Enabling Inclusive Growth

Enabling as many people as possible to contribute to, and benefit from, economic growth in our communities, towns and cities.

Enabling as many people as possible to contribute to, and benefit from, economic growth in our communities and towns.

Why we have prioritised this 

Not all parts of our region have benefitted from economic growth in the past and there is a risk that they will fall further behind as the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

22% of residents live in the most deprived neighbourhoods, 24% of local jobs pay less than the Living Wage Foundation’s Living Wage Rate and life expectancy in our region is significantly lower than the England average.

Enabling inclusive growth is essential not just for West Yorkshire to level up nationally, but to reduce inequalities within.

How we will achieve this

To enable inclusive growth, in 2020/21 the Combined Authority will:

  • Develop an Inclusive Growth Programme in line with the Strategic Economic Framework.
  • Enable c20 million socially necessary passenger journeys.
  • Implement an operating model for demand responsive transport services.
  • Reach 250,000 people with targeted careers information.
  • Engage 800 businesses with skills initiatives.
  • Continued delivery of [re]boot and Employment Hub.
  • Connect homes and businesses to superfast broadband.
  • Embed inclusive growth in all our policies.

Policies and strategies  

The policies and strategies we have in place that will play a leading role in enabling inclusive growth are:

How we’re delivering on this priority

Some of the projects and programmes we’re undertaking with partners to enable inclusive growth include:

  • Future Ready Skills Commission: The Skills Commission is an independent Commission of experts and leading thinkers working to create an improved skills system for the UK.
  • Shipley College Mill Building Refurbishment: We’ve invested £119,000 of Leeds City Region Growth Deal Funding into the Mill Building refurbishment, which now provides a pathway to employment or further education for the young low skilled, or long term unemployed.

Monitoring and impact

We will monitor progress towards meeting this priority against the following headline indicators:

  • Percentage of households in fuel poverty: Proportion of households in fuel poverty. Based on Low Income High Costs model, whereby required fuel costs are above average and would take household below poverty line were that amount to be spent.
  • Percentage qualified below level 2: % of population aged 16-64 with highest qualification below level 2 or no formal qualifications
  • Unemployment rate: Proportion of labour force who are unemployed and actively seeking and available for work
  • Housing affordability: Ratio of lower quartile house price to lower quartile earnings
  • Rented housing costs: Median monthly rents for private sector two bedroom properties
  • Percentage of employees in quality work: % of employees who have good hours, a desired contract type, and are not in low pay
  • Apprenticeship starts: Number of people starting an apprenticeship each academic year
  • Life expectancy: Inequality in healthy life expectancy at birth
  • Premises at risk of flooding: Number of homes and commercial units by likelihood of flooding.
  • Jobs paying below Real Living Wage: % of local jobs that pay below the Living Wage Foundation's Real Living Wage threshold
  • Gross disposable household income
  • Net additional dwellings: Local authority estimates of gains and losses of dwellings during each year
  • Employment rate gap for disadvantaged groups: Proportion of people in employment in disadvantaged groups (disabled, BAME, aged over-50) versus overall employment rate.
  • People without basic digital skills: Proportion of people who lack digital skills needed to operate in soceity and / or the workplace.
  • NEETs: % of 16-17 year olds NEET or activity not known

 

  1. Growth deal

    In 2014, the LEP and the Government agreed our £1billion-plus Local Growth Deal, which will help transform the Leeds City Region economy, to allow us to make vital upgrades to transport, increase housing, revitalise our towns, invest in a skilled and flexible workforce, support the growth of businesses and build a resource-efficient City Region.