Business & Skills Plan Annual Report 2025/26

An overview of progress made under the Business and Skills Plan up to March 2026, including support for residents and businesses, key programmes, and future economic priorities.

Business and Skills Plan Annual Report 2026

The latest Business and Skills Plan annual report highlights progress made in supporting residents, businesses and the local economy across Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES).

By March 2026, 90% of the plan's original objectives were completed, embedded into business-as-usual activity, or being actively delivered.

What was delivered

Over the past year, the council and its partners:

  • supported 836 residents
  • supported 647 businesses
  • delivered over 2,700 hours of business support
  • expanded gigabit broadband coverage across the district
  • increased opportunities for young people, local employers and residents furthest from the labour market

Key programmes and impact

The report details the impact of core programmes, including:

  • Skills Connect
  • Future Bright
  • Youth Guarantee Trailblazer
  • We Work For Everyone
  • digital inclusion initiatives
  • business support services

Future priorities

The report sets out how the council and its partners will address economic challenges across the district, including:

  • barriers to employment
  • workforce shortages
  • digital inclusion
  • economic inequality

Future work will focus on driving inclusive growth, good work and business resilience across B&NES.

Documents

Business and Skills Plan annual report 2025 to 2026

Download the annual report (PDF, 1.2MB)

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