Across the Local London sub-region our Work and Health Programme has helped over 20,000 people find work or training to get them closer to the job market.

Delivered by Maximus, the Local London Work and Health (WHP) programme provides tailored support for up to 21 months to people who are out of the job market, many who have long-term health conditions and/or disabilities.

As well as providing wrap-around health, well-being and financial support, the programme helps with CV and interview skills and connects people to employers who are actively recruiting.

Fireworks in the background and text that says 20,000+ people helped

Interview successes at Bromley jobs fair

In October 2024, our delivery partner Maximus and the team at the London Borough of Bromley, organised a bespoke jobs fair for local residents on the Local London WHP programme and Restart.

Household brands including Lidl, Centaur and Placing People Direct were among the employers looking to find the right people for their vacancies.

Over 73% of Local London WHP participants were offered interviews!

Having arrived fully prepared with smart CVs, practiced and ready to interview, people on the programmes attended sessions with the employers to discover what it is like working in the business and the roles available.

Throughout the day the people on the programmes were reassured and reminded of their skills, chaperoned to and from meetings with prospective employers, and offered moral support by the Maximus team whilst they attended interviews.

The day reaped benefits. From the recruitment day over 73% of the Local London WHP participants were offered interviews, and some have now started work. Great result! Well done to everyone.

Hands holding a banner that says I got an interview

Aisha turns her life around in just two weeks

Everybody’s journey is different, and we are delighted that after being on the Local London Work and Health programme for just two weeks, Aisha* from Waltham Forest, began her career in the education sector.

Aisha, who is in her 20’s, was referred by her local job centre who thought she would benefit from the programme. They were right!

Understanding why Aisha was out of work, Shabana, her key worker, suggested that her health issues may be related to chronic stress and excessive strenuous pressure. Aisha immediately said “Wow! That sounds so accurate because I was going through a lot of stress during my postgraduate degree and my old workplace.”

They agreed that Aisha would benefit from specialist pain, health, stress management sessions, to help her manage symptoms and learn different coping mechanisms.

With Shabana’s support, Aisha made quick progress. Shabana referred Aisha to a CV specialist. After one meeting Aisha had an outstanding recruiter-ready CV. At the same time, Shabana spoke to her colleagues at Maximus who connect clients to suitable employers and agencies with open vacancies.

I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for your ongoing help!

The team reached out to potential employers and Aisha’s polished CV quickly secured her an interview with Qualiteach, a specialist teaching recruitment agency. Shabana immediately scheduled a mock interview for Aisha to make her real interview less daunting. Aisha’s CV, knowledge and interview conduct impressed the recruiter, and she has embarked on a new teaching career.

“I knew from the first meeting Shabana would be very helpful” Aisha said “She was so kind, caring and her positivity was absolutely contagious. Her own story inspired me and gave me the confidence to take that leap of faith and not let my health condition hold me back. I am so shocked that within 2 weeks I was successful in a job interview. I’m really excited and cannot wait to start my career in teaching. Thank you so much Shabana, I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for your ongoing help!”

Funded by The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), we manage the programme on behalf of our boroughs to help more people get into and stay in good jobs.

 

*Name changed.

 

UKSPF People and Skills is helping over 1,300 residents in our sub-region to find employment that works for them.

Many of the people the programme intends to help have mental or physical health issues, or other circumstances preventing them from looking for work.

Since starting in January 2024, over 1,300 people have been referred onto the programme, which is being delivered by our member boroughs’ employment brokerage services.

Through UKSPF People and Skills local people have been equipped with the understanding they need to manage their health and wellbeing long term, and locally-tailored employment support; including upskilling adults, particularly those with no or low-level qualifications.

As a result of the commitment of teams in our boroughs, the programme is helping people who were not looking for work consider themselves ready or closer to seeking employment.

Smiling man holding arms aloft with text that says 1300 people getting help

Who is UKSPF People and Skills helping?

Charlie*, a young care leaver recently moved to Havering was referred to Havering Works from the Leaving Care Team. Through the UKSPF programme, Havering Works helped him completed his L1 and L2 in bricklaying, and gain his CSCS card. With no relevant work experience, or connections, Havering Works supported Charlie to create a sector-specific CV, they put him in contact with local employers and helped him register for apprenticeships.

This is more than a job

With the support of Havering Works and a local college, Charlie secured an apprenticeship. After a successful work trial, Charlie’s employer decided he was more advanced than an apprentice and offered him a full-time role, subject to him being able to purchase a starter tool kit. The UKSPF grant enabled Havering Works to purchase the required tools and now Charlie is now a full time ‘Bricklaying Improver’. Charlie commented “This is more than a job, this is a career”.

Nina*, an Afghan refugee and now Waltham Forest resident, was supported to attend English language classes and with help from the team at Waltham Forest has secured employment at the Forest Cinema.

I really felt lost until I received the support

She said “The team have been incredibly helpful and I am so grateful for the support I received. I really felt lost until I received the support from Waltham Forest Council and I now feel like I am part of the community.”

*names changed

Find out about UKSPF People and Skills near you:

This programme is supported through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is providing £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

Funded by Government logo

Our Careers Hub team work hard to ensure that students across our boroughs get the best careers advice and experience possible and make informed and inspired choices post-16.

Integral to this is Local London Careers Hub East’s wide-reaching strategy to engage and support young people with learning difficulties and disabilities (LDD). This includes providing training to careers leaders to empower them to promote LDD options, creating careers information posters for schools and colleges, engaging with employers to entice them to offer more opportunities to young people with LDD through Local London’s Ability NOT Disability workshops.

Photo of adults and students at the Waltham Forest SEND / LDD Careers Fair.

Dedicated careers fairs open eyes of students with LDD and teachers

Responding to the needs of students with LDD, the team recently organised two dedicated careers fairs for students at specialist and mainstream schools, held south of the river at the Bromley Campus of London South East College Trust and at Waltham Forest College north of the river.

Both events were a resounding success. Feedback from teachers, students, employers and training providers was very positive. One teacher commented “I was not aware there were so many pathways accessible for students with learning difficulties or disabilities and to find them all together in one room was excellent.” David, a Year 13 student, said he really liked the skills tree and that the employers said they can help young people who are autistic.

At the events, students were able to:

Board with post-it notes answering 'What careers have you learnt about today'The events brought together over 450 students, from 24 special schools across all nine of our boroughs, in addition to mainstream schools in Waltham Forest.

Employers, training providers, and colleges were keen to meet the students and tell them about roles that they could undertake and enjoy. Overcoming any nervousness on the day, the students impressed the organisations which included Transport for London, Metropolitan Police, London Borough of Bexley, Framestore, Ambitious about Autism, Shooters Hill College, KPMG, Higgins Partnership, Project Choice, Mencap, and Scope.

One of our Enterprise Advisers from Mott McDonald ran workshops throughout the afternoon at Waltham Forest College to raise the aspirations of students with special educational needs who attend mainstream schools.

Sarah Murray, Director of Local London said “Across Local London, through our programmes, we are working to help young people and adults get into work. Recognising that many people have different needs we are holding events to highlight opportunities and support available so that doors open.”

Group of adults and young people at the LDD / SEND careers Fair in Waltham Forest

Our thanks to everyone who participated and helped support these events. We look forward to organising more!

If you would like to be involved in our next LDD careers fair, please contact smita.solanki@redbridge.gov.uk / caroline.lee@redbridge.gov.uk

The team are always keen to hear from businesses wanting to work with schools in our boroughs to share their careers stories and inspire our young people to explore all their options.

⇒ Find out the latest news and more about the work of our Careers Hub East team.

⇒ Find out more about our Ability Not Disability training for employers and frontline staff, part of the Mayor of London’s No Wrong Door initiative.

 

Hundreds of people from across the Local London sub-region will benefit from new apprenticeship opportunities following an announcement by the Mayor of London.

Local London, a partnership of councils across east and south London, has successfully secured an ‘Apprenticeships for Londoners’ pilot project.

The programme will support smaller businesses in Greenwich, Havering, Newham and Waltham Forest to create apprenticeship opportunities in emerging and established industries, including digital technology and life sciences.

 The Mayor of London is providing funding to the project with those four participating boroughs contributing a portion of their apprenticeship levy – a charge placed on larger businesses. The money will be used to support smaller businesses explore apprenticeship opportunities for new employees and upskill existing employees.

Julian Ellerby, Director of Local London, said: “Today’s announcement is excellent news for people and businesses in our sub-region. This pilot provides a real opportunity to increase apprenticeships in a range of employment sectors, and to develop a successful model for larger businesses to share some of their levy funding with smaller employers.”

The Local London pilot will work across seven of the key employment sectors identified in the Mayor of London’s Skills for Londoners Strategy: Advanced Urban Services, Life Sciences, Cultural & Creative Industries, Financial and Business sector, the Low Carbon sector, the Tech and Digital sector, and Tourism sector.

The pilot is due to start in April this year and will run for three years. During this time, it will aim to create 360 new apprenticeships– both from new recruits and from upskilling opportunities for existing employees.