Councillor Abdul Wahid, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Growth, presenting at the Bridging the Skills Gap event.
Residents, business owners and officers from Tower Hamlets Council joined forces to address skills gaps in the workforce through two events hosted in the borough.
The first event took place on 7 June at One Canada Square in Canary Wharf and saw over 50 representatives from local businesses and key partners discuss the critical need to work together to bridge future skills gaps.
The free event, titled Bridging the Skills Gap for a Brighter Future, was hosted by the Council’s Growth and Economic Development team, and saw speakers from varying sectors ignite thoughtful conversations.
Nick Langham, of Langdon Park School, shared a headteachers point of view, Colin Eaton, Learning and Development Manager at Financial Services Compensation Scheme, discussed skills of the future and, Aleyna Prokudina, Policy Officer at Central London Forward spoke about the development of the Local Skills Improvement Plan.
Aelswith Frayne, Tower Hamlets Council’s Head of Employment and Skills was able to update on council initiatives before the event closed with a panel discussion and question and answer session.
The event is part of a business-focused series that aims to support the growth and resilience of local businesses; the next event is set to take place in October, and you can find out more details by signing up to the council’s Business Support E-newsletter.
Later in the week on the 9 June, an Employability Skills Fair event aimed at residents looking to improve their skills to support their employment journey took place at the Idea Store in Whitechapel.
Over 23 training providers hosted stalls and provided support for residents looking to upskill and boost their employability; they shared available opportunities and helped residents enrol onto courses.
The event, attended by 120 residents, was organised by WorkPath, the Council’s employment service, both officers and employability partners were able to share a vast number of training opportunities and volunteering roles. This fair will be held twice a year to boost local knowledge of the support available to residents.
Councillor Abdul Wahid, Lead Member for Jobs, Skills and Growth, said:
“We know that there are skill shortages that we must address, our businesses have told us that they are finding it increasingly difficult to successfully fill their vacancies. We believe that with the right collaboration and support, we can tackle these challenges and create a more equipped, empowered, and skilful workforce.
“I want to thank everyone who attended these two events; to the businesses who engaged in the thought-provoking panel discussions, to the residents who are taking a proactive approach in their employment and upskilling journey, it is so important we come together to discuss this important topic.
“I hope to meet more local businesses and residents in the near future as we continue to deliver these free events across the borough.”
The Council hosts events throughout the year that aim to support businesses and local residents, you can keep up to date through the forementioned Business Support e-newsletter. If you’re a resident, you can sign up to our E-newsletter or, you can follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
Posted on Tuesday 27th June 2023