The LLGDMA is part of the Mayor of London’s new £44m Academies Programme, which is being launched this week.

The overarching programme is aimed at supporting Londoners to access a range of new jobs and opportunities across the region, focusing on priority sectors including creative, digital, green, health and hospitality.  

The LLGDMA will focus specifically on digital and green skills, which are vital for London to reach its net zero targets. Royal Greenwich will collaborate with 11 other further education (FE) providers and nine London Boroughs – helping to develop a responsive skills plan, create events and further build strategic networks.  

This new academy will expand on the Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) model. The LLGDMA will complement the existing MCA hubs, ensuring skills needs are met as the need for green and digital technologies continues to grow.  

The objectives of the Academy include:  

• Reduce barriers to learning and employment unlocking work experience, traineeships, apprenticeships and jobs  
• Retrain and upskill current industry experts for transition into new jobs as the Green and Digital sector develops  
• Ensure that London’s industries access the skilled workforce needed to decarbonise and innovate through digital technology  
• Improve recruitment and engagement across our local communities especially among the under-represented groups  
• Upskill college staff  

 Covering an area of over 2.6 million residents, the programme aims to support the creation of over 60,000 new jobs in London by 2030.  

 Cllr Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member for Business & Economic Growth, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with the Mayor of London and further education providers to deliver new digital and green academies programmes in our borough. 

“We are already feeling the effects of climate emergency, and it’s vitally important we continue to find solutions to lower our carbon footprint and protect our planet for generations to come. This programme is a fantastic opportunity to help grow much-needed digital and green skills in our borough and beyond.”   

Director of the Local London sub-regional partnership, Sarah Murray, said: “The Green and Digital Sector Skills Academy is great news for our sub-region. It will be a key component in preparing our future workforce – both young people coming into the workforce for the first time, and existing employees that need to up-skill.  We applaud the partnership of FE colleges which is testament to the collaborative way in which our colleges work together. 

 “The development of the digital sector and emergence of the green sector and green economy provide a unique opportunity for our economy to grow and prosper.  Partnership working between employers, the sub-regional partnership of local authorities and education and training providers is key to leading that growth for our residents and businesses, and we look forward to working with the sector academy to make that happen”.