Greater London Enterprise

Greater London Enterprise (GLE) is London's economic development company, wholly owned by all 33 London local authorities. Commercially and constitutionally independent, GLE operates outside the framework of public spending controls which apply to local authorities and invests its profits, commercial skills and know-how to help make economic regeneration happen. GLE is influential in formulating public policy and developing innovative delivery solutions to the socio-economic challenges faced by Londoners.

As part of this work, GLE Consulting services (one of the company’s four main business areas) leads the European Cities Against Child Poverty network. Its research team monitors the development of policies and initiatives in London which tackle child poverty through various means.

GLE Consulting services leads on the first of the five research themes - ‘Promoting access to employment and training for parents’ – which formed the focus of the network’s first policy workshop in April 2008. GLE’s approach to this theme draws on its experience of managing employment initiatives in London, as well as its delivery of the London Councils European Co-financing programmes, which provide training, advice and guidance to help workless people access the labour market. By focusing support on groups facing the greatest barriers to the labour market, such as homeless people, disabled people, women returners and refugees, the programmes also contribute to tackling social exclusion in London.

Particularly relevant to the aims of this network is GLE’s delivery of the Childcare Affordability Programme, funded by the UK Department for Children, Schools and Families and the London Development Agency. The programme provides subsidised or free childcare to low income families across London to enable parents to access or sustain training and employment. Parents living in 11 boroughs can also access personal training and employment advice through the programme.

In a city where a quarter of children live in households with below 60 per cent of the median income (UK definition of poverty), childcare is very expensive and only 45 per cent of lone parents are employed, it is very important that London continues to find ways to help disadvantaged residents into work. The exchange of knowledge between European cities on how best to tackle child poverty will contribute greatly to GLE’s work in London.