Across the UK, there is renewed focus on locally led approaches to tackling employment challenges.
Through the Get Britain Working white paper late last year, and the English Devolution White Paper, the Labour Government signalled a willingness to empower local areas to design and deliver employment support that meets the needs of their communities. With the launch of the 16 Trailblazer areas this year, that commitment is now backed by funding and a clear mandate to test new approaches. Many in local government will be watching closely to see what works, where, and for whom.
But local leaders will tell you this is nothing new. Even in the absence of formal devolution of employment or skills policy, local authorities, community groups and other anchor organisations have long been supporting residents and developing place-based approaches tailored to local needs.
At Learning and Work Institute (L&W) we are growing the evidence base on what works to improve employment outcomes. Sometimes that means learning from good practice that’s already out there – but sometimes it means supporting places and providers to try something new, and drawing lessons from it in a systematic way. That’s why we are piloting an innovative, locally led employment support initiative called JobsPlus.
Why does social housing matter?
Delivering JobsPlus within social housing communities enables targeted, hyper-local support. One in four economically inactive working-age adults lives in social housing, and these communities are disproportionately affected by barriers to work. Residents are more likely to be disabled, lone parents, or have low or no qualifications. While many are in work, they are more likely to be in low-paid or insecure jobs. Yet many residents are not accessing mainstream employment support. Supporting more people in these communities into work is crucial if the Government is to achieve an 80% employment rate.
Progress and promise
Now in its second year, the JobsPlus pilot is showing promising results. This groundbreaking partnership between landlords, tenants and key local agencies aims to provide targeted support for those that need it. Over 830 residents have participated, and more than 190 have moved into work. An interim evaluation report is due this autumn, and early findings will be shared at a webinar in early November.
The Government has set a new requirement for all areas in England to produce local Get Britain Working plans, intended to set out how areas are tackling local labour market challenges, including reducing economically inactivity. JobsPlus has the potential to be a powerful model for local areas seeking to improve employment outcomes, particularly for social housing residents, many of whom are economically inactive. As national policy continues to shift toward locally led solutions, there is a real opportunity for councils, housing providers, and other local actors to learn from the trial.
Local authorities and their partners are often best placed to understand the barriers residents face and to design targeted interventions that drive inclusive growth. JobsPlus supports this agenda by offering flexible, community-driven employment support that complements local government priorities—particularly around economic inclusion, reducing inequalities, and improving outcomes for disadvantaged groups. By embedding services within social housing communities and working in partnership with local organisations, JobsPlus can reach residents who are often underserved by mainstream provision, helping to advance place-based strategies and supporting local priorities around employment and social housing.
Watch this space for future articles on JobsPlus and the interim evaluation findings, due in early November.
