How Coventry could bounce back after Covid
A NEW report sets out plans to drive Coventry’s economic recovery after Covid-19.
The coronavirus pandemic has left 38,700 workers in the city furloughed and led to almost 8,000 new Universal Credit claimants. Youth unemployment has doubled to 5.7 per cent.
There has also been an 89 per cent increase in unemployment among the over 50s between February and May this year, a report from Coventry City Council said.
No figures for job losses in the city are known but ‘high numbers’ are expected with more than 600,000 people nationally made redundant between March and May this year.
Figures have been outlined in a new ‘Coventry Employment and Skills Priorities - Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic’ report, written by the council in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, National Careers Service, Coventry College and Hereward College.
While ‘significant’ job losses present a challenge, it is believed the city has a number of ‘advantages’ to recover, with investment in the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre hoped to produce new jobs, and the upcoming City of Culture 2021 celebrations in May next year hoped to boost the tourism and hospitality sectors.
A pledge has also been made to support those in most need, with priority groups including young people aged 18-24, the over 50s, BAME communities, long-term unemployed, people with complex barriers, mental health needs and those with digital barriers.
Job retention bonuses to help employers retain furloughed workers, a new Kickstart Scheme for young people, apprenticeship and traineeship employer incentives, Virtual Job Fairs, and a ‘September guarantee’ at Coventry College to provide a place for all school leavers regardless of expected grades are also hoped to help economic recovery.
Cllr Kevin Maton, cabinet member for education and skills at the city council, said: “The pandemic has had a devastating effect in so many ways with so many people now struggling to find work and training across the country.
“I think it is crucial we work with our partners to help people to gain and develop skills so they’re in a position to take advantage of opportunities, for example in rapidly emerging technologies.
“I’m pleased we have a report with a clear view of how we will recover and grow again as a city.”
Cllr Jim O’boyle, cabinet member for jobs and regeneration, added: “The economic impact of Covid-19 is unlike anything most people will have seen in their lifetime.
“That’s why it’s vital that we have plans in place to help Coventry’s economy recover. And recover we will.”
The authority has estimated Covid to cost £35m this year alone.
Covid’s impact on a health perspective was discussed at a council scrutiny board on July 22 where councillors were told there were no coronavirus patients at Coventry’s University Hospital, while there were only eight in Warwickshire hospitals overall.
The city is in ‘phase two- restoration’ of a coronavirus response which focused on essential services; test, track and trace; and care homes; but is expected to move into ‘phase three - recovery’ on August 20.
Adrian Stokes, Accountable Officer at Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are expecting a phase three letter nationally which will give us the next tranche of what we will approach and the priority order. This isn’t an ordinary process where an event happened and now we’re in a recovery phase. We are very definitely in an on-going backdrop of Covid.”