Community Wealth Building in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) have adopted an anchor mission to use their power in the economy to create a more progressive local labour market and develop affordable housing for workers.
Context
- ELHT manages over 5,000 paid staff in five hospitals across East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, which have a combined population in the region of 530,000.
- Some places in East Lancashire experience lower than average wages and high unemployment and economic inactivity from long term sickness.
- ELHT works hard to recruit and retain nursing and medical staff, but many of their lowest paid workers cannot afford to rent or buy a property in the local area.
Community Wealth Building in ELHT
Targeted pre-employment for “hard to reach” individuals
ELHT work closely with the Prince’s Trust and Job Centre Plus to provide pre-employment training for those furthest from the job market – such as the long term unemployed, homeless residents, people who have been struggling with drugs and alcohol and people with learning disabilities. Pre-employment training is then linked to job opportunities within their hospital sites.
Jobs pipeline from local colleges to hospital sites
The Trust works with local colleges in order to create a pipeline from local communities into jobs within its various sites. They provide representatives to sit on college boards and have dedicated staff members responsible for maintaining links and for publicising the range of careers and apprenticeships that the Trust has to offer.
Developing affordable housing for key workers
ELHT are currently involved in two projects to develop affordable housing – on their own land, working in partnership with a local housing association to provide affordable housing and accommodation for key workers. They are also working with Burnley Council, who are developing a piece of their land to for the same ends.
