More than a million committed to Essex Year of Opportunity
MORE than £1 million has been committed by Essex County Council to remove barriers into work and education for all ages.
The Essex Year of Opportunity creates projects and partnerships with businesses to help residents learn essential skills.
The campaign comes as the 2025 Greater Essex Local Skills Improvement Plan shows skilled workers are a top priority for businesses.
The £1.33 million in funding will support:
meaningful employer engagements with 36,000 children, while training more teachers to support career readiness
535 additional adults into employment
350 more people to start apprenticeships, up from 400 annually
100,000 meaningful interactions between residents and employers in key growth sectors
the number of businesses confident in recruiting skilled staff
The Essex Year of Opportunity has so far resulted in:
a directory of free courses, certificates, resources and skills hubs for residents
a speech-recognition app helping children develop literacy and oracy skills throughout the Summer Reading Challenge a charter enabling businesses to donate used electronics, helping residents get online and learn digital skills
Connect to Work – a free employment support programme for those not currently in paid work and facing barriers to employment
Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong learning and Employability, said: “Essex is an ambitious and innovative county, but it only thrives when its people thrive. Residents of all ages should have endless opportunities to expand their skills and follow their passions without barriers.
“Essex is one of the largest areas in England. It has a population of over 1.8 million people, of which 62.2% are working age.
“Bridging the skills gap will not only enrich the lives of individuals – it will help create a thriving economy where businesses can feel confident about hiring skilled workers. I look forward to seeing more projects and partnerships from the Essex Year of Opportunity over the coming months.”
