Westminster Labour Councillors have welcomed a new report that will help ensure local residents benefit from the thousands of new jobs expected across the city in the coming decade.
The Westminster Skills Base report – commissioned by the Council in partnership with the newly created Westminster Education, Employment and Skills Board (EESB) – reveals that up to 48,000 new roles are likely to be created in Westminster by 2035. Yet it also shows that many residents still face real barriers to work, including low qualifications, lack of apprenticeships, and access to affordable childcare.
While Westminster is one of the UK’s economic powerhouses – home to 54,000 businesses and more than 755,000 jobs – this prosperity hasn’t always reached every corner of the city. Many parts of the city, notably North Paddington, continue to experience higher levels of unemployment and skills gaps, particularly in fast-growing sectors like hospitality, construction, the creative industries and professional services.
The new report offers a blueprint for tackling these inequalities and will feed directly into the Council’s full Skills Strategy, to be launched later this year.
A Local Strategy That Works for Everyone
The Skills Strategy is a central part of Labour-led Westminster Council’s Fairer Economy Plan, focused on ensuring that every resident – no matter their background, has a real chance to succeed in the modern economy.
Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:
“Whether it’s a young person starting out in their career, a parent returning to work, or someone looking to retrain, we want Westminster to be a place where everyone can thrive.
“This report gives us the insight we need to help residents build the skills for the jobs of the future and to ensure that local employers can find the talent they need right here in Westminster.”
The Skills Strategy will build on existing Labour-led initiatives such as:
- North Paddington Opportunities Project – supporting economically inactive residents into training and employment.
- Digital Dash – a tech-focused employability scheme for young people.
- Full Potential – helping care-experienced young people as part of the Get Britain Working agenda.
- Connect to Work – tailored employment support for residents with disabilities or long-term health conditions.