Appendix 4, Lead Member for Economy

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The report sets out the results of stakeholder engagement in East Sussex to inform the Get Sussex Working Plan, a local plan linked to the UK Government's Get Britain Working strategy to reduce economic inactivity and raise employment to 80%. p1

The plan is being coordinated by West Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council, and each local authority area will also produce its own action plan responding to local issues. p2

Engagement was coordinated by East Sussex County Council's Employment and Skills team, with the outline report prepared by Fresh Ambition Ltd, and included workshops with Skills East Sussex groups, 18 interviews, 75 survey responses and 68 inputs from young people and adults. p3p9p10

Those taking part described barriers to work including long-term physical and mental health conditions, low confidence, caring responsibilities, housing instability, low qualifications, digital exclusion and poor transport in rural and coastal areas. p109p121

The report's conclusions point to short-term priorities such as improving transitions into work for young people who are not in education, employment or training or who have special educational needs and disabilities, and longer-term aims including joined-up services, a 'No Wrong Door' approach to advice, and more support and incentives for employers. p244p245p250

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• p1Get Sussex Working Plan | Stakeholder Engagement | ESCC 1. Introduction Purpose This report informs the development of the Get Sussex Working Plan (The Plan) a local initiative aligned with the UK Government’s broader Get Britain Working (GBW) strategy to reduce economic inactivity and raise national employment levels to 80%. The GBW agenda promotes systemic reforms across employment, health, and skills sectors.
• p2The Get Britain Working White Paper outlines a national vision for addressing workforce challenges, improving employability, and driving sustainable economic growth through systemic reforms across employment, health, and skills sectors. It has a strong focus on local solutions tailored to community needs. Local GBW Plans are central to delivering this ambition, serving as a bridge between national objectives and regional priorities and ensuring labour market responsiveness. In Sussex, the ‘Get Sussex Working Plan’ (The Plan) coordinated by West Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council, and Brighton & Hove City Council will provide an interconnected vision, narrative and shared ambitions for Sussex. The Plan will identify opportunities for pan-Sussex collaboration, for example relating to common stakeholders and demographics. Each local authority area will also develop an Action Plan to support the Sussex ambitions through place-based responses to local opportunities and challenges, identified in part, through stakeholder engagement. Effective solutions depend on strong stakeholder engagement, with individuals and organisations that play a critical role in tackling employment barriers and fostering inclusive growth. Understanding lived experience is also essential to designing practical, impactful policies that work well for residents.
• p3This report provides an overview of East Sussex stakeholder engagement activity and contributions, the challenges and opportunities identified, and the key areas of focus to inform local actions. Methodology Stakeholder engagement activities in East Sussex were coordinated by East Sussex County Council's Employment and Skills team, and the outline report was prepared by Fresh Ambition Ltd in collaboration with the team. Each local area selected stakeholders for group discussions and one-to-one consultations, with the survey disseminated through direct outreach and via partner networks. Stakeholder engagement data sources comprised MS Forms surveys, Teams-based consultations transcribed using automated tools, Mentimeter outputs, in person consultation. In East Sussex the team held Get Sussex Working Plan workshops for the following Skills East Sussex groups:
• p9The team undertook 18 stakeholder interviews and collated 75 survey responses.
• p10User voice was an important aspect of the stakeholder consultation with 68 inputs from young people and adults via interviews and small focus groups. Themed questions for surveys, groups and 1:1s were developed around the policy priorities outlined in the Get Britain Working White Paper, including employer engagement, workforce inclusion, and labour market barriers. The resultant data (much in the form of open text responses) was then analysed using a thematic framework. The themes presented in this report were informed by this analysis, shaped to align with the strategic aims of the Get Britain Working programme, to support the local plan.
• p1092.1 Understanding employment barriers Stakeholders in East Sussex identified multiple, complex and interconnected challenges that prevent many residents from entering or staying in work. These include long-term physical and mental health conditions, low confidence and lack of motivation, caring responsibilities, housing instability, lack of or low qualifications and digital exclusion. These barriers are even greater for individuals with SEND, social care experience, insecure immigration status, long-term unemployment or little work experience and for those living in deprived rural or coastal areas.
• p121Geographical accessibility can significantly restrict access to support services and employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas where public transportation may be unreliable, or on the coast, where transport costs present substantial barriers. Inadequate road infrastructure, high parking fees, and a general lack of transportation options, especially for individuals with low incomes, can further limit access to the workforce. “Public transport is unreliable in rural areas .” Adult user voice participant.
• p2443. Conclusions and local recommendations Localised short-term and long-term priorities Stakeholder feedback clearly highlighted the need for both immediate, practical improvements and longer-term structural change. In the short term, priorities include improving transitions into employment for young people, particularly those with SEND or who are NEET, and strengthening support for people with health conditions, caring responsibilities, social care experience or insecure immigration status. Enhancing access to tailored employment services in rural and coastal areas, where transport and digital exclusion are particularly acute, is also essential.
• p245Longer-term goals should focus on embedding a joined-up, inclusive system that enables sustained engagement and progression, as well as mechanisms for employers to engage. This means moving beyond siloed programmes towards integrated pathways that align employment, health, and education services. Investments in cross-sector infrastructure, such as shared case management, multi-agency delivery hubs, and locality-based navigation roles, are crucial to making these aspirations a reality. Good practice and potential innovation The consultation process revealed strong examples of what works across East Sussex. The Careers Hub has continued to provide schools and colleges with training and resources to better support young people to understand the labour market and embed careers in the curriculum. It has provided schools with links to employers to provide Open Doors workplace visits and greater take up of work experience to ensure young people are getting a first taste of the world of work to support their career decision making.
• p250Stakeholders identified the need for a ‘No Wrong Door’ approach to providing individuals with advice and support with effective signposting between health, education and employment services. This can be supported through local community-based infrastructure, including via healthcare settings, Family Hubs and Youth Hubs. As the DWP Jobs and Careers Service emerges, it will be important to ensure a joined-up approach, with potential for co-location where possible. Employers are keen to support new initiatives but they need help, easy mechanisms and incentives to engage and offer training and recruitment opportunities. The Transform pilot has modelled an impartial way of working with employers to help them navigate government funded programmes like apprenticeships and skills training, as well as an effective vehicle to deploy apprenticeship levy transfer as a financial incentive. New programmes like Connect to Work offer opportunities to support employers through training and direct support such as access to HR or Occupational Therapy advice to embed more inclusive workplace practices and Growth Hubs, Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses all have important parts to play in working together to develop better joined up support