Decision details

A key priority, expressed both by elected Members and by communities upon extensive consultation, is ensuring that UKSPF/RPF funding supports communities that have been historically under-represented in the provision of public investment, as well as making strong investments in local skills provision to support the growth of employment, reduce economic inactivity and improve social mobility for the local population. , investment in local skills provision, has been highlighted as a key priority.

Steadfast Training Ltd have submitted a detailed Full Application to invest in an integrated skills and employment service to residents across South Holland. The project aims to help individuals with health-related barriers to access skills training and support.This will consist of an intentisive 13 week Programme of support to residents who are either economically inactive or unemploymed. The service will identify local job vacancies and match participants' skills with relevant job opportunities. All training provided will improve job seekers' skills and meet the needs of local employers.

The project will be directly delivered by Steadfast Training with the support of a delivery partner, Tonic Health. Steadfast Training, a small-medium-sized enterprise with its Head Office in Spalding, Lincolnshire, and is an established provider of employability and vocational skills training and have been operating in the East Midlands (EM) and East of England (EoE) for over 16 years. They are a prime contractor to the ESFA, DWP, Combined Authorities and Local Authorities (including Lincolnshire County Council) and part of the fabric of employability and skills provision across Lincolnshire based on our AEB, ESF and Multiply delivery since 2007. Since 2018, they have delivered skills training to more than 6,500 individuals in Lincolnshire. The delivery partner Tonic Health is a well-established and respected local Health & Wellbeing charity providing community support to unemployed, under-employed and other disadvantaged residents of South Holland and Boston. This is largely delivered via peer-led groups and sector-specific activities for people with mental health and other additional needs.

This project directly and specifically addresses a full range of UKSPF/RPF outcomes relating to employment and skills, targeting a cohort of 170 residents across Boston and South Holland (136 in South Holland) for the completion of accredited skills courses and a guaranteed job interview with a local employer. This project aims to reduce levels of economic inactivity and increase the amount of quality training provision available to the population of South Holland.

This project was assessed in January 2024 through the agreed UKSPF/RPF Assessment process. This has included the following:
-Processed at Expression of Interest and full application stage through the internal Assessment Panel of Officers. In this specific case, an external consultant provided the initial assessment presented to this Panel.
-Consultation within the relevant Specialist Grants Panel (People and Skills)
-Consultation within the South Holland UKSPF/RPF Partnership Group
-Consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder
-Consultation with the Leader of the Council
-Consultation with Senior Leadership Team within the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership

-Elected Members, including Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder
-Senior Council Officers
-Education and Skills providers (including local FE Colleges and ITPs)
-The General Public (through the wider UKSPF consultation process)
-Local Universities
-Specialist education and skills consultants
-Department for Work and Pensions
-Local Stakeholder Organisations (for example, Spalding Civic Society and Heritage Lincolnshire)