Westminster helps almost 3,000 people to find work during the economic downturn

Westminster Council is set to invest more than £1 million to help almost 3,000 people in the heart of London find work during the economic downturn, council bosses have announced.

Under the new 'Westminster Works' initiative, the council will engage with thousands of job seekers to help them access training and long-term employment, with a particular focus on deprived areas of the city.

London and especially Westminster, as the centre of the capital, is set to bear the brunt of the recession but the council is taking action to help residents and small businesses.

This announcement came as major businesses and community organisations met at a special council convened economic summit to discuss how to take the council's City Recovery programme forward.

To help people get back into work, Westminster will work directly with local employers to generate a range of opportunities from six month job placements, to increase the skills of those who are unemployed, to two-week job trials and CV and interview workshops.

The council is also helping to establish the new London Apprentice Company, which will give hundreds of people on the job training while also gaining recognised qualifications such as NVQs.

It is anticipated that the scheme – the first of its kind in the UK - will create employment opportunities in a range of sectors including logistics, transport, health, financial services, creative and cultural and the hospitality and leisure industry.

The apprentice company will employ, train and 'hire out' employees to small businesses, which will benefit from a reduction in red tape by not having to deal with the payroll, probationary reviews or pastoral care of the apprentice. These tasks will be carried out by the apprentice company.

This will be a significant boost to small businesses in Westminster. Central London has more small companies than any other area in the UK, with around 80% of companies employing less than five people.

Cllr Colin Barrow, leader of Westminster Council, said: "The months ahead will be tough for many people in the heart of London but we are committed to doing all we can to help thousands of residents to access training and find employment.

"Westminster is predicted to be harder hit in terms of unemployment than elsewhere in the capital but these schemes will make a real difference helping people find work.
"Doing nothing is not an option. We recognise that we have to be proactive in our attempts to protect residents, small businesses, voluntary organisations and the wider economy from the potentially devastating impact of recession."

Westminster is also directly helping young people and has launched a Youth Enterprise Hub, to help budding entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground.

Dozens of entrepreneurs of the future will be in direct contact with business leaders, mentors and creative talent through a Young Business Club, Enterprise Evenings with businesses and a Paddington Dragon’s Den.

Additionally, a newly-created council highway traineeship project has taken on 10 young people and dozens of other applicants are being supported to get back into work through interview practice and training.

In October, the council announced a 17-point city recovery programme to protect residents and small business during the downturn.