A special commission looking at how to ensure people don’t get left behind from economic growth is coming to Nottingham today (Tuesday 1 November) on a fact-finding mission.
The RSA Inclusive Growth Commission has been set up to examine how the UK can develop a model of economic development that promotes inclusive growth. This is to address the fact that while cities are increasingly the primary drivers of growth, they can often be the places where people most experience the downside of unbalanced growth.
Chaired by economist and former BBC economics editor Stephanie Flanders, The Commission will be visiting Nottingham on 1st November to take evidence from senior leaders from business, public services, the voluntary sector and local government about the state of Nottingham and how to ensure all people and communities in Nottingham can fully benefit from economic growth in their local area.
Topics to be discussed include skills, housing, education and early years. The Commission will hear what local business, voluntary organisations and public agencies are doing to tackle the city’s challenges and what else they think needs to happen at a local, regional and national government level to make Nottingham’s economy more inclusive.
Nottingham City Council is doing a range of things to address the issue, including:
- Integrating its Jobs Hub with DWP’s employer engagement services, into a fully integrated team – connecting employers with a range of services and citizens to job opportunities. Over 6,000 people have been placed into work through this method over the last three years
- Making a funded childcare place available to 63% of disadvantaged two-year-olds in Nottingham
- Encouraging childcare providers in four disadvantaged areas of Nottingham to work in partnership with the Small Steps Big Changes team and the Family Mentor to improve early years outcomes
- Working with local further education colleges to ensure courses are based on local employer needs
- Supporting growing industries such as energy, biotechnology, creative industries, with grants and infrastructure.
Deputy Leader of the Council Councillor Graham Chapman, who along with Corporate Director of Strategy and Resources Candida Brudenell will be giving evidence for Nottingham City Council, said: “One of the greatest challenges we face is too many people being left behind and this event will provide us with a chance to discuss some of the things we’re doing in Nottingham which we think are working to address this.
“It will also be a chance to outline the challenges we’re facing to connect people with opportunities and for these and our successes to be fed back to Government by the Commission.”