Cooperative Venture to Establish Recruitment and Training Centre for Canary Wharf and Tower

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The Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has announced that, in partnership with other local organisations, a new recruitment and training centre is to be established to meet the skills needs of Tower Hamlets and Canary Wharf.

The other partners involved, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH), Tower Hamlets College, East London Business Alliance and OCS, are all working together to set up the Canary Wharf Recruitment & Training Centre which is to be located at Heron Quays, Canary Wharf. This move is aimed at providing a fast and efficient service for employers in Canary Wharf and the Borough of Tower Hamlets, fighting the local skills gaps that are identified.

A Consortium Proves Benefits of Cooperation

The centre is to be run by the employment consortium known as Employment Solutionsand will aim to provide direct access for recruitment and training between the tenants of their estate and local jobseekers. The partnership has already delivered impressively in Tower Hamlets, finding some 700 jobs for local people in just one year. The centre will also cover the award winning Union of Construction and Allied Trades / Lewisham College Trade Union Study Centre, offering work ““ related training for Trade Union members.

The Consortium is aiming to work with young people to improve the transition from education to employment and to increase the competitiveness of residents in employment through skills development. As one of the fastest growing boroughs in the country, Tower Hamlets also has one of the most ethnically diverse populations. The centre will help to promote the interests of those local residents wishing to pursue a career at Canary Wharf, allowing them to take full advantage of the opportunities available.

The Centre will occupy a dedicated space and will allow employers from all sizes of organisations and from all sectors to interview and train new potential recruits in the heart of Canary Wharf. The Centre will focus on recruiting and training in the sectors of Banking & Finance, Hospitality, Hotel & Leisure, Security and Property Support Services. Initial screening procedures will still take place at local community venues with the successful candidates attending training directly linked to job opportunities at the centre.

Delivering the Supply Demanded

The Chief Executive of the Canary Wharf Group was delighted, saying: “Delivering supply and demand through this new centre will raise the profile and volume of work already successfully undertaken by the Partnership and I am delighted Canary Wharf has been able to donate this building and continue to support local people into areas of job growth.”

The Tower Hamlets Lead Councillor for Regeneration and Community Partnerships Shafiqul Haque shared his enthusiasm, saying: “This is a positive step in the regeneration of the borough through the Local Development Framework. The benefits to the local community will be far reaching from now until 2016. The Centre is a fine example of how community partnerships can make a huge difference in creating training opportunities and employment for local people.”

The concept of joining up the separate training initiatives was originated by Gay Harrington, Local Business Liaison Manager at Canary Wharf Limited, who has co-ordinated and led the team. She said: “This new initiative will bridge the gap between employers and job-seekers and will especially serve people in the local area looking to work on the estate. We want to do as much as we can to encourage people from the local community into employment here.”

Jethro Marsh

Will this help Canary Wharf or Tower Hamlets most? You decide in the FE Blog

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