BusinessLDN
{{Short description|Non-profit membership organization for conducting business campaigning}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = BusinessLDN
| formation = 1992
| logo =
| logo_size = 1920x1080
| headquarters = London
| leader_title = Chief Executive
| leader_name = John Dickie
| website = https://www.businessldn.co.uk/
}}
BusinessLDN (spoken as Business London{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=London First looks to the future as BusinessLDN |url=https://www.businessldn.co.uk/news-publications/news/london-first-looks-to-the-future-as-businessldn |access-date=2022-08-12 |website=BusinessLDN (previously London First) |language=en}}) is a not for profit{{cite web|url=http://londonfirst.co.uk/about/|title=About London First|year=2013|publisher=London First|accessdate=3 August 2013}} advocacy group with a membership composed of leaders of businesses in London, United Kingdom.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2008/mar/26/londonmayoraldebatelive|title=London mayoral debate - Wednesday 26 March 2008|last=Hill|first=Dave|date=27 March 2008 |work=The Guardian|accessdate=3 August 2013}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/10169578/Capitals-major-roads-could-be-covered.html|title=Capital's major roads could be covered|last=Millward|first=David|date=10 July 2013|work=The Daily Telegraph|accessdate=3 August 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.cityam.com/article/poorly-designed-immigration-policies-are-damaging-london-economy|title=Poorly-designed immigration policies are damaging the London economy|last=Jo Valentine|date=1 August 2013|work=City A.M.|accessdate=3 August 2013}}
{{Asof|2022}}, it represented around 175 London based businesses.{{cite web |title=Business chiefs: Help London get back to work, Boris Johnson, as work-from-home guidance set to be scrapped |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/help-london-back-work-boris-johnson-offices-covid-lockdown-wfh-b934921.html |website=Evening Standard |date=13 May 2021 |access-date=3 June 2021}} {{Cite web |date=2018-03-15 |title=Member List |url=https://www.businessldn.co.uk/membership/member-list |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=BusinessLDN (previously London First) |language=en}}
Its stated aim is "to make London the best city in the world in which to do business".{{cite web|url=http://londonfirst.co.uk/about/mission/|title=Our Mission|year=2013|publisher=London First|accessdate=3 August 2013}}
History
London First was established in 1992 to meet a perceived lack of a unitary body to promote London after the dissolution of the Greater London Council. Its first chair was Allen Sheppard, Baron Sheppard of Didgemere.{{cite book|last=Ben Pimlott and Nirmala Rao|title=Governing London|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=2 May 2002|pages=52|isbn=9780191583650|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDw4QBIDY8QC&q=%22Lord+Sheppard%22+%22London+First%22&pg=PA52|accessdate=22 May 2014}}
London First has supported plans to provide roofing over major roads in London amongst other transport infrastructure developments, a proposal that was under consideration by then London mayor Boris Johnson. It has criticised the Cameron ministry's proposal to require a bond of £ 3 000 for some visitors to the UK.
London First was a partner in the 2014 "Wikimania".{{cite web |url=https://wikimania2014.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania |title=Wikimania 2014 in London |publisher=Wikimedia Foundation}}
London First was given its present name in July 2022 {{cite web | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/business/lobby-group-london-first-renames-itself-businessldn-after-30-years-b1011843.html | title=Lobby group London First renames itself BusinessLDN after 30 years | date=12 July 2022 }}
Leadership
John Dickie was appointed chief executive in May 2021.{{cite web |title=London First appoints John Dickie as its new Chief Executive |url=https://www.londonfirst.co.uk/news-publications/news/london-first-appoints-john-dickie-as-its-new-chief-executive |access-date=3 June 2021 |website=London First|date=4 May 2021 }}
Its former chief executives were Jasmine Whitbread{{cite news |date=7 January 2021 |title=London First chief Jasmine Whitbread goes to Travis Perkins |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/article/london-first-chief-jasmine-whitbread-goes-to-travis-perkins-6ppw3mhfm |access-date=3 June 2021}}{{cite web |title=Search is on for new CEO of London First |url=https://www.londonfirst.co.uk/news-publications/news/search-is-on-for-new-ceo-of-london-first |access-date=3 June 2021 |website=London First|date=6 January 2021 }} and Baroness Jo Valentine.
= Leadership Team =
Sources:{{Cite web |date=2022-10-20 |title=London Influence: Filling the ideas vacuum — Fullbrook flood — Case for campaigners |url=https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/politico-london-influence/filling-the-ideas-vacuum-fullbrook-flood-case-for-campaigners/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}} {{Cite web |date=2018-03-15 |title=Our Team |url=https://www.businessldn.co.uk/about-us/our-team |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=BusinessLDN (previously London First) |language=en}}
- John Dickie - Chief Executive
- Muniya Barua - Deputy Chief Executive
- Dimitra Christakou - Chief Operating Officer
= Board =
Sir Kenneth Olisa succeeded Paul Drechsler CBE as Chair in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-06 |title=Sir Kenneth Olisa announced as new Chair of BusinessLDN |url=https://www.businessldn.co.uk/news-publications/news/sir-kenneth-olisa-announced-as-new-chair-of-businessldn |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=BusinessLDN (previously London First) |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-03-15 |title=Our Board |url=https://www.businessldn.co.uk/about-us/our-board |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=BusinessLDN (previously London First) |language=en}}
Policy Response
In July 2021, London First urged firms to return to the office, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced an increase in remote work.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57712614 |title=Firms urge PM to back returning to the office | work=BBC News | date=4 July 2021}}
Rebranding
On 12 July 2022, London First renamed as BusinessLDN (spoken as Business London).{{Cite web |date=2022-07-12 |title=London First looks to the future as BusinessLDN |url=https://www.businessldn.co.uk/news-publications/news/london-first-looks-to-the-future-as-businessldn |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=BusinessLDN (previously London First) |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.businessldn.co.uk/}}