Guidance for local and combined authorities
Local and Combined Authorities in England are tasked with creating Get Britain Working (GBW) plans to tackle local labour market challenges, boost employment (aiming for 80%), and reduce barriers to work. DWP guidance outlines the “what” and “who,” but how do you plan effectively for local GWB implementation?
Mike Spicer from PolicyDepartment and Glenn Athey from Mylocaleconomy are experienced consultants in multi-agency plans for increased labour market participation (including skills strategies focused on economic inactivity). We provide insights, practical advice, research and LMI, stakeholder management, strategy development and action planning.
Identifying the challenges and meeting the local GBW plan objectives
Key labour market challenges: GBW plans should address exclusion, youth employment, insecure work, challenges for women, labour/skills shortages, and disparities in outcomes.
Understanding GBW plan objectives: The GBW plans should set clear employment goals, offer tailored solutions to reduce barriers, integrate with existing local plans, foster collaboration (Jobcentre Plus, Integrated Care Boards), and quantify local labour market challenges.
How we can help: every locality is unique. We help you understand your specific labour market nuances. Our team brings 20+ years of experience in labour market and skills economics and research. We provide policy reviews and horizon scanning to keep you ahead of evolving government policies (Jobcentre Plus merger, devolution uncertainties, economic shifts). We’ve navigated multiple recessions, advising on how to pivot budgets and services to rapidly changing needs.
Planning effective delivery
Effective delivery: based on regional reviews of economic inactivity and employment services that we have completed in the past 12 months – successful GBW delivery will require person-centric, flexible support coordinated by advisors; specialist referrals for complex barriers (health, skills, etc.); careers advice with long-term client support and multiple points of use during the year; and resources for long-term support (potentially 2-3 years for some clients).
How we can help: we can support and provide project planning, detailed labour market analysis, stakeholder engagement, gap analysis and service recommendations and specifications. We can also advise on governance and monitoring frameworks. We advocate for agile strategies that adapt to evolving funding and policies.
Need help developing your local GBW plan or want an initial discussion? Get in touch. We’re here to guide you
We can offer agile help with individual elements of work or comprehensive support
Developing an effective local Get Britain Working plan requires a thorough understanding of local labour market challenges, collaboration with stakeholders, knowledge of practice and delivery, knowledge of commissioning, and a strategic approach to addressing key issues.
We can support with you plan development in several discrete functions, or as part of a comprehensive package:
- Project planning: developing comprehensive project plans with clear goals, success metrics, and stakeholder roles
- Labour market analysis: conducting detailed analyses to identify local challenges and drivers of economic inactivity
- Stakeholder engagement: facilitating consultations with key stakeholders to gather insights and build consensus
- Gap analysis and recommendations: identifying gaps in current support and providing actionable recommendations
- Governance and monitoring: establishing governance arrangements to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of the plan
We always recommend developing agile local strategies and action plans that can evolve and adapt for different, new funding streams and policy initiatives as they arise. We are experts and advisors that can help you navigate this crucial work.
Glenn Athey, glenn@mylocaleconomy.org, tel 07799880137
Mike Spicer, mike@policydepartment.com, tel 07771611550
