Ealing is the ninth most socially vulnerable borough in the country when it comes to high heat, according to a recent report considered by the Ealing Council's Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny Panel. The report identifies Ealing's population profile and urban fabric
as contributing factors to its vulnerability. The report highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations and outlines the council's efforts to build climate resilience and support affected communities.
The report, presented to the panel on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, underscores that the impacts of climate change are already being felt, with severe floods, heatwaves, and drought identified as the main climate risks facing the borough. These risks, the report notes, are not evenly distributed, with deprived neighbourhoods and specific geographical areas bearing the brunt. The report includes maps highlighting areas of Ealing where efforts to build climate resilience need to be prioritised.
To address these challenges, the council is implementing the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Programme, which aims to integrate climate risks into council operations and promote community-led action. The programme builds upon the work of the Emergency Management service and collaborates with various forums and organisations to enhance preparedness for extreme weather events.
The council's Regeneration, Economy & Skills department is also playing a crucial role by focusing on 'creating good jobs' and delivering Ealing's Jobs & Skills Strategy 2024-29. The council will use labour market intelligence to identify current and future skills gaps, and is addressing these gaps through strategic investment in skills development, stronger employer-education partnerships, inclusive access and equity, and local economic development. Work Ealing and Learn Ealing services are working to support disadvantaged residents into sustainable employment, aligning with the council's Health & Well Being Strategy 2023 – 28. The council plans to ensure 'good jobs' are accessible to residents from disadvantaged backgrounds through inclusive access and equity initiatives, which include targeting support for underrepresented and vulnerable groups, including young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), people with disabilities, and those in deprived areas.
Learn Ealing, the main provider of adult community education in the borough, achieved a 'GOOD' Ofsted grading and collaborates with partners like Ingeus, JCP, Ealing Soup Kitchen, and West London College. The service targets low-skilled, low-paid residents and those facing disadvantages, with a significant portion of its provision delivered in deprived areas.
Data presented in the report indicates that 18.1% of Ealing's working-age population is economically inactive, lower than the London and Great Britain averages. However, disparities exist between ethnic groups, with the Asian Ethnic Group experiencing the highest unemployment rate. To address these disparities, the council is supporting Ealing's Race Equality Commission, particularly to incentivise businesses with over 100 employees to take shared responsibility for reducing inequality by reporting on ethnicity pay gaps, setting measurable targets, and aligning with existing gender pay gap legislation.
The council is also working with charities like Spark! to improve young people's employment prospects through employer engagement, skills development, and work experience opportunities.
Several PDR (Prevent, Reduce, Delay) work programmes are underway, including Connect to Work, MSK Trailblazer, IPSPC drug & alcohol, Borough Apprenticeship Programme, and various work experience initiatives. A Temporary Accommodation Pilot, in partnership with Housing Solutions, aims to provide employment support to residents at The Barn in Ruislip. The Temporary Accommodation Pilot at The Barn in Ruislip involves the Work Ealing and Learn Ealing teams developing and delivering bespoke employment support to residents living in temporary accommodation. The program aims to help these residents upskill and find good jobs as they move into secure accommodation. The objectives include empowering residents with skills that enhance employability, providing tailored support to overcome barriers to employment, and fostering confidence, independence, and long-term stability. The next steps include delivering a successful pilot at The Barn and evaluating it for lessons learned, and securing funding to scale up the program to support greater numbers of Temporary Accommodation residents.
The council aims to enhance its PDR work through strategic investment in skills development, stronger employer-education partnerships, inclusive access and equity, local economic development, and data-driven planning and monitoring.
The Panel's draft work programme includes a focus on the economy at the meeting scheduled for 18 September 2025, and a focus on housing at the meeting scheduled for 18 November 2025. The terms of reference state that the scope of the panel is to scrutinise matters relating to the local economy and environmental sustainability of the borough.