Skills, Jobs and Enterprise Board
Improving prosperity is the Partnership's overriding priority. It is critical if we are to improve outcomes in health, children's prospects, fairness, respect and safety.
As General Manager of Vicarage Field Shopping Centre, i have seen the dramatic transformation of Barking Town Centre in recent years and understand the real potential the borough offers. I am delighted to take the Chair of the newly formed Skills, Jobs and Enterprise (SJE) Board. The Board replaces the former Barking and Dagenham Enterprise (BDE) and Business Jobs and Skills (BJS) boards and has a broader remit across the whole economic development agenda. The Single Programme diagram (in the Key Documents section of this website) sets out a comprehensive and ambitious programme of activity.
Clearly it is a difficult time for businesses and residents and the funding available across the economic development agenda will be restricted for many years to come. There are substantial challenges we need to continue to address such as the comparatively low levels of skills and qualifications of adults in the borough. Gaining employment is the most sustainable route out of poverty, and the best means of achieving our vision to raise household incomes of residents.
In challenging times it is critical that everyone pulls together and i believe the really strong membership of the SJE board across private, public and the Third sector is an important strength. However, the Board and the staff supporting it will also need to reach out to engage and involve other stakeholders as well as residents and businesses.
There are undoubtedly challenges ahead but i believe that the Single Programme offers a way that we as a partnership can tackle the problems and embrace the opportunities available. I look forward to working with you.
Simon Green
Chair of the Skills, Jobs and Enterprise Board
