Welcome to the dedicated workspace for the Rother Employment and Skills Forum (RESF). This site will guide you through the vision, purpose, and next steps for the Forum as we work collaboratively to enhance employment and skills development across Rother.

Here’s a short video overview of the purpose of the RESF and the process for getting started.

What is the RESF?

The Rother Employment and Skills Forum (RESF) is a new initiative led by Rother District Council to bring together local stakeholders delivering employment and skills programmes in the community.

The Forum will act as a strategic body to:

• Oversee shared objectives for improving employment and skills opportunities.
• Coordinate efforts across sectors to address local workforce challenges.
• Ensure alignment with regional and national strategies and inform future funding and investment priorities.

Why is the RESF Being Established?

The decision to establish the RESF follows the completion of a Skills Audit Report. The report highlights the need for a dedicated forum to:

• Address key workforce challenges, such as skills shortages and barriers to employment.
• Foster collaboration between employers, education providers, and community organisations.
• Align local efforts with Rother’s Economic Development Strategy and regional initiatives like Skills East Sussex.
• By streamlining efforts through the RESF, we aim to drive impactful change that supports residents, businesses, and the local economy.

Theory of Change for the new RESF (draft)

Establishing the RESF

To ensure the RESF reflects the needs and priorities of the local community, we are undertaking a consultation process with key stakeholders. This consultation will:

• Gather feedback on the Skills Audit Report recommendations for the RESF.
• Shape the terms of reference, governance structure, and objectives of the RESF.