Three years of collaboration between Islington's largest employers and public sector organisations was marked at an event on the Holloway Road campus.
Date: 31 March 2026
London Metropolitan University hosted a celebration event for the Islington Anchor Institutions Network (IAIN) on 10 March, marking three years of collaboration between the borough's largest employers and public sector organisations.
Collectively, IAIN members employ more than 22,000 people and act as major employers, purchasers and landlords across the local economy.
Around 50 people gathered at London Met's Holloway Road campus to reflect on progress against the three pledges made at the network's launch: supporting jobs and employment, supporting local businesses through procurement, and reducing carbon emissions.
The event was opened by the university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Julie Hall, alongside Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford, Deputy Leader of Islington Council and Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Culture and Jobs.
Empowering change
Speakers from three working groups showcased what the pledges have meant in practice. On jobs and employment, Peabody shared its work creating apprenticeships and employment opportunities on the former Holloway Women's Prison site, Whittington Health NHS Trust highlighted its supported internship programme for young adults with Autism and Arsenal Football Club presented its jobs fairs at the Emirates Stadium. Residents who had benefitted from the schemes also spoke on the day.
"London Met is a major institution, and it is our civic duty to uplift our neighborhoods," commented Sophie Cloutterbuck, Director of London Engagement. "The IAIN proves what anchor institutions achieve by coordinating rather than duplicating effort. Islington is home to our largest campus, and Through our Commitment to London Strategy and the London Met Lab we mobilise partners to tackle inequality and co-design solutions. By diversifying supply chains via local procurement, opening doors through inclusive HR, and scaling impact through the Lab, we are turning our institutional size into tangible results for Islington and beyond.
On carbon emissions, Courtney Stephenson from Islington Council presented the Islington Climate Panel, a year-long initiative in which 35 residents developed proposals on climate resilience for the borough. The supporting local businesses session heard from Grenville Decorators' director Robert Dillon on the practical experience of winning local procurement contracts.
Closing the event, Cllr Santiago Bell-Bradford, Deputy Leader of Islington Council said: “Over the past three years, this network has shown what’s possible when institutions use their collective influence to support residents, strengthen local businesses and invest in the long‑term wellbeing of the borough. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in working to translate pledges into the practical actions that are making such a clear benefit on the ground – and thank you to London Met University for hosting today as well as for being a member of the Network.”
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