• MK business leaders welcome major package for ‘greener and fairer’ economic recovery
• Growth boost will create new jobs including apprenticeships for more young people to break into creative and green industries

Milton Keynes Council is set to provide almost £2.2million of funding to local groups and businesses to help drive growth, create new green and creative jobs and help people into the workplace as part of a ground-breaking COVID-19 economic recovery package. This includes a £500,000 Green Business Recovery Fund to drive sustainable recovery schemes and behaviour.

The council expects the national recession will have a disproportionate effect on MK’s poorest and most vulnerable people; local unemployment levels have more than doubled to almost 11,000 in July 2020 and unemployment is hitting young people the hardest – with the number of unemployed claimants aged 18-24 rising almost fourfold.  Almost a third of MK’s workers have been furloughed, many facing an uncertain future.

In response, Cabinet will receive the draft Economic Recovery Action Plan on 1 September.  Outlined in it are plans to:

Help young and marginalised people find work

• Offering personalised long-term practical support to people who need the greatest help to get back into the workplace – such as young people, mums retuning to work, and the recently furloughed - via a ‘Restart Network’ run by Milton Keynes College.
• Working with cultural partners to create six Cultural Sector Traineeships and two Cultural Sector Apprenticeships to provide inclusive routes into the industry for young people.  
• Creating a 12-month programme for young people not in employment, education or training that would increase opportunities for further study, traineeships, apprenticeships and employment.

Create green jobs and practice

• Setting up a £500,000 green business recovery fund to help MK’s businesses develop green business practices in their recovery plans.
• A new green apprenticeship scheme where ten people will build skills in practical conservation and landscaping management.
• Dedicating £50m to retrofit council homes with green technologies alongside existing plans to install energy efficient heating systems and other improvements.

Generate opportunities for small businesses and start ups

• Giving small businesses access to immediate subsidised legal, tax and other support that will help them weather the pandemic, via the Federation for Small Businesses.
• Funding a ‘Wonder Lab’ hub for tech entrepreneurs, and the MK Artificial Intelligence Development programme to develop local skills in the industries of the future.
• Support new start-ups by running virtual events with the Pop-up Business School, giving practical help and advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

These are just some examples of the council’s draft actions. The full plan can be found here.

Find out more information here.