Plans to widen access to jobs for benefit claimants and under-21s have been unveiled by Salford City Council.
According to council figures, 47,385 people across Salford were claiming universal credit in August 2025 – an increase of 17% from 2024.
The new ‘social value and impact strategy’ set to take place between 2026 and 2029 aims to ‘widen access to employment and skills’, ’empower our communities’ and ‘tackle health inequalities.’
The strategy, Salford Council say “represents a bold commitment to ensure that every pound spent, every partnership formed, and every project delivered creates tangible benefits for the people and communities who call Salford home.”
A document, released by the council, highlighted that 39% of neighbourhoods across Salford are in the top 10% most health-deprived in the country.
Mayor Paul Dennett acknowledged: “Salford continues to face high levels of deprivation, health inequalities, and barriers to employment for too many residents.”
However, the ‘social value and impact strategy’ was a “clear plan to turn growth into inclusive prosperity.”
The strategy includes an action plan detailing ways in which the council will deliver further change. Since 2022, council suppliers have already delivered 1,636 apprenticeship weeks, £28.79m in local spend, and 2,346 careers-support hours.
The main plans for the future focus on providing ‘social value’. This can be defined as “the additional benefits created for local communities beyond compliance or contractual requirements.”
The plans include appointing a Social Value Employment Champion and Health Inequalities Social Champion, further expanding the internships, apprenticeships and work placements which are available, and integrating ‘social value’ into business planning.
This strategy aims to target support towards areas of Salford which need it most through a ‘transformative shift towards needs-led social value.’ Whilst the strategy will not introduce any new funding, it will help to maximise the benefits of funding already provided.
