SEGRO, Meta, VirtualSpeech and ELBA harness technology to boost job skills in East London through pilot initiative

ELBA, which delivers SEGRO’s employability programme in East London, provides training and development local communities to improve their employability skills and help them secure long-term employment. The pilot workshop for the new programme took place last week to coincide with International Mentoring Day.

The technology stimulates various sized audiences and role play scenarios, enabling ELBA candidates to engage with mock interviews, public speaking and conversational exercises created to build the skills and confidence they need to successfully find work. The Virtual Reality experience is enabled by using Quest technology from Meta and AI by VirtualSpeech, which also provides the user with constructive feedback, enabling them to continuously improve their skills.

ELBA candidates will continue to benefit from the initiative over the next few months, enhancing their employability skills. Depending on the success of the pilot, SEGRO may explore future opportunities to expand the initiative across its wider Community Investment Plans.

Neil Impiazzi, Partnership Development Director at SEGRO, said:

“This pilot will give us a good insight into how VR and AI can enhance the delivery of our existing community programmes. Technology will give us greater flexibility to engage more local unemployed people to help develop the essential skills they need to secure sustainable employment.  We will continue to look at more innovative and collaborative ways to deliver our community programme to ensure we make a meaningful difference in our communities.”

Beth Murray, Global Lead for Nonprofits, Reality Labs at Meta, said:

“Mixed Reality technology is proven to have a significant impact on helping people get into jobs - whether thorough immersive interview experiences, skills training or scenario planning. 
We look forward to the success of this work across London.”

Julie Hutchinson, CEO at ELBA, said:

“Collaborative initiatives like this are crucial for empowering our community members. By providing innovative training opportunities, we can help bridge the skills gap and support local talent in achieving their career aspirations.”

Sophie Thompson, CEO at VirtualSpeech, said:

“Our mission has always been to harness tech for good. Inspired by our own challenges with public speaking, interviews, and professional communication, we set out to empower others to overcome these barriers and unlock their full potential.

“The work ELBA is doing with their community perfectly aligns with our vision of equipping people with the skills and confidence they need to thrive. By partnering with SEGRO, ELBA and Meta, we are excited to expand our reach and impact across more communities."

SEGRO is a long-term investor in East London. The developer’s East Plus regeneration scheme, a partnership with the Greater London Authority, will deliver 1.4 million sq ft of modern industrial space, spanning the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Newham, and regenerating previously derelict land. 

About SEGRO

SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris, and is a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses and industrial property. It owns or manages 10.8 million square metres of space (116 million square feet) valued at £20.6 billion serving customers from a wide range of industry sectors. Its properties are located in and around major cities and at key transportation hubs in the UK and in seven other European countries.

For over 100 years SEGRO has been creating the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. From modern big box warehouses, used primarily for regional, national and international distribution hubs, to urban warehousing (including data centres) located close to major population centres and business districts, it provides high-quality assets that allow its customers to thrive.

A commitment to be a force for societal and environmental good is integral to SEGRO’s purpose and strategy. Its Responsible SEGRO framework focuses on three long-term priorities where the company believes it can make the greatest impact: Championing Low-Carbon Growth, Investing in Local Communities and Environments and Nurturing Talent.

Striving for the highest standards of innovation, sustainable business practices and enabling economic and societal prosperity underpins SEGRO’s ambition to be the best property company.

See www.SEGRO.com for further information.

About Meta 

Meta is building the future of human connection and the technology that makes it possible. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. 

About the East London Business Alliance (ELBA)

East London Business Alliance (ELBA) is a leading social regeneration charity in East London. Our strategic goals are to promote social mobility, tackle poverty and address inequality. With over 35 years’ experience, we facilitate corporate involvement in community organisations, education and employment programmes across the East London boroughs, Islington and beyond. 
 
Working with over 80 City and Canary Wharf companies, ELBA enables successful cross-sector partnerships between companies and the community, with over 12,000 business volunteers giving back to the local community through ELBA each year (pre-covid), into more than 250 local organisations, schools, colleges and universities every year, and helping local people into work and to improve their essential skills. 
 
For more information visit www.elba-1.org.uk.

About VirtualSpeech

VirtualSpeech is an award-winning platform revolutionising soft skills training through active learning. Specialising in areas such as public speaking, interview preparation, leadership, and difficult conversations, VirtualSpeech equips people with the skills and confidence they need to excel.

By integrating VR, MR, and AI-powered roleplays, VirtualSpeech delivers realistic simulations of real-world scenarios, helping people increase their skills and confidence by up to 25% in just 10 minutes.

With a global reach, spanning over 130 countries and over half a million people, VirtualSpeech partners with organisations to prepare their students and teams for success in today's workplace.