Employment and Skills Programme 2025 to 2030

At Crawley Borough Council, in collaboration with our valued partners, we are proud to be making significant progress in delivering the Crawley Employment and Skills Programme - creating the right conditions for local career opportunities to thrive.

Since the launch of Employ Crawley in 2017, we have supported over 1,000 local residents in taking the next steps on their employment journeys. We continue to strengthen partnerships between local businesses and education providers, bridging the gap with effective careers advice and raising aspirations for local people.

The new Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology opened its doors in October 2025, marking a major milestone in our long-term commitment to skills development, offering higher-level technical education in engineering, construction and digital technologies. The recent opening of the Crawley Innovation Centre in Manor Royal further strengthens our position as a hub for innovation and opportunity, supporting the growth of local talent and businesses.

While we’re proud of the progress made, we know there is still much to do. Crawley continues to face significant social mobility challenges, ranking among the lowest-performing areas in England. Our research indicates that local skills shortages are estimated to cost the town’s economy around £49 million in lost productivity each year, highlighting the need for continued investment in education, training and career development.

We also recognise that housing pressures are contributing to these challenges. The predominance of smaller, less flexible housing types locally means that many residents - particularly families and skilled individuals - are choosing to move out of Crawley in search of more suitable accommodation. This trend risks eroding the town’s talent base and undermining efforts to build a resilient, inclusive economy.

We recognise Crawley's economic significance and the ongoing reliance on in-commuting, but our focus remains clear: to create more local jobs for local people and ensure that residents have the skills, training and support they need to succeed.

That’s why we’ve refreshed our Employment and Skills Programme for 2025–2030. This bold and focused strategy is designed to unlock local talent, tackle social mobility barriers and invest in the people who live and work in Crawley, now and in the future.

Together, we’re working to shape a stronger, fairer local economy—where everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.

As we look ahead, we are mindful of the wider changes in local governance, including proposals for a Mayoral Combined Authority and Local Government Reorganisation. These developments present new opportunities to strengthen regional collaboration and unlock additional powers and funding for employment and skills. The refreshed Programme is designed to remain responsive and resilient, providing continuity in delivery while aligning with future strategic structures that will shape how we support Crawley’s residents and businesses.

Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, Atif Nawaz 

Since publication of the last programme in 2019, the employment and skills landscape has been through a succession of significant changes. Internationally, the pandemic and the UK’s formal exit from the European Union have reshaped labour markets and economic priorities

Nationally, we have a new government with a particular focus on employment reform and skills development. And at a regional level, significant changes to devolution and skills delivery are underway and locally, Crawley has responded with a range of strategic initiatives and investments to support economic recovery and future growth.

The following is a summary of the most relevant developments and actions delivered to date, grouped into three key areas:

• Skills England established as a new arms-length body to tackle skills shortages and drive sustainable economic growth
• formation of the Unit for Future Skills (UFS); an analytical and research unit within the Department for Education, set up to improve the quality of jobs and skills data
• successful renewal of the Manor Royal Business Improvement District (2023 to 2028) for a third-term in March 2023, continuing its role in supporting local business growth
• launch of the Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology; bringing a university-level presence to Crawley for the first time, creating a hub for digital technologies, innovation and industry-led skills
• development of a new West Sussex Growth Hub offering free, tailored business support services to help business owners achieve sustainable growth
• Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) opened at Crawley library in June 2023, supporting small businesses by providing access to resources, services one-to-one advice and IP support
• development of a new West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Careers Hub to connect schools, colleges and employers, inspiring young people and shaping career pathways
• West Sussex Economic Growth Board established to coordinate county-wide economic priorities and sustainable growth opportunities
• Get Britain Working Strategy, including the Connect to Work Programme, integrating work, health and skills support
• £600 million investment pledge to train construction workers, help colleges to deliver more construction courses and expand skills bootcamps
• new Construction Foundation Apprenticeships launching in August 2025 to give more young people the tools needed for a sustained and rewarding career
• Gatwick Northern Runway Employment, Skills and Business Strategy (ESBS), and Steering Group.  Through the s106 legal agreement supporting the Gatwick Northern Runway (NRP) Development Consent Order, negotiated by the joint local authorities, the airport operator is committed to providing £20 million to deliver its strategy to maximise employment, skills and business benefits in the local area. The implementation of this strategy is to be overseen by an ESBS Steering Group, on which Crawley Borough Council will have a representative. The Strategy makes clear that the benefits should flow particularly to areas most affected during the construction and operational phases of the NRP, including the whole of Crawley, and that its Employment and Skills activities should be focused on priority areas where social mobility is low

• Crawley Borough Local Plan 2023 to 2040 adopted in October 2024, providing a comprehensive framework that integrates planning policy with practical initiatives that support local employment and skills development, including a requirement for financial contributions towards skills initiatives from new development
• “One Town”: Crawley’s Economic Recovery Plan 2022 to 2037: providing a clear vision for Crawley’s future socio-economic prosperity
• Local Skills Improvement Plan for Sussex developed to address local skills needs through collaborative action 
• the Crawley Town Centre Regeneration Programme has been updated, providing new opportunities for employment and skills interventions 
• Crawley Towns Fund Investment Plan includes a new Innovation Centre and Invest in Skills Programme.
• The UK Industrial Strategy published in June 2025: outlines a new economic model focused on eight high-growth sectors with a strong emphasis on skills development and local business ecosystems. This includes recognising that skills development in specific sectors is crucial for success and outlining ambitions like simplifying the skills system, enhancing skills and strengthening local business environments
• West Sussex County Council Economic Strategy 2025 to 2035 launched in March 2025, setting placed-based priorities for Crawley
• Growth and Skills Levy 2025 introduced to replace the Apprenticeship Levy, with a focus on regional skills alignment and growth sectors
• updated Sustainable Procurement and Social Value Charter: reinforces Crawley’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable economic development
• Clean Energy Jobs Plan; creating a new generation of good jobs to deliver energy security with an emphasis on skills pipelines and regional job creation

• English Devolution White Paper (December 2024) announced the facilitation of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas and proposed a mayoral strategic authority for Sussex with joint ownership of LSIPs. Strategic Authorities will take on joint ownership of the Local Skills Improvement Plan model, alongside Employer Representative Bodies, which set out the strategic direction for skills provision in an area
• Invest 2035 Green Paper (November 2024), outlines national strategies to remove barriers to growth, support key sectors create quality jobs
• Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (February 2025) confirms net zero economy generated £83.1 billion in Gross Value Added in 2024
• Skills England report (September 2024): driving growth and widening opportunities, identifying the South East as having the highest exposure to AI
• Get Britain Working White Paper (November 2024): reaffirming the government’s commitment to an inclusive and thriving labour market
• The Cities Outlook 2025 ‘How do skills relate to cities economic performance’ reveals that Crawley has a working age population of 43.7 per cent and a lower than average employment rate of 72.3 per cent.
• estimates of green jobs, UK Office for National Statistics (July 2025) 690,900 green jobs in 2023, a 34.6 per cent increase since 2015
• Greater Brighton Hydrogen Strategy – published in 2023 by Brighton and Hove City Council on behalf of Hydrogen Sussex, outlines a regional roadmap for developing a hydrogen economy in Sussex

Crawley’s Local Plan 2023 to 2040 was formally adopted in October 2024, playing a pivotal role in supporting local employment and skills development through its strategic policies and initiatives. This includes ensuring that new developments actively support our skills objectives through site-specific employment and skills plans and proportionate financial contributions towards local employment and skills initiatives. 

The Crawley Infrastructure Plan 2023 to 2040 also references key strategic employment sites linked with the newly adopted Local Plan.

Opening the Create Building, a new nine-storey, civic and Grade A office headquarters in the centre of Crawley.

During construction of the Create Building a number of key social value initiatives were delivered to include:

• digital workshops to include Kier’s Senior Design Manager and Lead Architect giving lectures on sustainability, offsite and modular solutions, digital technology tools in the construction industry to 87 young people studying carpentry, joinery, plumbing, property maintenance, media and IT
• Open Doors events at Crawley College with more than 60 students attending the site with presentations explaining the demolition of parts of the existing Town Hall complex and construction of the new building
• Kier liaised with Crawley College to place students on their work placement programme
• 28 pupils studying the life of plants at West Green Primary School were helped by Kier staff, who also supplied hard hats for use as hanging baskets
• Kier’s Site Team and Early Careers Team attended the annual ‘STEM in the Park’ event in Memorial Gardens to demonstrate the breadth of STEM careers in a fun and inspirational environment, experience cutting edge activities and technology and change students’ perceptions about STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths)
• Kier’s Site Team and Early Careers Team attended the Employ Crawley Apprenticeship Fair at Crawley Library to discuss apprenticeships and career options with local young people

The Crawley STEM centre at Crawley College opened in 2021 and is home to innovative and interactive spaces that will be used to train students and apprentices in the latest skills required by industries across the region.

The new Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology (SSIoT) opened its doors in October 2025 on the Crawley College campus. Delivered in partnership with the Universities of Brighton, Sussex and Chichester and employers, the SSIoT will offer local access to high-level training and skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber, sustainable technologies, construction, the built environment and advanced engineering, supporting high skilled careers and driving Crawley’s role in the region’s innovation economy. 

Crawley’s Sustainable Procurement and Social Value Charter requires suppliers to commit to delivering on social value priorities including creating employment opportunities, employing apprentices and providing work experience.

Since 2019, Crawley has successfully hosted five ‘STEM in the Park’ events, bringing together local employers, education providers and STEM ambassadors to inspire young people and spark interest in careers across science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These events showcase opportunities in industries such as construction, engineering, aviation, healthcare and geoscience – encouraging the next generation to explore the exciting world of STEM.

Crawley Borough Council has partnered with local employers, educational institutions, public sector entities, and community leaders to support over 1,100 students attain vital life skills to prepare them for their future career as part of the Love Local Jobs Foundations Dare to Dream programme.

There are currently 10 apprenticeships in post across Crawley Borough Council, including legal services, planning, horticultural services, business administration and housing and property management.

Employ Crawley has delivered a series of successful and well attended job fairs, highlighting the diverse range of local employers, recruitment agencies and training provision on offer. Visitors have been able to engage directly with employers whist local businesses promote their career opportunities with potential candidates. 

Between 2020 and 2022, Employ Crawley established a successful Youth Employment Support Hub with over 600 young people accessing the service and being supported in their employment journey.

Crawley College were supported by the council in building relationships with businesses to ensure the curriculum for the STEM centre is matched to their needs.

Between 2023 and 2024, Creative Crawley delivered a series of 'Give it a Go' workshops—offering a free programme of events designed to help local people explore and develop new skills in the arts and creative industries. 

The ‘One Destination Employability Programme’ was a rolling four-week programme delivered in partnership by Employ Crawley, Gatwick Airport and DWP to support those farthest away from the job market and the long term unemployed into jobs on the airport campus. The programme was shortlisted for a National Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) Partnership Award, recognising excellence as a delivery partner in the field of employment support.

In October 2023, London Gatwick opened its dedicated STEM Centre – a bespoke, hands-on space to inspire and teach children from Crawley and the local area about science, technology, engineering and maths-related careers at the UK’s second busiest airport. 

Crawley’s inward investment programme ‘Invest Crawley’ has delivered a range of events and initiatives since 2018 to promote Crawley as a ‘place to do business’ to include:

• monthly Invest Crawley newsletters
• six annual Invest Crawley investor tours
• Invest Crawley virtual conference in 2020. Read the news story on the virtual conference
• Invest Crawley Conference in March 2025. Read the news story about the Invest Crawley Conference
• official launch of the Create Building in 2022. Read the news story about the launch of the Create Building
• commercial breakfast briefing
• dedicated inward investment website, Invest Crawley
• attendance at the annual UK Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) as part of the Gatwick Diamond delegation

The Crawley Innovation Centre, officially opened in April 2025 in the heart of Manor Royal, provides essential grow-on space and scale-up support for advanced engineering businesses. Designed to accelerate innovation and diversification, the centre enables local firms to expand into new, high-growth sectors such as clean energy and quantum technologies. By nurturing these emerging industries, the centre plays a pivotal role in boosting Crawley’s economic output, enhancing productivity and unlocking a new wave of high-value, future ready jobs. 

The Crawley Towns Fund Investment Plan supported the delivery of the GreenTech Business Grants programme, through which £450,000 of Towns Fund investment was allocated to green technology businesses based in Crawley - enabling business growth and generating new employment opportunities.

Crawley Small Business Grant fund through which £71,000 funding distributed to enable and support micro-startups, and small businesses in Crawley.

Crawley is now home to 28 Living Wage accredited employers demonstrating a growing commitment among local businesses to fair pay and improved working conditions. 

Since 2023, £674,000 of UK Shared Prosperity funding has been awarded to 14 projects with a specific focus on providing local residents in West Green, Broadfield and Bewbush pathways to employment, supporting local skills needs and essential skills and access to employment.  Projects include:

• a new Learning Lab in Bewbush Community Centre, delivered in partnership by Employ Crawley and FreeShop Crawley to provide a dedicated space for local residents to access digital clinics, employment support, wellbeing workshops and English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) classes
• a hairdressing and barbering academy in Crawley town centre, enabling local students to obtain apprenticeships whilst supporting career development
• Start Up Street programme offering support and guidance for early stage start-up businesses including mentoring and workshops
• The Melting Pot project – delivering a range of wellbeing and employability classes to local residents including English language, social skills and mental health support
• Crawley Open House – supporting over 400 visitors through their dedicated resource centre, enabling access to support around housing, health, finance, wellbeing and employability
• Creative Crawley providing pathways to employment within the creative industries sector and improving digital inclusion through a programme of workshops, events and training sessions

Economic activity: 80.1 per cent in October 2025 (South East: 81.1 per cent, Britain: 78.8 percent)

Job density: 1.19 (South East: 0.86, Britain: 0.86). Crawley has an economically active population of 61,200, yet 89,000 jobs based in the borough.

Gender pay gap: Gross weekly pay for male Crawley residents working full-time is £180.40 higher than female equivalents (South East gap: £153.70, Britain gap: £104.30)

Key sectors: transportation and storage (23.6 per cent of total jobs), administrative and support service activities (15.7 per cent) and wholesale and retail trade (12.4 per cent).

Key sectors for growth: human health and social work activities; professional, scientific and technical activities; arts, entertainment and recreation.

GVA and contribution to West Sussex: GVA per hour £32.9. Despite making up just 2 per cent of land in West Sussex, in 2022 Crawley made up 22.5 per cent of GVA for the county (£6.02 billion of a total £26.73 billion).

Largest employment zones: Gatwick Airport (22,645 on site jobs, 6,796 employees living in Crawley), Manor Royal (c.32,000 jobs on site) and the town centre (13,900).

Earnings (resident versus workplace): gross weekly pay for full-time residents in Crawley is £734.60 as of 2024, compared to £779.20 for those who work in the South East.

Social mobility: Crawley ranks 304th out of 324 local authorities in the UK for social mobility, placing it among the least socially mobile areas nationally and the lowest in the South East.

Qualifications: lower than regional and national rates. 27.6 per cent in Crawley have qualification RQF4 and above (48.2 per cent in South East, 47.2 per cent in Britain). 86 per cent have RQF1 and above in Crawley (90.8 per cent in South East, 88.9 per cent in Britain).

• build a skilled and inclusive workforce - providing local residents with the skills, training and support needed to access employment, progress in their careers and contribute to a thriving local economy including access to higher-level qualifications and degree pathways that support long-term career progression
• support young people into work and learning - enable all young people to realise their potential through facilitating access to vocational skills pathways, apprenticeships, meaningful work experience and progression routes into university-level study, bridging the gap between education and business
• strengthen connections between education and business - ensuring access to jobs is supported by learning and development opportunities that empower residents, including stronger collaboration between local education providers and employers to create seamless pathways from school to further and higher education study and employment
• align skills development and business and green growth - help local businesses, especially in high value and green sectors, to recruit successfully from the local workforce and overcome skills gaps, supporting Crawley’s transition to a low-carbon economy through targeted training, funding and expert advice
• champion fair pay and quality local employment - advocating for good work that improves income levels and quality of life for local residents, working towards establishing Crawley as a Living Wage town
• promote lifelong learning and career progression - create and promote new pathways for local residents to upskill, reskill and access better-quality opportunities including flexible and modular routes into university-level study through the SSIoT and partner universities

The plan has the following flagship sections, which each detail a series of plans, projects and interventions:

• development and infrastructure
• business and employers
• education and learning
• social mobility, inclusion and employability

Followed by the following ancillary sections:

• Crawley Borough Council leading the way
• stakeholders

Within the sections, there is the following categorisation of projects:

• continue: projects which we are currently delivering
• upcoming: projects in the pipeline ready to be delivered
• future: ambitious projects, which require work to bring forward

There are 10 key locations in Crawley which are detailed below with information on each location. Alternatively, you can view these key locations on an interactive map.

Crawley College plays a central role in meeting the town’s employment and skills needs, helping residents gain the qualifications and training needed for local job opportunities. As the area’s main further education provider, the college supports young people and adults, providing tailored training for major employers and working closely with local partners to address skills gaps across the borough.

A modern, nine-storey Grade A office hub in the heart of Crawley, offering flexible work and meeting space and where residents can access the Employ Crawley service.

Opened in 2025, this state of the art skills hub provides higher level technical training in engineering, construction and digital technologies, designed with employers to meet the region’s growing skills needs.

The STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) Centre at Crawley College offers innovative, interactive learning spaces equipped with virtual and mixed reality technology, putting the college at the cutting edge of training delivery. It is used to train students and apprentices in the latest industry driven STEM skills needed across the region.

London Gatwick’s new STEM Centre is a hands on learning space designed to inspire young people aged 4 to 18 to explore STEM and aviation careers, offering interactive activities such as a water treatment lab, bridge building challenges and a simulated airfield rig. Located landside at the airport, it forms a key part of Gatwick’s Employment, Skills and Business Strategy, building a skilled local talent pipeline for the region.

The Bewbush Learning Lab is a community learning space delivered in partnership between Employ Crawley and FreeShop Crawley, offering residents digital clinics, employment support, wellbeing workshops and a one stop hub for skills and information.

Crawley Library hosts one of Employ Crawley’s support hubs, offering residents face to face employment advice, while also serving as a Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC), providing entrepreneurs and small businesses with free access to specialist business information, expert clinics and workshops.

Opened in 2025, the Crawley Innovation Centre is a state of the art hub in Manor Royal designed to support high tech and innovative businesses. Offering flexible offices, workshops and collaborative spaces, it provides “grow on” facilities for clean energy, quantum and advanced engineering firms, working closely with Crawley College and regional universities to strengthen innovation and skills.

This emerging vision aims to bring new creative and cultural activity into the heart of the town, boosting footfall, supporting new jobs and growing the cultural and creative industries. By testing pop up events and planning a future Cultural Hub, the project will help diversify the local economy and create fresh employment and skills opportunities for residents.

The project seeks to revitalise the eastern quarter of Crawley town centre, transforming six key sites into a vibrant, mixed use urban quarter. By creating space for new homes, Grade A offices, cultural venues and improved public realm, the scheme aims to attract investment, boost footfall and generate new jobs.

Enhancing social value to developments within Crawley.

• Collaborate with developers and suppliers to implement robust employment and skills plans aligned with Policy EC5, ensuring measurable outcomes such as apprenticeships, work placements and training for young people, long term unemployed and career changers.
• leverage the new Sustainable Procurement and Social Value Charter: Committed to Crawley to embed inclusive employment and skills outcomes
• sustain and expand Employ Crawley through developer contributions secured via Policy EC5, enabling tailored support, sector specific training and career pathway development for local residents with a focus on high-growth sectors such as construction, logistics and green technologies
• support the improvement of social and private homes in the borough to reduce energy bills through better insulation and more efficient heating systems

• modernise Crawley’s existing employment locations to support business retention and attract inward investment whilst integrating workforce development hubs and training spaces to upskill local talent in emerging sectors such as advanced manufacturing, digital and life sciences
• establish Crawley and its town centre as a vibrant employment hub through the Station Gateway scheme; delivering high quality infrastructure, co-working spaces and training centres to support job creation and skills development in creative, cultural and leisure industries
• deliver construction-related employment and training at the Telford Place development scheme through a targeted employment and skills plan including on-site training, apprenticeships and collaboration with the college and training providers
• unlock a rich cultural offer in the town centre, creating pathways into creative careers through pop-up cultural and arts enterprises, supported by training, mentoring and employment programmes for young people

• identify and bring forward significant new employment land including a strategic employment site, with integrated workforce development strategies to support long-term job creation, sector diversification and skills pipelines aligned with employer needs
• develop a new Town Centre Cultural Quarter that not only enhances the town’s identity but also provides training, employment and enterprise opportunities in the creative and cultural industries sector, supported by partnerships with local providers
• maximise the economic benefits of growth at Gatwick Airport by actively contributing to the ESBS Steering Group to ensure significant investment is secured for local employment and skills programmes that directly benefit Crawley residents. Alongside this, champion economic diversification and resilience by delivering targeted skills initiatives in key growth sectors such as logistics, construction, hospitality, digital and green sectors, reducing over-reliance on aviation-related employment and fostering a more balanced local economy
• advance the green and low carbon economy by aligning local education and training pathways with employer demand in renewable energy, retrofit and sustainable construction, ensuring inclusive access to green jobs and career progression
• deliver the Town Centre East Regeneration Plan with a strong focus on employment and skills including construction jobs, local business support and long-term skills development through partnerships with training providers, ensuring inclusive access to new opportunities

Supporting effective careers advice by driving collaboration between education providers and employers.

• Invest in Skills Programme delivered through Crawley College and the Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology (SSIoT) to transform vocational skills facilities and expand access to high-quality skills provision for local residents
• deliver the annual Crawley STEM in the Park event, strengthening partnerships between local businesses and education providers and inspiring local young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths
• promote and expand the Employ Crawley service through regular jobs fairs, outreach at business events and targeted engagement with residents and employers
• collaborate with the West Sussex Careers Hub, local schools and colleges to build strong employer links and raise awareness of career opportunities across key sectors in Crawley
• identify, create and promote local apprenticeships, training and job opportunities for local residents through Employ Crawley, ensuring local residents can access pathways into sustainable employment
• continue supporting the Dare to Dream programme, empowering local students to build confidence, develop essential life and employability skills and raise their aspirations
• tackle local skills shortages by creating the right conditions for residents to access higher skilled employment, aligned with the needs of current and future employers
• support local residents to upskill in priority sectors such as construction, green technologies and digital skills through the Invest in Skills programme

• actively engage with Crawley College and the Universities of Brighton, Chichester and Sussex to explore opportunities within the Crawley Innovation Centre for small businesses to access tech apprenticeships, research partnerships and innovation support
• develop a Construction Hub at the SSIoT on the Crawley College Campus with ambitions to:
  • empower the local workforce and support business growth through recruitment and upskilling
  • deliver green construction skills aligned with sustainability goals
  • introduce a new further education curriculum and modern training infrastructure
  • expand higher education and university level training, establishing clear progression pathways at Level 4 and above
• maximise skills, training and apprenticeship opportunities arising from growth at Gatwick Airport, aligning with the implementation of the ESBS and its funding
• continue working with schools and stakeholders to support delivery of the careers strategy, ensuring alignment with Gatsby benchmarks, to define high-quality careers education
• support young people aged 18 to 21 to access careers in growth sectors through the government’s new ‘Youth Guarantee’, ensuring access to further learning, jobs or apprenticeships

• in partnership with the SSIoT, Crawley College and Employ Crawley, deliver targeted skills bootcamps that support both upskilling existing workers and pathways into employment for unemployed residents
• increase the proportion of Crawley young people progressing to degree-level study, particularly in STEM and technology-related fields, by leveraging partnerships with regional universities and the SSIoT
• promote foundation apprenticeships - particularly in construction – aimed at young people facing barriers to employment, helping them gain essential skills and build sustainable careers
• support future funding bids to develop a ‘green’ curriculum and invest in immersive technologies, ensuring that local training provision meets the demands of a low carbon, innovative and digital economy

Support employers to overcome skills challenges and create the right recruitment environment.

• working with partners to create the right conditions for high-quality career opportunities within the borough, ensuring residents can access meaningful employment locally
• promoting Crawley as the premier business location in the South East through initiatives such as an annual Invest Crawley conference and representation at national events such as the UK Real Estate, Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UK REiiF)
• encouraging more local employers to become ‘living wage accredited’, supporting Crawley’s ambition to become a Living Wage town and improve in-work outcomes for residents
• supporting the work of the West Sussex Careers Hub to build strong, sustained relationships between local employers, schools and colleges
• promoting local job vacancies and opportunities through the Manor Royal Jobs Board, Employ Crawley jobs fairs, Manor Royal Careers Fair and Manor Royal People Matters
• Assisting businesses to develop apprenticeships and staff development opportunities whilst actively promoting these to the public to increase uptake
• working with employers to establish clear pathways from education and training into employment, including identifying local industry placements for 16 to 19 year olds
• continue to champion inclusive recruitment by collaborating with specialist partner organisations and providing in-person support for individuals with special educational needs, disabilities (SEND) and neurodiverse conditions

• establish Crawley as a leading business destination in the South East for advanced engineering and professional services, building on its strategic location and sector strengths
• support the expansion of green and low-carbon enterprises, particularly around Gatwick Airport and Manor Royal Drive to drive sustainable economic growth and innovation
• collaborate with private developers to identify and progress opportunities for low carbon heat networks in Crawley, reducing the financial and technical barriers to adopting green technologies for local businesses and residents
• develop and promote area-wide decarbonisation strategies that highlight investment opportunities and build a compelling case for targeted skills development
• support high-value growth sectors in Crawley to recruit locally and overcome skills shortages by aligning training provision with employer needs
• facilitate strong business engagement with the Construction Hub at SSIoT, helping employers recruit skilled workers and shape future training provision

• create a Crawley Employer Board to bring together key businesses, schools and colleges and other training providers, to develop future existing and future workforce and create a strong talent pipeline. This new ‘Board’ will ensure that the skills system and employment support are aligned to strategic economic priorities as set out in the new Industrial Strategy
• encourage employer investment in skills by working with Skills England to identify local needs and co-develop targeted solutions that address skills gaps and build long-term capacity
• support the redevelopment of Crawley town centre, further regeneration of the Manor Royal Business District and delivery of a new industrial-led Strategic Employment Location – unlocking new business space, job creation and long term economic resilience
• establish Manor Royal as the South East’s premier, digitally-enabled, mixed-use business park, attracting sustained investment that will deliver high value employment and higher levels of productivity and economic growth
• explore new ways to support young entrepreneurs and youth-led enterprises in collaboration with key businesses, partners and innovation - including the Crawley Innovation Centre - to nurture the next generation of business leaders and innovators
• work closely with Gatwick Airport, including through the ESBS Steering Group, to ensure local residents benefit from new job opportunities arising from airport expansion plans, particularly in green transport, construction and airport sustainability, supporting inclusive growth and transition to a low-carbon economy
• facilitate the creation of new employment opportunities for people living in and around Crawley across a diverse range of sectors including creative industries, to broaden the town’s economic base and resilience
• leverage the government’s new £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund to strengthen Crawley’s business environment, support innovation and enable local firms to scale and compete in high-growth markets

Build a series of interventions to ensure all Crawley residents are able to access the labour market.

• delivering projects and initiatives in Broadfield, Bewbush and West Green that support local skills needs, transforming vocational skills facilities and training provision for residents through the Invest in Skills for Crawley programme
• maintain support for local residents - particularly those furthest from the labour market or facing barriers to learning - by providing pathways to employment, essential skills training and opportunities for career progression
• continue delivering high-quality services through Employ Crawley, working with partners and businesses to engage and increase aspirations of local residents
• engage regularly with employers in key sectors through Employ Crawley to ensure that careers advice and guidance remains current, relevant and responsive to labour market trends
• work with local schools to improve social mobility and aspirations among young people, while encouraging a more diverse future talent pipeline
• provide access to a programme of workshops and activities tailored to local needs, with a particular focus on digital skills, in collaboration with Employ Crawley and partner organisations

• support the social mobility of Crawley residents by aligning local skills provision with business needs, ensuring access to a highly skilled workforce
• collaborate with developers to prepare and implement employment and skills plans that contribute to social mobility by improving access to training, learning and employment for residents who need additional support

• work with local partners to improve access to skills training and employment support for residents in temporary accommodation, creating clear pathways to long-term opportunity, independence, and wellbeing
• enable more young people and adults from disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds in Crawley to access and succeed in higher-level education and training - including degree-level study - and also business start-up and entrepreneurship as a pathway to improved life chances, career progression and economic resilience
• ensure the future Town Centre Cultural Quarter is an inclusive space where all members of the community can engage with cultural activities, fostering a sense of belonging and supporting Crawley’s evolving cultural identity

Crawley Borough Council not only encourages and supports employers to build their workforce but provides a good practice model for others to learn from. The council participates in and has developed a number of schemes to attract and retain staff and create a holistic process of recruitment. 

This includes: 

• apprenticeships within Crawley Borough Council: currently at ten, approximately two percent of the workforce
• National Graduate Development Programme: recruiting a graduate through the LGA scheme every two years
• work experience and work shadowing: offering mixed placements across the council in different departments
• launch of Early Careers Network: an employee-led network to support and nurture new employees, as well as sharing best practice, training and mentoring opportunities
• University of Sussex internship scheme: six-week internship for first year scholars placed within different council service areas
• Living Wage Employer accreditation; ensuring that all staff and sub-contractors are paid a fair wage reflected through true living costs
• Disability Confident Employer: continuing to provide fair opportunities to those with a disability
• Silver Service Recognition Award: recognition for the support the council gives to employ ex-service officials
• flexible working practices: particularly with the new Town Hall, trialling and implementing a range of new working practices to better suit employees