North Yorkshire Council

Executive

15 July 2025

Get Britain Working Trailblazer Fund Grant Acceptance

Report of the Corporate Director Health and Adult Services

1.0     PURPOSE OF REPORT 

1.1     To request that the Executive agree the application for and acceptance of  grant funding in the sum of four million, three hundred and ninety-one thousand, nine hundred and six pounds (£4,391,906) to support the Government’s Get Britain Working Trailblazer programme. This is subject to confirmation that grant funding agreements are acceptable to North Yorkshire Council.

2.0 BACKGROUND

2.1       The Get Britain Working Trailblazer was announced by the Government in November 2024, alongside the Get Britain Working White Paper. York and North Yorkshire is one of eight sites in England and Wales chosen to focus on improving the support available to people who are economically inactive due to ill health and help them return to work.

2.2       The purpose of the Get Britain Working Trailblazer Fund is to mobilise local work, health and skills support – so everyone who wants to work can get the joined-up support they need. The learning from the Trailblazers will support development of national policy and the design of how locally joined-up support will work in practice across England and Wales.

2.3       York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA) are the accountable body and lead on the programme. £10m has been made available by the Government to be spent in entirety within the 25/26 financial year.

2.4       YNYCA requested project proposals in March 2025. North Yorkshire Council convened a group of officers from the Council and partner organisations to work up projects that aligned with the following priorities, identified based on the profile of need across York and North Yorkshire:

· Engaging and supporting individuals

· Good Work

· Joining Up Services and Support

2.5       Following invitation from the Combined Authority for applicants to submit business cases, over 20 projects were submitted by NYC for consideration by YNYCA. YNYCA received additional proposals from City of York Council and other partners, with the total cost of proposals significantly in excess of available funding.

2.6       YNYCA then reviewed proposals against the DWP-approved Trailblazer Delivery Plan and led further discussion to refine and restructure proposals in line with available funding and the strategic priorities of the programme. In particular, YNYCA wished to see consistent delivery across York and North Yorkshire, requiring the two Councils to join up or align approaches in some areas.

3.0       PROPOSALS

3.1       North Yorkshire’s proposals have been developed at pace by a multi-agency group including North Yorkshire Council, the NHS and key Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise organisations. These proposals have been developed to enhance engagement and support given to key groups in North Yorkshire, such as: young people, people with mental health problems, disabled people, unpaid carers and veterans.

3.2       The suite of proposals looks to provide comprehensive wrap-around support to local businesses and employers by scaling-up best practice, as well as piloting new approaches for new innovative interventions. 

3.3       The proposals broadly utilise existing mechanisms for funding, through existing contracts or arrangements to minimise additional procurement periods. Where thresholds may not allow this, proposals have been scaled to meet requirements. Given the need for funding to be spent within a single year, the approach needed to be pragmatic.

3.4       The North Yorkshire projects approved by YNYCA are as follows:

· Engaging & supporting individuals

o Supported Pathways

o Overcoming Challenges to Youth Participation

o Place Based Engagement

o Place Based Navigators

o Inspiring Potential in 50+

o Youth Mentoring/Support through sport

o Carers Programme

o Community Grants

o Veterans Programme

o MSK Hubs

o Mental Health Hubs/talking therapies

o CA Advice in GP Surgeries

· Good Work

o Workplace health check/clinics

o Employer engagement (levels 1-3)

o Wage Subsidy Scheme

· Joining Up Services and Support

o Interchange

o Health Data Analysis

o Management and Admin

3.5       Descriptions of these projects can be found at Appendix A.

3.4       The Grant Funding Agreement has not yet been received, although a draft was received which is being reviewed. Legal Services will also review and ensure compliance with state subsidy controls.

3.5       YNYCA have also requested that NYC complete a Partner Delivery Plan, a draft of which is attached at Appendix B. YNYCA are currently reviewing payment schedules and outcome metrics.

3.6       Draft data requirements to log and track the individuals that are engaged within the projects, as well as the businesses engaged, have been received. Consisting of around 55 pieces of information, including National Insurance Number and health information, this places a significant overhead upon projects to record this information and submit it to NYC on a month basis. NYC will then consolidate this monthly and submit to YNYCA and DWP.

3.7       Concerns have been raised about the nature of the information to be captured and how this is to be used. As a national programme, the requirements are set by DWP, and discussions are taking place between YNYCA and DWP to try to balance the programme assurance and evaluation needs with the operational realities of the projects.

3.8       YNYCA have confirmed that payment will be monthly in arrears, aligned to agreed payment schedules and that this is not payment by results. The council and providers must comply with the terms of the agreement, including the return of monitoring data, in order to receive scheduled funding, although it is recognised that this is about testing approaches and learning from them so there may be challenges in collecting some data.

4.0 CONSULTATION

4.1       The discussion around the proposals involved officers from across a wide range of council services, working alongside NHS colleagues from the ICB and VCSE organisations. As a DWP programme, the Trailblazer’s parameters and ambitions are defined nationally.

5.0 CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES

5.1       The overall Trailblazer programme aligns with a range of Council Plan priority areas, across the “thriving places and empowered communities”, “safe, healthy and living well” and “Maximise the potential” themes. Supporting people who are economically inactive to reengage and sustain good employment will directly contribute to better outcomes for North Yorkshire’s residents, communities and businesses.  

6.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

6.1 Not to accept the funding: this was rejected as the funding scheme provides external funding which provides the opportunity for the Council to deliver on multiple objectives, as above.

7.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

7.1 This is one-off funding, and any expenditure and projects will end at 31 March 2026 and when all of the funding has been used. The risk of continued pressure on the Council after this will be managed through an exit strategy and monthly budgetary control reporting to ensure this there is no recurring expenditure. The grant will also cover any management and administration costs incurred by the Council and therefore there will be no additional cost to NYC in accepting this funding.

7.2 Of the £10m allocated by Government, £4,391,906 is being granted directly to North Yorkshire Council. However, North Yorkshire will also benefit from schemes run by City of York Council within North Yorkshire, and York will benefit from schemes run by North Yorkshire Council within York. YNYCA’s calculation of the beneficiaries shows 72% of the benefits accruing in North Yorkshire, and 28% in York. This is broadly in line with the population split and cohorts of people eligible for these projects.

8.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

8.1       In order to accept the funding, North Yorkshire Council will be required to enter into a formal Grant Agreement with the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. The Grant Funding Agreement is  not yet available however once issued the Agreement will be reviewed by Legal Services.  

8.2       Any expenditure of the Grant will be in line with the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

8.3       Any contracts entered into in respect of the Grant funding will be in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

9.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

9.1       An Equalities Impact Assessment Screening report has been undertaken, at Appendix C, which highlights the potential positive impact of this funding. All projects will pay due regard to the Council’s equality responsibilities through the Public Sector Equality Duties.

10.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS

10.1     A Climate Change Impact Assessment has been completed, at Appendix D, which does not identify any direct climate implications, based on the recommendations of this report.

11.0     REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

11.1     The Executive is asked to approve the acceptance of the grant funding to allow the proposed activities to proceed. These are intended to support individuals to find and sustain employment, providing better outcomes for individuals and supporting North Yorkshire’s economy.

12.0     RECOMMENDATIONS

12.1   The Executive agrees to the application of grant funding of four million, three hundred and ninety-one thousand, nine hundred and six pounds (£4,391,906) to support the Government’s Get Britain Working Trailblazer programme; and in the event that the application is approved

12.2  That the acceptance of the Grant be delegated to the Corporate Director- Resources; and

12.3  To delegate authority to agree and enter into any associated agreements, including but

not limited to the Grant Agreement with the YNYCA to access and deliver these funds, to the

Corporate Director- Resources in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and

Democratic Services.

APPENDICES:

Appendix A – Project descriptions

Appendix B – Partner Delivery Plan

Appendix C – Equality Impact Assessment Screening Form

Appendix D – Climate Change Impact Assessment

Appendix A – Project Descriptions

Project Name	Description	Delivery	Funding
Engaging & supporting individuals
Supported Pathways	Helping inactive individuals overcome barriers, gain skills, and progress toward employment or wellbeing through supported volunteering. This programme will be aimed at people who wish to volunteer regardless of barriers or challenges by providing the practical and emotional support they need to both take that first step and find a suitable volunteering role and provide on-going support to enable them to maintain the role or progress into employment.	Existing grant/contract	£100,000
Overcoming Challenges to Youth Participation	Many young people today are economically inactive and disconnected from traditional education institutions for various reasons, such as undiagnosed needs, lack of skills, or homebound circumstances. Our Personalised Learning College in North Yorkshire and Routes programme in York specialise in working with learners who have EHCPs or face barriers to progression. These programmes offer customised study opportunities for those aged 16-18, fast-track options for short-term re-engagement, and programmes for young people whose education plans have ceased but do not meet the threshold for supported employment. Despite the challenges posed by limited funding and small cohorts, these digitally competent young people can benefit from hybrid study programmes that lead to supported work placements and employment.	Existing grant/contract	£321,750
Place Based Engagement with Opportunity	To offer roadshow-type activities that help people understand 'good' work. Staff will help the public consider the economic status, aims, aspirations, and the impact of training, working on benefits, and pensions. As seen with Multiply, many people have misconceptions about learning and work, preventing them from seeking change. Working with public health some larger events will also support ‘fit for betterwork’ health checks. This approach reaches out directly and serves as a key entry point for progressing into work through all programme routes. The team will work for all providers using knowledge of referral routes. This activity aligns with UKSPF-funded work, allowing both programmes to utilise an internal staff base. Event programming will use research data for thematic promotion tailored to specific demographics such as high economic inactivity in Acomb (York) or among 50-64 year olds and veterans in Richmondshire. The team will also support the pilot programme in key schools in high multi-agency worklessness areas, working with parents at key transition points (year 9 and 11) to provide an overview of the skills landscape and opportunities. Engaging parents through their children may help them understand the opportunities available to them. This programme could be planned through navigator work and shared with school careers staff, drawing on LMI to highlight local opportunities linked to growth plans.	Existing grant/contract	£339,686
Place Based Navigators	To support a diverse range of individuals in their journey from skills acquisition to employment, it is crucial to establish multiple touch points for assistance. Building on the work funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which trained community volunteers and 'digital buddies', we aim to offer a combination of short-duration and qualifications-based support, creating connections within neighbourhood community hubs across North Yorkshire and Local Area Teams (LATs) in York. This existing framework can be expanded beyond Volunteer and Community Services (VCS) to include customer service roles, business support functions, local area teams, business advisors, and other frontline community workers. This network will be bolstered by advanced digital tools, significantly enhanced through investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Learning Environments (VLE). The programme will recruit three network coordinators, (one also acting as a lead) specialising in health, business, and community sectors. These coordinators will create communities of practice, recruit partners, and arrange training. The model will focus on mentoring place-based navigators to facilitate progression through key initiatives and programmes under the 'Get Britain Working' campaign. By expanding and tailoring the training and buddy network and leveraging digital tools and coordinated efforts, we aim to create a robust support system. This system will empower individuals to navigate their path from skills acquisition to meaningful employment, contributing to the overall goal of getting Britain working effectively and efficiently. Navigators will be trained to understand availability for support through trailblazer funded activity and wider opportunities, funding is available to support ‘navigator release’ funding should organisations struggle to maintain normal operations if staff are away at network or training events.	Existing grant/contract	£591,842
Inspiring Potential in 50+	Survey data suggests that many individuals who have taken early retirement have underestimated the true cost of living, resulting in retirement earnings that do not match their needs. This programme targets recently retired individuals, those considering early retirement, and over-50s keen to return to the workforce. It supports participants in recognising opportunities to become part of the workforce required for initiatives like 'Get Britain Working', including roles such as FE teachers, guidance mentors, and IAG specialists. It also aims to provide links to vacancies within anchor organisations and support workers through trial placements and volunteering funded by this project and the supported pathways project. Additionally, participants can undertake on-demand and fast-track training to overcome challenges leading to inactivity, including opportunities for self-employment. The programme can work with individuals or targeted groups, such as female carers seeking to return to work, ex-forces personnel, or ex-offenders. It will combine one-to-one guidance, hybrid bite-sized workshops, on-demand modules, and fast-track completion of core digital, maths, or English qualifications. Participants will be assigned a mentor for light-touch support or directed towards keyworker support models where in-work assistance may be necessary to sustain employment destinations. Any qualifications will be funded by core adult skills fund budget allocations from both authorities.	Existing grant/contract	£322,000
Youth Mentoring/Support through sport	The proposed programme will support cohorts of 15 under achieving academically Year 10 students at three different secondary schools (45 young people) across North Yorkshire and York Schools (TBC) NYY’s role is to co-develop the programme with individual schools to: · Provide a mentoring programme, trips and extra-curricular activities · Support young people to engage with the next stage of life to prevent them becoming NEET · Enable the embedding and achievement of ‘cultural passports’ within in each school’s cohort to broaden horizons and demonstrate the employment opportunities different sectors can provide even if academic success isn’t achieved. All with the aim of providing youth mentoring and enrichment activities to build confidence, skills, and progression into work or training.	Existing grant/contract	£75,000
Carers Programme	Work will be undertaken to increase knowledge of the demands on carers and their rights under the Care Act amongst the business community. For those already in work, the project would support carers to ensure all the options are explored around sustaining employment – legal rights, career breaks or flexible working, reducing hours and if required to write or advocate on their behalf with the employer. A worker will help raise aspirations and ensure realistic goals are set and achievable. The worker will carry out 1-1 initial assessments looking at qualification levels and basic skills. Realistic action plans will be agreed between the carer and worker also creating positive connections. We will actively encourage and support to explore any relevant training options which will help to gain new skills or qualifications to achieve their agreed goals. The worker will also help with the development around interpersonal skills and confidence to return to paid employment. The program will support those accessing the service and will enable all to feel more empowered and confident, giving many opportunities with regards to making their own choices and taking control on their future plans and aspirations.	Existing grant/contract	£112,500
Community Grants	Small grants scheme for VCSE organisations/organisations and Parish and Town councils that connects work, health and skills, up to £25K to target priority cohorts/communities of economically inactive people across York and North Yorkshire. This is an opportunity to pilot and fund innovative projects, try new approaches for engagement and build learning and knowledge that can inform decision makers and future funding. Hyper local support for local people as a first steps opportunity to move closer to the labour market.	Existing Grant/Contract Open Call Grant	£550,000
Veterans Programme	This programme aims to improve employment pathways for veterans across YNY by addressing barriers to work, education, and local engagement. It will deliver: · tailored education and training to employers and involve local services and communities · engage with veterans to increase understanding of barriers and challenges · co-design employment routes with veterans themselves.	Existing Grant/Contract	£56,250
MSK Hubs	This programme supports working-age adults in North Yorkshire struggling to remain in or return to work due to Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions offering tailored exercise programs to improve health and employment outcomes. The project will deliver 2 MSK Hubs, one based in Harrogate and the other in Selby utilising facilities within the Active North Yorkshire portfolio.  It will also include workforce development to build capacity to support inactive residents	Existing Grant/Contract	£299,000
Mental Health Hubs/talking therapies	To increase the number of EAs in NHS Talking Therapies in recognition that too often health and employment services act in isolation, tackling either the health complaint or employment need discreetly. By placing more employment advisers in NHS Talking Therapies providers we can ensure that more people with anxiety and depression are getting the combined psychological treatment and employment support they need to improve their mental health and enable them to remain in, return to, or find work.  The Provision provides skills-based interventions, information, advice, guidance, and practical support to help people receiving NHS Talking Therapies providers to: · remain in · return to and · find work.	Existing Grant/Contract	£150,000
CA Advice in GP Surgeries	Welfare advice in GP surgeries supports patients with complex needs, tackling financial stress and boosting wellbeing and employability.	Existing Grant/Contract	£126,000
Good Work
Workplace health check/clinics	This project will offer workplace health checks and support to employees at risk, aiming to reduce economic inactivity and improve wellbeing. This project will engage with businesses across North Yorkshire and enable employer (across all sizes and sectors including Anchor Institutes e.g., Local Authority/NHS) to support the identification of adults in employment who are at risk of becoming economically inactive due to undiagnosed cardiovascular disease (CVD). This project will target working age adults between the ages of 25 to 84 years of age who have not had an NHS Health Check in the last five years.  Due to the higher rates of undetected CVD risk in certain employment groups and place, the healthy heart checks will be targeted to include routine and manual, lower paid workers e.g., manufacturing, grounds, parks, recycling, street scene, workshops, pest control, transport/drivers and building maintenance, as well as care workers, cleaning and catering staff and areas of higher deprivation e.g., coastal, rural. The delivery model will be inclusive and flexible to enable access for employees who may struggle to normally access services usually e.g., employees with multiple jobs and those working shifts.	Existing Grant/Contract In House	£112,500
Employer engagement (levels 1-3)	Good Work: Deliver a wraparound model of education, training and grant funding to local businesses and workplaces signposting employers to existing resources and also support delivered through the Trailblazer and other initiatives such as Shared and Rural Prosperity Fund. Cross links with Thriving at Work programme. Levels 1-3 in Delivery Plan: Activity undertaken to raise awareness and an increase in take-up of existing support. This will be led by North Yorkshire Council’s business advice service and utilise Council owned business centres and business networks across North Yorkshire.	In House Open Call Procurement	£150,000
Wage Subsidy Scheme	A wage subsidy for employers based in either York or North Yorkshire, to support them to employ an individual who is economically inactive for a 3 month duration. Employers who wish to provide an employment opportunity for an individual on the scheme would receive a wage subsidy to provide the following; · 16 hours per week of employment · Minimum of 3-month duration, offered on a fixed term contract · On-costs will be built into the wage subsidy for the 16hpw If an employer wishes to increase the hours beyond 16hpw, either at offer stage, or mid-way through the placement, they can do so, but they would need to fund this themselves. The minimum placement duration is 3 months.  If an employer wishes to extend this, they can do so but would be responsible for financing it. Employers do not have to guarantee or offer paid work after the 3-month duration, however if they do offer permanent, established work to an individual on the scheme they would receive a financial bonus/incentive to support this.	In House	£1,000,000
Joining Up Services and Support
Health Data Analysis	North Yorkshire Council will provide 0.5FTE Strategy and Performance Manager to support the health data analysis across the Trailblazer Programme. The work will include initially Regional Work Market Analysis and Data Returns Analysis and Reporting with the potential for other areas of analysis as required by the programme. The officer will continue to be line managed within NYC but will be tasked by MCA colleagues	In House	£36,979
Management and Admin	Management and Admin support to the NYC projects. This includes the co-ordination of the project proposals into delivery, and the ongoing monitoring and reporting of progress and outcomes. Resource will be split between a dedicated contact for the programme and additional admin support as required by the individual projects.	In House	£168,919