Local London
Redbridge Council
Services & Skills
Client Opportunity
The organisation needed a modern, scalable platform that could handle their complex stakeholder ecosystem spanning local authorities, educational institutions, employers, and thousands of young people across Barking and Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest.
The project presented an opportunity to create a unified digital platform that would consolidate Local London’s main organisational website with their specialised Careers Hub East platform, enhancing their position as London’s leading sub-regional partnership. With their recent recognition at the Corporate Engagement Awards 2024 for their collaboration with CGI on sustainable careers education, and their growing influence in connecting employers with future workforces, Local London needed a digital presence that matched their ambitions. The new platform would need to support their work with over 97% of mainstream and special education secondary schools in their sub-region while facilitating their role in promoting infrastructure investment and business engagement across the fastest-growing part of London.
Our Solution
Gemstone was selected to design, build, and host Local London’s new integrated WordPress platform following our successful contract award at the end of 2024. Our team adopted a strategic, multi-stakeholder approach, working closely with Local London’s leadership, careers education specialists, and the nine partner boroughs. We implemented a comprehensive digital solution that unified their organisational presence with their careers hub functionality. Key features of our solution included:
- Integrated WordPress Architecture: A robust, scalable WordPress platform that seamlessly combined Local London’s corporate website with their specialised Careers Hub East functionality, enabling efficient content management across both domains.
- Multi-stakeholder Content Management: Advanced user permission systems allowing different teams – from borough representatives to careers coordinators – to manage relevant content sections while maintaining brand consistency and organisational oversight.
- Enhanced Careers Hub Features: Specialised functionality to support their work with 206 schools, colleges, SEND establishments, and PRU members, including event management systems, Enterprise Adviser matching tools, and resource libraries aligned with Gatsby Benchmarks.
- Employer Engagement Platform: Integrated systems to facilitate connections between their network of 170+ employer volunteers and educational institutions, supporting initiatives like their award-winning Sustainable Careers Fest.
- Mobile-Responsive Design: Optimised user experience across all devices to serve their diverse audience of educators, employers, young people, and policy makers accessing information on-the-go.
- Integration Capabilities: Seamless connectivity with existing Greater London Authority systems, Careers & Enterprise Company platforms, and UKSPF reporting requirements.
We ensured the platform met WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility standards and provided comprehensive training to teams across all nine boroughs for ongoing management of their expanded digital presence.
The Results
The launch of Local London’s rebuilt website and integrated careers hub platform has significantly enhanced their digital presence as London’s leading sub-regional partnership. The unified platform now effectively showcases their role in championing sustainable and inclusive growth while providing essential resources for careers education across East London.
The enhanced careers hub functionality has streamlined their support for 206 educational establishments, making it easier for schools and colleges to access their menu of activities, connect with Enterprise Advisers, and participate in flagship events like the Sustainable Careers Fest. The platform successfully supports their ambitious programmes spanning employment support, skills development, and infrastructure advocacy, while positioning Local London as the go-to resource for the fastest-growing part of the capital.
