The Square Mile’s efforts on sustainability must be grounded in real action – not claims CATHERINE MCGUINNESS Earlier this month, the City saw the familiar banners and heard the recognisable chanting of Extinction Rebellion, who made their way across the Square Mile. Protests like theirs have become commonplace globally. Whether you agree with their tactics or not, it is impossible to deny that their actions reflect a shift in the public mood. [...]
We need green jobs to build bridges between net zero and the cost of living crisis Catherine McGuinness London urgently needs a larger specialist workforce to decarbonise its commercial buildings and meet net zero targets. And there is growing evidence that employees in the capital’s built environment industry itself believe that the sector’s workforce lacks the skills required to achieve the UK’s ambitious climate goals. With concern over a widening “green skills gap”, [...]
To make the City rich in socio-economic diversity, we need a measure of it first cATHERINE MCGUINNESS THE City of London today is a far more diverse place than when I started out my career as a lawyer. The workers spilling out of the tube stations, flitting between offices, grabbing coffees and enjoying the Square Mile’s vibrant hospitality venues are now a rich cosmopolitan blend, representing every corner of the globe. Strikingly [...]
The fierce wind of Storm Eunice shows why we must not forget about climate change February 21, 2022 Storm Eunice hit on Friday, bringing disruption across the country and once again focusing minds on climate change and how it may impact our lives in the future. Scientists are often reluctant to blame specific weather events on climate change, but the Met Office predicts that in future the UK will see warmer and wetter [...]
The City thrives on predictability as well as agility and we must protect this post-Brexit February 7, 2022 This week marks a pivotal moment for financial services in post-Brexit Britain. More than two years since the UK formally left the EU, the completion of the Future Regulatory Framework Review consultation on Wednesday will herald long expected changes to the financial service sector framework. The UK’s regulatory regime is widely regarded as one of the [...]
London has bounced back before and it will do again as Covid-19 rules are dropped January 24, 2022 After a tough economic winter, the lifting of the Government’s Plan B restrictions is a much-needed boost for many Square Mile businesses that rely on footfall traffic from neighbouring offices. These businesses have faced exceptionally difficult trading conditions during the pandemic, with the reintroduction of guidance to work from home last month yet another disappointment. [...]
Getting boosted is a small contribution to protect our dearest Square Mile January 10, 2022 During Christmas and New Year, the news has been dominated by Omicron – as we may all have expected. Yet there is much to be proud of in our fight against this virus. Thankfully, there are early signs that we may be passing the peak in London, and that the damage caused by Omicron in [...]
In the journey of learning to live with Covid-19, our businesses need support December 20, 2021 For many City shops, restaurants and pubs, the new work from home advice has cancelled Christmas. These are dark winter days for businesses who were expecting this period to be their busiest time. But the faster we all get jabbed, the quicker we can get back to the office. All eligible City workers need to [...]
A small price to pay: we must avoid compulsory home working for the City December 6, 2021 As Christmas approaches, there’s a clear sense of excitement in the air – a feeling that this Christmas will be better than last. There can be no doubt that 2021 has brought us closer to what feels like normal life. Britain’s vaccination programme has helped to protect the most vulnerable from Covid-19, and allowed our [...]
Close up the floodgates: It’s time to protect ourselves from the future’s rising water November 22, 2021 The highly anticipated Cop26 conference has finally finished and the thousands of delegates have returned home. But the real work on tackling the impacts of climate change is only just beginning. For the City of London, acknowledging our place in the world financially – as well as geographically, on the banks of the River Thames [...]
