22 Jan 2026
Bassetlaw District Council has published a skills audit identifying how the district can move towards a higher skill, higher pay economy.
The Bassetlaw Skills Audit - Insights and Recommendations, produced by AMION consulting, has been put together following months of extensive engagement with local employers, training providers and partners.
It identifies key barriers holding back skills development and productivity, highlights emerging growth opportunities, and sets out clear, evidence-based recommendations to better align education, training and employment with the needs of the local economy.
Just some of the insights will help the Council to shape a new skills strategy, use evidence to align training to priority sectors, and deliver collaborative projects that strengthen pathways into employment. This work will also turn recommendations into action and create the conditions for long-term growth and better opportunities for residents
The audit was developed with the support of the Bassetlaw Business Alliance (BBA) hosting the first Bassetlaw Skills Summit to launch the skills audit process.
Rob Holder, Chair of the Bassetlaw Business Alliance said: “Local businesses have been clear for some time that skills are one of the biggest constraints on growth in Bassetlaw.
“This audit was commissioned to give us a robust, shared evidence base, shaped by employers themselves, so we can move beyond anecdote and focus on practical solutions.
“By working collaboratively across business, education and the public sector, this audit gives us a strong platform to do exactly that.”
The work has been backed by the North Nottinghamshire Skills and Employment Board (NNSEB) and will continue to be used by the BBA to support sustained engagement with local employers.
Natalia Bird, Chair of the NNSEB said: “This audit clearly shows that skills challenges in Bassetlaw are not about a lack of ambition or potential, but about how well the system connects people, education and employers.
“Businesses need a workforce with the right skills, and residents need clear, accessible pathways to develop and progress. By improving alignment between training provision and employer demand, and by working more closely with businesses of all sizes, we can break the cycle of low skills and low pay and create the conditions for higher-quality jobs and long-term economic growth across the district.”
The audit findings include barriers to gaining skills such as limited access to training, and the need for better employer engagement and curriculum alignment with many employers reporting skills gaps.
Access to further education was also highlighted as more limited than the national average particularly for those without access to private transport.
Cllr Charles Adams, Cabinet Member for Business and Skills said: "With projects such as STEP and the East Midlands Investment Zone in the pipeline, we expect to unlock significant higher-level skills employment.
“We need to make sure our residents have the skills needed by employers to benefit from this expected economic growth across the district over the coming years.
The recommendations set out in the audit will now be shared with the wider business community, to ensure employers play a central role in shaping future skills provision and supporting clearer pathways into work and progression.
The aim, to work out a coordinated approach to tackle some of the challenges identified in the audit and make the shift towards a higher skill and higher pay economy with real opportunities for residents across the district.
The project has received funding from the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
For a summary of the Skills Audit visit: Skills audit summary report.
