Technological advances and social changes have introduced a considerable shift in the way that people work. This has implications for our Skills Strategy, and for how we think about London as a place of work. London is home to 500,000 businesses, over a third of all businesses in the UK, and every day over a million people commute into central London.
But where and how these commuters work is changing – since 2012 London has averaged 900,000sqft of new flexible workspace per year, making up 8% of all new office space. As well as an increase in co-working spaces, more and more people chose to work from home, and workers are commuting fewer days per week than they did twenty years ago. The number of commutes per worker per week in London fell from 7.1 to 5.7 between 1988/92 and 2013/14.
Our boroughs work to ensure that central London continues to thrive as an economic centre, home to many businesses, diverse high streets, and to their employees and residents. As part of this, Central London Forward will conduct research into how this is changing, and what employers and employees expect and want from a changing central London workspace. We will continue to lobby to make sure that boroughs have the powers and responsibilities they need to create places that work for everyone.
Supporting placemaking is a key priority for CLF including ensuring that businesses and residents have access to affordable workspaces and housing. The rising cost of land within central London is a concern for both businesses and residents. The partnership is committed to ensuring that a mix of affordable workspaces are maintained within central London.
Contact: Efa Gough
