Thanks to all who visited our First 100 exhibition, hosted in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre from early February until earlier this month.

The exhibition comprised 12 brightly coloured boards featuring a few of the first 100 local people who’ve been supported into long-term jobs on the development. Their roles range from hands-on construction to receptionists and project managers. Striking portraits of these people in their working environments were displayed alongside their personal stories, with the workers sharing in their own words how they got to where they are today.

These stories demonstrate one of the aspirations Canada Water Connect, a partnership between British Land and charity ELBA, have been working towards. The team have been busy linking up businesses with great local talent and connecting Southwark residents to life-changing employment. The words and pictures from this exhibition bring the results of this work to life.

All employees on the Canada Water development are receiving at least the London Living Wage. The number of local people helped into long-term employment now stands at more than 120, with more than 80 people earning and learning on apprenticeships and more than 102 local people having completed professional training courses on their pathway to employment. 39% of all candidates supported into work are Black, Asian or from the Global Majority, making progress towards our ambition to reflect our diverse local community.

While the exhibition is no longer on show in the shopping centre, you can view it online here.