Agenda item

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.

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 landscape following the pandemic, changes in Government policy, and the development of a new South Yorkshire Skills Strategy.

Reflecting these changes, a proposed new Employment and Skills Strategy, covering the period 2026-31, had been produced for the Rotherham Together Partnership. The new Strategy would contribute to the delivery of the South Yorkshire Skills Strategy but also identified the key challenges and priorities that were specific to Rotherham and proposed a new focus for the co-ordination of activity in Rotherham.

The Rotherham Employment and Skills Strategy contained 3 Missions, as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report, which responded to the local priorities emerging from the analysis and reflected Rotherham’s particular opportunities and challenges. There were key roles to be played by a range of partners to address these missions, particularly for employers who had a central role to play not only as the beneficiaries of a skilled workforce but as active investors in the development of their employees.

For each Mission, the Strategy highlighted a range of existing and planned activities (including those relating to employment support which the Pathways to Work approach will bring together as a single system) to ensure that these continued to deliver for Rotherham residents and businesses. These included:

• The Economic Inactivity Trailblazer and the Health Growth Accelerator
• Adult Skills Fund
• Employment Solutions, Ambition and Advance
• Workwell, Working Win and Connect to Work
• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Apprenticeship Hub Skills Bank funding to support employers with the cost of training their workforce

It was noted that endorsing the proposed Employment and Skills Strategy (2026–2031) would provide an up-to-date, evidence-based framework to guide collective action on employment and skills across Rotherham that linked to the South Yorkshire Strategy and the main policies of the Get Britain Working White Paper. The Strategy had been developed through a robust process, including detailed analysis of current and projected labour market data, and engagement with partners. It reflected shared priorities and set out a clear direction for collaborative delivery. As a key partner in the Rotherham Together Partnership, the Council’s endorsement demonstrated leadership and commitment, helping to secure buy-in from other stakeholders and ensuring the Strategy had the credibility and momentum needed for successful implementation.

The report was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board who advised that the recommendations be supported. The Board also requested an update in September 2026 on performance against targets, including costings for activities undertaken.

Resolved:

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.