- 14th July 2025
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We're seeking to appoint a partner to undertake a standalone research study focused on understanding the role of childcare support in tackling economic inactivity across our sub-region.
As part of our wider Economic Inactivity Trailblazer (EITB) initiative, funded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) via the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), this research will inform future programme delivery, influence policy development, and support system change around how childcare is aligned with employment and economic participation for residents not currently supported by traditional welfare-to-work offers.
Local London is one of three sub-regional partnerships delivering Economic Inactivity Trailblazers in London funded through the Greater London Authority (GLA) by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), under the national Get Britain Working initiative. Up to £7 million has been allocated to Local London to test new approaches to reducing economic inactivity.
Programme Overview
The Local London Trailblazer consists of three interlinked delivery streams:
· Economic Inactivity Support Programme.
· Business Startup and Self-Employment Support.
· Childcare Support Fund.
⇒ Read about Trailblazers in Local London
Our Research Request
The research will:
· Map the current childcare support landscape for economically inactive parents within the Local London sub-region.
· Identify systemic, financial, policy and service delivery barriers to accessing childcare support, particularly for parents not on Universal Credit or work-search related benefits.
· Examine the impact of childcare access on the employment and training decisions of parents—especially mothers and carers.
· Assess the availability of flexible jobs across the Local London sub-region which may be more suited to parents and carers.
· Provide actionable recommendations to improve integration between childcare, employment and skills provision and health and other wraparound services.
· Contribute evidence to the pan-London Trailblazer’s wider systems change goals and the policy design of future employment provision.
Key dates and Response Instructions
Visit London Tenders Portal: www.londontenders.org
ITT Reference: DN782427
Deadline for submissions: Friday 1st August 2025 17:00
Deadline for clarification questions: Thursday 25th July 2025 17:00
Contract start date: September 2025 (mandatory)
Budget: up to £80,000
Contact: Portal only www.londontenders.org
In the interests of fairness to all parties, all correspondence must go through the portal. It is free to set up an account, but you must be registered to view these and other opportunities.
For more information and to respond to this invitation to tender please visit London Tenders Portal.
Discover our other invitations to tender.
- 14th July 2025
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Work with us: evaluation of our economic inactivity trailblazer
We're seeking to appoint a partner to carry out an independent evaluation of our Economic Inactivity Trailblazer programme.
Local London is one of three sub-regional partnerships delivering Economic Inactivity Trailblazers in London funded through the Greater London Authority (GLA) by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), under the national Get Britain Working initiative. Up to £7 million has been allocated to Local London to test new approaches to reducing economic inactivity.
Programme Overview
The Local London Trailblazer consists of three interlinked delivery streams:
· Economic Inactivity Support Programme.
· Business Startup and Self-Employment Support.
· Childcare Support Fund.
⇒ Read about Trailblazers in Local London
Our Evaluation Request
We're looking for a partner to use a range of qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods to report on the programme. The evaluation will help:
· Assess the effectiveness of the interventions designed as part of the Local London Trailblazer programme to reduce economic inactivity.
· Assess the effectiveness of the delivery approach and model led by Local London (which includes a combination of direct delivery and commissioning of activity.)
· Assess the effectiveness of partnership, collaboration and engagement between Local London boroughs, health and skills providers, employers and businesses to support economically inactive residents.
· Inform future scaling of effective models across London.
· Shape the design and delivery of Connect to Work in the Local London sub-region and future DWP-funded employment programmes.
· Strengthen alignment between employment, health, and skills systems.
· Contribute to national policy through robust evidence of “what works.”
We are seeking submissions that reflect the complexity of evaluating a multi-borough, multi-partner programme and offers practical insight to support ongoing learning and delivery refinement.
Key dates and Response Instructions
Visit London Tenders Portal: www.londontenders.org
ITT Reference: DN782413
Deadline for submissions: Friday 1st August 2025 @ 17:00
Deadline for clarification questions: Friday 25th July 2025@ 17:00
Contract start date: September 2025 (mandatory)
Budget: A maximum of £95,000 (inclusive of all costs, travel and VAT)
Contact: Portal only www.londontenders.org
In the interests of fairness to all parties, all correspondence must go through the portal. It is free to set up an account, but you must be registered to view these and other opportunities.
For more information and to respond to this invitation to tender please visit London Tenders Portal.
Discover our other invitations to tender.
- 2nd July 2025
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Youth Summit kick-starts commitment to tackling youth unemployment
The Local London Youth Summit on 25 June 2025 kick-started a new initiative that aims to address youth employment issues across nine boroughs in London.
Advancing Local London’s Youth Integration Network which forms part of the London Trailblazer Programme, a £30m investment across the capital through the Mayor of London to support the Government’s Get Britain Working strategy, the event brought together over 175 young people and representatives from a broad cross section of organisations that will play a role in helping young people find good work.
Young people, educators, employers, youth support professionals, joined forces to discuss the biggest challenges affecting young people’s employment prospects within the Local London sub-region, where approximately one in seven young people are not in education, employment, or training.
Discussions at the event built on research conducted by leading social change experts, Renaisi, into local pressures and challenges, including:
- Working through perceptions of young people as a “risk” and giving young people opportunities to start their working lives.
- Creating a system that helps people explore post-16 alternatives to further and higher education.
- Addressing pressures to decide on a career, when young people are looking for a job and haven’t decided what they want to do yet.
- Creating greater understanding of the challenges and demands on teachers, schools, employment services, and employers regarding youth employment issues.
These themes that were not lost on Chisola Chitambala, a popular candidate on the most recent series of the BBC’s “The Apprentice”, who advocated passionately at the Summit for giving young people opportunities to start their careers.
Addressing the audience, Chisola said “Too often, young people are seen as statistics, not stories. As risk, not resource. As cost, not creativity. But I believe that when we change how we see young people, we change everything. Let’s shift the question from: “Are they ready for the workplace?” to “Is the workplace ready for them?” Let’s stop defining success only by grades or degrees. Let’s start celebrating grit, empathy, and lived experience. Because those are the skills that will define our future. This isn’t just about employment. It’s about showing a generation that they are not a risk — they are an asset.”
Chisola Chitambala, keynote speaker at the Youth Emplyment Summit.
Lively discussions at the event ensured that all attendees shared reflections, with many attendees making the most of the opportunity to build vital cross-sector connections.
One of the many young people at the event, Nusayba, said “I appreciate the exposure to meet a range of different people. It allows us as young people to flourish and network in a positive environment where we know we are being heard and seen, and know we can actually make a difference.”
Jacqui, who works in the finance sector, commented “I liked that there were so many inspirational organisations and young people. It was great to share best practice and gain new ideas.”
Closing the day, Forogh Rahmani, Director of Local London, said “This summit has been an important next step to help dismantle barriers to employment for young people in our sub-region. We must keep this conversation alive and continue talking to each other. Across our boroughs we are supporting young people and adults to get into good work. We welcome a broad spectrum of businesses, organisations and experts getting involved with this and other aspects of our work. It is going to take all of us to make the changes we want to see.”
The findings of the research and Youth Employment Summit will be published as a report and action plan by Local London later in the year. This will shape approaches to address youth employment at a sub-regional level across Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
Help us support a better future for all
Young people and professionals looking to take forward these actions are encouraged to join the Local London Youth Integration Network. Please visit local.london/contact-us/ or email hello.locallondon@redbridge.gov.uk mentioning ‘Youth Integration Network’ to find out more.
More help to connect people to good jobs
Our team are creating a growing directory of resources and opportunities on workconnections.london to help people looking for work or career advice, businesses and employment advisors connect people to jobs.
- 13th May 2025
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London secures £30 million to get people back into work
• Government funding for five employment support trailblazers in the capital
• Young Londoners and people with health conditions set to benefit
• Designed to get more people back into work and boost economic growth
A new £30m investment will help young Londoners and people living with health conditions overcome barriers to employment through Get Britain Working trailblazers.
The UK Government funding will enable the Mayor of London and London boroughs to deliver five innovative new programmes in the city.
Three programmes will support unemployed Londoners who face barriers to getting jobs – including disabled people, those with long term health conditions and people from underrepresented groups – while the other two will support young Londoners not in employment, education, or training, including care leavers.
Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, said: “With so much talent and potential across our capital city, we want to help all young people thrive and reach their potential.
“That’s why we are investing £30million in our Youth Trailblazers scheme in London to support more young people, including those with disabilities and long-term health conditions, into work.
“In addition, our Youth Guarantee will ensure all 18-to-21-year-olds will get the chance to study, train or work. This is a key part of our Plan for Change, which will put more money in people’s pockets and make everyone better off.”
Cllr Antony Okereke, Chair of Local London and Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich said:
“London is growing eastwards, and with a GVA of over £50bn per annum, Local London sub-region is an economic powerhouse. The opportunities are huge, but not all our residents benefit from what's available on their doorstep. We have more people who are out of work than the rest of the capital. The reasons for this are multi-faceted, but we know that women, people with disabilities and long-term health issues, and carers are disproportionately affected.
“I'm delighted that Local London will be leading one of the trailblazers in the capital as part of the Government's plans to Get Britain Working. Working with the Mayor of London and Government, we have secured £7million devolved funding for our boroughs to trial new approaches to help our residents overcome barriers to work and to transform their lives.”
⇒ Read about Trailblazers in Local London
The Get Britain Working Trailblazers focus on joining up existing local services in the employment, health and skills, and youth industries to get people into work. The five programmes will work with more than 5,000 Londoners over the course of one year and will use innovative approaches including:
- a new a digital resource hub providing young people with real-time access to local opportunities and wraparound support;
- providing care leavers with a ‘starter pack’ including a laptop, mobile phone, internet access and phone cards to support young people who have recently moved into semi- or independent accommodation;
- eliminating childcare cost barriers for parents looking to return to work, training, or self-employment through a new Childcare Support Fund for parents and carers who are unable to access existing Government support grants.
The schemes will support the London Growth Plan, launched by London Councils and the Mayor earlier this year to turbocharge London’s economy, and will form part of the Inclusive Talent Strategy that the GLA and London Councils are developing to build a skilled workforce in the city.
London boroughs working in four sub-regional partnerships – Central London Forward, Local London, South London Partnership and West London Alliance – and City Hall will also continuously evaluate the programme to significantly increase the number of Londoners getting into training, finding good jobs and progressing at work.
For London’s businesses and employers, this will mean more people with a range of skills and experience in the labour market – ready to fill vacancies, boost productivity and increase economic growth. This will also make it easier for employers to benefit from London’s diversity and champion inclusive practices to make work more accessible.
London’s Get Britain Working Trailblazers were launched at Toynbee Hall on Thursday 8 May with speeches by UK Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, London Councils’ Executive member for Skills, Cllr Peter Mason and London’s Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, Howard Dawber.
Cllr Peter Mason, London Councils’ Executive member for Planning and Skills, said:
“With 1.3 million Londoners currently economically inactive and 1 in 5 young people in the capital unemployed, it's vital we have high-quality local support in place to help remove barriers to employment and support people into jobs and training. Not only will this benefit our residents and improve living standards, it will allow us to make most of the untapped potential and talent in our city in order to drive inclusive economic growth.
“Thanks to the Government’s £30 million trailblazer funding for London, boroughs have the investment boost we need to test new and innovative approaches, working through our sub-regional partnerships to learn what works best. These trailblazers will help pave the way for long-term transformation of employment support services, ensuring they are more integrated, deliver better outcomes and ensure the best possible value for public money."
Howard Dawber, London's Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, said: “The Mayor is committed to getting more Londoners into good jobs.
“We have ambitious targets in the new London Growth Plan to not only create jobs but good jobs, where people can start real careers and can thrive. This funding will allow us to reach people who most need support and help them to train for good futureproof jobs.
“Working together with national Government and local boroughs will mean we can build a better-skilled workforce and a better, fairer, more prosperous London for everyone.”
Notes to editors
The Government-backed trailblazer schemes have been launched across the UK. The nine inactivity and eight youth trailblazers across the country, backed by £170m, are a key part of the Government’s plan to Get Britain Working to put more money in people’s pockets under the Plan for Change.
London is the only region in the country to receive more than one trailblazer; there will be 5 Trailblazers with a total funding amount of £30m. The five innovative new programmes will be led by Central London Forward, Local London, South London Partnership, and the West London Alliance Sub-Regional partnerships. Sub-Regional Partnerships (SRPs) groups of boroughs working together via a single organisation.
About London Councils
London Councils is the collective of local government in London.
Where shared ambitions are developed, agreed, championed, and delivered at London Councils by members working together.
Where boroughs speak as one and collaborate with the government, the Mayor of London, the London public sector, the third sector, business, and other key UK and international cities.
More about London Councils here: www.londoncouncils.gov.uk
Media contact
Gemma Kappala-Ramsamy
020 7934 9842
gemma.kappala-ramsamy@londoncouncils.gov.uk
Integration Hub Listening Exercise Report by Localis
Produced by independent think-tank, Localis, this report highlights key findings from conversations with frontline staff involved in helping people find work or training opportunities. This research has informed the direction of travel for the Local London Integration Hub, including the development of a sub-regional Local London Standard Framework setting out the level of service that residents should receive regardless of which borough they are in and their point of access.
We’re excited to announce that we will be launching two new programmes that will help over 16,000 people find work in our nine boroughs.
These new employment support schemes, representing around £60 million investment into the sub-region, will join our portfolio of programmes that have already helped more than 26,000 people get closer to the job market.
Both programmes will complement the services that are already available from council services and Jobcentre Plus, by helping people who may not otherwise get support.
Connect To Work
Connect to Work is a three-year* Government-funded programme that will be available to people with disabilities, those with health conditions and people with complex barriers to employment in all nine of our boroughs.
The programme will focus on giving people the support they need to get into good work quickly and then provide ongoing support to the employer and employee to help them develop in that role.
We are working with the Department of Work and Pensions and our boroughs to finalise plans to go live this summer.
Trailblazers
Launching soon, Trailblazers, a one-year programme, will trial innovative approaches to support people who are economically inactive into work.
This will include a mix of self-employment or business start-up support, childcare contributions, and training to help people find and stay in work.
Don’t miss out
Sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date with Trailblazers, Connect to Work, and our other employment, skills and careers support.
Discover more about our employment programmes.
*with potential to extend for a further two years.
Our Work and Health Programme has helped over 21,000 people across our nine boroughs to either find work, training, or taken them closer to the job market.
While the programme is no longer taking referrals, our employment support team is working hard with our delivery partners to ensure people on the programme are getting the best support possible to find long-term work they enjoy.
This year already our partners have organised over 35 events and workshops to help people find work, and many more activities are planned.
One of the thousands of people who have been helped to find work and transform their lives, is Nick from Greenwich, who joined the Work and Health Programme in March 2024, facing an abrupt career change prompted by health issues. Nick was supported by Greenwich Local Labour and Business (GLLaB) who deliver our Work and Health Programme in Greenwich.
How Nick nailed his career change*
1. Rebuilding confidence
Having built a successful career in the retail industry, Nick’s forced career change due to health issues was not easy. It affected his confidence, but he was determined to rebuild his life.
Nick joined the Local London Work and Health programme and quickly received vital support from the team’s health specialists who guided him through the emotional and practical challenges posed by his health changes. This helped him adapt and foster a renewed sense of self-belief.
2. Being open to opportunities
The Work and Health Programme team referred him onto a Level 1 Digital Skills course at Lewisham College. This proved pivotal. He embraced the learning experience, excelling in the course to the extent that his tutor encouraged him to pursue a higher-level course. To facilitate his learning, partners at Greenwich’s GLLaB team provided him with a laptop, enabling him to practice at home.
3. Not giving up
It wasn’t long before Nick showed an interest in an ‘Assembly Technician’ apprenticeship. Nick actively engaged in CV reviews and mock interview sessions. His enthusiasm was evident, and his confidence grew daily. Despite his efforts, he was unsuccessful. But Nick did not give up.
Nick continued to engage with the programme’s work club regularly, receiving support with job searches, CV reviews, and interview preparation. He also participated in recruitment sessions run by the programme, meeting with potential employers both in group settings and one-to-one sessions.
4. Getting out and meeting employers
One of the defining moments in his journey was attending the annual GLLaB jobs fair. This event gave him the chance to meet prospective employers and network with key industry contacts. Notably, he met the local Mayor and this lifted his spirits.
During the event, Nick connected with a recruitment agency offering ‘Manufacturing Operator’ roles. The position involved a high level of technical skill and precision assembling mechanical and electro-mechanical sub-sea and land-based telecommunications equipment. This appealed to Nick and put himself forward to attend an assessment. His enthusiasm and potential shone, and was offered an interview.
5. Making the most of all the support available
With the support of the Work and Health programme’s employer engagement team, Nick took onboard the one-to-one tailored interview preparation. This meant he aced the interview and was offered the job!
To ensure he was work-ready, the programme provided travel-to-work expenses and high street vouchers to purchase work attire.
Since starting his new role some months ago, Nick has been thriving. He is enjoying working with his hands, and methodically assembling complex items.
The Power of Tailored Support
Nick’s key worker at GLLAB said “Nick’s journey is a testament to his perseverance, resilience, and the power of tailored support. From navigating setbacks to embracing new learning opportunities, he has not only secured employment but also regained his confidence, self-belief, and passion for work. His ability to transition from a 20-year career in retail management to a hands-on technical role demonstrates his adaptability and commitment to personal growth.”
Find out more
Find out more about our Employment Support Programmes
*Name changed.
Hundreds of people are receiving support through Local London Work and Health Programme Pioneer, part of the Government-funded specialist employment support for people in Wales, London and Southern Region who are looking for work.
Local London has been working with Maximus and JCP to improve collaboration, and month-on-month ensuring the programme reached the residents who needed its support.
Among the many people who have been supported through the programme, are Marcus and Pete. You can read their stories below.
Marcus is thriving with coffee and art
Marcus referred onto Local London Work and Health Programme Pioneer in December 2023 and started the programme in January 2024. Prior to starting, Marcus had been unemployed for 3 years and had attempted to study at university.
When Marcus joined Pioneer, he identified his major barriers as being his learning disability and symptoms of depression which made rejections really difficult and often caused him to feel listless.
Helping Marcus to follow through on his goals
Straight away Marcus’ advisor began working with him to identify his interests and environments that would fit his mental health needs. Together they worked on developing his CV, interviewing skills, and overall confidence, helping to push Marcus to follow through on his goals. His advisor also introduced Marcus to ‘Well Grounded’, a training provider specifically oriented to the coffee industry and barista work.
In the same month as starting on Pioneer, Marcus began his course at Well Grounded. In May, after successfully completing his course, Marcus was placed into a coffee shop to put his skills into practice. During this time, his advisor continued to support him and liaised on his behalf to find a solution with Well Grounded when a difficulty arose regarding the location of his role.
Starting a full-time, permanent role he loves
In July 2024, Marcus started his first full-time, permanent contract at a coffee shop at the Royal Opera House. Marcus is thrilled with his new role as it provides generous benefits, is in a field he loves, and he has a schedule that works best for him. He sees this current opportunity as the start of what he hopes to be a long and successful career.
In addition to his recent full-time contract, Marcus has also been encouraged to continue his own artistic pursuits and has successfully sold several pieces in the time he’s been working with Maximus. Marcus has recently been invited to take part in an art showcase, where he will have even more opportunities to display and sell his artwork.
Marcus’ mother said “The support Marcus has received from Maximus UK has really changed his life. Marcus is so much happier now because he had people who listened and believed in his abilities.
I was initially worried that Pioneer would just be a programme that focused on putting people wherever, but that wasn’t the case at all. I’m so grateful to everyone who worked with Marcus and gave him the encouragement he needed.”
Pete’s confidence has been restored
Pete joined WHP Pioneer looking for help finding work, this is what he said:
“I joined WHP Pioneer, hoping for the guidance needed to secure employment.
When I joined, my assigned employer advisor from Maximus reviewed my CV and helped me prepare for interviews. Repeated rejections impacted my confidence, and travel costs for interviews were challenging. But my advisor’s continuous support and encouragement rebuilt my confidence, and financial support for travel for interviews was a relief.
With Maximus’s help, I secured a new job. My advisor’s consistent check-ins ensured I was happy and doing well, boosting my confidence.
Overall, the support has been transformative, helping me find employment and restoring my confidence in my abilities.”
Find out more about the WHP Pioneer programme
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.
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.
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.
- Find out more: maximusuk.co.uk/london
*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.
- 55% of people on the programme are now actively job searching
- 26% have reported an increase employability skills
- 13% of people have gone on to successfully find employment
- Work Redbridge is the first borough to exceed expectations by supporting more people than it expected to be able to through the programme. Congratulations!
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:
- Barking and Dagenham – find out more at B&D Works (formerly Job Shop)
- Bexley– find out more at BBE (Bexley Business and Employment)
- Bromley – find out more at Good Work Bromley Exchange at LSEC (London South East College)
- Enfield – find out more at STEPS (Skills Training Employment Pillar)
- Greenwich – find out more at GGLaB (Greenwich Local Labour & Business)
- Havering – find out more at Havering Works
- Newham – find out more at Our Newham Works
- Redbridge – find out more at Work Redbridge
- Waltham Forest – find out more at Waltham Forest Jobs
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
The Local London Work and Health Programme has supported over 20,000 people across our nine boroughs, including many who were a long way from the job market to get more work ready and find sustainable jobs they enjoy.
Through the programme, Maximus UK provide tailored employability support, skills training, as well as health and well-being support to enable people to progress on their journeys back into employment, or into work for the first time.
Launched in 2016, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, and the European Social Fund (2016 – 2023), Maximus can take referrals from Job Centre Plus and from external referral organisations to enable people living in our nine boroughs who are unemployed, or have long-term health conditions and/or disabilities to access the programme.
Contact Maximus to find out more: whp.maximusuk.co.uk/london.
Hear how the Work and Health Programme is helping Shirley
One of the thousands of people we have helped through the programme is Shirley. Shirley spoke to us about her experience on the programme and how the team at Maximus is helping her. Watch the video below to hear her story, or read it below.
Read Shirley’s story
Shirley: “I’m Shirley Beard and I’m 59 years old.”
Interviewer: Can you tell us about the programme?
Shirley: “Well it’s a work programme getting [people] into work or training sessions or that sort of thing.”
Interviewer: What do you do in the programme?
Shirley: “At the moment I’m doing a workshop and an exercise class every week.”
Interviewer: How has it helped you, Shirley?
Shirley: “It’s helped me a lot, getting out of myself and out of my shell, and working with the work programme and them trying to get me into work, and I am very happy being on that course. And I’ve started walking a lot more now. The exercise classes have helped me. They are a lot of help.”
Interviewer: How has it been most beneficial to you?
Shirley: “It has brought all my health problems down a bit more and that’s one thing I do love about Maximus.”
Interviewer: Anything else to add?
Shirley: “I want to say thank you very much for helping me to get me where I am now.”
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