 5,000 jobs seekers attended (35%
18-24yr olds, 22% from BME community).
• £1.5m funding to ‘Nottingham Futures’ to deliver IAG
and support to the NEET group.
• £2.8m Innovation Funding from the DWP to support ‘Not
Known’ young people into training and employment.