Abstract
Key takeaways
1. Analysis suggests there is no single model of integrating economic and social policy agendas within and across spatial scales to address worklessness, but it is possible to identify common features of a place-sensitive holistic approach.
2. Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs), with their reach across functional labour markets, are uniquely positioned to lead complex skills and employability programmes which straddle multiple policy areas and are rooted in place.
3. Evaluation findings from two MCA employment pilots demonstrate the value of moving beyond transactional relationships to steer collaborative partnerships and action at both national and local levels. It is important to build trust over time.
4. To build understanding across organisations regarding what has and has not worked, there is a need to improve data linking across policy domains and sharing of learning across organisations to create a shared body of knowledge for policy makers and practitioners.
5. In the face of entrenched worklessness in particular places it seems logical to suggest innovation in policy and approaches. However, measurement and evaluation of new initiatives have failed to keep up with the pace of change, in part due to shortcomings in capacity and resources (which, of course, vary between places).
1. Analysis suggests there is no single model of integrating economic and social policy agendas within and across spatial scales to address worklessness, but it is possible to identify common features of a place-sensitive holistic approach.
2. Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs), with their reach across functional labour markets, are uniquely positioned to lead complex skills and employability programmes which straddle multiple policy areas and are rooted in place.
3. Evaluation findings from two MCA employment pilots demonstrate the value of moving beyond transactional relationships to steer collaborative partnerships and action at both national and local levels. It is important to build trust over time.
4. To build understanding across organisations regarding what has and has not worked, there is a need to improve data linking across policy domains and sharing of learning across organisations to create a shared body of knowledge for policy makers and practitioners.
5. In the face of entrenched worklessness in particular places it seems logical to suggest innovation in policy and approaches. However, measurement and evaluation of new initiatives have failed to keep up with the pace of change, in part due to shortcomings in capacity and resources (which, of course, vary between places).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Liverpool |
| Publisher | Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2022 |
Publication series
| Name | Policy Briefing |
|---|---|
| No. | 18 |
| Volume | 2 |