Survey highlights ambitions of London businesses to reduce capital’s inequalities

London business leaders have set their sights on rebuilding a fairer, greener and more inclusive economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new survey, developed with support from UCL. Created in partnership with UCL Public Policy, the UCL Grand Challenges programme and law firm Travers Smith, and undertaken prior to the second lockdown, the CBI London Business Survey draws together the views of nearly 200 of the capital's business leaders, covering topics including Covid-19, Brexit, sustainability and equality. Conducted annually, the survey identifies a clear commitment from businesses to build back from the pandemic with a focus on innovation, employee wellbeing and inclusivity in the wake of the pandemic, whilst pushing London towards its net-zero ambitions to address climate change. The findings also highlight a desire to tackle inequalities in society, with more than 80% of business leaders surveyed believing the capital's firms could do more to address this issue. Partnerships were identified as being vital to this, with over 60% of respondents stating they believe government and business should work together to reduce inequalities in society. The survey also included a special focus on diversity and inclusion, painting a picture of a capital city with an awareness of the importance of fairness - and critically a determination to become more diverse and inclusive. This was a priority for almost 60% of firms, along with developing or enhancing sustainability and net-zero strategies (53%) and supporting social mobility (45%).