• I AM excited about the role that affordable workspaces will play in Islington Labour’s plans for an inclusive economy that works for everyone.

Our vision for Islington’s economic growth is one which includes and benefits local people. As well as creating employment opp­ortunities, it is important that we provide affordable workspaces to protect independent businesses from being priced out of the borough due to rising rents.

This week, Labour-led Islington Council has agreed its new affordable workspace strategy. The new strategy makes it clear that affordable workspace providers, who are awarded contracts to manage the council’s workspaces, will be required to deliver employment, app­renticeship and training outcomes for local people.

We have already received lots of expressions of interest from potential affordable workspace providers, who share Islington’s vision for an inclusive economy.

I look forward to working with them to deliver employment, apprenticeship and training outcomes for local people. We are determined that Islington’s economic growth benefits the many who live here, not the few.

CLLR ASIMA SHAIKH
Labour, executive member for economic development