Innovacion

How Waltham Forest's Worknet Partnership is integrating the delivery of employment and skill interventions

Worklessness remains a major issue in Waltham Forest and a focus for action by the LSP and in the LAA.  Local services were fragmented and the response was unstrategic.  The Worknet Partnership concept was developed in 2005/6 but was only able to be taken forward following an independent review of LSP in 2006 and with the availability of City Strategy funding from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Worknet provides advice, training and job brokerage support.  Worknet involves the development of 32 single access points across the Borough staffed by Worknet Advisers from six different organisations and backed by a customised web-based software system.  An innovative pilot project with Registered Social Landlords has also been started.  While it is still early days procurement has already become more coherent, the delivery structure has become more joined up and some initial value for money improvements have been achieved.

Read more in Innovacion's case study in IDeA's Partnership and Places library

How Croydon Council's carbon management plan is reducing carbon emissions by 2,000 tonnes each year

Recent and planned environmental legislation together with a history of energy management led Croydon Council to develop a comprehensive carbon management programme with the help of the Carbon Trust. Operating for the last four years, the programme aims to reduce carbon emissions from the Council's activities.  Actions have focussed on making energy saving improvements across the Council's property portfolio and their housing stock, street lighting, the vehicle fleet, staff travel modes, computing services and in new developments.  As a result in 2007/8 over 2,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and just under £100,000 were saved.

Read more in Innovacion's case study in IDeA's Partnership and Places library

Atkins and Innovacion secure £5.9 million from LSC for Olympic Construction Training Centre

Since March 2007 Atkins and Innovacion have been retained to provide a wide range of advisory and professional services to bring forward and develop a Construction Training Centre on a site in Leyton funded by Waltham Forest Council and the London Development Agency with support from the Olympic Delivery Authority, Learning and Skills Council and Construction Skills.  Ths work culminated with the LSC approving an in principle application for £5.9 million in capital funds to develop the construction training centre.  Services have included:

• Detailed appraisal of four options and five year business plan including funding review
• Project management and flexible client support
• Market review and specification development including consultations with over 20 partners
• Prospectus development and procurement support through three stage Competitive Dialogue
• Design work and all aspects of planning applications for both initial temporary training facility and 3,600 sq m of permanent facilities
• Successful Olympic National Skills Academy for Construction bid which secured £6 million in LSC capital funding for development of training centre.