Urban Futures is a non-profit organization that provides various services including job training, welfare to work programs, and education. This newsletter provides updates on Urban Futures' expansion, achievements over the past year, new programs and contracts. It highlights the Heathrow Retail Academy job training program, a new Young People's Services department, and training opportunities now offered through partnerships with colleges.

1. this issue
Open Source Revolution P.1
IT Management Tips P.2
Non-Profit Solutions P.3
Trends & New Software P.4
Pictured from Left to Right: Manager of Urban Futures Young People’s Services - Derek Wheeler, Mayoress - Elin Wes-
ton. Mayor - Councillor David Browne, Chief Executive of Urban Futures - Steve Delaney, Work Experience Student
from Jewish Free School
N E W S L E T T E R 2
On 11th July 2012, The Mayor of Haringey David Browne visited the Wood Green branch of Urban Futures.
The Mayor individually talked to staff about their roles in the company and found out about the services
Urban Futures offers. Mayor David Browne said: “I’m really impressed with Urban Futures and the way
they are helping people in the borough find a job." The Mayor's visit to Urban Futures was featured in the
Haringey Independent.

2. Introduction from the Chief Executive
Welcome to the second edition of the new Urban Futures
Newsletter. As 2012 draws to a close we can be rightly proud of our
achievements over the year and can look forward to a successful
2013.
We have expanded significantly in 2012 and now have over 80 staff
spread across 8 sites in London and Essex and we will continue to
increase our staff numbers in 2013 as new projects come on stream
and existing projects mature. It truly is an exciting time to work for
Urban Futures.
We are now a significant training provider across London as well as a major welfare to work
specialist agency. Over 10,000 customers and learners per year access our varied services and
we continue to strive for even greater quality across the board.
Our success is due to you, the staff, as you strive to deliver our services often under difficult
circumstances and in an economic climate that is very challenging. Therefore I would like to
thank each and every one of you for your efforts over the past year and ask that you continue
to deliver top quality services to our customers—the people that matter most of all.
I wish you all a restful, peaceful festive season and prosperous new year and look forward to
working with you all in 2013.
Steve Delaney
Chief Executive
Green Mark Accreditation
Urban Futures are currently working on acquiring a Green Mark Accreditation. Green Mark is
a recognised award scheme used by organisations in London and surrounding areas. The
Green Mark team identify areas of our
organisation where savings could be made.
Urban Futures will be guided on a range of
measures to control energy and resource
consumption, reducing utility bills and
increasing efficiency. Urban Futures achieving a
Green Mark award will make a clear statement
of our environmental commitment which can
be beneficial for business development and
tendering opportunities.

3. A Spotlight on Heathrow Retail Academy
Urban Futures delivers the pre-vocational and recruitment service for the
Heathrow Retail Academy. As its name implies the Academy manages and
supports all of the retailers (including the bars, coffee shops and restaurants
as well as the retail shops) in all of the terminals at Heathrow. The retail
opportunity at Heathrow is a significant part of the airport and is tailored to
the passengers who go through each terminal.
Urban Futures delivers the training necessary for local residents who wish to
work at the airport. With strict employment requirements for those working
at the airport to meet security needs (no criminal record and a five year fully
checkable employment history); with some shifts starting as early as 4am;
and working with a really diverse customer base – our training has to be
tailored for the needs of the airport. Urban Futures also matches clients who
wish to make a career move within the airport.
Last year Urban Futures trained 440 local people and filled 290 jobs at the
airport. A recent development is that Urban Futures has recently employed a
trainer to deliver the new Heathrow Airport Retail Induction Programme to
ensure that all new employees are aware of the very high standards at the
airport. This programme will be extended to all existing sales staff and
managers in 2013.
The Urban Futures Team at Heathrow currently consists of Antoinette
Mitchell (Manager); Imy Bansi and Joe Gregory (Recruitment Consultants);
Lady Bekoe (Trainer) ; Rebecca Walker (Induction trainer); Adrian Reid
(Outreach Officer) and Syed Qadri (Administrative Officer).
Antoinette said “We are a close knit unit at Heathrow and we are rightly
proud of our successes in getting local people into jobs and supporting the
airport in delivering a quality retail experience.”
From left to Right: Adrian, Antoinette, Lady, Syed, Rebecca, Imi, Joe

4. A Snapshot in the
life of the Finance
Team
Financial services are part of
the core function of running
Urban Futures and therefore
are very important to the
organisation. The finance
team are primarily responsible
for making sure the
expenditure of the company
doesn’t exceed the general
income, keeping an eye on
overall running costs, keeping
a close watch on pay scales
and making sure each
individual staff member is
paid. Since Urban Futures has
started directly dealing with
clients by becoming a front
line service, there has been an
increase in operational detail
for the finance team.
Day-to-day tasks for the
finance team include
managing purchase & sales
ledgers, bank reconciliations,
maintenance of the sage
accounts package, managing
petty cash and the cash book,
general payroll, V.A.T returns,
income & expenditure
analysis, finance procedures
and insuring claims are
submitted ready for payment.
For more information contact:
Karen Jordan at
Karen.jordan@urbanfutures.org.uk
or 020 8888 9539
On 28th
August, 2012, Urban
Futures were re-accredited
with the nationally recognised
quality mark for organisations
which provide support to
individuals to make learning
and work more accessible –
the matrix Standard.
The criteria needed to gain the
prestigious matrix standard
have recently been reviewed
requiring organisations to have
a higher degree of commitment
and a higher standard of
service. Working closely with
our team of over 80
employees, Urban Futures
undertook a programme of
involvement, client feedback,
reviews and service
improvements to ensure that
current IAG services are of high
quality, effective and meeting
client’s needs.
A rigorous assessment process
then took place involving an
external assessor visiting and
talking to staff and clients
across Urban Futures’ seven
offices during August and which
tested our systems, procedures
and service delivery.
Following the introduction of
the current version of
the matrix Standard, the
Standard is now much more
rigorous and has a clearer and
more defined focus on Continuous
Quality Improvement.
At Urban Futures we continually
monitor our performance in a
variety of different ways including:
 Asking every learner to
complete an evaluation of our
service; which is then
reviewed to ensure that our
services meet the intended
audience needs
 Monitoring our service offers
 Observations of Teaching and
Learning to ensure that our
trainers are delivering to the
required standard
 Encouragement of staff to
develop themselves through
education / training courses;
and to complete professional
development logs (CPD) as a
record of their development
For more information contact: Anita
Garrard at
anita.garrard@urbanfutures.org.uk
or 020 8888 9539
Matrix – How we Ensure it Drives
Continuous Improvements

5. An Interview with Richard Penny — Area Manager for West London
Q: Richard Penny, welcome to Urban Futures, how are you settling in?
A: I’m settling in fine. It’s a very ‘interesting’ company to work for.
Q: So tell us, what is your official job title here at Urban Futures?
A: I am the Area Manager for all West London offices at Urban
Futures. I mainly concentrate on the work programme and looking
after three managers and a good team of staff. It’s challenging on a
daily basis.
Q: I know you’re always incredibly busy, but fill us in on your day to
day tasks.
A: The first thing I do in the morning is check performance from the
previous day. At 9am, I speak with the managers to make sure
everything is running. Over the three offices, I’m responsible for
three work programme contracts. This involves negotiating with
three different contract managers on a monthly basis. We have high
targets to meet, supporting the staff and managers daily to ensure
we hit those targets.
Q: What did you do before Urban Futures and what made you decide
to join?
A: I started work as a trainee butcher. I then went travelling to Australia but when I got back I couldn’t find any further
work as a butcher. I started work for an executive recruitment company and stayed there for five years. After this I
moved into welfare to work and spent five years with Reed in Partnership. Finally, I ran job brokerage services for
Barking and Dagenham Council. After two years of working in the public sector, I wanted to get back into the more
challenging area of private sector work programmes.
Q: You’re mostly responsible for the work programme, how is it going?
A: It’s very challenging but rewarding at the same time. I have a good team of managers and staff and we’re improving
on the contract every day. In the recession, it can be difficult to find a job but I feel that what the work programme is
proving is that there are chances and development out there for all clients.
Q: What is your favourite West London Office and why?
A: I don’t have a favourite as it changes on a monthly basis depending on who has hit the highest numbers. Each office
brings different problems and solutions and each office has their own characters in a special way.
Q: How would you sum up your managerial style?
A: Firm but fair. I’m exceptionally good at the art of delegation. My managers will certainly agree with that one!
Q: What are the best and worst things about working at Urban Futures?
A: Best thing : I have the chance to work with a good team, good mentor and develop my career at the same time.
Worst thing : Distance between offices.
Q How many cigarettes do you smoke a day and are you smoking more since working here?
A: 20. It increases depending on how many phone calls I get which means I’m outside a lot more.
Q: If you won £10,000,000 what would you buy first?
A: I wouldn’t have a choice as my wife would have already spent it but if I did I would buy Urban Futures and tell Steve
and Garba off for a change!
For more information contact: Richard Penny at richard.penny@urbanfutures.org.uk or 020 8352 5943

6. Urban Futures creates a new Young People’s Services Department
Young People’s Services is a brand
new department within Urban
Futures managed by Derek Wheeler.
This department draws together a
number of different services aimed
at young people aged 14 to 25 and
supports school children, youths and
young adults who are unemployed
or classified as NEETs.
Urban Futures recognises that each
age group is unique and requires
support services bespoke to their
requirements. Urban Futures firmly
believes that all young people need
the best possible advice to ensure
that they are aware of the
opportunities open to them.
If Information, Advice and Guidance
are a crucial element to our services
for adult customers and learners
then it is even more important for
young people starting on their
journey towards adulthood and
economic independence.
Urban Futures Youth Services have
brought together a range of
programmes which makes a
cohesive offer to the Young People
of London.
For more information please contact:
Derek Wheeler at
derek.wheeler@hebp.co.uk or 020
8352 5930
Services include:
 The Work Experience schools placement programme with
over 1,600 students’ pre-16 students and 250 post 16
students placed.
 Work Related Learning projects including Interview Skills,
Enterprise activity, Careers and FE Fairs delivered to over
1,000 learners
 Specialist ‘buy back’ services and or services for ‘at risk’
students
 Apprenticeships and mentoring services with HEBP on
behalf of Urban Futures in a sub contracting arrangement
 A volunteering programme for NEET students
 ESF NEET work on behalf of a range of partners such as
BEP
 UF Foundation Learning services
 Youth Contract delivering support to 16 to 17 year olds
with little or no qualifications

7. Youth Contract
Urban Futures are delighted to
announce that we will be
delivering the Youth Contract
for the boroughs of Enfield,
Barnet, Haringey, Islington, City,
Hillingdon, Hackney and
Hammersmith & Fulham.
Working with Prevista, we will
be providing assistance to
young people aged 16-17 with
little or no qualification as well
as tracking their progression.
The programme, part of the
Deputy Prime Minister’s Youth
Contract is an exciting new
initiative and Urban Futures has
been given the freedom to tailor
and provide support for
disadvantaged young people.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick
Clegg, said about the scheme:
“Young people who have fallen
through the net
need
tailored
support to
get back
on track.
We can’t
treat them
like round pegs being forced
into square holes – if you’re
young and have got to the point
where you feel on the
scrapheap; you need extra help
to succeed in life.
Disengaged young people often
have complex problems that act
as a barrier to getting them
learning again, which the
Government alone can’t deal
with. But very often local
charities and businesses know
what’s going to help them.
That’s why we’re unlocking
funding for these organisations
to be as creative and innovative
as they can, to do whatever it
takes, to get the young people
who need it most back on their
feet. In exchange for this
freedom, all we ask is that they
get results. It’s a win-win for
government, young people and
the organisations involved.”
Rights Futures — Reed in
Partnership
Urban Futures
have two
Reed
contracts, in
eight North
& West
London
Boroughs and
are working with NEETs aged 16-
19. We offer an assortment of
interventions, including
volunteering opportunities. The
contract in West London is for
non-accredited learning.
Innovation Fund
A new project, working with 14-
16 year olds in danger of
exclusion. We will use our
existing links across North
London to support a variety of
mentoring projects with young
people. Using our extensive
schools network, we will work
with four schools in Haringey.
Pre-Apprenticeship Course
A London wide initiative, Urban
Futures and HEBP are currently
working with Haringey 6th Form
Centre’s Business Studies Group.
Successful learners will have
access to level 2 and 3
Apprenticeships.
Haringey Education Business
Partnership
The nine schools HEBP worked
with last year have agreed that
they will again commission HEBP
to deliver Pre-16 Work
Experience. In addition HEBP are
offering an enhanced Post 16
Work Experience offer to
Haringey 6th
Form Centre.
HEBP have a variety of Work
Related Learning programmes
arranged, including Interview
Skills, FE and Careers Fair,
together with Enterprise
workshops.

8. Training, Training, Training — A New Look Urban Futures
for up-skilling employees includes:
 16 – 18 year Apprenticeships (Retail,
Customer Service, Business &
Administration, Health & Social Care)
 19 + Apprenticeships (sectors as above)
 Basic Skills (literacy & numeracy)
 Level 1s, 2s, and 3s.
 Bespoke short non accredited courses
Urban Futures delivers its training packages
as sub-contracts to two of London’s top FE
colleges, namely; Uxbridge College (London’s
top Further Education College for the past 5
years) and Ealing, Hammersmith & West
London College.
For more information please contact: Mandy Neilson at
mandy.neilson@urbanfutures.org.uk or 020 8352 5924
Urban Futures has expanded to develop a
wide range of national accredited and non-
accredited training services to both the
employed and unemployed.
Some of the training Urban Futures offer are
compulsory to certain customers to attend for
example as part of a government agency
programme (Work Programme and
Apprenticeships).
Unemployed customers or customers who are
economically inactive (not claiming benefits)
can readily access training services knowing
they’ll be receiving a service structured to
support their career development.
Other training Urban Futures offers is directed
at existing employees who have basic
qualifications or a low skillset looking to
improve their economic well-being. The
courses and training that Urban Futures offers
Young People with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities Project
Urban Futures has been subcontracted by Leonard Cheshire Disability to provide the new
Worksmart LLDD programme. It is an ESF employability support programme for young people
aged 16 – 25 with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities. Our element of the programme
targets young people based in the London boroughs of Haringey, Enfield & Barnet. Through
the programme of support, each individual will receive a minimum 14 hours of personal
Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) support with the aim of guiding them into sustained
employment for at least one full year. We will recruit, support and engage young people
with learning difficulties ensuring that they have had a comprehensive needs analysis and
personalised action plan bespoke to their needs and requirements.
For more information please contact: Alaric Williams at alaric.williams@urbanfutures.org.uk or 020 8352 5900

9. Flexi Fund /
Booster +
The government’s viewpoint
is that there are too many
people in the UK workforce
who have little or no
qualifications. This project
aims to address this shortfall
by delivering qualifications
and progression to anyone
who is employed in Small to
Medium sized Enterprises
(SMEs) and has low or no
qualifications.
Urban Futures are currently
delivering Emergency First
Aid at Work qualifications
and English as a Second
Language (ESOL)
qualifications.
Lola Aisada and Pedro Phinn
of the Urban Futures
“B2B” (Business to Business)
Team have been working
with London companies to
identify suitable employees.
Karanjit Paul has been
ensuring that all paperwork is
correct and working in
conjunction with the Urban
Futures Training Team to
ensure training is delivered.
The project previously had
challenges to identify suitable
employees but progress in
October has been
encouraging with two
companies and the majority
of their employees signing up.
Training successfully
commenced in November for
the first aid course and
training starts for ESOL in
January.
In addition, we have had
many inquiries from company
managers about potential
candidates for the Emergency
First Aid at Work course. We
are currently arranging to
register the candidates and
finding the best solution to
work around delivering
training with minimum
disruption to the business.
For more information please contact:
Karanjit Paul at
karanjit.paul@urbanfutures.org.uk or
020 8352 5937
Work Based Learning Update
The Flexible support fund
is a programme aimed at
giving individuals aged 18
to 24 who are
unemployed the right
type and level of support
to get them into work
and support them for the
first three months of
employment. The
delivery is achieved
through a 5 step process.
1. Induction
2. IAG
3. 1 or 2 Week
Employability support
4. On-going Jobsearch
5. Mock interview
Over 450 clients have so
far joined our programme
with over 200 of those
entering employment.
For more information please
contact: Doyle Hector at
doyle.hector@urbanfutures.org.uk
or 020 8352 5907

10. Priti Patel MP visits Stansted Academy
Priti Patel MP has visited Stansted Airport
to see how the East of England’s biggest
single employment site continues to
create new jobs and training
opportunities despite the current difficult
economic conditions.
The Witham MP called in on the Airport’s
Employment and Training Academy to
hear about the 100 new jobs currently
available and details of the
comprehensive skills and training
programme, designed to help potential
employees improve their abilities and
gain employment.
Hosting the visit on behalf of the airport, Stansted’s Head of Public Affairs, Chris Wiggan, said:
“We were extremely pleased that Priti was able to pay a visit to Stansted and see the training
and employment opportunities available at the airport. With one in five young people now out
of work, Stansted is delighted to do its bit and be able to give more youngsters across the
region access to the varied roles on offer here at the airport.”
Priti Patel MP added:
“Stansted is an important local employer and the Airport’s Employment and Training Academy
is doing a tremendous job helping to get people the skills they need to find work.”
Urban Futures — New Staff
Dorothy Evans (Wood Green) Information, Advice & Guidance Officer
Anna Rebecca Walker (Heathrow) New Induction Trainer
Phillip Short (Wood Green) Employment Advisor
Poonam Bharkhada (Uxbridge) Employment Advisor
Francis Amara (Wood Green) Employment Advisor
Jamil Kadir (Wood Green) Youth Outreach and Support Worker
Robert Rotibi (Wood Green) Youth Outreach and Support Worker
Adrian Reid (Heathrow) Outreach/Recruitment Officer

11. What to expect from our next edition
Newsletter coming soon…
Here at Urban Futures we welcome input and
ideas from all staff and customers. If you have
any ideas for articles of interest or new design
formats then please forward these to the
marketing department.
Contact:
aaron.sands@urbanfutures.org.uk
or
robert.prague@urbanfutures.org.uk
or
info@urbanfutures.org.uk
Alternatively, you can contact by telephone on
020 8352 5900 or via the website and other
electronic connections detailed.
Urban Futures is a company registered in England & Wales.
Company registration number: 04131420.
Registered address: Unit A012, The Chocolate Factory, Clarendon Road, Wood Green, London N22 6XJ.
Tel: 020 8352 5900. Fax: 020 8352 5901.
The new Urban Futures website goes live this Decem-
ber. It features…
 An easier to use navigation system
 Featured items on the homepage
 Facebook and Twitter feeds / links
 Updated information on new services, courses and
brands
It can be located at www.urbanfutures.org.uk
Also our jobs board is still going strong which can be
located at www.urbanfuturesjobs.org.uk
 Urban Futures sponsors the North
London Staff Conference
 Spotlight on Stansted Employment and
Training Academy
 Urban Futures Apprentices — What
they’re doing now
 Trailblazers — An Update
 An Interview with Mandy Neilson
The Improved Urban Futures Website

12. Contact Us