Our aim for the Westminster Anchor Alliance
The Westminster Anchor Alliance brings together a network of leading organisations to address some of the most pressing challenges to our communities.
What is an Anchor Alliance?
Our Alliance is a voluntary partnership of organisations, including major local employers and organisations that spend significant amounts on buying goods and services. We want to enhance benefits for the community and work together to help improve access to jobs, health and the environment.
Our learning from areas like Leeds, Islington, and Westminster itself is that anchor networks can drive real impact through collaborative initiatives, localised employment strategies, and sustainable environmental practices.
Key initiatives
Two key initiatives supported by the Alliance are the Green Skills Bootcamp and the Makers programme.
The Green Skills Bootcamp, in collaboration with the Council’s Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES), aims to equip residents with the skills needed for sustainable careers in the growing green sector.
Complementing this, the Makers programme is co-designed to support care leavers, aiming to provide young people with the skills to enter and progress in creative and technical industries. These initiatives exemplify the Alliance’s commitment to creating diverse employment pathways for Westminster’s residents.
Other initiatives being supported by Alliance partners include:
- Demystifying the property and real estate industry: In partnership with leading property firms, the Alliance is breaking down barriers to entry in real estate careers, offering workshops and mentoring.
- Life sciences careers: Working with the Paddington Life Sciences Partners (PLSP), the Alliance has designed training programmes to prepare residents for jobs in the life sciences sector.
- Job fairs and employability events: the Alliance leverages its extensive network and delivers events that connect local talent with employers, share live job vacancies, and provide essential resources and support to promote employability.
Looking ahead, the Alliance plans to expand its efforts, including organising local job fairs, promoting inclusive hiring practices and working together with partners to make Westminster a fairer city by supporting our residents and strengthening our local economy together.
About the Anchors
Discover more about the organisations driving this initiative: