Build and Recover An Economic Recovery Strategy for West London www.wla.londonBuild and Recover An Economic Recovery Strategy for West London 1 Map of West London Foreword KEY West London boasts a proud history of being at the forefront of 24 innovation, leading the way nationally in growth sectors, technology and the green economy. COLINDALE/ BURNT OAK WHO’S 3 With a pre-Covid19 GVA of £74bn, the West London economy has been hit hard by the 12 HERE 11 pandemic. An extra 71,000 people claiming benefits in May 2020 compared to the same HEART OF HARROW time last year – a 200% increase. More than 280,000 residents furloughed – that’s more than HARINGEY a quarter of all those in the capital. 19 Golden Mile-Southall Crossrail Link BRENT CROSS Heathrow Southern Rail Link 13 The impact on our communities and businesses has been colossal. Entrepreneurs and 26 21 micro businesses as well as those working in the aviation, retail, transport sectors and the WEMBLEY 20 PARK supply chain, are amongst the hardest hit. 23 There are solutions and we can build back better. PARK 25 ROYAL Council Leaders across West London have mobilised quickly to drive economic recovery by working in collaboration on shared priorities: Growth sectors, Aviation communities, Skills 5 and employment, Entrepreneurs and micro businesses, A Green recovery, Town centres and 4 Housing and infrastructure. Elizabeth Line 15 14 WHITE Crossrail link CITY 6 We are determined to mitigate the damage caused by COVID-19 and to support all our SOUTHALL 27 communities, especially those hardest hit. As a group of councils, we have a track record of 18 1 EARLS 2 28 8 9 7 COURT & WEST innovation and delivery, exceeding targets for delivering housing and developing new 22 10 KENSINGTON approaches to supporting residents into employment and raising skill levels. 16 GREAT WEST CORRIDOR We welcome the help announced by the government so far – particularly the investment in de-carbonisation and youth employment. However, further targeted interventions set out in our plan are urgently needed. 22 Southern 17 Working closely with the Mayor and other local authorities across London we are keen to Rail link align the aspirations of our Build & Recover plan with the London Recovery Board’s work on economic recovery through its mission-based approach. Particularly strong opportunities for collaboration and co-ordination exist across our themes on town centre, skills and employment, green recovery and microbusinesses and entrepreneurs. The crisis is a once in a generation opportunity to create a greener economy with better and more sustainable jobs. A newly established Economic Recovery Task Force will deliver our bold and ambitious plan. 1 Sky 7 Olympia London 13 London Designer Outlet 19 Amgen 25 Park Royal Food Cluster 2 GSK 8 Disney Corporate Office 14 Ealing Studios 20 Vitabiotics 26 Wembley Stadium Councillor Stephen Cowan 3 Middlesex University 9 Fox Networks Group 15 BBC Studios 21 Coca Cola 27 Westfield London Chair, West London Economic Prosperity Board 4 Brunel University 10 Discovery Corporate Office 16 British Airways Headquarters 22 Starbucks 28 SEGA Europe 5 Imperial College London 11 Angels Fancy Dress 17 Rolls Royce 23 Bucks New University 6 University of West London 12 Pentland Brands Limited 18 Celgene Ltd 24 Ipsos MORI 2 Build and Recover An Economic Recovery Strategy for West London Build and Recover An Economic Recovery Strategy for West London 3 Executive Summary With a pre-Covid19 GVA of £74bn, the West London economy was bigger than opportunity to re-think our long-term aspirations • Support for micro-businesses and the Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow combined and is a vital engine of the UK economy, for West London, kick-starting the low carbon self-employed, who are at risk of ‘falling contributing 4% of national GVA. But its economy has been among the country’s economy, taking advantage of permanently between the cracks’ of existing support. altered working patterns to revitalise our town hardest hit, and decisive action is needed to kick-start recovery for the benefit of centres, and tapping into the entrepreneurial spirit Working closely with the Mayor and other local the UK more widely. This Build and Recover Plan aims to ensure that the 350,000 of West Londoners. In creating the conditions authorities across London we will seek to align people furloughed or newly claiming benefits can return to work quickly; that our for this transformation, through investment in the aspirations and themes of our Build & businesses are equipped to weather the storm; and that council, government and infrastructure and skills, we will need to ensure that Recover plan with the missions being established private investment work together to drive a green recovery. the damage to communities is limited and growth by the London Recovery Board. opportunities are widely shared. The West London economy comprises core growth The Build and Recover Plan is structured around sectors that will help to retain the UK’s position in Given the current and potential future impact of seven themes: the global economy and it includes 11 Opportunity the Covid19 outbreak on West London’s economy, • Growth Sectors Areas in the London Plan. As the world’s gateway there is a pressing need for intervention to mitigate to Britain it is home to leading biopharma these impacts both on the economy and on West • Aviation Communities companies, creative industries, tech and digital London’s disadvantaged communities, particularly • Skills and Employment leaders, environmental innovators and a strong in BAME communities who have been hardest hit • Entrepreneurs and Micro businesses healthcare sector. The long-term sustainability by the pandemic. of these sectors has been demonstrated, and • A Green Recovery these companies must be supported through the • Town Centres impact of Covid19 as an investment in the UK’s The Build & Recover plan sets out how future. West London needs support to build on the this can be addressed jointly at the sub- • Housing and Infrastructure success of its world class institutions, diversify, and regional level, complementing individual Each theme captures activities either underway grow out STEM and green industries businesses. boroughs’ and wider partners’ efforts. Major national and international assets include or which are within boroughs’ collective resources Heathrow Airport, the creative and digital hub at and powers to deliver in support of recovery, and sets out what more is required to address recovery White City and the huge potential of Old Oak/Park The subregion has particular exposure to sectors We welcome the help announced by the at the necessary scale and pace – including policy Royal, as well as developments such as Wembley, and businesses especially likely to be affected by government so far – particularly the investment in flexibilities, repurposing of existing funding and Brent Cross, the Great West Corridor and Southall the pandemic. In particular, the near closure of de-carbonisation and youth employment. However, provision of additional funding. providing thousands of new homes and jobs. But Heathrow – the UK’s largest single site employer further targeted interventions are urgently needed, West London is the worst affected part of London – has impacted transport and storage jobs (40% in particular: in terms of economic impacts of Covid19, and is of London’s jobs in this sector are based in West • Creation of an Aviation Communities Fund, among the hardest hit in the UK. London) and several firms providing foods and bringing together capital and revenue support services for the airport. Other major employment for those communities severely damaged by the sectors in the region, such as wholesale, retail and decline in aviation Has seen an extra 71,000 people manufacturing, have also been hit hard by the claiming benefits in May compared to pandemic. The large number of micro-businesses • Investment to scale up our successful skills the same time last year – a three-fold – usually a strength for West London – further escalator programme increase. More than 280,000 residents increases the sub-regions vulnerability. • Greater flexibility over use of existing funding have been furloughed – more than a The impact on our communities of these economic streams such as Apprenticeship Levy changes cannot be underestimated. However, quarter of all those in the capital. • Investment in infrastructure such as the Covid19 also provides a once in a generation West London Orbital rail line and Fibre / 5G 4 Build and Recover An Economic Recovery Strategy for West London Build and Recover An Economic Recovery Strategy for West London 5 West London is The impact of Covid19 set to suffer a downturn worse on West London than any other part of London West London is one of the country’s most dynamic sub-regions. Pre-Covid-19 its West London’s economy is taking a huge knock, 93% of businesses economy was larger than those of Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow combined and but we have the foundations for renewed growth in West London are micro businesses its contribution to the UK economy will ensure lasting prosperity for local people, bigger, more inclusive and sustainable – and better for the UK – than before. London and the UK as a whole. West London is an enterprise hot spot: 164,900 But it is being hit hard by the pandemic. Across our West London is the most globally connected place self-employed & 104,00 micro businesses. Self- seven boroughs the numbers of people claiming in London, attracting investment from firms in employment rates (15%) are higher than London Universal Credit have almost doubled since growth sectors from across the world, helping the & the UK (13%). Enterprise has been the route into February and over 280,000 West London residents UK position itself internationally and moving people the labour market for BAME residents (52% of our have been furloughed – more than a quarter of and goods around the globe.