What our members say...
"London's success is important to both Londoners and to the UK as a whole. London First works for businesses by raising the key issues for London at both central and local government levels."
Francis Salway, former Chief Executive, Land Securities
Our successes
London First gets results
Our track record demonstrates the importance we place on getting results – here we give a flavour of our successes.
- We are pleased the Chancellor reflected the thoughts of the business community in the Budget by announcing the reduction in the top rate of income tax to 45%, which is due to come into effect in April 2013. We have been campaigning for two years for this measure as the 50% top rate put at risk the attractiveness of the UK, and London in particular, as a place to work for skilled professionals.
- We actively campaigned for two years for the immigration cap to be more business friendly, and to be set at a level that allows businesses to employ the best talent, irrespective of their country of origin. In April 2012 the Government announced it will hold the cap at 20,700 for two years and not place any further restrictions on intra-company transfers.
- Skills for jobs – London First advocated a single London body to address the urgent skills needs of businesses in the capital. The London Enterprise Panel (formerly called the London Skills and Employment Board) was established by Government in late 2006 and is co-chaired by the Mayor of London and former London First chairman Harvey McGrath.
- In 2005 we ran the largest ever vocational careers fair in London – SkillCity 2005 – which attracted 160 exhibitors and 26,000 visitors. Following on from this success we ran similar events in 2008 and 2010, and we will continue to support London's employers and unemployed in Skills London 2012.
- Medal-winning – London First galvanised business support for London’s successful Olympic Bid, as a catalyst for regeneration.
- Tackling central London gridlock – London First proposed Congestion Charging as a means of tackling central London congestion and as an alternative funding stream to deliver vital investment in the capital’s transport system. Congestion Charging was introduced in 2003. We have since persuaded the Mayor to make the original scheme more user-friendly, including introducing next day payment, extra pay points and a 6pm finish.
- Teach First – London’s schools have benefited from the teaching skills of 800 exceptional graduates, placed by Teach First, a scheme pioneered by London First and BITC in 2001.
- Devolution for London – As part of our work to ensure the capital has the tools to manage itself effectively as a world city, our lobbying was influential in creating the Greater London Authority and office of Mayor of London in 2000.
- We produced a transport strategy for London and a five-year forward programme, delivered to the new Mayor on his first day in office. Our strategy formed the basis for the Mayor’s bid for transport funding following his election.
- In 1995 we established Think London to promote London to business audiences worldwide and encourages foreign direct investment to London. In 16 years, our sister organisation helped over 1000 companies from 36 countries to expand into London. On 1 April 2011 Think London was merged with Study London and Visit London to form London & Partners – a single promotional organisation for London.
- Our Tube User Forum secured changes to the programme of closures for maintenance work on the Underground network to avoid sensitive periods for business in London.
- Safer business – In partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office, we have developed booklets on business continuity and counter terrorism, endorsed by Government and now distributed by local authorities UK-wide. Thanks to London First, working with the Metropolitan Police, over 500 businesses have benefited from business continuity training.
- Over 250 partnerships between senior police personnel and business leaders have arisen from London First’s much praised Leadership Exchange programme, which encourages the sharing of leadership and management expertise to improve operational effectiveness of London’s police services.
- London First’s proposal for a Local Tax Reinvestment Programme, based on our study in Barking and Dagenham, was influential in the creation of the current Local Authority Business Growth Incentive schemes.
- We also developed the New West End Company, the Business Improvement District that manages the improvement and promotion of the West End.
