Hermela Habtegebrel

• Key advisor for a multibillion-pound integrated regeneration programme on all economic development, inclusive growth, innovation and workspace matters.
• Leading the Royal Docks Good Growth Fund, two live workspace projects in partnership with workplace providers and universities, for sub regional impact. Developing new proposals with partners.
• Leading the Creative Industries Skills & Employment Programme, including gathering sector insights, labour market trends and practices to formulate recommendations for future programme delivery.
• Re-drafting the Royal Docks Sustainability Strategy
• Writing the Royal Docks Innovation paper- contextualising the regeneration programme within the London Innovation ecosystem.
• Programme Managing the Royal Docks Investment Prospectus with GDV upwards of £10bn and a further £10bn in the pipeline (drafting and launch)
• Leading on economic development elements of key Developer Procurements with GDV of £3bn plus , including advising, influencing on and taking part in assessment panels for GLA Land & Development developer procurements.
• Advising on Newham Council Inclusive Growth Plan Strategy development. Including influencing key narratives around inward investment, community wealth building, business growth and labour market policies.
• Advising Directors in Newham Council’s Climate Action Team on public narratives and green economic strategies, influencing and successfully securing funding from central government.
• Advising on and taking part in a pan European Navigate Horizon Europe Bid – to enable better climate action through innovative AI solutions (Digital Twins), in partnership with four other European cities.
• Capacity building Teams within the local University to better deliver impact, including leading on successful funding applications from central government for projects, advising on programme delivery and influencing at a senior level.
• Capacity building and advising team members on economic outputs of a multibillion - pound integrated regeneration programme, advising on social value (in development, procurement, monitoring and best practice on social value governance)
• Leading the Royal Docks Sustainability Network, comprised senior representatives from all Anchor Institutions present in the Royal Docks, influencing the direction of key local sustainability strategies, including working with University Pro Vice Chancellors, Local Authority Directors, to develop a clean energy futures model for the Royal Docks. Achieved the launch of London’s first Climate Agreement (advancing public/private partnerships in the green economy to enable better climate action and just transition).
• Working with airports, major developers, and all large employers on economic development and sustainability matters, influencing at a senior level.

Spent time in nature, traveling with friends, upskilling through research and and community organising.

Programme Manager/Principal Inclusive Economy Officer/Economic Development Officer

Community Wealth Building/Economic Development

Islington Council Feb 2017-March 2023

September 2021- March 2022

• Led the final design and delivery of the borough's COVID Business Recovery Programme within a community wealth building framework, working directly with the Director of Inclusive Economy & Jobs and Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building. Working with and influencing key politicians to deliver economic and environmental policies during a challenging time for the business community.
• Developed programme management framework and project management tools for the delivery team
• Researched and collected policy, best practice and relevant legal frameworks as an evidence base for for the programme
• Matrix managed a team of 6 Project Managers/ Local Economies Team who were responsible for the delivery some projects within the programme
• Line managed the Deputy Business Support Manager and Business Recovery Project Officer and led a multi disciplinary team from ICT , legal, Finance, Procurement, Employment and Climate Change to the successful delivery of the Business Recovery Programme
• Personally led the delivery of Cooperate Islington, a new Cooperative Development Hub for Islington in partnership with Outlandish and 5 other Cooperative development organisations- Including thought leadership & policy advocacy
• Led stakeholder engagement
• Management of delivery partners/external consultants (6 contracted delivery partners)
• Negotiated contracts
• Managed the political environment
• Projects delivered include ; Cooperate Islington, Inclusive Entrepreneurship scheme which supported under represented founders , Circular Economy scheme which supported businesses to embed circular economy practices within their business model , Business Recovery Service which supported businesses with COVID recovery/pivoting , Cargo Bike Pilot for businesses, Hospitality Grant Scheme, Specialist Business Advice for Black Asian and Minority Owned Businesses, Partnership with Black Pound Day , Construction Directory, Affordable Workspace Grant Scheme

April 2022-March 2023

• Winding down the Discretionary Grant Scheme, Business Recovery Programme
• Liaison with central government, Initiating the final evaluation using monitoring and evaluation framework I initiated (continuous evaluation and feedback used throughout the delivery of both programmes)
• Collection of case studies from the Business Recovery Programme
• Led Cooperate Islington through the implementation phase
• Supported affordable workspace colleagues with an options appraisal for the Small Sites Strategy

September 2019-September 2020 Borough Business & Workspace Lead

• During the COVID 19 Crisis I undertook additional responsibilities also outlined below:
• Lead the delivery of a complex Discretionary Grant Scheme (£13m) , and lead a multidisciplinary team from Business Rates, Inclusive Economy, Early Years, Markets, Finance, Public Protection and Planning. Successfully supporting 2000 businesses during the COVID 19 Pandemic and securing significant social value commitments from over 2000 businesses
• Line managed a National Management Graduate Trainee who went on to successfully secure a senior role in the councils economic development team.
• Recruited and managed six grants assessors to successfully deliver the council's discretionary grants
• Advised the Revenues Team including the Head of Revenues on the delivery of the mandatory grants
• Led the research into the impact of COVID 19 on various business sectors (Including Tech, R&D and Creative Industries) analysing the impact on operations, employment, finance and workspace
• Led the affordable workspace officer through a strategic risk review of the Affordable Workspace Programme in light of the COVID19 crisis on the deliverability of the programme. Taking into account the financial impact, impact of changes to the NPPF, market appetite and changing political and organisational priorities
• Developed and managed the borough's business risk register in response to the COVID 19 crisis and developing a programme of business support, working with colleagues from the local BID, Transport Planning, Public Protection, Employment, Communications, Business Rates, Markets and Inclusive Economy - including chairing the business support workstream calls and supporting the preparation of updates to GOLD Command
• Worked with the Acting Director of Inclusive Economy and Jobs to manage business communications, setting up and managing a new business bulletin which now reaches almost 10,000
• Set up a reactive business support service for the borough including the preparation of complex business support advice/guidance and management of seconded staff for this service
• Worked with the Acting Director of Inclusive Economy & Jobs to develop a Community Wealth Building recovery programme at pace, in response to the COVID 19 crisis

Business & Workspace :Lead pre COVID

• Lead commissioner for high value contracts within our affordable workspace property portfolio, ensuring the maximisation of measurable and meaningful social value outputs for local residents and businesses - leading to the launch of Islington first affordable workspace secured through the planning process (Better Space a social impact hub and exemplar on the London Workspace scene)
• Designing commissioning documents, developing and updating the social value matrix, property specifications and drafting offer specifications outlining the councils economic objectives
• Line management of a National Graduate Management Trainee/ Affordable Workspaces Officer, staff seconded to the Inclusive Economy Team and the Deputy Business Support Manager.
• Project managing the boroughs micro and small business research project, including managing consultants through a complex business research programme and engaging 500 businesses in Islington to try and understand the challenges they face to their survival and growth. This included leading business engagement through focus groups comprised of businesses in Islington's key sectors - tech, research & development, creative, design as well as retail/high street , fashion and professional services
• Leading on the design of the boroughs innovative business support programme within an inclusive economy framework using research collected through the micro and small business survey, advising departments across the council and presenting findings to corporate directors and elected members and the GLA
• Leading business engagement with economic clusters, key business groups (FSB, CoC) and businesses across the borough and beyond , including establishing a network with key knowledge economy employers, anchor institutions and businesses in fast growth sectors. Beginning a dialogue with these organisations on our community wealth building agenda (local procurement, local employment, apprenticeships, business support and skills)
• Drafted briefing papers for MPs, Elected members and Senior Directors
• Stewardship of Islington's innovative Affordable Workspace Programme (in the absence of a Head of Service) Securing new affordable workspaces, working with colleagues in legal, planning policy and development management
• Working with colleagues in legal, finance and governance to draft contracts, negotiate leases and HoTs for affordable workspaces, commenting on planning applications/policy advice for affordable workspaces

February 2017- September 2019

• Leading Archway Town Centre through a difficult period of transition during and immediately following a high profile traffic and public realm transformation project. Key areas of work included
• Member of the Environment & Regeneration Equalities Board, reviewing Resident Impact Assessments for key council strategies and delivering fairness and equalities workforce development programmes
• Working with the Transport Planning Team and Transport for London colleagues on the transformation of the town centre and creation of the new public space/Town Centre
• Relocating Archway Market to the new public space at the heart of the town centre including drafting and submitting the successful planning application for Archway Market
• Running a public competition and vote to name the new public space , and delivering the launch of the new public space (in liaison with leader of the labour Party, London Assembly Members, and Senior TfL staff)
• Responsibility for the Archway Delivery Board
• Facilitation of the Archway Town Centre Management Group, including support with securing funding for environmental projects and various business schemes including a local loyalty card scheme
• Design and initiation of the Archway Event Programme delivered using Growth Area funding (effectively activating a new town centre through placemaking principals)

• Event Producer Cally Festival - Including all business and community engagement, fundraising and programming, during the active Kings Cross Regeneration Scheme- working closely with Argent and key Knowledge Economy Employers
• Working to implement employment and voluntary and community sector initiatives in an area with significant levels of socio economic depravation
• Extensive stakeholder management during a complex and difficult period for the local community which required resilience and sensitivity.
• Extensive advice to the Voluntary and Community Sector Team on management systems
• Day to day management if four community assets- community centre, football pitch, ICT centre and Art Studios (workspaces).
• Supporting youth employment an outreach across the borough

VARIOUS ROLES 09/2009 to 07/2015

Various, London/Cornwall

• Community Hub Development Support Worker -Feb 2014-Sept 2015
• Volunteer Admin/Community Organiser - Sept 2013-Feb 2014
• Bar Supervisor/Waitress - April 2011-May2013
• Resourcer/Admin (Recruitment Agency) - Sept 2009-April 2011