Issue - meetings

That:

1)              the establishment of an Employment Hub, as outlined in the report, be approved in principle;

2)              the final approval of detailed proposals be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Director, Place and Growth, in consultation with the Executive Member for Business and Economic Development;

3)              a supplementary estimate of £90k, to cover the implementation and first year running costs of the Employment Hub be approved and a £10k pa pressure regarding running costs in future years be noted.

The Executive considered a report setting out a proposal to establish an Employment Hub which would offer access to a range of services to assist people to overcome barriers and support them to access sustained employment or further education.

The Executive Member for Business and Economic Development introduced the report and highlighted the substantial increase, 227%, of people claiming unemployment benefits even before the full employment impact of the pandemic emerged.  Included within these figures were a 312% increase in young people, aged between 18-24 in Wokingham, an increase of 265% of over 50s and also a 68% increase in young people, aged between 16-18, not in employment or education. It was therefore proposed to set up an Employment Hub which was intended to focus on those people with low or limited skills to enable them to compete in the very competitive labour market, young people to meet DWP funding requirements whilst offering an all-age service, retraining older people to get them back into work, recruiting people into caring professions and opportunities in growth sectors or where there was employer demand.  In addition, short training opportunities for high demand employment sectors would also be provided.

Councillor Munro advised the meeting that he wished to put forward an amendment to recommendation 2 as it should state that final approval of detailed proposals should be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Director, Place and Growth, in consultation with the Executive Member for Business and Economic Development.  This amendment was agreed.

RECOMMENDATION that:

1)              the establishment of an Employment Hub, as outlined in the report, be approved in principle;

2)              the final approval of detailed proposals be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Director, Place and Growth, in consultation with the Executive Member for Business and Economic Development;

3)              a supplementary estimate of £90k, to cover the implementation and first year running costs of the Employment Hub be approved and a £10k pa pressure regarding running costs in future years be noted.