Economic Inactivity Partnership
Government and business working in partnership to unlock
untapped talent
We’ve brought together 12 of the UK’s leading employers, five government departments and the West Midlands Combined Authority to help more businesses employ untapped talent.
What is the Economic Inactivity Partnership?
The Economic Inactivity Partnership is a pioneering collaboration between government and business, convened by ReGenerate as part of our Good Jobs Project, to help more businesses employ untapped talent: care leavers, ex-offenders, and young people with mental health conditions.
We officially launched the Partnership in the West Midlands in May 2026, backed by Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Rt Hon Darren Jones and West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker. It brings together 12 leading UK businesses, including Amazon UK, John Lewis Partnership, Severn Trent, Greene King and Timpson, who together employ around 1% of the UK workforce, alongside five government departments and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Rooted in the West Midlands, the Partnership aims to create work opportunities for an extra 500 people this year alone – a 20% increase to current untapped talent recruitment rates – with three trials designed to be rolled out nationally to support thousands more into work each year. We lead it jointly with the No10 Partnerships Unit and the Office for the Impact Economy.
The Economic Inactivity Partnership builds on our Good Jobs Project research, revealing that around 50% of employers want to take proactive steps to recruit from untapped talent groups, but only 10% actually do.
Why it matters
Millions of people across the UK are locked out of work, not for lack of talent, but for lack of opportunity. Our research shows that around 50% of UK employers want to recruit from untapped talent pools, yet only 10% actually do - and many of those that do encounter numerous barriers limiting their ambition. The blocker is rarely intent; it is knowing where to start, and having the right support to do it well.
The Partnership exists to close that gap, by harnessing the power of business to give untapped talent a route into good work, and proving what’s possible when government and business work hand in hand.
The three trials - designed to find the best solutions to unemployment in the West Midlands
Over 2026 the Partnership is testing three innovative interventions, rooted in the West Midlands but designed to scale across the country.
Shared Talent Pool
Jobcentre Plus, Severn Trent and Amazon UK are piloting a mechanism for coordinating talent pools between Partnership businesses, so that no opportunity, or candidate, is missed.
SWAPs in Prisons
The New Futures Network and Greene King are piloting Sector-based Work Academy Programmes in prisons, helping people prepare for work before release and secure a good job at the end of their sentence.
The AI Employer Tool
We’re developing an AI tool to help more businesses hire untapped talent, drawing on champion employers such as Timpson and Cook Foods, subject-matter experts. and service delivery partners. The tool provides the hard-won lessons that can’t be Googled, with bespoke answers to highly specific queries.
Good for people, good for business, good for the economy
For business
This isn’t about charity. Businesses that recruit untapped talent report high staff loyalty, resilience and productivity, stronger culture and enhanced reputation, while filling vacancies with genuinely capable people.
For people
Good work brings financial stability, purpose and better life outcomes for individuals and their families,
For the economy
Enabling more people to participate in the labour market drives growth and productivity, builds stronger communities, and eases pressure on the welfare system.
Explore the Economic Inactivity Partnership launch
The Partnership launched to national attention, and you can experience the day for yourself…
Want to get involved?
Whether you’re an employer ready to open your doors to untapped talent, or a partner who shares our mission, we’d love to hear from you. Join a growing movement proving that good business changes lives.
Contact us below to learn more.
Get in touch
To find out more about joining an Employer Alliance, contact bramwell.blower@re-generate.org.
What our partners say
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“It’s great to be focussing on skilling people up because there’s so much untapped potential across the country. Giving people the right opportunity at the right time can transform their life. It’s good for them – both for their financial position and their mental health. But it’s also good for our country if we can help people fulfil their potential – whatever their background and whatever challenges they’ve been through. So I’m thrilled to launch the Economic Inactivity Partnership in the West Midlands to make sure that’s the Britain we’re building.”
Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister
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“Here in the West Midlands, we have nearly 600,000 people who are out of work, and too many of them feel completely shut out of opportunity. Care leavers, prison leavers, young people who’ve struggled […] This challenge is too big for government or business to solve alone. But when local agencies, central government and purpose-driven businesses work as genuine partners from the start, not as an afterthought, real change becomes possible. That’s exactly what this Economic Inactivity Partnership does, and our region is the right place to prove it. I’m determined that what we build here can shape how Britain tackles this challenge across the country.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands
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"This is a great example of businesses working as a partner in place, where they not only drive economic growth but help create better social outcomes for our communities."
Minister Kaur, Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office
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“At Severn Trent, we’ve seen first-hand the difference removing barriers to work can make, and creating opportunities can be truly life changing to those who need it. We’re proud to be building something bigger through the Economic Inactivity Partnership and working alongside good business charity ReGenerate, to bring together government and business to drive real, meaningful change. Today’s launch is just the beginning, we’re determined that what starts here in the West Midlands really helps shape the future of hidden talent employment across the UK.”
James Jesic, Severn Trent Chief Executive
