ADD2668 Project Management for Workforce Integration Network (WIN)

1.1.    The Workforce Integration Network (WIN) is seeking expenditure of up to £25,000 for a consultant or organisation to work a short piece of work with WIN, part of the Communities and Social Policy Unit at the GLA. The consultant or organisation will have strong project management skills to manage the WIN Inclusive Employer Toolkits through to completion, including:
•    Supervising the digitisation of the toolkits from documents to an interactive digital tool, with support from the GLA digital team; 
•    Managing the creation and execution of a dissemination and comms strategy for the toolkits once published;
•    Overseeing a successful launch event for the toolkits on 20 September 2023.

1.2    This additional £25,000 will bring the total expenditure on this strand of work to £35,000, with £10,000 previously approved by this Delegated Authority Record (DAR).

1.3    The inclusive employer toolkits will be sector-specific resources that can be accessed online. The existing toolkit, published in October 2020, focuses on the underrepresentation of young Black men in the construction and technology sectors. 

1.4     The new toolkits will focus on four sectors – green economy, creative and cultural industries, health and hospitality. The toolkits will form part of the core resources available to the Mayor’s Skills Academies partners to help those engaged through the hubs to meet the ambitions of the Helping Londoners into Good Work Mission, particularly in relation to equality and diversity in the workplace.

1.5    The consultant will also provide overall management and strategic direction for WIN’s Design Labs programme, delivered by an external partner.
 

2.1.    The external consultant or organisation will help to see through the completion, publication and dissemination of WIN’s Inclusive Employer Toolkits. The consultant will oversee coordination between the digital and web teams, the WIN team and the Mayor’s Academies programme to ensure that the toolkits:

•    reflect WIN’s overall strategic aims;
•    provide a user-friendly digital experience;
•    are disseminated and promoted effectively to Mayor’s Academies hubs, employers and other relevant stake holders;

2.2.    The external consultant or organisation will also oversee the delivery of WIN’s Design Labs programme by our delivery partner. This will involve providing strategic direction for the programme, ensuring it meets requirements and is in line with policy aims, progresses as per the agreed timeline. The consultant will also provide overall direction on events organised as part of this programme, including liaising with the Mayor’s office.

2.3.    The outcomes of both projects will be to prompt and increase action which London’s employers are taking to improve workforce equality, diversity and inclusion in key growth sectors of London’s economy.
 

3.1.    Under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, the Mayor and GLA are subject to the public sector equality duty and must have due regard to the need to: 
•    eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation;
•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not; and
•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.
3.2.    The expenditure requested by this ADD builds on the work of the WIN to address inequality of opportunity and underrepresentation in London’s labour market. It will contribute to Objective 9 of the Mayor’s EDI Strategy: to ensure London's workforce reflects its population at all levels and in all sectors. This work has a particular focus on the structural barriers that prevent access, retention and career progression for underrepresented groups. WIN focuses its work on groups which have been identified as particularly impacted by labour market inequality in London and lack of access to good work:   
•    Black men, particularly those aged 16-24, and 50+;
•    Pakistani and Bangladeshi women; and
•    Black women.
 

4.1.    In addition to furthering the objectives of the Mayor’s EDI Strategy, this expenditure also contributes to the Mayor’s Helping Londoners into Good Work Mission. The Inclusive Employer Toolkits and the Design Labs will create more opportunities for Londoners disadvantaged in the labour market to access good work and progress in their careers.
4.2.    In accordance with the GLA Contracts & Funding Code, we have conducted a competitive tender process internally via a request for quotes.
4.3.    No conflicts of interest have been identified for any officers involved in the development of this proposal or drafting or clearance of this decision form.
 

5.1.    Approval is sought for the expenditure of up to £25,000 for a freelance consultant or organisation to provide project management to two of WIN’s main workstreams: the Inclusive Employer Toolkits and the Design Labs, taking total expenditure to £35,000.
5.2.    This expenditure will be funded from WIN Programme budget in the 2023-24 financial.
5.3.    This is in line with the budget allocations for 2023-24 financial year.