Get Suffolk Working

Find out about the ‘Get Suffolk Working’ plan and our local ambitions for employment and economic activity in Suffolk.

What is Get Suffolk Working?

Government published the ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper in November 2024, setting out an ambition to raise the national employment rate to 80% by addressing a number of national challenges including economic inactivity. Local ‘Get Britain Working’ plans, including ‘Get Suffolk Working’ are central to delivering on these national ambitions.

The Get Suffolk Working plan includes headline ambitions for Suffolk to match the national 80% employment rate alongside maintaining an economic activity rate of 80% and proposes some initial actions which could be taken to enhance the impact of ongoing activity in Suffolk to achieve these.

The plan:

  • provides an analysis of the local labour market in relation to economic inactivity produced through a combination of data analysis and obtaining local intelligence from relevant services.
  • highlights what we currently know about some of our more disadvantaged groups and where we need to take action to improve that understanding.
  • identifies the primary drivers and causes of economic inactivity in the county and how the current system at a local level is looking to address these challenges.
  • outlines ways in which this approach could be enhanced in the future.

Development of the plan

This plan has been developed and approved by Suffolk County Council, the Suffolk and North-East Essex Integrated Care Board, the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board and the Norfolk and Suffolk District Department for Work and Pensions.

The development of the Get Suffolk Working plan has required the bringing together of ongoing work, plans and ambitions from across the local work, health and skills system. A range of work was undertaken to assimilate this information. A wide stakeholder organisation group was established with input received from across the work, health and skills system. This has included representatives from Public Health, Jobcentre Plus, Integrated Care Boards, Education and Training providers, District and Borough Councils and the VSFCE sector.

Delivery

Delivery of the plan will commence in November 2025 through a Get Suffolk Working Delivery Group.

If you are interested in understanding more, receiving ‘Get Suffolk Working’ updates or getting involved in this work please email skills@suffolk.gov.uk