Client: Central London Forward


Central London is a major source of job opportunities and wealth. However, it also contains areas of high deprivation and persistent unemployment which result in significant numbers of local residents – many of whom face multiple barriers – being unable to access the opportunities.

In response to this key issue, Central London Forward and its constituent boroughs, appointed us to prepare an Employment Business Case that described how, given more effective levers over the commissioning and delivery of employment support provision in Central London, and the development of a collaborative approach, the sub-region’s ability to support unemployed residents into work could be improved. The business case formed part of the London Local Growth Deal submission that was being developed by London Councils and the GLA under the aegis of the London Enterprise Panel (LEP).

The work involved scoping existing provision in the areas, identifying a support framework (which included the triage process, key worker role, routeways into employment, and links to growth sectors), and undertaking a cost benefit analysis to assess the potential savings that could be achieved through local joined up delivery (using the New Economy CBA unit cost database to underpin the assessment).

The identified approach involved a three-year programme to provide more effective support for over 10,800 residents who were furthest away from the labour market, with the principal target groups being Work Programme leavers returning to JSA and young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). The programme had a target of 2,350 net additional jobs over the three-year period and the key features included:

  • a ‘wrap around’ employment service – initially for the most disadvantaged residents;
  • joint commissioning of provision;
  • a sub-regional jobs brokerage service for employers; and
  • joined up information and intelligence.

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