Funding allocated under the People & Skills priority of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has made a real and lasting impact on individuals in Shropshire.
An allocation of £1.6m awarded in 2022 aimed to improve employability, upskill the workforce, enhance digital skills and increase opportunities for individuals. The current programme of funding ended in March 2025 and was utilised to fund five projects that have successfully delivered its objectives.
A primary goal was to offer employment support through advice and guidance, and skills development for those farthest from the labour market, as well as support career advancement for those already employed.
Working with key stakeholders
The programme was delivered in collaboration with a number of key partners:
- The Shrewsbury Town Football Club Foundation involved participants in sport-based initiatives to help them build confidence and develop essential employability skills.
- Enable, a service provided by Shropshire Council, assisted individuals who encounter barriers to employment.
- The School of Coding & AI provided both foundational and advanced digital skills training.
- The Shropshire Skills Hub, operated by the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, offered in-work training and qualification support.
As a result of the initiatives offered by these partners, a total of 691 socially excluded individuals accessed vital support services, 589 people improved their basic skills and 575 received employment support. This enabled them to find employment or put them in a better position to find work.
Additionally, 280 people were supported to participate in education, and 486 reported increased employability thanks to improved interpersonal skills which resulted in greater confidence, more successful job interviews, and sustained employment outcomes
Some 354 individuals gained a qualification, and 409 economically active people engaged in mainstream skills education and training which has enabled them to progress in the workplace.
A real and lasting impact
Amy Farley, UKSPF Technical Officer within the Economy Skills and Funding team at Shropshire Council with responsibility for administering the funding for this priority, said,
“While focussing on the needs of individuals we were careful to ensure that the training aligned with the needs of local employers.
“We are proud of what we’ve achieved in partnership with our providers. Over the past three years, we’ve worked together as a team to deliver real value and to enhance the lives of the people of Shropshire whilst adding value to Shropshire as a county.”
Stephen Clegg was one of many people who received support from Enable through the funding. He said:
“I wasn’t very confident in finding work and have suffered a lot of knockbacks. Enable helped with my CV, and I knew they would support me with job applications if I got stuck. It’s just given me more confidence in seeking employment.”
Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport and economic growth said,
“This funding was deployed with the goal of reaching those who needed it most, and the results speak for themselves. Everyone involved should be proud of the positive impact made across the county.
“An extension to the funding has also meant that majority of these projects can continue for another year.”
Further information
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a fund allocated by the UK government and managed by local authorities in partnership with local stakeholders. Its purpose is to replace the funding previously provided by Europe and to address inequalities between communities.
The overarching objective of the fund is to build pride in place and increase life chances. The programme includes three investment priorities:
- Supporting local business
- Community and place
- People and skills
The People and skills priority focused on lowering employment barriers and aiding individuals in securing jobs and education. It also advocated targeting local skills funding to boost employment and regional growth.
Recently, Shropshire was awarded a further £1,431,774 capital and £2,892,904 revenue funding for 2025/6 enabling many of the projects and initiatives to continue for another year.
For more information about the fund see https://www.investinshropshire.co.uk/relocating-and-investing/uk-shared-prosperity-fund/
For more information about the projects supported by the fund in Shropshire see https://www.investinshropshire.co.uk/uk-shared-prosperity-projects/
