What Next For London?

This week we spoken to Julie Baddeley, Chair of Chapter Zero, and Paul King, Managing Director Sustainability & Social Impact (Europe) at Lendlease, about the scale and immediacy of the climate change challenge and how all businesses, including those yet to make a start, can take steps today that can set them on a path to net zero. Listen in to get a sense of the big picture, as well as the practical steps firms can take to make difference.

Our CEO John Dickie spoke to Billy D'Arcy, CEO of BAI Communications, about Transport for London's decision to award BAI the contract to deliver high-speed mobile coverage across London's tube network, introducing uninterrupted 4G mobile coverage to ticket halls, platforms and tunnels on the London Underground network for the first time. Billy explains the difference this will make to productivity across the city and why it comes as such an important vote of confidence at this moment in the capital's recovery.

We spoke to Fujitsu's head of international trade and customs, Frank Dunsmuir, and CEO of international trade law and economics consultancy, Competere, Shanker Singham, about implications of the GB EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the future opportunities in international trade and tackling the existing pain points. Brexit is a process, not an event, and in this episode, we dig into the latest insight into what support traders need to be able to navigate it.

In the podcast, Shanker mentioned Digital Trader Services. With customs experts and practical guidance, it's a first of its kind online portal for declarations management. Learn more here.

We spoke to Lucy D'Orsi, Chief Constable of the British Transport Police, and Inga Beale, London First Board member and former CEO of Lloyd's of London, about the value of good leadership, drawing on their experience of exchanging expertise across policing and business as part of London First's Leadership Exchange. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Leadership Exchange matches leaders from different organisations and cultures to provide a confidential sounding board for exploring shared challenges. Lucy and Inga shared how working together has shaped their outlook and leadership style.

Sally Jones, EY's Lead for Trade Strategy and Brexit and George Riddell, EY's Director of Trade Strategy, talk to London First about the adjustments businesses have made – and continue to make – to adapt to the new trading environment. They share their hopes for the future and the issues that still need to be tackled to make the UK's trading relationship with the EU smoother in the future.

If London is to remain the best capital city in which to do business, business leaders will need to continue to focus on their people and culture. With the continuing under-representation of Black executives and professionals in senior positions under the microscope, Harry Matovu, Founder of the Charter for Black Talent, spoke to London First's Chairman Paul Drechsler on how the Charter can help businesses to make clear, data-led, measurable commitments to improve the recruitment and promotion of talented Black professionals.

This week, we interview Matt Dillion (Arup), Annette Mees (Royal Opera House) and Hari Sothinathan (Gerald Eve) about the challenges and opportunities for the very centre of London as unlocking progresses and recovery begins. From their different professional perspectives, they share insights into what will help the heart of London rebound better than ever.

Pinsent Mason's Sue Chadwick (Strategic Planning Advisor) and Nicholle Kingsley (Partner) spoke to Laura Osborne and Sophia Wolpers about taking a holistic approach to recovery, particularly in planning terms. They dug into the future of smart cities, the London Data Charter, the politics of London recovery and the crossover of planning and data when it comes to safety in the city.

London First's Laura Osborne and John Dickie spoke to Alexander Jan, Midtown BID Chairman and former Arup Chief Economist, about the role of London in the UK's post-pandemic recovery, levelling up between people not just regions, and how central London can support getting the city back to growth.

LSE Professor in Practice Nick Robins and Natwest's Head of Sustainable Finance and Just Transition Rishi Madlani talk to Laura Osborne and Victoria Poku-Amanfo about why climate change action needs to drive greater equality. They explain the thinking behind and benefits of a Just Transition, the opportunities it presents and why, in this year of COP26, it is the moment to accelerate change.