Councillor Nick McDonald

Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Skills & Business

Nottingham City Council

Employment & GrowthIn 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 InitiativesThe Apprenticeship HubFinancial 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.