What Next For London?

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence platforms across businesses is already having a profound impact on the world of work. As a services superpower, London is set to be affected earlier and more profoundly by the rise of AI than other parts of the country. The capital has already cemented its status as a world-leading AI hub, with investment in the sector soaring in recent years and the l...

On 7 May 2026, more than 1800 councillors – and five mayors – will be elected across 32 London boroughs. Polls suggest that a splintering of the vote could lead to the capital's political map being radically reshaped. Our latest podcast – featuring Britain's top polling expert, Sir John Curtice; On London's Dave Hill; and Kanda Consulting's Karen Alcock – explores what the numbers are telling us a...

We have a government with a growth mission. A Mayor with a growth plan. And yet growth has stalled. In the wake of lacklustre economic forecasts published alongside the Spring Statement, BusinessLDN's Growth Commission has published an action plan to drive growth in the capital quickly and provide an immediate shot in the arm to the UK economy.  What can be done to tackle the barriers to investmen...

The question of how safe London is as a city has become much debated in the media and across digital platforms around the world in recent weeks and months, impacting perceptions of the capital as a place to visit, work and do business.   Recent research shows a surge in online content portraying London as dangerous, yet official figures indicate that violent crime is falling.   So, what's really g...

BusinessLDN's Chief Executive John Dickie is joined by Andy Silvester, London Editor at the Times, Nicola Millard, Innovation Partner at BT and Adam Yousef, Head of Economics at the Greater London Authority to discuss what the next 12 months could have in store for the capital. The new year starts against a backdrop of stalling economic growth in the UK, uncertainty around the world, and rapid tec...

Our Chief Executive John Dickie is joined by Amanda Wolthuizen, Vice-President for Strategic Engagement at Imperial College London, Simon Burton, Senior Counsel at the consultancy Lexington, and Misa von Tunzelman, Executive Director for Corporate Affairs at Lendlease, to discuss what last week's Autumn Budget will mean for the capital.   The group talk through the implications of major tax and in...

In the latest episode of the newly relaunched What Next for London? podcast, our Chief Executive, John Dickie is joined by Yael Selfin, Chief Economist at KPMG, Tony Travers, Director of LSE London, and Chris Rumfitt, Founder and Chief Executive of Field Consulting, to discuss what the Chancellor's upcoming Autumn Budget could mean for the capital. The group discuss how Rachel Reeves may seek to b...

Our Director of Competitiveness Matthew Fell is joined by Janet Greenwood, Global Lead for Sustainable Infrastructure at KPMG, to explore how systems thinking can drive sustainable growth, crowd in private investment, and accelerate progress towards net zero. The pair also delve into how devolution can support the Government's mission-based approach to policy development and lessons that can be le...

There's no doubting that the capital is a world leader when it comes to developing tech, digital innovations and emerging uses for AI, but is the city at risk of running before it can walk?   Our Programme Director for Infrastructure John Kavanagh is joined by David Liu, Head of Infrastructure in the Digital & Innovation Service at Westminster City Council, Tim Creswick, CEO of  Vorboss , and Chel...

A few days on from the Bank of England's latest interest rate cut, our Director of Competitiveness, Matthew Fell, is joined by Lai Wah Co, Deputy Agent for London at the BoE, to discuss that finely balanced decision to bring borrowing costs down. The pair also talk through the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on the jobs market, what global instability means for the UK economy, and how the...

  A year on from the Government making planning reform a central pillar of its first 12 months in office, our Deputy Chief Executive Muniya Barua is joined by Paula Carney, Managing Director at CarneySweeney, and Harry Steele, Programme Director at BusinessLDN, to discuss the impact of its changes on London's built environment to date.   The trio discuss interventions needed to make the capital's...

One week on from the Chancellor's Spending Review, our Programme Director Stephanie Pollitt is joined by Ian McDermott, Chief Executive of Peabody, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities facing housing providers in the capital and how the Government's stretching 1.5 million new homes target can be made a reality. The pair discuss all the latest on the Affordable Homes Programme, rent c...

  Our Competitiveness Director Matthew Fell sits down with Debapratim De, Economic Research Director at Deloitte, to discuss why Spring has not yet sprung for the UK economy and the roles that public investment, consumer confidence and policy certainty can play in accelerating growth. The pair also talk through findings from Deloitte's  Chief Financial Officer Survey , which details how corporatio...

Our Programme Director for Infrastructure John Kavanagh is joined by Chris Whitehouse, Technical Director at WSP, and Anna Hart, Senior Corporate Finance Manager at Transport for London (TfL), to discuss how new financing models can support delivery of much-needed infrastructure projects across the capital. The trio cover lessons learned from the Northern Line extension to Battersea, as well as th...

Our Programme Director for Infrastructure John Kavanagh sits down with Daniel Kelly, Commercial Director for Public Sector and Next Generation Infrastructure at Boldyn Networks, to discuss how the company's neutral host model is helping to address the capital's connectivity challenges while significantly reducing the environmental impact, including through its planned £1bn investment programme via...

BusinessLDN's Policy Delivery Director Jonathan Seager unpacks findings and recommendations from our 'Case for a new town in London' report with Kathryn Firth, Director at Arup, Ellie Evans, Senior Partner at Volterra, Craig Tabb, Board Director at DP9, and Karen Alcock, Managing Director at Kanda. The group discuss key considerations for the Government's New Towns Taskforce as it formulates its r...

Our Programme Director for Infrastructure John Kavanagh sits down with BT Wholesale Directors Ian Cottingham and Steven Mitchell to discuss how the roll-out of 5G mobile networks, smaller, more localised data centres and enhanced cyber security measures are enabling London's businesses to embrace new innovations, including artificial intelligence. The trio also discuss the planning implications of...

Our Programme Director for Infrastructure John Kavanagh speaks to Martin Sudweeks, Managing Director for Cost Management at Turner Townsend, about what increased digitalisation means for delivery of major infrastructure and real estate projects, as well as sustainability strategies.      Follow us on Twitter at  @_businessLDN  and on LinkedIn at  BusinessLDN . Music is provided by Coma-Media.

Our Programme Director for Transport Polyvios Polyviou sits down with Paul Lynch, Managing Director for Stagecoach in London, following the Chancellor's speech last week to discuss what the future holds for the capital's coach and bus networks.   The pair talk through the implications of a new fare cap, an ongoing fuel duty freeze, measures needed to help fleets achieve net zero and the importance...

Our Chief Executive John Dickie is joined by Peter Hogg, UK Cities Director at Arcadis, to review findings from the group's new Sustainable Cities Index. The pair discuss what London can learn from other leading centres of commerce, and how thinking about cities as webs of interconnected systems can improve outcomes, in-line with the Government's new mission-based approach to policy. You can see t...

Our Competitiveness Director Matthew Fell sits down with Lai Wah Co, the Bank of England's Deputy Agent for London, and James Worsnip, Managing Director at AlixPartners, to discuss implications of the Bank's decision to cut interest rates for the first time since 2020, the thinking behind the Bank's improved growth forecasts for the UK and what could lie ahead for the labour market. The trio also...

Our Programme Director for Sustainability Ioanna Mytilinaiou catches up with Stephen Thompson, UK Offsetting Lead and Associate at Arup, about latest developments in carbon offsetting: the means through which businesses reduce, remove and avoid harmful emissions which cause climate change. The pair also delve into key findings and recommendations from our recently published Blueprint for a UK Cabr...

Our Chief Executive John Dickie sits down with John McTernan, former Director of Political Operations for Tony Blair, to discuss what the new Labour Government could mean for planning rules, public spending, private investment, cross-departmental working and much else besides. The pair also discuss the need to depoliticise devolution, deliver vital infrastructure projects, and reform a "ridiculous...

Our Programme Director for Transport Polyvios Polyviou speaks to Geoff Symonds, Chief Operating Officer at Thames Clippers, about the role of London's waterways in supporting passengers, unlocking development sites and transporting freight. Following the re-election of Sadiq Khan as Mayor, the pair also discuss what more City Hall could be doing to maximise the river's potential. Follow us on Twit...

Our Policy Delivery Director Mark Hilton sits down with Deputy Vice-Chancellor of London Metropolitan University Gary Davies to discuss the cultural, economic and educational contribution of international students to London. The pair discuss the Government's current approach to international education, how the UK's offering compares to other major economies and the potential implications of the Mi...