1. Building Links Between Housing Providers and Business Frank Czarnowski West Kent Housing Association

2. Building On Existing Links House 10,000 people in Kent 230 staff Spend over £1m a week in Kent economy –Mostly through other businesses Numerous partners across Kent West Kent Extra –Community development, resident involvement, social enterprise, training and employment Carrots and sticks

3. Links Across The Ages 8 to 12s project Youth Extra Resident involvement Boomerang – 13,000 volunteer hours Tenants or local residents?

4. General Skills Development General resident involvement training Monitoring contractor performance Contractor led skills workshops eg decorating HERO – advice on housing, education, training, getting back to work Tenancy training Financial inclusion Cookery courses

5. Rising Stars Bursary 11 - 18 years £150 for personal development Flexible Low incomes Contributions from partners Driving lessons, IT kit, lifeguard course

6. Apprenticeships Follows on from Future Jobs Fund 20 places 16 – 19 years Match funding from KCC Range of roles

7. Learn And Return - Adults 25 years + not eligible for apprenticeship Ex-offenders Significant practical work placement On the job and accredited training (KAE) Practice skills doing jobs in community through Boomerang

8. Learn And Return - NEETS 14 - 19 years Range of referral routes Work experience – us and partners Training, mentoring, Boomerang 25 days over 6 months Builds on current youth work and volunteering

9. Using Links With Business Long term contracts give us leverage Partnership working ensures follow through FJF with painting and landscape contractors Placement with solicitors Maintenance contractor employs apprentices SEC requirement one training space per £1m contract value – but only loosely monitor House builders – most spend but less leverage Nothing in return for £9m pa paid to banks!

10. Key Lessons Housing providers have lots of existing links – use them Training bolts on to existing link Don’t reinvent wheel for each scheme Achieve a lot for modest input