People from across British Land and our local partners reflect on how our skills and employment programme, Bright Lights, is connecting people to jobs and opportunities at our places – proving the power of collaboration in a challenging and changing landscape.
Jo Hammond, Senior Community Investment Executive at British Land: “Nearly 1,000 people received meaningful employment support through Bright Lights last year and over 360 moved into employment. We could only achieve this by working collaboratively with our local partners, customers and suppliers. Together, we’ve flexed programmes as the situation has changed – repurposing funding, adapting and connecting people to new opportunities. We always take a Place Based approach, working with our site teams, customers and expert partners to understand local challenges and to make the biggest impact at each place. I want to thank everyone involved for their incredible work. Together, we’ll ride through the pandemic and help drive local economies.”
Opening doors to local people at Broadgate
Anthony Lee of the East London Business Alliance on our employment and skills partnership: “Even when we haven’t been able to meet candidates face-to-face because of the pandemic, we’ve continued to upskill people through online training and place them into jobs where they do well. We’ve supported 79 people through training since March 2021 and helped 25 people into jobs. Broadgate service partners like Wilson James and JPC have been brilliant, giving career insights on courses, interviewing candidates and offering job opportunities. We’re also working with training partner QA Ltd to create new IT apprenticeships for our community. It’s vital that more employers open their doors to local people. Candidates from Hackney and Tower Hamlets have a lot to offer.”
A launchpad for a lifetime at Fort Kinnaird
Liam Smith of Fort Kinnaird: “Communities and retailers have faced so much disruption this year, with changes in Covid and sudden recruitment needs. Thanks to our strong relationship with Capital City Partnership, we’ve been able to respond rapidly to help employers sustain business and move people who face barriers into employment.”
Rona Hunter of Capital City Partnership: “The reason our recruitment and skills partnership works so well is because there’s a real family feel at Fort Kinnaird, providing a safe environment for candidates. Retailers trust us to understand what they need. Drawing on our network of resource, we’ve supported nearly 90 people into jobs since April 2021 and delivered employability sessions to over 130 young people. We’re on site every day – so retailers know that, if problems come up, we’ll step in for our vulnerable clients, helping with childcare, work outfits and food, keeping families going until their wages come in. This is how people become self-reliant and progress. It’s a launchpad for a lifetime.”
Helping people who need it most at Royal Victoria Place
Nicky Blanchard of Royal Victoria Place: “Our customers are local people, so it’s important that we have strong local connections. Non-profit organisations like futURe store and YMCA, which have space in our Centre, do incredible work helping people who need it most. We’re passionate about supporting them. It’s about doing the best we possibly can for our town and community. This also directly helps us, our retailers and other employers in the town centre to fill vacancies.”
Janet Phythian of the futURe store: “Our partnership with British Land and Royal Victoria Place is crucial to the futURe store. We’ve been in the Centre since we first launched in 2018. When Covid struck, we immediately had to change our approach. British Land quickly provided us with critical funding, which made it possible for us to continue delivering training, advice and support to candidates. Last year, we helped over 320 people across our partnerships. As you help people furthest from the job market to grow ready for employment, they move out of isolation and contribute to society in so many ways.”
Adapting employment programmes for different communities
David Cooke of The Launch Group: “We work with British Land to run employability programmes that give local residents the skills to land sustainable jobs, including ringfenced opportunities with businesses at British Land’s places. Despite the obstacles that Covid presents, and not being able to work face-to-face, we’ve engaged over 130 candidates across eight sites this year, providing virtual training and one-to-one support. Over half have already gained employment in a range of sectors. At every site, we connect with British Land’s local partners, from small community organisations to council-led employment services. This helps us identify the local people who need the programmes most. There’s good communication with British Land’s site teams too, so we understand local needs better. Together, we analyse the programme and adapt it to be as strong as possible for different communities.”
Changing lives at Ealing Broadway
Rose Alexander, Community Manager: “The outcomes of our employment support programme are life-changing, assisting local jobseekers into stable work through high quality training, coaching and support. Several candidates secured jobs with our service partners and we’re working with our customers on future opportunities. Many managers and supervisors at our places started in entry level roles, so there is good career progression for candidates and we’re developing our talent pipeline. I’m proud of how British Land sees talent, even when some people can’t recognise it in themselves. As people are empowered to see the best in themselves, they grow in confidence and believe what they’re capable of as future employees. There is so much talent in our areas; and when we’re imaginative about how to engage that talent, everyone stands to benefit. It’s a value-add for our customers and local communities.”
Boosting social mobility at Paddington Central
Fusnara Begum of Paddington Central: “Covid forced us to shift the way we delivered our programmes. We quickly learned to pivot online and, although I had concerns about the barriers this may pose, the change came with many positives, such as widening our scope, tailoring the programme to the needs of participants and offering 1:1 coaching. A real value-add. Local people can provide a huge amount to a company in terms of local knowledge, strong community ties and language skills. It’s been incredible to be part of participants’ journeys through our programme, as they grow in confidence and secure employment. When you change a person’s life in this way, it boosts social mobility. We couldn’t do this without our local partners – collaboration is key.”
At the heart of our communities – Meadowhall
Darren Pearce, Centre Director at Meadowhall: “There are huge opportunities at Meadowhall, but some people need additional help to build their confidence and skills so they can take up those opportunities. Working with local partners on employment support programmes, we cut down the barriers that prevent people from accessing the job market. This makes a huge difference to people’s lives, health and wellbeing. Promoting employment opportunities through our communities is one of the highest things on our agenda at the moment, together with Covid safety. To maintain the strength of our offer and the Centre’s high customer satisfaction scores, we need great people; and in this challenging period of history, it’s essential that organisations like Meadowhall – which are at the heart of our communities – connect and support people for their wider wellbeing.”
Find out more about Bright Lights