Issue - meetings

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Endorses the formal adoption of the Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy 2026-31.

2. Notes that the Rotherham Employment and Skills Board is tasked with overseeing the delivery and monitoring of the Strategy and with reporting on progress to Cabinet  ...  view the full agenda text for item 94

Consideration was given to the report which presented the Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy for endorsement. The current Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy was adopted in 2019. Since the adoption of the Strategy the social, economic and policy contexts have changed significantly, including changes in the work, health and skills  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1. Endorses the formal adoption of the Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy 2026-31.

2. Notes that the Rotherham Employment and Skills Board is tasked with overseeing the delivery and monitoring of the Strategy and with reporting on progress to Cabinet and the Rotherham Together Partnership (RTP) on an annual basis.

At the Chair’s invitation Andrew Bramidge, Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment introduced the report explain that a new Employment Skills Strategy was produced for the Rotherham Together Partnership. It was a partnership strategy, not solely the Council’s, setting out the vision and framework for employment skills delivery over the next five years. The previous strategy dated from 2019, and significant changes in the employment skills landscape, along with recent regional and national strategies, made an update necessary.

The strategy was informed by data analysis, stakeholder consultation, and alignment with local, regional, and national priorities. It was built around three missions:

1. Supporting people into work - creating more opportunities for employment and increasing labour market participation, including a system-change approach through Pathways to Work.
2. Improving core skills for employment - enabling lifelong learning and career progression by equipping residents with essential knowledge and skills.
3. Delivering a workforce for sustainable economic growth - working with businesses and partners to attract and develop a skilled workforce to support competitiveness and growth.

Successful delivery relied on collaboration across businesses, education and training providers, the voluntary sector, and residents. Key interventions included targeted support for young people at risk of becoming ‘Not in Education, Employment, or Training’ (NEET), a borough-wide workforce development plan, and employer-led sector-specific training linked to work placements.

Progress would be monitored through KPIs reported via a data dashboard updated twice yearly. Cabinet was asked to endorse the strategy for 2026-2031, note that the Employment Skills Board would oversee delivery and monitoring, and report annually to Cabinet and the Rotherham Together Partnership.

Councillor Brent noted that careers education should begin early, even in primary school, by building confidence in children to talk about themselves and their interests. In secondary school, emphasis was placed on core subjects, particularly English and Maths, as these are essential for employment. Councillor Brent shared experience from Kent, where the Skills Employability Service worked closely with schools and a national careers company to deliver proper careers education. This included employer engagement, mentoring, and talks in schools. It was suggested that similar initiatives be considered in Rotherham, involving local employers and council staff to support young people in understanding workplace expectations and developing confidence.

The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment noted that there was a strong track record in delivering careers education, with good progress across the region. The service had undertaken significant work with schools to support this. The Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration and Transport explained it was reported that RIDO worked extensively with secondary schools in Rotherham to deliver careers education, information, and guidance. Schools were connected with enterprise advisors from local employers to raise aspirations and improve engagement. Efforts also focused on enhancing schools’ careers provision and improving Gatsby benchmarks, which measure the quality of careers education. Behind the scenes, a careers impact system supported continuous improvement. Gatsby benchmarks were highlighted as key milestones, starting in Year 7 and revisited throughout school, helping staff plan and deliver effective careers education.

A question was raised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73