London Business Survey launch – 20 September 2017

This September, the CBI, in partnership with the CBRE, launched the latest edition of the London Business Survey at a panel event. The CBI was delighted to be joined by the Deputy Mayor of London for Business, Rajesh Agrawal, Director of the PPR Commission on Economic Justice, Michael Jacobs, Independent Business Writer and Commentator, Dina Medland, and the Chief Executive Officer of Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Alasdair Murdoch.

The London Business Survey gauges business sentiment in London. This edition of the survey asked firms for their views on London’s business climate, recent political impacts on business, London’s global competitiveness and London’s future workforce.

During the event the declining rate of business confidence was highlighted and cited as an example of firms requiring further clarity from the Government regarding the ongoing Brexit negotiations. Indeed, Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s CEO, Alasdair Murdoch, identified access to EU workers as being their top priority. This was in keeping with the survey’s findings as 88% of businesses in London employ EU citizens.

Furthermore, the Deputy Mayor for Business highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Mayor of London and the newly-elected regional Mayors to ensure the country benefits from London’s growth.

The panel noted the survey’s finding that businesses in London see the tech and creative sector as being the key sector for London’s economic growth over the next five years. In addition, the importance of Crossrail 2 as a key infrastructure project for London was highlighted.

For further information about the event, please contact Daniel Woolf (hyperlink – Daniel.Woolf@cbi.org.uk).

Read the full report