Issue details

Connect to Work and Get Devon Plymouth Torbay Working Plan

 

 

Announced by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Get Britain Working White Paper introduced two new national initiatives; developing local Get Britain Working plans and a new, grant funded workforce and employability programme called Connect to Work. The geography for both the development of the plans and Connect to Work is identical. Plymouth is part of the Delivery Area which consists of Torbay Council and Plymouth City Council, with Devon County Council as the Lead Accountable Body. Devon County Council have therefore been given responsibility for these items, working in partnership with both Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council, and engaging relevant partner organisations in the process. Get Devon Plymouth Torbay Working plan: Our Delivery Area’s plan will be known as the ‘Get Devon Plymouth Torbay Working plan’, DWP have specified this covers a range of information including labour market issues related to participation, progression, earnings and job quality in the labour market. These plans are strategic and should set out ambitions for the next 10 years alongside more immediate goals and actions. These plans are closely related to the delivery of Connect to Work, which is detailed further below, but may also incorporate future DWP funding and programmes including the Youth Guarantee. Connect to Work: Plymouth City Council have worked closely with both Devon County Council and Torbay Council in designing delivery of the new Connect to Work programme across the Delivery Area. This is a new, national workforce support service aimed at helping those with disabilities and long-term health conditions into sustainable work. Grant funding has been allocated to each Delivery Area for this. Plymouth City Council have developed a place-based approach, pursuing in-house delivery, creating a

new team to deliver this support to local communities and working closely with existing provision and teams. The Connect to Work programme will be available to all eligible and suitable individuals within Plymouth, supporting them into sustainable work.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Wards affected: (All Wards);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 12/09/2025

Anticipated restriction: Part exempt  - View reasons

Open/Exempt: Open;

Decision due: 13 October 2025 by Cabinet

Comment: Members of the Cabinet are: Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Councillor Jemima Laing, Councillor Mary Aspinall, Councillor Sally Haydon, Councillor Chris Penberthy, Councillor Sally Cresswell, Councillor Mark Lowry, Councillor John Stephens, Councillor Tom Briars -Delve, Councillor Sue Dann

Lead member: Cabinet

Lead director: Director of Children's Services

Contact: David Haley, Director of Childrens Services Email: David.Haley@plymouth.gov.uk.

Consultation process

This was discussed as part of the item ‘Skills (Economic Strategy Pillar 5) at a meeting on the Natural Infrastructure and Growth Scrutiny Panel on 10 September 2025.

Making Representations: Please contact david.haley@plymouth.gov.uk if you would like to make representations. Any non-confidential document(s) may be obtained from the officer contact by email or from Plymouth City Council, Council House, Plymouth, PL1 2AA.

Information to be considered by the decision makers: Committee Report, Business Case, Equalities Impact Assessment, Climate Impact Assessment and any other documents relevant to the decision.

Decisions

Agenda items