2022 has been yet another extraordinary year for London, BusinessLDN and our members.
The year started with another lockdown, as Covid-19 moved from pandemic to endemic; saw Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine wreak economic havoc across the globe; and in the UK, we’ve had three Prime Ministers and four Chancellors in two months, in a political merry-go-round which is only now seeing stability return to our government.
As always in London, these challenges have been met with resilience, innovation and collaboration: and we are very proud to have played our part in convening and mobilising the business community, working with local, regional and central government to keep London the best city in the world in which to do business.
In 2022 we:
- published new thought leadership on private sector investment in affordable housing and workspace and created the Place Commission on the future of London’s urban environment;
- brought businesses together around support for Ukraine, with a particular focus on jobs for refugees;
- celebrated the opening of the Elizabeth line, London businesses’ financial contribution to its construction and our role in brokering the funding deal;
- won the bid to lead London’s Local Skills Improvement Plan, working with the other main London business groups, and work is underway to understand employers’ needs, so we can better align local skills provision with current and future jobs;
- made the case for a longer-term funding deal for TfL, which was agreed in August and, if less than we had hoped, will at least give TfL government funding certainty through to March 2024;
- took three places on the Mayor of London’s new Data for London Board so we can play a full role in the development of a data strategy for the city;
- brought together members in new sustainability forums to share best practice on accelerating the transition to net zero;
- published two manifestos for our new government and campaigned for an energy deal to support businesses with rocketing energy costs;
- contributed fresh thinking on road user charging ahead of the proposed extension of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ), where our advocacy helped secure a substantial scrappage scheme;
- brought together a Coalition for International Travel and published new data on the importance of international connectivity to the UK economy; and
- brought back Skills London after a 2 year pandemic-induced hiatus, introducing 19,000 young Londoners to the capital’s leading employers.
We also rebranded London First, and are now well established as BusinessLDN — proud to forge a new narrative for London and its place in the UK and the world.
Despite 2022 opening in lockdown, the extremes of heat and snow, and industrial action across the rail and tube networks, we delivered over 60 events, maintained strong engagement with politicians across both parties and generated 290 media stories which contributed to our impact.
While we end the year with concerns about the cost of living we also have much to celebrate over the festive period with our colleagues, friends and families. We live in an exceptional city, during exceptional times. Next year, we’ll face new and different challenges, but we are all the stronger for facing them together.
The new year is filled with new ways to get involved in our work. We are working with members on new projects around affordable childcare, the London living wage and retrofitting and have a packed schedule of events. January begins with briefings on Infrastructure with Sir John Armitt and the future of Transport for London with Commissioner, Andy Lord – do join us for these.
I wish you and yours a joyful break over the festive season and look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023,
With best wishes,
John Dickie,
Chief Executive,
BusinessLDN