Annual Report Contents
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Annual report Contents About us 4 Director's introduction 6 A message from our Chair 8 Our work in numbers 10 2018 calendar and highlights 12 Our priorities 14 Project highlights 16 The London Conference 24 Building partnerships 28 Governance and funding 34 About us We are London’s think tank. Our work impacts policy at a local and Our mission is to develop new solutions to London’s national level. critical challenges and advocate for a fair and prosperous global city. Our research offers new insight into the We are a politically independent charity. challenges London faces. We help national and London policymakers think beyond the next election and plan for the future. We have ideas with impact. Our public events bring together people Through research, analysis and events we generate bold from across the city to exchange ideas. and creative solutions that improve the city we share. We believe in the power of collaboration. We bring together people from different parts of the city Our conferences are creatively curated and - with a range of experience and expertise - to develop provide space for important discussions. new ideas and implement them. As a charity we rely on the support of our funders. Our work is funded by a mixture of organisations and Our roundtables convene groups of experts individuals who share our vision for a better London. to develop and discuss policy solutions. 4 5 Director's introduction London is a leading global city – an economic and This annual report sets out some of the ways we creative powerhouse. But the city's success has also have helped the capital over the last year. It also brought with it great challenges. Housebuilding has includes details of our new five year strategy which lagged, and home ownership has spiralled out of reach will see us continue to focus our work around four key for many Londoners. While unemployment is at historic themes: housing and neighbourhoods; transport and lows, wages have failed to keep up with living costs, and environment; skills and opportunity; and London's many Londoners have seen their living standards fall. At role as a capital and a global city. We are also excited to the same time, population growth has placed pressure be launching a programme of activity to promote our on infrastructure and housing. London now ranks as the ideas and recommendations in the run up to the 2020 most congested and one of the most polluted cities in Mayoral election, with the ambition of working closely Europe. And as government austerity continues to place with the newly elected Mayor. pressure on local services, London’s relationship with the rest of the UK has come to feel increasingly strained. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, trustees and our funders for their ongoing support Centre for London believes that with evidenced- and commitment to making the city better. based thinking and fresh policy ideas, London can overcome these complex and interlinked challenges. Ben Rogers By undertaking research, staging events, convening Director, Centre for London and influencing, we encourage national and London government to think beyond the election cycle and to adopt policies which have the potential to transform London for the better. 6 7 A message from our Chair Last year was another eventful one for Centre for Last year also brought some changes at Centre for London. The Centre hosted 18 events, published 13 London. We appointed new members of the team with reports and secured record levels of media coverage for expertise in events and research, and we said goodbye its ideas. We continued to provide insight on London's to several talented colleagues. We also said farewell to critical issues, publishing research and hosting events long-serving trustees, Sir Mark Boleat and Tim Collerton covering a range of topics from affordable housing to and welcomed new members to the board. On behalf of the automation of jobs. We also saw a step-change in all the team at Centre for London, I would like to take our influencing and impact. Our recommendations were this opportunity to thank the outgoing trustees for their reflected in the Autumn Budget. We developed closer ties expertise and commitment over the past three years, your with government departments. And we hosted the Mayor contribution has been invaluable. of London at our flagship event, The London Conference. This report sets out just a few of the ways we have made As a small charity, we rely on our supporters to make our a difference over the past 12 months. But our work is work possible. Last year we focused on expanding and ongoing. We look forward to continuing working with diversifying our income to give us greater flexibility and you as we strive towards creating a fairer, prosperous to secure the Centre's legacy for London. As such, we're global city. pleased to have launched two new schemes for partner organisations and individuals who want to support our Liz Peace CBE work. If you are interested in finding out more about Chair of Trustees, Centre for London these schemes, please find our Development team's contact details in the back of this report. 8 9 Our work in numbers Readership Media Events Diverse sector attendance Private Third Government Other Our work was covered 329 times by the press. 100 We took part in Media hits rising Total 10% 1000 37 of our speakers were reports sent to senior TV and radio interviews 350 elected officials or decision-makers. addressing the big issues 80 Deputy Mayors. affecting London. 300 250 The number of people 60 reading our reports Top 5 nationals 200 online increased by covering our work a fifth. Percentage 40 Financial Times 150 The London Conference saw a record number of The Times 100 attendees and a total of The Guardian 20 50 29000 The Independent 1721 report page views. The Telegraph 0 0 attendees across all events. 2016 2017 2018 Conferences General events Report launches Roundtables Year 45% 35% 40% 61% Online audience Percentage of attendees that are CEOs/Directors Our social media profile and number of followers has increased. Growing social media presence LinkedIn Twitter Over 2300 newsletter subscribers. 14500 1200 Centre for London's Director, Ben Rogers, spoke at over Popular events 20 events in 2018, on topics ranging from wages and skills, 14000 housing and transport. 1000 We launched our blog in June Conferences Report 2018 and published 30 blogs. launches 13500 800 Most read blogs 13000 LinkedIn Five maps showing how 600 London’s population is changing Twitter 12500 Five ways London’s mayors 400 have changed the city 12000 Six graphs showing how London 200 has changed since 2000 11500 How can we unlock the potential 0 of London’s unused spaces? Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec General 2018 What do Brits think of London? events Roundtables 10 11 Report 2018 calendar Event Highlights Roundtable Conference Policy change Jan January May which drew on our November work and reflected Report Event our recommendations. Conference Next Door Neighbours Centre for London The London Conference Feb The City of London - collaborative working provided commentary Corporation also 2018 explored how across the London on the local elections. published a strategy to make London a fair boundary which reflected and prosperous capital. Mar Event our report. London ideas launches February Event December Apr Roundtable July Richard Brown, Research Event Industrial Land and Director chairs a panel Centre for London hosts the London Plan Conference at the Liberal Democrat Mayor's Design Advocates Under Pressure: The way party conference. May Meeting at City Hall. ahead for London's roads March and streets Report Policy development Made for London: The Mayor announced Jun Event Report Realising the potential two new policies in line Launch of the King’s Places that work of Modern Methods with Centre for London's Commission on London of Construction Streets Smarts report: Jul report, supported by Ben Report a scrappage scheme for Rogers as a Commissioner Borough Builders: the most polluting vans Delivering more housing October and the extension of the across London Aug April Report Congestion Charge to Meanwhile, in London: private hire vehicles. Report September Making use of London's Sep Human Capital: Disruption, empty spaces opportunity and resilience Report in London's workforce More, better, together: Event A strategic review of Palaces for the Oct Event giving in London People – event series Borough elections guide with Eric Klinenberg. with OnLondon Policy development Nov Following our More, Policy development Report better, together report, The Autumn Budget London identities the Greater London included a major Authority published announcement on high Dec a strategic review of streets, as recommended giving in the capital, by Centre for London. 12 13 Our priorities Our work focuses around four areas which we believe are integral to building a fair and prosperous city: London, UK and the world London is a pre-eminent global city. But its position is sustain London’s global status and its contribution to the vulnerable to a fast-changing global economy, to the UK, through greater devolution, governance reform, and uncertainties of Brexit, and to growing concern about building strong partnerships between government, civil regional balance within the UK. Our work seeks to society and business across the country. Housing and neighbourhoods London faces an acute shortage of affordable housing, We look for new ways for London to meet it eroding living standards and undermining the economy. housing needs, build better neighbourhoods, strengthen Housing poverty, overcrowding and homelessness have communities, enable better use of land and buildings and risen and many homes fail to meet basic standards.