| Formation | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | London |
Chief Executive | John Dickie |
| Website | https://www.businessldn.co.uk/ |
BusinessLDN (spoken as Business London [1] ) is a not for profit [2] advocacy group with a membership composed of leaders of businesses in London, United Kingdom. [3] [4] [5]
As of 2022 [update] , it represented around 175 London based businesses. [6] [7]
Its stated aim is "to make London the best city in the world in which to do business". [8]
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. [9]
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. [4] It has criticised the Cameron ministry's proposal to require a bond of £ 3 000 for some visitors to the UK. [5]
London First was a partner in the 2014 "Wikimania". [10]
London First was given its present name in July 2022 [11]
John Dickie was appointed chief executive in May 2021. [12]
Its former chief executives were Jasmine Whitbread [13] [14] and Baroness Jo Valentine. [4] [5]
Sir Kenneth Olisa succeeded Paul Drechsler CBE as Chair in 2023. [17] [18]
In July 2021, London First urged firms to return to the office, after the COVID-19 pandemic forced an increase in remote work. [19]
On 12 July 2022, London First renamed as BusinessLDN (spoken as Business London). [20]