Our London Leaders Reception brought together local authority leaders, developers and investors to explore how stronger public‑private collaboration can help upskill and future‑proof London’s built‑environment workforce.
Hosted by the City of London Corporation at the Old Bailey, the event celebrated the work of the Skills for a Sustainable Taskforce and the launch of the Future Skyline Skills Commitment – an industry‑led pledge to tackle skills gaps and attract new talent into the sector.
Deputy Mayor of London for Planning, Regeneration & the Fire Service, Jules Pipe CBE, our keynote speaker spoke to attendees about how green skills should be central to London’s growth ambitions. He called for an employer‑led approach to skills provision and stronger collaboration from the London boroughs around Section 106 to deliver more impactful outcomes for training, apprenticeships and long‑term progression:
“Section 106 agreements are one of the most important levers we have. They are already delivering significant benefits for communities, but there is an opportunity to go further and to be more strategic. Used thoughtfully and collaboratively, s106 can help drive real, measurable outcomes for training, apprenticeships and progression into green and built environment careers.
Fostering greater collaboration around s106 – between councils, developers, skills providers and City Hall – could unlock enormous benefits. Benefits not just for individuals, but for employers facing skills shortages, and for the long-term prospects of the sector as a whole.
In practical terms, this means supporting councils to work with developers and their supply chains to deliver work experience, apprenticeships, traineeships and clear progression pathways. It means embedding skills expectations in a proportionate and consistent way, aligning them with local priorities and capacity.
It also means joining the dots – between planning, procurement, Further Education providers – through initiatives like the Skyline Skills Hub – so that opportunities created through development translate into real outcomes for Londoners.
And just as importantly, it means recognising and celebrating those employers and developers who are already leading the way in creating an equitable real estate sector.
As we look ahead, I’d really encourage open discussion and feedback on how shared principles can be weaved into the Commitment, and how planning levers – including s106 – can be used most effectively to support skills and green jobs. There is huge value in collaboration between boroughs, and between the public and private sectors, in tackling these challenges together.”
Our speakers were:
- Keith Bottomley, Chair, Skills for a Sustainable Skyline Taskforce & Sheriff, City of London Corporation
- Sophie Morgan, CPA NextGen Chair & Senior Development Manager, Landsec
- Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Planning, Regeneration & the Fire Service
