What Next For London?

Sally Jones, EY’s Lead for Trade Strategy and Brexit and George Riddell, EY’s Director of Trade Strategy, talk to London First about the adjustments businesses have made – and continue to make – to adapt to the new trading environment. They share their hopes for the future and the issues that still need to be tackled to make the UK’s trading relationship with the EU smoother in the future.

If London is to remain the best capital city in which to do business, business leaders will need to continue to focus on their people and culture. With the continuing under-representation of Black executives and professionals in senior positions under the microscope, Harry Matovu, Founder of the Charter for Black Talent, spoke to London First’s Chairman Paul Drechsler on how the Charter can help businesses to make clear, data-led, measurable commitments to improve the recruitment and promotion of talented Black professionals.

This week, we interview Matt Dillion (Arup), Annette Mees (Royal Opera House) and Hari Sothinathan (Gerald Eve) about the challenges and opportunities for the very centre of London as unlocking progresses and recovery begins. From their different professional perspectives, they share insights into what will help the heart of London rebound better than ever.

Pinsent Mason’s Sue Chadwick (Strategic Planning Advisor) and Nicholle Kingsley (Partner) spoke to Laura Osborne and Sophia Wolpers about taking a holistic approach to recovery, particularly in planning terms. They dug into the future of smart cities, the London Data Charter, the politics of London recovery and the crossover of planning and data when it comes to safety in the city.

London First’s Laura Osborne and John Dickie spoke to Alexander Jan, Midtown BID Chairman and former Arup Chief Economist, about the role of London in the UK’s post-pandemic recovery, levelling up between people not just regions, and how central London can support getting the city back to growth.

LSE Professor in Practice Nick Robins and Natwest’s Head of Sustainable Finance and Just Transition Rishi Madlani talk to Laura Osborne and Victoria Poku-Amanfo about why climate change action needs to drive greater equality. They explain the thinking behind and benefits of a Just Transition, the opportunities it presents and why, in this year of COP26, it is the moment to accelerate change.

Alix Partners Managing Directors Jeff Drake and Glen Fietta talk to Laura Osborne and David Lutton about the critical importance of planning ahead, as leaders transition away from survival to focus on value protection and generation. They outline the model of scenario planning they use to help clients look ahead and plan for the future.

After a year of lockdowns and restrictions, London’s organisations are entering Brexit Britain and 2021 with a new set of regulatory and financial challenges. We talk to two representatives from organisations that are responding to this challenge by transforming legal services with technology: Emily Foges and Luminance’s Clementine Fox.

Ed Fidoe, Chief Executive of the London Interdisciplinary School, discusses the importance of interdisciplinary thinking in addressing global challenges like climate change and mental health. He highlights how innovative, multi-disciplinary degrees prepare students for real-world issues while fostering corporate responsibility. Fidoe also emphasizes the necessity of internships to bridge the gap between education and employment, and he explores the evolving communication skills needed in the workplace. His insights reflect the future of leadership and education in a post-pandemic world.

Dr Nicola Millard, BT’s Principal Innovation Partner, joined us to talk through her experience of the changing world of work and why we need to rethink the nature of work itself. She brought to life the consequence of rapidly accelerating trends, the opportunities to rethink business in a more sustainable way and the need for a new kind of leadership as we emerge from the pandemic.