96. How Kada Helped Rotherham MBC to develop its Employment and Skills Strategy 2025-2030 and enable inclusive growth

Kada Research and GC Insights were commissioned by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council to shape it’s evidence-led, co-designed Employment and Skills Strategy for the next five years. The Strategy highlights the gaps and opportunities for Rotherham, providing a clear implementation plan to reduce inactivity, raise skills and build a more inclusive and resilient economy.

Rotherham has faced challenges in relation to its employment and skills landscape in recent years. Rising inactivity due to long-term illness, a higher proportion of residents with no qualifications than the national average and increasing numbers of young people who are NEET were identified as key challenges to be addressed through the Strategy.

To develop the Strategy, Kada and GC Insights undertook a comprehensive evaluation combining an in-depth desk review of labour market data, policy frameworks and benchmarking against comparator areas alongside extensive stakeholder engagement. This included consultations and workshops with council officers, employers, education and skills providers, health partners and voluntary and community sector organisations. With an emphasis on co-design, emerging findings, priorities and actions were frequently tested with stakeholders to ensure that Strategy was practical, inclusive and reflected Rotherham.

The strategy identifies three core missions:

1. Enable more residents to progress towards and into good work
   Supporting people to participate in the labour market, overcome barriers to employment and access fair, rewarding jobs with opportunities to progress.
2. Invest in residents’ knowledge and skills
   Ensuring residents can access lifelong learning and develop the skills, qualifications and competencies needed to enter, sustain and progress in work.
3. Secure a resilient, diverse and skilled workforce
   Helping employers attract, develop and retain the talent they need to grow, while building a workforce that can adapt to economic change and future opportunities.

To achieve these, Rotherham can build on its established partnerships and foundations and existing skills and employment support programmes, whilst harnessing the opportunities of Local Trailblazer activity and Connect to Work funding. It was found that residents facing health-related barriers to work, young people, and those with SEND require additional, tailored support. There are opportunities to align growth and better define transmission pathways with growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing and clean energy.