Word from the Cabinet
Cllr Jacqui Dyer, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Community Safety, said: “Lambeth will be a place where industry, training providers, the council and the community sector come together to deliver a world class skills system – rooted in the lived experience and aspirations of our residents and needs of our employers.”
The borough has seen steady economic growth over the last decade, with rising employment, business investment into the borough and fast improving skill levels. As a key part of the London economy, Lambeth has contributed to and benefited from the continuing success of the capital as a world city. Despite the remaining unknowns for the UK economy, the council is optimistic that for Lambeth itself the prospects for future growth are good.
Tackling inequality
However tackling inequality and ensuring all communities benefit equally from growth remains a challenge. The Lambeth Equality Commission revealed exclusion is still experienced by some among our Black Caribbean, Portuguese and Somali communities, and there are difficulties being faced by residents with disabilities, long term health issues, care leavers and homeless people in obtaining and staying in work.
Apprenticeships can be part of the solution and give people from diverse communities the opportunity to earn while they learn, gain the skills they need to succeed in emerging industries and make career progress. Lambeth currently has 36 staff who joined as apprentices, and are now highly valued team members with the potential to be future leaders. Lambeth is aiming to employ 60 apprentices in 2020-21 by attracting new talent and up-skilling existing staff.
Apprentices
We aim to ensure that our apprenticeships have the best interest of our local residents at their heart. Chloe Morris, a Democratic Services apprentice from Tulse Hill, said: “I have been here for 10 months and my apprenticeship is for 22 months, so I am just about halfway through it.
“At first I didn’t know what I wanted to be, I did want to be a social worker, but then it got to a point when I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Doing the apprenticeship and having an insight into the world of democratic services has made me realise this is what I want to do. I’m involved with committee meetings where you get to meet some of the general public, so it’s nice to see their reaction to things because it’s my local area too.”
A second apprentice, Deborah Beckford, a Public Health Associate Project Manager, said “I work on various projects within the Public Health department, such as Lambeth Healthy Weight Training, which is a borough wide project to help reduces childhood obesity.
“I have lived in Lambeth for nearly 45 years and I wanted the opportunity to serve the community that I love so much. I would definitely recommend the apprenticeship to others, it really is a fantastic way to gain experience and gain a qualification at the same time.
“I think more people should consider it as an option. What I like most about working here is getting to see the way in which my department is helping to make Lambeth a healthy place to live, work and play.”
