Guidance

Guidance for Developing local Get Britain Working plans (England)

Published 3 April 2025

Applies to England

This guidance provides information on local Get Britain Working plans [to be branded ‘Get [place] Working plans’] for strategic authorities, local authorities, local Jobcentre Plus, and Integrated Care Boards. It should also be read by other key local labour market stakeholders. 

This guidance covers: 

• The strategic context and the challenges that local Get Britain Working plans will help address
• The aims and objectives of the plans, including how they will identify local challenges, ensure collective agreement of actions needed to remedy these issues, and how they monitor progress of local challenges with relevant outcome indicators
• Who should be involved in the creation of the plans, and over what geographies
• How areas should develop their plans, and the timeframes for this
• What content the plans should cover
• The relationship to other local plans and strategies
• The funding and support that DWP will provide areas to develop their plans

For further information, you can contact us via gbw.plans@dwp.gov.uk

This guidance is for England only. As outlined in the Get Britain Working White Paper^{[footnote 1]}, DWP will be working closely with the Scottish and Welsh Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive to maximise positive outcomes and learning across the UK. This collaboration will respect devolution settlements and arrangements for partnership working.

Introduction  

1. Local Get Britain Working plans are central to the Government’s ambition for a thriving labour market where everyone has the opportunity for good work and to get on in work and where we achieve the ambition of an 80% employment rate.

2. Local Get Britain Working plans will do this by tackling the six key issues identified in the Get Britain Working White Paper: 

• too many people are excluded from the labour market – especially those with health conditions, caring responsibilities or lower skill levels
• too many young people leave school without essential skills or access to high-quality further learning, an apprenticeship or support to work so that they can thrive at the start of their career
• too many people are stuck in insecure, poor quality and often low-paying work, which contributes to a weaker economy and also affects their health and wellbeing
• too many women who care for their families still experience challenges staying in and progressing in work
• too many employers cannot fill their vacancies due to labour and skills shortages, holding back economic growth, driving up reliance on overseas labour, and undermining living standards
• there is too great a disparity in labour market outcomes between different places and for different groups of people

3. Local Get Britain Working plans will identify local labour market challenges and show how local areas are tackling these challenges. They will show how an area is contributing to economic growth, the ambition of an 80% UK employment rate, and wider Get Britain Working outcomes metrics. 

4. Local Get Britain Working plans will support other local strategies, and plans, including Local Growth Plans, Local Skills Improvement Plans and other health and work Strategies. 

5. The Get Britain Working White Paper set out proposals to transform Jobcentre Plus across Great Britain into a Jobs and Careers Service. This transformation will bring it together with the National Careers Service in England and focus on three core objectives to improve engagement, employment and earnings.  

6. A key purpose of local Get Britain Working plans will therefore be to support integration of Jobcentre Plus / Jobs and Careers Service services into local areas. In addition, DWP will take these plans into consideration nationally and locally for future employment support policy design and development. 

7. Local Get Britain Working plans will also support local government partners, key stakeholders and wider public services, including the NHS and DWP, to manage and align current provision and to inform decisions on future commissioning, activity and support. 

Overview of local Get Britain Working plans 

8. Local Get Britain Working plans are intended to develop a whole system approach to tackling the supply and demand side challenges within local labour markets.  

9. In line with the scope for the Get Britain Working White Paper, local areas are asked to cover labour market issues related to participation, progression, earnings and job quality in the labour market. Areas should set ambitious outcome indicators in line which align with the Get Britain Working outcome metrics. 

10. Local Get Britain Working plans will bring stakeholders together to ensure a unified understanding of local priorities and challenges, and what services and organisations are currently doing to address these.   

11. Local areas must draw from across the local system to develop a local plan of action and agree how partners will work together to review progress against their local plan and associated outcome indicators such as the local employment rate. 

12. In mayoral authorities, local Get Britain Working plans should be guided by and support the regional objectives set out in their Local Growth Plan. In all areas local Get Britain Working plans should set out the ambition for the next 10 years alongside more immediate goals and actions. Local areas are encouraged to review their plans regularly. 

13. Local Get Britain Working plans should include: 

• details of the governance processes related to sign-off and how the partnership have and will continue to be involved
• detail of how wider stakeholders have and will continue to be engaged
• analysis of key local labour market challenges and drivers for different groups of people across the economy, ensuring collective agreement on these key local issues
• a clear plan of action for how partners will work together to develop support and services that address local priorities, improve local outcome indicators in line with Get Britain Working outcome metrics
• an overview of the current landscape of support (for individuals and employers) and the differing responsibilities and contributions of different stakeholders
• actions for the next 12-24 months and steps towards achieving longer-term objectives

14. We recognise the full scope of this ambition may not be possible in all areas. In such cases local areas are asked to prioritise key aspects of the plan with a view to meeting requirements outline above over time. These key aspects are: 

• establishing the formal governance arrangements
• agreeing ways of working with partners
• analysing economic inactivity data and causes
• mapping existing provision for inactive cohorts
• identifying any duplication, gaps, and opportunities for future action

How DWP will support the development of local Get Britain Working plans 

15. DWP will provide funding to support the development of local Get Britain Working plans. DWP will provide all accountable bodies £100k to cover the costs of developing plans (except in inactivity Trailblazer areas where funding for Plan development has already been provided).

16. It is recognised that development costs will be greater where plans are being developed across multiple local authority boundaries. In recognition of this, we will provide a further £25k per additional upper-tier or unitary local authority in non-devolution areas.  

17. In addition to development funding, DWP will give accountable bodies and local areas access to non-financial resource. This will include support from local Jobcentre Plus and central DWP support such as: 

• advice on data sources to support analysis of economic inactivity
• ‘cluster analysis’ to categorise local authorities into ‘labour market types’, based on key labour market variables, rather than geographic location^{[footnote 2]}
• provision of templates for local Get Britain Working plans (where needed)
• convening partnerships on behalf of local authorities (where required and requested)
• DWP led webinars

18. Jobcentre Plus / Jobs and Careers Service operational leaders will support local plans by ensuring that available resource and provision is channelled at issues identified in the local Get Britain Working plan. 

19. Recognising the scale of the challenge that ill-health poses as a contributor to rising economic inactivity, support of health leadership will also be crucial to Plans. Integrated Care Partnerships will offer a key leadership forum for the accountable body to engage with health and social care stakeholders at the system level. 

20. The degree of support that areas will require from DWP will vary, and areas will not be compelled to utilise any of the support that DWP offers (e.g. while areas are free to use the local Get Britain Working plan templates provided by DWP, they are not required to do so). 

 Scope of local Get Britain Working Plans 

21. All areas of England will be asked to develop local Get Britain Working plans. These plans will operate over strategic geographies consisting of strategic authorities and Connect to Work delivery area geographies elsewhere. Where an area becomes a strategic authority, the plan(s) should be updated with a single plan within an appropriate timescale. A list of geographies can be found in Annex A.  

22. We recognise that due to local government reorganisation, plans to extend the number of devolution agreements, and reform to Local Skills Improvement Plan areas, local governance is subject to change. With agreement from DWP, areas may choose to develop plans over broader geographies (for example to align with future devolution agreements or Integrated Care Board areas) but not smaller geographies. Areas which are part of the Devolution Priority Programme are particularly encouraged to consider a joint plan. Any changes should not result in an existing Connect to Work delivery area being split across different areas.  

23. Alignment with Integrated Care Board and Local Skills Improvement Plan geographies is encouraged where possible. Co-terminus boundaries may support greater local system integration, and the ability to share some governance, analysis, and engagement processes with common stakeholders.  

24. Where local Get Britain Working plan and Integrated Care Board geographies are co-terminus, local areas may choose to produce a single plan. This plan should meet the requirements of both the local Get Britain Working plan and the Work and Health strategy. Alternatively, areas may choose to supplement existing Work and Health strategies or local Get Britain Working plans to meet the requirements. 

The local governance arrangements required and how the plans should be agreed 

25. Each local area will have an accountable body responsible for leading the development of local Get Britain Working plans working with other upper-tier and local authorities within the area, Jobcentre Plus and the Integrated Care Board(s). Strategic authorities will be the accountable body in areas with a devolution agreement. In areas without a devolution agreement the accountable body will be an upper tier or unitary local authority within the area.  

26. Where plans are being developed across areas which include more than one unitary or upper-tier authority, one local authority should act as the accountable body for the purpose of convening partnerships and managing financial costs / reimbursement of costs associated with the development of plans.  

27. It is expected that the accountable body for local Get Britain Working plans will be the same as the accountable body for Connect to Work. Where local areas do not think this is appropriate, a change to the accountable body may be agreed in consultation with DWP. To seek agreement for such a change, local areas should submit a written request to  gbw.plans@dwp.gov.uk. If a change is agreed upon, it will be the responsibility of the local area to transfer any funding received to the newly agreed accountable body.   

28. In non-devolution agreement areas, regardless of whom is the accountable body and whom is a constituent authority, all upper-tier and unitary local authorities will be expected to be involved in the development and approval of plans. 

29. Local Get Britain Working plans should also be jointly agreed by members of the partnership as the plans are developed and should include sign-off from Integrated Care Board and Jobcentre Plus representatives, and any constituent upper-tier or unitary authorities prior to publication. 

The timeframe for the development of plans 

30. It is recognised that areas are at differing stages and while some areas will be able to publish comprehensive plans, for other areas the process may be more iterative. Where feasible, areas are asked to publish their local Get Britain Working plans by July 2025 once completed and agreed locally in accordance with the requirements set out above where possible. 

31. Where areas are unable to publish their local Get Britain Working plans before July, they should submit to DWP an initial summary of their proposals for local Get Britain Working plans using the template DWP will provide no later than 27th June 2025. This should be approved by the relevant Integrated Care Board(s) and Jobcentre Plus / Jobs and Careers Service representatives. In non-mayoral strategic authorities, it should also be agreed by all upper-tier and unitary authorities within the delivery area. 

32. As a minimum all areas are expected to have initial plans covering inactivity completed and published by September 2025.   

33. Individual plans should be branded as ‘Get [Place] Working plans’, for example ’Get Cumbria Working’.  

34. In all areas we expect plans and progress against agreed actions to be updated at appropriate junctures including following major fiscal events and changes to significant programmes. This includes locally delivered provision (such as UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Connect to Work, or national provision), when areas become a strategic authority, or following significant local economic changes. 

35. While plans do not need to be signed off by nationally by DWP, we would welcome the opportunity to input and to provide feedback where helpful. Areas should submit plans to: gbw.plans@dwp.gov.uk a minimum of two weeks ahead of publication. 

What local Get Britain working plans should cover 

36. We would like local areas to develop detailed plans that address the challenges related to labour force participation (employment, unemployment and economic inactivity) and progression in work. However, we recognise that the full scope of this ambition may not be possible in all areas. Where this is the case, local areas are asked to prioritise focusing on addressing economic inactivity at the local level, with a view to expanding the scope of the plan over time. 

37. There is no set format for these plans and areas have the flexibility to develop plans in a way which will have the maximum impact within their areas. However, there are some core elements which will be expected in all plans:  

1. Labour market analysis 

Analysis of the key challenges faced in the labour market across both labour market participation (employment, unemployment and economic inactivity) and progression at work (earnings and job quality).  

This should: 

• include an assessment of which groups are most disadvantaged and the causes and impacts of this to the individual, the local economy, and local services
• incorporate any geographical areas where there are particular employment related challenges
• incorporate any geographical areas where there are specific economic challenges (for example around particular industries or demand side factors)
• be done through a combination of data analysis and local intelligence from frontline public services

Analysis should also include the employment demand within areas, as well as the supply, the vacancies available (including part-time and flexible vacancies), or lack of, and in what sectors, skills shortage areas etc. 

Key groups will include disabled people, people with a health condition, disadvantaged young people and older people, people with caring responsibilities (including parents and lone parents particularly where this supports the government’s ambitions to reduce child poverty), and people who face multiple disadvantages (for example homelessness, ex-offenders, refugees, and care experienced).  

2. Drivers and causes of supply and demand side labour market issues 

Conduct a thorough analysis and document the primary drivers and causes of economic inactivity within the region. This will include, but not be limited to, issues related to education, skills and health, as well as factors that may limit people’s ability to access work like transport, housing, caring responsibilities (including childcare), and the availability, accessibility, and flexibility of jobs. 

3. Current system and offer 

Detail the existing systems and support mechanisms available for the key groups and areas identified across organisations including through the health service, local government, and Jobcentre Plus. It should include services for economically inactive individuals with health conditions, and those who face other barriers including caring responsibilities, homelessness, alcohol and drug misuse, care experience, or ex-offenders. This assessment should also include: 

•  an assessment of current services and gaps
•  how the current system looks from a citizen’s perspective
• whether there is clarity on the currently available support offer
• the degree to which there is a coherent participant journey for individuals who face differing barriers to the labour market

The relevant organisations should support the accountable body by providing details on the relevant services they deliver to the accountable body. For example, Jobcentre Plus should provide information on its services and any local tailoring including any locally procured provision. 

4. Working with partners 

Areas should outline the levers that different stakeholders can apply in addressing the challenges identified, and outline how stakeholders can collaborate to increase engagement with support, ensure provision is aligned and improve outcomes. Areas should consider what mechanisms need to be in place to ensure local partners can work collectively to address issues. They should also determine how these mechanisms will be instituted, potentially utilising any future investment or changes to existing funding streams.

5. Systemic changes 

Outline the changes which are required to local systems to improve outcomes and enhance the effectiveness of the system as a whole. This should include an assessment of current capacity and capability challenges of different stakeholders. It should also include details of and any structural issues which would need to be addressed to facilitate any future investment in inactivity.

6. Priority Actions and Longer-Term Goals 

Set ambitious yet achievable priorities for the next 12-24 months, which partners will work through collectively to achieve, and how these will be monitored and reported against at a local level, including through outcome indicators which should align with the Get Britain Working outcome metrics. Actions should align closely with key local priorities, such as in Local Growth Plans, Local Skills Improvement Plans, and integrated care strategies. This alignment will help areas demonstrate how their local plans support broader ambitions to grow the local economy at both national and local levels. Where the relevant Local Growth Plan sets out a shared priority of health, skills, or inactivity this should be set out clearly in the local Get Britain Working plan.

7. Governance, local engagement, and future iterations 

Detail the governance arrangements in place locally which will maintain oversight of local Get Britain Working plans and which will support alignment with future initiatives and strategies across relevant stakeholders. Detail how wider local stakeholders were engaged pre and post development of the plans and how they will monitor their progression. Set out what at what period or in tandem with what events plans will be updated and the process in place for future iterations to be collectively agreed. 

Who should be involved in the development of local Get Britain Working plans 

38. The factors that contribute to unemployment, economic inactivity and low earnings are diverse and any comprehensive understanding and response to the issue will require the insight and expertise of a wide range of local stakeholders. 

39. The development of local Get Britain Working plans should therefore be overseen by a formal partnership of key local stakeholders alongside the accountable body and any constituent authorities in the local area. This must consist of a nominated lead from Integrated Care Board and Jobcentre Plus, and should include representation from:  

• voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations
• education and skills providers
• employer and business representative groups (it is recommended this includes representation from the Employer Representative Body responsible for the development and implementation of Local Skills Improvement Plans within that area)

40. In addition to the formal oversight provided by the partnership, local areas may wish to seek insights and input from wider local stakeholders. This may include local authorities with the current responsibility for delivering UK Shared Prosperity Fund, local academic institutions, social partners (including housing associations), Health and Wellbeing Boards, trade unions and citizen voices. Integrated Care Partnerships will offer a key leadership forum for engagement with a broad alliance of partners concerned with the care, health and wellbeing of the population. 

41. Local partners should support lead local authorities for each place to develop their plans. The role of the partnership includes: 

• providing intelligence on local labour market challenges
• identifying employment barriers faced by different groups and in different parts of the local Get Britain Working plan area
• identifying provision delivered through their organisations
• proposing interventions and promoting cross-sector collaboration
• identifying and addressing duplication and supporting synergies

Relationship of local Get Britain Working plans with other local plans 

42. Local Get Britain Working plans should draw on and be integrated with other relevant local work, health and skills plans. This includes Local Skills Improvement Plans. Areas are not expected to duplicate existing plans and can cross-reference existing local plans in the public domain.  

43. Where a Local Growth Plan or other local growth or economic development strategy identifies skills, health or inactivity as a priority for the area, the Get Britain Working plans should build on this priority to set out: 

• which employment opportunities locally are key for increasing economic growth and the current barriers to reducing economic inactivity, increasing participation and progression in these jobs
• a clear plan for supporting people to take on these opportunities across the area, and how this will be embedded into a range of local services

44. Where relevant, areas should ensure objectives in their local Get Britain Working Plans align with the employment support outcomes of their integrated settlement outcomes framework as well as Get Britian Working Outcome metrics.

45. Where local areas have already developed their Connect to Work delivery plans, we encourage them to draw on Section 6 titled ‘Developing an integrated support offer with strategic fit to local priorities’, but this is not a requirement. Activity on local Get Britain Working plans should not come at the expense of any delays to the delivery of Connect to Work. 

46. Leadership and capacity funding has been made available to Integrated Care Boards in both the 23/24 and 24/25 financial years. This funding will support integrated care systems with health, work and skills integration and strategy development. Accountable bodies should work with their relevant Integrated Care Boards to draw on these strategies and plans or support their development.  

47. Inactivity Trailblazer areas^{[footnote 3]}, and Youth Guarantee Trailblazer areas^{[footnote 4]}, are asked to publish a local Get Britain Working plan within the same timeframe as non-Trailblazer areas.  

48. In WorkWell pilot areas accountable bodies should prioritise liaising with the relevant Integrated Care Board(s) as developing an integrated work and health strategy is one of the key objectives of the WorkWell pilot.  

49. Lead authorities should engage with all lead UK Shared Prosperity Fund authorities within their area to ensure there is a joined-up plan for tackling local labour market challenges.  

Annex A: Proposed local Get Britain Working plan geographies^{[footnote 5]} 

Local GBW plan area	Local Authorities covered	Proposed Accountable Body
Berkshire	West Berkshire Council	Wokingham Borough Council
Berkshire	Reading Borough Council	Wokingham Borough Council
Berkshire	Wokingham Borough Council	Wokingham Borough Council
Berkshire	Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead	Wokingham Borough Council
Berkshire	Bracknell Forest Council	Wokingham Borough Council
Berkshire	Slough Borough Council	Wokingham Borough Council
Buckinghamshire	Buckinghamshire Council	Buckinghamshire Council
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough	Cambridgeshire County Council	Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough	Peterborough City Council	Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
Cheshire & Warrington	Cheshire East Council	Cheshire West and Chester Council
Cheshire & Warrington	Cheshire West & Chester Council	Cheshire West and Chester Council
Cheshire & Warrington	Warrington Borough Council	Cheshire West and Chester Council
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly	Council of the Isles of Scilly	Cornwall Council
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly	Cornwall Council	Cornwall Council
Cumbria	Cumberland Council	Cumberland Council
Cumbria	Westmorland & Furness Council	Cumberland Council
Devon, Plymouth, & Torbay	Devon County Council	Devon and Torbay Combined Authority
Devon, Plymouth, & Torbay	Torbay Council	Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority
Devon, Plymouth, & Torbay	Plymouth City Council	Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority
Dorset & Bournemouth, Christchurch, & Poole	Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council	Dorset Council
Dorset & Bournemouth, Christchurch, & Poole	Dorset Council	Dorset Council
East Midlands	Derby City Council	East Midlands Combined County Authority
East Midlands	Derbyshire County Council	East Midlands Combined County Authority
East Midlands	Nottingham City Council	East Midlands Combined County Authority
East Midlands	Nottinghamshire County Council	East Midlands Combined County Authority
East Sussex	East Sussex County Council	East Sussex County Council
Gloucestershire	Gloucestershire County Council	Gloucestershire County Council
Greater Essex	Thurrock Council	Essex County Council
Greater Essex	Southend-on-Sea Borough Council	Essex County Council
Greater Essex	Essex County Council	Essex County Council
Greater Lancashire	Blackpool Council	Lancashire Combined County Authority
Greater Lancashire	Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council	Lancashire Combined County Authority
Greater Lancashire	Lancashire County Council	Lancashire Combined County Authority
Greater Lincolnshire	Lincolnshire County Council	Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined County Authority
Greater Lincolnshire	North Lincolnshire Council	Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined County Authority
Greater Lincolnshire	North East Lincolnshire Council	Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined County Authority
Greater Manchester	Bolton Borough Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester	Bury Borough Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester	Manchester City Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester	Oldham Borough Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester	Rochdale Borough Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester	Salford City Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester	Stockport Borough Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester	Tameside Borough Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester	Trafford Borough Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Greater Manchester	Wigan Borough Council	Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Hampshire	Hampshire County Council	Hampshire County Council
Herefordshire, Shropshire, & Telford & Wrekin	Herefordshire Council	Shropshire Council
Herefordshire, Shropshire, & Telford & Wrekin	Shropshire Council	Shropshire Council
Herefordshire, Shropshire, & Telford & Wrekin	Telford & Wrekin Council	Shropshire Council
Hertfordshire	Hertfordshire County Council	Hertfordshire County Council
Hull & East Yorkshire	Hull City Council	Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority
Hull & East Yorkshire	East Riding of Yorkshire Council	Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority
Kent & Medway	Kent County Council	Kent County Council
Kent & Medway	Medway Council	Kent County Council
Leicester, Leicestershire, & Rutland	Leicester City Council	Leicester City Council
Leicester, Leicestershire, & Rutland	Leicestershire County Council	Leicester City Council
Leicester, Leicestershire, & Rutland	Rutland County Council	Leicester City Council
Liverpool City Region	Liverpool City Council	Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Liverpool City Region	Knowsley Borough Council	Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Liverpool City Region	St Helens Borough Council	Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Liverpool City Region	Sefton Borough Council	Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Liverpool City Region	Halton Borough Council	Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Liverpool City Region	Wirral Borough Council	Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
Greater London	Camden	Greater London Authority
Greater London	City of London	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Hackney	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Haringey	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Islington	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Kensington & Chelsea	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Lambeth	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Lewisham	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Southwark	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Tower Hamlets	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Wandsworth	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Westminster	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Barking & Dagenham	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Bexley	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Bromley	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Greenwich	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Havering	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Newham	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Enfield	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Redbridge	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Waltham Forest	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Croydon	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Kingston Upon Thames	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Merton	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Richmond Upon Thames	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Sutton	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Barnet	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Brent	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Ealing	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Hammersmith & Fulham	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Harrow	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Hillingdon	Greater London Authority
Greater London	Hounslow	Greater London Authority
Norfolk	Norfolk County Council	Norfolk County Council
North East	Durham County Council	North East Combined Authority
North East	Gateshead Borough Council	North East Combined Authority
North East	Newcastle City Council	North East Combined Authority
North East	North Tyneside Council	North East Combined Authority
North East	Northumberland County Council	North East Combined Authority
North East	South Tyneside Council	North East Combined Authority
North East	Sunderland City Council	North East Combined Authority
Oxfordshire	Oxfordshire County Council	Oxfordshire County Council
Solent	Southampton City Council	Portsmouth City Council
Solent	Portsmouth City Council	Portsmouth City Council
Solent	Isle of Wight Council	Portsmouth City Council
Somerset	Somerset Council	Somerset Council
South Midlands	Bedford Borough Council	West Northamptonshire Council
South Midlands	Central Bedfordshire Council	West Northamptonshire Council
South Midlands	Luton Borough Council	West Northamptonshire Council
South Midlands	Milton Keynes Council	West Northamptonshire Council
South Midlands	North Northamptonshire Council	West Northamptonshire Council
South Midlands	West Northamptonshire Council	West Northamptonshire Council
South Yorkshire	Sheffield City Council	South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
South Yorkshire	Rotherham Borough Council	South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
South Yorkshire	Barnsley Borough Council	South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
South Yorkshire	Doncaster Borough Council	South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent	Staffordshire County Council	Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent City Council	Staffordshire County Council
Suffolk	Suffolk County Council	Suffolk County Council
Surrey	Surrey County Council	Surrey County Council
Swindon & Wiltshire	Swindon Borough Council	Wiltshire Council
Swindon & Wiltshire	Wiltshire Council	Wiltshire Council
Tees Valley	Darlington Borough Council	Tees Valley Combined Authority
Tees Valley	Hartlepool Borough Council	Tees Valley Combined Authority
Tees Valley	Middlesbrough Borough Council	Tees Valley Combined Authority
Tees Valley	Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council	Tees Valley Combined Authority
Tees Valley	Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council	Tees Valley Combined Authority
Warwickshire	Warwickshire County Council	Warwickshire County Council
West Midlands	Birmingham City Council	West Midlands Combined Authority
West Midlands	City of Wolverhampton Council	West Midlands Combined Authority
West Midlands	Coventry City Council	West Midlands Combined Authority
West Midlands	Dudley Borough Council	West Midlands Combined Authority
West Midlands	Sandwell Borough Council	West Midlands Combined Authority
West Midlands	Solihull Borough Council	West Midlands Combined Authority
West Midlands	Walsall Borough Council	West Midlands Combined Authority
West of England (including North Somerset)	Bath & North East Somerset Council	West of England Combined Authority
West of England (including North Somerset)	Bristol City Council	West of England Combined Authority
West of England (including North Somerset)	South Gloucestershire Council	West of England Combined Authority
West of England (including North Somerset)	North Somerset Council	West of England Combined Authority
West Sussex & Brighton	West Sussex County Council	West Sussex County Council
West Sussex & Brighton	Brighton & Hove City Council	West Sussex County Council
West Yorkshire	Bradford City	West Yorkshire Combined Authority
West Yorkshire	Calderdale Borough Council	West Yorkshire Combined Authority
West Yorkshire	Kirklees Borough Council	West Yorkshire Combined Authority
West Yorkshire	Leeds City Council	West Yorkshire Combined Authority
West Yorkshire	Wakefield City Council	West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Worcestershire	Worcestershire County Council	Worcestershire County Council
York & North Yorkshire	City of York Council	York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
York & North Yorkshire	North Yorkshire County Council	York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

Annex B: Employment rate (Oct 2023-Sep 2024) 

Local GBW plan area	Employment rate (Oct 2023-Sep 2024)
Berkshire	80.2% (+/-1.6%pts)
Buckinghamshire	80.1% (+/-3%pts)
Cambridgeshire & Peterborough	76.1% (+/-2.7%pts)
Cheshire & Warrington	79.8% (+/-2.8%pts)
Cornwall & Isles of Scilly	76.4% (+/-3.7%pts)
Cumbria	77.5% (+/-3.1%pts)
Devon, Plymouth, & Torbay	76.9% (+/-2%pts)
Dorset & Bournemouth, Christchurch, & Poole	76.6% (+/-2.4%pts)
East Midlands	76.3% (+/-1.7%pts)
East Sussex	75% (+/-3.6%pts)
Gloucestershire	81.4% (+/-3.3%pts)
Greater Essex	76.4% (+/-2%pts)
Greater Lancashire	74% (+/-2%pts)
Greater Lincolnshire	71.2% (+/-2.4%pts)
Greater Manchester	70.9% (+/-1.6%pts)
Hampshire	81.3% (+/-2.2%pts)
Herefordshire, Shropshire, & Telford & Wrekin	78.4% (+/-2.4%pts)
Hertfordshire	80.1% (+/-2.8%pts)
Hull & East Yorkshire	74.4% (+/-2.9%pts)
Kent & Medway	75.8% (+/-2.1%pts)
Leicester, Leicestershire, & Rutland	77% (+/-2.4%pts)
Liverpool City Region	70.9% (+/-2%pts)
Greater London	75.9% (+/-1.1%pts)
Norfolk	75.4% (+/-3.4%pts)
North East	71% (+/-1.6%pts)
Oxfordshire	83.9% (+/-3%pts)
Solent	75.9% (+/-2.5%pts)
Somerset	80.1% (+/-3.2%pts)
South Midlands	77.7% (+/-1.7%pts)
South Yorkshire	71.6% (+/-2.1%pts)
Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent	78.4% (+/-2.7%pts)
Suffolk	74.2% (+/-3.8%pts)
Surrey	80.1% (+/-2.6%pts)
Swindon & Wiltshire	81.9% (+/-2.4%pts)
Tees Valley	71% (+/-1.9%pts)
Warwickshire	81.4% (+/-3.2%pts)
West Midlands	69.5% (+/-1.7%pts)
West of England (including North Somerset)	78.5% (+/-1.8%pts)
West Sussex & Brighton	79.5% (+/-2.7%pts)
West Yorkshire	72.5% (+/-1.9%pts)
Worcestershire	80.3% (+/-3.5%pts)
York & North Yorkshire	79.2% (+/-2.4%pts)

Annex C: Local Get Britain Working Plans Development Costs  

Funding Allocations per Accountable Bodies for the period 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026 

Accountable Body for Local Get Britain Working Plans	£
Buckinghamshire Council	100,000.00
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority	100,000.00
Cheshire West and Chester Council	150,000.00
Cornwall Council	125,000.00
Cumberland Council	125,000.00
Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority	125,000.00
Dorset Council	125,000.00
East Midlands Combined County Authority	100,000.00
East Sussex County Council	100,000.00
Essex County Council	150,000.00
Gloucestershire County Council	100,000.00
Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined County Authority	100,000.00
Greater London Authority	100,000.00
Hampshire County Council	100,000.00
Hertfordshire County Council	100,000.00
Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority	100,000.00
Kent County Council	125,000.00
Lancashire Combined County Authority	100,000.00
Leicester City Council	150,000.00
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority	100,000.00
Norfolk County Council	100,000.00
Oxfordshire County Council	100,000.00
Portsmouth City Council	150,000.00
Shropshire Council	150,000.00
Somerset Council	100,000.00
Staffordshire County Council	125,000.00
Suffolk County Council	100,000.00
Surrey County Council	100,000.00
Tees Valley Combined Authority	100,000.00
Warwickshire County Council	100,000.00
West Midlands Combined Authority	100,000.00
West Northamptonshire Council	225,000.00
West of England Combined Authority	125,000.00
West Sussex County Council	125,000.00
Wiltshire Council	125,000.00
Wokingham Borough Council	225,000.00
Worcestershire County Council	100,000.00
England Total 25/26	£ 4,425,000.00

Annex D: Local Get Britain Working Plans Fund Grant Determination 2025 No 31/7763 (non-ringfenced). 

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (“the Secretary of State”), in exercise of the powers conferred by section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003, and with the consent of the Treasury, makes the following Determination: 

Citation 

1) This Determination may be cited as the Local Get Britain Working Plans Fund Grant Determination 2025 No 31/7763. 

Purpose of the grant  

2) The purpose of the grant is to cover expenditure incurred in the production and publication of Local Get Britain Working plans in line with the stipulations set out in local Get Britain Working plans guidance.  

This funding is to be regarded as a one-off payment allocated to each accountable body.  

3) The grant will be paid to the accountable body for Local Get Britain Working Plans set out in Annex C. Where an area has opted to change the accountable body and this has been agreed upon by DWP, it is the responsibility of the accountable body named in Annex C to transfer the grant payment in full to the newly agreed accountable body.  

Determination 

4) The Secretary of State determines, as set out in Annex C, the accountable body to which the grant is to be paid and the amount of grant to be paid. 

Treasury consent 

5) Before making this Determination in relation to the accountable bodies for the Local Get Britain Working Plans, the Secretary of State obtained the consent of the Treasury. 

31.03. 2025 

Angus Gray, Director, Connect to Work, Localism, Employment Support & Youth.

1. Get Britain Working White Paper - GOV.UK ↩

2. Get Britain Working White Paper: Analytical Annex - GOV.UK ↩

3. Inactivity Trailblazers will be taking place in the North East Combined Authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, South Yorkshire Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, two areas within the Greater London Authority, and Wales. ↩

4. Youth Trailblazers will be taking place in Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, West of England Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, East Midlands Combined Authority, and two areas within the Greater London Authority. ↩

5. Where an area is a new combined authority and do not yet have the structures in place to receive grant funding, grant funding will be paid to the same accountable body as for Connect to Work. ↩