The Mayor of West Yorkshire will place skills and the economy as key priorities over her next four years of office, with plans to bring more well-paid jobs to the region.
Addressing the Combined Authority’s annual meeting of West Yorkshire’s leaders, she will also set out plans to revamp the region’s training and skills system.
Mayor Brabin will tell the meeting: “My message to you and to the Combined Authority is that we need to deliver, deliver, deliver – and that is what I intend to do.
“I was re-elected with a promise to focus on growing a more inclusive economy, with more jobs and opportunities spread across the region.”
In a wide-ranging address to the meeting, the Mayor will outline plans for a new Local Growth Plan to boost the region’s jobs market, as well as creating a “Region of Learning” to reform the skills and training in West Yorkshire. This will also include an employer accredited ‘badge’ to help learners demonstrate they have some of the skills needed for the workplace.
She will add: “Within the first six months of my term, [we will] set out how we will create a prosperous region with an inclusive economy and more well-paid jobs, putting more money into people’s pockets.
“Creating a Region of Learning will reform our skills system to support people to get the knowledge they need to succeed, with a modular system of learning tailored to the needs of employers and learners.”
The Mayor will also commit to continuing work to delivering a franchised bus system, getting spades in the ground on a Mass Transit network by 2028, and building 5,000 affordable homes across the region.