£10m for North Yorkshire Return to Work Trial

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has been chosen to trial ways of getting people back into work, as part of a £240 million investment by UK Government.

York and North Yorkshire will receive up to £10 million as a trailblazer area announced by Government today, alongside the publication of the Get Britain Working White Paper. York and North Yorkshire is one of eight sites in England and Wales which will focus on improving the support available to people who are economically inactive due to ill health and help them return to work.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:

"We have a great opportunity here to help break down some of the barriers preventing people in our communities getting back into work due to ill health.

"We have been asked by Government to bring together and maximise existing support and test new approaches as we develop this trailblazer offer further.

"Healthy and thriving communities are at the centre of my vision for York and North Yorkshire. We're incredibly excited and passionate to bring this trailblazer to York and North Yorkshire and help people get healthy and get back to work.

"We will ensure it delivers for our region, connecting people to opportunities, as well as benefitting the national fact-finding work led by Government."

According to the Government, a quarter of all people aged 16-64 have a long-term health condition that limits their day-to-day activities with disabled people nearly three times more likely (than non-disabled people) to be economically inactive.

The White Paper sets out how the Government will invest £125 million in eight areas across England and Wales, to mobilise local work, health and skills support - so everyone who wants to work can get the joined-up support they need.

These eight trailblazers will be at the forefront of designing how locally joined-up support will work in practice across England and Wales.

Outside of the ill health-focussed sites, there will also be eight youth trailblazer areas set up across the country. Funding will identify those most at risk of falling out of education or employment and match them to opportunities for education, training or work.

Government Unveils "Get Britain Working" White Paper

The UK government has today published a new White Paper, "Get Britain Working", outlining plans to tackle the country's economic inactivity rate and boost employment. The paper, presented by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Secretary of State for Education, highlights the urgent need for reform and details a £240 million investment plan.

Economic Inactivity: A Looming Crisis

The White Paper emphasizes the alarming rise in economic inactivity in the UK, the only major economy to experience a decline in its employment rate over the past five years. With 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness and 9 million adults lacking essential skills, the government says it is recognising the detrimental impact on individuals, employers, and the economy as a whole.

Key Issues and a New Approach

The paper identifies six key issues plaguing the labour market, including the exclusion of individuals with health conditions and low skill levels, inadequate support for young people entering the workforce, and the prevalence of insecure, low-paying jobs.

To address these challenges, the government proposes a radical shift in approach. Instead of simply writing people off, the new strategy aims to tackle the root causes of economic inactivity by providing tailored support and joining up health, skills, and employment services. This new approach is centred around enabling everyone to have the opportunity of secure and fulfilling work, particularly those struggling with ill health.

Plan for Reform: A Multi-Pronged Strategy

The White Paper outlines a comprehensive plan for reform, encompassing several key areas:

Scaling Up the NHS's Contribution:

• Supporting the NHS to provide 40,000 additional elective appointments weekly, focusing on reducing waiting lists in 20 NHS Trusts grappling with high levels of health-related economic inactivity.
• Expanding Talking Therapies, implementing measures to tackle obesity, and expanding access to Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for individuals with severe mental illness.

Empowering Local Areas:

• Collaborating with mayoral authorities and the Welsh Government to establish eight place-based trailblazers, backed by £125 million in funding, to test new interventions and increase engagement with those outside the workforce.
• Supporting all areas in England to develop local "Get Britain Working Plans", with mayoral authorities taking the lead, to coordinate efforts among local partners, including the NHS, councils, colleges, and the voluntary sector.
• Introducing Connect to Work, a new supported employment program, with £115 million in funding to provide back-to-work support for up to 100,000 people annually.

Delivering a Youth Guarantee:

• Establishing eight place-based Youth Guarantee trailblazers, with £45 million in funding, to design and test integrated support for young people aged 18 to 21.
• Building on existing provisions like free English and maths courses, digital learning, and apprenticeships to ensure all young people have access to education, training, or employment support.

Creating a New Jobs and Careers Service:

• Transforming Jobcentre Plus into a universal, digital-first public employment service, integrating it with the National Careers Service in England to provide personalized support, skills development, and career advancement opportunities.

Independent Review of Employer Practices:

• Launching an independent review to examine how employers can better promote healthy and inclusive workplaces, focusing on recruiting, retaining, and supporting employees with health conditions and disabilities.

Health and Disability Benefits System Reform:

• Acknowledging the shortcomings of the current system, the government will publish a Green Paper in spring 2025 outlining proposals for long-term reform of health and disability benefits to better support individuals entering and remaining in work.

Focus on Young People:

• Recognizing the specific challenges faced by young people, the White Paper dedicates a chapter to the Youth Guarantee, highlighting the need to address mental health issues, low attainment levels, and the vulnerability of care leavers.

A Collaborative Approach:

The government emphasises that achieving these ambitious goals necessitates a collaborative effort, involving government departments, the NHS, local authorities, employers, trade unions, and the voluntary sector.

The White Paper acknowledges that these transformative reforms will require time and ongoing engagement with citizens and stakeholders. The government plans to establish a panel to consult with disabled people, collaborate with devolved governments, and work closely with mayoral authorities and local government to refine proposals and test new approaches.