- 19th March 2026
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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).
Local London has today unveiled its first Investment Prospectus showcasing multi-million-pound market ready opportunities in the fastest growing part of London.
The prospectus, produced by White Hawk Green, highlights the extraordinary breadth and scale of regeneration and housing projects emerging across its nine east London boroughs north and south of the river.
The launch took place at Local London’s second Investment and Development Forum, where developers, investors and local leaders gathered to explore a pipeline of transformative schemes across north and south‑east London.
East London has long been a driver of London and the UK’s growth, and its development potential is unparalleled. The prospectus outlines a diverse range of investable propositions valued from £30 million to more than £960 million, offering opportunities for investors from multinational corporates to private equity, infrastructure funds and public sector partnerships.
With 40% of London’s brownfield land and 55% of the capital’s developable space, Local London represents one of the most strategically important geographies for the UK’s long-term economic success.
Connected to global markets and national growth corridors, the sub-region has the capacity to deliver more than 145,000 new homes and new employment districts and has been earmarked for two New Towns. These opportunities, alongside major regeneration areas, show the sheer scale of potential available to investors ready to engage in shaping the capital’s next era of growth.
The sub-region already boasts some of London’s most celebrated regeneration success stories. Developments such as Barking Riverside, The Quarry in Erith, Lorimer Village in Goodmayes, Blackhorse Lane in Waltham Forest, the Royal Docks, and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park demonstrate East London’s ability to turn post-industrial landscapes into thriving residential, cultural and commercial destinations.
Building on this momentum, the Investment Prospectus brings together some of borough’s best sites and opportunities, signalling to developers and investors across the world that East London is entering a new phase of ambition.
Boasting international connectivity, a skilled and diverse workforce and vast development potential, the sub‑region offers:
Cllr Okereke, Chair of Local London Leader of Greenwich said “Our boroughs are already transformational success stories, and our future is even brighter. With capacity for more than 145,000 homes and two new towns, fast-growing job sectors and the fastest growing population in the capital, we are motivated to attract investment to help our communities thrive.
The scale, diversity and pace of development possible here make our sub-region one of the most compelling investment opportunities anywhere for developers and investors of many types. This joint prospectus demonstrates the political will and market-ready opportunities, that will deliver our ambition for sustainable, inclusive growth.”
Mayor Fiaz OBE, Chair of the Local London Growth Board and Mayor of Newham said "The Local London sub-region is entering a new era of ambition. This joint investment prospectus removes the barriers for developers, showcasing a multi-billion-pound pipeline of market-ready opportunities that are perfectly aligned with the London Growth Plan and the London Infrastructure Framework. In Newham, this directly fuels our own Local Growth Plan, where we are leveraging our unique position to deliver the homes, high-quality jobs, and green innovation the UK needs in our drive for growth, jobs and opportunities for local people. We are open for business, strategically integrated, and ready to deliver at scale.”
Local London will be engaging with investors at UKREiiF and London Real Estate Forum in 2026, as well as through their series of Development Fora and regional events.
The full prospectus is available at: local.london/investment-prospectus
Explore the Local London Vision local.london/vision
If you are interested our investment and development opportunities, please get in touch: hello.localLondon@redbridge.gov.uk
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
On 12 November we hosted a Skills and Employment Summit to champion the integration of skills and workforce development across our sub-region.
Across the sub-region great progress has been made to join up employers’ needs and local skills provision, but the dialogue must continue. We are looking for businesses and employers to shape our new Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) to ensure that skills and training provision continues to meet local businesses’ needs.
Have your say in our survey (closing date: 30 January 2026).
We are really keen to gather feedback from a wide range of businesses from micro to large please share this survey with your networks.
Forogh Rahmani, Director of Local London, said: “Boosting skills and employment is at the heart of our new Vision for Growth.
Since researching and publishing our current Local Skills Improvement Plan we have made great strides towards aligning skills and training with real-world needs of local businesses. Across the sub-region there is far greater collaboration than there was, and the Local London Skills Providers Network is a brilliant example of this.
The workplace is changing at pace, and our LSIP must keep up. That’s why we’re asking employers from across the sub-region to contribute their views and guide our work to ensure it reflects their priorities.”
Watch our video to find out more about skills and employment in the sub-region and how you can shape future training.
Our 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.
For more information, contact llconnecttowork@redbridge.gov.uk
Our Careers Hub team work with over 218 mainstream and specialist schools in our sub-region. From offering work experience, to sharing your experiences with young people as a volunteer ‘Enterprise Advisor’ or taking part in careers fairs, you can play crucial role in inspiring and broadening the horizons of young people.
For more information, contact: careershub.east@redbridge.gov.uk
Our Work Connections website has a growing library of resources to help employers find and recruit talent, become more inclusive employers and much more. Visit workconnections.london
Our thanks to the brilliant speakers in our film:
Discover more about our Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP): local.london/lsip
If you would like to be part of shaping the future of skills complete our LSIP survey.
Interested in finding out more? Please contact us, we'd love to hear from you.
Are you passionate about helping people into good work and shaping a fairer, more inclusive labour market? This is your chance to lead a role that truly matters.
We’re looking for someone who can connect, influence, and inspire; someone who thrives on building strategic relationships and turning ideas into action. You’ll be at the heart of our mission to deliver high-fidelity supported employment services across the sub-region, ensuring employers embrace inclusive practices and open doors for everyone.
Lead the way in developing strong, inclusive partnerships with employers and stakeholders across sectors.
Champion supported employment principles like job carving, reasonable adjustments, and values-based recruitment.
Design and deliver training and workshops that empower employers to adopt inclusive practices.
Act as the bridge between borough teams and employers, ensuring collaboration and consistency across the sub-region.
Create practical resources and toolkits that make inclusive recruitment simple and effective.
Organise impactful events that showcase success stories and inspire change.
Drive continuous improvement by embedding IPS and SEQF fidelity in service delivery.
You’re not just experienced; you’re motivated by purpose. You understand the employment and skills system and have a track record of building partnerships that deliver results.
You’re a confident communicator, a skilled project manager, and someone who believes that work should work for everyone.
Knowledge of supported employment models (IPS, SEQF) is a bonus, but your passion for inclusion is what really counts.
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.
Following the launch of our Vision for Growth last week, which is built around four missions including supporting business and enterprise, we have published our E-business evaluation report. This report analyses the impact made and learning to be taken from our free digital support programme which ran from October 2021 to September 2024.
Designed to support to micro, small and medium-sized businesses to adopt digital technologies to grow and become more resilient, the programme successfully supported over 3,000 local businesses across the boroughs in the Local London sub-region.
Digital and business experts from three delivery partners - Enterprise Enfield, Newham College, and South East Enterprise – delivered the programme across eight boroughs (Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest), which resulted in safeguarding over 4,000 jobs and leading to over £57m increase in business revenue.
Testament to the success of the Local London E-business programme, the model was adopted, taking onboard our feedback and learning, to help SMEs across the whole of London benefit from developing their own digital knowledge.
The feedback detailed in the report highlights learning and successes, which are shared for future iterations of similar programmes. The Local London E-business programme was well received and appreciated by SMEs. In fact, 9 out of 10 businesses who responded to Local London’s survey considered the programme effective or very effective.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Chair of Local London’s Growth Board and Mayor of Newham commented:
“Through expertise of the three local providers Enterprise Enfield (working in Enfield, Redbridge and Waltham Forest), Newham College (covering Barking and Dagenham, Havering, and Newham), and South East Enterprise (Bexley and Greenwich), the programme supported thousands of businesses to build up their digital skills, setting them on course to grow their businesses.
The achievements of the programme highlighted in this report speak to the future-changing difference this investment has made to people in our communities.
We are immensely proud that this model, grown in Local London, has been adopted across the capital to provide vital support to our most vulnerable businesses, and we believe that this will contribute to London and the UK achieving its growth and frontier-leading ambitions.”
Discover the London-wide support for SMEs: www.businessforlondon.co.uk
Discover more about our Vision for Growth: local.london/vision
If you would like to be part of delivering our Vision get in touch.
Last week Local London published its Vision for Growth across its nine member boroughs, setting out ambitions to create a place where all can live well, succeed and thrive.
Researched and written by leading independent think tank, Centre for London, the Vision highlights how unlocking growth in the Local London sub-region will play a key role in meeting the UK’s prosperity ambitions.
The Vision provides a blueprint for growth, supporting the London Growth Plan and the UK government’s national industrial strategy and growth ambitions. It also highlights how chronic under-investment in infrastructure is limiting growth.
While the Growth Plan for London identified three key investment priorities - Stratford upgrade, DLR extension and the Bakerloo Line extension - Local London’s own research, produced by GC Insight*, goes further and identifies 15 priorities for investment.
The GC Insight report, which outlines the socio-economic benefits that each of these projects could catalyse, is already informing Local London’s advocacy and drive for investment, part of discussions at the sub-region’s first Investment Forum on 18 November 2025.
These transport infrastructure investments are key to:
Mayor Fiaz, Chair of Local London’s Growth Board and Mayor of Newham, said “For a number of years, investment in transport has not matched growth in our boroughs. This is holding up building much-needed housing and amenity, adversely affecting access to jobs and health services, and leading to high levels of car usage, which is negatively affecting air quality.
These issues affect us all, but the impacts are most especially felt by our in-need communities. Stalling transport investment is not an option.
With this appraisal of the sub-regional opportunities and challenges ahead, we will fortify our case for urgent transport investment to achieve the potential of this part of the capital.”
A spokesperson for GC Insight said “Our research shows that growth in east London—both north and south of the river—is being constrained by a lack of investment in transport infrastructure. Unlocking these projects will deliver far-reaching benefits, from boosting housing supply and improving air quality to creating jobs and enhancing quality of life.”
* GC Insight formerly operating as ekosgen
Discover more about our Vision for Growth: local.london/vision
If you would like to be part of delivering our Vision get in touch.