About Me

An urbanist and writer, I have fifteen years of political and economic journalism experience and now specialise in urban policy and communications. Formerly head of the economic service for The Associated Press in Paris and Bloomberg’s chief political reporter in France, I have covered a breadth of industry sectors and political issues working across the globe. Recently, I have focusing on London and West Africa in policy and communications roles for organisations including the Centre for London think tank, the Financial Times and the Town and Country Planning Association. I have an RTPI-accredited masters in spatial planning from the Bartlett (UCL), where I specialised in regeneration with a focus on London’s East End and the Olympic Park area. You can follow some of my thoughts and actions in the planning blog on the right hand side of this page. Underneath the photo, you can click for a link to my CV (with details of how to contact me if you would like to employ me for freelance writing, research, PR or advisory work), or click on journalism for links to sample articles and information about my 2007 book on French politics 'Schizophrenie Francaise.'

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

London Borough of Hackney CSSI - Making the Most of Tech City Review

I was delighted to be asked to attend Hackney Council's scrutiny review 'Making the Most of Tech City.'

This discussion is intended to help LBH understand how it can help the growing digital economy industry on its patch, and find out what support employers / businesses need to harness the opportunities of the potential workforces on its doorstep and tap into the talent and skills of the local community.

 I belive passionately in the potential of the digital economy for sections of the population who have traditionally not had the same access to opportunity. The digital economy not only appeals to young people who might be turned off by more conventional careers, but it is also a profession where the best are often self-taught (take Steve Jobs, for example). 

In the research I conducted for Centre for London, I found a great willingness among the Tech City entrepreneurs to give back to the community. Although the paperwork and requirements of official apprenticeship schemes might be too onerous for these often very small companies, there are plenty of other ways to engage them: drop in mentoring sessions or individual mentoring coaching were some of my suggestions.

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