Crawley Borough Council’s Cabinet has agreed an updated Employment and Skills Programme running up to 2030, which will focus on helping more residents access higher-level qualifications and quality jobs, and supporting young people into work and learning.

The programme aims to assist local businesses, particularly in high-value and green sectors, with recruitment, and champion fair pay by promoting Crawley as a Living Wage Town. It also aims to significantly improve social mobility and career opportunities for local residents, while supporting businesses to recruit and retain employees.

The programme will introduce business support for young entrepreneurs and youth-led enterprises, develop a green skills curriculum in partnership with Crawley College, and create a Crawley Employer Board to align skills with local business needs. It will also strengthen collaboration with London Gatwick to ensure residents benefit from new job opportunities, expand access to higher-level education and degree-level study, and increase university-level provision in the borough.

This will build on existing work by the council that has already supported over 1,000 residents into employment through its Employ Crawley service.

Employ Crawley offers a one-to-one employment support service, giving advice, guidance and local knowledge support as well as signposting to specialist organisations, for those who are facing barriers into work. This free service is open to all Crawley residents over 19 and aims to make navigating the world of work simpler. Together with a dedicated support officer, residents can create a plan which is unique to them.

Earlier this year, Employ Crawley formed a partnership with FreeShop Crawley at the new Learning Lab based in Bewbush Community Centre, supported by UK Shared Prosperity Funding. Its role is to provide skills and employment services to Bewbush residents including digital training clinics and wellbeing workshops.

Two STEM Skills Centres have opened in the borough at Crawley College and London Gatwick, offering training in science, engineering, technology and maths. The Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology has opened at Crawley College and will be delivering advanced technical training in areas such as engineering, robotics, and Artificial Intelligence. The inspirational Dare to Dream programme has engaged more than 5,000 students across all secondary schools in Crawley.

We are extremely proud of what we’ve achieved so far through the Employment and Skills Programme.  We are ambitious for Crawley and our residents, and serious about supporting them in their aspirations to achieve their full potential.  This new edition will create powerful skills pathways, enabling access to high-value jobs and supporting local businesses. Together with our partners, we aim to secure further funding and make Crawley a hub for opportunity and innovation.

Councillor Atif Nawaz

Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning

Crawley Borough Council