national work
Informal Economy Consultancy Service
Community Links offers an Informal Economy Consultancy Service, which builds on our 30 years first-hand experience of working with people in the cash-in-hand / informal economy.
Our unique service provides robust research, coupled with a strategy and planning service which enables Local Authorities and Regional Development Agencies to:
- understand their local economy: the hidden as well as the recorded
- identify and address the issues in practical, strategic ways
- harness the skills of the local workforce (employees and businesses) enabling them to build their own ladders out of poverty.
This is what Liz Holford, former Regeneration Manager, London Borough of Haringey had to say about our work:
“Community Links produced an invaluable, qualitative study of the informal economy in the London Borough of Haringey, in 2006/7. We commissioned this study because we wanted to supplement official statistics with an understanding of the cash-in-hand economy. This was vital so that we could develop employment, skills and and business policies that are relevant and helpful to the reality of people and businesses in our most economically disadvantaged communities.”
We have also completed some work with the London Borough of Brent, Alka Nepali, Brent Council's Economic Development Officer said:
"Brent Council commissioned Community Links in 2008-09 to measure the extent to which informal economic activity plays a part in the lives of local Brent residents. The research captured both quantitative and qualitative information from residents and delivery agencies/organisations living and working in the borough to identify the impact the ativity has on the local economy and how these findings could inform the Council's current approach to Regeneration".
To find out more about the Community Links Informal Economy consultancy service and what we can do for your local area, download more information and contact:
Aaron Barbour
linksUK Research & Policy Manager
020 7473 9666 (direct line)
aaron.barbour@community-links.org