Jobs and skills boost central to London's future economic success
Keeping the Capital a competitive world city and fighting the way out of recession
means raising workforce skills. This is the leading argument of our newly updated
five-year skills and employment strategy From Recession to Recovery.
The plan sets out how we will continue to help Londoners and businesses tackle the impact of the recession and prepare for economic recovery.
Our strategy also highlights the long-term challenges London faces, and how we and our professional partners must increase the supply of labour skills. We underline how important it is to tackle unemployment rates and help people without qualifications or with only low skill levels to improve their job prospects through training. Research suggests more than 600,000 Londoners currently have no qualifications at all.
Our central aim between 2009 and 2014 is to simplify London’s employment and skills services. We have three strategic objectives:
- To work with employers, supporting business development and keeping London’s economy competitive through job and skills opportunities.
- To help Londoners to improve their skills, job and advancement prospects through single-offer employment support and training opportunities.
- To create customer-focused skills and employment programmes that give value for money and results for Londoners and businesses.
The chance to share in success
The Mayor of London and our Chair, Boris Johnson, said: “One of London’s key attributes is its people. Even though the Capital has weathered the recession better than other UK regions, the past year of global economic turmoil has taken its toll upon London, its businesses and our people.
“Our key focus remains to ensure London is globally competitive, with a highly skilled workforce, whilst also tackling the problems of entrenched worklessness. This means continuing to update our strategy and draw on the experiences of all sectors. We will continue to reform the skills system so that all Londoners are made aware of the opportunities that are available and get that vital chance to share in the Capital's success.”
While the strategy outlines our aims to 2014, we also have urgent, short-term priorities to March 2011. These include setting up a unified and compelling skills and business support service that contributes to London’s economic recovery, helps employers succeed and supports unemployed Londoners secure lasting work.
We also want to form a shared view between business and professional partners of the Capital’s future skills needs, and ensure that programmes are developed that respond to this.
Benefits of partnership
The strategy recognises progress made by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Jobcentre Plus (JCP), and the London Development Agency (LDA). Our Vice Chair, Harvey McGrath, said: "Our goal is to bring agencies together to ensure that jobs and skills support in the Capital concentrates both on the needs of businesses and those looking for work, especially during this challenging economic climate.
“Over the next 12 months we will foster initiatives such as the London Employer Accord, which identifies employers’ training needs and helps those out of work to fill this demand. Programmes such as the Accord prove that strong working partnerships between agencies can make a difference to the lives of Londoners.”
Good progress
Published with our strategy is our first annual report. It describes progress so far against strategic aims. Among these is the welcome news that more than 12,600 people signed up for Apprenticeships during 2008/09, 26 per cent above the LSC target.
This growing demand in London for Apprenticeship training bucks the national trend of declining take-up. The promising interest among London employers follows our direction to make access to publicly funded skills and employment services easier for both businesses and individuals. This includes making Apprenticeships available to the 25-plus age group.
This result is one of several early indicators that there is progress on our five-year strategy and that we are responding to employers’ workforce needs.
Key facts:
|