The Mayor of London and London Councils today launch an Inclusive Talent Strategy for the capital, as Sadiq commits £147.2m to fund a skills revolution – helping Londoners get the skills they need to progress their careers and break down the barriers to good work.
The launch of the strategy is a key milestone in delivering the London Growth Plan, developed jointly by the Mayor and London Councils, in partnership with London boroughs, businesses, trade unions and others.
The strategy sets out a vision for a truly inclusive economy where every Londoner can fulfil their potential, play their part in driving growth and reap the rewards of a thriving economy.
To support the delivery of this work, the Mayor has announced he is investing £147.2m to kickstart a skills revolution in London. This funding will transform the system to make skills the engine of growth and opportunity in London – helping to unlock at least 150,000 high quality jobs.
This will build on previous investment in initiatives to get Londoners into work, such as the Connect to Work programme and the £60m Get London Working Trailblazers, delivered in partnership by the Mayor, boroughs, sub-regional partnerships and training and skills providers.
The Inclusive Talent Strategy will, for the first time, put employers at the heart of the skills system, creating a direct link between the skills businesses need to grow and the opportunities for Londoners to learn them.
Currently, businesses struggle to find staff with the skills they need, due to a chronic skills mismatch holding the capital’s economy back – more than 45,000 job vacancies were hard to fill due to skills shortages in 2024.
This new approach will give employers confidence to invest and commit to London, knowing that they will be able to access a pipeline of diverse talent with relevant skills, and it will ensure Londoners are better equipped to benefit from shifts in the economic landscape, including the transition to net-zero and the AI revolution.
AI is quickly changing the economic landscape and Londoners risk being left behind and the Mayor wants to make sure all Londoners are equipped for this AI revolution by providing the skills needed to harness the benefits of AI.
Sadiq will work with London’s partners to make sure that every person can benefit from this shift, as AI creates new kinds and higher paid jobs in a wide range of industries for those with the right skills.
Over a quarter of a million economically inactive Londoners want to work but face barriers to finding a job.
By joining up London’s skills and employment system with other key services, particularly health, the strategy will make it easier for young Londoners and people with disabilities or long-term health conditions to access the support they need to get into work or training.
Alongside this, a renewed focus on improving access to affordable childcare, housing and transport, will ensure every Londoner has the opportunity to find and stay in a good job.
New research from City Hall reveals that boosting access to good jobs for black and minority ethnic Londoners could bring 290,000 more Londoners into work and could unlock £17.4bn in economic benefit for the capital through higher salaries.
Tackling inequality – and making both the moral and business case for greater workplace diversity and inclusion – remains a key priority for the Mayor and London boroughs and is at the heart of the Inclusive Talent Strategy
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s economy cannot achieve its potential until all Londoners are achieving their potential. That’s why I’m proud to be announcing this funding to radically reform and transform our skills system in the face of a fast-changing economy, ensuring all Londoners are equipped for the AI revolution.
“Londoners will either be left behind by AI or seize its huge potential. That is why I have launched my Inclusive Talent Strategy in partnership with London Councils to ensure Londoners are equipped with the skills to harness the benefits of AI for higher-paid jobs. I know closing the skills gap is a generational challenge and this strategy is an important start, creating a truly diverse pipeline of talent across the capital.
“Businesses will be able to recruit the talented people they need, because investment will be targeted at the courses which produce them. Ensuring Londoners, no matter their background, have the opportunity to get the skills they need to get a good job and a secure career.
“The principle of inclusive growth set out in the London Growth Plan isn’t just a statement of values; it’s also the only route to long-term prosperity for our city and the people who call it home. Every one of our goals – getting our productivity growth back on track, helping to create 150,000 good jobs, and raising the income of the poorest Londoners by 20 per cent – is anchored in our commitment to building a fairer economy that works for everyone. No Londoner can be left behind.”
