Programme funders
We have multiple funding streams that allow us to deliver our projects.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government's Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment. The UK government announced a further £900 million of funding for local investment by March 2026 The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
More information: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus
Employment Kirklees
Employment Kirklees can support Kirklees Residents to break down any barriers they may face when moving into employment, progressing within their career and developing their required skillset. Residents can access bespoke support, tailored specifically to their needs and future aspirations. Whether they need help developing their CV, practising interview techniques or would like support in building confidence to secure that dream job, we can help.
We can also offer information and guidance to employed residents who are looking to improve their job status, helping them to assess future career plans, supporting them in identifying qualifications, sourcing better work opportunities, helping to find their next job role or career challenge and ensuring they have the skills needed to develop and thrive.
This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Local Supported Employment
LSE is aimed at helping adults with learning disabilities, autism or both into employment and providing the support they need to maintain that employment ('Supported').
The long-term ambition for DWP is to provide evidence to LAs of the value of Supported Employment.
This project is funded by The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP provided grant funding for 24 local authorities in England and Wales to deliver the Local Supported Employment (LSE) Initiative totalling £7.6m.
Digital Hubs
Our digital hubs are based in local community venues and offer a range of support to help you on your digital inclusion journey. They have free courses or community cafes available which will help to improve your digital skills and our hubs and libraries can also offer the loan of a Chromebook device to those who may be digitally excluded.
This project is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Participation in the Arts and Creative Economy (PACE)
PACE provides an opportunity for people to develop their creative talents, provide more supported pathways into creative careers, build on success and create entrepreneurship.
Participants will learn about the many roles and opportunities available to them, learn sector-specific skills and gain experience that could lead to work, complete volunteering or further learning opportunities. They will also be able to access information and advice on self-employment and setting up their own business.
This project is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) - New to English
Kirklees Employment and Skills Service offer the ESOL New to English project which includes short unaccredited courses in ESOL, community cafes or meet/try/learn activities to help people to learn English. We know that learning English can help people to participate in their communities and reduce isolation, as well as boost employment opportunities. Our provision can be first step with the aim of progressing learners to accredited provision with wider partners in Kirklees.
This project is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Adult and community learning
Adult Learning Kirklees offers first step, short, mainly unaccredited provision to Kirklees' residents aged 19+ who have been a resident in the UK for 3 years or more, targeting those who are unemployed, below level 2 or those who have a significant barrier to learning. A variety of courses are offered throughout Kirklees and delivered by our trusted partners in local venues. We offer many courses which may help to boost confidence and wellbeing, increase your digital skills, help with employability skills or volunteering or with your English, maths or ESOL needs.
This programme is funded through the devolved Adult Education Budget for West Yorkshire. The Mayor of West Yorkshire and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are investing £65 million a year to improve skills across West Yorkshire - particularly among those who need it most.
Skills Bootcamps
Skills bootcamps are short training courses for adults aged 19 and over, that takes up to 16 weeks to complete. Designed to equip learners with the knowledge, practical experience and employability skills necessary to secure roles in high demand. They help you develop new skills that employers are looking for and are great opportunity to train in a new industry or progress in your current career.
Skills Bootcamps are part of the UK Government's Lifetime Skills Guarantee initiative, aimed at helping individuals gain the skills needed for high-demand jobs and supporting the economic recovery.
Economic Inactivity Trailblazer
Funded by Department of Work and Pensions this programme is aimed at residents between 16-64 who are not in employment and who have not sought work in the last 4 weeks and/or are not available to start work in the next 2 weeks. Ill health is a key driver of economic inactivity and the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer programme primarily focuses on supporting people who have significant health conditions and are economically inactive. The programme may also target people who face other disadvantages in the labour market E.g. related to caring responsibilities, their age, low skills or long term worklessness.
NHSE Accelerator
Funded by NHS England and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), The Health and Growth Accelerator initiative aims to improve population health outcomes and increase economic growth by reducing health-related labour market inactivity. It is part of the recent Government White Paper , Get Britain Working, which announced multiple initiatives and funding streams to support people to stay in or return to work.
The initiative is West Yorkshire-wide and aims to:
- Improve population health outcomes
- Increase economic growth by reducing health-related labour market inactivity
- - Shift from sickness to prevention and tackle inequalities
