London | Skills for Health
Skills for Health at work
Home > Nations and Regions > London

London

Stylesheet: standard Stylesheet: bigger text, black on yellow Stylesheet: biggest text, white on black

About the region

When it comes to local health economies, there's nowhere quite like London. The health sector employs 13% of the London workforce, a total of 215,000 people. With over 300 languages spoken and world class centres of excellence in health related research, our city is leading the way in a complex and challenging environment.

But there are well recognised issues that employers face:

  • Competition for staff from other sectors
  • A higher than average unemployment rate
  • High cost of living impacting on employers' ability to recruit and retain staff
  • Some of the most deprived wards and boroughs in the country.

Skills for Health in London is helping to address these challenges by working with health sector employers and other bodies to ensure that the people of London get the health care they need. In partnership with the London Skills and Employment Board, we are looking at education and the skills agenda in London and its impact on London economy.

We are building strong partnerships with employers, education bodies, and other stakeholders to address issues around the Olympics, regeneration, attracting young people into health careers, needs of Small and Medium Enterprises and many other areas. Skills for Health's goal is to ensure that in partnership we achieve a flexible and competent workforce that employers, patients and the public can rely on.

London is a city of huge contrasts. On the one hand it is dynamic and successful and as Europe's richest city it is a key global financial centre while on the other hand it also has some of the most deprived areas in the UK with high levels of unemployment, crime, health and educational inequalities.

The healthcare sector within London has a world-class reputation, not only for healthcare delivery but for research and development. It employs around 11% of the UK healthcare workforce and services are provided to London 7.5 million residents as well as UK patients and visitors from overseas.

Projects

Skills for Health is involved in the following:
(please click links for further information)

The Capital Skills initiative, funded by the London Development Agency, created a number of opportunities for schools and colleges to engage with employers in readiness for the forthcoming 14-19 Diplomas. To support the Diploma in Society, Health and Development (SHD) there were seven projects put forward by the Skills for Health London region, for funding from this initiative These were:

  • SHD Diploma and the Justice Sector - This is widening Justice Sector employer engagement in the delivery of the Diploma in SHD, by building relationships with key community justice employers in Hackney and Newham.
  • HealthTec - The project has created a ‘Care for the Elderly’ suite within South Thames College in Putney. The project has supported students studying a variety of qualifications in Health & Social Care and is being developed to support the delivery of the Diploma in this area from September 2008.
  • Interactive Forums: Diploma in Society, Health and Development -
    Developing a programme with the local NHS hospital to be able to engage and work with a variety of staff using a web based platform.
  • Health and Social Care Master Class - Having identified a need for Barnet Health & Social Care teachers/lecturers to gain ‘real life’ examples to support their teaching, this programme forged a partnership between these teachers and Barnet PCT, the second largest employer in Barnet. From this two generic case studies have been developed:
  • SHD Diploma and the Work Place - This looked at identifying and addressing barriers to work placement. From the project an Employer Guidance pack was developed, click here to see case study.
  • Healthcare Scientists & Allied Health Professionals - Organised by Healthcare Scientists and Allied Health Professionals themselves, the project engaged schools, colleges and teachers
  • Children and Young People - Increasing awareness of the Diploma in SHD and expand both Student Work Experience, and Teacher placement opportunities across Newham and Redbridge.
To read the full Labour Market Intelligence report on the region click here .

Key facts


Workforce

  • London is Europe's largest city economy generating 20% of the UKGDP and has the lowest employment rate of any English region
  • First city in the UK to have a Skills and Employment Board
  • Greater complexity of infrastructures than other regions with 31 Primary Care Trusts, 25 Acute Trusts, 10 Foundations Trusts, 9 Mental Health Trusts and the London Ambulance Service
  • Over 6,000 registered health and well-being charities and 510 organisations registered with the Healthcare Commission
  • Well established networks of further education colleges providing health and social care programmes
  • In 2002 there were 6.1% of nursing vacancies in London compared to 3.1% in England overall.

The Population

  • High levels of deprivation
  • Disproportionately high levels of HIV, TB, teenage pregnancy, mental illness, addiction and sexually transmitted diseases
  • English is an additional language for 51.3% of primary school pupils in London compared with 11.5% for England.

Key Sector Statistics

  • Total employment across the sector (independent, voluntary and NHS) is estimated at 215,000 people
  • 71% of healthcare organisations across the region have 10 or fewer employees, the highest percentage of any English region
  • The highest ethnically diverse workforce of any English region
  • The 'youngest' workforce of any English region with the lowest percentage of the workforce over the age of 45 years (40%)
  • 18% of establishments reporting vacancies, and 5% of establishment reporting hard to fill vacancies, the lowest of any English region.

London news

Kathy Tyler
Regional Director London

Tel: 01217 671388
Mob: 07768 998109
kathy.tyler@skillsforhealth.org.uk

Background
Before coming to Skills for Health, I was leading CPD (Continuing Professional Development) work at the Department of Health. My previous experience includes policy development and implementation, professional education and workforce development.

Interest
I have a particular interest in personal and organisational change.

Skills for business (external website)