Ambitious plan launched to boost employment to 80% across Peterborough and Cambridgeshire
An ambitious plan has been launched to ‘get Peterborough and Cambridgeshire working.’
The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Paul Bristow has officially launched the ‘Get Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Working Plan.’
The Mayor unveiled the Combined Authority’s ambitious plan which will be delivered in partnership with the Integrated Care Board and Job Centre Plus to help out of work people in the region into jobs by breaking down barriers to employment.
The Plan sets a bold target of achieving an 80% employment rate across the region. While current employment stands at 78.1%, the Combined Authority identified that over 68,000 residents remain on out-of-work benefits, with 22,500 economically inactive due to long-term sickness.
Mayor Paul Bristow said: “I welcome this plan that will help people get into employment and support businesses with the skilled workforce they need."
"This strategy unlocks growth for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, more skills and more jobs mean more opportunity, driving stronger regional growth. We are sending a clear message: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is open for business, and we are getting our people back into the heart of our economy."
Emphasising the human impact of the strategy, Andrea Wood, Assistant Director of Skills and Employment, added: "We believe that everyone deserves the chance to thrive, no matter their starting point. This initiative is about walking alongside people on their journey, breaking down the barriers that hold them back, and unlocking doors to opportunities that truly transform our communities from the inside out."
Discussions in creating the plan centred on disparities within the region, specifically the high inactivity rates in Fenland and Peterborough compared to Greater Cambridge.
The strategy will help make it easier for people to access training and jobs, while changing how businesses find the skilled workforce they need to thrive.
The ‘Get Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Working Plan’ is now live and will be rolled out in phases across the region, integrated with the Local Growth Plan and the forthcoming Local Skills Improvement Plan.