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Calderdale profile

Business and employment

The Business and Employment Section of the Profile includes information on business opportunities in the district, recent developments and data on employment.

Recent developments

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Business Secretary Vince Cable have told local authorities to draw up plans for Local Enterprise Partnerships to replace the Regional Development Agencies, including Yorkshire Forward. But what does this mean for Calderdale?

Yorkshire Forward has had its critics. There was concern about the lack of accountability for its work and some questioned the investment decisions it made. Calderdale, however, did receive significant benefits. Over the past 5 years, Yorkshire Forward has invested over £12m in Calderdale. Now the question is will the new, smaller local enterprise partnerships preferred by Eric Pickles and Vince Cable provide us with an even better service?

Local Enterprise Partnerships will be created by local authorities, in consultation with local business. The government says this will provide an opportunity for local business communities to shape economic policy and programmes for local areas.

They would also be able to make decisions on planning policy and investment tailored to local conditions. The leaders of local councils around Leeds have agreed that the local enterprise partnership should be modelled on the Leeds City Region. This covers 11 local authority areas including Calderdale and reflects the close relationships existing between the economies around the city.

While Yorkshire Forward’s investment has without doubt enhanced Calderdale, it is now time to look to the future and identify what is required to boost the economy over the next decade.

• What support do local businesses need to establish and grow?
• Do we need projects which will open up more land for business development?
• How do we ensure businesses attract the workforce they need to prosper?

More information about the Leeds City Region and Local Enterprise Partnerships can be found by visiting www.leedscityregion.gov.uk

Business opportunities

• Are you looking for industrial or commercial premises in Calderdale?
  Calderdale Council’s Economic Development Service can provide advice on finding industrial and commercial land and property.
  Contacts
  
  • Name:
  • Jon Crowther
  • E-mail:
  • jon.crowther@calderdale.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
  • 01422 392810.

• Workwise provides NEXTSTEP advice, guidance and support for Calderdale residents who are not working, have a disability, mental ill health or health condition. Workwise helps customers find work, learn new skills, enter training or education or sustain their employment due to becoming ill whilst working.

  We provide services to meet different customer and employer needs including Specialist Employment Advisors, Health Practitioner and job coach support.  Our new contracts NEXTSTEP and Workchoice started in October 2010. Workchoice offers additional support to people with disabilities and health issues as well as supporting the employer.

  An additional service that is now offered is Conn3ct, Calderdale’s new drug and alcohol social rehabilitation service. Customers across Calderdale start afresh through supportive interventions in therapy, housing and employment, training and education.

  Contact
  

  • Name:
  • Sonia Barker
  • E-mail:
  • sonia.barker@calderdale.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
  • 01422 364092.
• Economic development
  The Business and Economy Team within the Economy and Environment Directorate supports the Council’s corporate priority of promoting sustainable economic growth and regeneration and supporting vulnerable people and tackling disadvantage.
  Contacts
  
  • Name:
  • John Hodgson
  • E-mail:
  • john.hodgson@calderdale.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
  • 01422 392235.
• Townscape Heritage Initiative Grants (Heritage Lottery Fund) are available to assist the improvement of derelict, run-down, empty or partially vacant premises within the town centre of Halifax, particularly around the Piece Hall. Buildings of high townscape value have been given priority for assistance with grants up to 75% for external repairs and architectural reinstatement. Some grants were available for conversion of vacant and run-down space to create new uses. Most of the funds have been allocated but applications will be accepted from reserve schemes.
  Contact
  • Name:
  • Sue Oakley
  • E-mail:
  • sue.oakley@calderdale.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
  • 01422 392256.
• Our Approach to Higher Level Skills

  “Higher Level Skills” are not simply knowledge, expertise and skills, but the ability for staff to apply them to business.

  For businesses, universities and Higher Education (HE) can seem like a different world, working to different timescales and priorities.

  Karen Quine has been appointed to help businesses get the most out of higher education; to assist in designing programmes that meet business needs, recognising the quality of in-house training through accreditation and helping identify and access funding to support training needs.

  To get a clearer picture of the Borough’s workforce skills, Calderdale Council is conducting a survey and wants to hear from local businesses about their approach to skills and how they train their workforce.

  It is hoped that the survey will provide invaluable information and allow the Council to identify those businesses needing support.

  Contact

  • Name:
  • Karen Quine
  • E-mail:
  • karen.quine@calderdale.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
  • 01422 392295.

Employment in Calderdale

Just under one fifth of those working in the district are employed in manufacturing, down from one third 15 years ago. The growth areas have been banking, finance and insurance, and other service industries. The percentage working in the public sector has remained constant.

Sectors of employment 2008

Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Business Inquiry 2008. Data rounded to nearest 100; n.a. : not available due to confidentiality restrictions

Major private employers 2009

Source: Major Employer database

Public sector employers 2010

Source: Personnel sections in organisation

Commuting patterns

Numbers travelling to and from work in Calderdale have increased steadily since the 1980s. From 1991 to 2001 the numbers increased by a fifth – 25,000 people travelled out in 2001, while 20,000 jobs here are filled by people from other areas. Trends show people are travelling further to work, and increasingly using cars rather than public transport.

An Employment and Commuting in Calderdale report is available online, visit Employment and commuting, or from our office.

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