Event Archive

After more than a year of Streetspace interventions in response to the pandemic, and three months of the London e‑scooter trial, what is the future of micromobility and active travel in the capital? Is the increase in walking and cycling sticking now that the city is out of lockdown? What is the role of cycle and e‑scooter hire schemes in the economic recovery of the capital?

The UK has set a target to reduce emissions to net-zero carbon by 2050. To achieve this ambitious target, we as a country will need to think carefully about the wide range of carbon emissions sources, and how best to reduce these. Electric vehicles are not the silver bullet, but they are an important weapon in the fight against poor air quality and climate change. It is necessary for London to act to enable the transition to electric vehicles.

Sustaining TfL’s operations has dominated discussions around funding for London’s transport network, but delivering new transport projects will be critical for the capital’s future.

Covid-19 has challenged fundamental assumptions about the world’s largest cities. Cities across the world have seen an unprecedented level of change: initially this was in response to massive, enforced, changes to behaviour, but as Covid recedes, cities across the world have become creative in their recoveries. Urban life is coming back with innovations in transport pricing, new designs for street usage, and fundamental questions about long-term demand for all forms of urban infrastructure.

London First’s Business Advisory Group was established in response to the pandemic to connect the business voice with government at all levels, articulating London’s recovery needs and harnessing the power and collective insight of London’s business leaders to help shape a vision for London’s recovery. The meetings are hosted by our Chairman Paul Drechsler.

The Data for London (D4L) Working Group continues the momentum created by the London Data Commission, and works closely with the GLA and the boroughs, lending a strong business voice for data-collaboration to solve city challenges. Our aim is to encourage purposeful data collaborations amongst public sector agencies across London and between the public and private sector to solve civic challenges and make a positive impact on the lives of Londoners.

We’re delighted to announce that the August Chair and CEO roundtable will take place in person.

These informal roundtables provide senior business leaders — Chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on business, the capital and the economy and to look ahead to what business and the government will need to focus on to support the capital’s recovery. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule. 

Join us for a discussion of the priorities London First should pursue in 2021 – 22

Following the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, London First’s annual event on the River Thames will seek to highlight how the river played an important part in supporting the UK through the immediate crisis and how policymakers should be thinking about the role it can play in delivering a sustainable recovery.

London First’s Business Advisory Group was established in response to the pandemic to connect the business voice with government at all levels, articulating London’s recovery needs and harnessing the power and collective insight of London’s business leaders to help shape a vision for London’s recovery. The meetings are hosted by our Chairman Paul Drechsler.

When we published our Planning Manifesto for High Streets and Town Centr

These informal virtual roundtables provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on business, the capital and the economy and to look ahead to what business and the government will need to focus on to support the capital’s recovery. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule. 

As part of our series of events with the leaders of London’s most vibrant boroughs, join us for a briefing with Councillor Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea 

This webinar will be an excellent opportunity to hear the Leader discuss her priorities for Kensington & Chelsea, her perspective on the key issues facing London business and the role that local government can play as we move into recovery. 

Join us for the second in a series of two briefings with TfL about their property development programme.

TfL owns a 5,700 acre estate that includes land and properties with huge potential for creating the homes and jobs that London needs. TfL landholdings can play a vital role in meeting the Mayor’s priorities to build affordable homes, while generating revenue to invest the capital’s transport network. 

The Gigabit Connectivity Network for London brings together London’s leading fibre and mobile operators, and key representatives from the GLA, London Councils, London’s sub-regions and Local Authorities. The purpose of the Network is to facilitate better collaboration between the key private and public sector stakeholders with an interest in accelerating the rollout of full fibre and 5G technologies across the capital.

London First working in partnership with AECOM have produced a publication which considers the delivery of homes through local authorities collaborating with the private sector. During the briefing looking specifically at the Joint Venture model, members will have the opportunity to hear from both London borough representatives and private developers on their view to such partnerships and the benefits of partnership working. 

As part of our series of events with the leaders of London’s most vibrant boroughs, join us for a briefing with Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of Camden Council.

This webinar will be an excellent opportunity to hear the Leader discuss her priorities for Camden, her perspective on the key issues facing London business and the role that local government can play as we move into recovery. Councillor Gould is also Chair of London Councils and the Recovery Board Growth Lead, so will share insights from those perspectives too.

Join us for a webinar panel discussion, led by expert Lord Matthew Taylor, to explore the lessons learnt from recent developments and, drawing on Garden Community principles, identify the critical components of building sustainable communities now and in future years.

These informal virtual roundtables provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on business, the capital and the economy and to look ahead to what business and the government will need to focus on to support the capital’s recovery. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule. 

The Greater London Authority’s (GLA) Infrastructure Coordination Service is an initiative the Mayor of London is trialling in the capital to try and improve infrastructure coordination between housing developers and utility providers. London faces many unique challenges when delivering infrastructure projects, and this service seeks to mitigate some of these problems by employing dedicated infrastructure coordinators who will liaise between developers and utility providers to try and improve their communication.

London First’s Business Advisory Group was established in response to the pandemic to connect the business voice with government at all levels, articulating London’s recovery needs and harnessing the power and collective insight of London’s business leaders to help shape a vision for London’s recovery. The meetings are hosted by our Chairman Paul Drechsler.

As we step through the Government’s unlocking roadmap, London is getting back on the move. As public transport passenger numbers tick up, the challenges of running the network increase. Some passengers expectations and behaviours have changed; others are still hesitant to use the network. Meanwhile operators and infrastructure providers face significant uncertainty about what their organisational and funding futures look like.

We are a year on from the killing of George Floyd in the US and the protest movements it sparked worldwide and in the UK. Controversy surrounding the Sewell Report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities has been significant. It is a good time to take stock of what has changed in the past 12 months and what remains ahead as we work towards a more equitable city.

TfL owns a 5,700 acre estate that includes land and properties with huge potential for creating the homes and jobs that London needs. TfL landholdings can play a vital role in meeting the Mayor’s priorities to build affordable homes, while generating revenue to invest in the capital’s transport network. 

Join the co-authors of Renew London: Fast-tracking the UK’s Recovery to discuss the analysis behind the report and London First’s Renew London campaign.

This event will discuss the key aspects of estate regeneration and the delivery of homes in London.

London First members will participate in a roundtable which will discuss the delivery of homes via estate regeneration projects, the new grant regime and the ability of such projects to contribute to London’s broader recovery. 

The West End Streets Group, or WESt, is an invitation only steering group established by London First to promote the delivery of high quality public realm improvements in the West End. WESt comprises members of the great estates, major land owners and Business Improvement Districts and the group is chaired by Paul Williams, Chief Executive of Derwent London. WESt champions selected projects to promote their delivery and funding, working with key stakeholders including Westminster City Council, the London Borough of Camden, the Greater London Authority and Transport for London.

London First’s Business Advisory Group was established in response to the pandemic to connect the business voice with government at all levels, articulating London’s recovery needs and harnessing the power and collective insight of London’s business leaders to help shape a vision for London’s recovery. The meetings are hosted by our Chairman Paul Drechsler.

The Data for London (D4L) Working Group continues the momentum created by the London Data Commission, and works closely with the GLA and the boroughs, lending a strong business voice for data-collaboration to solve city challenges. Our aim is to encourage purposeful data collaborations amongst public sector agencies across London and between the public and private sector to solve civic challenges and make a positive impact on the lives of Londoners.

As London and the rest of the country starts to unlock, join us for a panel discussion on the intersection between the return to work and the economic recovery of our city centres.

These informal virtual roundtables provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on business, the capital and the economy and to look ahead to what business and the government will need to focus on to support the capital’s recovery. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule. 

The Net Zero Carbon (NZC) working group brings together 50+ leading London businesses to help shape our response to climate action. Last year we published a Business Manifesto for Delivering Net Zero Carbon in London, which sets out the required action by business and the Mayor to deliver against London’s ambitious climate reduction targets by 2050.

London First’s Business Advisory Group was established in response to the pandemic to connect the business voice with government at all levels, articulating London’s recovery needs and harnessing the power and collective insight of London’s business leaders to help shape a vision for London’s recovery. The meetings are hosted by our Chairman Paul Drechsler.

The London Business Board and Bloomberg invite you to join us for our 2021 Mayor of London Business Hustings with candidates Shaun Bailey AM, Sian Berry AM, Rt Hon Sadiq Khan and Luisa Porritt.

AlixPartners is a global specialist in helping business solve complex and critical challenges. In working with some of the biggest firms in the world, AlixPartners have a unique perspective on how business leaders should plan in times of uncertainty. 

In this roundtable Jeff Drake and Glen Fietta, AlixPartners Managing Directors, will set out a scenarios-based planning approach to help CEOs and boards plan ahead. Members should leave with practical ideas and next steps to help navigate their own firm-level planning.

These informal virtual roundtables provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on business, the capital and the economy and to look ahead to what business and the government will need to focus on to support the capital’s recovery. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule. 

Last year London First successfully launch the recommendations of the London Data Commission, which set out a new vision for how to promote more data collaboration between the public and private sector to solve civic challenges and make a positive impact on the lives of Londoners.

This webinar is briefing on how the data agenda is progressing in London, and a chance for members to hear more about how data is being put at the heart of the London’s recovery planning.

COVID-19 has added a further layer of complexity to the challenges that London’s housing market already faces. Government has taken action to support housebuilding but the industry must think creatively as to how they can deliver more housing. Partnership working is one such model which can be used to help secure new investment and deliver efficient mechanisms to keep the pipeline of new development in London going.

The Future of the CAZ is a study undertaken by Arup, Gerald Eve and the London School of Economics for the Mayor of London on the economic future of the Central Activities Zone.

An ongoing events series (currently virtual) to discuss key skills issues, for members to promote their good practice, and to foster better collaboration between business and education. The monthly sessions showcase data/​evidence to frame the discussion, members present on what they are doing to tackle the challenge in their organisation and network; followed by discussion and questions on how this good practice could apply to other organisations. This group is open to all, so if you would like to get involved please contact

London First’s Business Advisory Group was established in response to the pandemic to connect the business voice with government at all levels, articulating London’s recovery needs and harnessing the power and collective insight of London’s business leaders to help shape a vision for London’s recovery. The meetings are hosted by our Chairman Paul Drechsler and our CEO Jasmine Whitbread.

This virtual meeting will examine the case for attracting further private investment into the affordable housing sector, as well as the public policy changes that are required to facilitate this. You will gain access to exclusive market insights and hear expert analysis from investors and key public sector stakeholders, including the Regulator of Social Housing. There will also be an opportunity to give your views on this subject during the breakout sessions towards the end of the meeting.

Councillor Simon Miller will lead a roundtable discussion with members regarding the work that Waltham Forest is doing to increase house building in the borough. Members will be able to put their questions to him after the discussion via the Q&A session. 

Robert Peston, ITV’s Political Editor will join us for the next event in our exclusive Partner Series, taking part in an in-depth discussion.

The pandemic has broken TfL’s funding model and the traditional levers are unlikely to be sufficient to fill the gap. Arup and London First have proposed four new ideas to help: a London Vehicle Ownership Duty to replace VED; smart road user charging; a London Mobility Service; and a fully integrated fares system.

These informal virtual roundtables provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on business, the capital and the economy and to look ahead to what business and the government will need to focus on to support the capital’s recovery. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule.