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This month Think London takes in the East Coast of America as part of its latest business roadshow
Think London’s recent trip to North America, headed up by Chief Executive Michael Charlton, took in the US East Coast, with stops in Atlanta, New York, Boston and Washington DC to address audiences and individual companies, particularly those in the sustainable and digital / creative industries, about the opportunities available in London in the lead up to and beyond the London 2012 Games.
What became most clear is that, despite the recession, London continues to be the destination of choice for North American businesses that are looking for opportunities for expansion or relocation in London. This has been backed by the recent Ernst & Young European Attractiveness Survey, which identified the US as the largest single investor into London. The UK capital has retained this prestigious ranking not only through an increase in foreign direct investment (FDI), but also thanks to its strength as a business and financial services centre.
Expanding overseas might not seem like the most appropriate action for businesses at this stage of the economic cycle, but London offers a huge number of unique market opportunities for US companies. Most importantly its business environment is ideal for helping firms maximise growth, contain costs and manage risk, which is why Think London works so closely with international investors to help them maximise their business development opportunities.
The first-ever ‘Digital Games’ will be quickly upon us and this bodes well for companies in the digital and creative sector, as there are 30 product streams that require digital media suppliers. This includes plans that will enable viewers to track results in “real-time” through clickable ‘geo maps’. The objective of the “Digital Games” is to create a democratic environment that takes advantage of interactive technology and social networking, so spectators and residents feel able to contribute, should they so wish.
There are three things that US digital and creative firms will find in London; critical mass, market leadership and tangible opportunities, and long term market momentum. London is a global centre of convergence for the technology and creative industries, with creativity accounting for £21 billion, or 16%, of London’s annual Gross Value Added (GVA), and at Think London we can provide access to our London consultants, who can offer specific market advice which help foreign firms establish and grow in the capital.
Not only will the 2012 Games be the first digital event, but it is also aiming to be the first ever sustainable games in history. The UK environmental technology industry is the world’s fifth largest and comprises of more than 17,000 companies and 400,000 workers. Furthermore, sustainability is at the heart of everything that London 2012 does, through the use of sustainable construction materials and transport to the restoration of waterways and habitats. London offers great opportunities for renewable energy companies, and at Think London we can utilise our extensive networks to support businesses in this sector.
Monday, 28 June 2010
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
Think London says Olé to Spanish companies
Following a trip to Andalusia, Marbella and Bilboa, there is plenty of enthusiasm from Spanish businesses about the 2012 Olympics and investment into London says Think London
As the London 2012 Games head our way, at Think London we are continuing to engage with key markets in Europe, such as Spain, to encourage further investment into London and open a new avenue for collaboration.
The fact that Think London can assist companies with their relocation in London, from finding the right commercial property to hiring the best staff members, means that we can help any international company thinking about either setting up business in London or expanding business in London.
This is why Think London headed out to Spain to host a series of seminars that presented businesses with opportunities and open investment channels in London ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.
At the Seville event, for example, we welcomed 40 Andalusian firms alongside the organiser Extenda. This fantastic turnout was echoed at subsequent events in Marbella and Bilboa, which shows the commitment that Spanish firms are demonstrating in considering future projects and investment opportunities in London.
What Think London wanted to demonstrate to Spanish businesses at each of the seminars, especially at a time when austerity measures are hitting many European countries, and it is so important for companies to minimise their exposure to risk, is that London is one of the best and most cost effective locations to do business and boost corporate efficiency. Not only is it a European hub for transport, but businesses can benefit from access to a concentration of specialist multiple business clusters and a top talent pool. Additionally, with the 2012 Games fast approaching and 2010 being a key year for procurement, there are 75,000 contracts available both directly and indirectly through subcontracting, so there has never been a better time to come to London.
We’ve already seen a number of Spanish companies investing and prospering in the capital, from Air Europa to Mapfre, Asamo and Genera Interactive, but it is also a fantastic environment in which small and medium sized companies can expand and grow. Britain is one of the best places in the world for innovation and entrepreneurship, with an environment that is friendly to nurturing new enterprises, and so it was brilliant to see how well the Spanish companies and the cities Think London visited are engaging with the idea of relocation and business development in London.
As the London 2012 Games head our way, at Think London we are continuing to engage with key markets in Europe, such as Spain, to encourage further investment into London and open a new avenue for collaboration.
The fact that Think London can assist companies with their relocation in London, from finding the right commercial property to hiring the best staff members, means that we can help any international company thinking about either setting up business in London or expanding business in London.
This is why Think London headed out to Spain to host a series of seminars that presented businesses with opportunities and open investment channels in London ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.
At the Seville event, for example, we welcomed 40 Andalusian firms alongside the organiser Extenda. This fantastic turnout was echoed at subsequent events in Marbella and Bilboa, which shows the commitment that Spanish firms are demonstrating in considering future projects and investment opportunities in London.
What Think London wanted to demonstrate to Spanish businesses at each of the seminars, especially at a time when austerity measures are hitting many European countries, and it is so important for companies to minimise their exposure to risk, is that London is one of the best and most cost effective locations to do business and boost corporate efficiency. Not only is it a European hub for transport, but businesses can benefit from access to a concentration of specialist multiple business clusters and a top talent pool. Additionally, with the 2012 Games fast approaching and 2010 being a key year for procurement, there are 75,000 contracts available both directly and indirectly through subcontracting, so there has never been a better time to come to London.
We’ve already seen a number of Spanish companies investing and prospering in the capital, from Air Europa to Mapfre, Asamo and Genera Interactive, but it is also a fantastic environment in which small and medium sized companies can expand and grow. Britain is one of the best places in the world for innovation and entrepreneurship, with an environment that is friendly to nurturing new enterprises, and so it was brilliant to see how well the Spanish companies and the cities Think London visited are engaging with the idea of relocation and business development in London.
Thursday, 3 June 2010
London’s future as a world city is looking bright!
Think London recently attended a discussion regarding London’s future as a world city and the challenges the city may face.
You may have noticed the recent recession, which apart from raising the cost of a trip to the supermarket, has had a major effect on business growth and has seen a large amount of development projects put on hold. Now as we come out of recession and the economy starts to recover, these developments have started up again which is extremely positive for those setting up business in London or expanding business in London.
Despite the recent economic problems, London remains the world financial services centre. The key has been London’s very diversified economy, making it resilient to the recent crisis and attracting new business to London as part of their future business development plans. In addition, the 2012 games continue to keep London in the spotlight, making relocation in London even more attractive to overseas businesses.
It was also felt by London consultants that the capital’s diverse population has been and continues to be a major asset against the economic crisis. This, coupled with the strong and large private sector, makes London’s future population growth sustainable and provides a skilled pool for London recruitment.
There was also a lot of talk about a new high speed railway network and the cross rail for 2017, all which keep London as the number one business capital in the world.
The future for London certainly looks promising and it seems there has never been a better time for setting up business in London.
You may have noticed the recent recession, which apart from raising the cost of a trip to the supermarket, has had a major effect on business growth and has seen a large amount of development projects put on hold. Now as we come out of recession and the economy starts to recover, these developments have started up again which is extremely positive for those setting up business in London or expanding business in London.
Despite the recent economic problems, London remains the world financial services centre. The key has been London’s very diversified economy, making it resilient to the recent crisis and attracting new business to London as part of their future business development plans. In addition, the 2012 games continue to keep London in the spotlight, making relocation in London even more attractive to overseas businesses.
It was also felt by London consultants that the capital’s diverse population has been and continues to be a major asset against the economic crisis. This, coupled with the strong and large private sector, makes London’s future population growth sustainable and provides a skilled pool for London recruitment.
There was also a lot of talk about a new high speed railway network and the cross rail for 2017, all which keep London as the number one business capital in the world.
The future for London certainly looks promising and it seems there has never been a better time for setting up business in London.
London is named a top 50 global city as the BBC gets creative
As the Mercer Quality of Living Survey places London in the top 50 cities for quality of living (out of 221 cities around the world), the BBC announces a multimillion pound project to redevelop Television Centre as a “creative hub”.
Think London, the official foreign direct investment agency for London, has welcomed the BBC project as a continuation of London’s placement as a global creative hub. With the country counting down to the 2012 Games and the first digital Olympics, it is encouraging to see the extent to which the creative industries continue to grow. Certainly for companies looking at setting up business in London or those interested in expanding business in London. Think London consultants are ideally placed to help overseas organisations take advantage of the wealth of opportunity that can be found here.
The Quality of Living survey highlights that London has maintained its standing amongst global cities – it was ranked 39th in the 2008/9 survey. Not only does this serve to strengthen London’s position as a city beyond a financial centre, but also proves that this is a city that attracts companies wishing to establish or grow their business on an international scale.
For the creative industries, much of London’s appeal can be linked to the fact that it is a world capital with an advanced technological infrastructure, a close-knit community of creative agencies eager to exchange ideas, and a large tech-savvy consumer-base hungry for the latest products. With these tremendous market opportunities, it is unsurprising that London remains the key springboard for international expansion and business development.
Think London, the official foreign direct investment agency for London, has welcomed the BBC project as a continuation of London’s placement as a global creative hub. With the country counting down to the 2012 Games and the first digital Olympics, it is encouraging to see the extent to which the creative industries continue to grow. Certainly for companies looking at setting up business in London or those interested in expanding business in London. Think London consultants are ideally placed to help overseas organisations take advantage of the wealth of opportunity that can be found here.
The Quality of Living survey highlights that London has maintained its standing amongst global cities – it was ranked 39th in the 2008/9 survey. Not only does this serve to strengthen London’s position as a city beyond a financial centre, but also proves that this is a city that attracts companies wishing to establish or grow their business on an international scale.
For the creative industries, much of London’s appeal can be linked to the fact that it is a world capital with an advanced technological infrastructure, a close-knit community of creative agencies eager to exchange ideas, and a large tech-savvy consumer-base hungry for the latest products. With these tremendous market opportunities, it is unsurprising that London remains the key springboard for international expansion and business development.
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