Economy Committee - Friday 15 November 2024, 2:00pm - West Yorkshire Combined Authority Webcasting

Economy Committee
Friday, 15th November 2024 at 2:00pm 

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  1. Cllr James Lewis Chair
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  1. Cllr James Lewis Chair
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  1. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Cllr James Lewis Chair
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  1. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  2. Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  4. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  5. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  6. Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus)
  7. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  8. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  9. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  10. Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative)
  11. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  12. Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  13. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  14. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  15. Cllr James Lewis Chair
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  1. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  3. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  4. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  5. Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University)
  6. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  7. Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative)
  8. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  9. Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus)
  10. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  11. Fara Butt (Private Sector Representative)
  12. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  13. Cllr Lisa Martin (Leeds City Council)
  14. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  15. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  16. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  17. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  18. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  19. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  20. Cllr Imran Khan Bradford Council
  21. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  22. Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus)
  23. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  24. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  25. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  26. Cllr Imran Khan Bradford Council
  27. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  28. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  29. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  30. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  31. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  32. Cllr Graham Turner (Kirklees Council)
  33. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  34. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  35. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  36. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  37. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  38. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  39. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  40. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  41. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  42. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  43. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  44. Cllr James Lewis Chair
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  1. Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Louise Allen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  4. Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups)
  5. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  6. Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative)
  7. Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus)
  8. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  9. Louise Allen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  10. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  11. Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus)
  12. Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups)
  13. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  14. Fara Butt (Private Sector Representative)
  15. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  16. Louise Allen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  17. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  18. Asma Iqbal, West Yorkshire Business Board (Private Sector Representative)
  19. Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups)
  20. Asma Iqbal, West Yorkshire Business Board (Private Sector Representative)
  21. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  22. Asma Iqbal, West Yorkshire Business Board (Private Sector Representative)
  23. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  24. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  25. Asma Iqbal, West Yorkshire Business Board (Private Sector Representative)
  26. Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University)
  27. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  28. Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  29. Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups)
  30. Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative)
  31. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  32. Cllr James Lewis Chair
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  1. James Turner (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  3. Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative)
  4. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  5. Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups)
  6. James Turner (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. James Turner (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  8. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  9. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  10. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  11. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  12. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  13. James Turner (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  14. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  15. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  16. Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative)
  17. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  18. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  19. Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University)
  20. Cllr James Lewis Chair
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  1. Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  3. Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  4. Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus)
  5. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  6. Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  8. Fara Butt (Private Sector Representative)
  9. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  10. Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  11. Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University)
  12. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  13. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  14. Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  15. Cllr James Lewis Chair
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  1. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  2. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  3. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  4. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  5. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  6. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  7. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  8. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  9. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  10. Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups)
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  1. Cllr James Lewis Chair
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  1. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  2. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  3. Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups)
  4. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  5. Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University)
  6. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  7. Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus)
  8. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  9. Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University)
  10. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  11. Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative)
  12. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  13. Cllr Imran Khan Bradford Council
  14. Cllr James Lewis Chair
  15. Webcast Finished

1 Apologies for Absence

Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:00:00
Innovation and Employment Committee for the West Yorkshire Combined Authorities.
Great to see everybody, great to see everybody here. I'm going to start off by
turning to the formal items at the top of the agenda and could we have
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:00:19
apologies for absence please James. Yes we've had apologies from
Councillor Joe Hepworth, Councillor Peter Kildane, we've had apologies from
Shirley Congdon, Milton Brown, Cal Oxford, Natasha,
Robert Evans, Colin Booth and Bill O 'Day.
Great, thank you.
There are no decisions being made by the committee today
in terms of the decision making schedule, but I will ask if anybody has any
interest that they want to declare at the start of the meeting or bring up during the
meeting.

2 Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

I don't see anybody. Uh, there's no confidential items on, uh, this agenda,

3 Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

uh, for the, uh, meeting, Amorax, because this is the first meeting.
There's no minutes of the last meeting to approve or pick over. Um,

4 Economy Committee Membership, Oversight and Priorities

so we'll move on to just a quick, like I say, quick welcome to myself.
We're onto the, uh, first, um, first meeting of, uh, this committee.
And thanks to everybody who's been involved in the previous committee and work with us,
to get to this point where we brought together the economy and skills committee I think we all felt.
In terms of the work of the combined authority and the excellent representation we have around the table,
having the business and the skills together to talk about our work in one place was a really positive step forward
and one where we could look at how we can work collaboratively across West Yorkshire, across these agendas.
moving forward. There's a couple of things that have happened since we last met.
There was a Rachel Rees budget on the 30th of October, which we've all seen the fiscal measures in that,
particularly for ourselves in West Yorkshire. We will have a single integrated settlement from 2026.
The work we've done on the local growth plans, it's been emphasised in the government's work.
and there was a recommitment to the investment zone and the continuation of the shared prosperity fund until we get onto our single integrated settlement.
We've also had the Employment Rights Bill 2024 published something that was a key manifesto commitment for the last general election.
We've had a serious announcement around things like reform to apprenticeships, new growth and skills levy.
We had the Chancellor's Mansion House speech last night which particularly covered reform
of local government pensions as well as reform of the financial sector which we know in all
five West Yorkshire councils is a big employer of our residents so some moves forward there.
What I'm going to do is I'm going to ask Sarah to come in on some other items please.
I think it's Michelle.
Michelle, sorry. So we wanted to give an update on decisions that have been taken by the Combined Authority since the joint committee meeting that took place.
So firstly, so a number of decisions. The Combined Authority approved a change request to the Skills Bootcamp programme.
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:03:37
now you discussed that at the last meeting and endorsed an application to
Department for Education for about seven million pounds and short courses to help
people retrain in some of the most in demand skill areas so the next step in that is
the approval from the formal approval from the combined authority board to approve a change request
to the programme respectively without additional funding and to provide advanced acceptance
I guess in anticipation of receiving that £6 .7 million funding and extended the programme delivery
framework, the programme delivery timeframes are causing as well. They very much agreed with your endorsement so I wanted to provide you with that update.
We will continue to review the adult skills procurement strategy over this winter.
We are holding workshops with other combined authorities and with the Department for Education
around best practice and adult skills procurement.
So there has been a delay to the commissioning of the adult skills fund, which you'll be aware of.
but it is absolutely regrettable.
But over £60 million, which is 90 % of the adult skills fund,
has been successfully commissioned
and is available to support residents of West Yorkshire right now.
And then finally, again, you talked last time about a system review
of employment and skills.
And the first phase of that work is complete
and there is a paper, including a path,
to provide you with a full update of that.
And at the Combined Authority meeting on the 31st of October,
two decisions were taken.
One of those, the Combined Authority Board
endorsed the recommendations that were set out
in that final summary report, which you've got in your pack.
And the Combined Authority Board delegated approval
of an implementation plan to the chief executive
of the Combined Authority in consultation
with Councillor Lewis as chair of this committee.
and plans and delivery are now underway for phase two of this operating model for this employment and skills system
focusing very much on implementation which is what really matters.
How actually is this going to work in practice with progress taking place over the next few months.
Related to that, a review of the business system is progressing and we expect to be able to bring a discussion paper to the next meeting.
Before that, in the September Command Authority Board, members provided in principle approval
for retaining employment to West Yorkshire. For members of this committee that are less
familiar with that, this is the primary delivery model for supporting people into work and
training and to progress in work. And the primary delivery model for addressing economic
in activity which is one of our biggest challenges here in West Yorkshire, supporting residents into work.
So the Combined Authority Board provided in principle approval for retaining that flagship service
as well as continuing to support the start -up manager resource for Enterprise West Yorkshire.
And I'll hand over to Sarah for the additional comments.
Thank you. So we just wanted to be able to flag out to, a bit of a shout out to the universities in the region.
Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:07:05
the knowledge exchange framework results came out recently and this provides data
on the different ways that universities collaborate with external partners
whether it's businesses or community groups or just for the benefit of
economy and society. So across working for business, across IP and
commercialization, across CPD and graduate startups, you know all of our
universities perform really strongly and that's a really great asset for the
region in terms of driving forward some of the transformation that we need to
see in West Yorkshire. And on the university front a happy birthday to
Texas, Martin who are five years old today this year. So yeah congratulations
and obviously another great asset for the region in terms of helping to drive
some of our agenda moving forwards. Thank you. Thank you so quite a lot there from
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:07:56
me, Michelle and Sarah so before we move on to the agenda I'll ask if anybody's
got any comments or questions on anything that we raised. I take it that's

5 West Yorkshire Promise & Technical Pathways

not the case so we'll move on to the item 4 on the agenda which is the

4 Economy Committee Membership, Oversight and Priorities

economy committee membership please Felix. Thank you. So as this is the first
meeting of the of the economy committee we want to just set out a bit of a recap of what the purpose of the joint committee is now and the
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:08:26
kind of role and the
that it's going to cover. It's very much for information paper but just to
Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:08:30
kind of flag a few things. There's a real need for this committee to focus on
guiding policy development, commissioning where there are gaps and need in demand
and inputting very clearly into delivery and co -delivery of kind of programs and
new initiatives. The local growth plan is going to be the key strategic driver for
this committee and we've kind of set out five key priorities within that where we
think this committee has a really important role going forwards. The
The first is around strengthening that forward -looking, flexible and sustainable education and training system,
supporting people through a system that works for all, ensuring all businesses can access the support they need, wherever that might be from.
Turbocharging growth in priority sectors and then addressing the long tail of unproductive businesses and the everyday economy in West Yorkshire.
And across all these agendas, we'll really start to have an inroad into the objectives across the local growth plan.
It is a new committee and as councilor Lewis said there's a real opportunity to link the skills the business innovation
Agendas and really kind of have those joined up conversations that we need to have going forwards
So I'll leave it there once anybody's got any questions or comments
Thank you Sarah, please
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:09:40
Yeah, thank you, it's a pleasure to be here and it's a much easier name the economy
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:09:46
Than the BIC the yeah, which I can never know which order they're in
So this is much easier.
Yeah, and I suppose, and it is interesting, and obviously the two areas, the business
economy, innovation and employment skills, of course, really work and dovetail together.
And in Colvedale, in my portfolio, I have both of those areas, and it is really good
to see them sort of working together.
And I suppose it's like how the question is how do we best, you know,
that how do we take best advantage of the join up of the two agendas?
So I suppose it'd be interesting to know sort of a bit more about the forward plan
that allows for a focus on connection rather than discrete elements of work.
So we can see really how that's all joined up.
And, you know, we're not working in silos because I think that's the that's the beauty
is to try and bring stuff together so it's not all separated out.
And that would be good to make sure that that happens.
Obviously, the local growth plan is key to the overall focus of the agenda for this committee.
It's not on the agenda. I recognize the difficulty of the sort of time scales around around that.
And you've got, you know, submitting a draft of government and the formal sign off from the combined authority.
I guess it would be helpful to bring a more detailed update to a future meeting, maybe,
or if there could be like an informal workshop of the committee that looks at how the growth of the local growth plan will shape future activity and approaches.
So, and the employment and skill system review is a really good piece of work.
It sets out really clearly what works and at what level, reflecting principles of subsidiarity.
And I know that officers are currently inputting into implementation plan, which obviously
I suppose will be more detailed.
I think that's going to be more detailed, the work on that.
That's great.
In terms of business support review, I think that needs more work as well, possibly quite
significantly and I know that officers are working on that after consultancy support
got it so far.
I suppose there's a concern that decisions are being made regarding parts of the system
in advance of the work being done and obviously that can be useful, for example, the business
start -up extension but maybe is there logic regarding which of the
critical areas elements of infrastructure that need to be retained
in order to transition to the new focus is the question really. That's it for me.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:12:21
Thanks Sarah. So Sarah or Felix? Felix please. Martin. Yeah just a couple of
I guess looking at what we're trying to do here, what underpins a lot of this I think
is innovation.
So thinking differently and starting to say, okay, we've always learned that way, let's
look at it in a more effective way, let's look at different ways of delivering things
and supporting businesses.
So I just wonder whether there should be something more explicit about innovation underpinning
our approach and what we're about.
So that was my first comment.
The second comment is, again, Councillor Courtney,
I agree totally it makes sense to bring the committee together.
However, the remit of this committee now is extremely broad,
and we've got fewer representatives on this group.
So my question really is about, does that
mean we have an ability to use subgroups
Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus) - 0:13:22
or to actually get more people involved in particular areas,
particularly when we want to do a deeper dive
and get more input and more thoughts?
So that was really just a question.
Thank you, Martin. Would anybody else like to come in?
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:13:38
Okay, so Felix, please.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:13:44
Okay, on the first point about the business review, the team, we've got an officer group that is working on this.
and I think they met in last week and there's another meeting next week.
So the work is not complete and...
But we need to complete that.
We need to reach agreement this side of Christmas
because budgets are being set.
And exactly to the point, you know, it comes to the point,
we do not want to be forced to be making too many decisions
when we can't see the full model
and have a better sense of what it would take to actually fund it all.
We had to go ahead to provide clarity and certainty for the business data, for the business
data bit of it, because that was facing a particular cliff edge, which was raised as
a fair point and we did our best to be able to close that off to give certainty.
But we're not doing anything else on any other part of our business support infrastructure
until the review has concluded, which we expect, as I said,
to happen this side of Christmas, and we'll come back
and we'll take it through the usual routes.
On the other points of innovation, I completely get it.
And as you can see from either the draft,
look up with planners come around,
and hopefully everybody can see how much we've
amplified the importance of innovation
when it comes to growing productivity and increasing prosperity and all that.
The point you made, Martin, about whether we could have subgroups,
I suppose that's really for the chair and for members to decide.
But what we've written into the terms and what Sarah went through
is that this committee can commission more work, more deep dives.
How we frame that commission is up to the committee working with the chair to agree.
So it could be that if there's a particular issue that's come up, the committee could agree or could decide that actually we need to spend a bit of time and effort going into this.
And we'll nominate some members from here to see that piece of work and to report back.
And you know in agreement with the chair, I'm sure we can
There's no reason
Thank You Felix
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:16:21
Martin please
Sorry, um
Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative) - 0:16:27
Well, I'm not sure
From that Felix is who's making the decisions will the decisions on the business support review and the recommendations will they come to this board?
to be discussed because as it was described it seems to be an internal and
offers only group where there's a huge amount of expertise just sat around this
table in in business support and an awful lot of years worth of knowledge.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:16:53
So you're absolutely right so we started off with an internal it's a local
Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:16:57
authority combined authority because there are some immediate issues we need
to address and resolve but we're really mindful this isn't a CALA issue this is an
ecosystem issue we need to address it with partners like yourselves at the
universities about what that model needs to look like but there's just a few
conversations that need to take place and then we are absolutely committed to
having the conversations with you all and with this committee as well
absolutely. Thank you. Sarah please. Yeah I suppose on that sort of theme really
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:17:24
given that the meetings are like effectively there's three meetings a
and you know some so I suppose it is about the
What do you know if decisions need to be made presumably they're not
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:17:38
going to be made necessarily, you know, necessarily at this committee
So it's like what what role does this committee have?
Is it more of an advisory and information sort of giving rather than decision -making because presumably
You know some some decisions gonna be need to make you know, we're not gonna be fleet of foot enough
for decisions because you know
We're not meeting frequently enough and and I suppose it's that it's that thing is that you had is a massive area of work
and it was eight meetings a year,
if you take the two committees,
going down to three meetings a year,
and a reduction of some of the partners.
I mean, obviously, some of the people around the table
were the same in both committees,
and for those people, I'm sure it's a relief
to have fewer meetings,
and there is a complete sense of consolidating, absolutely.
All of our time is all really busy,
but yeah, I suppose it's just about making sure
that we don't lose some of those voices
that we had previously and just making sure that there is a place for some of the voices
that are really valuable because otherwise we can just talk to each other ad nauseam
and we don't really get some of the outside information and intel perspective.
I suppose I'm not expecting an answer about that particularly but I just feel like we
don't want to lose that.
Thank you. I think that's looking about how we, um, the work to the
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:19:02
work of the main combined authority, how we're bringing sort of the really key elements of this committee could, um, um, we support and advise on our coming here in a timely fashion.
Like, say, Sarah, making sure we continue to have a strong membership around.
Um, um, around the table when those items.
Do come forward and do come forward and I think that's.
sort of the one of the critical paths.
Like Martin said, when we start getting on to issues around things like innovation,
giving issues here that proper review and focus I think is really positive.
We're never going to get that at the combined authority meeting.
We've got the work of all the committees and everybody coming forward on a Thursday morning.
I think that's the opportunity we've got here.
Okay, I don't see anybody else wanted to come in on this item. So the recommendation is
we note the membership and governance and I think we've given a good airing about where
we go next. Shall we move on to item five please? I think Michelle's going to introduce

5 West Yorkshire Promise & Technical Pathways

this item please.
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:20:12
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:20:13
Yes, thank you very much. So, you've got some quite detailed papers in
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:20:17
your pack around
the West Yorkshire Promise and technical education. These link to really key commitments that
the Mayor made in her manifesto for re -election. So, the whole manifesto was framed under this
language of a region of learning and creativity and key to that
kind of ambition and theme were two main areas, one of those being the
West Yorkshire Promise which is described as a kind of recognition and
accreditation for transferable skills, sometimes called softer skills,
that are really important for social mobility and for employability.
And looking at some of the great work already in existence in the region
to help people not only to develop those skills but to talk, to recognise in themselves that they have them
and to talk about those.
So you can see in the paper the proposed approach to that.
And also to technical pathways. So what you've got set out in the paper quite a lot of evidence about
the decline really in the intake of technical education. So we're talking primarily here about
qualifications like friendships and
and we've seen some of the numbers reducing. So there's quite a lot of information in the paper about some of the factors
that contribute to that and some of the challenges that we experience, but also the real importance of technical education to our economy
and to the sectors that are highlighted as having the greatest economic potential in our local growth plan.
So this is coming here at very early stages, reflecting the conversation we've just been having about the importance of development work
coming here at a really early stage in order to inform development, and sets out the ambition really to set an all -age framework
which supports learners to navigate, well learners and also people are not
currently learners, to enter and navigate the system leading to employment,
high quality employment here in the West Yorkshire economy. And that really
needs to encompass the fact that people enter the system at really different
points and that one of the really key themes of the Skills System Review that
been talking about is recognizing that different levels that are most effective for engaging
people in the system and so we need to recognize in the design of a system that works for West
Yorkshire that that's the case, you know that there are people for whom the most effective
route to engagement is at the most local level possible but there are also people who are looking
to progress and retrain who are very much looking at that kind of wider
functional economic geography. So we need a system that recognizes that and that
people are in different levels and to provide inspiration to
young people, to career changes, but also to those key influences in their
lives, whether that's teachers or parents, about the great opportunities
that technical education can bring them and really showcasing some of those.
So the primary aim really, as ever, is about simplification of the offer, making clear
links between growth and emerging sectors and those skills gaps that our intelligence
and data tells us we have.
It is a big ambition and that's why we wanted to bring this here at a really early stage
to get your thoughts about employability skills and about technical skills, which are both
and areas that employers clearly tell us through the LSIP,
but also through all of our labour market intelligence work
are really key to employment opportunities.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:24:19
Thank you, Michelle, for introducing the item.
Who would like to go first, please?
Sue, please.
Thank you.
Thanks, Michelle.
Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University) - 0:24:33
I just wanted to add a mention for the role of the university sector in this space because
obviously a lot of our education is also quite vocational and technical and I'm pleased to
say that Professor Tim Thornton from the University of Huddersfield is involved in one of the
roundtables I think developing some of this work so we're keen to contribute in those
kind of ways.
I just wanted to give a plug for the opening of the Daphne Steele building at the university's
Health Innovation Campus, official opening was earlier this week, which is full of very
state of the art technical education for nurses, paramedics and everything in between.
So we're really proud of our contribution in that way.
It's not really questions, just...
Thank you Sue. Martin, please.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:25:13
On our work, Michelle, that we've been doing with the LSIP, something that's very rarely
Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative) - 0:25:19
mentioned by employers are T levels.
and we need to do some explaining I think it's mostly down to not really
knowing what they are and I think there's a big piece of work to make
people aware of what they are how they can assist their businesses but it's just
it's not coming up on them unfortunately.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:25:39
Thank you. Lee Lenfaro please. Yeah I was just looking at the table of the
highlighting that there are things that are happening so we've got the talent
Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus) - 0:25:53
and skills connect platform where we're developing a community nationally
there's also the no limits platform as well which is trying to create access to
pathways into innovative jobs so it's worth probably building some of that into.
Thank you. Hara please.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:26:14
Just going back to the tea levels, we are looking at that in the West Yorkshire
Fara Butt (Private Sector Representative) - 0:26:18
and the
board has offered to host that and she's going to show us how that's done so if anybody's
interested reach out to me and I think there will be some opportunities to find out a little
bit more but you're absolutely right that it does need to be a bit more information
on those. The other point regarding the promise, the certification, is that a sort of graded
thing? I know you talked about different entry points and how does that just sort of work?
Shell, please. So I'll take that point. I think the others were kind
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:26:57
Cllr Lisa Martin (Leeds City Council) - 0:26:59
of more plugs in Sue's case, but also really helpful.
My response to all those is that they are really helpful and timely
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:27:03
and that's exactly why I brought this here.
So we will absolutely take those points on board and build them in and we'll be keen to support on any of the workarounds,
on some level awareness and understanding for employers.
So please get in touch with us on that.
In terms of the West Yorkshire Promise in particular,
we're very much at scoping stage actually.
So we'd be really keen to take views of this book.
So we've been spending,
Josh has actually done a lot of this work,
he's looking at me from across the table,
but we've been spending a lot of time
looking at good practice that's already out there.
And actually there's a real mix of stuff
that is kind of batched and staged
and different kind of models.
and so we're really keen to take the view of yourselves around what would best add value.
So we're not at that design stage yet, we're very much taking this here for your view at an early stage.
Thank you. Sarah please.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:27:57
Yeah, thank you. I think we've thoroughly endorsed the direction of
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:28:03
policy development regarding technical education pathways in the West Yorkshire Promise
and I think the work on both of those obviously is in its embryonic stages, this is why it's
here.
We support the ambition in Calderdale to simplify and unify the current system offer and the
local offer delivered through an all -age framework is a positive addition to the landscape and
it will certainly for us it will help address some of our issues around low employment rates
for young people who are especially aged 18 to 24.
It must complement the current employability and skills offered and also that employers
really endorse it and that's really an important sort of tie -in.
I think the model of technical pathways really needs to mirror the local offer for residents
as well, because otherwise it doesn't simplify, does it, if it doesn't mirror the same thing.
So the employment and skills landscape obviously is quite complex and the skill system review
work is really critical.
I think it would be really good if the new approach is fully embedded in the work health
and skills strategy that's currently under development because like we said all of these
things are really just really sort of you know tied in together.
I mean yesterday I was here for the, again I'm not going to get the words in the right
order, but the regeneration place and housing committee and we were talking in that because
obviously climate, well various things came up around housing whether it's
retrofitting or new houses and you know the skills in order to be able to having
having the skills to deliver on the having people with the skills to deliver
housing to deliver retrofitting all of those things they're so tied in so as
well as as well as these two committees having been you know joined in order to
tell all of that work you know must work with the other committees as well to
sure that they all all work together. I think today the input the opportunity
for input into both of these areas has been limited with a focus on working
with colleges and businesses but we are aware of discussions and director of
travel and in Calderdale will you know officers will and politicians will
continue to assist with developing the policy and the offer really happy to
do whatever we can to input in a positive way.
Thanks, Sarah.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:30:27
Just to throw a bit of a question back to you,
just in terms of the comment you made in there around making
sure a technical training offer and a local offer
fit in together, do you think that's something
that doesn't happen at the moment?
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:30:48
I don't know, I think it's because the technical pathways are quite new isn't it, so I think it's just making sure that they do when they come in and when we're working through with them.
Great, thank you. Imran please.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:31:07
I think that partly covers it. So whilst I agree with the premise and
Cllr Imran Khan Bradford Council - 0:31:11
I think it's a good way forward, for me it's how it builds on existing practice and what we're already doing, especially at a local level.
So I'm here obviously representing Bradford so I want to know how this ties in with our local colleges and the work that we do through the local council.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:31:27
Thank you. Martin please.
Yeah, one of my questions, I guess, was around are there other combined authorities trying
to do something similar and are we aware of what they're doing and again, can we combine
and learn from them and share best practice?
The premise of this, I think, is great.
Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus) - 0:31:49
I think putting it in practice is probably a real challenge, but the intent behind it,
I think, is fantastic.
But I'm just thinking about, again, is there something we can do more collectively to actually
accelerate the process of this.
Thank you.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:32:01
No, no, no.
I'm not happy to.
I'll start.
I'll start.
I think we'll take the points completely
and we'll make sure things are adapted.
It's key, though, to make the point
and completely hear your part of the local provision
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:32:22
and making sure we don't run across anything.
That's actually another intent.
and the intention here is to simplify for learners,
for parents, for employers.
So it would be completely against the norm.
It's important, though, that we recognize that some of this
is not a local thing.
People travel across boundaries, and they just
want to access the best provision.
And where they live is just a matter of accident
where their parents have pitched off or whatever.
And depending on the level we are dealing with,
people travel more and more so at a much lower level of provision people are probably very local
but people cross boundaries all the time as you know it's just life and it's our role as
a combined authority given where we are you know we are able to look across the whole picture
to ensure that provision works it's clear it's simple it's navigable it's accessible all of that
and we're not complicating things unduly.
The fact is that currently everybody tells us
it's too difficult to navigate.
It's, you know, the language, everything.
And so what we're trying to do here is to simplify that.
So I'm fully expecting that we'll get to the point
where it just makes sense, it works, whatever level.
The point, the question Martin asked about
whether other local authority or combined authority areas
are doing this. I suppose the most famous example we've got is the MBAC in Greater Manchester.
They went a particular route. I'll let colleagues who are more technically asked you than I
am to explain if you want to, but they did it in a particular way. They got great branding
and so it caught their attention. But the actual substance of what they're trying to
do is quite a technical, simple thing that they're trying to do there. That is the most
famous example. What we're trying to do, we're not copying them back. We're just
developing a system or a model where people can either come in and go around
the hook a whole loop and pick up what they need to be able to build on their
career or jump off, jump in and jump off and it just makes sense. It makes sense
for the learner, makes sense for whoever's paying for it, makes sense for
parents, makes sense for employers. And you know we only are the beginning of
this, about the foothills.
So we'll see where we get to.
But we need to design something that works for our economy.
Our economy is quite diverse.
We've got real strengths in the manufacturing, engineering,
technical area, and our employers are demanding that.
And we need to make sure our education and training system
works for that, but also works for learners
so they can achieve their full potential.
Thank you.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:35:15
Imran, please.
Cllr Imran Khan Bradford Council - 0:35:22
So thank you for that, absolutely it's a much wider offer that we need to have. 70 % of our students at Raffin University are local as well.
So what I don't want to do is have something done to us, it's got to be in partnership, so I just want to make sure that we have input into that.
as opposed to just well here you are this is something that we've decided in Wellington House in Leeds
and the rest of you, you know, I'm just fitting.
So that's what I'm keen to ensure that we have that input into it.
Thank you.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:35:53
Yeah, I mean that's why it's coming here.
And yeah, absolutely the design is about making sure that we recognise
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:36:04
that those routes to engagement are different for different people
and for some people they are the most effective at the most local level possible.
So yeah, absolutely, it's about bringing together local offers rather than kind of replicating them.
That's really, really important, isn't it?
There was also a point about command authorities.
Yeah, there are some really good examples.
I do want to reassure you about how closely we work together across command authority areas.
That isn't always very visible, but incredibly closely.
We are, yeah, it's in all of our, yeah, everyone, we're all very keen to learn from one another
and we've had tremendous support and advice actually from other combined authority areas
and we are doing the same as new areas come on stream.
Thank you. Sarah please.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:36:51
Yeah, thank you and that's a really important point, especially say for example, you know,
if you go to the outer edges of the combined authority, especially sort of like Todmorden
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:37:00
in Colvedale which is you know on the borders virtually with Greater
Manchester and people you know so for so kids will go to Rochdale College you
know which is excellent you know it's a really good college there are excellent
colleges within the command authority West George command authority region of
course but you know it's quicker you know that's that's gonna be but so my
point about people moving across borders and that is really important it is
really important and again and that's how it does you know working with the
Transport Committee and you know making sure that actually the transport works
across the region and across the borders into other combined authority regions so
it is about you know really joining up all of those things health, skills,
economy, equalities, everything is just all has to work together doesn't it?
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:37:48
I've got Graham and then I'll bring in Sarah please.
Thank you. I was just looking at one of these drafts and on level two
Cllr Graham Turner (Kirklees Council) - 0:37:56
we're fairly consistent across the piece and we're just a few percent below the national average but level three it's all over the place. Do we understand why that is or are we thinking or don't we understand it we're going to look into why but as I said that that level two seems fairly consistent but level three is all over the place and that's probably the most important level for some of the high -skill jobs that we're looking for.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:38:21
You're looking at the graph on page 29? Yes.
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:38:32
Yeah, yeah, sorry. Yeah, so I mean we can probably look into that in more detail for you.
But yeah, there is a really mixed picture at level three.
and one of the impacts of that is that that is our future adult learners and actually a lot of those
individuals that don't get their level three in school then end up quite successfully getting
their level three as an adult, but effectively it's taking a couple of chances through.
There are very key, the evidence tells us that there are very key transition points in education
where people are falling off. So this is about, largely about that, about those key points in your educational journey
where people are maybe not making the best choice for them or maybe not getting the support that they need.
So there are very, very key points, particularly for our most disadvantaged learners,
where the evidence tells us they're falling out of the system.
So you can pinpoint it quite accurately, can't you, as you've done, as to where we can see that difference.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:39:37
Thank you. Farrow please. The semantics of the use of the soft skills. I think you were in a meeting where someone said we ought to call them power skills.
And I just thought that was lovely really. I'll just leave that with you. Maybe change the language around that.
Yeah, soft pass.
Great.
Felix, please.
Thanks, Chair.
Just very quickly to pick a couple of points up.
Councilor Kam.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:40:01
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:40:03
The employment, the skill system review
that was referred to in one of the earlier papers
sets out a framework for how we work together
at various levels.
And comments across the table and other forums
confirmed how well that's gone down, people understand it.
It's the first time we've actually worked to get a settlement for
how we engage with each other and how we work.
The arrangements that that model has brought about is what we're following
to do this work.
So nobody's doing anything to anybody.
We're working together as a partnership initially of six, but also for
all the partners around the table in this sector
to make sure we do this.
There's no, nobody's going, we're not going to impose
any model or any framework on anyone.
We recognize together that there's a challenge here
and we're working together to fix that.
The level three point, which you have made a really good
point, I think we will, I think the careers
blueprint is coming and in there you'll see
we've made a point about transitions.
The transition from one stage to another is really crucial.
And so it's no surprise, of course,
with education, there's a pyramid.
The fall off between level two and level three
is just to pronounce.
And one of the main reasons for that
is just the advice, the support, the engagement people
have when they are transitioning from one stage of education
to another.
And so the work we're doing on the careers blueprint
is drawing attention to that and it's positioning us to think through what
interventions we need to put in place to ease that and to enable people to move on more smoothly.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:41:58
Thank you. Sarah please.
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:42:03
Yeah just, we had a looked after children take over day this morning so where we work with young people who were corporate parents for in our system
and you just sort of saying that just reminded me of something that I meant to say about
people who are care experienced often don't make education until a bit later on because
at the point where they are, you know, sort of leaving school is the point where they're
possibly also leaving care and where things are really, really tricky for them, really
difficult and actually making sure that we've got that sort of the support system for people
who are carer experience and really understanding that their journey might be a bit later and
it doesn't mean that they're not able to go as far but they don't necessarily have obviously
have that familial support and not everyone who's not in care has familial support of
course but you know they definitely don't have that familial support to help guide them
through that sort of process and that the point where other people might be thinking
about A levels and or you know sort of college courses they might just be thinking about
how to pay their rent or what that means to pay council tax so I think anything that can
be built into the system to help care experienced people I think would be good
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:43:17
for us as corporate parents across the board. Thank you. Just to add to that, I think one of the features of the system needs to be that
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:43:25
exactly that, that people don't all hit the same point at the same age on stage
and therefore you know we need to build a system that makes it far easier and
recognizes that it is a feature of people's lives that they need that
support at different stages and you know we currently have a system that probably
is less flexible around that less targeted and so I think that's a really
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:43:56
powerful point you make. Thank you. Anybody else want to come in on this item?
Don't see anybody else
With the hands up there's plenty
Plenty to be getting on with there Michelle and Josh from what we've been talking about. I don't think it's a
Yes. Yeah, I think it's that really important point around setting up
We'll have all seen in the different points. We've dealt with the skill system and for those of us who were
I'm flows us who accounts as you know, we'll go back and chat to kids in the area
we represent and things that we talk about a lot in the council will be little or nothing
to the kids. I think it's young people, I think it's having that real sort of accessibility
at the, wherever we try and take people through options and things like that, it's having
that real sort of open accessibility at the beginning is a really important part of that.
Sarah?
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:44:53
Sorry I know you banged the gavel saying go and gone and that we're all finished but I
Just on that point really, and I think it's about, and again it's like especially whether it's with children who have got additional needs and have come through the SEND system or whatever,
especially young people who have any sort of barrier really, so our local career services know our children really, really well, especially the children who are either neat or at risk of being neat.
And so it's just sort of like another shout out really that if we are doing any work or
commission any services that are sort of around careers or any of that sort of stuff then
whether it's for young people or for older learners just to you know see if we can incorporate
the organisations that are already there rather than sort of coming in.
This is a little might be a little bit pillar three -ish perspective there but you know just
making sure that that we're using we're using as much local knowledge as we can
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:45:54
in from that perspective thank you great thank you Sarah to check again if
nobody else wants to come in on this no great so the recommendation is we give
discussion and feedback which we have done on item five so we're moving on to

6 Fair Work Charter

Item 6, I'll let you all introduce this please Louise.
Thanks Chair. I'm going to give quite a brief update on the progress of the charter and then with your permission I'll pass over to Barney to give a bit more background context.
Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:46:25
So the charter pilot began in November 23 and employer engagement at the moment is undertaken by a commissioned supplier.
Today 317 employers are registered and 196 of those are certified
Louise Allen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:46:40
members of the charter now.
The ambition that's outlined in the local growth plan is to scale the charter to reach 10 ,000 organisations over the next five years.
So it's an ambitious plan and we're working on an action plan with the steering group to achieve this.
So Barney as the vice chair of the charter steering group could you provide
a bit more context and then we'd like to open it out to a discussion about the
next steps for scaling the charter.
Yeah I'll be very brief.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:47:15
So I mean we started work on this it was one of the mayor's initial
Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups) - 0:47:20
pledges in the first election and there are a lot of these
charters around the country and we looked at them and we thought well fine
and I'm from the FSB something, but what does this mean for small businesses?
And in other areas, my colleagues have said, yeah, we have one, but yeah.
And so ours is different, and I think it's really important to stress that
the one we have in West Yorkshire is different.
I would say it's better, it's definitely more relevant for smaller businesses.
And what we've tried to avoid is just having a charter that is a tick box and
it's sort of like a marking time of where we were at that point.
This is actually about trying to get people in and trying to improve the way
they operate them to be better employers because we work on the basis that people
want to be good employers and the more we can help them that's brilliant and so
we don't just want people to sign up and say well I've got the nice badge I can put on my website.
We want people to say actually I'm gonna as a result of this continue
improving I'm gonna support other employers to help with their journey as
well and there's a lot of peer groups around that and I think that's what
makes ours different and that's why ours is so important and we've got to say the
the main aim is we want West Yorkshire to be the best place to work and this is
going to be part of it and it's not just a tick box it's actually about
supporting business owners who want to be as good as it can be to do that.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:48:44
That's helpful. Thank you Barney. Would anyone like to come in on this item please?
Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative) - 0:48:57
Martin, please. So 317 businesses have signed up. What's the breakdown of those businesses
in terms of the size and the sector? And you are mentioning that this
Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus) - 0:49:03
is specifically aimed
at small businesses. Is that true? Or is this businesses across the board? And how do you
particularly get the larger businesses to sign up for this? So it's multiple questions.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:49:19
I apologize. I'm just going to direct you to in appendix one there is a bit of a breakdown of the sectors, districts,
Louise Allen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:49:28
size of organizations and the organization type as well so that's
dated probably a month or so old but that just give you a bit of a breakdown of
where we're at at the moment with those 317. I'll let Barney answer the next section.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:49:45
Well, it's aimed at businesses of which 99 % aren't large businesses.
So if it's not relevant to that 99 % then it's not going to work.
Although I haven't said that, 75 % probably don't sell traders, freelancers.
But it's got to be there for everyone.
Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus) - 0:50:03
How we're targeting bigger businesses, well that's some of the work that Greenboro are
doing who are the consultant working on it.
And in a way, personally, I'm less worried about them because I think they can be found quite easily.
And you could actually make a list of them quite quickly because there
Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups) - 0:50:18
aren't hundreds, not thousands.
It's actually how we get to all businesses and ultimately how we make...
For me, it's about social norming. It's about actually, if you're a business in West Yorkshire, why wouldn't you sign up?
Thank you.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:50:40
Fara Butt (Private Sector Representative) - 0:50:42
Do you think the new employment act will cover off some of this stuff in the Fair Work charter?
Potentially.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:50:49
There's some moving pictures and there was an independent suit, there was a bit of an
Louise Allen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:50:53
overview of how that we expect it to sort of dovetail with what we're doing in the region.
And I think because a lot of the statutory requirements
coming in in 2026, the Fair Work Charter
gives an opportunity to introduce businesses
and organizations who may be a further away from thinking
in that way to sort of prepare them as a gently,
softly approach to sort of meet the requirements that they
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:51:20
will need by the time that employment bill comes in.
Can I quickly add to that?
This charter is about being better than okay.
Asma Iqbal, West Yorkshire Business Board (Private Sector Representative) - 0:51:28
There's the law there to deal with bad employers.
We're not interested in them to be honest.
Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups) - 0:51:33
I think we are furthering, but the law is there to deal with them.
We're about those who are good and want to be better.
And so these things are important, but we're actually doing better than that in this.
Thank you. Sarah please.
Asma Iqbal, West Yorkshire Business Board (Private Sector Representative) - 0:51:48
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:51:48
Asma Iqbal, West Yorkshire Business Board (Private Sector Representative) - 0:51:51
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:51:53
Yeah, I think following on from that then, as well as how we engage with, obviously it's
quite ambitious, 10 ,000, but that's good, it's good to be ambitious, it's good to be
aspirational of course.
The focus of the Fair Work chart in supporting an inclusive economy is good.
Obviously there is some way to go to operationalise that at the sort of scale that's been set
out but I think it's got to be taken forward in alignment with the thinking around the
approach to business support because I think that can support businesses to grow and to
grow through being good businesses and good employers is a really positive way. So I think
that integrated approach again is really vital to achieving positive inclusive economy outcomes
So it's like it will actually, you know, because we want employees to be good employers, we
want businesses to be, you know, good businesses from that perspective.
That will really, that will have a positive effect on the inclusive economy outcomes and
will be an efficient use of resources.
I guess this would be distinct from the pilot, which is a sort of a standalone offer.
So I think, you know, having it integrated with the business, with that business support
is really important.
I think in context of constrained revenue resources, though perhaps the financial implications
need to be a bit clearer for us would be good.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:53:26
Thank you. Sue, please.
Thank you.
Asma Iqbal, West Yorkshire Business Board (Private Sector Representative) - 0:53:32
Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University) - 0:53:35
I just wondered in terms of the scaling question whether there is any intention to use the
combined authority and local authority supply chain to accelerate this at any point?
There is an expectation that anyone who is in receipt of combined authority funds is
expected.
I don't know if it is a different approach to the voluntary approach that we have got
but it's possibly a way of accelerating that would work.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:54:03
So we've had to discuss this and the steering group has discussed this.
Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:54:12
I think there's a challenge between the ethos of the charter and then stipulating that X, Y, Z need to happen.
But I think that's a conversation we need to carry on having as we think about the evolution, actually.
And there are different views, shall we say.
Barney, would you like to?
I'm seeing nothing.
Well, I mean from a small business point of view, I would be against
Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups) - 0:54:30
this because I just think it becomes more bureaucracy for small businesses.
It actually restricts them into the supply chain where it's already difficult.
And actually, if you look at what we've got in the Fair Work Charter, it's so easy to join that actually joining in itself is almost meaningless.
But for that point of view what it's about is getting people in and helping them improve rather than actually
working it it'd be nice to be a shortcut for
for
Commissioners, but I think they probably got a bit more work
Thank You Martin, please
Go to say the same as Barney. I think it's difficult enough for small
Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative) - 0:55:07
businesses to
To deal with a public sector procurement processes that it is without adding further
complexity to that and giving them another reason not to bid. Thank you.
I just come back because I was thinking of the larger organisations more than the smaller ones to be honest.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:55:26
The anchor institutions, some of us around this table obviously.
Yeah.
Okay.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:55:47
Does anybody else want to come in on this item? I can't see anybody else.
So shall we, uh, note the recommendations, um,
and move on to, um, item seven,
which I think James is leading on, please.

7 Employment Support, Work and Health

Thank you, Chair.
So this update provides committee members
James Turner (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:56:05
with the latest position in relation to employment support,
including work and health.
Economic inactivity rates are rising nationally,
which in West Yorkshire equates to 350 ,000 people
and around 80 ,000 of those are inactive
due to long -term sickness.
Persistent unemployment for key groups
threatens long -term prosperity for certain demographics
and also for the growth ambitions
within the local growth plan.
A Getting Britain Working white paper
is expected at the end of November
and this will set out expectations for work, health and skills trailblazers and
detailly ask for the mayoral combined authorities to develop a work, health and
skills plan. CADA Research, who are a Sheffield based company who are involved
in the lauded Pathways to Work Commission, has been appointed to lead a
co -produced work health and skills plan for West Yorkshire by the end of January 25.
The appended interim report from CARDA shares outcomes from the initial consultations around
barriers to engagement, job design and the need for employer support for people with
health conditions and disabilities.
All of this indicates that the plan must seek to address the underlying causes as well as
the effects of these circumstances.
And this brings into focus the need to work preventatively with partners, both inside
and outside of the employment support ecosystem, and create the circumstances in which people
with lived experience of economic inactivity
due to ill health can follow their aspirations
and contribute to their local community.
As such, the plan will inform future commissioning
of employment support programs
with a focus on economic inactivity
that improves outcomes for individuals
with work and health barriers.
I'll pass back to the chair.
and welcome comments.
Thanks, James.
Who'd like to go first, please?
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:58:49
Martin, please.
Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative) - 0:58:52
Recent changes to the national insurance rate for employers
and the forthcoming changes to employment law
is having an effect on businesses.
and
I'm hoping I'm wrong. But what they currently say is that they are less likely to
employ people from these
From these backgrounds or people that have been off work or have been struggling or if it spent any time unemployed
Because of the changes to the legislation and there are less people saying that they are looking at employing
In the near future as well. I just think we need to try thing in context or do what we can to make it easier
to support this work for employers to get engaged with.
Thank you.
Anyone else like to come in?
Barnley, please.
A couple of things.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 0:59:51
One, which, I mean, you were there at the meeting
in Calderdale where this was quite an issue,
Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups) - 0:59:54
but it's helping people in work,
and so much of the attention is on people out of work.
Actually, once people leave work,
and I think what we heard there was
if you're out of work for 12 months,
There's only a 30 % chance of re -entering the workplace,
which is quite shocking.
So actually, we shouldn't forget that,
because we're going to have to be dealing with that later
if we don't.
And the other thing, which is one of my pet things now,
which I'll crowbar it in anyway, is access
to work, which is a government scheme to help support people
in work.
And it's brilliant in some ways, because it
helps the self -employed, which is quite unusual
in these schemes.
but the problems around claiming it,
the problems around the time it takes to get it
make it really quite difficult.
But it seems to me there could be a win for West Yorkshire
if we supported business owners to both be aware of it
and claim it for themselves and their employees.
And it seems a win because we'd be getting resources
from national resources into West Yorkshire
and it wouldn't seem to be a really difficult thing,
but from the conversations I have with people
who have claimed it, it is an awful thing,
especially some of the processes.
If you're neurodiverse, the online process
is really difficult. And just such a lot of ignorance
around that people just don't know that they can claim it.
And then once it came to intervention,
would probably be a way of getting resources and money
and keeping people in work in West Yorkshire.
Thank you.
John, come back, James, please.
Thank you.
James Turner (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:01:27
Yes, so thank you both your points to your point Martin. It's
It's definitely a key
element of the the work health and skills plan to ensure that it speaks to employers and
the the the needs the experiences and
the specific requirements in terms of access to support are
simplified and made easier to obtain and receive that advice and that support.
So that's a key focus of the plan.
In terms of access to work, as you say, that has been raised in the consultation so far.
We've had specific examples of the length of time and the difficulty in actually claiming back that money.
So again, that is something that is going to feature in the plan and making sure that the process is as simple as it possibly can be
and that it in itself doesn't become a barrier to employers who want to involve themselves in this agenda.
Thank you. Sarah, please.
Yeah, thank you.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:02:48
James Turner (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:02:48
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 1:02:51
So from the report that said it's the flagship employment West Yorkshire
program coordinated by the combined authority and delivered by local
authorities as a key infrastructure for devolution of employment support and
delivery of interventions with a focus on the on those economically inactive
including removing health related barriers to work. This meeting in
September the combined authority reaffirmed its commitment to the
program which is great but can officers confirm what progress has been made to
implement the delegated decision to approve funding for the for this key
infrastructure from March 20 to 25 because we are on the cusp of having to
well you know we don't want to we don't want to have to implement redundancy
processes and we we need we need to know so where you are with where that
decision is and I know that the decision is expected in December but we're just
I'm just I've been asked to put pressure on
Just so we know where we are with that just because we are in that position of you know, it's a bit
knife edge
That's my first point
Okay, yeah, so sorry
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 1:04:07
So I know that card have done a great job in a short time the approach follows the excellent works are talking about cross
local cross combined authority of the work that's been done in Barnsley on the
Pathway to Employment initiative so it's brilliant and we've got we've had
support from our key stakeholders and customers to participate in engagement
sessions and co -designed workshops, Leeds and Colesdale hosted
in -person sessions due to a number of engagements and partners that had been
I hope that had come on board.
Significant feedback on the new model
is to co -design future services,
which must, it's a plea that please can they include
hyper -local delivery by local -based organizations.
That would be really helpful.
Oops, and I've just lost my place now in my notes.
By pressing the wrong button, as you do.
Sorry, I'll be with you in a sec.
And obviously, you came along, James, to our recent Inclusive Economy.
We had a joint Inclusive Economy and Employment Skills Partnership meeting
to talk about work and health,
and you got feedback from that, didn't you, which was good.
So, bringing health and employment professionals together
to support those in work or returning to work with health conditions
really has to be the model for the future and we're also working with with
combined authority on the connect to work program that's on the horizon and
that will we know that that will provide further support in the future so we we
just you know reaffirming that we really want to be engaged and involved
throughout the process and we welcome proposals to take this to take this
approach forward that we're really behind it all, really, I suppose, is what I'm trying to say.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Thank you. James, please.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:06:12
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 1:06:13
James Turner (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:06:14
Yeah, so in answer to the point around the hyperlocal aspect,
so that has been a key theme in the consultation in the co -design sessions.
those connections and that knowledge and that infrastructure at a local level which is so vital to local people so that's fully the intention.
In terms of health and employment integration again that is a key focus of the plan is to keep building on the relationships and also
and employment focuses so that we proceed in a partnership
manner to address work and health issues and concerns.
And in terms of the connect to work,
there are ongoing discussions that involve delivery plan
and an implementation plan as a partnership.
So you will be fully involved in those and thank you for your support and endorsement
And it was good to see what the committee meeting
Well point you feel it thanks sure
Yeah, I'm trying to just so
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:07:55
As you said, Councillor, the CA made a decision in September that employment for Yorkshire will continue to be funded,
we will use that model to deliver as best we can wherever appropriate our employment support provision.
That decision has been made. So we as officers, our job is to implement it.
We don't need, unless somebody's saying they don't trust the decision that was made in this room,
we don't need to go back and reassure anybody else that we are definitely going to do it.
Because the CA has said we're going to do it. We're going to do it.
And nobody, we've said to officers, why would you want to have a conversation with anybody about redundancy when we've said we're going to, there's no cleavage.
There's no cleavage because the CA said we're going to fund this.
So we're going to fund it.
But people keep asking, can you give me a piece of paper or can you give me a—do you
trust the piece of paper more than you trust the CA's decision?
The CA said this is going to continue, so we're going to do it.
So please react to your colleagues.
I would rather they would just talk to us and we don't have to do this in the public
forum.
But please react to your colleagues.
The CA's made a decision in September.
I took the paper.
I sat here.
I took the paper.
The decision was employment was still
actually coming to an end at the end of March 25.
We will extend that to make sure there's no cleavage to anybody.
And that decision still stands.
The one area of our work where there
will be no shortage of focus, of activity,
is employment support because as James has just said we have 380 ,000 people
plus that's economically inactive between 80 and 100 thousand of them
because of health reasons. It was the previous government's priority it's this
government's priority and so the one area we will be we cannot do less is
is this area.
So rest assured to all the committee,
to colleagues out there,
we're only gonna do more.
The one thing that I would add, Chair,
every time I'm asked to talk about this is
that does not mean that we will continue to do
what we've been doing.
We have to do what the evidence says we need to do.
And the evidence says we need to focus on
health -led economic inactivity,
particularly those who have been out of work for a bit longer
because that's always more difficult.
But also look at those who are in work but are at risk of falling out of the labor market
because, as Bernie said, if you fall out for a period of time,
only a small proportion ever get back in.
So that is the focus.
So currently, employment was Yorkshire,
provides a universal support.
That is going to have to change.
So we focus on where the evidence is saying
we should focus and the evidence is saying,
focus on health related economic and activity.
So whatever we do on the universal side,
if we continue to do that,
we'll have to reflect what the evidence is saying.
But rest assured to the committee and to colleagues
out there who might be reading their transcripts later or may be watching.
There's no more reassurance you can give beyond what the Combined
Authorities decision was in September.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:11:53
Thank you. Anybody else on this item please? Imran please. Thank you for that.
That is really reassuring and I don't think you could have put it
Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative) - 1:12:06
across any stronger than what you have done.
I get the point about the focus has got to be on health related employment support.
But there is still scope to do general universal, I mean I know you're saying you want to shift away from the universal.
So can we not keep an element of that because whilst as reassuring as that was,
it looks like quite a significant shift from the way things have been done in the past.
So if we could focus on the health related but have a little bit of the universal as well.
We will do the best we can.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:12:52
We need to make sure that we have the right to be delivered in a different way.
So absolutely take the point on board and if there is any gap to be filled on the universal
side or wider side of course we will do everything we can to fill that.
There's a challenge that we face and I don't want to go into too much detail because we're still waiting for detail.
Even though there is more revenue, more resource for us to do this from central government because of the focus on this.
The funding that we are receiving comes in quite a tight envelope.
Not in terms of how much money, but in terms of the restrictions, the model we can use and all of that.
So our flexibility is sometimes not where we'd like it to be,
but as much as we can, of course.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Can't see somebody else, so please,
can see somebody now.
Thank you, just one quick thought on this.
Is there a connection across to the work
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:14:00
that's going on around the creative health agenda
and the social prescribing and the...
Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University) - 1:14:06
Yes. Thank you.
Thank you. OK, shall we agree the recommendations on item seven and
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:14:23
move on to item eight?

8 West Yorkshire All Age Careers

I think you're introducing this please, Josh. Thank you very much, Chair.
Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:14:31
So this paper presents the final draft of the West Yorkshire All -Ages Careers Blueprint, which you'll find in the appendices.
The blueprint is the region's model for an all -age careers offer that will become the entrance point to an integrated skills, employment and careers system rooted in the regional economy.
And of course the ambition is that this is owned by all partners and recognises the key contribution and role of partners across the ecosystem.
Drivers for this blueprint includes local, regional, national, political ambitions,
wider growth ambitions captured through the local growth plan, particularly those
related to mass infrastructure projects such as mass transit. Key theme of the
blueprint is the need for parallel systems, so both the universal and
targeted offer to maximize the positive impact and the limited resources that we
have at our disposal. As has been mentioned around this table I think today, the
current system is often too tied to age eligibility and therefore not universally
accessible and there is a desire to focus more on those kind of transition
periods that are crucial to someone's kind of career and personal development
and also their employment destination as well. The blueprint is fundamentally
evidence -led through extensive primary and secondary research processes
particularly in highlighting existing excellent practice in the local and
regional systems and of course through extensive co -development and engagement
with stakeholders involved in the careers system. The blueprint is
implementation ready and gives a strategic framework for actions and
interventions and in terms of next steps an implementation plan will be developed
with local partners to put the framework into action. This will obviously strongly
aligned to the collaborative principles highlighted in the skill system review.
It will also provide the framework to deliver on the ambition to create a
region of learning and creativity as an entrance point into the wider employment and skill
system. I've already mentioned the ambition for this to be very firmly anchored in the
emerging local growth plan and a firm feature of our conversations with national government.
And I'd just like to highlight again that kind of strong focus on best practice as it
happens locally and regionally as a key point of the blueprint. I'll pass back to you, Chair,
and obviously welcome any comments.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:16:54
Particularly keen to hear from members interested
Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:16:55
in our next steps and those that are keen
to be involved in those.
Great, thank you.
Martin, please.
From a university perspective,
Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus) - 1:17:08
I was keen to understand what role universities have had
in the development of the plan
and also in terms of the implementation
because clearly universities have got big career departments
and a lot of expertise and resource in that area.
Sorry, who am I?
I'll happily take it.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:17:33
Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:17:34
So my understanding is yes, universities
have been very much part of that stakeholder group
and very much consulted.
And I think you're absolutely right to point out
the massive role they have to play in implementation.
and yeah, massive resource in terms of careers development
for a large portion of people that live
and choose to live here eventually.
So actually see them as vital to that implementation.
And I guess if I can help with any of that,
so again, I'm not aware of obviously the stakeholders
that have been involved, but again,
I'm sure Sue and I in the broader universities,
we want to make sure that we are part of this
and you're talking to the right people as well.
So if we can help, please let us know.
Absolutely.
Thank you.
Absolutely.
Thank you.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:18:19
Farrah, please.
Yeah, I mean, this links in really neatly
with the sort of promise, the West Shores promise,
doesn't it, really?
Fara Butt (Private Sector Representative) - 1:18:27
And what you have is, I mean, those of you
that remember being a teacher, the record of achievement,
and in this sort of digital age, this is really that,
isn't it, that sort of ability to have all your certification
in one point, but then going further,
entitlement to careers advice that you could then pick up at whatever stage of
life you're at but I would like this to go a bit further and a promise of CPD as
well throughout for the rest of your life as well and that would really be
revolutionary as well so that sort of entitlement would just be fantastic and
it would sort of go all the way through. I mean digitally you could do it all and keep it in one place couldn't you really.
Great.
Josh, please.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:19:13
Yeah, I'm probably not in the business of making promises around this
Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:19:14
table, but I think
it's very interesting the point you raise about CPD and actually that's something that,
to hearken back to an earlier paper that came across heavily in the West Yorkshire Promise
consultations that we did with employers, that they see the value of that kind of development
framework, not just for new staff and people that have just
entered the labor market, but for staff
that they have on their books or have had in their books
for some time as a way of developing them, potentially
thinking about career retraining that
might come with some of our mass infrastructure projects
or a move towards a green economy.
Employers are identifying that kind of framework
as something that could be really useful
in helping them do that.
So while I cannot commit to any promises around the table,
So I think that is definitely something we have in mind.
Thank you. I've got Sue then Sarah. So Sue, please.
Thank you. So yes, I really welcome this.
It's been a very long term ambition of the skills committee panel, et cetera,
for a very long time. It's really good to see it come into fruition.
Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University) - 1:20:19
Particularly pleased to see future goals are still an integral part of that.
So, yeah, well done. Thanks.
Thank you. Sarah, please.
Yeah, thank you.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:20:29
Obviously, we endorse the, in Colesdale, this policy, you know, for
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 1:20:31
policy development for an all -age careers blueprint. Just out of interest, is there
adult apprenticeships? Does that sort of like come on the horizon? Or just talking about
retraining and stuff, you know, because actually that can be quite a, you know,
sort of a pretty go to apprenticeship events and it's all about young people.
But actually that model could actually work quite well for, you know, you
mentioned, you know, new careers, second careers, all of that sort of stuff. Lots
of people I can't count the number of careers I've had.
But yes, just sort of, could that come into the framework
at all?
Yeah.
Yeah, I mean, absolutely.
Joshua Rickayzen, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:21:09
This is an all age careers ambition.
So absolutely, I see that as a fundamental part of it,
definitely.
Great, thank you.
I'll have to ferry it around in my mum's attic
to see if I've still got my national record of achievement
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:21:26
file.
Yeah, see there's something there great, okay somebody else want to come in on this item, please.
Okay, I'm going to turn to the recommendations then and
in terms of recommendations take everybody is happy with those.
That's great. We've got four more items on for information only.

9 Access to Markets (US Trade Mission - October 2024)

What I'm going to suggest is we've got a just a little bit of time left if anybody I'll
I'll go through them one by one if anybody's got any,
anyone introduced before,
if anybody's got any particular questions on them
that we might want to pick up here in the office
and pick those up before we close the meeting.
So the first one of those is the item nine,
which is the access to markets and the trade mission,
if anybody's got any questions on that paper.
Just to say about what's happening in the future,
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:22:33
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 1:22:34
Just while there are some outcomes incorporated in this report it might be helpful to pull
out outputs and outcomes in future reporting just to be sort of clear on the impact that
might be made.
Thank you.
Are any comments on item 10 please the early years education paper
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:23:01
Okay item 11 is an update on the budget
Okay, and then the last one Sarah
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 1:23:18
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:23:19
Will there be associated capital and revenue costs in the development of alternative early
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 1:23:28
years education models? It's not clear where this investment will come from.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:23:33
Yes, it's possibly a bit early for that question. So this is a think
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:23:36
piece coming here for your
comments and steering awareness and we're certainly not at kind of design or
costing stage and be keen to you know you know there's a long way to go.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:23:52
Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups) - 1:23:57
Barney please. Just to make people aware that one of the FSB's ongoing policy art of government is for
nurseries and other childcare providers to be exempt from business rates I think
That's quite a point thing. I think just where people being aware that anyone

10 Early Years Education

Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:24:15
We are promised business rates reform coming up to keep people excited for future budgets of this government
So that might be I'm sure I'm sure something is
Something's being looked at

11 The Government's Autumn Budget

Okay, so that was item 10 item 11 which is a budget

12 Innovative Entrepreneurs

No, and then the last one was item 12, innovative entrepreneurs and this will certainly come
back for a future discussion in the future.
If there's anything anybody wants to pick up now.
Sarah please and then Barney.
Yes, very quickly.
It would be good to see similar updates on other elements of delivery,
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 1:25:01
for example the
start -up programme.
So it's really good to see these things and I think just to care that enthusiasm for this
project doesn't tip into funding for the next round of delivery before it fits with wider
business support review and available resources.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:25:22
And Barney please.
I just wanted to say that it would be good if this work, and it probably already is,
could also be picked up by those officers looking at the investment strategy because I think there's some lessons around investment readiness for smaller businesses here.
Barney Mynott, Advisory Representative (West Yorkshire Business Groups) - 1:25:38
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:25:40
Soon please.
Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University) - 1:25:43
Thank you and whilst also declaring that we're involved as a delivery partner in this program, I just wanted to say the experience of it has been fantastic.
It's a really strong partnership working with Martin's team and others around this table
and we'd really love to involve more members of this group in coming along.
And at Mandy, Ridyard came along last week to a celebration event we had with some of the first cohorts of entrepreneurs.
They're really dedicated and creative people. We've really got the diversity working all the way through the programme
and any opportunity if people want to get involved to come and see them in action and picture days and things like that.
If we can create ways to do that,
it will really allow people to see the wider power
and benefit of this program.
Oh, great.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:26:29
Just to add to that, I need to add to that, I think.
Thank you.
Dr Martin Stow, Advisory Representative (Nexus) - 1:26:34
Yeah, the actual pitch, the showcase event
we had last week was actually really great,
really well attended.
So probably 70 plus people there,
and there's a real energy in the room.
Speaking to some of the entrepreneurs
we've been working with is quite inspirational, actually,
in terms of what they're doing and how they've pivoted some of their technology
into things that really do make a difference to people's lives and around
addressing inequality so it's really great to see. But I also, the point I
really wanted to make was there's real energy from a lot of partners to do more
actually in that space so I spoke to quite a number of people who just
attended because they wanted to know more, not because they're entrepreneurs but
because they work for other organisations that are keen to get
involved. So that's really the point I just wanted to add to Sue.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:27:21
Sorry, I forgot to mention the other link forward on this one is that some of those
individuals will make perfect case studies for Innovation Festival
Sue Cooke, Advisory Representative (Huddersfield University) - 1:27:28
Week in March so hopefully
by then if they're all advanced with their proofs of proof of concept and business ideas
etc we'll be able to really put them on show to the rest of the region and the world.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:27:42
Great, thank you Sue. I've got Lee, I know you want to come in Martin. Come on Lee.
I just wanted to chime in on the support for this
It's double -tailed really well with our business grave service
And I know that some of the businesses that come through this and now on our on our program as well
Great thank you Martin, please
Access to finance investment, which is which is mentioned in the the LGP
Mr Martin Hathaway (Private Sector Representative) - 1:28:09
draft I'm
and there's this startup program.
There is a particular problem with startup funding
in the UK and what's suitable for it.
The current government scheme for the startup loans
isn't suitable.
It's personal loans that it gives out, not business loans.
So the impact of that, it means that if you're a young person
looking at starting up a business,
then you can have a business or a house,
but you can't have both because it's affected from it.
It also means that you're liable for that loan
Being told so it's in effect is 100 % guarantee
And I'm just a bit worried in some of the navit
Narrative that we we identify the lack of funding as the problem and the answer is to put more money into things
It's actually just a different approach to to risk and it's accessing that in
The LGP mentions about there only being 29. I believe it is venture capital companies in West, Georgia
And it's 33 in the West Middleman's book
If there was enough deals to be done here, there'd be more, and they would set up tomorrow
to do them.
So it's around how we get those businesses active and at the level using the programs
that have just been mentioned here today and attractive to investors.
And then if we're looking at public money, it's how we offset the risk that the private
sector is quite prepared to take.
And if we can offset some of that risk away from them and from the individuals, we'll
see more entrepreneurs and more entrepreneurial businesses coming through.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:29:40
Thank you.
Does anybody else want to come in on this item?
Like I say, this is one that will definitely come back to a future committee meeting.
I think we have got some pointers around where we can focus that discussion and presentation
when it comes.
Okay, if there is nobody else to come in, I will thank everybody for coming and close
the meeting.
Thank you everybody.
Oh, sorry Imran.
Cllr Imran Khan Bradford Council - 1:30:06
I just want to raise the issue around alternate members and if we have the scope to include
alternate members.
I'm just looking at the date of the next meeting for example, it's the 27th of March, that's
kind of towards the end of Ramadan, possibly Eid, so if Eid is on that day I wouldn't be
able to attend but if it wasn't it's definitely Ramadan and the fast breaks around about 4
clock is on, so I may not be able to come to it but I want to make sure we've got representation here.
Cllr James Lewis Chair - 1:30:39
Okay thank you, we did agree alternate members didn't we?
Yes, we said subsequent, but we can confirm and send something out.
Yes thank you, great thank you everybody.