Read: Plymouth City Council commits to levelling up

Plymouth City Council has committed to a new levelling up framework to measure its social impact and build on its work to tackle inequality and increase opportunity throughout the city.

In partnership with former Education Secretary Rt Hon Justine Greening, Plymouth City Council will become one of the first local authorities to develop a Levelling Up Impact Report to map its activity against a new set of goals. 

The Levelling Up Goals provide a framework to focus efforts on driving equality of opportunity at each key life stage, from early years through to careers. The 14 goals provide a universal benchmark for organisations to measure their impact against. 

The report will highlight best practice already being carried out by the Council in tackling social inequalities and look to see where it can go even further in areas such as early years provision through to work around employment, skills and training opportunities.

Plymouth City Council is one of the first councils to sign up to the Levelling Up Goals. It joins a growing number of organisations measuring their impact against the goals, including FTSE 100 businesses, universities and NHS Trusts.

A long-term campaigner on social mobility and levelling up both inside and now outside of Parliament, in 2018 Justine Greening co-founded the Social Mobility Pledge to bring organisations together to improve social mobility. The Levelling Up Goals are the first major piece of work launched by the most committed of these organisations.

Justine Greening said: “I’m delighted to be working with Councillor Nick Kelly and the team at Plymouth City Council. Local authorities support communities in early years right through to adulthood where they contribute to the wellbeing and independence of adults of all ages. They play a broad role in the daily lives of many people and play a vital role in levelling up communities, and it is good to see Councillor Kelly taking a leading role in levelling up Plymouth.

“Plymouth City Council is already doing great work in this area and it is leading the way with its commitment to go even further. The hope now is that we can work with more councils and purpose-led leaders across the UK to join forces in tackling social inequalities across the country.”  

Councillor Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council

Councillor Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “I’m immensely proud of the huge amount of work we already do with partners, businesses and communities across the city to tackle inequalities, improve life chances and make sure no one is left behind. 

“Working with the Coalition will help us understand how this work is really having an impact on peoples’ everyday experiences  – and where we need to do more. It’s great to be part of a large programme that has already attracted so much support nationally and I’m confident there will be lots of opportunities for us to learn from each other.”