Employment and Skills Plans
We deliver Employment and Skills Plans, which can also be termed Employment and Skills Strategies, to help establish how developments can maximise employment and economic opportunities for the local community.
Image credit: Wolters Partner, Coesfeld, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How can an Employment and Skills Plan Help?
Delivered alongside major residential and commercial developments, employment and skills plans (ESPs) aim to support local residents, sub-contractors and suppliers, including those in the construction, operation and end use phases of a project/development where appropriate.
They are often required through the planning process to drive inclusive employment opportunities and improved skills pathways, helping to show how new developments will contribute to social value. Achieving social value has been increasing in prominence within planning in order to maximise benefits to local communities. A strong ESP can help to demonstrate how social value will be achieved and present how a development/project can support the local community.
See how we have helped clients around the UK with a socio-economic impact assessment >
The Importance of Understanding Employment and Skills Opportunities
Consenting authorities are often keen to understand what a project/development can offer local residents, and employment and skills plans can clearly communicate how a project/development can support local economic growth, boost productivity, and deliver employment and skills training opportunities.
Employment and skills plans identify local need and aim to maximise local benefits in relation to jobs and skills progression. This includes understanding local business skills needs and engagement with educational institutions to raise awareness of career opportunities.
Our Methodology for Employment and Skills Plans
HJA deliver Employment and Skills Plans which are aligned with best practice approaches and guidance, and are tailored to projects/developments and the local consenting authority. Our methodology consists of:
- Setting out the context: outlining the development, employment and skills related policy contexts, and providing data on the local labour market and skills gaps in the area. This provides an understanding of how the project/development can meet the needs of the local community.
- Objectives and commitments: setting out the intended aims of the development and setting tailored actions and commitments which aim to maximise local employment opportunities – this also often involves engagement with educational institutions and supporting young people to be aware of career and real-life work experience opportunities.
- Identification of key stakeholders: setting out, and potentially engaging with the potential employment and skills stakeholders (i.e., colleges, higher education)
- Implementation and monitoring: understanding how the actions and commitments made in the plan will be measured and reviewed.
Learn more about economic development consulting with Hardisty Jones Associates >
HJA were commissioned by Bridgemere Land Ltd to support a planning application for a proposed innovation centre – the Cambridge Discovery Campus (CDC) – in Hauxton, South Cambridgeshire. Outline planning approval was granted in April 2024.
HJA supported a successful planning application for a food retail and mixed use development at Grovefield Way, Cheltenham through delivering a Socio-economic Impact Assessment. The Impact Assessment formed part of the development's wider Environmental Impact Assessment.
HJA supported a successful planning appeal for the development of an Aldi Store in Gillingham, North Dorset.
HJA were commissioned by Bridgemere Land Ltd to support a planning application for a proposed innovation centre – the Cambridge Discovery Campus (CDC) – in Hauxton, South Cambridgeshire. Outline planning approval was granted in April 2024.
HJA supported a successful planning application for a food retail and mixed use development at Grovefield Way, Cheltenham through delivering a Socio-economic Impact Assessment. The Impact Assessment formed part of the development's wider Environmental Impact Assessment.
