ADD2511 Helping Londoners into Good Work – sectoral workforce analysis

1.1. In December 2019, the Assistant Director – Skills and Employment signed ADD2409 authorising expenditure of up to £20,000 to procure the delivery of events to increase awareness of the obstacles to participation and promote best practice on recruitment, retention and support of apprentices from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups in London. This funding was provided by the Department for Education (DfE) as a part of the 5 Cities project.

1.2. Due to the impact of COVID-19 from March 2020, there have been limited opportunities for the type of events identified in the original decision.

1.3. Furthermore, the GLA’s strategic priorities have changed as a result of the pandemic. The London Recovery Board’s (LRB) programme in response to the impact of COVID-19 aims to restore confidence in the city, minimise the impact on communities and build back better the city’s economy and society. The Helping Londoners into Good Work Mission, part of a wider Missions-led approach identified by the LRB, outlines four main strands of activity to support Londoners into good jobs with a focus on sectors key to London’s recovery. These are:

• by supporting Londoners hardest hit by the pandemic including young people, newly unemployed, people with caring responsibilities and people at risk of redundancy into good work, while ensuring that Londoners with the most complex needs are not left behind;

• by coordinating skills, careers and employment support so there is ‘no wrong door approach’ for Londoners; and ensuring that employment and enterprise provide a secure route out of poverty;

• by establishing sector specific London 'Academies' to support Londoners to gain relevant skills and move into good work in (not exhaustive): digital; health; social care; green economy; and creative and cultural industries; and

• by close working with employers and job creation initiatives such as green recovery to promote good work.

1.4. As such, the £20,000 funding is now intended to be used to fund research consultancy services to identify the reasons and options for addressing the underrepresentation of Londoners hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The DfE has confirmed (October 2020) that the funding does not need to be returned and can be used on activities as the GLA sees fit.

1.5. The focus on BAME Londoners will be maintained, and the research commissioned will help to further the work being developed under the Helping Londoners into Good Work Mission, as part of the London Recovery Programme. Specifically, it will support the sectoral ’Academies’ in the digital economy, green, cultural and creative industries and health and social care. The Skills & Employment Unit will steer this work, in coordination with the GLA’s Workforce Integration Network (WIN) team and GLA Economics colleagues.

1.6. GLA officers will procure consultancy services, in line with the Contracts and Funding Code, for:

• research and analysis to identify the reasons and opportunities to address the underrepresentation of Londoners hardest hit by the pandemic in the capital’s digital economy, green, cultural and creative industries and health and social care sectors and related occupations and training.

2.1. The research and analysis will support the development of activities under the Helping Londoners into Good Work Mission. This will include one or more of the four sectors outlined in the Mission – digital economy, green, creative and cultural industries and health and social care. It will identify:

• where underrepresentation of Londoners exists;

• the reasons for the underrepresentation of Londoners in occupations, including self employment, learning and training provision and related services; and

• opportunities for addressing underrepresentation through the Helping Londoners into Good Work Mission to promote a fairer, more inclusive London.

3.1. Section 149(1) of the Equality Act 2010 provides that, in the exercise of their functions, public authorities – of whom the Mayor is one – must have due regard to the need to:

• eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010;

• advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; and

• foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

3.2. Relevant protected characteristics are age, disability, gender re-assignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

3.3. The expenditure will be used to support the London Recovery Board’s cross-cutting principle in recognising and addressing structural inequalities, promoting a fairer, more inclusive London and focusing on supporting the most vulnerable.

3.4. Officers confirm that the procurement and commissioning of the activities described above will conform with requirements made under the Public Sector Equality Duty at every stage, including when planning the contract, during the tender process and throughout the life of the contract, with particular attention being given at any decision making moments. Any increased knowledge of skills and employability needs of particular learner groups will be used to inform future specifications for work.

Key risks and issues

4.1. There is a risk that access to participants may be impacted as a result of the move to online learning and contact. The GLA has experience of managing research during the pandemic and has ensured a methodological approach from suppliers which can identify and access participants for qualitative research.

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities

4.2. The proposed research will support the Mayor’s Skills for Londoners Strategy, to address the underrepresentation of Londoners in different sectors and related career opportunities, including training. It will support the London Recovery Board’s Programme in recognising and addressing structural inequalities (cross-cutting principle) and the Helping Londoners into Good Work Mission which specifies the four sectors: Digital economy, green, health and social care and the creative and cultural industries.

4.3. There are no conflicts of interest to note for any of the officers involved in the drafting or clearance of this decision.

5.1. Approval is sought for expenditure of up to £20,000 to fund research consultancy services to identify the reasons for and options for addressing the underrepresentation of Londoners hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

5.2. The expenditure will be funded by repurposing the £20,000 income received from DfE to promote apprenticeships amongst underrepresented groups in London (approved by ADD2409). The DfE has agreed to the GLA repurposing the funding.