Local people working on the Canada Water development are the stars of the First 100 exhibition , which is free to visit at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre until the start of March.
The exhibition celebrates the first 100 local people who’ve been supported into long-term jobs, in roles ranging from hands-on construction to receptionists and project managers. Striking photographic portraits of these people in their working environments are accompanied by their personal stories, with the workers sharing in their own words how they got to where they are today.
Canada Water Connect, a partnership between British Land and charity ELBA, has been busy linking up businesses with great local talent and connecting Southwark residents to life-changing employment.
All employees are receiving at least the London Living Wage, while more than 60 people are earning and learning on apprenticeships and more than 100 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.
British Land’s Chief Operating Officer Emma Cariaga said: “From the start, our ambition has been to connect thousands of local people with new opportunities being created at Canada Water, enabling them to work in quality careers they love.
We look forward to building on our early success of over 100 local job seekers already securing employment and are committed to supporting local talent into a range of roles with the businesses that will call Canada Water their home. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners who are having a positive, long-lasting social impact and contributing to a thriving new town centre alongside us.”
Councillor John Batteson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business at Southwark Council, added: “We are thrilled that British Land and ELBA, our partners at Canada Water, have helped the First 100 to achieve this milestone six months ahead of schedule. I also extend my personal congratulations to our residents working in the new town centre and wish them the best for the future. We believe that sustained employment where local people are paid the London Living Wage represents a life-changing opportunity and look at the work here as a model for Southwark.”
For more on how Canada Water Connect are helping local people access meaningful, long-term employment, visit canadawater.co.uk/jobs
You can find the First 100 exhibition near Superdrug inside Surrey Quays Shopping Centre until the start of March.
