No Wrong Door Initiative: Connecting employment and skills providers to support people in need

Abstract

London, United Kingdom—

• Launched in July 2022, the No Wrong Door (NWD) initiative supports Londoners disproportionately impacted by the pandemic including people with a disability, women, refugees, youth and elderly people, in the field of employment and skills development.

• NWD’s activities are delivered by four innovation hubs which develop tailored responses to local needs and coordinate the services provided by several stakeholders.

• As part of the initiative, an Open Innovation Challenge has been launched to identify innovative solutions to improve the skills and employment ecosystem.

What are the objectives?

The No Wrong Door (NWD) initiative was developed in response to the COVID-19 crisis, to provide tailored support in different London neighbourhoods. Launched in July 2022, the initiative supports Londoners looking for sustainable work or to develop skills, especially those hit hardest by the economic implications of the pandemic and those who face various barriers when trying to secure work or upskill. The initiative connects several stakeholders including employment and skills providers, funders, and other public services to facilitate access to high-quality support regardless of people's work experience or educational level.

How does it work in practice?

The NWD initiative funds four integration hubs whose objective is to boost coordination and partnerships between skills, employment and other support services, such as careers and health.  The initiative is delivered by City Hall in partnership with London Councils, London’s four sub-regional partnerships, and Jobcentre Plus. The delivery of each hub is led by one of the four sub-regional partnerships (i.e., Central London Forward, Local London, South London Partnership and West London Alliance). Since 2022, the hubs have helped specific groups of people (e.g., disabled people, refugees, young people, older people, women, people from ethnic minorities) that are trying to get back to work.

As part of this initiative, London City Hall is also investing in a research and innovation programme. City Hall's objective is to fully understand the challenges Londoners face, find ways to better connect them with skills and employment opportunities, and create innovative solutions to expand the reach of the NWD initiative. The Young Foundation was commissioned to explore the existing employment and skills support system and the diverse needs of priority groups trying to access skills and employment services across London. The report highlighted how an integrated employment and skills system could support Londoners by showing that inefficiencies in the system were preventing thousands of people from getting the right support to move into good employment.

Building on the findings of the Young Foundation’s research, City Hall also launched the Open Innovation Challenge in 2024 to help identify innovative solutions, building on and supporting the work of the integration hubs. This new design challenge is a competition for innovators to submit their ideas and get the chance to win up to GBP 50 000 in seed funding. The competition received 83 applications that provided diverse solutions that went beyond technology and human-centred approaches, and the applications are currently under deliberation by the judges.

What has been the impact?

The integration hubs have become focal points for coordination and partnership across skills, employment, and support services. These hubs have worked to address the diverse needs of Londoners and organised several activities to support both employers and job seekers. For example, via the Local London integration hub, the NWD initiative has facilitated employer training sessions to foster inclusion and raise awareness on disability and refugee integration, thereby equipping employers with the tools and knowledge to create more inclusive workplaces. Additional activities organised by NWD are job and training fairs, specifically targeting refugees and disabled Londoners. These events have provided invaluable networking opportunities, connecting job seekers with employers, training providers, and support organisations.

What can other communities learn from this example?

Research can help local governments develop tailored support. Cities are often confronted with diverse populations that show significant disparities in employment outcomes. Engaging in extensive research to understand the barriers of different groups can lead to solutions tailored to specific community needs. Through the creation of the integration hubs, the NWD initiative has shaped support to the unique needs of different boroughs and demographic groups.

Integration of services is vital to support people far from the labour market. For instance, NWD’s integration hubs have fostered collaboration between employment, skills, and support services. This has reduced the challenges of different communities in accessing employment and skills services.

Further information

• No Wrong Door programme | London City Hall

• No Wrong Door Summary Report | The Young Foundation

• No Wrong Door Open Innovation Challenge | London City Hall

OECD resources

• OECD (2023). OECD City Network on Jobs and Skills, OECD City network workshop - 7 May 2024.