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Over the last twelve years Employer Coalitions have actively engaged employers in increasing skills and job opportunities for people disadvantaged in the labour market in ways that complement Jobcentre Plus and other public agencies.  Today there are ten Employer Coalitions with an active network of over 1600 employers.

Employers get engaged because they want to:

• recruit new talent locally; and/or
• help influence how other employers recruit and invest in their people; and/or
• help public and not for profit providers meet employers' and individuals' needs.

Employer Coalitions were set up by the New Deal Task Force and continued under its successor, the National Employment Panel (NEP).  In 2006 the NEP set up NEP Limited, later renamed Working Ventures UK (WVUK), to support the Employer Coalition Chairs, members and staff.

Employer Coalitions have always worked closely with Jobcentre Plus and skills agencies in England and Scotland.  Over the last two years they have aligned or become completely integrated with local City Strategy and other employment and skills partnerships, engaging local authorities and other partners.  This process was completed at the end of September 2009 and Coalition staff teams are now employed locally. 

Working Ventures, UK the umbrella organisation and non-departmental public body, has now closed - proud of the employers and people it has supported and confident of their role in the future.

Most Employer Coalition Boards comprise 12-15 business leaders and 3-4 senior representatives of public sector agencies (Jobcentre Plus, Learning and Skills Council and Regional Development Agency).  All Coalitions have a wider network of employers with which they work on a regular basis.

The Employer Coalition locations were agreed with Government on the basis of: high employer demand; high volumes of worklessness; and local political and employer commitment.

Employer Coalitions roles in local Employment and Skills systems are outlined below:

Highland

Highland Employer Coalition as part of Highland Opportunity Limited (a Highland Council not-for-profit enterprise trust) provides employer leadership and opens new doors for Jobcentre Plus and other public employment and skills partners.

Glasgow

Glasgow Employer Coalition as part of Glasgow City Strategy Partnership provides employer leadership and engagement in support of Glasgow Works.

North East

North East Employer Coalition as part of Business Enterprise North East provides employer leadership across the region in support of the four sub-regional Employment and Skills Boards.

Merseyside

Merseyside Employer Coalition as part of Liverpool City Region Employment and Skills Board supporting structure helps inform strategic priorities and mobilises Merseyside's employers to bring careers to the region's diverse pool of talent

Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Employer Coalition as part of the Manchester Commission for the New Economy, engages with employers to influence the employment and skills system and supports delivery of the Greater Manchester Strategy

West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Employer Coalition as part of Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber provides employer leadership, advocacy and advice to employment and skills partners and the wider business community in the 11 local authorities that make up the Leeds City Region

South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire Employer Coalition is part of the City Strategy Partnership.   Employers are engaged in each of the four Work and Skills Boards

Derbyshire

The Derbyshire Employer Coalition is now integrated with the Derby Jobs and Skills Group and Derbyshire Employment and Skills Board

West Midlands

West Midlands Employer Coalition contributes to the Birmingham City Region Employment and Skills board via the Chamber of Commerce.   The Coalition operates as an intermediary between employers and a wide-range of publicly-funded employment and skills organisations.   It also facilitates employer peer networks to support this process.

London

The London Employer Accord is a key part of the Mayor's London Skills and Employment Board (LSEB).   It takes a strategic role in supporting LSEB, the London Development Agency, Jobcentre Plus and other agencies in working to simplify the public sector employment and skills offer for London's employers.   The Accord will also work to support 5,000 disadvantaged Londoners into jobs in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games