Enhancing skills
We know that the opportunities we’re creating must reach every corner of our borough. As part of this approach, we need to ensure that residents can improve their skills so that they can access these opportunities and continue to progress in work.
Long-term ill health is the main cause of economic inactivity across South Yorkshire, and poor health is a major barrier to work for many in Rotherham. A healthy workplace also benefits employers, reducing absenteeism and staff turnover and increasing employee health and wellbeing and productivity. The Council is part of the region’s economic inactivity pathfinder, which will better integrate the local work, health and skills support system. This will complement our own employment hub and our data-informed approach to tackling health inequalities.
The differences you will see:
Support more people into and to progress in work, through dedicated and holistic training initiatives
Through targeted skills and training initiatives, we aim to give all residents an opportunity to succeed. This means equipping people with the core skills that provide the bedrock for securing employment, as well as offering holistic support to overcome any barriers that are preventing them from finding and maintaining employment. We are ensuring permanent funding is made available to our Employment Solutions service, which has already helped over 1,700 residents into work or training since its launch in 2020. In 2025/26 working with partners across South Yorkshire, we will also be piloting the delivery of a new economic inactivity trailblazer, to provide further support to get people into work.
Deliver at least 500 new apprenticeships through Rotherham Together Partners by 2028
In the heart of the town centre, University Centre Rotherham (UCR) is a state-of-the-art campus offering degrees and higher-level qualifications to residents of all ages. Headed by the education and training provider RNN Group and working in partnership with the Council, UCR ensures that the requirements of Rotherham businesses and residents are brought together to create clear pathways for progression into work and to support career development, aligned with local growth sectors.
As well as supporting people into employment, alongside our Rotherham Together Partners, we want to further improve access to training and apprenticeships to support career progression and help people to progress into well paid jobs. Apprenticeships provide opportunities for everyone and there are chances to progress in a range of professions, roles and levels.
Maximise the impact of Rotherham Together Partnership’s potential to unlock, deliver and report on a collective potential of £53.5 million of unmeasured social value benefits across the borough
On social value, further work with local businesses and our public sector partners will see millions more in direct benefits delivered for local communities and more money spent with local suppliers. We will also continue to pay and promote the Real Living Wage, recognising that people deserve a wage that at least meets every day needs.
