Tag Archives: #WestLondonBusiness

Media release
13 June 2024

For further information, to visit the Hub or to arrange interviews there, please email [email protected]

The West London Retail Skills Hub launched at Westfield White City on Thursday 6 June, and will be a truly pioneering way to address the retail skills shortage and grow the wider business talent pool in West London. The first of its kind, the Hub is a beacon of hope for the rest of the UK, too.

The West London Retail Skills Hub is a new resource developed by Westfield, the charity Spark! and West London College – supported by Ethos Farm, Inspire ATA and West London Business.

The Hub will support people of all ages to start or grow their career in retail and was inspired by one of the key recommendations arising from the West London Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), which aims to improve skills and opportunities right across West London. It is funded through a blend of investment from the public and private sectors.

Located in the heart of Westfield London, White City, with an entrance next door to John Lewis & Partners, the Hub will develop over the next year to provide world-class retail training – including employment support and specialist retail programmes – for the local community.

Jobseekers looking for careers in retail can email [email protected] to schedule an appointment with an advisor.

Speaking about the launch, Katie Wyle, Head of Shopping Centre Management, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “We are thrilled about the opening of the new Retail Skills Hub at Westfield London, which represents a significant step forward in redefining retail as a dynamic and rewarding career path. Our goal is to not only support our retail tenants by providing well-trained staff but also to inspire job seekers and employees with the diverse opportunities the retail sector offers. Through targeted outreach, recruitment support, and comprehensive training programs, we aim to showcase retail as a viable and exciting career choice.”

Karen Redhead OBE, CEO & Principal, West London College, added: “West London College is proud to be a key partner in the West London Retail Skills Hub. This exciting initiative opens up invaluable opportunities for communities across the seven boroughs of the region to gain essential skills and experience for a thriving career in retail. By collaborating with local businesses from Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow, the Hub empowers us to further inspire and drive economic success in the region through high-quality education and skills development.”

Matt Lent, CEO of Spark! shared: “Spark! is delighted to be a partner in the new Retail Skills Hub, based in the heart of the largest shopping centre in Europe, Westfield London. This resource is a game changer for retailers and young people alike, connecting employers with their future talent and creating the employability skills and pathways into rewarding careers for young people.”

For further information, visit www.retailskillshub.london

ENDS

For further information, to visit the Hub or to arrange interviews there, please email [email protected]

Notes to editors:
Photo 1: L-R: Matt Lent, Spark!, Katie Wyle, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, and Matt Fawcett, West London College, at the launch of the West London Retail Skills Hub.
Photo 2: The West London Retail Skills Hub launched on Thursday 6 June and will support people of all ages to start or grow their career in retail.

Images courtesy of West London Retail Skills Hub.

For a high resolution versions of the images, please click here.

About West London Business:
West London Corporate Leaders’ Action Group (CLAG) operates under the umbrella of West London Business, chaired by Shanker Patel.

West London Business (WLB) ensures West London is a successful, inclusive, environment for responsible business. West London is the UK’s global gateway; a £73billion+ GVA economy underpinned by 120,000+ businesses. We are a business-led leadership forum, with members including Heathrow and Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as key regional firms such as Fuller, Smith & Turner and Bigham’s. WLB has 15,000+ supporters and convenes 30+ events per annum, including the West London Business Awards.

Our members work together through WLB to raise West London’s global economic competitiveness and catalyse action for people and planet. Through our work we inform and influence the work of local, regional, and national government policymakers and promote inward investment.

To find out more, visit www.westlondon.com.

Media contact:
Fiona Anderson,
GEC PR, 07931 382773
[email protected]

Great News for Job Seekers: The West London Retail Skills Hub Launches on Thursday 6 June

Media release

23 May 2024

West London retailers, charities and educators have united in a bid to get more young people into local jobs with a new concept, the West London Retail Skills Hub, launching at Westfield White City on Thursday 16 June. 

The West London Retail Skills Hub will be a new resource developed by Westfield, the charity Spark! and West London College – supported by Ethos Farm, Inspire ATA and West London Business.

The Hub will support people of all ages to start or grow their career in retail and was inspired by one of the key recommendations arising from the West London Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP). It is funded through a blend of investment from the public and private sectors.

Located in the heart of Westfield London, White City, with an entrance next door to John Lewis & Partners, the Hub will develop over the next year to provide world-class retail training – including employment support and specialist retail programmes – for the local community.

Jobseekers looking for careers in retail can email [email protected] to schedule an appointment with an advisor.

Speaking about the launch, Katie Wyle, Head of Shopping Centre Management, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of the new Retail Skills Hub at Westfield London, which represents a significant step forward in redefining retail as a dynamic and rewarding career path. Our goal is to not only support our retail tenants by providing well-trained staff but also to inspire job seekers and employees with the diverse opportunities the retail sector offers. Through targeted outreach, recruitment support, and comprehensive training programs, we aim to showcase retail as a viable and exciting career choice.”

Karen Redhead OBE, CEO & Principal, West London College, added: “West London College is proud to be a key partner in the West London Retail Skills Hub. This exciting initiative opens up invaluable opportunities for the local community to gain essential skills and experience for a thriving career in retail. By collaborating with local businesses, the Hub empowers us to further inspire and drive economic success in the region through high-quality education and skills development.”

Matt Lent, CEO of Spark! shared: “Spark! is delighted to be a partner in the new Retail Skills Hub, based in the heart of the largest shopping centre in Europe, Westfield London. This resource is a game changer for retailers and young people alike, connecting employers with their future talent and creating the employability skills and pathways into rewarding careers for young people.”

For further information or to register interest to attend, visit https://westlondon.com/events/1259-west-london-retail-skills-hub-launch/.

ENDS

For further information, to attend or to arrange interviews, please email [email protected]

 

Notes to editors:
Photos 1 and 2 : The West London Retails Skills Hub, launching Thursday 6 June, will support people of all ages to start or grow their career in retail. Images courtesy of West London Retail Skills Hub.

For a high resolution versions of the images, please click here.

About West London Business:
West London Corporate Leaders’ Action Group (CLAG) operates under the umbrella of West London Business, chaired by Shanker Patel.

West London Business (WLB) ensures West London is a successful, inclusive, environment for responsible business. West London is the UK’s global gateway; a £73billion+ GVA economy underpinned by 120,000+ businesses. We are a business-led leadership forum, with members including Heathrow and Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as key regional firms such as Fuller, Smith & Turner and Bigham’s. WLB has 15,000+ supporters and convenes 30+ events per annum, including the West London Business Awards.

Our members work together through WLB to raise West London’s global economic competitiveness and catalyse action for people and planet. Through our work we inform and influence the work of local, regional, and national government policymakers and promote inward investment.

To find out more, visit www.westlondon.com.

Media contact:

Fiona Anderson, GEC PR, 07931 382773

[email protected]

Media release
00.01 Monday 29 April 2024

What’s Best for West London?  

Ahead of London’s Mayoral Election,

West London Business Outlines Key Priorities in 2024 Manifesto


Ahead of the London Mayoral Election, West London Business (WLB) has released a Manifesto, setting out the key priorities for London’s new Mayor, that will benefit those who live and work in the West London vicinity: Inclusive employment; Innovation and growth; Education and skills; The built environment; Climate change; and Energy & infrastructure.

West London is the world’s most connected place. It is a £70bn+ economic powerhouse – with Heathrow Airport, the UK’s global gateway; 2 million residents and a workforce with a wide range of skills; a world-leading TV and film production cluster; the White City Innovation District; and Park Royal – the UK’s largest and most successful industrial estate.

Andrew Dakers, CEO, West London Business, said: “Absolutely critical to West London’s contribution to the capital and UK’s growth is energy supply – the latest research indicates urgent grid reinforcement upwards of 2,300 MVA is needed.  We urge the new Mayor to work with WLB and other stakeholders in securing accelerated investment from National Grid in the high voltage transmission network serving West London.”

“I encourage Londoners based in the west of our capital to get out and vote next Thursday 2nd May, to have a say on who will be next to lead the greatest city in the world.”

A copy of the manifesto can be downloaded here: https://westlondon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WLB_Mayoral_Election_Manifesto_2024.pdf

                                                                              ENDS

 For further information or to arrange interviews, please email [email protected]

 

Notes to editors:
Photo 1: Ahead of the London Mayoral Election, West London Business (WLB) has released a Manifesto, setting out the key priorities for London’s new Mayor.
Photo 2: Andrew Dakers, CEO, West London Business.

For higher resolution versions of the images, please click here.

About West London Business:
West London Business (WLB) ensures West London is a successful, inclusive, environment for responsible business. West London is the UK’s global gateway; a £73billion+ GVA economy underpinned by 120,000+ businesses. We are a business-led leadership forum, with members including Heathrow and Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as key regional firms such as Fuller, Smith & Turner and Bigham’s. WLB has 15,000+ supporters and convenes 30+ events per annum, including the West London Business Awards.

Our members work together through WLB to raise West London’s global economic competitiveness and catalyse action for people and planet. Through our work we inform and influence the work of local, regional, and national government policymakers and promote inward investment.

To find out more, visit www.westlondon.com.

Media contact:
Fiona Anderson, GEC PR, 07931 382773
[email protected]

Kim Challis Named as Incoming Chair of West London Corporate Leaders’ Action Group


West London Corporate Leaders’ Action Group (CLAG), has announced that Kim Challis, Regional Managing Director of APCOA UK & Ireland, will imminently take over the role of Chair of the business-led solutions group.

Kim Challis is currently Chair designate of CLAG, and will be taking the helm from former Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kay from 1 June 2024.

CLAG was created in June 2021 to formulate business-led actions to respond to the significant economic contraction West London faced as a result of the pandemic, aligning with and complementing the work driven by local authorities and other partners across the sub-region.

The initiative, which formally launched on 2 March 2022 at the Capital West London Growth Summit, has since been coordinated by West London Business (WLB) and supported by the West London Alliance. The group focuses on four workstreams: Recruitment and skills; Place and identity; Net Zero and infrastructure; and Innovation and growth.

Speaking about her appointment, Kim Challis, Regional Managing Director for APCOA’s UK & Ireland and Chair designate of CLAG, said: “I am hugely excited about taking on the prestigious role of Chair of West London Corporate Leaders’ Action Group. I look forward to meeting with other corporate WLB members engaged in the work of the West London Corporate Leaders’ Action Group to tackle the challenges we face within the area, and devise the actions we can take together to drive improvement for those in our local communities.”

Shanker Patel, Chair, West London Business, added: “I am delighted that Kim will step up to Chair CLAG from 1 June, succeeding John Holland-Kaye.  Kim has taken an active approach to Social value in APCOA UK, leading their work to increase opportunities to develop women and young talent by thinking differently about how the company recruits and markets itself.

“With the right support of Government, West London is exceptionally well placed to drive economic growth in the years ahead with leading corporates collaborating to share best practice. There is a lot of good collaborative work going on locally in West London, but some real risks too: the March 2025 funding cliff edge for key skills and economic development programmes (notably UKSPF), and the labour market squeeze caused by overly restrictive immigration rules that came into effect on 1 April.

“Infrastructure investment is desperately needed.  CLAG members will work together to ensure that Government, National Grid and SSEN urgently address energy capacity constraints.  We will also continue to champion the West London Orbital (WLO) rail scheme which is incredibly good value for money bringing passenger services to a barely used freight line linking Brentford FC to Brent Cross via Old Oak Common.”
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Leadership and Sustainability Innovation Take Centre Stage at The West London Business Awards 2024

Leadership and Sustainability Innovation Take Centre Stage at
The West London Business Awards 2024

A total of 24 winners were recognised at the 2024 West London Business Awards.

Hosted by comedienne Jenny Eclair and attended by over 400 business leaders, entrepreneurs, and VIPs, the Awards was held at Twickenham Stadium on Friday 16th  February.
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WEST LONDON’S FILM AND TV INDUSTRY IS GLOBALLY SOUGHT-AFTER AND ACTIVELY GROWING THE UK ECONOMY

West London’s Film And TV Industry Is Globally Sought-After And Actively Growing The UK Economy

A new report looking into the economic viability of the film and TV industry reveals that West London is now firmly established as a global film and TV destination that is both building the West London local economy, and also demonstrating how other areas in the UK can learn from it to generate financial growth and local jobs.
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West London Business Awards 2024 Shortlist Revealed


West London Business Awards 2024 Shortlist Revealed

4 January 2024 – The 11th annual West London Business Awards once again celebrate the sub-region’s world-class talent and business excellence…  

The West London Business Awards continue the tradition of recognising the best of business across the sub-region by today revealing nominees for the 2024 shortlist. Now in their 11th year, the awards recognise organisations big and small for their achievements in making West London the best place to do business. Since nominations opened in July, entries have been received from across a range of industries and the judging process has been highly competitive. All shortlisted organisations are congratulated for making this stage of the awards process.
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How Green is Your Pension? First League Table of UK Pension Master Trusts Published By West London Business

The UK’s first ‘league table’ of leading Master Trusts carbon footprint performance has been published this week, providing valuable information to help Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) better understand the carbon impact of their pension scheme. The Master Trusts have £131bn assets under management on behalf of 25 million pensioners. Continue reading →

Launch of the London Skills Improvement Plan and West London Annex Sets Roadmap to Tackle West London’s Employment & Skills Crisis

Local unemployment in West London remains double pre-pandemic levels, yet businesses are struggling to find the staff they need. However, businesses in West London are now set to benefit from a Department for Education funded initiative launched this week that seeks to address the skills shortages that are stopping business growth in West London by helping local residents match their skills to available jobs.

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