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Introduction This strategy sets out the council’s response to the COVID 19 crisis and it’s effects on the local labour market and residents of Richmond. Setting out an employment and skills strategy to help combat some of the fallout from the crisis and how to ensure that the core objectives identified in response to the Ofsted inspection in February 20 are still considered.

The objectives identified to address the effects of COVID 19 on the residents of Richmond:-

1. Work Match to deliver employment support and job brokerage services to residents and business in the borough

2. Richmond Council to offer Kick Start Work Placement opportunities for residents aged between 18-24 with the Shared Staffing Arrangement (SSA)

3. To support residents aged between 18-24 into apprenticeship opportunities provided by Ways to Work

4. The Construction Skills Fund project Construction Gateway to engage with development sites in Richmond to provide job opportunities and training for Richmond residents

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The objectives identified to address the areas for improvement in the Ofsted report are as follows:-

1- To increase the number of learners attending education and training specially from disadvantage backgrounds including those with disability and the elderly

2- To meet the needs of individuals and the community in Richmond ensuring where appropriate effective pathways into employment

3- To increase participation and progression from Community Learning courses, into accredited programmes, apprenticeship and employment

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Headline Data of effects of COVID-19 on the UK Labour Market

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Richmond Headline Data of effects of COVID-19 on Labour Market

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Key Recommendations - Employment Support Council Investment

That the Council invests in services like Work Match and Ways to Work to support residents particularly those in the 18-24 age group where unemployment has risen since March 2020 by 181%

Work Match

Work Match to provide residents with training, employment support and job brokerage to gain sustainable employment

To support Richmond businesses and organisations providing services in Health, Social Care, Security, Construction and Customer Service to recruit local talented staff

Ways to Work

To priorities residents aged between 18-24yrs into apprenticeship opportunities

South London Partnership (SLP)

To maximise our sub regional partnership which includes the 5 boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton. Richmond seeks to continue to maximise its influence in the partnership, and work through the partnership to develop employer engagement strategies at a scale that could not be achieved as a single borough acting alone.

Work and Health Programme - Better Working Futures

Capitalise on the Work and Health Programme which is an employment support programme devolved in London to be commissioned by sub regions. The programme in South London is managed by SLP with Croydon council as the accountable body. In South London the programme is delivered by Reed in partnership

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and is designed to improve employment outcomes for people with health conditions or disabilities and those unemployed for more than two years.

Mayors Construction Academy Hub – SLP

To ensure that Richmond engages with the new Mayors Construction Academy Hub in South London. The GLA have awarded SLP approx. £500K to deliver the following main aims for residents in Richmond, Kingston, Croydon, Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth:-

• ensure construction employers’ skills requirements are communicated to skills training providers, and construction skills training availability is communicated to employers;

• enable employer-led curriculum design enhancements and ensure work placement/apprenticeship/employment opportunities are shared across the collaborating MCA Hub partners;

• provide job brokerage assistance between local learners, construction skills training providers and employers; and

• arrange additional pre-employability or learning support to Londoners who have failed to secure construction employment, ensuring they are guided towards new construction opportunities.

Construction Gateway - Wandsworth Council

Get the most out of the Construction Skills Project Construction Gateway. Wandsworth council deliver a constructions skills training programme funded by the Department for Education and administrated by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). The Construction Skills Fund supports the development of construction on-site training hubs. The hubs help train long-term

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unemployed and people who are looking to make a career change into the construction industry. This programme is open to all residents in the South London area including Richmond residents

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Key Recommendations - Skills priorities 1. Employability will be a key priority to ensure that local

residents have the skills and support needed to re- enter the labour market.

2. Sector specific Training in Health & Social Care, Construction, Security and Contact Centres (telephone or online support) these are sectors that will continue to grow despite the COVID recession

3. Financial inclusion to support residents to increase their capability to use relevant knowledge and understanding to manage an expected or an unpredictable situation in order to solve a financial problem and convert it to a benefit or opportunity.

4. Focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing as many residents will require skills on how to better manage their mental health and wellbeing in light of the COVID – 19 crisis

5. Continue to support residents who have English as a Second Language (ESOL), with a focus on Language to Work.

6. Invest in provision that supports socially Isolated of Older residents, those with disabilities and Health Conditions

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GLA Skills for Londoners

In April 2019 the Adult Education budget was devolved in London to the Mayor’s office Greater London Authority (GLA). It’s important that any employment and skills strategy in Richmond also includes the priorities set out in the Skills for Londoners strategy.

There are three key priorities for Skills for Londoners:

1. empower all Londoners to access the education and skills to participate in society and progress in education and work

2. meet the needs of London's economy and employers now and in the future

3. deliver a strategic city-wide technical skills and adult education offer