A ‘TRAILBLAZING’ project to create more jobs will offer a wage subsidy scheme to Barnsley businesses who open up positions to people aged up to 30.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is funding the initiative under the Barnsley Council-established Pathways to Work banner, with £320,000 allocated specifically for wages.

Before its inception, a study revealed that seven in ten local people want to work but are held back by challenges such as health issues, limited skills or low confidence.

Former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall MP endorsed Pathways to Work on two visits to the town since its launch, describing Barnsley as ‘leading the way’ in tackling economic inactivity.

Under the wage subsidy scheme, small businesses in Barnsley with fewer than 100 employees can apply for 12 weeks’ wage support.

Employers can offer flexible hours - from 16 to 35 hours per week - to create up to five new jobs lasting at least six months.

Every participant will receive ongoing support from Barnsley Council’s employment specialists, ensuring they settle in and succeed in their new role.

Councillor Robin Franklin, cabinet spokesperson for regeneration and culture, said: “Barnsley’s Pathways to Work is transforming lives.

“Nearly 1,100 Barnsley people have already received support, with 155 progressing into jobs, and many more moving into training or volunteering.

“We’re breaking down barriers and creating real opportunities for those who need them most.

“The wage subsidy scheme is a practical way for local employers to invest in homegrown talent and help young people build the skills and confidence they need to thrive in the world of work.

“For Barnsley’s small businesses, this is a low‑risk way to grow - eligible employers can receive up to 12 weeks of the national minimum wage, backed by dedicated employment support to help new starters settle in and succeed.

“Working closely with our local employers, our ambition is to make Barnsley a place where opportunity is within everyone’s reach, and the subsidy scheme will help us to achieve this.”

The borough’s high levels of economic inactivity are a key cause of poverty, the study found, with more than a quarter of working-age

population not working to support themselves and their families.

Council leader Sir Steve Houghton added: “Like many other places, our economic purpose disappeared with the closure of the mines.

“Thousands of people lost their jobs across the borough, not just in mining but across other sectors whose incomes were dependent on both the industry and mineworkers themselves.

“Rather than simply bemoan our bad fortune we began to rethink and renew Barnsley and to try to create a different future.

“Our purpose, our thinking and our attitudes all had to change

if the borough was to be rebuilt.

“It took us almost 15 years to return our economic output to that we enjoyed when the coal industry was functioning but of course by that time the world had moved on.

“Outstanding analysis of the issue identified a series of actions which, if implemented, could transform the lives of people not just in Barnsley but across the UK.”

Carrie Sudbury, chief executive of the Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, said the move will make inroads into providing more much-needed jobs for the age group.

“As a business network, we see every day the talent and potential that exists across Barnsley and South Yorkshire,” she told the Chronicle.

“This investment is a powerful example of how we can unlock that potential in a practical, meaningful way.

“We saw during Covid, through schemes like Kickstart, just how effective wage subsidies can be in opening doors for young people and giving employers the confidence to create new roles.

“Many of those placements went on to become permanent jobs, changing the direction of people’s lives.

“Pathways to Work is already proving its value and this wage subsidy scheme builds on what we know works.

“It gives our smaller businesses the confidence to take that first step in growing their teams, while giving young people a genuine start in their working lives.

“It’s thoughtful, well-targeted support that benefits employers and employees alike, and it shows what’s possible when local ambition is matched with national backing.”