£10 million to boost economic activity in Wales

Wales have launched their first employment-boosting scheme to tackle economic activity, which is backed by £10 million government investment.

Launched in Denbighshire by UK minister for employment Alison McGovern and Welsh government minister Jack Sergeant, will for the first time provide targeted interventions tailored to local needs, rather than the current “one size fits all” approach. 

Wales is one of nine places up and down the country that are receiving support through the UK government’s £125 million economic inactivity trailblazer programme, targeting areas with the highest levels of inactivity.

These areas are ones that have been selected to trial out new approaches to supporting people get into employment, and have received targeted funding and resources to roll out these new strategies for boosting economic activity. 

Trailblazers are part of a £240 million Get Britain Working package, with reforms including transforming Jobcentres, guaranteeing young people the chance to learn or earn, and providing mental health support to help people start and stay in work.

These strategies include help with writing CVs and job searching, as well as one-to-one mentoring, counselling services, wellbeing provision, and access to services for those with health conditions. 

The approach will be localised, with local leaders tasked with designing tailored employment support schemes for their communities.

The launch in Wales follows the launch of the first trailblazer in South Yorkshire earlier in April, with similar trailblazer schemes to launch in Greater Manchester, the North East, York and North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and three in London.

Welsh government minister for culture, skills and social partnership, Jack Sergeant said: “This £10 million investment is an instrumental step in our collaborative approach to supporting people cross our nation back into good employments. By working in partnership with the UK government, Wales trailblazers will create a tailored approach that means the unique needs of the three communities it is aiming to help in its first year.

“Our focus is on delivering integrated services that truly connect health support with employment opportunities, recognising that good work is fundamental to wellbeing. The Welsh government is committed to ensuring no one is left behind, and this trailblazer programme demonstrates how devolved employment support can be responsive to local needs while contributing to our wider economic ambitions for Wales.”