Speeches and letters

CAMDEN JOB TRAINING

I'm delighted to be here today. It is a day to recognise the achievements of both the award winners and Camden Jobtrain as an organisation.

One section of your mission statement stood out for me because it states one of the beliefs that brought me into politics "that every person has the ability to succeed and that all they need is the right quality training and support to get there."

I believe that every Londoner whatever their background, whether man or woman, black, white or Asian, young or old, gay or straight has a contribution to make to our city. And it was that belief that made me want to run for mayor - to play my part in extending the opportunities and prosperity that our city undoubtedly has to a wider range of Londoners. And quality training of the sort that the Training Standards Council has acknowledged is provided by Camden Jobtrain, is one way of the most important ways of sharing opportunity.

We need to make sure that quality training is available across London. And in order to get the right training we have to make sure that schemes are geared to providing skills that are in short supply - the skills that employers are looking for. Matching training opportunities to job opportunities.

Currently we have the unfortunate combination of people without the skills they need to get work whilst businesses are held back by the lack of skilled staff. That is why as mayor I would establish a better analysis of skills requirements and have these fed through to schools and training programmes. Equally Camden Jobtrain's focus on those in most need must be replicated in the mayor's work.

Because to tackle economic and social exclusion there will need to be special programmes targeted at areas of special need and at specific groups such as the homeless or disaffected young people. And to this end I would target some of the regeneration funds to meet the needs of London's most deprived communities. We must provide pathways to prosperity for those who are currently disadvantaged.

I will promote local labour and training initiatives to equip local unemployed people to secure jobs in new development --as has already happened at the Dome in Greenwich.

We must ensure that when the Kings Cross / St Pancras developments take place they also provide jobs for local people not just during the construction period but long-term jobs as well.

I do not believe that the mayor can possibly do the job alone. It will have to be a partnership. There is no point in the elected mayor deciding that the year 2000 is year zero, tearing everything down and starting again. We must build on and learn from those schemes which are already successful.

A city's success is built on the people within it. If we waste the talents of any of London's citizens all of us will suffer because London will suffer. But providing quality training so that people can find work is not just about economic regeneration. It's about enabling citizens to get the satisfaction and self respect that comes from having a job and contributing positively to the city in which they live.

I wish all of the award winners here today the very best for their futures and extend my best wishes Camden Jobtrain for their continued success.

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