- 24th April 2025
- Back to All News
We recently hosted the second in a series of webinars designed to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses in London to find and develop existing talent.
Over 70 people joined the online session which focused on Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), an initiative helping employers bridge skills gaps while providing jobseekers with essential training and employment opportunities.
Subheading
We recently hosted the second in a series of webinars designed to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses in London to find and develop existing talent.
Over 70 people joined the online session which focused on Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), an initiative helping employers bridge skills gaps while providing jobseekers with essential training and employment opportunities.
Caption goes here - aliquam magna ut consequat tellus facilisi pretium et. Sed sit leo tellus morbi elementum mauris.
The event was highly interactive. Attendees from businesses across London, public sector and education partners posed live questions to a panel of experts representing all perspectives of this collaborative approach to addressing employers’ skills needs, including:
- Roy Pearce and Lauren Rogers from L&Q, a leading housing provider, shared their perspective on using SWAPs to address skills shortages and enhance social impact in their business.
- Divine Bonsu, who joined L&Q through SWAPs, provided a first-hand account of her journey, offering valuable insights into how the programme has shaped her career.
- Adrian Gabriel-Lovell, Operations Manager, and Abigail Fernandes, Employer and Partnership Manager from Jobcentre Plus who explained how SWAPs connect jobseekers with training providers and helps employers to create direct pathways into work.
- Paul Mason Hughes, Community and Partnerships Manager at New City College, discussed how educational institutions can collaborate with employers to ensure training aligns with industry needs.
- Cathy Back, LSIP Employer Engagement at Local London, outlined how employers and training providers are addressing local skills gaps through SWAPs and other initiatives.
“It was an excellent webinar. My knowledge of SWAPs has increased, and it was great to hear the success stories of the SWAP” commented one attendee after the event.
Watch the webinar
The webinar was delivered as part of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), a pan-London strategy funded by the Department for Education and delivered by Business LDN in collaboration with London’s four sub-regional partnerships (SRPs): Local London, South London Partnership (SLP), Central London Forward (CLF), and West London Alliance (WLA).
The London LSIP aims to create employer-led training initiatives that address workforce development needs across the capital.
Sign up to the next event in the series
- 1-2pm
- 26 February 2025
Join South London Partnerships and South London Careers Hub to explore: How do we give young people meaningful experiences of the world of work and inspire the next generation? Book your place at the next FREE webinar in the series.
Sign up to the next event in the series
For more information on upcoming webinars and workforce development initiatives, explore our website or get in touch with lsip.locallondon@redbridge.gov.uk if you would like access to the webinar recording.
Discover our latest newsletter and Skills Special www.local.london/news/newsletter
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Donec elementum viverra tristique orci pharetra. Nunc non nullam nisi volutpat justo et. Aliquam magna ut consequat tellus facilisi pretium et. Sed sit leo tellus morbi elementum mauris.
Ac quam condimentum vel vulputate tortor velit viverra posuere. Volutpat vitae eu vel adipiscing pretium. Facilisis vitae bibendum ultrices vitae leo tellus. Turpis volutpat non integer pretium ligula at amet nibh vitae. Non ultrices venenatis eleifend fames lorem leo sit vitae. Elit viverra gravida arcu nunc arcu mauris mauris volutpat lacus. Phasellus lectus eu consequat nisl. Ac eget hendrerit euismod nam neque netus facilisi. Habitant phasellus et nunc ante. Ipsum at nisl vitae nunc eleifend vitae. Arcu enim euismod id nibh quis hendrerit. Commodo.
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Donec elementum viverra tristique orci pharetra. Nunc non nullam nisi volutpat justo et. Aliquam magna ut consequat tellus facilisi pretium et. Sed sit leo tellus morbi elementum mauris.
Ac quam condimentum vel vulputate tortor velit viverra posuere. Volutpat vitae eu vel adipiscing pretium. Facilisis vitae bibendum ultrices vitae leo tellus. Turpis volutpat non integer pretium ligula at amet nibh vitae
- 11th April 2025
- Back to All News
Draft layout – Ofsted praises well-designed careers programme
We recently hosted the second in a series of webinars designed to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses in London to find and develop existing talent.
Over 70 people joined the online session which focused on Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), an initiative helping employers bridge skills gaps while providing jobseekers with essential training and employment opportunities.
Subheading
We recently hosted the second in a series of webinars designed to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses in London to find and develop existing talent.
Over 70 people joined the online session which focused on Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), an initiative helping employers bridge skills gaps while providing jobseekers with essential training and employment opportunities.
Caption goes here - aliquam magna ut consequat tellus facilisi pretium et. Sed sit leo tellus morbi elementum mauris.
The event was highly interactive. Attendees from businesses across London, public sector and education partners posed live questions to a panel of experts representing all perspectives of this collaborative approach to addressing employers’ skills needs, including:
- Roy Pearce and Lauren Rogers from L&Q, a leading housing provider, shared their perspective on using SWAPs to address skills shortages and enhance social impact in their business.
- Divine Bonsu, who joined L&Q through SWAPs, provided a first-hand account of her journey, offering valuable insights into how the programme has shaped her career.
- Adrian Gabriel-Lovell, Operations Manager, and Abigail Fernandes, Employer and Partnership Manager from Jobcentre Plus who explained how SWAPs connect jobseekers with training providers and helps employers to create direct pathways into work.
- Paul Mason Hughes, Community and Partnerships Manager at New City College, discussed how educational institutions can collaborate with employers to ensure training aligns with industry needs.
- Cathy Back, LSIP Employer Engagement at Local London, outlined how employers and training providers are addressing local skills gaps through SWAPs and other initiatives.
“It was an excellent webinar. My knowledge of SWAPs has increased, and it was great to hear the success stories of the SWAP” commented one attendee after the event.
Watch the webinar
The webinar was delivered as part of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), a pan-London strategy funded by the Department for Education and delivered by Business LDN in collaboration with London’s four sub-regional partnerships (SRPs): Local London, South London Partnership (SLP), Central London Forward (CLF), and West London Alliance (WLA).
The London LSIP aims to create employer-led training initiatives that address workforce development needs across the capital.
Sign up to the next event in the series
- 1-2pm
- 26 February 2025
Join South London Partnerships and South London Careers Hub to explore: How do we give young people meaningful experiences of the world of work and inspire the next generation? Book your place at the next FREE webinar in the series.
Sign up to the next event in the series
For more information on upcoming webinars and workforce development initiatives, explore our website or get in touch with lsip.locallondon@redbridge.gov.uk if you would like access to the webinar recording.
Discover our latest newsletter and Skills Special www.local.london/news/newsletter
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Donec elementum viverra tristique orci pharetra. Nunc non nullam nisi volutpat justo et. Aliquam magna ut consequat tellus facilisi pretium et. Sed sit leo tellus morbi elementum mauris.
Ac quam condimentum vel vulputate tortor velit viverra posuere. Volutpat vitae eu vel adipiscing pretium. Facilisis vitae bibendum ultrices vitae leo tellus. Turpis volutpat non integer pretium ligula at amet nibh vitae. Non ultrices venenatis eleifend fames lorem leo sit vitae. Elit viverra gravida arcu nunc arcu mauris mauris volutpat lacus. Phasellus lectus eu consequat nisl. Ac eget hendrerit euismod nam neque netus facilisi. Habitant phasellus et nunc ante. Ipsum at nisl vitae nunc eleifend vitae. Arcu enim euismod id nibh quis hendrerit. Commodo.
Heading
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Donec elementum viverra tristique orci pharetra. Nunc non nullam nisi volutpat justo et. Aliquam magna ut consequat tellus facilisi pretium et. Sed sit leo tellus morbi elementum mauris.
Ac quam condimentum vel vulputate tortor velit viverra posuere. Volutpat vitae eu vel adipiscing pretium. Facilisis vitae bibendum ultrices vitae leo tellus. Turpis volutpat non integer pretium ligula at amet nibh vitae
Local London school, King’s Oak in Greenwich received excellent feedback from Ofsted following a visit in November 2024.
The national education and skills inspector was impressed with the school’s excellence across the board, providing specialist support for young people in years 7 to 11 with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
As a school highly engaged with our Careers Hub, we were delighted that the careers education programme received praise for showcasing the range of pathways and preparing students for life after they leave school.
(Pictured above: student from King’s Oak School engaging with Barking and Dagenham College at one of our events focussed on creative and digital careers)
Working with mainstream and specialist schools across nine boroughs north and south of the river, we recognise the commitment it takes from within and outside the school to create top-tier careers education programmes.
From headteachers, to careers leaders, external advisors and local businesses, it takes a community of people working together to deliver meaningful careers programmes that empower young people to make the best choices for themselves.
The school has implemented a well-designed careers programme….so that pupils have the best possible chance of success.
The unusually extensive and appreciative Ofsted comment relating specifically to careers education at King’s Oak School noted:
‘The school has implemented a well-designed careers programme. This ensures that pupils are well prepared for the challenges that they may face when they become adults. The school supports pupils to explore the different options available. Pupils develop positive attitudes that will help them cope with the demands of employment, further education or training. Leaders work closely with local colleges so that the pupils have the best possible chance of success.’ Ofsted visit November 2024
Stephen O’Leary, Interim Director of Local London said “Our team have thoroughly enjoy working with staff at the school, especially Howard Shearing the careers lead. King’s Oak’s continuous engagement with the Careers Hub has been greatly appreciated. They’ve welcomed and worked with us to develop ideas.
On behalf of the team at Local London, I would like to say huge congratulations to the school’s team, and also to the Careers Adviser, Simon Connolly, provided by the Royal Borough of Greenwich who has provided exceptional support to the school. This positive feedback from Ofsted is a fabulous reflection what partnership working can achieve.”
Howard Shearing, Head of Careers at King’s Oak School commented ‘We certainly could not have achieved where we are careers-wise without the Careers Hub’s support and help over the last few years in bringing it all together.”
We would also like to acknowledge the following people at King’s Oak School whose commitment have created such an outstanding example of brilliant careers education:
- Mr Meic Griffiths – Executive Headteacher.
- Mrs Jill Smith – Head of School.
- Mr Jim Spark – Head of Achievement, Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.
Can we help your school deliver great careers advice?
As well as matching people from the business world with schools to enhance class-room learning, our team work with school staff to reach and exceed national standards for careers education.
If you are a school or business wanting to work with the Local London Careers Hub please contact us on careershub.east@redbridge.gov.uk or find out more about what we do here www.local.london/what-we-do/programmes/careers-hub
Our team’s work is made possible with funding from the Careers and Enterprise Company, The Mayor of London, and UKSPF.
The successful Local London E-business programme that helped around 3,000 micro, small and medium-sized businesses in our nine boroughs to become more digitally-savvy and resilient has now been extended across London.
Born in Greenwich, we supported the programme to grow across our sub-region. Now, with UKSPF funding, two of the delivery partners in the successful Local London E-business programme are using their expertise to help even more businesses.
Enterprise Enfield and South East Enterprise are part of a consortium of seven business support organisations making the free business-saving programme available across the whole of London.
Launched in October 2024, the new LONDON E-Business Support Programme will continue to provide free expert advice to SMEs to help them make better use of online marketing and digital tools and technology to reduce costs and increase business growth.
Helping local artisan craft content as beautiful as her jewels
Eunice, founder of Woolwich-based Meitam, which creates rare one-off handcrafted jewellery and art pieces has attended social media workshops with South East Enterprise as well as training in SEO, content creation, video production, and digital marketing.
Totally essential for any small business
E-business support from South East Enterprise has helped Eunice develop a strong online presence and a more robust business. Armed with a better understanding of digital tools and their use, Eunice is driving her business forward.
She said “If it wasn’t for South East Enterprise I would not have any social media presence at all. I have learnt so much from their courses and my one-to-one sessions. The E-Business Programme is invaluable and totally essential for any small business.”
Find out more: www.businessforlondon.co.uk
Read more news about the Local London E-business Programme.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund