Employment and skills
Despite its overall prosperity, London’s unemployment rate is one of the highest in the UK – and has been consistently so since the early 1990s.
Skills provision in London needs more direction from the Mayor, stronger business leadership and accountability if arrangements are to serve the needs of the capital in an environment of increasing global competitiveness.
London First aims to
- ensure London’s workforce is appropriately skilled to compete for the jobs available
- equip the capital with a high quality workforce that befits a world city
- use the 2012 Games as a major catalyst to get 75,000 more Londoners into work
- persuade policy-makers to refocus skills provision so that training is better matched to London employers’ needs
London Skills and Employment Board
2006 saw the creation of a new London Skills and Employment Board with responsibility for adult skills strategy, following lobbying by London First. The Board is chaired by the Mayor, with former London First Chairman Harvey McGrath as its vice chair. To ensure it has a strong business focus, London First worked hard to secure majority business representation on the Board. We continue to call for the Mayor to be given greater powers and flexibility in the way policy is implemented, to meet the particular demands of the capital following recession.
London First Education Network
We run a pan-London network of academic leaders (vice chancellors, college principals and head teachers) and business people with an interest in education initiatives. Meetings showcase joint initiatives and discuss opportunities for business and education to work together.
Please contact Mark Hilton for further information.
World Skills 2011
WorldSkills London 2011, the world’s largest international skills competition, is coming to the UK for the first time in 20 years. The event takes place at ExCeL London from 5 – 8 October this year . 1,000 young people from 50 countries and regions across the globe will compete in 45 skills areas, each of them hoping to be recognised as the best in the world at what they do. www.worldskillslondon2011.com/visit
Other useful links
Student immigration response and key messages - London First's response to the UK Border Agency Student Immigration System Consultation December 2010-January 2011
London's Labour market - The London Story - The London Skills and Employment Observatory has released a full update of The London Story. As a partner of the Observatory, London First welcomes the report as a clear and accessible account of employment in the capital and endorses its significant findings.
Voice of London Employers survey (2010) conducted by Experian and involved 2000 employers
A re-vision of the employment and skills landscape - Employment and skills research paper commissioned by London First and conducted by Experian
Teach First – business-led initiative to raise secondary education standards
Diversity Practice Project - London First, with the Westminster Business School, conducted a research project looking at the practical experiences of leading companies in implementing diversity strategies
FE sector good pratice guide to working with employers
Guidance for Councillors: Connecting Councillors with Strategic Planning Applications
