Introduction
Get Somerset Working is Somerset’s response to the Government’s call for local action on economic inactivity. Rooted in the ambition of the Get Britain Working White Paper, this plan sets out a bold, collaborative vision for a thriving local labour market – where everyone can access good work, progress in their careers, and contribute to a flourishing Somerset. By focusing on the challenges faced by those excluded from employment due to health, caring responsibilities, or complex barriers, we aim to unlock potential, raise employment levels, and build a fairer and more resilient future for all.
In April 2025, the Government called on areas to develop local plans aligned with the national White Paper. In response, and in accordance with the published guidance, Somerset Council is publishing the first edition of the Get Somerset Working Plan.
The ambitions of the White Paper are to build a healthier, wealthier nation by increasing employment, opportunity, skills, and productivity, while reducing the benefits bill. With 2.8 million people nationally locked out of work – primarily due to disability and long-term sickness – the paper sets a long-term goal of achieving an 80% employment rate. To realise this ambition, it identifies six key challenges:
- The exclusion of many individuals from the labour market, especially those with health conditions, caring responsibilities, or lower skills
- Insufficient support for young people leaving education without essential skills or pathways into work
- The prevalence of insecure, low-paid, poor-quality jobs that weaken the economy and harm wellbeing
- The barriers faced by women carers in remaining and progressing in work
- Widespread labour and skills shortages affecting employers
- Significant disparities in labour market outcomes across regions and demographic groups
The full Get Somerset Working Plan can be viewed below.
Vision for the Get Somerset Working plan
The Somerset Economic Prosperity Strategy has defined a vision for Somerset that will see a flourishing, fair and green economy, built on our distinctive assets and opportunities for good growth. The Get Somerset Working plan acts as one of a series of implementation plans to support the delivery of the Prosperity Strategy by:
- Supporting the ‘Fair’ Goals – contributing to maintaining above average employment levels and assisting 10,000 people out of economic inactivity, and ensuring no areas of Somerset are within the most deprived 10% nationally by 2045. The Get Somerset Working Plan will also support the broader ‘Flourishing’ and ‘Green’ goals.
- Supporting the ‘People’ Priorities – building an aspirational workforce that responds to the current and future needs of our local economy, aligning skills provision and enabling all residents to access opportunities for education, training and employment to achieve their full potential and to thrive. The Get Somerset Working Plan focuses on Priority Area 6 – Removing barriers to participation in work and creation of an inclusive workforce. Further plan development will see increased support for delivery across the remaining ‘People’ priority areas.
The Get Somerset Working Plan reflects the ambitions of the White Paper by beginning to address the first of its six key challenges: the exclusion of too many people from the labour market, particularly those with health conditions, caring responsibilities, or lower skills. Developed in collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders – including Council services, health services, Jobcentre Plus, community groups, education and the voluntary sector – this plan marks the beginning of a long-term, ‘whole system’ approach to address economic inactivity across the county.