Skills
Level up basic skills to 'build back better,' says CPP
Levelling up basic skills could boost employment by up to 302,000 in the most deprived local authorities, according to new analysis by the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP).
Future Forum North: Collaboration key to levelling up
City council chief executives made a united call for a collaborative approach to levelling up at The MJ's Future Forum North today.
Changing the climate from within
Kate Wilson looks at the challenge of finding talent in an increasingly competitive and talent-short market, while continuing to progress the overall goal of zero carbon emissions.
Counties scale up to the challenges
Counties’ ability to blend both a central and local focus means they should be further empowered to lead on transforming local economies after the pandemic, argues Cllr Barry Lewis.
Councils must take a leading role in our economic recovery
It cannot be left to central Government to determine the labour market strategy and lead on it, says Claire Kober. 'The local government sector has demonstrated its ability to reach areas central Government cannot.'
Transforming the jobs outlook for young people in Essex
Nicole Wood outlines how Essex CC has committed to creating 1,000 new entry level jobs for young people, of all abilities, within 12 months, using an ambitious three pronged approach.
Councils' role is vital to a fulsome recovery
Some loved ones will not be around to experience the renaissance when it comes. But for those who are, 'the critical role of local authorities needs to be recognised and underpinned' if the recovery is to be swift, says Abdool Kara.
Time for some good news
Paul Wheeler reports on a company based in Oldham that believes in the town and want to be part of its future.
Communities and councils need the power to act locally on unemployment
We need to give local authorities the power and the means to tackle unemployment rates at a community level, says Vidhya Alakeson.
Community-led skills devo should be the way forward
A more comprehensive and community-led approach to devolution would enable skills strategies and local services to be joined up more effectively, says Charlotte Morgan.
The learning never stops
Drawing on feedback from Solace’s recent development programmes and events, Jessica Mullinger assesses the advantages and disadvantages to both live and virtual settings as we look at different ways of learning due to the pandemic.
Green revolution or missed opportunity?
Local government insiders tell Heather Jameson that the Government’s 10-point action plan for tackling climate change isn’t ambitious enough either in terms of the scale of the vision or about what role councils should play.
Five steps to delivering local green retrofit skills
A zero carbon Britain by 2050 depends on creating new green jobs across the construction sector. Councils need to take action now to make sure communities have the skills required, says Cara Jenkinson.
A radical case for change to employment support
Let local areas – not the Department for Work and Pensions – provide better support for people facing barriers to work, argues Pawda Tjoa
Give local leaders a ‘levelling up’ role
Zoe Billingham and Charlotte Alldritt say inequality within regions is rife across the UK. Here, they put forward a strategy to address this– but they say that ‘with greater devolution must also come greater accountability’.
We’re upping councils’ data game
Social Finance is working with partners to design a sector-led data science apprenticeship programme, starting with children’s services. Celine Gross outlines the aims and the approach.
Rebooting our sector
Solace’s week of virtual learning Reflect.Reset.Re-imagine has begun. Here, three Solace spokespeople set the scene by looking at the profound impact of COVID-19 on the sector and local communities, and what lies ahead.
‘Devolve to Resolve’ the jobs and skills challenge
Powers and budgets for post-16 employment and skills development policy should be unconditionally devolved to combined and local authorities to allow for targeted interventions, says Charlotte Morgan.
Supporting young workers with SEND through the crisis
Claire Cookson discusses how young people with learning disabilities have stepped into key worker roles for councils during the pandemic, and how the period can act as a springboard for more fairness and equality.
Staring into the jobs abyss
With the furlough scheme due to finish at the end of next month, can local government support COVID-hit local economies and residents left without work? Ann McGauran talks to sector experts.
