About Skills & Employment East Sussex
Skills & Employment East Sussex (SES) is the county’s strategic body for employment and skills. The group works together to improve local employment and skills levels to increase economic prosperity in East Sussex. Skills & Employment East Sussex uses a firm evidence base to agree and set priorities. The group provides direction for the county’s approach to employment and skills.
SES has agreed the following six strategic priorities for 2021-2030:
- Priority 1: Ensuring that national policy and funding supports the delivery of learning and skills in East Sussex
- Priority 2: Enabling our Further Education (FE)/Higher Education (HE) establishments to recruit excellent educators with specialist technical knowledge
- Priority 3: Improving our digital skills and digital inclusion
- Priority 4: Upskilling our workforce to increase regional productivity
- Priority 5: Supporting the unemployed and unqualified
- Priority 6: Skills for a Net Zero future
SES has identified six priority sectors within the county. Work on the priorities is taken forward through the sector task groups. There are sector based Task Groups for the following:
- Construction and Civil Engineering
- Creative, Cultural, Digital and Media
- Engineering and Manufacturing
- Health and Social Care
- Visitor Economy
- Land and Agricultural
Read about the work of the Skills & Employment East Sussex sector task groups.
Skills & Employment East Sussex also has working groups looking at key areas across all employment and skills sectors. These are:
- Apprenticeships East Sussex
- Adult Learning Network
More information on apprenticeships, including support for businesses, can be found at Apprenticeships East Sussex.
Skills & Employment East Sussex has oversight for the East Sussex Careers Hub, linking education with the local economy to inspire and prepare young people for entering the world of work.
Board members
The Board includes several leading figures from employment and education in East Sussex. These include:
- Chief Executive of East Sussex County Council, Becky Shaw
- County Councillors (Lead for Economy and Lead for Education)
- Senior Leaders from the county’s post-16 FE providers
- Representative of Independent Training Sector
- Senior Managers from the University of Brighton and University of Sussex
- Local employers (Sector Task Group leads)
- Chambers of commerce including LSIP -ERB lead
- Political or Economy leads from Districts and Boroughs
- Area Manager, Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)/Job Centre
- National Careers Service Provider
- Integrated Care Board/NHS
- Voluntary Sector Representative (Employment Support)
Chair of Skills & Employment East Sussex – Diana Garnham
Diana was CEO of the Science Council until 2015. She introduced professional registration for scientists at Chartered, Registered and Technician levels. She also developed a science and maths careers campaign and a programme to improve diversity in science employment.
She supports activities to widen participation in STEM and to increase the work readiness for students from further education (FE) and higher education (HE). She is an independent member of the Construction Industry Training Board. She is President of the King’s College London Alumni Association. She is Chair of the university’s Alumni Advisory Group. Until October 2019 she was a governor of East Sussex College Group. She had previously been on the corporation of Sussex Coast College. She is now an Enterprise Adviser at the Hastings campus of the East Sussex College Group. This is a very important role within the East Sussex Careers Hub.
The University of Leicester awarded Diana with an honorary Doctorate of Laws for services to science and society in 2013. She is a Freeman of the City of London for her work on science careers. In February 2017, the University of Brighton awarded Diana with an honorary Doctorate of Science for her work on diversity in science.
Board Constitutional Document and Meeting Minutes
You can find the Terms of Reference, Minutes of Meetings and board priorities here.
Get Sussex Working Plan
Get Sussex Working Plan
The Get Sussex Working Plan sets out an ambitious, collaborative vision for the future of employment and skills across Sussex. Developed in response to national policy, this plan brings together local authorities from across Sussex (East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove), alongside employers, education providers, and community partners to tackle economic inactivity and support residents into meaningful work.
By focusing on integrated support for employment, health, and skills, and addressing the needs of diverse groups—including young people, older residents, and those facing barriers to work—the plan aims to build a resilient workforce and help businesses thrive. Together, we are committed to creating opportunities, reducing inequalities, and ensuring Sussex remains a great place to live and work.
- Executive Summary [1.3 MB] [pdf]
- Get Sussex Working Plan [10.7 MB] [pdf]
- Implementation Plan [1.3 MB] [pdf]
- East Sussex Implementation Plan [1.3 MB] [pdf]
- List of participating stakeholders [2.2 MB] [pdf]
- Stakeholder Engagement Report [6.1 MB] [pdf]
- Labour Market Data Mapping and Analysis [4.7 MB] [pdf]
If you have difficulties viewing or accessing these documents, or require the information in a different format please contact the Skills & Employment East Sussex Team.
Skills & Employment East Sussex (SES) Newsletter
The newsletter promotes the work of Skills & Employment East Sussex and its partners. Focussed on celebrating success, sharing information and guidance, discussion items and calls to action for all things employability and skills in East Sussex.
Past issues
Issue 1 - November 2024 [132.8 KB] [pdf]
Issue 2 - December 2024 [152.6 KB] [pdf]
Issue 3 - February 2025 [159.8 KB] [pdf]
If you have any difficulties viewing or accessing these documents, or require any of the information in a different format please contact the Skills & Employment East Sussex Team.
Labour Market Information (LMI) Newsletter
Skills & Employment East Sussex also produce a bimonthly newsletter providing brief updates on East Sussex LMI data. This includes Universal Credit claimants, vacancy statistics, and skills demand. Each newsletter also spotlights local events and sectors.
Subscribe
To subscribe or update your subscription preferences to the Skills & Employment East Sussex or LMI Newsletter please please contact the Skills & Employment East Sussex Team.
Connect to Work – East Sussex
Connect to Work is a key part of the Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ plan which aims to take a place-led approach to supporting people back to work. The Government has set a target of 80% of people to be in work by 2050.
East Sussex County Council (ESCC) overseas the programme for East Sussex.
Find out more about Connect to Work in East Sussex on the Connect to Work website.
Connect to Work Grant Application process is now closed.
The Grant Application Process for Connect to Work is now closed to applicants.
Information about the Connect to Work Grant Application process has now been archived but is available on request.
Please contact ConnectToWork@eastsussex.gov.uk you need to see archived information.
What is Connect to Work?
Currently, it is estimated that there are about 3million economically inactive people in the UK, of whom 1.9m people would like to work, but are not engaged in the labour market, sometimes due to health issues or disability.
Connect to Work will support up to 300,000 individuals with disabilities, long term health conditions or complex barriers across England & Wales to secure work. It will help connect local work, health and skills support and help eligible participants to secure sustainable work through a voluntary supported employment model, adhering to Individual Placement & Support (IPS) and Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) frameworks.
How will it be managed and delivered?
East Sussex County Council’s Employability and Skills team is the Accountable Body for Connect to Work, which means that we have been given a contract to coordinate Connect to Work across East Sussex.
We intend to deliver this programme in partnership with a network of high-quality providers, able to meet set targets for supporting economically inactive adults in East Sussex into work.
In East Sussex, we have approximately 57,000 economically inactive adults and will be supporting up to 1000 adults (18yrs+) per annum, each of whom will receive support from an Employment Specialist via a contracted provider.
Providers deliver the Connect to work programme using IPS/SEQF delivery frameworks. All partners are monitored for their ‘fidelity’ in delivering the IPS/SEQF models, with audits conducted by DWP commissioned external experts.
Further information about the programme and monitoring arrangements which will be required of partners can be found in the:
Further information regarding IPS and SEQF delivery models is available below:
IPS Grow provides more information about the IPS model, its approach and impact: About IPS - IPS Grow
An ‘Introduction to IPS’ E-learning course is also available. This is provided free with open access to eligible organisations. Leaners can also register for free ‘limited access’ with modules released weekly. Further options are available at cost.
Course and registration details available here - Introduction to IPS | E-Learning - IPS Grow
British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) provide an overview of Supported Employment here - What is Supported Employment?
Skills Bootcamps
East Sussex County Council is overseeing the delivery of Skills Bootcamps across the county in partnership with training providers and employers.
Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, ranging from Level 2 (GCSE) to Level 5 (Foundation degree) giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific and professional skills.
Participants can be unemployed, self-employed or employed (and looking to progress in their job or company).
These courses are fully funded for unemployed and self-employed people and for those in work, employers only need to make a small contribution. These courses would normally cost between £3500 and £5500.
Courses are available to help people gain skills in the following industry sectors:
- Business and Administration
- Construction
- Digital
- Education and Early Years
- Engineering
- Green Skills
- Health and Social Care
- Hospitality (including Catering)
- and the Land-Based Sector (including Animal Care and Viticulture)
Skills Bootcamps are designed to help participants gain the skills and knowledge to move into a job, to progress in their place of work or for the self-employed – to win new contracts. Those who aren’t working will be supported with an interview for a current job in their chosen field.
Whether you're looking to advance your career, switch industries, or simply learn something new, our Skills Bootcamps courses are for you.
Contact enquires to SkillsBootcamps@eastsussex.gov.uk
Skills Capital Fund - Hastings and Rother
Fund now closed to applications.
Skills Capital funding grant award
announcement one
announcement two
Under the previous Government, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) awarded funding to Hastings Borough Council and Rother District Council. This funding is to be used in Hastings and Rother for capital projects for:
- Improving access to health and wellbeing services and supporting voluntary sector
- Improving transport infrastructure
- Promoting economic growth and skills development
The Skills Capital Fund forms part of this funding allocation. This part of the funding is being overseen by the Employability and Skills team at East Sussex County Council, who have strategic oversight of employment and skills activity in the county.
Fund guidance notes for each area can be found below:
- Hastings Skills Capital Fund
- Guidance for applicants
- Application form [59.8 KB] [docx]
- Rother Skills Capital Fund
- Guidance for applicants
- Application form [60.2 KB] [docx]
All application forms must be sent to SkillsEastSussex@eastsussex.gov.uk by midday on Friday 6th September 2024.
Any questions must be received via SkillsEastSussex@eastsussex.gov.uk by 9am on Tuesday 13th August 2024.
SES constitutional documents
Statement of priorities
Skills & Employment East Sussex (SES) has used research conducted by East Sussex County Council into the employment and skills needs within the East Sussex economy and has identified and agreed the following 6 strategic priorities for 2021-2030.
- Priority 1: Influencing national policy and funding to support the delivery of employment support and skills in East Sussex.
- Priority 2: Ensuring that East Sussex has a strong local infrastructure with a high-quality workforce to facilitate the delivery of excellent employment and skills provision in the county.
- Priority 3: Getting our residents ready for emerging opportunities through digital upskilling (including AI tools and use of new technologies in the workplace) and through access to new opportunities within the economy.
- Priority 4: Upskilling our residents of all ages to level 3 via the full range of learning pathways and boosting higher-skills within our workforce to increase regional productivity.
- Priority 5: Supporting unemployed people into sustainable work through tailored programmes, by improving inter-agency working to support employment (e.g. health, childcare and housing) and by supporting employers with inclusive recruitment practice.
- Priority 6: Develop innovative approaches to prevent residents from becoming unemployed.
SES brings together employers, education providers and stakeholders to tackle employment and skills challenges and work collectively to address solutions and meet the priorities set out through sector-based task groups in:
- Engineering and manufacturing
- Construction including civil engineering
- Health and social care
- Creative, cultural, media and digital
- Land, Agricultural and Environmental
- Visitor and economy including tourism
Skills & Employment East Sussex Terms of Reference
Board meeting minutes
Skills & Employment East Sussex meets quarterly and minutes are approved by members at the following meeting. For example, if a meeting is held in July with the next meeting in October, the minutes for July will not appear online until after the October meeting has taken place.
Please see below for the minutes and documents of recent Skills & Employment East Sussex meetings.
The Secretariat aim to have the last three sets of available minutes online.
Apprenticeships East Sussex (AES)
Apprenticeships East Sussex (AES) is the county’s strategic body for apprenticeships, with the key aim of ensuring the growth of apprenticeships in East Sussex. The role of AES, as set out in its terms of reference, is to:
- provide oversight and coordination of key stakeholders, strategies and communication plans
- horizon scan and identify change, challenge and issues arising
- where appropriate, lobby collectively on behalf of apprentices, employers and training providers to ensure ongoing sustainability and growth of apprenticeships in East Sussex.
If your business would like to find out more about apprenticeships, or find support to access funding, visit the Council’s TRANSFORM Service page or contact TRANSFORM@eastsussex.gov.uk
For details of current apprenticeship vacancies, search apprenticeship vacancies when visiting Opportunities pages at Careers East Sussex.
Terms of reference
Apprenticeships East Sussex meetings
We use an action tracker instead of traditional minutes. The action tracker includes ongoing actions, decisions, the yearly action plan, and attendees/apologies.
Apprenticeships East Sussex Activity & Decision Tracker [207.9 KB] [xlsx]
If you have difficulties viewing or accessing these documents, or require the information in a different format please contact the Skills East Sussex Team.
Developing employment and skills through social value
Social value
Social value isn't new in public procurement. For many years, suppliers to the council have been providing apprenticeships, community value, and engaging with skills initiatives. Since at least 1996, procurement regulations have allowed authorities to consider social, economic, and environmental factors. In 2012, the government passed the Public Services (Social Value) Act to ensure these benefits are considered when commissioning and procuring services.
East Sussex Priorities and the Social Value Themes
East Sussex focuses on three main themes: Economic, Social, and Environmental. These themes help the county address its current needs and activities. The Social Value Review Group, which includes senior managers from Procurement and staff from various departments, regularly reviews these needs and priorities. There's also a fourth theme for innovation, allowing the council to secure social value in new ways
Supporting suppliers (employers) to support local employment and skills through social value
A Growth Strategy for East Sussex has been drafted by Team East Sussex (TES) and sets out some new priorities for skills for business.
- Ensuring that people can afford to live in the county (higher skills and salaries and better housing availability)
- Understanding and responding to industry demand (for skills)
- Supporting in work progression
- Accommodating changes to the world of work (AI and technology for example)
Alongside the TES strategy, Skills & Employment East Sussex, the strategic multi-agency body for employment and skills, which is led by ESCC, has identified a set of key strategic priorities which are adhered to by the employment and skills lead organisations in East Sussex:
SES has agreed the following six strategic priorities for 2021-2030:
- Priority 1: Ensuring that national policy and funding supports the delivery of learning and skills in East Sussex
- Priority 2: Enabling our Further Education (FE)/Higher Education (HE) establishments to recruit excellent educators with specialist technical knowledge
- Priority 3: Improving our digital skills, use of Artificial Intelligence and digital inclusion
- Priority 4: Upskilling our workforce to increase regional productivity
- Priority 5: Supporting the unemployed and unqualified
- Priority 6: Skills for a Net Zero future,
Supporting Young People and Adults
The council supports young people, including those in care, care leavers and those with special educational needs, to ensure they have access to work, work experience, and training. For adults, the council oversees initiatives that help the long-term unemployed, insecurely employed, homeless, ex-offenders, those with mental health needs or disabilities, refugees, and more. The council also coordinates adult learning programs to upskill the local workforce
The objectives of these key plans provide the basis for the following Economic needs and priorities with reference to relevant Themes of Measurement (TOMs) featured in the Charter:
| A) Employment | Charter Reference |
|---|---|
| Increase employment opportunities for all unemployed people in East Sussex | 14 |
| Increase employment opportunities for 18-24-year-olds | 16 |
| Increase employment opportunities for groups disadvantaged in the labour market | 17&18 |
| B) Support for Business | |
| Increase local public and private spend within the East Sussex economy | 2 |
| C) Building Skills | |
| Offer apprenticeship opportunities for local people | 8 & 9 |
| Offer training and qualifications to local people | 5, 6, 7 & 10 |
| D) Employability | |
| Offer work experience opportunities to local people | 11 |
| Provide careers education support in local schools and colleges | 13 |
Find further information and the rationale behind each Charter area in this document East Sussex County Council Economic Social Value Charter [74.6 KB] [docx]
TRANSFORM Service
TRANSFORM Service: Free Skills & Apprenticeship Support for Your Organisation
TRANSFORM helps micro, small and medium-sized employers build a stronger workforce by offering free, impartial advice on skills training and apprenticeships. We can also support larger employers sourcing suitable training and spending their levy.
Whether you want to upskill your team or recruit new talent, we can help you:
- Identify skills gaps and find the right training solutions
- Access funding for apprenticeship training costs and short courses
- Navigate the skills system and wider business support
- Recruit apprentices, advertise vacancies and prepare candidates
Our support is 1:1, flexible and tailored to your organisation - delivered online or in-person.
Get in Touch
Ready for advice or want to book a meeting?
The TRANSFORM Toolkit
The TRANSFORM Toolkit has been developed to help employer organisations from all industry sectors in East Sussex, who are interested in exploring ways of investing in new and existing workers. Understanding the publicly funded opportunities available can be challenging for smaller businesses, so the Toolkit has been designed to help navigate the skills training and apprenticeship opportunities available to develop and/or grow their workforce.
Please note: this may not be the latest information, due to updates in government legislation. For further guidance, please contact TRANSFORM@eastsussex.gov.uk .
