Despite its overall prosperity, London’s unemployment rate is one of the highest in the UK – and has been consistently so since the early 1990s.

Skills provision in London needs more direction from the Mayor, stronger business leadership and accountability if arrangements are to serve the needs of the capital in an environment of increasing global competitiveness.

London First aims to:

• Ensure London’s workforce is appropriately skilled to compete for the jobs available
• Equip the capital with a high quality workforce that benefits a world city
• Use the 2012 Games as a major catalyst to get 75,000 more Londoners into work
• Persuade policymakers to refocus skills provision so that training is better matched to London employers’ needs

Skills London 2013

Businesses looking to inspire and recruit the next generation of students, trainees and employees are looking ahead to Skills London 2013 on 22-23 November 2013 at ExCeL London.

The two-day event, providing young Londoners with access to job vacancies, have-a-go opportunities as well as information and advice on careers and training, is the largest of its kind and has been organised by London First since 2005. This event follows the success of Skills London 2012, launched by the Mayor of London and sponsored by the National Apprenticeship Service, and which had more employers offering more jobs than ever before.

Some 30,000 visitors and 150 exhibitors are expected to attend this interactive careers event for 16-24 year olds in 2013. The event will include the same interactive experiences, on the spot careers advice, seminars and bustling exhibition which combined to great success in previous years.

The Skills London 2013 website includes information on exhibitors, events and film clips from previous events and you can download the promotional brochure here.

Apprenticeships – a skilled London workforce

Apprenticeships are a valuable way of getting more Londoners properly trained and into lasting jobs. By employing an apprentice, businesses are able to provide opportunities to young people and nurture valuable members of staff. London First seeks to promote the business benefits that apprenticeships can provide for business and lobbies to ensure the Government’s apprenticeship strategy is fit for purpose and business friendly.

The London Apprenticeship Company (LAC) helps businesses, particularly smaller firms, to find and recruit apprentices. Through this process, it also aims to deliver meaningful employment and training to young people in London.

London First was one of the first organisations to employ an apprentice through the LAC. We benefitted from employing a dedicated member of staff at a competitive rate, who provided valuable support across the organisation. Each of our apprentices have immediately found permanent employment after leaving London First.

World Skills UK – The Skills Show is the UK’s biggest national skills and careers event and is packed full of skills competitions and careers advice, Have a Go activities and some of the biggest names in skills and education all under one roof.

This event will take place on 15-17 November 2012 at the NEC Birmingham.