Sheffield Pathways to Work helped 800 people find jobs
Jobs were found
A Sheffield employment programme called Pathways to Work has helped more than 800 people find jobs in a year.
The progress of the scheme was discussed yesterday (June 30) by Sheffield City Council’s economic development, skills and culture policy committee. It is delivered in partnership with voluntary and community organisations.
Councillor Ben Miskell, chair of the committee, said: “For me, Pathways to Work is a really excellent example of what can be achieved when services are designed around local communities, and where local organisations are trusted to help deliver solutions to local challenges.
“Put simply, this programme is about helping people into work. Good work provides people with dignity, independence and opportunity.”
He said the number of people engaging with Pathways to Work had risen by 18.8 per cent in the past year, its second year in action. It supported 815 people into employment, a 62 per cent increase on 2024/25.
The number for young people was 462.
Laura Hayfield, head of employment, skills and economy at Sheffield Council, said that before Pathways to Work was set up there was a “myriad” of schemes, with some competition between them.
That made it difficult for jobseekers and employers to find help.
East Ecclesfield ward councillor, Robert Reiss, said: “I work in Stocksbridge, which has a high level of unemployment but also white working class boys who feel detached from opportunity, who don’t see a future in their local area.”
He said the sole scheme serving deprived areas of north Sheffield is run by Stocksbridge Town Enterprise Partnership, which got funded for one worker. Organisations such as Zest in central west Sheffield and SOAR in the north-east got three workers.
He asked what the difference was.
Ms Hayfield said contracts were based on the volume of economically inactive people. She added: “We have some issues with the availability of community and voluntary sector organisations.”
In Stocksbridge the council had to seek out the enterprise partnership. Ms Hayfield said there is a plan to boost services, using mayoral authority funding.
Economic policy officer Kevin Owers said some groups also work outside their own areas.
Coun Laura Moynahan said not all community organisations have the capacity or skills to deliver the programme.