Category Archives: Employment

Wembley campaigner welcomes return of Marks and Spencer

Posted on June 2, 2012 | Leave a comment
Afifa Pervez talking to a Wembley resident

Wembley campaigner Afifa Pervez

Campaigning Wembley resident Afifa Parvez has welcomed official confirmation that Marks and Spencer is returning to Wembley.Afifa predicted last December that the return of Marks and Spencer to Wembley was closer than ever following a previous round of store announcements by London Designer Outlet developers Quintain.

There has not been a Marks and Spencer in Wembley since the company closed its store at 492 High Road in summer 2005. In October 2007 Brent Council granted permission for a gym, two shops and 45 flats on the site.

Seven years after the closure the success of the Wembley regeneration project – much of which was planned during the time the Liberal Democrats led the council – means that residents can once again look forward to shopping at Marks and Spencer in Wembley.

Afifa Parvez said:

Over the years I’ve seen the area go through many ups and downs. It was a big blow when Marks and Spencer closed in 2005. I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues have long campaigned to get the best deal for local residents from Quintain and the Wembley regeneration project.

 This is now paying off. The return of Marks and Spencer is great news for local people.

Sarah Teather MP has also been involved in the campaign including at one point speaking directly to the then Chief Executive of Marks and Spencer, Sir Stuart Rose.

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Posted in Campaigns, Employment

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Record numbers of apprentices in Brent welcomed

Posted on February 10, 2012 | Leave a comment

New figures reveal that over 1500 people in the Brent area benefitted from an apprenticeship last year (2010-11), an increase of 156% compared to 2009-10.

This news comes during National Apprenticeships Week, which celebrates the achievements of learners and employers. Brent Council is seeking to recruit at least eight apprentices this year as part of a scheme that was launched when the Liberal Democrats led the council.

Councillor Barry CheeseCouncillor Barry Cheese, Liberal Democrat councillor for Brondesbury Park, said:

This dramatic growth in apprentices is welcome news for young people in Brent at a time when it can be tough to get a foot on the employment ladder. Apprenticeships equip our young people with skills needed to get jobs and build prosperous careers.

The Brent Council apprenticeship scheme launched by the Liberal Democrats has been a great success. I am pleased that Liberal Democrats in government are giving more employers encouragement to train young people and create opportunities for apprentices.

Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, Vince Cable said:

National Apprenticeships Week is the time to celebrate the countless achievements of learners and employers, and to call on more firms to hire an apprentice and enjoy the competitive advantage they can bring to a business.

I am very proud of the fact that at a time of financial constraint this Coalition Government has prioritised investment in apprenticeships. This has led to the creation of record numbers of apprenticeships combined with tough new standards to drive up quality.

Apprenticeships are at the centre of the Coalition’s skills policy because we know that they work. Not only do they provide individuals with the skills they need for prosperous and rewarding careers, they also boost businesses’ profits and drive growth in the wider economy.

We are providing extra help to enable small employers to hire their first apprentices.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg highlights that apprentices will become more accessible to small businesses following the introduction of a £1500 cash incentive for small businesses taking on their first apprentice under the age of 24.

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Posted in Employment, Government, Young People

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Willesden councillor Ann Hunter helps students get set for future careers

Posted on November 30, 2011 | Leave a comment

Willesden Liberal Democrat Councillor Ann Hunter has helped young people in Brent to consider their future careers and practice their interviewing skills.

She joined students at Capital City Academy last Tuesday (22 November) for a careers speed networking event, and on Thursday (24 November) took part in mock interviews with students at Crest Girls Academy.

Both events were organised by Brent and Harrow Education Business Service (HEBS). Around 190 young people met professionals from a wide variety of careers to discuss their working lives.

Councillor Ann Hunter with students at Capital City Academy

During the Careers Speed Networking adults from different career backgrounds, including a barrister, a doctor, PCSOs, journalists, a physicist and an IT specialist, worked with students in small groups, giving them a brief synopsis of their job and its day-to-day activities, and then answering questions from them. Every ten minutes the pupils moved on to the next person.

It’s a format that the pupils enjoy, and get a lot out of as they to find out about the range of careers available, practice their questioning skills and find out more about the world of work.

The mock interviews are an invaluable opportunity to practice, and get feedback, on being interviewed. This is a skill which can mean the difference between getting a job or not, or whether or not you get into the university of your choice.

Speaking about the events, Cllr Ann Hunter said:

These are both really useful opportunities for the youngsters. It helps give them confidence before entering the jobs market for real, and coaches them how best to present the skills they have.

I was really impressed by the students’ attention and the quality of their questions at the Capital City Academy. The interviewees at Crest were remarkable in how well they presented themselves and their clear desire to achieve and fulfil their potential.

I think the young people there found it reassuring that many of us who were talking to them had changed careers several times, so realised that they weren’t tied to just one career once they’d decided on it. Some youngsters had already decided what they wanted to be, whether surgeons, plumbers or teachers, but many hadn’t. I think they now realise that flexibility in the job market is life-long and nowadays retraining and change is part of life.

 
Councillor Ann Hunter discusses careers with students at Capital City academy in Brent
The Brent and Harrow Education Business Service (BHEBS) has been providing work-related activities for 14 to 19-year olds in West London for almost ten years. BHEBS works with schools and local employers to raise the profile, value and quality of business education.

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Posted in Education, Employment, Young People

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Local Lib Dem councillors welcome extra cash for Willesden Green. £½m must be spent wisely and not frittered away

Posted on August 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

Willesden Green’s Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed the award of £500,000 from the Outer London Fund to help improve Willesden Green town centre before the Olympics.

However they have warned the money must be invested in projects that will have a lasting impact and not just spent to give a temporary boost to the area.

Cllr Gavin Sneddon said:

Willesden Green already has some good shops, especially restaurants and cafes, but there is a lot of potential for improvement. The High Street is let down by the number of vacant and dilapidated premises. Brent Council must make the most of this extra funding.

Investing local trainees and students to make premises more attractive will benefit residents and businesses as well as giving the students valuable experience.

Cllr Ann Hunter added:

We need to make sure the benefits are spread right along the High Street and Walm Lane and not just on the library centre site.

I am keen to see progress with the project to improve the entrance and forecourt to Sainsbury’s in the High Street, which is going to involve several local groups like Transition Town Willesden and St. Mungo’s and to improve the environment around the tube station.

We want to make Willesden Green a really attractive place to visit!

The largest portion of the £500,000 grant is set to be spent on physical improvements to premises including new shop fronts, internal repairs and decoration (£200,000). In return for the improvements landlords will need to agree to provide the shops rent-free to local organisations and start-up businesses which will employ trainees.

£100,000 is set to be spent on “animation of the high street with temporary, experiential and permanent public art installations” and £50,000 on Christmas lights and decorations.

Cllr Ann Hunter and Cllr Gavin Sneddon discuss local issues

Cllr Ann Hunter and Cllr Gavin Sneddon are working to improve Willesden Town Centre

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Posted in Community, Employment, Environment

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Glenda’s dishonesty just sums up Labour’s shame, say Liberal Democrats

Posted on March 21, 2010 | Leave a comment

Close on the heels of the scandal of 3 Labour MPs facing prosecution for false accounting of their expenses, Labour MP Glenda Jackson has been accused of dishonesty on the issue of the Labour Government’s Cuts in funding for Brent In2 Work, Brent Council’s award winning employment service.

Over two years ago the Labour Government ended the Neighbourhood Renewal funding for employment services in deprived areas and replaced it with the Working Neighbourhood Fund.  Brent Council was initially awarded £8.2 million for a 3 year programme only to be told a few weeks later that the Government made an error and the funding was being slashed to just £4 million over 3 years.

Brent Council protested and appealed the decision and warned of the consequences, including the shutting down of Brent In2 Work offices and termination of services.  None of the local MPs challenged the Government decision.

Amazingly a year later after the Labour Government decision to cut the Brent In2 Work funding by more than half Glenda Jackson MP is accusing the Liberal Democrats of being responsible for cuts in the employment service.

Councillor Paul Lorber, Liberal Democrat Leader of Brent Council, reacted angrily saying:

” We know that Ms Jackson is fighting a losing battle to hang on to her seat at a time of Labour sleaze and corruption, but to stoop to making things up is beyond contempt.  We fought bitterly to stop the Labour Government slashing our funding, without warning, a year ago.  This decision has come at the worst possible time for the people of Brent. I appealed to the Labour Minister to meet me and discuss it at the time and he refused.  Instead they just carried on and reduced Brent’s allocation of funding.

It’s clear Glenda Jackson still thinks she’s in one of her Morecombe and Wise comedy sketches.  Unfortunately for Brent, this is actually real life.  I don’t remember Glenda Jackson raising her head and helping us at the time we were fighting for the funding; you have to wonder where she gets the audacity to comment now.”

Commenting on Labour Councillor Mary Arnold, Cllr Anthony Dunn added,

“This is typical of a hapless Labour Councillor.  Happy to accept Labour Government cuts and then shed crocodile tears when faced with the consequences for local residents. The people of Kilburn will see through Mary Arnold’s sham.”

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Posted in Employment, Labour Failure

Liberal Democrats aim to secure employment services in Brent, despite Government cuts.

Posted on December 14, 2009 | Leave a comment

The Liberal Democrat-led Executive is working on the formation of a new company which aims to secure the future of employment services in Brent.

Last year, the Labour Government reneged on a promise it made about funding for Brent In2 Work and withdrew £4 million from the programme, putting the scheme at risk.  In addition, nearly £3 million worth of contract work from the Mayor’s London Development Agency will shortly cease.

Given the shortfall, the Liberal Democrat-led Council has worked hard to find a way to secure the future of the employment service, which helps local residents to find training and work.

On Monday 14th December the Liberal Democrat-led Executive will agree to form a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ in partnership with Working Links Ltd. – a well-established welfare provider with a strong track record of delivery – specifically to deliver the New Deal programme.  But instead of delivering services just to Brent, the new company will provide the service across West London.

The types of help local residents can expect to see include a continuation of the successful Language Into Work programme, local outreach centres in Council premises, job-related skills training such as CV writing, support for the long-term unemployed, and strong links with local employers across West London.

Speaking about the proposals Cllr Paul Lorber, Liberal Democrat Leader of Brent Council, said:

“In this toughest of recessions, we cannot and will not let job prospects for local residents go into freefall, regardless of the severe hit we have taken from both the Labour Government and Boris Johnson’s London Development Agency withdrawing money.”

“We are doing everything we can at a local level to pull together a number of partners including other Councils and to continue to use the huge expertise we have already shown as a Council in job creation, preventing unemployment, and training people for jobs.”

“This is an ambitious project which, if the Bid is successful, will bring benefits to the whole of West London.  We are determined to protect those who most need it in this difficult economic climate.”

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Posted in Employment