How we’re performing so far
We are making significant progress on its Fairer Economy ambitions, fostering a diverse, resilient and inclusive local economy. Key achievements include milestones in the North Paddington Programme, such as the reopening of Maida Hill Market and the advancement of Canalside and shopfront improvement projects, which are enhancing public spaces and supporting local businesses.
We continue to invest in our high streets, with £3.13 million allocated for regeneration in Paddington and Bayswater, including shopfront upgrades, public realm feasibility studies and strategic planning to create vibrant community hubs.
Our recent Fairer Economy Plan refresh highlights achievements during the past year and sets new priorities, such as promoting social value, supporting green innovation and providing workshops to upskill residents. Our second Social Value Impact Report has also showcased how partnerships with developers and suppliers are benefiting local communities.
The Westminster Employment Service has strengthened its employment initiatives, collaborating with Westminster Adult Education Service and external partners to provide digital skills, accounting and creative crafts courses. Youth-focused programmes – including employability training and construction safety courses – are empowering young people to access job opportunities and apprenticeships.
Creative industries are thriving with the launch of North Paddington Creates, a grants program supporting arts and cultural activities to boost local pride and attract visitors. Additionally, the Church Street Triangle Enterprise Space now offers affordable workspaces and community amenities, fostering entrepreneurship.
Our new business support programmes target early-stage entrepreneurs, female founders and disabled-owned businesses, alongside tailored consultancy for scale-ups, driving innovation and resilience in key sectors. These initiatives collectively position Westminster as a hub for equitable economic growth.
Below we have highlighted other ways we are progressing on our Delivery Plan from July to September this year*. Although progress continues to be made, we know there is still work to do as we deliver our Fairer Westminster strategy.
(* based on the latest positions available at the end of September 2024.)
Improving job opportunities
Our aim is to provide employment opportunities that benefit all residents...
This August, we celebrated our open-air arts and culture across Westminster, as Inside Out returned to showcase our city's vibrant art and culture scene in streets and open spaces, all for free. At this year's Inside Out outdoor festival, there will be inspiring guided walks, dance and drama performances, family workshops, live music and more, with something to delight everyone.
Skills and training
Our aim is ensure our residents gain the right skills to benefit from better employment opportunities...
The Westminster Employment Service (WES) has partnered up with Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) to support the delivery of the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) employment project where they are focusing on supporting residents who are unemployed and claiming out of work benefits. WAES has also been supporting residents onto courses. The most popular course for this cohort being the Preparation for Accounting course and the second most popular being Level 1 in Digital Functional Skills. At joint third was Level 2 Award in Digital Marketing and Level 1 Award in Creative Craft (Fashion), and Entry Level 3 in Essential Digital Skills has also featured.
Business Support
Our aim is to help businesses of all sizes thrive within a strong, resilient economy...
We commenced the second round of our Start-up to Scale-Up, which was very well received by the participating 42 companies, achieving a very high Net Promoter Score (NPS) satisfaction score of 92%. 18 full-time jobs, 20 part-time jobs and seven fixed-term employment (FTE) jobs were created through the duration of the program by the participating companies. Our Westminster Strategic Growth initiative officially launched in October. It will provide existing scale-ups bespoke 1:1 consultancy and strategic advice focused on growth in priority sectors (Low Carbon and Green Innovation, Health and Life Sciences, Creative and Cultural and Professional Services).
We are committed to being open and transparent and making information on our progress more accessible to everyone. This way you can always see how we're doing on delivering a Fairer Westminster. The above are just a few of the ways we're measuring how we're building a Fairer Economy. You can also find out more at our Open Data page and by reading our Fairer Westminster Delivery Plan:
