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Regional Profile Wakefield, Yorkshire
Regional ProfileWakefield, Yorkshire
Content
Overview of Wakefield
Economy
Key Business Sectors
Workforce Skills
Addressing Youth Unemployment
Summary
Wakefield, Yorkshire
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Overview of WakefieldHistoryAt the start of 19th century Wakefield was a wealthy market town and inland port trading in wool and grain.
The Aire and Calder and the Barnsley Canal were instrumental in the development of Wakefield
as an important market for grain and more was sold in the region than at any other market in the
north. Large warehouses were built on the river banks to store grain from Norfolk, Cambridgeshire
and Lincolnshire to supply the fast-growing population in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Great
quantities of barley were grown in the neighbourhood and in 1885 more malt was made in Wakefield
“than in any district of equal extent in the kingdom”.
The economy of Wakefield declined in the last quarter of the 20th century as the coal mines and traditional
manufacturing industries closed, contributing to high rates of unemployment. In terms of deprivation,
Wakefield, as a whole, is ranked 54th out of 354 Local Authority Districts (1 being the worst). Employment grew
by 12% between 1998 and 2003 as the economy recovered and enjoyed growth as the economic base of the
district was diversified. Growth has been supported by inward investment from European and United Kingdom
government funding which has impacted on the regeneration of the area. Manufacturing remains an important
employment sector although the decline is projected to continue whilst distribution and the service industries are now
among the main employers.
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Economy of Wakefield
Wakefield is home to a number of global companies
Wakefield is a city and the main settlement and administrative centre of
the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England;
located by the River Calder, on the eastern edge of the Pennines.
Wakefield has built its economy in recent years on urban regeneration
and securing inward investment, as well as diversifying its economic
base. Manufacturing now encompasses 11.5% of all local employment.
Wakefield is home to a number of global companies including Coca
Cola, Haribo and Warburtons. Local manufacturers continue to invest
and increase their workforces. The region has a national reputation
with developers and investors, with a sustained track record of delivery
through strong leadership, effective long term planning and a clear
vision for the future through its 25 year Local Development Framework.
Wakefield has great potential for business growth and has been
successful in improving its economy over the last decade.
Overall, Wakefield has a good supply of land for employment and
housing growth.
Population
The size of the resident population of Wakefield District
is estimated to in the region of 332,000, making the District
the 18th largest local authority in England and Wales. As is
typical nationally, the Wakefield age profile shows the effect of
baby-boom years of the 1950s and 1960s and greater numbers of
women in older age than men. Overall numbers are projected to
keep on increasing, albeit more slowly than elsewhere in the region,
with improved life expectancy resulting in a greater proportion of the
population being made up of people in older age groups.
When compared with many other metropolitan districts Wakefield’s
age profile has smaller than average proportions of people in the late-
teen, early 20’s age bands. This reflects the absence of any sizeable
university presence within Wakefield District. In large university cities
such as Leeds, by contrast, increasing levels of participation in higher
education in recent decades have created a population where 9.8%
of people are aged 20-24, compared to 6.0% in Wakefield District.
The total population of Wakefield is expected to rise
by approximately 6,000 persons (332,000 in 2015 to
338,000 in 2018).
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Economy of Wakefield
Connectivity
Wakefield is very well-placed on the regional
transport network and has generally good road and
rail links within Leeds City Region and nationally. Its
proximity to the M1/M62 is of particular strategic
importance, and its fast rail access to London
is also a key asset.
Decrease in Unemployment
The number of people in unemployment has
also reduced from 10.2% in 2013 to 8.5% in 2014
with a total of 73% of people in the district in
employment. The district has been named the
fastest growing economy in the Leeds City
Region with a 54% increase in GVA over
the past ten years.
Key Statistics Include:
71.3% of people aged 16-64 are in employment (September 2014)
11.7% of jobs are in manufacturing and 10.2% are in transport and storage (2014)
23.1% of employment is in the public sector (2014)
UK Business Counts (2014)
Wakefield Wakefield Yorkshire & Great The Humber Britain Numbers % % %
Enterprises
Micro (0 To 9) 6,740 85.6 135,625 6.8
Small (10 To 49) 905 11.5 17,055 10.9
Medium (50 To 249) 195 2.5 2,995 1.9
Large (250+) 35 0.4 645 0.4
Total 7,875 - 156,320 -
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Key Business Sectors of WakefieldMajor Industries
Wakefield aims to maintain its economic diversity
and resilience of key concentrations of economic
activity and to support the continued employment and
economic growth of six key sectors:
• Business and Professional Services
• Digital, Creative and Cultural Industries
• Environmental Technologies
• Manufacturing
• Food and Drink
• Logistics
Food and Drink
The sector is particularly strong in Wakefield and
benefits from excellent connectivity, a good skills base
and a strong presence of leading brands and food and
drink manufacturers.
Logistics
Wakefield has the fourth highest volume of warehousing floor space and the 11th highest
number of people employed in this sector in England. The sector has experienced strong recent
employment growth and Wakefield’s central location, availability of high quality accommodation,
and strategic motorway access offers competitive advantages for time critical logistics businesses.
Opportunities to Enhance Innovation in Wakefield
A strong body of evidence points to innovation as a key driver of productivity, and one that often
powers high growth businesses. Whilst local level data is limited, proxy-based evidence suggests
that Wakefield has relatively lower levels of innovation:
• There are relatively low numbers of scientists, engineers and technicians working in Wakefield.
• The number of knowledge-based businesses is relatively low.
• Graduate employment is relatively low, linked in part to the lack of a local university.
• Awareness and take up of R&D tax credits is limited.
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Key Business Sectors of Wakefield
Wakefield is at the centre of a ring of universities
Opportunities to enhance innovation include fostering
much stronger collaboration between businesses and
universities/research centres and enhancing the ability
of firms to develop and absorb new technologies by
improving the higher level skills within firms. Wakefield
is at the centre of a ring of universities in Leeds,
Bradford, Huddersfield and Sheffield. This proximity
to so many universities opens up potential for
businesses to seek out the most relevant expertise
from a number of institutions and to develop
relationships with knowledge and know-how
in the scientific and technological research
community.
Employment by occupation (Oct 2013-Sep 2014)
Wakefield Wakefield Yorkshire & Great The Humber Britain Numbers % % %
Managers & Directors 13,300 8.7 9.2 10.2
Professional Occupations 19,300 12.7 17.7 19.9
Associate Prof & Technical 16,500 10.9 13.1 14.2
Administrative & Secretarial 16,500 10.8 9.8 10.7
Skilled Trades Occupations 18,600 12.2 11.2 10.7
Caring & Leisure Occupations 15,600 10.3 9.3 9.1
Sales & Customer Services 13,400 8.8 9.1 7.8
Process Plant & Machine Ops 13,500 8.9 7.5 6.2
Elementary Occupations 23,900 15.7 12.6 10.7
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Workforce Skills
Why is workforce planning important?
Workforce planning enables a city to improve efficiency, effectiveness
and productivity by having employees with the right knowledge and
skills and who are a good fit for the job they are in, which in turn
strengthens an organisation’s capacity to achieve business targets.
By boosting skills companies will see their level of productivity
increase and business will play its part by improving competitiveness,
in addition furthering opportunities for young people by way of
apprenticeships and more training for older workers is crucial.
Currently around 17% of employers in Wakefield report having staff not fully skilled for their role.
Workforce planning is a continuous process of shaping the workforce
to ensure that it is capable of delivering organisational objectives
now and in the future; thus every town and city needs a strong and
proficient workforce to enable it to prosper and to actively compete
in today’s increasingly competitive global market.
PMP Recruitment aim to help Wakefield to achieve strategic objectives including:
• Help the region to develop a skilled workforce for the future including
addressing barriers to employability
• Promoting the area to become a competitive business location – a modern
business infrastructure
• Business growth – encourage more dynamic businesses
Qualifications (September 2014)
Wakefield Wakefield Yorkshire & Great The Humber Britain Numbers % % %
Individual Levels
NVQ4 & Above 42,600 20.6 30.0 35.2
NVQ3 & Above 88,600 42.8 51.8 55.8
NVQ2 & Above 130,900 63.2 69.5 72.5
NVQ1 & Above 166,800 80.6 82.9 84.4
Other Qualifications 18,400 8.9 6.7 6.3
No Qualifications 21,800 10.5 10.4 9.3
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Addressing Youth Unemployment
Employers hold the key to helping young people harness their potential
We appreciate that there is no quick fix solution and the
answer to youth unemployment in Wakefield must come
collectively from politicians, businesses, recruitment
agencies, schools and colleges.
PMP Recruitment constantly works with businesses/
industry in order to develop the economy of Wakefield
and to create a future for its young people in line with
the UK economy. Employers in the region hold the key to
helping young people prepare for work and harnessing
their potential.
Advantages of recruiting young people
Young people often have an abundance of energy and a natural thirst for knowledge, which can
rub off on colleagues and help invigorate the workplace.
As a recruitment agency we witness how young people tend to push themselves, wanting to make
a lasting impression and prove what they can do. Their sheer determination to complete their work
can inspire colleagues around them. Therefore, if a company puts sufficient time and thought into
recruiting young people, it can subsequently provide a very positive return on investment.
There are clear business benefits to employing young people
It is crucial for the wellbeing of young people that businesses take real ownership for skills
development and good job creation – it is by local employers accepting responsibility that the
whole community of Wakefield will achieve a positive impact and sustainable employment.
1,195 (Aged 16-24) - Unemployed in Wakefield (January 2015)
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Addressing Youth UnemploymentEmployers in Wakefield should recruit locally, appreciate community talent and nurture a skilful neighbouring workforce
Just by tapping into the numbers of unemployed young people throughout Wakefield a company is not only providing jobs but will be allowing those young
people to present fresh ideas, vision and inspiration which are the necessities of every organisation.
Preparing young people for work is a joint responsibility between employers, educators and government
Many employers feel that young people do not leave education with the knowledge, transferable skills and employability they need.
PMP Recruitment believes it is important to develop local workforce strategies for the young people of Wakefield and
PMP Recruitment aim to work in conjunction with schools, colleges and employers in the region to introduce young
people into the world of work in order to help them understand “a working environment”. Young people need more
support to assist them from the transition of education to work.
Research at PMP Recruitment reveals that more than three-quarters (88%) of businesses think school leavers
are unprepared for the workplace, while over half 54% think graduates are now work ready.
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Addressing Youth Unemployment
Total JSA claimants (January 2015)
Wakefield Wakefield Yorkshire & Great The Humber Britain Numbers % % %
All People 4,967 2.4 2.8 2.0Males 3,176 3.0 3.6 2.6Females 1,791 1.7 1.9 1.4
JSA claimants by age duration (January 2015)
Wakefield Wakefield Yorkshire & Great The Humber Britain Numbers % % %
Aged 16 to 64Total 4,965 2.4 2.8 2.0Up To 6 Months 3,035 1.4 1.6 1.2Over 6 Months 580 0.3 0.3 0.3Over 12 Months 1,350 0.6 0.8 0.6
Aged 18 to 24Total 1,195 4.5 4.2 3.1Up To 6 Months 910 3.4 3.0 2.3Over 6 Months 125 0.5 0.5 0.4Over 12 Months 160 0.6 0.7 0.4
Aged 25 To 49Total 2,730 2.5 3.0 2.2Up To 6 Months 1,605 1.5 1.6 1.2Over 6 Months 335 0.3 0.4 0.3Over 12 Months 795 0.7 1.0 0.6
Aged 50 To 64Total 1,035 1.6 1.8 1.5Up To 6 Months 520 0.8 0.9 0.7Over 6 Months 120 0.2 0.2 0.2Over 12 Months 395 0.6 0.7 0.6
Source: ONS claimant count
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Strategic Objectives of Wakefield Include:
1. Growing Businesses
Providing an entrepreneurial environment, as this
delivers innovative companies growing in scale.
2. Learning and Skills
Developing skills to make best use of human
capital and prepare Wakefield residents for
tomorrow’s labour market.
3. Global Connections
Focusing on physical/electronic infrastructure
to create world class locations and ensuring
Wakefield’s businesses are connected to the
global economy.
Summary
PMP’s Objective
At PMP Recruitment we understand that every organisation needs a constant supply of
candidates with the necessary skills because this is the foundation of business success
and we appreciate that it is the educational policies, not economic conditions, which
is the essential element of confronting our present global talent mismatch.
PMP Recruitment constantly endeavour to develop and nurture relationships which
they have with all their candidates on their database, as well as continually seeking and
engaging with new candidates to attract fresh talent.
At PMP Recruitment we recognise, completely, that the long-term economic health of
towns and cities rests on investment in citizens’ skills and professional qualifications.
Also as a recruitment agency we acknowledge our responsibility “that we must always
be at the forefront of industry knowledge.”
It is our objective to help and assist all companies in Wakefield and its surrounding
region to recruit and employ successful candidates in order that they may fulfil
business targets and compete in today’s increasingly competitive global markets.
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