Senior councillors set to agree £6.4m funding to support borough’s economy

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet is set to allocate the £6.4m of the borough’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) monies next month.

Recommendations on how to use the funding are focused on increasing opportunities for residents across the borough in employment, skills and support to local businesses.

Proposals for the funding will be allocated across three areas, including:

• Supporting Local Business
• People and Skills
• Communities and Place

If approved, the programme outlines more than £2m to help new businesses start up, grants to increase business productivity and cut carbon emissions, and to encourage businesses to ensure all staff are paid at least the Real Living Wage.

This money will support the council’s business centres and improve access to public sector procurement opportunities. A programme of small grants for businesses in rural locations is also planned.

Residents will be able to access training opportunities through the Rotherham Integrated Skills Programme to reach sustainable employment and career progression through a tailored programme of support.

The borough will receive funding to back a range of events for young people. The money will enable the creation of a further 40 paid traineeships for young people aged 16-25.

Targeted neighbourhood-based support through the Open Arms programme will continue providing fortnightly sessions to offer advice and guidance on a range of topic such as energy bills, financial and debt advice, and benefits support through to the middle of 2025.

Rotherham Council’s leader, Councillor Chris Read, said: “This package of measures will provide residents with new opportunities to get skills and support where they need it most, helping local businesses and helping to make our economy more inclusive to the whole community.

“Although the shift to the UKSPF funding package means South Yorkshire will once again receive less money that we would otherwise have done, we are determined to ensure we maximise the benefit for our community.”

Funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is allocated by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority based on bids from Rotherham Council.

Through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), businesses will access support to reduce their carbon emissions, improve resilience and protect jobs through a Low carbon grant which is being administered by Sheffield City Council.