Building Better Opportunities

An Employment Support Programme in the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership Area. This programme is funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.

Programme aim

The purpose of the programme is to support unemployed or economically inactive participants to overcome barriers and move into, or closer to, paid employment or education and training.

The programme is being delivered by a partnership of ten delivery partners from across South East Midlands Local Partnership (SEMLEP) 

This programme will tackle worklessness to raise the aspirations of people and communities, and support participants to:

• overcome barriers
• increase in confidence 
• move into, or nearer to, paid employment

It will promote social inclusion by working with local providers who are in contact with local employers, and who work with some of the hardest to reach communities.

For more information about this project, please visit The National Lottery Community Fund’s Building Better Opportunities page.

Geography of delivery

The project will be delivered across the whole of SEMLEP, in each of its eleven local authority areas. These are: 

• Bedford Borough
• Central Bedfordshire
• Luton
• Milton Keynes
• Aylesbury
• Cherwell
• Corby
• Northampton
• South Northamptonshire
• Daventry
• Kettering

The delivery partners have been chosen that are based in, or work closely with, the local communities in each area. 

Delivery method

The project will provide support for some of the most disadvantaged people, often with multiple and complex needs. They are:

• young people (15 to 24) will be supported into education, training or apprenticeships to help set them on their chosen career path
• BME and migrant workers will be given support with English language skills, to convert existing qualifications, and to gain knowledge of the British employment market
• older workers will be advised on the best use of transferable skills and the changing job market - they'll be given IT training and support for the new digital age
• those with caring responsibilities will be given help and guidance on how best to combine paid work and caring duties - support for child or elder care will be provided during support sessions where needed
• adults with mental health issues or learning difficulties will be supported to find employment that suits their capabilities and caters for their health needs
• adults with physical health issues will be guided to think in terms of abilities not disabilities and find employment that suits their capabilities while accommodating their physical health needs
• ex-offenders and those with a criminal background can find it difficult to find employers who will offer them an opportunity. They will be helped to identify employment with suitable employers

Although the support provided through this project is aimed at individuals, the outcomes of the activities will be much wider. If a parent is in sustainable employment, this will offer a good role model for children and the whole family should be better off financially.

If a member of a migrant community moves into employment, they should gain a better understanding of British society and this should have a positive impact on social inclusion in their neighbourhood.

Programme outcomes

Additional funding means that this project will continue to run until 31 March 2023. So far, we have already supported:

• 335 people into education or training
• 401 unemployed people into employment
• 338 people who were economically inactive at the start of the programme into employment, including self-employment, or job search

Note: These figures were last updated in February 2023.

In addition to these results, there will be many other 'soft' outcomes. For example, those not finding employment during the project delivery timescales will have:

• gained a better understanding of the employment market
• increased in confidence and possibly skills
• had their level of aspiration raised.

Delivery partners

Information from each of the delivery partners can be found below: