Purpose

A key priority, expressed both by elected
Members and by communities upon extensive consultation, is ensuring
that UKSPF/RPF funding supports communities that have been
historically under-represented in the provision of public
investment, as well as making strong investments in local skills
provision to support the growth of employment, reduce economic
inactivity and improve social mobility for the local population. ,
investment in local skills provision, has been highlighted as a key
priority.

Steadfast Training Ltd have submitted a detailed Full Application
to invest in an integrated skills and employment service to
residents across South Holland. The project aims to help
individuals with health-related barriers to access skills training
and support.This will consist of an intentisive 13 week Programme
of support to residents who are either economically inactive or
unemploymed. The service will identify local job vacancies and
match participants' skills with relevant job opportunities. All
training provided will improve job seekers' skills and meet the
needs of local employers.

The project will be directly delivered by Steadfast Training with
the support of a delivery partner, Tonic Health. Steadfast
Training, a small-medium-sized enterprise with its Head Office in
Spalding, Lincolnshire, and is an established provider of
employability and vocational skills training and have been
operating in the East Midlands (EM) and East of England (EoE) for
over 16 years. They are a prime contractor to the ESFA, DWP,
Combined Authorities and Local Authorities (including Lincolnshire
County Council) and part of the fabric of employability and skills
provision across Lincolnshire based on our AEB, ESF and Multiply
delivery since 2007. Since 2018, they have delivered skills
training to more than 6,500 individuals in Lincolnshire. The
delivery partner Tonic Health is a well-established and respected
local Health & Wellbeing charity providing community support to
unemployed, under-employed and other disadvantaged residents of
South Holland and Boston. This is largely delivered via peer-led
groups and sector-specific activities for people with mental health
and other additional needs.

This project directly and specifically addresses a full range of
UKSPF/RPF outcomes relating to employment and skills, targeting a
cohort of 170 residents across Boston and South Holland (136 in
South Holland) for the completion of accredited skills courses and
a guaranteed job interview with a local employer. This project aims
to reduce levels of economic inactivity and increase the amount of
quality training provision available to the population of South
Holland.

Decision

To award funds of
£140,569 to Steadfast Training Ltd under the UK Shared
Prosperity Fund and Rural Prosperity Fund Programmes.

Reasons for the decision

Considerations and conclusions
for this investment are made within the text of this report,
including the options appraisal below.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 - Proceed as per the recommendation
of this Report.

 
Under this option, a
grant of funding to Steadfast Training Ltd will be made. This will
support the realisation of the benefits as set out within the
report below and allow the council to effectively allocate a
substantial proportion of its available Prosperity People and
Skills Funding on an impactful, targeted local project.

 
Option 2 – Do nothing.

 
Under this option, the
recommendations are not taken forward and grants are not made
available, the benefits of local skills provision will not be
realised.  Consequently, the
benefits set out within the report will not be
obtained.This also increases the risk of not
distributing adequate UKSPF funding to strong projects that meet
our commitments to central government and consequently, the risk of
a return of funding to government.