Employment and skills: The role of community businesses

This report explores how community businesses’ skills and employability development activities contribute to local economic development. SERIO, an applied research unit at the University of Plymouth, carried out case studies with twelve community businesses. SERIO engaged with community business leaders, staff, volunteers and beneficiaries of businesses, as well as sector stakeholder to explore the impact of skills development and employment opportunities. Key findings demonstrate how these businesses help move people from long-term unemployment into work, are a vital source of employment for people who are most disadvantaged in the labour market, provide proportionately more skills development and training opportunities than traditional businesses, despite having less resource and how they support people to feel more confident.