Bold New Jobs and Skills Plan Approved to Boost Employment and Economic Growth Across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 

Bold New Jobs and Skills Plan Approved to Boost Employment and Economic Growth Across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 

The Combined Authority Board has today (Wednesday 26^th November) approved the 10 year Get Britain and Cambridgeshire working plan, which is a bold and integrated strategy designed to drive economic growth, create local jobs and expand career services that help residents enter, remain and progress in work.  

In Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, around 78% of working age residents are currently employed, leaving 68,000 on out of work benefits and 22,500 economically inactive due to long term sickness. Unlocking this potential is central to reducing inequalities and delivering inclusive growth across the region. 

The plan highlights local labour market challenges and sets out how they will be addressed, aligning the themes and priorities of the Local Growth Plan, the forthcoming Local Skills Improvement Plan (March 2026) and the Integrated Health and Wellbeing Strategy into a unified plan for the region. 

Aligned with the national white paper, the strategy focuses on three key priorities: 

• Boosting skills to meet the needs of local employers and future industries 

• Tackling economic inactivity by supporting more people into sustainable employment 

• Creating better quality, higher paying jobs through reforms to employment and skills advice services. 

The initiative will transform careers support by making it more digital, accessible and responsive to local communities. By modernising services and tailoring them to regional needs, the plan aims to ensure that everyone can build rewarding careers while strengthening the local economy. 

Paul Bristow, said: 

“This strategy unlocks growth for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough – more skills and more jobs mean more opportunity, driving stronger regional growth. 

“We welcome this plan that will help people get into employment, and support businesses with the skilled workforce they need.”