Loconomy’s Second AGM: Building Momentum for Inclusive Growth
Loconomy welcomed members, associates and partners to its second Annual General Meeting, celebrating another year of growth and impact.
New community members — Go Woman Alliance, Dream Chaser, Open Door Community Foundation, and Saathi House — joined key stakeholders, including Conrad Parke (Birmingham Anchor Network, CLES) and many of our associates, for a lively and forward-looking event.
Celebrating our work and impact
We shared progress across all six programmes we’ve delivered this year:
Coalition for Impact — delivered by a team of associates and partners, developing investable propositions through community mapping and learning.
I CAN Pre-Employment Training — led by Ajminara Begum, helping residents overcome barriers into NHS and other entry-level roles.
Place for People & Prosperity (PfPP) — led by Karen Gaze and Mashkura Begum, providing coaching and careers support for young people at risk of becoming NEET.
Common Threads — led by Fats Begum, a theatre and photography programme building skills, confidence and community connection.
Druids Heath Resident Engagement — co-led by Ifor Jones and Tim Evans, independently facilitating resident voice in the estate’s regeneration.
Household Support Fund Evaluation — undertaken by Ian Dudfield, Alex Ross, Mashkura Begum and Archie Rose, contributing fieldwork and best practice to the citywide review.
These initiatives are strengthening local economies, opening up career pathways and empowering communities.
Addressing Birmingham’s economic challenge
CEO Ifor Jones set out the wider context:
Birmingham faces deep-rooted economic inequality, with the city’s employment rate (65.9%) lagging behind both the West Midlands (73%) and the national average (75%).
Some wards report employment rates as low as 43%, and youth unemployment remains high.
In light of the government’s Get Britain Working ambition to raise national employment to 80%, Ifor called for:
Better targeting of skills and employment resources in the most deprived wards
Collaboration over competition, linking public institutions’ employment reach to communities
Support for the social economy as a key driver of transformative change
Looking ahead
The AGM underlined Loconomy’s progress as a vibrant co-operative with growing membership, strong partnerships and a clear strategy — connecting people to opportunity and shaping a fairer local economy.
Images courtesy of Iza Korsak