REGIONAL FOCUS > Rising to the Challenge
Published: Friday, 24 Jul, 2009
More than 300 leading business people, policy makers and commentators debated the key issues facing the London economy and discussed solutions to shape the future of our capital during a conference on the economic future of London on Thursday 9 July 2009
More than 300 leading business people, policy makers and commentators debated the key issues facing the London economy and discussed solutions to shape the future of our capital during a conference on the economic future of London on Thursday 9 July 2009. The Rising to the Challenge: London\'s Economic Future conference was chaired by the LDA chairman, Harvey McGrath.
Key speakers who joined the Mayor of London Boris Johnson included:
- Rt Hon Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State Business, Innovation and Skills;
- George Osborne MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer;
- Sir Stuart Rose, Executive Chairman, Marks & Spencer;
- Ian Livingston, Chief Executive, BT; and
- Baroness Jo Valentine, Chief Executive, London First.
The purpose of the conference, one of the capital\'s premier business events in 2009, was to bring together key business people to discuss how London can rise to multiple and multifaceted challenges and to galvanise the capital\'s economy as we emerge from recession and prepare for the upturn. Events included a series of seminars focused on different aspects of London\'s economy and current and future challenges and opportunities. The conclusions will feed into the ongoing review of the Mayor\'s Economic Development Strategy (EDS) for London on which a pre consultation document, Rising to the Challenge, was published in May.
There was also a strong emphasis on the need to forecast future demand for skills effectively - as with the Olympics and Crossrail - and ensure that the necessary investment in skills, including green skills, takes place. This will ensure that more Londoners have the skills that London businesses need. The need to invest in infrastructure, including IT infrastructure, was also highlighted and the value of simplifying London\'s pitch, particularly to position London more clearly against other world cities.
Concluding the conference, Harvey McGrath highlighted the strong sense of real confidence in London\'s future emerging from the seminar sessions. This, and the excellent high level turnout, demonstrated a strong wish on the part of business to engage with the issues and a willingness to be vocal and put forward ideas.
For further information on the conference and a full list of speakers and attendees please go to
www.risingtothechallenge09.co.uk
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