Column by Cllr Richard Smith MVO, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for finance, economic development and skills
Work, health and community are deeply connected. In Suffolk, we want everyone to have the chance to thrive in all three.
Overall, our employment and economic activity rates suggest we are already performing well compared to some other areas of the country. Yet for many people, there remain real barriers to finding and keeping a good job.
That’s why, as the cabinet member responsible for economic development and skills at Suffolk County Council, I’m pleased to be bringing a new plan to Get Suffolk Working to our cabinet meeting this week. The plan’s aim is to reduce economic inactivity and help more people into sustainable, meaningful and rewarding employment.
This is Suffolk’s response to the government’s Get Britain Working white paper, which aims to raise the national employment rate to 80%. Our approach brings together health, skills and employment services, because we know people’s lives don’t fit neatly into one box. We want support to be joined up and shaped around what really matters to people.
Economic inactivity is a complex challenge. In Suffolk, long-term health conditions are now the most common reason people are out of work – a trend that’s grown in recent years. Other barriers include low qualifications, caring responsibilities and limited access to transport or digital services.
These challenges are not new, but they are pressing, and they require a new kind of response – one that is collaborative, compassionate and focused on real circumstances.
It complements existing strategies – like the Suffolk Economic Strategy, the Local Skills Improvement Plan and health and care strategies – and focuses on making better use of the resources we already have.
A key part of the plan is the launch of Connect to Work, a new programme backed by up to £9.5 million in funding from the DWP. It will help more than 2,700 Suffolk residents over the next five years – particularly those with health conditions, disabilities and other complex challenges. The programme will offer tailored training, personalised support and job placements, helping people find work that matches their strengths and experience.
That’s what Get Suffolk Working is all about: making sure support reaches the people who need it most, in ways that work for them. Whether someone has been out of work for months or years, we want to meet them where they are and help them take the next step.
This is a plan is for those with a disability who want to work for an employer that will enable them to fulfil their aspirations. It’s for the young person with anxiety who needs support to build confidence. It’s for the carer who’s ready to re-enter the workforce but needs flexible opportunities.
We’ve also looked at how services can work better together. For example, someone receiving mental health support should be able to get advice about employment. A young person leaving school should be able to find a clear route into training and work. And businesses struggling to recruit should be able to connect with local talent that’s too often overlooked.
To keep things on track, a new Get Suffolk Working Partnership Board will oversee the strategy, supported by a dedicated delivery group. Collaboration has been central to developing this plan, and it will be key to delivering it.
The benefits are clear. Being in work can improve health and wellbeing, reduce social isolation, and build confidence and independence. For our economy, it means a stronger, more resilient workforce that can support growth and innovation.
As cabinet prepares to review the strategy, I encourage anyone interested in employment, health or community wellbeing to visit www.suffolk.gov.uk and read the draft Get Suffolk Working report. It sets out where we are, what we’ve learned and how we plan to help more people succeed in Suffolk.
