Westminster’s New Jobs Drive: 48,000 Roles on the Horizon
A new Westminster employment strategy has been set in motion as the council publishes a report detailing how it plans to equip residents with the right skills for 48,000 new jobs expected across the borough by 2035. The initiative addresses a growing mismatch between the skills employers need and the qualifications many locals currently hold, with a particular focus on tackling youth unemployment, boosting apprenticeships, and improving access to training.
As one of the UK’s economic powerhouses, Westminster is home to over 54,000 businesses and more than 755,000 workers. Yet, beneath that success, the city faces stubborn gaps in employment, especially among young people and lower-skilled residents in parts of the northwest. Over 26,000 residents currently hold qualifications at GCSE-level or below, at a time when many of the fastest-growing jobs will require advanced or specialist skills.
The report, developed by Volterra, forecasts major growth in sectors such as professional services, the creative industries, construction and hospitality. But the pipeline of training, apprenticeships and support programmes needs to catch up. Among the most urgent issues are a lack of adult training in certain areas, low apprenticeship uptake, and barriers like childcare and language skills preventing residents from entering or rejoining the workforce.
To help close these gaps, the council is expected to ramp up investment in employer engagement, training providers, and inclusive economic development. This will build on initiatives already underway, such as the North Paddington Opportunities Project, the Digital Dash programme for tech-curious young people, and Connect to Work, which supports residents with health conditions or disabilities.
The report recommends:
- Supporting lower-skilled and unemployed residents into growth sectors
- Expanding access to childcare, English language classes and apprenticeships
- Strengthening collaboration between employers and training organisations
- Running localised schemes to help carers, young people and inactive residents into work
Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development at Westminster City Council, 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 has the opportunity to thrive and have access to good jobs.”
Jessie Buscombe, Chair of the Education, Employment and Skills Board (EESB), added:
“I’m delighted to see the publication of this independent report which illustrates what more we can do to improve the training offer in Westminster.”
The full Westminster Skills Base report will underpin the development of a long-term strategy to ensure that no one is left behind as the city continues to grow. For those interested in how local councils are tackling economic inclusion, the Learning and Work Institute offers additional resources on community-driven skills development across the UK.
For more stories about jobs, development, and daily life in the heart of the capital, visit EyeOnLondon Westminster. We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments and help shape the conversation locally.
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