Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support job creation schemes in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

As set out in our manifesto, we are committed to transforming our employment support system, to delivering the Youth Guarantee and to working with local areas to tackle inactivity.

The Jobcentre Plus Lincolnshire Partnership Team works closely with Southeast Lincolnshire Councils Partnership team on the commissioning of specific upskilling and into work programmes using Shared Prosperity Funding. These schemes all have expected outcomes and measures of progression into and towards the Labour Market with the employment teams of the commissioned partners connecting local employers to the programmes.

An example of this is the Connect to Grow Programme delivered by local area provider, Steadfast Training in the Spalding and South Holland area. The specific aim of this 13-week course is to secure employment, increase working hours (via a subsequent job) or enter self-employment. Presently there has been 135 starts, 102 completions and 40 successful outcomes with employers including Morrisons, Prezzo and Smart Cabs.

On a national level Strategic Relationship Team plays a key role in supporting local communities. Recruitment Managers across the county are working with local partners to make a difference to their communities through various activity. For example, B&M recently opened a local store in Lincoln with the support of the Strategic Relationship Team.