Barnsley’s Pathways to Work trailblazer praised by Sir Charlie Mayfield

Former John Lewis Partnership chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield has praised Barnsley's pioneering approach to employment support during a visit to assess the council's Pathways to Work model.

Sir Charlie is leading the government’s Keep Britain Working review and his visit highlighted the national significance of Barnsley’s trailblazer scheme to help people secure meaningful, sustainable employment.

Barnsley was selected as a key location for the review because of its bold approach to tackling economic inactivity. In 2023, Barnsley Council launched the Pathways to Work Commission to explore the challenges people face getting into work. The commission’s findings revealed that many people want to work but face significant barriers such as health issues, lack of skills, or low confidence.

The Pathways to Work model brings together health, wellbeing, skills, and employment support in a joined-up model. This system change has already gained national recognition, with Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall endorsing it for wider rollout. 

With government investment and support, Barnsley is now scaling the model through a regional pilot, helping people explore their options and access tailored support.

During the visit, Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, and Matt O’Neill, Executive Director for Growth and Sustainability, shared how the Pathways model is being delivered locally. They showcased how the initiative is helping residents find meaningful jobs, supporting employers to retain their staff, and putting measures in place to prevent people from falling out of work.

Reflecting on what he saw, Sir Charlie said:

I’ve been hugely impressed by what we’ve seen in Barnsley – the initiative taken to better support people who are far from the labour market. The results are amazing, the people we’ve met have been incredibly impressive, and the way this has all been joined up is really unusual. It’s been great to see.

We met a number of people who have been through the Pathways to Work support offer. All of them had someone who believed in them, supported them, and signposted them to the right opportunities, and the results speak for themselves. People have gone on to do things they never imagined possible. We need to see this happening more often.

The visit also included engagement with major local employers including Naylor Industries, Cranswick, and Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which are playing a vital role in the trailblazer’s success. Drawing on his experience in business, Sir Charlie offered valuable feedback and encouragement:

Businesses have a really important role to play. Good businesses are open-minded. They may have people who aren’t typical, but who are incredibly valuable.

What the best employers do is think about what the person can contribute and how they can shape the role around them – and that’s transformational. When people feel seen and supported in that way, they often become exceptionally loyal and valued members of the team.

Businesses are critical to the success of initiatives like Pathways to Work, and I hope we’ll see more employers embracing this approach.

Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Leader of Barnsley Council, said:

We’re especially proud that Pathways to Work, born here in Barnsley, has earned the support of Sir Charlie Mayfield. His guidance and feedback are helping to accelerate our efforts to move thousands of people out of economic inactivity and into fulfilling, sustainable employment.

Here in Barnsley, we’re now rolling out more personalised, one-to-one support to help people find opportunities that truly match their needs, interests, and circumstances.

The response from local businesses has been incredible. Employers are stepping up, ready to create flexible, inclusive roles that open doors for people who’ve been out of work. Together, we’re building a stronger, fairer economy where everyone has the chance to thrive.

Matt O’Neill, Executive Director for Growth and Sustainability, said:

It was a real privilege to gain insights from someone like Sir Charlie Mayfield. His extensive experience in employee engagement at the John Lewis Partnership and leadership in the Keep Britain Working initiative offers valuable perspective. His reflections on helping people return to work are especially timely and relevant.

We’re at a pivotal stage in our Pathways to Work trailblazer. Progress is well underway, with local commissioned providers now actively connecting residents to our personalised support offer.

We’re actively listening to our communities to understand the barriers they face and shaping our support around their needs. At the same time, we’re working closely with employers to help them recruit people progressing through the Pathways journey.

More information about the Keep Britain Working review.

More information about Pathways to Work.