TACKLING WORKLESSNESS
Steve Mather
Neighbourhoods Director
Places for People Group
• Large management and
development company
• 60,000 homes
• Range of interventions
− Affordable Childcare
− Older People’s Support
− Flexible Financial
Services
− Skills & Employability
Why are we involved ?
• 64% of customers receive
state benefits
• 55% of customers who could
work don’t
• 47% of households with no
one working
• 33% hold no qualifications
• 13% have never had a paid
job
•
GM Skills Survey 2005
The “Business Case”
• Creates employment
• Raises aspirations
• Increases incomes and wealth
retention
• Supports tenure choice
• Impacts upon wider issues - ASB;
educational attainment, etc.
• Promotes long term sustainability
of neighbourhoods
What is our role?
• Direct deliverer
• Facilitator
• Partnership leader
• Community investor
• Housing provider
• Developer
• Employer
Our Experience
• Opportunistic
• Grant driven
• Experience and track record
• Evaluate and replicate “what
works”
• Build the “Business Case”
• Mainstream
• Business Opportunity ?
Our Delivery
• Homework Apprentice
• AKABA
• Working Rite
• Firm Foundations
• Enterprising Communities
• Places for Children
• Building Links ILM
Our achievements
• 5,987 accessing services
• 1277 placed into employment
• 2301 accessing learning
• 1399 accessing self
employment awareness
• 245 New business start ups
• 836 existing businesses
supported
Our Approach
• Cannot tackle “worklessness”
in isolation
• Integrated “Neighbourhood
Planning” methodology
• Aligning housing management
& economic development
• Shared agenda
• Economic development
Strategy
Challenges
• Addressing concentrations of “worklessness”
• Tackling “mono tenure” neighbourhoods /
promoting tenure choice
• Removing disincentives – e.g. tax and
benefits
• Removing individuals barriers to work
• Welfare to Work / Flexible New Deal
• Economy / Credit Crunch