West London Whole Place Community Budget Programme
Economic growth, jobs and skills for West Londoners
Programme Board
19th September 2013
Agenda Item 5
Progress in Developing the Business Cases
1. In order to engage partners at the start of the co-design process a West London Partner Forum
attended by nearly 50 West London organisations, businesses and public agencies was held on
the 24th July. A number of outline workstream proposals were developed around the following
customer journeys and themes: NEETs/Young People; the long-term unemployed; skills
mismatch; workforce development; business support for start-ups and business growth;
innovation, West London promotion and inward investment and business premises. The Forum
was followed by two workshops held on 14th and 15th August attended by council officers and
representatives of other organisations who were service providers or who had relevant ‘subject’
expertise in the proposed workstreams. The purpose of the workshops was to look at each work
stream in turn and:
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Identify one or more customer groups where partners share similar objectives;
Consider how the customer journey might be improved;
Identify who is currently delivering to these groups and what;
Identify opportunities and barriers;
Consider how, through co-design, better outcomes might be achieved;
Identify work stream champions; and
Agree timescales for further work stream development.
2. Despite being August, workshop attendance was good and included representation from across
the six West London Alliance councils (Policy, Regeneration / Economic Development,
Connexions and Education Officers), West London Business, Gateway Asia, West London
Network, Uxbridge College, Skills Funding Agency, GLA/ LEP, JCP, Harrow College, DWP and CLG
(PSTN representatives) , BIS, PHE and Heathrow Airport. However, Higher Education (HE) was
not represented at all and businesses were under-represented.
3. The workstreams proposed to be taken forward at this stage were as follows  Young People and especially those at risk of being NEETs– looking particularly at
transition points
 Long Term Adult unemployed/workless – with a particular focus on those being
supported into work sustaining that employment
 Support for businesses to grow - with a focus on those that would make significant
contributions to employment and GVA growth
 Support for business start-ups – particularly concerned with improving accessibility to
quality advice and support
 Addressing skills mismatch – with a focus on learners making the right choices and
simplifying skills provision for employers
4. Workshops were also held on the promotion of West London for investment, the supply of
business premises for start-ups and SMEs and on innovation and knowledge transfer. With
regard to the first two the conclusion was that these themes and the activities and services did
not necessarily lend themselves to, or require, a place based budget approach. In the case of the
latter it was agreed that we need to have a further consideration of the issues with HE and other
interests before deciding if this would be a work stream for place based budgeting.
5. The current stage of work is related to developing Project Initiation Documents (PIDs) so that we
can have a clear plan for the production of the business cases, clarify the scope and objectives
and set out what we need to do and the resources we need. The PIDs set out the tools to be
used including how evidence based co-design will be undertaken with joint use of tools such as
customer journey mapping, customer insight and cost benefit analysis. They will also consider
what community engagement and consultation would be required and how it could be done.
Workshops with partners from relevant and key organisations have worked on developing the
PIDs for the young people, long term unemployed, and skills workstreams; the business startup and business growth PID workshops have been arranged for 17th and 20th September
respectively. Appendix 1 sets out the scope of the workstreams at the date of this report.
6. The work on the development of well researched and evidenced business cases which contain a
clear cost benefit analysis and significant improved outcomes and impacts in the timescale set is
going to be resource intensive. In addition to the current input of Director and Programme
Manager staff time by the WLA, the Alliance is proposing to appoint (probably on secondment)
an AD Economic Development to provide programme management and support for all the
business cases. In addition, Boroughs have assigned project champions for at least 2 days a week
to support each workstream as follows – Young People/NEETS – Ealing; Long Term Unemployed
– Brent; Skills Mismatch – Hounslow; Business Growth – Barnet; Business Start-up – Harrow.
Discussions are ongoing with other partners about possible secondments of staff for the
development period. Board members are asked to consider if they can also allocate dedicated
staff time to relevant business case development. A list of participants in each of the business
case workstreams (both workshops and PID development is attached as Appendix 2). In addition
to West London partners’ input we will benefit from some resources from the Public Service
Transformation Network and these are referred to in the Joint Statement of Intent which is item
6 on this agenda.
Recommendation
a) Review the proposed business cases to be developed
b) Review your organisation’s engagement in business case development
c) Consider if your organisation can allocate dedicated resources to business case development
Appendix 1
Scope of Whole Place Community Budget Workstreams
W1: Young people – with a focus on transition points
The proposal is to focus on all young people aged 14-24 not in education, employment or training
including and extending the official ‘NEET’ defined group.
The aim will be to simplify the customer journey through - mapping current service provision in
detail; identifying gaps and best practice; and co-designing the business case to improve the
effectiveness and efficiency of services to provide quality and consistent information, advice and
guidance available to anyone in the age range who becomes ‘at risk’ for whatever reason.
Key partners include: L/As, Connexions, JCP, SFA, EFA, Schools, Colleges, Training Providers, and
employers.
W2: Adult long-term unemployed/workless – with a particular focus on those being supported
into work sustaining that employment
This proposal picks up where the previous one ends and focuses on adults who have been out of
continuous work for significant periods or are at risk of being so. The focus will be the whole
customer journey and include early intervention for people not yet on the work programme but
identified as potential candidates; improving the outcomes of those on the work programme and
ensuring partners address the needs of those who come off the work programme.
Key partners in the business case co-designing process include: L/As (Regen, Hsg, Children &
Families), JCP, PHE, CLG, BIS Local, G15 group, private training providers, Colleges, Housing
Associations, and employers. Next steps include more detailed mapping and data analysis
W3: Addressing Skills Mismatch – with a focus on learners making the right choices and
simplifying skills provision for employers
The proposal is to focus on two customer groups - learners and employers – with the aim of ensuring
learners are able to make informed choices about pathways into, and progression in, employment
and employers get people with the skills they require to support business productivity and growth:
ultimately leading to the creation of more jobs and increased GVA. Colleges and other training
providers will be key, in terms of the range of courses they might offer, which in turn should be
informed by learner, employer and future market needs and demand.
Key partners include: L/As, JCP, Colleges and other training providers, UKCES, FSB, GLA/LEP, SFA, IAG
providers, NCS, HE, CBI, Connexions. Potential asks might include data sharing agreements and
freedoms and flexibilities around funding.
W4: Support for business start-ups – with a focus on improving accessibility to quality advice and
support
The proposal is to ensure that there is “no wrong door” for start-ups looking for business advice and
support. “Start-ups” will include those wanting to start a business or new / young businesses
already trading. The proposal is to improve the provision of / access to information, advice and
guidance. While this will primarily focus on business related topics – i.e. access to finance and
premises, home working, business planning, regulatory requirements, employing staff / payroll,
health & safety, market research, and so on, it may also need to include signposting to other support
i.e. child care, health, etc.
The customer group could include home workers, lifestyle businesses, young people, women
returners, professionals wanting to start-up on their own, people with disabilities, BMEs, etc.
The business growth lifecycle is on a continuum and this project will need to link to the one on
business growth, to enable those businesses that could make ‘significant contributions to
employment and growth’ make the transition from self-employment, sole traders and micros into
employing others and / or becoming high value enterprises.
Key partners include: WLB, FSB, L/As, HIB, HE and others.
W5: Supporting Businesses to grow - with a focus on those that would make significant
contributions to employment and GVA growth
The proposal is to target businesses who are trading and “ready” to grow but, who are often
prevented from so doing through a variety of ‘deficiencies’ which might include - access to finance;
market knowledge or other expertise e.g. import/exports; appropriate move on premises; access to
supply and value chains; IP support; metadata in understanding markets, trends and customer base;
a skilled workforce; or their knowledge of Planning or public sector contract requirements, and so
on.
It will target businesses in key and strong growth sectors. In West London, these include: banking,
finance and insurance; distribution; hotels and restaurants; transport and communications; creative
industries; knowledge-based sectors; health and social care; high technology services; tourism;
construction; education; and food manufacturing.
Appendix 2
Partners engaged in each workstream to date
Workshop Attendance – Wednesday 14th August 2013
9am to 10:30am
NEETS
Adam Baker, DWP
10:45am to 12:15pm
Long-term unemployed
Adam Baker, DWP
1pm to 2::30pm
Skills mismatch
Beverley Mitchell, DWP
Alf Desir, Harrow College
Beverley Mitchell, DWP
Cath Shaw, Barnet
Diana Choulerton, LB Ealing
Hardeep Sangha, JCP
Hazel Alexender, JCP
Inga Spencer, LB Hillingdon
Jasmine Dorsett, LB Ealing
Jeanne Cantorna, DWP, Barnet
Alf Desir, Harrow College
Beverley Mitchell, DWP
Cath Shaw, LB Barnet
Hardeep Sangha, JCP
Hazel Alexender, JCP
Ian Duke, LB Hounslow
Inga Spencer, LB Hillingdon
Jasmine Dorsett, LB Ealing
Jeanne Cantorna, DWP, Barnet
Cath Shaw, LB Barnet
Hardeep Sangha, JCP
Hazel Alexender, JCP
Ian Duke, LB Hounslow
Jasmine Dorsett, LB Ealing
Jeanne Cantorna, DWP, Barnet
Liz Meagher, LB Hounslow
Mark Billington, LB Harrow
Mark Waterman , Skills Funding Agency
John Redmond, LB Ealing
Mark Waterman , Skills Funding Agency
Matthew Jaffa, FSB London
Michaele Hawkins, Heathrow
Liz Meagher, LB Hounslow
Mark Billington, LB Harrow
Mark Waterman , Skills Funding Agency
Michaele Hawkins, LB Heathrow
Michael Heanue, GLA
Michaele Hawkins, Heathrow
Milan Ognjenovic, LB H&F
Richard Eason, WLTEN/ Hillingdon CVS
Mike Brannan, Public Health England
Milan Ognjenovic, LB H&F
Richard Eason, WLTEN/ Hillingdon CVS
Richard Selwyn , LB Harrow
Sue Hasty, LB Brent
Victoria Isaacs, LB Harrow
Mike Brannan, Public Health England
Milan Ognjenovic, LB H&F
Richard Eason, WLTEN/ Hillingdon CVS
Souraya Ali, London Councils
Sue Hasty, LB Brent
Victoria Isaacs, LB Harrow
Simon Brooke, LB Ealing
Souraya Ali, London Councils
Sue Hasty, LB Brent
Victoria Isaacs, LB Harrow
Ian Nichol, WLA
Marianne Downie, WLA
Shahnaz Abbasi, WLA
Ian Nichol, WLA
Marianne Downie, WLA
Shahnaz Abbasi, WLA
Ian Nichol, WLA
Marianne Downie, WLA
Shahnaz Abbasi, WLA
2:45pm to 4:15pm
Workforce development
Ash Verma, Gateway Business
Consultants
Beverley Mitchell, DWP
Cath Shaw, LB Barnet
Hardeep Sangha, JCP
Hazel Alexender, JCP
Jasmine Dorsett, LB Ealing
Jeanne Cantorna, DWP, Barnet
Lorraine Collins, Uxbridge College
Mark Billington, LB Harrow
Mark Waterman , Skills Funding
Agency
Michael Heanue, GLA
Michaele Hawkins, Heathrow
Milan Ognjenovic, LB H&F
Richard Eason, WLTEN/ Hillingdon
CVS
Simon Brooke,LB Ealing
Victoria Isaacs, LB Harrow
Ian Nichol, WLA
Marianne Downie, WLA
Shahnaz Abbasi, WLA
Workshop Attendance – Thursday 15th August 2013
9am to 10:30am
Business for Start-ups & Business
Growth
Alex Hearn , LB Brent
Ash Verma, Gateway Business
Consultants
Damian Lazenby, BIS
David Sklair, Harrow
10:45am to 12:15pm
Business Innovation
1pm to 2::30pm
Promotion and Inward Investment
2:45pm to 4:15pm
Business premises
Alex Hearn , LB Brent
Ash Verma, Gateway Business Consultants
Alex Hearn , LB Brent
Ash Verma, Gateway Business
Consultants
Bob Doyle from London & Partners
Damian Lazenby, BIS
Alex Hearn , LB Brent
Ash Verma, Gateway Business
Consultants
Bob Doyle from London & Partners
Damian Lazenby, BIS
David Lam, Public Service
Transformation Network
David Sklair, Harrow
Frank Wingate, WLB
Hazel Alexender, JCP
Mark Billington, Harrow
Richard Eason, WLTEN/ Hillingdon CVS
Shaun Whittaker, Hounslow
David Lam, Public Service
Transformation Network
David Sklair, Harrow
Frank Wingate, WLB
Hazel Alexender, JCP
Mark Billington, Harrow
Richard Eason, WLTEN/ Hillingdon CVS
Shaun Whittaker, Hounslow
Ian Nichol, WLA
Marianne Downie, WLA
Shahnaz Abbasi, WLA
Ian Nichol, WLA
Marianne Downie, WLA
Shahnaz Abbasi, WLA
Frank Wingate, WLB
Damian Lazenby, BIS
David Lam, Public Service Transformation
Network
David Sklair, Harrow
Hazel Alexender, JCP
Kevin Hoctor, GLA
Kevin Unwin, LB Ealing
Mark Billington, Harrow
Nigel Cramb, Hillingdon
Richard Eason, WLTEN/ Hillingdon CVS
Shaun Whittaker, Hounslow
Stephen Evans, Barnet
Frank Wingate, WLB
Hazel Alexender, JCP
Kevin Hoctor, GLA
Kevin Unwin, LB Ealing
Mark Billington, Harrow
Richard Eason, WLTEN/ Hillingdon CVS
Shaun Whittaker, Hounslow
Stephen Evans, Barnet
Ian Nichol, WLA
Marianne Downie, WLA
Shahnaz Abbasi, WLA
Ian Nichol, WLA
Marianne Downie, WLA
Shahnaz Abbasi, WLA