The Regeneration and Economic Development Committee met on Thursday 15 October 2026 to discuss the Local London Local Skills Improvement Plan and the Redbridge Economic Growth and Investment Strategy. The committee also reviewed the Regeneration and Economic Development Work Plan for 2026-27.

Local London - Local Skills Improvement Plan

Forogh Rahmani, Director of Local London, presented an overview of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), a strategy designed to address the skills needs of London's economy. Local London is one of four sub-regional partnerships across the city, representing nine local authorities, including Redbridge. The plan is employer-led and aims to align skills provision with the demands of local economies, supported by data analysis.

Key points from the presentation included:

• Economic Context: The sub-region has a significant economy (£60 billion) and is experiencing rapid population growth, with a target of building over 200,000 homes. While business counts have increased, the growth has largely been in low-productivity sectors, leading to a lack of improvement in overall productivity. There is a high concentration of low-paid, low-skilled jobs, and a lower proportion of residents with higher education skills. Persistent challenges include economic inactivity and youth unemployment.
• Key Sectors: The five key sectors identified for focus are construction, health and social care, creative industries, manufacturing, and transport and logistics.
• LSIP Commitments: The plan includes strengthening engagement between employers, education institutions, local authorities, and businesses. It also commits to using labour market intelligence to shape provision, expanding sector-specific training, increasing digital and AI skills training, improving careers advice, and supporting progression from entry-level roles.
• Inclusion and Opportunity: A key focus is on improving access for young people, unemployed residents, and those facing barriers to work, as well as better connecting skills, health, and employment support.
• Expected Outcomes: The LSIP aims to reduce skills shortages, improve workforce productivity, increase local employment and progression, and strengthen alignment between economic growth ambitions and skills investment.

During the discussion, councillors raised questions about the specific skills gaps in Redbridge, how older residents with limited digital confidence would be supported, and the potential impact of AI on jobs. Ms. Rahmani confirmed that adult skills funding is available and that further education colleges like New City College offer support. She also acknowledged the need to address the challenges posed by AI, noting that while some jobs may be impacted, new opportunities are also being created. The LSIP is a three-year plan, to be refreshed every three years, with the next review scheduled for 2029.

Redbridge Economic Growth and Investment Strategy

Tom Dewey, Director of Regeneration and Growth, and Liz Hannem, Economic Development Team Manager, presented the emerging themes for the Redbridge Economic Growth and Investment Strategy. This strategy aims to provide a long-term framework for economic growth in Redbridge, building on the previous Employment Skills and Enterprise Strategy.

Key aspects of the strategy include:

• Redbridge at a Glance: The borough has a growing population, but faces challenges with economic inactivity (22.1%, higher than the London average) and an employment rate below the Get Britain Working target. The business base is dominated by micro-businesses, and Ilford Town Centre has a significant vacancy rate.
• Economic Dashboard: Redbridge has developed an economic dashboard to provide a clear evidence base for interventions, tracking business performance, employment, and town centre vitality.
• Business Performance: While Redbridge has a high number of business start-ups, the survival rate past the first year is a concern. The strategy aims to support businesses to grow and pay the London Living Wage, despite challenging economic conditions.
• Employment: The employment rate is below the London average, and job density is low, indicating high competition for available jobs. The borough has a foundational economy with many lower-level jobs, but there is a need to provide opportunities for residents to aspire to higher-skilled roles. A significant gender pay gap has been identified.
• Town Centres: The strategy aims to strengthen town centres by increasing dwell time, encouraging local spending, and addressing vacancy rates. Ilford is the largest town centre, but also has the highest proportion of vacant floor space.
• Strategy Pillars: The proposed strategy is built around four key pillars:
  1. People: Supporting residents to access skills, employment, and opportunities, with a focus on construction, health and social care, and digital sectors.
  2. Business: Creating conditions for businesses to start, grow, and innovate, including support for digital adoption and access to resources like the business and enterprise hub.
  3. Place: Developing vibrant town centres and neighbourhoods with distinct identities to encourage people to spend time and money locally.
  4. Investment: Securing investment that supports sustainable economic growth and creates good jobs, ensuring that Section 106 agreements include clear employment and skills obligations.

During the discussion, councillors raised points about measuring the success of the current strategy, the need for flexibility in the new strategy due to changing grant funding, and the importance of data-driven decision-making. The concept of a Job Guarantee was discussed as a potential mechanism to address skills gaps and improve local areas. The strategy aims to attract investment by promoting Redbridge's prospectus and engaging with developers and investors. Concerns were also raised about the impact of development on local infrastructure, such as GPs and roads, which the local plan aims to address. The gender pay gap was discussed in detail, with acknowledgement that women, particularly from certain ethnic groups, are disproportionately represented among the economically inactive and those not earning the London Living Wage.

Regeneration and Economic Development Work Plan 2026-27

The committee reviewed the proposed Regeneration and Economic Development Work Plan for 2026-27. The plan outlines the topics to be discussed at future committee meetings, including Town Centre Regeneration, Implementation Approaches, and further discussions on the Economic Growth and Investment Strategy. The committee agreed to note the work plan.

The next meeting of the Regeneration and Economic Development Committee is scheduled for 3 December 2026.