The new year can be a time many of us think about making changes in our lives, perhaps upskilling or finding a new job.

I am passionate about our commitment to support residents and businesses through the current economic crisis, to provide opportunities to grow skills, facilitate training and increase both business growth and job opportunities.

A great example of this is our recent work to tackle digital exclusion. We worked with ‘We Are Group’ on a programme for residents who want to improve their digital skills and confidence, as well as those who find it hard to get online.

More that 185 people were referred to the programme. Morfe than 50 completed the training and received a laptop or tablet funded by Lloyds Banking Group to continue their learning after the course and to help family members to upskill. The scheme was also used by local groups such as RBKares to upskill staff and volunteers.

I was really heartened by feedback from those who took part. They felt more confident using computers, taught them basics like how to turn a computer on without feeling inadequate and even help get more involved in their children’s learning.

There’s more information on local employment and skills support on Kingston Council website’s ‘cost of living’ support pages (kingston.gov.uk/benefits-5/support-rising-living-costs/6)

Another example to reducing inequality and supporting marginalised groups is the Next Steps careers fair, held in the Guildhall towards the end of last year. We partnered with the Department for Work and Pensions and Jobcentre Plus for the event, focused on employment and skills support for people living with disabilities, carers, migrants, refugees and Armed Forces veterans.

More than 170 people came to access a range of information and services, including expert coaching career, information on green jobs that address the climate emergency and Kingston Adult Education’s range of courses, many of which are free.

We are supporting residents into employment and training as well as working with local businesses and recognise the vital role they play in growing and improving the economy. Among the many types of help on offer, we’re making funds available to local businesses from our own Apprenticeships Levy to help them take on an apprentice and funding a new suite of training called Go Business, run by Kingston Chamber of Commerce with support for growing business and new start-ups, also on the co9uncil’s website (kingston.gov.uk/business).

We have now started work on a new economic development strategy which will guide and inform a wide range of services and initiatives over the next five years to support a thriving local economy on the “kingstonletstalk” website (kingstonletstalk.co.uk/economy-business/economic-development-strategy).

So moving into 2024 our commitment to supporting residents and businesses through the current economic difficulties is undimmed, doing all we can to ensure we are well-placed for a resilient, dynamic and productive local economy in the coming years.