London retains number one position for best business city in Europe overall

The latest European Cities Monitor 2010 has ranked London for the 21st consecutive year as the number one European city for business development.

London is positioned as the number one city in six of the 12 major rankings including:

•access to markets, customers and clients
•availability of qualified staff
•quality of telecommunications
•languages spoken
•international transport links
•and internal transport links

London, Paris and Frankfurt remain the top three European locations sitting comfortably ahead of all other challengers. London jumped from fourth to second in the category of ‘best cities in terms of the climate governments create for businesses’ through tax policies and availability of financial incentives.

That is why we must push ahead ahead with investment in improving the capital's infrastructure. It is projects such as Crossrail, the Tube upgrades and the London 2012 Games that will secure a bright future for our city and strengthen its reputation as a Europe's business headquarters and the premiere destination for business development.

Setting us business in London in this decade will be driven by the need to find operational efficiencies. Many of the companies that our London consultants assist with are setting up business in London or expanding business in London here are increasingly looking to rationalise bases and consolidate activities. This trend has lately been confirmed by the Think London FDI Barometer survey.

The European Cities Monitor (ECM) is the annual location survey of Europe’s leading companies carried out by global real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield.