Islington is in the heart of the greatest city in the world and on the border of one of the wealthiest financial centres in Europe. Driving much of the UK economy, tech, creative and ‘knowledge’ businesses are gathered in the busy streets of Old Street, in the south of Islington, and neighbouring boroughs.

But we know that access to those jobs isn’t always equal and those shiny towers can seem a world away from the estates of Islington.

That’s why Islington’s Labour-run Council is working with neighbouring councils on LIFT (Leading Inclusive Futures through Technology),an initiative delivering positive change for Islington and beyond – ensuring that local people can benefit from the opportunities on their doorstep.

LIFT was launched in 2021 and is a partnership between Camden, Islington, Hackney and Tower Hamlets. By working across multiple boroughs, the programme creates opportunities for local people and businesses with a strong focus on innovation, growth and inclusion. The aim of the programme is to build a more inclusive knowledge economy, helping local people to get jobs and training in tech, creative and sciences, and supporting businesses and start-ups in these sectors to launch and grow.

As a Labour-run Council, we are committed to make Islington a more equal place and narrowing the gap between the most and least well-off, as outlined in our 2022 manifesto for the local elections. LIFT and its success stories are a fantastic example of how our Labour-run Council is making the borough more equal.

Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford, Executive Member for Inclusive Economy and Jobs, said, “We want to make our local economy work for local people and this is a key part of our Community Wealth Building agenda.

“LIFT has supported Islington’s residents to change careers through training, network opportunities and mentoring allowing residents, some of who are underrepresented in the tech, creative and knowledge sector. This is all part of the wider work we are doing to support local people into local jobs.”