NPC/ERSA breakfast meeting at Conservative Party Conference – How can employment support and civil society respond to crisis and recession?

Following on from the successful Fringe Meeting at Labour Party conference for which we were joined by the Chairperson of the Work and Pensions Select Committee Stephen Timms MP, other MPs, and conference delegates, ERSA has partnered with NPC to host a breakfast meeting at the Conservative Party Conference (outside the secure zone) which will discuss…

How can employment support and civil society respond to crisis and recession?
NPC and ERSA Breakfast meeting: 4 October, 8-10am, Birmingham Kindly hosted by Shaw Trust

The inflationary pressures brought by the cost-of-living crisis continue to squeeze wages around the country. A pandemic hangover means many people have left the labour market and are not looking for work, whilst more are taking time away from work due to long-covid and burnout.

The government has announced a welcome package of support, however with the Bank of England predicting a recession by the end of this year, more help will be needed. As well as the support they are already offering during the cost-of-living crisis, civil society and employment support organisations will increasingly be needed to play the vital role of helping those who struggle to find work, and those who want to advance in their career, to move into better paid and fulfilling jobs. However, facing the same inflationary pressures—where should they focus their resources in the face of rising demand, and what should government do to ease this burden?

At this event you will hear from politicians, employment support groups and leading charities about what support is needed to get people into work now. Speakers include Elizabeth Taylor (ERSA), Leah Davis (NPC), Richard Clifton (Shaw Trust), Safaraz Ali (Pathway Group), Deven Ghelani (Policy in Practice).

Please join us to lend your thoughts on this topic and discuss potential actions which government, business and civil society need to take to support people across the country.

Event details:

Date, time: 4 October, 8-10am

Location: Shaw Trust office, First Floor, 36 Great Charles Street Queensway, Birmingham B3 3JY

Register your interest by emailing Henry.Foulkes@ersa.org.uk and Theo.Clay@thinkNPC.org

ERSA’s goal at party conference is to provide a forum for open discussion between political stakeholders and the employability sector.

At the Labour Party Conference Fringe meeting we heard from Dan Corry of NPC, ERSA’s CEO Elizabeth Taylor, and from Merseyside based ERSA members Career Connect, Transform Lives Company and Ingeus. It was great to have Stephen Timms with us and to hear first hand his understanding of ERSA’s work, the key role employment support providers play, and about his long-term relationships with the sector. There are still opportunities to send evidence to the work and Pensions Select Committee – contact policy@ersa.org.uk