Social wealth - London Metropolitan University

London Met Lab: The Social Wealth Challenge

Social wealth

We want to support organisations of all sizes through holistic organisational support to ensure everyone is treated fairly.

We live in the sixth wealthiest economy in the world, and London produces 22% of all Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, we also have a significant problem with inequalities and wealth distribution. In six London boroughs – Islington, Brent, Haringey, Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets – over one-third of people live in poverty; with over one quarter living in poverty in a further fourteen boroughs.

London needs to build an inclusive economy to enable everyone to thrive. We want to support organisations of all sizes through holistic organisational support, through strategic initiatives to address the skills gap, and by tackling the issues surrounding fair pay and ethical labour, to ensure everyone is treated fairly. We’d love to hear from you about different projects or community initiatives we can work on with you.

Research and projects

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Community comes together for launch of Civic University Statement

The London Met Lab-led initiative reaffirms London Metropolitan University’s work in the community and showcase the scale of work taking place across the capital city.

Celebrating London Met's student and staff volunteers

London Met’s clinics are helping organisations and people across the capital make a real difference.

London Met, Lavazza, and Arsenal help Islington residents to Learn To Dream at community event

The ‘Learn To Dream’ event, held in collaboration with the prestigious coffee company and world-renowned football club, was a roaring success.

London Met researcher helps to launch Taskforce on Inequality in Islington Final Report

Course Leader Torange Khonsari has helped the Islington Inequality Taskforce to launch the Inequality in Islington Final Report.

London Met joins Islington Anchor Institution Network as founding member

The network of employers and key organisations will work together to reduce inequalities and help build a thriving local economy in the Borough.

Nourishing disruptions: new mural on London Met's Aldgate campus

The artwork on Pomell Way is part of the upcoming Petticoat Lane Art Trail.

London Met wins silver at UK Social Mobility Awards

London Met was a finalist and took home a Silver Award in the 'University of the Year' award at the sixth annual UK Social Mobility Awards.

London Met academic working with London local authorities to enhance social work methods

Kevin Brazant’s social work research and fatherhood training model picked up by local council authority after being presented at London Met Conference.

How London Met is working to support refugees

Vice Chancellor Professor Lynn Dobbs discusses a new initiative that sees London Met twinned with a Ukrainian university, and our other impactful work to support refugee communities.

London Met shortlisted for the UK Social Mobility Awards

The University has been shortlisted in the University of the Year category in the 2022 UK Social Mobility Awards, which are organised by societal change charity, Making The Leap.

London Met opens new Digital Forensics Laboratory

The new lab will facilitate impactful research, industry collaboration and opportunities for continuing professional development.

London Met launches new Estates Strategy

The strategy will see £150 million invested to create vibrant campuses with cutting-edge facilities, with sustainability at its heart.

Levelling up: why we can't leave London behind

Sophie Cloutterbuck, Director of London Engagement at London Metropolitan University, argues the UK Government’s levelling up agenda must look at inequality in London.

London Met scores highly in latest National Student Survey

The high quality of London Met's teaching, student community and student voice was showcased in the 2022 NSS.

Islington Education Awards honours local teaching and support staff

London Met was proud to sponsor the 2022 Teacher of the Year category at the Awards.

Mistrust of national employment services, and structural barriers, fuelling BAME employment gap

Research participants reported feeling pressured into taking on unsuitable work

National Youth Theatre and London Met bring new creative possibilities to young people

The two organisations will work together to develop programmes which empower local communities and address social issues in a new partnership.

Understanding Brexit from the perspective of London's highly-skilled French migrants

A new study considers how the shock of Brexit exposed but also threatened the previously taken-for-granted privileges enjoyed by this capital-rich migrant population.

Collaboration in Higher Education

An international symposium co-organised by London Met and the University of Calgary highlighted stories of practice, spaces and places for partnership.

Promoting inclusive assessment and teaching globally

A new book edited by Dr Eleni Meletiadou explores how educational institutions are improving the student experience and promoting lifelong learning and social justice in education.

The Vanished East End

The Brady Arts Centre to host exhibition of photography of London's East End in the 1970s and 1980s including work from London Met's East End Archive.

New award winning, open access book from London Met academic

'Revisiting Migrant Networks' which was co-edited by Professor Louise Ryan and awarded the IMISCOE Prize, is available to read and download free of charge.

London Higher launch Pan-London BAME Mentoring Programme with London Met

The programme provides Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic academic and professional services staff across all levels of institutions with mentors outside their institutional hierarchy.

Help to Grow: a new management toolkit

The training programme will help take entrepreneurs and executives working in London's SMEs to the next level.

Second Floor

Recordings available of new public lecture series by leading architects and postgraduate tutors, presented by London Met student society and The Architecture Foundation.

Black and white close-up photography portrait of a girl with wet face

Your People, Your Places, Your Things

The School of Art, Architecture and Design's popular national photography competition for school and college students is set to return.

London Met expert joins Islington Inequality Taskforce

Torange Knonsari, course leader for London Met's Design for Cultural Commons MA, will contribute to the Borough's 'Let’s Talk Islington' initiative.

The value of peer learning

A new report highlights the work of London Met's Social Integration and Regeneration Learning Network to facilitate peer learning in London's local authorities.

London Met academic awarded Design for Planet Fellowship

Torange Khonsari is one of nine experts selected by the Design Council in recognition of their track records in making multi-disciplinary, cross-sector and community connections.

London Met ranks ninth for social mobility

New research found the University to be one of the best in England for social mobility.

Help to Grow: a new management toolkit

The training programme will help take entrepreneurs and executives working in London's SMEs to the next level.

London Met to host international conference on governance fraud ethics and women in business

The theme of this year’s conference explore information systems and the experiences of women working in technology and business.

London Met partners with The Big House

This exciting new partnership will see collaborative work on future projects, focusing on themes that affect The Big House members.

Delivering Social Justice: a collaborative strategic approach

Neelam Thapar and Vanessa Airth reflect upon collaboration and collective action across the University and an approach that encourages students through careers education.

East End Archive exhibition

An exhibition of photography of London's East End in the 1970s and 1980s will be held at Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives.

The impact of Covid on student parents

Research by London Met academics Jane Lewis, Heather Allison, Patrick Mulrenan and Helen Redd explores the additional pressures the pandemic is having on students with children.

London Met shortlisted for ‘higher education Oscar’

London Met’s work in the local community has been shortlisted in this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) awards, widely known as ‘the Oscars of higher education’.

Economy for Common Good

The Centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement is running a series of events on research around cultural commons.

London Met shortlisted for prestigious national graduate recruitment award

The University has been included in the ‘Best university employability strategy’ award category.

London Met supports Islington Living Wage campaign

The University, which has been committed to paying the London Living Wage since 2014, joins the campaign to make Islington North London’s first Living Wage Borough.

Operation Edna

Deej Fabyc has curated and will be performing in ‘Operation Edna’, a live, multimedia art event exploring shelter and ageing proudly.

Building the case for equitable spaces

London Met's Dr Anna Marazuela Kim joins stalwarts from the world of engineering and design for a Dezeen x Buro Happold virtual event.

Lighting the Creative Spark

London Met's business incubator, Accelerator, has been selected to deliver the British Council's 2021 international enterprise competition to find the best early-stage entrepreneurs.

Supporting inclusive recovery in London

Professor Diana Stirbu has won Transformation funding for a new research and knowledge exchange initiative.

Rebuilding a fairer economy: new partnership to help young people back into work

Hackney Council and London Metropolitan University have formed a partnership to offer a range of programmes to improve employment opportunities for students across the borough.

Social Responsibility and Inclusivity in Leadership Learning, Development and Education

The 11th Developing Leadership Capacity Conference will be held on 13 July by the Guildhall School of Business and Law.

London Met academics present COVID-19 research to Lambeth Council

Researchers from across the University showcased the work they are doing to address the challenges of the pandemic.

Virtual research conferences brings international scholars together

Academics from 16 countries joined the conference to share their expertise on governance, fraud, ethics, as well as women and sustainability in business.

The visual history of London's street signs

A new photography book by London Met's Alistair Hall documents the most beautiful and curious nameplates of the capital.

Has COVID-19 set back diversity and inclusion in the workplace?

Dr Jo Cartwright, lecturer in HR Management, writes that the COVID-19 lockdown exacerbates the juggling act facing working parents and carers, and exposes the undervaluing of care work.

London Met offers support to SMEs recovering from COVID-19

The University's enterprise experts will deliver the Small Business Leadership Programme to support the recovery and growth of small businesses following the pandemic.

London Met Cities Research

Cities champions the rich array of urban research that happens at the School of Art, Architecture and Design.

Design for Cultural Commons - MA

Our Design for Cultural Commons MA course is ideal if you are critical of current inequalities within companies and institutions that shape our lives.

Collaboration between Social Work academics and students to create timely mobile app

The app has been cited as an example of good practice by the Digital Capabilities for Social Work project.

Social work academic co-hosts statement launch for national digital development of social care

The launch is part of the Building a Digital Ready Workforce project.

Making London age-friendly

A conference organised by London Met and Positive Aging in London (PAIL) provided a forum for discussion of issues affecting older Londoners.

Celebrating a 20-year partnership with International Students House

Our partnership has supported 116 London Met students with housing, scholarships, bursaries and cultural opportunities since 1999.

Credit after coronavirus

Dr Nirmala Lee, Associate Professor in Banking and Finance, comments on the likely impacts of COVID-19 on credit lending and availability.

London Met to deliver innovative social integration programme

As a result of a grant from the Greater London Authority, the University will deliver the 2020 Social Integration & Regeneration Learning Network.

London Met awarded government funding to help microbusinesses use tech to grow

London Met is the only London university to receive funding from the Leading to Grow Programme which is supported by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

London Metropolitan University trains Lewisham residents to boost employment in the area

London Met staff work with Lewisham Homes each year to equip members of the community with skills to improve their employability and to give them a voice in improving housing services.

Senior London Met academic named as one of the world's top CSR Leaders

Dr Samuel O Idowu has been named on the '101 Most Impactful Corporate Social Responsibility Leaders' list.

A double celebration for the Accelerator

Hundreds of stakeholders gathered at the Accelerator to celebrate its 15th anniversary and unveil its newly refurbished ground floor space.

Improving social inclusion for London’s young people

London Met’s Widening Participation team work with young people across London and host a range of taster days to give tomorrow’s leaders a taste of university life.

London Met recognised for business education excellence

The Guildhall School of Business and Law has been awarded the Small Business Charter award, it has been announced today.

Success for Lewisham tenants

London Met works with Lewisham Homes each year to award tenants qualifications to improve their employability.

Accelerator: London Met’s Business Incubator

For 15 years Accelerator has been helping its community of startup companies grow, and supporting London Met’s passionate early-stage entrepreneurs turn ideas into viable ventures.

Social Integration and Regeneration Learning Network

The Social Integration & Regeneration Learning Network brings together urban regeneration and social integration professionals, experts and academics to work across London.

Centre for Life Writing and Oral History (CLiOH)

(CLiOH) is an exciting new initiative exploring the many ways in which people are documenting and narrating their lives.

The Centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement (CREATURE)

CREATURE brings together interdisciplinary research in the creative arts, its practice, cultural impact and societal engagement.

The economic impact of Covid: a bounce back after recession?

Dr Nirmala Lee, Associate Professor in Accounting, Banking and Finance, expects to see an increase in both supply and demand, leading to more jobs becoming available post-pandemic.

The value of peer learning

A new report highlights the work of London Met’s Social Integration and Regeneration Learning Network to facilitate peer learning in London’s local authorities.