- 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.
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
- 24th April 2025
- Back to All News
Employer shares experience of Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes
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
- 24th April 2025
- Back to All News
Join us: Contract Manager – IPS Specialist
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
We are delighted to share that Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE has joined the Thames Estuary Growth Board as its newest Board member.
Representing Local London, Mayor Fiaz will ensure the interests of boroughs in the north east and south east of the capital are integral to the Thames Estuary Growth Board’s fair, sustainable ambitions for economic growth.
Mayor Fiaz OBE, Mayor of Newham was appointed by her peers to represent the nine boroughs comprising Local London, a dynamic sub-region representing around 2.6 million residents and 100,000 businesses, to consolidate relationships with the Thames Estuary, the UK’s biggest growth opportunity.
The Mayor will be joining a highly accomplished board which includes Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor of London for Planning and Regeneration, Councillor Teresa O’Neill OBE, Leader of Bexley Council and Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich and Chair of Local London.
The board also boasts a diverse range of private sector leaders, including Devrim Celal, CEO of KrakenFlex, Gavin Chapman, Managing Director at Barclays, and Vera Kukic, Partner in IBM’s Strategy Consulting Business. Their collective expertise ensures a robust and dynamic approach to driving growth and innovation across the Thames Estuary region.
In addition to sharing geography, the Thames Estuary Growth Board and the Local London partnership are both committed to driving inclusive economic growth and regeneration, ensuring communities benefit from investment and opportunity.
Cllr Anthony Okereke, Chair of Local London and Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “Our Local London boroughs are distinct from other parts of the capital. We have challenges, but also huge opportunities that are shared across the Thames Estuary region. We are all committed to driving sustainable and inclusive growth that benefits all of our communities, and I am delighted that Mayor Fiaz will represent our boroughs and continue our close connection with the Thames Estuary Growth Board.”
Kate Willard OBE, Thames Estuary Envoy and Chair of the Growth Board, said: “Mayor Fiaz’s commitment to fair growth and social impact aligns perfectly with our vision for the Thames Estuary. She is a proven leader who understands how to turn bold ideas into tangible benefits for local communities. We are thrilled to have her on board as we continue driving investment, infrastructure, and opportunity across the region.”
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Mayor of Newham and representative of Local London, said: “The Thames Estuary, including the dynamic boroughs to the east of London, is central to the future prosperity of the whole country as we support the government’s national growth mission to drive better living standards through investment to build more homes and create jobs. I’m excited to be joining the Growth Board at such a crucial time and look forward to getting stuck in as we unlock the wealth of opportunities for communities across the Thames Estuary and accelerate sustainable development and fair growth.”
Mayor Fiaz’s appointment further strengthens the Growth Board’s partnership with London’s local authorities, ensuring that the voice of communities remains at the heart of its work to attract investment, drive innovation, and support fair growth.
Discover our Three Year Plan: Towards 2026
Notes to Editors:
About the Thames Estuary Growth Board
The Thames Estuary Growth Board is dedicated to unlocking the economic potential of the Thames Estuary. By fostering collaboration, driving investment, and spearheading innovative development projects, the Board is committed to transforming the Estuary into a thriving, sustainable, and economically vibrant region.
The Growth Board works to engage national and international investors, showcasing the Estuary’s potential as a prime location for investment. Through targeted initiatives, the board will highlight key development sites, foster investor relations, and drive forward the region’s economic prospects.
The Growth Board remains steadfast in its commitment to driving growth that is not only economically beneficial but also equitable and environmentally sustainable. Through these strategic initiatives and the dedicated support of our stakeholders, we are setting the stage for a brighter, more prosperous future for the Thames Estuary.
Find out more: www.thamesestuary.org.uk
Media Contact: Hannah Staunton, Director of Communications at the Thames Estuary Growth Board. Email: press@thamesestuary.org.uk
About Local London
Local London is a sub-regional partnership of nine boroughs: Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
Representing around 2.6 million residents and 100,000 businesses, we are a champion for this sub-region to ensure it responds to a set of mutual issues and challenges, and benefits from existing and emerging opportunities.
Find out more: www.local.london
Local London Media contact: helen.mckay@redbridge.gov.uk / 07796 837 411
About Mayor Fiaz
Rokhsana Fiaz OBE has served as Executive Mayor of Newham since May 2018, delivering her Building a Fairer Newham plan.
She is portfolio lead for Inclusive Economy, Strategic Housing Delivery and Culture, including community wealth building, place and economic regeneration, planning and development; and leads on the ambitious affordable social housing programme.
She is London Council’s Data and Innovation lead, co-chair of the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone and chair of the Local London Growth and Recovery Board. Previously she was CEO of an international UNESCO supported charity and has led large-scale capital projects for councils, European Commission and Council of Europe. In 2009 she was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to Black and Minority Communities.
On 23 November, our team had the pleasure of attending the Newham Business Awards 2023, hosted by the Newham Chamber of Commerce.
The awards ceremony and gala dinner held at The Old Town Hall in Stratford, was an opportunity to celebrate some of the outstanding businesses in the borough.
Newham College, who deliver the Local London E-business programme in Newham, Havering, and Barking and Dagenham, sponsored the ‘E-Business of the year’ award. The category’s shortlist comprised some of the fabulous micro and small businesses who have been taken to the next level with help from the free programme, including winners on the night: OC Homes.
OC Homes (One Click Homes) was established by Newham born and raised brothers, Priyesh and Amar Upadhyaya, with an ambition to meet the needs of the growing property market in Newham, Waltham Forest and across East London. With an online focussed vision for the business from the outset, the pandemic accelerated their plans to go digital.
The judges were impressed with their dedication to developing a fully online business. Within the space of around 12 months, and with the help of the E-business Programme delivered by Newham College, they have done just that.
Tony Varghese, Sales Director, OC Homes said “The E-Business programme helped us to strive, mainly after Covid where the industry was in danger. Not being able to do viewings and do business as we usually would, we almost reset, started again and the programme helped us to do a lot of things that other agencies were not doing digitally, and it’s put us here where we are today. Serving people of Newham.”
Newham Business Awards 2023 – E-Business of the year
- OC Homes – winner
- KTCIC Architects – runner up
- Good Hotel London – runner up
Enjoy the same success as over 1600 businesses like yours
Over 1,600 local businesses in Newham, Barking and Dagenham and Havering are growing with free support from the E-business Programme delivered by Newham College, and the number is growing every month.
This support is fully-funded, meaning micro and SME business owners and sole traders who have been operational for over 6 months can get help to get more digital at no cost to them.
The programme begins with a consultation to get to you and your business, which is used to create a bespoke plan to help you achieve your ambitions. Through workshops, events and one-to-one training sessions you can learn how to market your business online, streamline processes, reach more customers and more.
Get in touch with the E-Business Programme delivered by Newham College
Where the team work:
- Newham – Main college campus location is in East Ham but the team can also be found at Solar House, Stratford or Institute of Technology, and The Grove, Our Newham
- Havering – Havering Town Hall, Romford BID and CEME
- Barking and Dagenham – Barking Library, Make It Barking
⇒ Visit newham.ac.uk/ebusiness to find out about the programme in Newham, Havering and Barking and Dagenham.
In a different borough? We’ve got you.
⇒ Visit South East Enterprise to find out about the programme in Greenwich, Bexley, Bromley
⇒ Visit Enterprise Enfield to find out about the programme in Enfield, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
Related news
Read some of our E-business success stories.
Since launching in October 2020, more than 7362 people have been referred to JETS, the Local London Work and Health Programme: Job Entry Targeted Support.
The scheme provides up to 6 months of advice and support for people who have been out of work and claiming Universal Credit or New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance for at least 13 weeks to help them return to work.
The huge number of referrals from Jobcentre Plus is an indicator of the damaging impact that Covid has had on people in East London.
To date the JETS employment scheme, delivered on behalf of Local London by Maximus UK, has helped thousands of people back into work, including Maria who was struggling to find employment, during the pandemic. With JETS support, Maria is making the most of her honed interpersonal skills in a new sector.
Thanks to the support from JETS London, Maria is now working
Previously a childminder, Maria Debenham from Newham, had not worked for a business for over 22 years, so was lacking up-to-date experience.
Although keen to get a job, Maria was unsure of where to start when she was referred to the Job Entry: Targeted Support (JETS) service in June for support.
Abul Jakaria, Maximus Recruitment Advisor, helped Maria identify her transferable skills and set about creating a new CV. As she had been out of work for a number of years Maria needed support with her employability skills, job-searching, and interview techniques.
With her ability to form strong relations and her effective communication skills Abul quickly recognised that these were a massive asset to Maria, and they began looking at roles within a customer service environment where they would be a huge asset.
As Maria’s confidence grew so did her ability to understand the numerous ways to apply for different job roles. However, she hit an obstacle because many of the vacancies she applied for required recent experience.
Undeterred, Maria continued applying for jobs and focused on improving her interview skills to highlight the abilities she did have.
Persevering, she applied and successfully interviewed for a Sales Assistant role with a large retailer in October, demonstrating her ability to understand and empathise with others.
Maria conveyed her skills at being able to work in a methodical manner to deal with customer queries showing how she can adapt to differing and sometimes demanding situations. These were key elements to her successful interview.
Maria continues to be supported by the in-work-support team to ensure she settles back into the world of work.
The JETS scheme also provides help with IT skills, job searching, CV writing, interview support and support to consider different employment sectors, routes and ways of working including home working. Clients can also access mental health support to develop self-belief and self-motivation and build confidence.
For more information about JETS, visit the scheme website.
JETS is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.
