New plan to get Cheshire and Warrington working

It’s called the Get Cheshire and Warrington Working Plan (GCWWP), and it’s all about making work pay and opening up opportunities for everyone.‍

There are around 17,000 residents across Cheshire and Warrington who are currently economically inactive but are seeking to return to work, and 65,500 Universal Credit claimants who have been unemployed for over 12 months. The Plan seeks to help people overcome the obstacles they face to get into work.‍

There are some areas in Cheshire and Warrington where it’s harder to find work or access services. The Plan shines alight on these places to make sure no one gets left behind.

‍Health issues, especially mental health, are stopping some people from working. The Combined Authority Shadow Board wants to break down those barriers and offer the right support.

Early retirement and caring for family can make it tough to stay in work. The GCWWP looks at ways to help people return when they’re ready.

More young people have been struggling to find their next step after school – there are 1,000 young people in every year group in our secondary schools have been identified as at risk of dropping out. This Plan aims to help them get back on track.

The GCWWP is packed with ideas to help young people who are not in work or training, support those with health challenges, and make it easier for parents and carers to get back into jobs. It also focuses on connecting people to the right opportunities - because sometimes, it’s not about the lack of jobs, but about making sure everyone knows what’s out there. Employers are crucial in helping to deliver this vision, and the Plan earmarks the importance of supporting employers to be able to provide healthy workplaces and considering new and inclusive approaches to recruitment.

The Plan has been developed in direct response to the Government’s Get Britain Working Strategy White Paper. It has been put together in collaboration by partners including Cheshire East Council, Warrington Borough Council, Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, Department for Work and Pensions, and others across work, health, skills, and the voluntary and community sector, with Cheshire West and Chester Council being the lead and accountable body.

The Plan was approved by the Cheshire and Warrington Shadow Board on 28 November 2025. It directly supports the Board’s Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Strategy, which outlines a vision for Cheshire and Warrington to be the UK’s healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive, and fastest-growing economy by 2045.

Over the next 12-18 months, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, and Warrington Borough Councils will be working together to make support easier to find, map out what’s already working, and fill any gaps.

In a joint statement, leaders of the sub-region’s three councils: Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Chair of the Shadow Board; Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council; and the Leader and Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Nick Mannion and Cllr Michael Gorman, said:

“Cheshire and Warrington is one of the UK’s economic success stories and the most productive economy in the North of England. However, our ambition is to go much further and ensure that this prosperity benefits all of our residents.

“There are lots of reasons for long-term economic inactivity, and we need to help those who have recently become economically inactive and stop this becoming long-term. We know that the longer someone is economically inactive, the harder it becomes to return to work. This Plan sets out the first steps in helping more residents to find, secure, and sustain good employment, fulfilling their own personal potential and benefiting from our strong economy.  There’s a big focus on making sure the plan works for everyone, including people in rural areas and those who might have missed out before. The Plan should also help businesses to recruit and retain staff.

“We are only in the early stages, but this is an example of the opportunities that devolution is already bringing to people in Cheshire and Warrington. It is giving us access to funding from Government that we otherwise wouldn't have had, and skills and employment is one of our top priorities. We’ve already got £150,000 to kick things off - funding events, support, and activities for those who need it most. This isn’t just talk; things are happening now, and they are happening better and quicker thanks to the doors opened by devolution .

“Together we can make a real difference, and in Cheshire and Warrington we are committed to make this a reality. We need greater flexibility, investment, and a joint purpose to drive forward this agenda, and this Plan marks the beginning of a longer shared journey.”

To read the full Get Cheshire and Warrington Working Plan, visit: GCWWP Plan Final28 November 2025

For more information about the Cheshire and Warrington devolution programme, visit: cheshireandwarringtondevolution.com.