Economic Participation Programme
Increasing Economic Participation is about enabling people to achieve their potential in work or self-employment.
For some people, a barrier to full participation means that they are trapped in unemployment or low paid jobs. These barriers can include a lack of skills or confidence, poor health or not being able to get the right support..
Peterborough City Council is working together with the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to tackle these barriers by coordinating the efforts of local partners and investing in key projects that support local people. Since 2007 EEDA have invested approximately £7m in Peterborough with a further £1m committed to be invested in 2010-11.
EEDA's investment with local authorities is aimed at contributing towards the Economic Participation goal of the regional economic strategy to enable individuals to participate in the region's economy:
Economic growth is vital for the well-being of the region, of local communities and of individuals
Currently some people are not able to participate fully in the economy by finding a job or employment appropriate to their skills, or starting their own business. Some common barriers to economic participation include:
- lack of appropriate skills, knowledge, aspiration or confidence
- lack of tailored support from employment/enterprise services
- lack of access to business services
- lack of capital
- work-limiting illness
- employer attitudes or practices
People who might face such barriers include:
- those who live in areas of high deprivation or unemployment
- migrant workers
- some black and minority ethnic communities
- young people without appropriate skills
- enabling such people to participate is essential for economic growth:
- harnessing untapped potential, which increases availability of labour and skills
- reducing costs to the economy, such as benefit payments
- increasing income to be spent in the region
- increasing rates of economic participation therefore benefits:
- the whole region through increased economic growth
- local communities through local economic renewal
- individuals who are assisted out of unemployment or underemployment
The Economic Participation team in Peterborough is located within Operations, Business Support In Bridgehouse.
Name |
Role |
Contact Details |
Anne Senior |
Economic Participation Programme Manager |
T; 01733 864106 |
Maxine Grimes |
Economic Participation Partnership Officer |
T: 01733 863814 |