THE leader of the government’s Keep Britain Working review praised Barnsley’s pioneering approach to employment during a visit to the town.
Sir Charlie Mayfield, the former John Lewis Partnership chairman, highlighted the national significance of Barnsley’s trailblazer scheme – ‘Pathways to Work’ – to help people secure meaningful, sustainable employment.
Earlier this year, the government announced nine ‘trailblazer’ schemes aimed at getting people back into work, having used the council’s scheme as inspiration.
Backed by £18m, South Yorkshire’s dedicated new service will work with employers to hire those with health conditions, and a new ‘triage’ system to make it quicker and easier to connect people to employment, health, and skills support.
In the first year, South Yorkshire will work with over 7,800 people and aim to help up to 3,000 people into jobs or to stay in jobs.
Sir Charlie visited the town and spoke with leader Sir Steve Houghton and executive director for growth and sustainability Matt O’Neill about the council’s plans for the future.
They showcased how the initiative is helping residents find meaningful jobs, supporting employers to retain their staff, and putting measures in place to prevent people from falling out of work.
Sir Charlie said: “I’ve been hugely impressed by what we’ve seen in Barnsley – the initiative taken to better support people who are far from the labour market.
“The results are amazing, the people we’ve met have been incredibly impressive, and the way this has all been joined up is really unusual.
“It’s been great to see.
“We met a number of people who have been through the Pathways to Work support offer.
“All of them had someone who believed in them, supported them, and signposted them to the right opportunities, and the results speak for themselves.
“People have gone on to do things they never imagined possible.
“We need to see this happening more often.”
Coun Houghton said that the response from local residents and businesses has so far been ‘incredible’.
He added: “We’re especially proud that Pathways to Work, born here in Barnsley, has earned the support of Sir Charlie Mayfield.
“His guidance and feedback are helping to accelerate our efforts to move thousands of people out of economic inactivity and into fulfilling, sustainable employment.
“Here in Barnsley, we’re now rolling out more personalised, one-to-one support to help people find opportunities that truly match their needs, interests, and circumstances.
“The response from local businesses has been incredible. Employers are stepping up, ready to create flexible, inclusive roles that open doors for people who’ve been out of work.
“Together, we’re building a stronger, fairer economy where everyone has the chance to thrive.”
Matt O’Neill added that the council are currently at a ‘pivotal stage’ of the scheme.
He said: “It was a real privilege to gain insights from someone like Sir Charlie Mayfield.
“His extensive experience in employee engagement at the John Lewis Partnership and leadership in the Keep Britain Working initiative offers valuable perspective.
“His reflections on helping people return to work are especially timely and relevant.
“We’re at a pivotal stage in our Pathways to Work trailblazer. Progress is well underway, with local commissioned providers now actively connecting residents to our personalised support offer.
“We’re actively listening to our communities to understand the barriers they face and shaping our support around their needs.
“At the same time, we’re working closely with employers to help them recruit people progressing through the Pathways journey.”
