Following the Mayor of London's negative comments earlier this year Kieran Gordon, ICG Immediate Past President and Andrea Allgood from the ICG Council met with Mario Ablea of the LSEB.
They have reported back from the meeting;
There are currently 1.5 million people not in employment or training in London. Skills shortages are particularly prominent amongst BMEs, women and those with a disability.
The LSEB recognises that IAG is a key lever to assist adults to find work or undertake learning. Yet it was felt that the current situation with multiple agencies offering IAG under multiple brands is confusing for users and may result in both gaps and duplication. The London Skills and Employments Board are considering the benefits of a single IAG brand, as an umbrella for a network of provision. No decision on structures made yet.
There are currently consultations being held on the Skills and Employment Strategy; individuals and organisations to respond on line by January 21 2008; www.london.gov.uk/lseb. The strategy is to be developed by early March 2008. The ICG have been invited to meet again with the LESB in January 2008 to look at successful approaches for supporting clients, to help them progress into learning and work, and to increase their understanding and inform strategic planning.
At the meeting the representative from the Mayor's office was very receptive to the points made by the ICG regarding the need for an all age strategy, quality and staff training issues. Recognition was made of the need for targeted services together with the use of ICT to give general support.
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