Presentation delivered by Andy Smith during the URBACT Training for Elected Representatives Seminar 1 (8-10 April 2013, Brussels) "Integration. How to break silos and develop integrated and place-based solutions that cross the boundaries of government bodies, disciplines, or municipal borders?" Read more here - http://urbact.eu/en/news-and-events/urbact-events/training-for-elected-representatives/

1. Thurrock
April 2013
Cllr Andy Smith

2. Thurrock – The place
• The heart of the Thames Gateway
• 18 miles of river frontage
• 60% of the borough Green Belt with historic
villages
• At the heart of major transport infrastructure –
ports, roads and rail
• Key industries – transport, logistics, port
functions and retail
• Number of VAT registered business grown by
40% since 1997 – double the national rate (21%)

3. Thurrock – The people
• Thriving population - 157,200 forecast to grow to
203,900 by 2031
• 26% of the population between 0 – 19 years
• Non-white population 12.6% (2001: 4.7%)
• Largest BME group 2009 - Asian/Asian British 4.6%
• Indicators of deprivation are improving but still problems
in parts of Tilbury, Grays, Belhus, Chadwell, Ockendon
and West Thurrock.
• Rates of adult obesity and smoking are higher than
average.

4. Thurrock - Regeneration
• Home to a £6.1 billion regeneration
programme
• Aim to create 26,000 jobs and 18,500 new
homes by 2021
• The challenge – to make sure local people
benefit and prosper from the opportunities
that come from the regeneration
programme

5. Thurrock tomorrow…
GRAYS
SOUTH
OCKENDON
TILBURY
CORRINGHAM
PURFLEET
AVELEY
STANFORD LE
HOPE
CHADWELL ST
MARY
LONDON GATEWAY
LONDON GATEWAY
PORT
THURROCK
LEARNING
CAMPUS
STRATEGIC
TRANSPORT
LINKS
Masterplan Areas / Economic
Hubs
Housing Growth Areas
Employment Growth Areas
Housing / Employment Mix
Growth Areas
PORT OF TILBURY EXPANSION
LAKESIDE EXPANSION
HIGH HOUSE PRODUCTION PARK
PURFLEET CENTRE

6. Main challenges:
Youth Unemployment & Skills
• 25.9% unemployment 16-19 year olds
• Youth unemployment high
• High levels of NEET – 8.5%
• Low wage levels – poorly paid jobs
• Low skills base amongst the Thurrock population
• 44% of new jobs will require Level 3 qualification
– only 36% of the population have this level
• Levels of job related training low – only 15%
• Low levels of aspiration

7. Thurrock – Our URBACT project
Jobtown – Focus on youth unemployment and
poor unemployment, in particular:
1. Developing effective models of cooperation
2. Making education and vocational education and
training responsive to the needs of the local labour
market
3. Analysis and forecast of labour market
4. Support for business creation and development,
self-employment
5. Social economy and resource management

8. Involvement in the Local Support Group
• LSG co-ordinated by the Council
• LSG co-ordinator employed by the Council
• My role as Councillor:
– Work with the Local Support Group to understand the
issues and develop an action plan
– Help find the resources to implement the action plan
– Secure political support for initiatives

9. Local Support Group – Who else is
involved?
• Employers – Port of Tilbury, DP World, Canute
• Umbrella organisations - Federation of Small
Businesses, Thurrock Business Association, Thurrock
Business Network Group
• Educational Institutions - Gateway Academy, South
Ockendon Academy, South Essex College, University of
Essex, Anglia Ruskin University, University of East
London
• Employment agencies/jobcentres - Job Centre Plus,
National Apprenticeship Service, National Skills
Academy – Creative and Cultural
• Youth Outreach services – CVS, ngage, Children's
Partnership, Community Safety Partnership, Community
forums

10. What the LSG is planning to do
• Use expert help to prepare a baseline report on
youth unemployment in Thurrock.
• Understand the issues and what causes them
• Bring together the partners we need to tackle the
issues.
• Learn from other partners – what worked and
what didn’t!
• Produce an action plan
• Access resources and funding – structural funds

11. The Local Action Plan?
• Only just moved to implementation phase
so too early to say!
• Needs to tackle the issues and make a
positive difference
• Focus resources on the right actions
• Mix of quick wins and longer term actions