Event Archive

With the pandemic wreaking havoc on business workforce strategies and a labour market seeing record level job vacancies and skills shortages, the Government’s Plan for Jobs – a range of programmes and incentives designed to help business train up and recruit – aims to help. Except the offer can be hard to navigate – often, its not clear how to transfer unused apprenticeship levy money, what skills bootcamps are, and what the difference is between Kickstart and Restart.

Invitation only. Next in our Supper Club series, London First members will have the opportunity for informal dinner and conversation with Guto Harri. Guto spent 18 years at the BBC, becoming the Chief Political Correspondent, before joining Boris Johnson’s City Hall as Director of External Affairs. He is now an advisor, commentator and presenter and will be sharing his insights into the challenges faced by the current Government and what this means for business in the capital.

London’s labour market is significantly challenged; on the one hand unemployment remains stubbornly high and large numbers have become economically inactive since the pandemic. On the other, vacancies and demand for skills are reaching record levels. But there’s a skills mismatch which is making it hard for business to access the workers they need. Doubling down on reskilling training is critical as are strategies for unlocking all parts of London’s labour market to build a more robust pipeline of diverse talent to fill staff shortages. 

Join us for our AGM, followed by a Vision for London discussion, where we will explore what the capital needs to be attractive and competitive into the future. This will be an opportunity for you to feed in your perspective, following input from senior business executives across our Board and membership. We would really value your insights on what a thriving capital needs to encapsulate, and we look forward to an in-depth conversation on how we can make London the best place in the world to do business.

London First is intending to respond to the GBRTT whole industry strategic plan consultation that closes on 4 February. This short working session will be an opportunity to review and feed into London First’s submission.

Further details to follow in the new year.

The more we get used to a mix of Zoom and face to face meetings, and regularly switching between home, office and coffee shop working, the more we wonder how this is affecting us, our employers and our workplaces. Will the nature and character of work continue to be in flux for the foreseeable future, is change permanent and if so how do we make it work for us? 
 

These virtual roundtables and dinners provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the future of business, the capital and the economy with a specific focus on what is needed to support the capital’s recovery from Covid-19. 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 virtual briefing with John Biggs, Mayor of Tower Hamlets.

This event will be an excellent opportunity to hear the Mayor discuss his priorities for Tower Hamlets, his perspective on the key issues facing London business and the role that local government can play as we move into the next stage of recovery. 

London First are planning to step up our campaigning on London’s international connections in 2022. We are therefore looking to launch a new campaign group seeking to raise the voice of the business community — and specifically, the businesses in London and the South East that most rely on international connectivity to thrive — in the public debate.

As part of our series of events with the leaders of London’s most vibrant boroughs, join us for a virtual briefing with Councillor Peter Mason, Leader of Ealing Council.

This webinar will be an excellent opportunity to hear the Leader discuss his priorities for Ealing, his perspective on the key issues facing London business and the role that local government can play as we move into the next stage of recovery. 

These virtual roundtables and dinners provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the future of business, the capital and the economy with a specific focus on what is needed to support the capital’s recovery from Covid-19. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule. 

This virtual event will assess the affordable housing and S106 market in London and the appetite from registered providers for them. It will be an all rounded view as assessed from across the industry and will also look at partnerships and how new JVs/​other types of partnership are faring.

This event will host a small group of political stakeholders providing them with a presentation and site tour of a member’s development to allow them to see not only the types of properties that BTR delivers, but also the wider opportunities for the community and place.

The annual London First and Planning Officers Society London get together is back and we’re delighted to be holding it in person.

Limited spaces are available for the joint roundtable discussion and we will be joined by the Government’s Chief Planner, Joanna Averley.

By joining this roundtable, you will be able to hear the core strands we see as central in a future competitive London post-pandemic, and have your say in how we can best articulate this vision.

The session will be introduced and chaired by Laura Osborne, our Managing Director, Corporate Affairs. It will be a discussion format, chaired by Laura, with contributions from our pro-bono agency supporters Seven Hills and our host (tbc).

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. 

The November Chair and CEO roundtable will take place in person as a private dinner.

Councillor David Harvey will lead a roundtable discussion with members regarding the work that Westminster City Council is doing to increase house building in the borough. Members will be able to put their questions to him during the discussion.

London First’s Business Advisory Group comprises leaders from cross-sector businesses, who examine the big questions the capital must answer in order to promote a positive recovery and remain competitive into the future. The group is chaired by London First Chairman Paul Drechsler and connects the business voice with government at all levels.

As part of our series of events with the leaders of London’s most vibrant boroughs, join us for an in-person briefing with Catherine McGuinness, Policy Chair of the City of London Corporation.
 
This event will be an excellent opportunity to hear Catherine discuss her priorities for the City, her perspective on the key issues facing London business and the role that local government can play as we move into the next stage of recovery. 
 
 

Join London First, Compass Group UK, JLL & Ireland and London & Partners, as we bring COP26 to London. 

This virtual roundtable will provide members with an opportunity to engage directly with DLUHC’s London Housing team. Following a short introduction, the team will provide their perspectives on three key issues that are affecting the industry; supply chain and labour shortages, affordable housing delivery against the new grant regime and the current progress of the First Homes policy.

These virtual roundtables and dinners provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the future of business, the capital and the economy with a specific focus on what is needed to support the capital’s recovery from Covid-19. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule. 

These virtual roundtables and dinners provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the future of business, the capital and the economy with a specific focus on what is needed to support the capital’s recovery from Covid-19. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule. 

The pandemic interrupted many of the regular and valuable interactions between London and the wider south-east. Commuting slowed to a trickle and international visitors stopped arriving at airports. This led to serious economic disruption, especially in areas reliant on these activities. It also raised questions about the long-term economic geography of Greater London and the wider South East. 

Ian King, Business Editor, Sky News will join us for the next event in our exclusive Partner Series, taking part in an in-depth discussion over dinner.

The term ​‘social value’ is one that is growing in prominence in the planning system. Some local authorities are introducing policies that require an appraisal of social value as part of the planning application process and are increasingly referencing it in their deliberations over schemes. This goes much further than the usual planning balance of public benefit versus development impact, but the policy requirements are not yet clear.

Join us at our annual London reception, to kick off the Conservative Party conference.

Paul Scully, Minister for London, has been invited to speak and we look forward to welcoming politicians and opinion formers from across the capital alongside London First members for short speeches and networking.

The reception will be an excellent opportunity to discuss the priorities for London business, whilst strengthening relationships, as we meet in person once again.

We hope you can make it.

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.

These virtual roundtables and dinners provide senior business leaders — chairs and CEOs — in membership with the opportunity to discuss the future of business, the capital and the economy with a specific focus on what is needed to support the capital’s recovery from Covid-19. All discussions take place under the Chatham House rule. 

Join us at our annual London reception, to kick off the Labour Party conference.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has been invited to speak and we look forward to welcoming politicians and opinion formers from across the capital alongside London First members for short speeches and networking.

The reception will be an excellent opportunity to discuss the priorities for London business, whilst strengthening relationships, as we meet in person once again.

We hope you can make it.