The Mayor of London welcomes our new publication
Read Securing Britain’s Future online now:
London business leaders tackle skills gaps, leadership issues, youth unemployment and workplace diversity
The world around us is rapidly changing and London is going from strength to strength. This great city is establishing itself as the innovation and technology capital of Europe. We now have more universities here than almost any other city on the planet. Ours is the world’s greatest city to do business in.
Underpinning all these magnificent achievements is a critical mass of talent. It is that talent that allows London to achieve great things. And that talent is what we must understand, nurture and develop if we are to remain one of the world’s great cities.
But we would be short-sighted if we were to rest on our laurels. London needs to play its part in improving the talent and skills of the whole country, and the capital’s business community can play its part, particularly in sectors such as engineering and technology, which are the drivers of our future economy.
So what can we do? For starters, I’m delighted that some of the capital’s foremost business leaders have contributed their often ingenious and inspiringly optimistic thinking to this publication. In these pages you will find the kernels of many ideas that could grow into opportunities for betterment, and ideas that could blossom in Britain.
For my part, I am working hard to ensure that London further evolves into a city that rewards ambition and determination, and provides opportunities for those who are willing to put in the hard work. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with the National Apprenticeship Service and Tim Campbell, my Ambassador for Training and Enterprise, on this. By the end of 2012, we had created more than 100,000 new apprenticeships in London. By the end of this Mayoral term, I aim to hit my target of 250,000 new such roles. Young Londoners are the future of our city. That’s why we are putting £40m into youth programmes and education, driving the ambition, ideas and creativity of London’s most talented youngsters.
But we can do more, and so can you. We must make ourselves internationally attractive. London should continue to welcome foreign students, because Britain benefits from access to the best and the brightest talent from here and from overseas. Our immigration policy should be one that ensures our borders are safe and secure, keeping those we don’t want or who would do us harm out, while ensuring the young entrepreneurs of the future who need and deserve visas are able to obtain them easily and quickly.
Britain’s future rests with the people who will drive it forward. To create a dazzling future for our country we must nurture the workforce of today and tomorrow. It is time to secure Britain’s talent.
Read Securing Britain’s Future online now:
London business leaders tackle skills gaps, leadership issues, youth unemployment and workplace diversity
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