How Reading UK supported residents during lockdowns
A SCHEME set up to help people during the early stages of the covid pandemic has been hailed a success.
Over the past two years, Reading UK’s Employment and Skills Plan has worked with people who would otherwise been adversely affected by lockdowns.
The findings were presented in a report to Reading Borough Council’s Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport Committee held on Thursday, July 7.
The report looks forward and explains how, over the coming two years, these programmes will be developed to upskill local people for green jobs, create opportunities through the new film industry developments locally and make large-business procurement processes more accessible for SMEs.
Reading UK says that while the area enjoys high employment levels and one of the highest levels of productivity in the UK, it also has areas of deprivation and residents who struggle to break into the job market.
The ESP programmes helps people find routes into employment by matching people to job and enterprise opportunities created by new commercial developments in the town.
Reading Borough Council’s planning policy obliges developers to work with Reading UK to produce an ESP to support local employment.
Sue Brackley, Economic Development Manager, Reading UK said: “While the pandemic has severely impacted what could be delivered in-person in the last two years, we are proud of the innovative way in which our many partners have found ways to support young people and adults towards the workplace despite the pandemic.”
And Cllr Jason Brock, leader of Reading Borough Council, said: “Reading’s economy has proved resilient, even in the face of the pandemic.
“Whilele it boasts one of the most powerful economies in the South-East and the UK, there is little doubt that some people in Reading do not have access to the opportunities that others do.
“It is hugely gratifying to note the early success of this joint initiative, as outlined in the report, which sits alongside this Council’s ethos of doing all it can to ensure that everybody can share in Reading’s success.”
This work has been delivered as part of the Powered by People Reading Economic Recovery Strategy, set up to respond to the economic impacts of covid to ensure every part of our community benefits from support and that our economy is capable of adapting to changing demands both during and beyond the pandemic.
In the last two years, working with contractors and developers, the ESPs have delivered 35 work experience opportunities, 18 apprenticeships, 416 local job opportunities and 126 education projects.
Dveloper financial contributions have funded employment events such as Reading Job Fest, Workplace Wellness events, Sustainable Business Model workshops, careers and life skills coaching, new employment opportunities promotion, start your own business training courses and the development of a networking community for SMEs.