People

People

Enabling business to attract and retain a diverse workforce

At a time when some international rivals are pulling away the welcome mat, we will continue to champion the benefits of an open and outward-looking capital as a source of competitive advantage. 

To keep that edge, we must ensure Londoners can access secure, well-paid jobs in a ever-changing labour market where unemployment is rising in the face of a weak economy and being transformed by advances in AI. 

Despite having the most highly qualified workforce in the UK, London also faces the highest levels of in-work poverty and economic inactivity. Closing this gap is critical to protect London’s competitiveness and ensure businesses can grow and Londoner can thrive.

What we do 

We are proud to lead London’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) on behalf of the capital’s business community – a strategic initiative that aligns skills provision with employer needs to drive inclusive economic growth. We connect employers with education providers and government to: 

  • Bridge critical skills gaps in key sectors. 
  • Champion world-class universities as talent pipelines. 
  • Remove barriers that keep people from good jobs. 
  • Keep London globally competitive for international talent. 
  • Share best practices through powerful collaborative networks. 

Join industry leaders collaborating with boroughs, government departments, and strategic partners to build London’s future workforce. 

Our groups and events programme 

  • London Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) – Shaping skills policy implementation in the capital through our Stakeholder Advisory Group Quarterly sessions with cross-sector businesses, education providers, and representatives from across both London and central government. 
  • Skills and reskilling events – Bringing together members, academic institutions, and government to build a better skills system meeting London’s economic needs through our regular programme 
  • Building an inclusive workforce – We’re partnering with Journi to deliver joint events that share insights, strengthen connections, and promote inclusive practices across our network. 

Recent achievements

  • The London Local Skills Improvement Plan: Our latest report shows major progress, with employer engagement rising as more businesses partner with training providers and offer apprenticeships. We’ve helped shape curriculum innovation, with new courses aligned to LSIP priorities and investment in cutting-edge equipment. A surge in apprenticeships is creating thousands of opportunities for Londoners to gain practical skills and secure good jobs, while enrolments in key sectors such as construction, ICT, and business management continue to grow. LSIP is aligning training with employer demand, delivering on recommendations for digital and green skills, and driving a city-wide careers service to prepare London’s workforce for the future.
  • London Employment and Skills Summit: Hosted our first summit, bringing together 200 senior leaders from business, education, and London government.
  • Securing the Graduate Visa: We successfully led the campaign to protect the UK’s Graduate Visa route during the Government review, ensuring London remains a magnet for global talent. By making the economic case and mobilising cross-sector support, we helped safeguard a vital pathway for graduates to contribute to the workforce and strengthen the capital’s competitiveness.
  • Championing Fair Pay: We’ve worked with the Living Wage Foundation to boost London Living Wage adoption, showing businesses that fair pay improves recruitment, retention, and reputation. Our campaigns and events have helped drive uptake among employers, proving that paying the Living Wage is good for business and good for London.
Mete Coban at Employment and Skills Summit
  • Inclusive Talent Strategy: Shaping London’s Future Workforce: We worked closely with City Hall to help shape the Mayor and London Councils’ new Inclusive Talent Strategy, ensuring it aligns with the London Local Skills Improvement Plan we lead. The strategy champions employer partnerships to recruit and retain talent, introduces Sector Talent Boards to shape skills supply, and commits to launching a London-wide jobs and careers service – something we’ve long called for. These steps will unlock opportunity, boost productivity, and help London fire on all cylinders as an engine of growth.
  • BusinessLDN and the London Anchor Institutions Network: As a proud member of the London Anchor Institutions’ Network, we’re helping deliver real change – £950m spent with local suppliers to boost jobs and the economy, thousands of new apprenticeships and levy transfers, and more staff trained to tackle climate change. Together, we’re building a fairer, greener London.
  • Inclusive Leaders Programme: Ran a flagship programme with social mobility experts at Journi to equip senior professionals with the tools to build a more inclusive workforce and we’ll continue to work together on events to share best practice among businesses. 

Our work on people includes: