Lewisham Council announces two new programmes to improve residents’ career prospects and boost employment in the borough
Lewisham residents are set to benefit from two new initiatives – Lewisham Works and Lewisham Creative Futures - to support them to get the skills, advice and opportunities to help them into secure, well-paid jobs.
Both schemes take a holistic approach to tackling unemployment in the borough, offering expert advice, tailored support, mentoring and training to address often complex barriers to work – whether that is lack of childcare, a skills gap or poor mental or physical health. The programmes will equip residents with the skills and confidence to move into meaningful work and stay there.
The Council secured a £750,000 investment through the European Social fund to deliver Lewisham Works. The programme already has a dedicated advisory team in place to work closely with local employers and training partners to secure roles for over 500 residents in in its first year alone, while providing the tailored support and skills people need to prepare for those particular roles.
As a job brokerage service, Lewisham Works also benefits the borough’s businesses, ensuring they reap the rewards of a fully skilled and motivated local workforce. Partnership is key and the Council is teaming up with the local Department for Work and Pensions, educational institutions, voluntary organisations and employers to provide residents with realistic pathways into a wide range of jobs across multiple sectors - from construction to hospitality to admin.
In a further boost to jobs and skills in the borough, the Council has procured over £500,000 funding from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund to deliver Lewisham Creative Futures. This new programme will support residents, focussing on people with learning disabilities, into employment – particularly in the digital and creative industries – while also improving their health and wellbeing.
The free programme of events, training, information and advice will be delivered between now and June 2022 in a partnership between Adult Learning Lewisham, Goldsmiths University of London, Entelechy Arts and The Albany.
Participants will have access to an adult careers information advice and guidance service. And opportunities for upskilling and retraining via a new ‘Skills Highway’ portal which includes visual maps to highlight the learning opportunities provided by Lewisham’s main education providers.
Entelechy Arts will join forces with Lewisham’s social prescribing network to provide opportunities that support mental health and wellbeing by referring residents to creative programmes. While local businesses and budding entrepreneurs will benefit from a programme of business support provided by Goldsmiths, University of London.
Cllr Kim Powell, Cabinet Member for Business and Community Wealth Building, said:
“Unemployment rates in Lewisham have been amplified by the pandemic. We have worked hard to tackle this through a number of initiatives, including our successful Apprenticeships scheme which is close to achieving its target of placing 250 new apprentices in the four years since 2018.
“But there is still work to be done. Both programmes will focus on helping those who may otherwise fall through the gaps or who are affected by deep institutional disparities, so that we can tackle long-term unemployment and meet the local needs of our borough and our residents.
“It will play a pivotal role towards achieving an economically sound future for residents – meaning they can support themselves and their families - and building a thriving local economy.”
Residents who would like to register for Lewisham Works, or businesses who are looking to recruit should contact JobsAndSkills@lewisham.gov.uk.
For more information about the Lewisham Creative Futures programme, visit www.wearelewisham.com/event/lewisham-creative-futures-pathway-to-work