- 19th March 2026
- Back to All News
Local London is set to deliver a major new Youth Trailblazer programme to support young people at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), after being awarded £500,000 through the Greater London Authority.
With national NEET levels still close to one million and over 125,000 young people in London, the programme will actively engage with at-risk students to give them the help they need to progress confidently into post‑16 learning, employment or training, and a further 3-6 months support once they are there.
Running until March 2027, Local London will work with around 300 Year 11 learners from selected schools, including mainstream settings, alternative provision and PRUs. Part of the pan‑London Youth Trailblazer initiative, the programme will focus on improving young people’s transitions into post‑16 pathways and reducing NEET levels.
Working with school leaders and multi‑agency partners, Local London will work with students who have low attendance in school, faced exclusions, have SEND needs, mental health challenges and socio‑economic pressures and will provide tailored support including parental engagement, mentoring, and guidance on post‑16 pathways, including further education and apprenticeships.
Cllr Morgon, Chair of Local London’s Skills and Employment Board and Leader of Havering said “Young people who become NEET often face long‑lasting impacts on their future life chances. Research shows that they are significantly more likely to experience unemployment, lower earnings, poorer physical and mental health, and long‑term economic disadvantage well into adulthood. Through this programme we have an opportunity to step in and reduce the risks that lead to long‑term disengagement. This is about giving London’s most at-risk Year 11s the support they need to move confidently into education, employment or training and set them up for a brighter future.”
Funded through the Department of Work and Pensions and Greater London Authority, the pilot contributes to the Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ strategy and supports London’s Inclusive Talent Strategy and London Growth Plan which aim to help Londoners find the right training and career path for them.
The latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) data show that around 125,950 young people aged 16–24 in London were not in education, employment or training (NEET) between October and December 2025 (Q4).
- 17th March 2026
- Back to All News
Gateley Global appointed to deliver business start-up support for Local London Trailblazers
Local London has appointed Gateley Global, the specialist new market entry and economic development consultancy arm of professional services group Gateley, to help economically inactive residents move into self-employment and entrepreneurship through the Local London Trailblazers Business Start-Up Programme.
Following a competitive tender process, Gateley Global was selected to provide tailored business start‑up support across five boroughs in east and south‑east London: Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Havering and Redbridge. Residents in these areas can now access expert guidance to develop their ideas, build confidence and take their first steps towards launching a business.
Rebecca Bekkenutte, Managing Director of Gateley Global, said: “We are delighted to open our doors to help people in east and south‑east London explore their dreams of working for themselves. Many people who are not currently in work are highly entrepreneurial, and through Trailblazers we can give them the opportunity and support to realise their business ambitions. Taking those first steps needn’t be daunting - we’re here to help and look forward to working with everyone who joins the programme.”
Forogh Rahmani, Director of Local London, added: “It’s a pleasure to announce that Gateley Global are now working with some of our boroughs to help people set up their own businesses. This Trailblazer programme is exciting because it allows our boroughs to explore innovative ways to remove barriers to work, including childcare contributions, business start‑up support, job guidance and training. Take‑up has exceeded expectations, and with Gateley Global now in post, we can help even more people become financially independent.”
The Local London Trailblazers Business Start‑Up Programme, which is part of the wider Local London Economic Inactivity Trailblazers programme, offers one‑to‑one business planning support, training in financial management, marketing and AI tools, as well as grants of up to £5,000 to help with start‑up costs.
How to Apply:
The programme is open to residents who are currently economically inactive* and looking to explore the possibilities of self‑employment. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Live in one of the five Local London boroughs: Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Havering or Redbridge.
- Be economically inactive and not currently taking part in other DWP‑funded employment or business support.
- Have the right to live and work in the UK.
The programme is fully funded and free to take part in.
Find out more and apply online: www.locallondonstartup.com
*Those who would like to be in employment - but that due to personal circumstances - have not been able to work or who would find it difficult to begin employment in the next couple of weeks.
About Local London Economic Inactivity Trailblazers
Launched in 2025, over 1,200 people have already joined the Local London Economic Inactivity Trailblazers programme, supported by the Mayor of London.
Local London Trailblazers offers diverse support, including training and job support, business start-up support, and childcare contributions - to help people who are economically inactive to move closer to the job market.
The programme is available to people via the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge or Waltham Forest.
Find out more about Trailblazers: local.london/trailblazers
Find out more about Gately Global: Gateley Global - Gateley
- 4th March 2026
- Back to All News
Work with us: 2x Compliance Officers
Are you passionate about ensuring quality and compliance in employment programmes? We are actively seeking 2x dedicated Compliance Officers to become an integral part of our Local London team, working across a diverse portfolio of programmes.
Our award-winning team are working with nine brilliant boroughs and have already helped over 32,000 people find work or move closer to the job market, many of whom faced complex barriers.
As a Compliance Officer, you will collaborate closely with our delivery partners and the broader Local London team to uphold the highest standards of quality and compliance across our programmes. You will play a crucial role in our mission to boost work and skills, as outlined in our Vision for the sub-region. You will be driving continuous quality improvement, enhancing the experience of our residents, and supporting our providers in breaking down health and work-related barriers to facilitate residents' journey into sustainable employment.
About the role:
- Job reference: RQ002420
- Application closing date: 11/03/2026
- Location: Hybrid / Greater London
- Salary: £43,680 to £45,750 per annum
- Role type: full-time, permanent.
What you’ll do:
- Collaborate with delivery partners and the Local London team to ensure quality and compliance.
- Conduct monitoring activities, observations, training, and sample checks.
- Drive continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Support residents in overcoming health and work-related barriers to sustainable employment.
- Contribute to efforts addressing the cost-of-living crisis in the sub-region.
- Manage the fidelity and quality assurance of Supported Employment Quality Framework (SEQF) and the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) programme delivery, ensuring alignment with evidence-based standards.
As an outstanding candidate you will have:
- Experience in preparing for audits and developing processes.
- A proven track record of driving quality on large programmes.
- Excellent partnership working skills.
- Meticulous attention to detail.
Why join us
- Work on impactful programmes that transform lives. Learn about our programmes.
- Engage with a diverse network of stakeholders and communities.
- Be part of a forward-thinking team committed to innovation and success.
Note: you will be employed by London Borough of Redbridge (on Local London’s behalf)
To apply for this post, you must submit an online application form along with uploading a copy of your CV and cover letter.
*You will need to create an account to view jobs. It's free and quick to do.
All short-listed applicants will need to demonstrate proof of right to work in the UK.
We are committed to employment practices that promote diversity and inclusion in employment and welcome applications from qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, colour, race, religion, or belief.
- 27th February 2026
- Back to All News
Deputy Mayor for Business marks new phase of Connect To Work
Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor for Business, visited the London Borough of Redbridge on Wednesday 25 February to discuss the borough’s economic growth priorities and mark the official launch of a new Connect To Work partnership.
From April 2026, ‘Connect To Work’– a supported employment programme launched as part of the Government’s Get Britain Working strategy – will be funded through sub-regional partnerships via the GLA.
During his visit, Howard Dawber met with the Leader and the Chief Executive of Redbridge Council, which hosts and is a member of the Local London sub-regional partnership, to welcome the next phase of the Connect To Work programme.
The programme is expected to make a significant impact on the lives of people far from the job market. Through the GLA, the Local London sub-region will receive £36.1m to help in excess of 9,000 people across its nine boroughs over four years through Connect To Work.
The Connect To Work partnership between the GLA, Local London and its nine member boroughs, will use a tried and tested funding model that has already changed the lives of Londoners across its four sub-regional partnerships through initiatives including ‘No Wrong Door’, Trailblazers and Careers Hubs.
A pillar of inclusive growth, Connect To Work is successfully working with businesses and supporting residents with long-term health conditions, disabilities or complex barriers into good jobs and supporting those already in employment to stay in work.
Rounding out his tour of Ilford, the Deputy Mayor, took the time to speak with local businesses and residents who were excited to share how they have benefited from GLA-funded programmes.
Howard Dawber OBE, Deputy Mayor for Business and Growth, said “Driving growth and boosting the capital’s economy is our top priority. Our London Growth Plan, launched a year ago, is already making significant progress in supporting high streets and businesses, developing infrastructure and ensuring Londoners have the skills employers need to compete in a global workforce.
“It was great to see the vital work being in done in Redbridge to support local people with the skills and jobs they need to succeed, as we build a better, more prosperous London for everyone.”
Cllr Kam Rai, Leader of the London Borough of Redbridge, said “We were delighted to welcome Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor for Business today and discuss Redbridge’s economic growth strategy and our role in sub-regional and London-wide prosperity. Redbridge is a diverse, fast‑growing and highly skilled borough, and we were proud to showcase some of our fantastic local businesses and the employment support available to residents. We look forward to deepening our partnership with the GLA and Local London to ensure even more people can thrive.”
Forogh Rahmani, Director of Local London, said “Connect To Work is part of our sub-region’s vision for boosting work and skills in this part of London, and it is already making a significant impact on the lives of people in our nine London boroughs. I am thrilled that Deputy Mayor Dawber was able to hear from businesses and residents in our host borough about a number of programmes that are driving inclusive economic growth. We are committed to working with the GLA and our boroughs to help local people find and stay in good work.”
Connect to Work is one of the programmes offered by Work Redbridge to help businesses recruit talent and help local people find jobs.
Find out more about Connect To Work in Redbridge: www.redbridge.gov.uk/jobs/work-redbridge
Discover more about the Connect To Work in Local London local.london/connect-to-work
- 17th December 2025
- Back to All News
Join our team: Compliance Officer
Are you passionate about ensuring quality and compliance in employment programmes? We are actively seeking a dedicated Compliance Officer to become an integral part of our Local London team, working across a diverse portfolio of programmes.
Our award-winning team are working with nine brilliant boroughs and have already helped over 32,000 people find work or move closer to the job market, many of whom faced complex barriers.
As a Compliance Officer, you will collaborate closely with our delivery partners and the broader Local London team to uphold the highest standards of quality and compliance across our programmes. You will play a crucial role in our mission to boost work and skills, as outlined in our Vision for the sub-region. You will be driving continuous quality improvement, enhancing the experience of our residents, and supporting our providers in breaking down health and work-related barriers to facilitate residents' journey into sustainable employment.
About the role:
- Job reference: RQ002360
- Application closing date: 09/01/2026
- Location: Hybrid / Greater London
- Salary: £43,680 to £45,750 per annum
- Role type: full-time, fixed term contract until 31/03/2027
What you’ll do:
- Collaborate with delivery partners and the Local London team to ensure quality and compliance.
- Conduct monitoring activities, observations, training, and sample checks.
- Drive continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Support residents in overcoming health and work-related barriers to sustainable employment.
- Contribute to efforts addressing the cost-of-living crisis in the sub-region.
As an outstanding candidate you will have:
- Experience in preparing for audits and developing processes.
- A proven track record of driving quality on large programmes.
- Excellent partnership working skills.
- Meticulous attention to detail.
Why join us
- Work on impactful programmes that transform lives. Learn about our programmes.
- Engage with a diverse network of stakeholders and communities.
- Be part of a forward-thinking team committed to innovation and success.
Note: you will be employed by London Borough of Redbridge (on Local London’s behalf)
To apply for this post, you must submit an online application form along with uploading a copy of your CV and cover letter.
*You will need to create an account to view jobs. It's free and quick to do.
All short-listed applicants will need to demonstrate proof of right to work in the UK.
We are committed to employment practices that promote diversity and inclusion in employment and welcome applications from qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sex, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, colour, race, religion, or belief.
- 20th November 2025
- Back to All News
Skills and Employment Summit: Building an Integrated System for Growth
On 12 November Local London hosted a Skills and Employment Summit to drive forward an integrated approach to skills and workforce development across our sub-region.
Despite many successes to celebrate, the sub-region’s rapid population growth combined with persistent inequalities underscore the crucial need to tackle barriers constraining people and businesses in boroughs in north east and south east London.
To address this, Local London has placed boosting skills and employment at the heart of its new Vision.
Supported by the Mayor of London and BusinessLDN, the half-day event at City Hall brought together employers, education providers, local authorities, policy partners, and community organisations to explore practical solutions for recruitment, workforce development, and inclusive growth.
With distinguished speakers from government, education, training and business, the summit celebrated local successes and introduced new initiatives that will help thousands more people find good work in the sub-region.
Recently launched Connect to Work and Trailblazers programmes, funded by government, present opportunities for businesses and health sector colleagues to play an active role in helping local people find and stay in work.
While the new Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) will further align education and training with the needs of local businesses, helping people in this part of London to gain the skills they need to benefit from roles on their doorstep.
Cllr Ray Morgon, Chair of the Local London Skills and Employment Board and Leader of LB of Havering said “With a population set to exceed 3 million by 2050, there is an urgent need to create an integrated system that serves local people and businesses. We will be launching our Vision for inclusive and sustainable growth later this month and boosting employment and skills is right at the heart of this. To be effective, we need collaboration. Today’s Summit brought together people who can make that change, and we urge businesses, education and training providers, health partners to work with us to develop the cohesive system we need.”
The Local London Vision sets out our plan for the driving sustainable and inclusive employment backdrop of strategies that are catalysing change at a national and London level, including the London Growth Plan and the Inclusive Talent Strategy, and complementing national, London and borough growth and investment plans.
Our thanks to all our brilliant speakers and panellists:
- Nicki Hay MBE - Director of Apprenticeship Strategy and Policy | BPP Education Group, Skills England Board Member, AELP Chair
- Michael Morley - Group Director, DWP London
- Erica Moses-Neacy - Strategic Workforce Planning Specialist, Future Skills Team, TfL
- Asfa Sohail - Deputy CEO and Group Principal, LSEC and Co-Chair of the Local London Skills Providers Network
- Deputy Mayor Howard Dawber OBE, Business and Growth
- Janet Gardner OBE – Principal and CEO, Waltham Forest College
- Matt Robinson – CEO, GetZero
- Mark Hilton - Policy Delivery Director, BusinessLDN
- Christopher Rocks - Supervisory Economist, GLA Economics
- Forogh Rahmani – Director, Local London
Thanks to our partners supporting this event:
Discover more about the LSIP local.london/lsip
If you would like to be part of delivering our LSIP, get in touch: lsip.locallondon@redbridge.gov.uk
- 4th September 2025
- Back to All News
Green light for £47m investment to help people into work
Thousands of disabled people and people facing barriers to work across London will be helped into good, secure jobs following a major expansion of tailored employment support announced by the Department for Work and Pensions today [4 September 2025].
Boroughs in north east and south east London will receive a share of £47.1 million allocated to the Local London sub-region, as part of the Government’s Connect to Work programme.
The scheme uses proven models of intensive, personalised support, including individual coaching from employment specialists, job matching services, and ongoing support for both participants and employers to ensure sustainable employment outcomes.
This innovative five-year programme will be delivered by our nine London boroughs and is expected to help over 12,000 residents who face barriers to employment, or are at risk of losing their job because of these barriers, including those with health conditions, caring responsibilities, or limited access to personalised support.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said “For too long, too many Londoners have been denied the support they need to get back to health and back to work.
“It’s bad for their living standards, it’s bad for their families, and it’s bad for the economy.
“That’s why we’re taking decisive action by investing millions of pounds so sick or disabled people in London and beyond can overcome the barriers they face and move out of poverty and into good, secure jobs as part of our Plan for Change.”
Cllr Ray Morgon, Chair of Local London’s Employment and Skills Board, and Leader of London Borough of Havering said "This marks an important step in making a significant and much needed strategic investment in supporting local employment so that people here can access the help they need to move into and stay in quality local jobs.
“In our boroughs, while we have seen greater progress in growing economic activity than in other parts of London, our unemployment rate is still higher. Connect to Work will provide a vital boost to each of Local London’s boroughs to help our residents in most need of support to get into and stay in good jobs.”
This employment and skills investment across our boroughs comes in addition to the £7m we have already been awarded through the Trailblazer Programme to support residents into work.
Part of the Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ strategy, both programmes will complement the services that are already available from council services and Jobcentre Plus, and add to our current portfolio of support that has already helped more than 32,000 people get closer to the job market.
Further information: local.london/blog/programmes/connect-to-work
Media contact: Helen McKay, helen.mckay@redbridge.gov.uk / 07796 837 411
- 14th July 2025
- Back to All News
Work with us: childcare support and economic inactivity research
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
- Back to All News
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
- Back to All News
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.