Intercultural Cities and Community Business Support: JLGC Visits Lewisham Council
In November staff from JLGC visited the London Borough of Lewisham Council to discuss Lewisham’s status as an ‘intercultural city’ and in particular the innovative Community Based Business Support Model, which aimed to improve social inclusion by supporting those from ethnic migrant backgrounds to start their own businesses.
Intercultural Cities is a joint Council of Europe and European Commission programme, connecting a network of European cities dealing with immigration and integration issues. The cities involved aim to capitalise on their high levels of diversity, and the programme encourages local authorities to incorporate diversity into all areas of their work. As some cities in Japan are experiencing an increase in migration, there is considerable interest in this strategy. The results of this visit will form part of a report on Intercultural Cities to be distributed to local governments in Japan. Lewisham is one of the most diverse local authorities in England and joined Intercultural Cities in 2010.
Enterprise Development Manager Paul Hadfield and European Projects Manager Paul Chapman kindly explained the Community Based Business Solutions Model to us. Although Lewisham runs a business advice service for all residents, research showed that some ethnic minority communities were less likely to use the service. In order to encourage uptake, Lewisham participated in a European funded Project, SIED (Supporting Inclusion in Enterprise Development), along with two other London boroughs. The scheme recruited members of communities least likely to access local authority business support services to train as business advisors. Once these recruits had received accreditation, they provided advice to other community members on starting a business. Evaluation of the project showed a positive impact with many successful case studies. Once funding ceased, the council were no longer able to provide a specific service solely for ethnic minorities. However, the programme has left a lasting legacy and its principles have become embedded in the current service. Engagement of community groups is now an integral part of Lewisham’s business advice service and business support has become an accepted tool for the empowerment of marginalised communities in Lewisham. Recent figures show that more than 60% of clients in Lewisham’s pre-start up advice service are from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.
We are very grateful to Paul Hadfield and Paul Chapman for taking the time to discuss their experiences with us, and we hope Lewisham’s approach will be a useful point of reference for those local authorities in Japan currently developing migrant policy.
JLGC and Ibaraki Prefecture Visit to Helsinki
Ibaraki Prefecture staff were accompanied by JLGC on a research trip Helsinki to look at city facilities, make contacts with local government agencies in Finland and meet with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) staff to look at the current economic and legislative environment in the country. During the visit, there was a site inspection of Kaapeli, a former cable factor, which is the largest cultural centre in Finland and is run by Helsinki City. It houses three museums, twelve galleries, dance theatres, art schools and a host of artists, bands and companies. Unique spaces are also available for rent on a short-term basis to stage concerts, exhibitions, festivals and fairs. Around 900 people work at Kaapeli on a daily basis, and each year over 200,000 people attend special events.
The Cable Factory covers a total area of 56,000 square metres, and occupies the premises of an old factory which initially produced telephone and electrical cables. The building converted in 1991 into a fully independent cultural centre aimed at providing an area of artistic diversity with cross-cultural linkages. The Cable Factory offers permanent and short-term space for different fields and forms of art and education.
JLGC additionally visited the Finnish Association of Local and Regional Authorities to get information on current trends and issues in Finnish local government, as well as meeting with staff from JETRO, to discuss their activities in Finland and how they support Japan’s regions and cities in the export of Japanese goods and supporting economic links between the two countries.
JLGC attends LGG Conference, London
JLGC attended the LGG Annual Governance Conference, 27 – 28 November 2013 at County Hall in London, the former premises of the Greater London Council which sits opposite Westminster on the River Thames. Amongst the presentations and workshops attended by JLGC staff, of particular interest to Japanese local government were the sessions on delivering energy efficiency and renewable in local government. Local governments in Japan face similar challenges to those in the UK seeking to reduce their carbon footprint, as well as using renewables as a way to reduce costs with investment in infrastructure for renewable energy.
Despite the two countries having a very different legal environment, and there being much less of a professional legal presence in Japanese local government, JLGC staff were very interested to see how legal issues at the national and supranational level filters down to local legislation and local authorities obligation to adhere to newly introduced law. There are much lower numbers of professional accountants and lawyers employed by local authorities, with much fewer in house specialists working in city halls throughout Japan.
The highlight of the two days events was the opportunity to listen to Lambeth Borough Council Chief Executive Derrick Anderson, talking about the council becoming a cooperative. In the midst of austerity Derrick talked about the need to have council services run by local people, and for the community to have a say in design and those service being run. This is very much the case in Japan, and there are many examples of local authorities providing vital services to the locality, from the prefectures over wide geographical area, down to the city, town and even village level, particularly important in Japan’s rural communities where many communities have rapidly aging populations. While Japan has not moved as far as the UK in amalgamating services and outsourcing to the private sector, there is a trend for such activity but still a very strong desire by the public for services to be provided by local communities.
Many thanks to Mark Hynes, President of Lawyers in Local Government and Director of Governance, Assurance and Democracy at Lambeth Borough Council for his kind invitation and the opportunity to look at the legal issues in UK local government, and to compare and contrast the similarities and differences with their Japanese counterparts.
JETAA joint event with Teach First
The JET Alumni Association (JETAA) held an information event in January with Teach First the social enterprise that aims to address educational disadvantage in England and Wales. It coordinates an employment-based teaching training programme whereby participants achieve Qualified Teacher Status through the participation in a two year training programme that involves the completion of a PGCE along with wider leadership skills training. Teach First was listed in third place in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list for 2013.
Teach First is an influential charity and an increasingly powerful movement founded to address the link between low family income and poor educational attainment. Now in its eleventh year, it has played a part in changing the lives of thousands of young people. Teach First harnesses the energy, enthusiasm and drive of outstanding graduates and experienced professionals and equips them with leadership skills to enable inspirational teaching in schools in challenging circumstances across England and Wales. At the same time Teach First’s two-year Leadership Development Programme gives participants the skills, experience and leadership development training to excel in careers in any field. Some JET participants have gone onto developing their teaching career through Teach First, having gained valuable skills and experience in Japan which can be used in the Teach First programme.
JETAA organises various careers events for former JETs throughout the year, for a variety of different employment areas. Another great evening event, a Japan-UK Careers Seminar, was held by Robert Walters & JETAA UK, in November 2013, and was attended by a mixture of ex-JETs and Japanese nationals. There were contributions by ex-JETS now working in the FCO and Goldman Sachs as well as speakers from Itochu, Deloitte and Hitachi. Japan related jobs and networking opportunities come about from this evening as well as lots advice to ex-JETs or indeed anyone wanting to use their Japan related skills was to network and make connections as much as possible.
Thanks to Teach First and Robert Walkers for their valuable support in helping the JET Programme achieve its aims of sustainable UK – Japan relations, by helping former JETs into employment and maintaining links with Japan.
JETAA is currently building up a programme of career related events and activities for the JET community, on an ongoing basis and is eager to here from former JETs who may be able to help the newly returned from Japan use their JET experience in a wide variety of careers, whether it be Japan related or not. A range of activities so far have involved organising seminars, workshops, a mentoring scheme and promoting internship opportunities. If you are interested in supporting the JET community or would like to discuss getting involved please contact careers@jetaa.org.uk
