City Matters Edition 015

Page 6 | 11-17 January 2017
Business Matters
Square Mile needs
greater assurance
THE man at the top of the Corporation’s policy
planning tree has called for greater certainty in
2017 as the City fights for stability post-Brexit.
“Important strategic business decisions are
being delayed and much needed investment
postponed or withdrawn altogether,” explained
Mark Boleat as he assessed the Square Mile’s
standing six months after the EU referendum.
Financial and professional services employ
more than 2.2million people across the UK,
and contribute more than £71bn in taxes to the
public purse every year.
And the doubt the City’s financial services
has been plunged into by the decision to leave
the EU kept Mr Boleat extremely busy towards
the tail end of 2016.
“These industries are not just vital to the UK
however, as London serves as Europe’s financial
hub, financing growth and prosperity across
the European continent,” he said.
Nervousness
“I have spent the last six months seeking to
ensure that the City’s importance is recognised
by key decision makers in the UK and Europe,
and I will continue to do so going into 2017.
“Firms’ nervousness can only be allayed if
they know how they can continue running
their business. A transitional arrangement
should be agreed as soon as possible.”
While he remains confident of a prosperous
future, Mr Boleat says commitments must be
made across the board if London is to continue
to be a world leader.
He added: “I have no doubt that whatever
happens in 2017 that the City of London will
remain the world’s leading financial centre.
“However we must continue investing in
infrastructure and education while working to
secure the best possible business links with the
European Union and the world.”
Firms ruling out
apprenticeships
77% DON’T AND WON’T SUPPORT SCHEME
THE main barriers to businesses in
London employing apprentices are a
lack of resources, not knowing legal
requirements, and being unable to
find those with the correct skill set, a
new survey has found.
London Chamber of Commerce
and Industry made the findings in a
ComRes poll after a previous survey
had discovered that at the end of 2015
only 6% of businesses quizzed had
employed an apprentice.
Resources
In addition, 77% of firms not
only did not currently employ an
apprentice, but had never done so and
did not intend to in the future.
The latest survey into the reasons
behind the lack of apprentices found
that 35% of London businesses say not
having the financial resources to train
and manage an apprentice is one of the
main barriers.
A third (33%) said they did not
have the necessary human resources
available, while not knowing what
the legal requirements are to hire
an apprentice affected 23%. A
obstacles: the LCCI
wants change
further 21% said not being able to
find apprenticeship candidates with
the necessary skills to fulfil their
businesses’ needs was a barrier, and
16% did not know where to go to
hire an apprentice. Chief executive
of LCCI, Colin Stanbridge, said: “We
were very concerned to note the low
take up of apprentices in London as we
believe they have a central role to play
in closing the widening cross-sector
skills gaps across the UK.
“This is why we commissioned the
new research and now that we are more
aware of the reasons behind business
reluctance the government needs to
educate businesses of the benefits of
hiring apprentices.
Hurdles
“Encouraging young people to
engage with industries which are
vital to the UK’s economy, such as
construction, manufacturing and
freight, will enable businesses to make
the most of the skills which are present
in our resident workforce.”
He explained that greater teamwork
was essential in toppling barriers that
prevent people getting into work.
“We need to see much better
collaboration between businesses
and the government as it is only by
understanding the hurdles that they
can be overcome.”
CITYMATTERS.LONDON
Spain’s pain
is City’s gain
CITY residents
seeking to escape the
UK in the new year
might be tempted
to bag a bargain
and visit Madrid or
Barcelona.
Latest research
reveals that Airbnb
accommodation
could be over 18%
cheaper per night
compared to staying
in a hotel in both
cities.
“Although both
cities are traditionally
popular tourist
destinations, recovery
from the economic
crisis has been
rather slow,” said
Dirk Bakker, head
of EMEA Hotels at
Colliers International,
as he explained how
Airbnb has capitalised
on the travel market’s
uncertainty.
“Airbnb has
been quick to
take advantage by
providing travellers
with more choice and
a cheap alternative
during this recovery
period; because of
this we have seen a
massive growth in
demand for Airbnb
services.”
LEAP of faith for
new partnership
Vacancy: Sales and marketing apprentice
Attractive training package
City Matters is a free publication proudly incorporating the longstanding City
of London & Docklands Times. We are seeking an apprentice salesperson to
join our team.
Apprentice sales staff will work closely with the Sales Director to help drive City
Matters forward. Successful candidates will receive comprehensive in-house
training and be expected to have a working knowledge of the City of London.
Vacancy: Part-time bookkeeper
Flexible working hours
City Matters seeks a part-time bookkeeper to join its busy team.
Flexible working hours ideally suited for individuals coming back into the
working world or those with young families.
For an informal chat about either of the roles please contact:
020 8640 6015
MORE jobs and greater support of economic
growth have been promised under a new
membership of London’s Local Enterprise
Partnership (LEP).
The pan-London LEP, dubbed the London
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice of application for the grant of a Premises
Licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003
Notice is hereby given that Dorsett London Hotel
Limited has applied to City of London Corporation for
the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of Premises
to be known as Dorsett City Hotel, 9-13 Aldgate High
Street, London, EC3N 1AH. The proposed licensable
activities and their hours are: 1. Supply of alcohol and
regulated entertainment in the form of films: 24 hours
a day, seven days a week. 2. Provision of late night
refreshment: 23:00 hours to 05:00 hours the following
day, seven days a week. 3. Provision of regulated
entertainment in the form of recorded music: 07:00
hours to 03:00 hours the following day, seven days a
week. 4. Opening: 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
5. Non-standard timings as detailed in the application.
Please see application for full details. Any
representations regarding the above-mentioned
application must be received in writing by Licensing
Authority, City of London Licensing Authority, Markets
and Consumer Protection, PO Box 270, Guildhall,
EC2P 2EJ no later than 3rd February 2017 stating the
grounds for representation. The register of City of
London Corporation and the record of the application
may be inspected at the address of the council, given
above, during normal business hours or on the
council’s website - www.cityoflondon.gov.uk
It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false
statement in connection with an application. A person
is liable to an unlimited fine on conviction should such
a false statement be made.
Poppleston Allen
37 Stoney Street, The Lace Market, Nottingham,
NG1 1LS
Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), brings
together Mayor Sadiq Khan, London Councils,
and business leaders across all the city’s main
sectors.
It will provide strategic oversight of the Royal
Docks Enterprise Zone, which has the potential
to deliver up to 40,000 jobs and 4,000 homes
in east London; the London Growth Hub, a
new online gateway to business support in the
Capital; and London’s European Structural and
Investment Funds.
“This partnership provides a fantastic
opportunity to ensure growth funding is
invested in a way which makes a real difference
to London’s economy,” said Mr Khan.
Prosperous
“London is open for business and I look
forward to working with the members of
LEAP to take forward my new economic
development strategy for the Capital, generating
the jobs and growth we need to keep London
prosperous.”
The Mayor will chair the new board, with the
Deputy Mayor for business, Rajesh Agrawal,
taking on the role of co-deputy chair alongside
a yet to be announced representative from the
business community.
The Deputy Mayor for planning, regeneration
and skills, Jules Pipe, will also sit on the board,
with the remaining members drawn from
London boroughs and businesses.
A place for a trade union representative
has also been allocated for when the group is
finalised. The new board is due to meet for the
first time on 1 February.