Council approves new five-year plan to get more Rotherham residents into work
A new five-year plan aimed at helping more people in Rotherham into work, and making sure local businesses have the skills they need, has been approved by the council.
At a cabinet meeting on December 15, councillors signed off the Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy for 2026 to 2031, replacing a plan first adopted before the pandemic.
Council officers say the new strategy reflects how dramatically the jobs market has changed in recent years, with shifts in working patterns, rising economic inactivity, mental health pressures and the growing impact of automation and artificial intelligence.
The strategy sets out three main priorities: helping more residents move into work, improving access to skills and training, and building a workforce that can support long-term economic growth in the borough.
A key focus will be young people aged 16 to 24 who are at risk of falling out of education, employment or training, alongside residents facing health or other barriers to work.
Under the plans, partners will work together on a joined-up employment offer, including tailored support for young people, a new workforce investment plan with employers, and a “work-ready” placement programme to help fill hard-to-recruit roles.
The strategy has been developed with the Rotherham Together Partnership and is designed to align with the South Yorkshire Skills Strategy and national policy, including the government’s Get Britain Working White Paper.
Oversight of the strategy will sit with the Rotherham Employment and Skills Board, which will report back to cabinet and partners on progress each year.
The council says producing the strategy cost £25,000, funded through a South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority grant. Any future projects arising from it would need to be delivered within existing budgets or funded separately