Agenda item

To consider the progress update on the implementation of the Pathways to Work Economic Inactivity Trailblazer programme.

At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy opened the item by welcoming the opportunity to provide an update on the Pathways to Work programme, a government-funded initiative aimed at tackling economic inactivity.

He explained that the programme was part of a national pilot being delivered in nine regions, including South Yorkshire, and was designed to test new approaches to supporting people furthest from the labour market.

He emphasised that the programme aligned with Rotherham Council’s Employment and Skills Strategy, which focused on:

1. Enabling more residents to progress into work.
2. Investing in residents’ knowledge and skills.
3. Securing a resilient, diverse, and skilled workforce.

Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy highlighted that successful delivery depended on strong collaboration between the Council, employers, the NHS, DWP, voluntary and community sector organisations, and residents. Going to note that although the programme had experienced a slower-than-expected start, momentum was now building.

Key developments included:

• Commissioning of the Employment Solutions Team to deliver 138 job outcomes.
• Grant funding to VCSE organisations to deliver an additional 272 job outcomes.
• Establishment of a single point of contact (phone and email) for individuals and employers to access support.

The Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy concluded by referencing the government’s Get Britain Working White Paper, which criticised the current employment support system as outdated. The Pathways to Work programme, was Rotherham’s response to that challenge, aiming to build a more integrated, accessible, and effective support system.

The Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration and Transport, Simon Moss introduced Fiona Fletcher, the newly appointed System Service Manager for the programme in Rotherham. He noted that Fiona had joined in August and would lead the local implementation of the programme, driving system change and integration across employment and health services.

Fiona Fletcher, the newly appointed System Service Manager for the Pathways to Work programme in Rotherham, provided a comprehensive update on the programme’s implementation since she took up the post in early August.

It was explained that the programme was not a standalone employment service but aimed to drive system-wide change by integrating employment and health support services. Its goal was to make services more accessible and easier to navigate for residents who were unemployed, economically inactive, or in work but facing barriers.

The System Service Manager outlined the three key initiatives under the programme:

1. Economic Inactivity Trailblazer – supporting those furthest from the labour market.
2. Connect to Work – helping disabled people and those with health conditions into employment.
3. Health and Growth Accelerator – supporting people in work, especially those at risk of leaving due to ill health and improving occupational health for SMEs.

It was reported that:

• A triage system had been established with a dedicated phone line and email to direct individuals to the most appropriate support.
• A team of employment advisors had been recruited to deliver personalised support.
• Nine VCSE organisations were delivering engagement activities, and thirteen others had been commissioned to provide tailored employment support, including for neurodivergent individuals and those with chronic health conditions.

The System Service Manager highlighted the scale of economic inactivity in Rotherham, noting that over 40,000 residents aged 16–64 was economically inactive, with around 18,000 households classified as workless. The importance of community engagement, employer activation, and targeted training, especially in sectors with high demand such as the foundational economy was highlighted.

The System Service Manager described efforts to:

• Develop employer-led training programmes.
• Promote inclusive recruitment.
• Create a single point of contact for employers.
• Commission wraparound services such as mental health and pain management support.

The System Service Manager also shared early performance data:

• Fifty-nine participants had become active in the programme.
• Seventy-nine were in the pipeline.
• Eighteen were undergoing quality checks.
• Nine were awaiting eligibility evidence.
• Twenty had agreed exit points, though many faced long-term health barriers.

The System Service Manager concluded by emphasising the importance of joined up working with the NHS, DWP, and neighbourhood teams, and committed to improving geographic coverage and equity in service delivery. The need for better visibility, including improvements to the Council’s website and outreach through community centres was acknowledged.

The Chair invited members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) to raise questions and queries on the points raised.

Councillor McKiernan began by seeking clarification on the phrase “incentivising and de-risking inclusive recruitment”, describing it as buzzwords. The System Service Manager explained that the phrase referred to supporting employers to recruit individuals with barriers to employment (e.g. young people, those on probation) by preparing candidates and offering wraparound support. This reduced perceived risks for employers.

In a subsequent question, Councillor McKiernan queried whether the programme duplicated existing services, noting his own past experience with similar support in Staffordshire. In response it was clarified that while similar services existed, they were often fragmented. The Pathways programme aimed to integrate and streamline support, ensuring individuals could access coordinated services throughout their employment journey.

In response to a question by Councillor Lelliott, the System Service Manager confirmed the programme was borough-wide and that mapping of service coverage was underway. She committed to sharing details of the commissioned VCSE organisations and their geographic reach. Assurance was then sought that deprived communities would not be left behind. The System Service Manager acknowledged the importance of ensuring equitable access and stated that a commissioning manager and monitoring officer would oversee this aspect. Councillor Lelliott then went on to query whether the commissioned VCSE organisations were suitable and appropriately distributed. In response the Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration and Transport added that while it would have been ideal to complete the mapping before commissioning, delays in government funding had impacted timelines. He assured members that geographic equity remained a priority.

Councillor Baggaley asked whether the programme would meet its target of 400 job outcomes by March 2026 along with requesting clarity on how progress would be monitored and reported. The System Service Manager stated that 410 job outcomes had already been commissioned (138 via Employment Solutions and 272 via VCSE organisations). She explained that while only 59 participants were currently active, many more were in the pipeline and progressing through the system. She committed to ongoing monitoring and reporting using Rotherham-specific data.

Councillor Yasseen questioned whether the item had come to scrutiny too early, suggesting a one-year interval would have been more appropriate. Along with asking whether the programme was targeting underrepresented groups, such as ethnic minority women. The System Service Manager acknowledged the early stage of delivery but highlighted the rapid progress made since August. It was confirmed that future commissioning would focus on harder-to-reach groups and that equity was central to the programme’s design.

Councillor Brent asked whether the programme worked with schools to support young people at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). In response it was confirmed that while the programme targeted individuals aged 16+, it worked in partnership with enterprise coordinators and school-facing teams. The importance of recognising young people’s skills and aspirations, even when formal qualifications were lacking was emphasised.

The Chair asked about the visibility of the programme and whether the Council’s website was effective in promoting it. The Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy acknowledged that the website needed improvement and committed to enhancing its accessibility and usefulness. The System Service Manager added that she planned to include event listings and contact information to make the service more visible and user-friendly.

Resolved: That progress on the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer and wider Pathways to Work programme, would be reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on an annual basis.

Further actions that arose from discussions included:

·       That details of the commissioned VCSE organisations and their geographic reach would be shared with members of OSMB.