"As part of established succession planning for the Mayoralty, the Court of Aldermen have decided that Alderman Bronek Masojada, the candidate for 2027/28, will be supported for election to the Mayoralty in 2026/27. 

"The arrangements for the election of the next Lord Mayor will continue as planned, with the election taking place at Common Hall on Tuesday 29 September.  

“The Lord Mayor elect will be formally admitted into office on 13 November 2026.”

The City of London Corporation has welcomed a major decision for City Plan 2040 after the independent Planning Inspectorate concluded that its approach to managing tall buildings around the Tower of London World Heritage Site, strikes a better balance between heritage protection and economic growth, than the alternative proposed by Historic England.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has accepted the inspectors' conclusions and withdrawn his direction with immediate effect, finding that City Plan 2040 “clearly demonstrates a thorough and considered assessment of the balance involved in facilitating essential economic growth, while mitigating the risk of potential harm to precious heritage assets”.

The decision clears the way for the inspectors to release their final report, expected in the coming weeks, after which the City Corporation will progress the towards adoption through its internal committees, before the end of the year.

Earlier this year, the Government issued a ministerial direction requiring further consideration of a specific aspect of City Plan 2040 relating to tall buildings and the setting of the Tower of London World Heritage Site. As a result, adoption of the Plan could not proceed until the issue had been independently re-examined.

Inspectors found that the City Corporation's evidence-based approach provides the more appropriate way to safeguard one of the nation's most significant heritage assets while ensuring the Square Mile can continue to support jobs, investment and economic growth.

The outcome represents a significant endorsement of the City Corporation's long-standing position that growth and heritage protection go hand in hand, providing greater certainty for businesses, investors and developers planning for the future of the UK's leading financial and professional services centre and global business district.

Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation Chris Hayward, said:

"This is an outstanding result for the City, for London and for the wider UK economy. The independent Planning Inspectorate has recognised that it is possible to protect one of our nation's most important heritage assets while still supporting the growth our country needs.

"We are grateful to the Housing Minister for his swift consideration of this matter and for acting decisively. This decision brings us another important step closer to adopting City Plan 2040, which will provide the certainty needed to support future investment, jobs and ensure the Square Mile remains one of the world's leading business destinations."

Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee, Tom Sleigh said:

“This was never a choice between the Tower of London and jobs. The City was here first. William the Conqueror started his tower in 1078 in the corner of a city already a thousand years old, and the two have grown side by side ever since.

"Independent inspectors have now tested the plan and agreed: the Tower is protected and the City has room to grow. Credit to our planning, design and heritage officers, whose work this was. Now we adopt the plan and get on with building."

The call came at the City of London Corporation’s Accessibility in the City event, hosted at the Old Bailey by its Sheriff of London, Deputy Keith Bottomley. The event brought together business leaders, accessibility experts and people with lived experience of disability to give SMEs practical advice on making their workplaces and services more accessible.

Removing barriers in the workplace can help businesses access a wider pool of disabled talent, retain valuable skills and experience, and create an environment where more employees can contribute fully and productively.

Around 200 attendees heard how improving accessibility can also help businesses reach new customers, improve products and services, and strengthen their reputation.

The City of London Corporation’s Sheriff of London, Deputy Keith Bottomley, said:

“Accessibility and inclusion are no longer peripheral issues. They are business issues and issues of opportunity and whether people feel that a place, organisation, product or service is genuinely open to them.

“With £446 billion in annual spending power among disabled people and their households in the UK, businesses that make their products, services and workplaces accessible can reach more customers, attract more talent and create better experiences for everyone.

“The Accessibility in the City event was about giving SMEs the practical tools, knowledge and connections they need to turn good intentions into action – and show what is possible when businesses design with everyone in mind.”

The event is part of the City Corporation’s City Belonging Project, which aims to create a Square Mile where everyone can belong, thrive, and succeed.

Supporting businesses to become more accessible and inclusive is a key part of this work, helping to widen employment opportunities, improve customer experiences and ensure the City is welcoming to residents, workers, visitors and businesses.

The event provided practical guidance on areas including workplace adjustments, flexible working, communication, inclusive meetings, digital accessibility and customer service, helping businesses identify changes they can make in their own organisations.

One of the most celebrated figures in the history of world football has received the Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of his outstanding sporting achievements.

Sir Geoff Hurst MBE remains the only player ever to score a hat-trick in a World Cup Final for the winning team, which he achieved during England's historic 4-2 victory over West Germany at Wembley Stadium in 1966.

Sir Geoff established himself as a prolific striker with West Ham United, where he made 499 appearances and scored 248 goals. He was named Player of the Year on three occasions and helped secure the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1965. As a key member of England's World Cup-winning team, Sir Geoff's three goals in the 1966 final secured his place in football history.

Following his departure from West Ham, Sir Geoff played for Stoke City, making 108 appearances and scoring 30 goals, before a spell with West Bromwich Albion.

He later combined playing and management as player-manager of Telford United and enjoyed periods playing in the United States and Kuwait. After retiring from playing, Sir Geoff served as assistant coach of the England national team under Ron Greenwood from 1977 to 1982, before taking charge of Chelsea FC as manager.

Sir Geoff has been nominated for the Freedom by Dame Susan Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London, and the City of London Corporation’s Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward.

Speaking after his Freedom ceremony, Sir Geoff Hurst said:

“I feel privileged to have received the Freedom of the City of London at Guildhall. It is something that I never expected to be offered, and I regard it as a great honour.”

Dame Susan Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London, said: 

“Few names are more important in England's sporting story than Sir Geoff Hurst.

"His achievements on the pitch - and how can we forget his unforgettable World Cup Final performance 60 years ago - have inspired generations of players and supporters. For West Ham supporters like me, his contribution in claret and blue will always have a place in our history and in the hearts of Hammers fans everywhere.

“Sir Geoff’s Freedom, which I am delighted to support, is a fitting recognition of a truly remarkable individual.”

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said: 

"Sir Geoff Hurst’s undeniably impressive sporting achievements – never more so than scoring the winning hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup Final - have brought pride and joy to millions of people.

“Recognising his outstanding contribution to football and subsequent roles as a coach, manager, and ambassador for the game, Sir Geoff’s Freedom is richly deserved.”

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.

As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.

Recent notable recipients include actor, Adrian Dunbar; choreographer and theatre director, Dame Arlene Phillips; City of London Police Commander Umer Khan; and TV and radio presenter and cancer charity ambassador, Gloria Hunniford. 

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

City of London Corporation

14 September 2026

City Corporation urges government to avoid harming UK financial and professional services at the Budget

• City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward urges the Chancellor to “do no harm” to financial and professional services at the Budget
• That means no more sector-specific taxes and protecting the VAT exemption for financial services to preserve the UK’s competitiveness
• City Corporation also seeks reforms to boost investment; a pro-growth approach to planning, and a pathway to reform taxation on equities

The City of London Corporation is urging the government to “do no harm” to the financial and professional services sector at the Budget, arguing that the sector’s success is vital to delivering growth in every postcode.

The sector is a key driver of economic growth, generating £323 billion in economic output and contributing more than £110 billion in annual tax revenues, equivalent to around 12 per cent of all UK tax receipts. It also supports 2.5 million jobs – two thirds of them outside London.

UK banks already face higher tax rates compared with their peers in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dublin and New York¹. In his Budget submission to Chancellor, Chris Hayward, the City Corporation’s policy chief, is urging the government to protect competitiveness by resisting a windfall tax on banks; avoid wider sector-specific tax rises and keep the VAT exemption for financial services.

Policy Chairman for the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward said:

“The City Corporation already plays a critical role in helping to deliver the Government's ambition for growth in every postcode.

“The sector supports 2.5 million jobs – two thirds of them outside London – and already provides around 12 per cent of all UK tax receipts that help pay for vital public services, like social care.

“Our latest research² shows the UK is losing ground in the battle for overseas investment. So we cannot be complacent about the strength of the sector.

“I urge the Chancellor to do no harm to financial and professional services at the Budget. With public finances under strain, stronger growth is the answer.

“Without a financial system firing on all cylinders, we cannot help entrepreneurs build globally significant companies that create wealth and jobs, drive investment into the industries and infrastructure of the future. Nor can we help families secure their financial futures and give them the opportunity to succeed

“The Chancellor must therefore create the conditions for a thriving sector, through concrete action to boost investment, tax reforms to encourage more listings, and a pro-growth approach to planning.”

The City Corporation is calling on the Chancellor to set out a targeted programme of tax simplification, to reduce compliance costs and provide greater certainty and support investment. It should also consider applying a growth and competitiveness test to growth new tax policy, establishing a pathway for the eventual removal of stamp duty on shares.

The City Corporation is also calling for longer-term funding and improved headcount for the Office for Investment: Financial Services, the UK’s concierge service for financial services firms looking to invest. Alongside this, it is calling on Government to help build a stronger pipeline of investable infrastructure and real asset projects by providing targeted funding and commercial support to local and regional authorities, with InvestConnect – a new AI-enabled platform launching this autumn – providing a consistent national route to bring those opportunities to institutional investors. The submission also calls for faster planning and grid connections, enabling infrastructure and targeted incentives to unlock strategic projects and mobilise greater private investment.

The City Corporation is also urging the government to take a pro-growth approach to planning. The Square Mile will need to accommodate nearly 900,000 jobs by 2050. Achieving this requires the delivery of well over 1.2 million square metres of commercial floorspace, predominantly through the development of tall buildings. But the adoption of the City Plan 2040, the emerging local plan for the Square Mile, has been subject to a delay due to a Ministerial direction. In a worst-case scenario, the alternative under consideration could lead to up to 6,800 fewer office-based jobs being accommodated, costing the economy £1.2 billion GVA each year, with a loss of up to £50 million in the Community Infrastructure Levy.

Notes to editors

1. For a model corporate and investment bank, the 2025 total tax rate was estimated at 46.4% in London, compared with 42.2% in Amsterdam, 38.9% in Frankfurt, 28.9% in Dublin and 27.9% in New York.
2. Investment Landscape report September 2026: The UK Investment Landscape 2026 - Unlocking capital for growth

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The information in the research is drawn from a new publicly accessible national dataset – the Register of British Slave Traders.

The City Corporation commissioned Professor William Pettigrew, the UK's leading expert on the traffic in enslaved African people, who has led the creation of the national register, to carry out the research. Professor Pettigrew’s report focuses on the role played by members in the period 1640 to 1807, when the UK was actively involved in human trafficking.

His research found 42 of 176 Lord Mayors of London in that period were involved in the traffic in enslaved African people, along with 130 of 830 Aldermen, or senior councillors, and 181 of 3,975 members of the Court of Common Council – the City Corporation’s primary decision-making body.

The report links the Members identified to over 950 voyages that violently transported around 240,000 enslaved African people across the Atlantic, around 36,000 of whom died during the crossings.

However, the research found no evidence the City Corporation as an institution invested in the trade or received direct financial benefit from it.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said:

“The transatlantic traffic in enslaved African people was one of the worst atrocities in human history and it is important we understand the City’s links to it.

“This report reflects our commitment to confronting that history openly and honestly. While the research found no evidence that the City Corporation directly invested in or benefited from the trafficking as an institution, it makes clear that a significant number of elected Members were involved.

“We cannot change the past, but we have a responsibility to acknowledge it, learn from it, and ensure it informs how we move forward as an organisation.

“We are committed to embedding the principles of equity, equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do, and to reflecting and respecting the diversity of the communities we serve in London and beyond.”

Professor Pettigrew’s report was commissioned in December 2024 and was based on painstaking research in the records of The London Archives and the newly launched Register of British Slave Traders.

Last year, the City Corporation launched Revealing the City’s Past, a major project to reinterpret statues at its Guildhall headquarters of slave traders William Beckford, a two-time Lord Mayor, and the MP Sir John Cass.

City Corporation members will now consider the findings of the report and consider its response

The report can be viewed online at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/tteap

The remarkable life of Francis Barber, the servant, friend, and heir to Dr Samuel Johnson, has been commemorated during a ceremony at the writer’s townhouse on Gough Square in Fleet Street Quarter, which also marked the launch of the redesigned City of London Blue Plaques Scheme.  

Barber, a West African man born into slavery in Jamaica, came to London as a child and lived at Dr Johnson’s house from 1752 to 1756, working there as his servant. Dr Johnson, who compiled the Dictionary of the English Language (1755), supported him and his family throughout his life, and helped secure his financial future. 

Most notably and controversially for the time, Dr Johnson named Barber as the sole heir and beneficiary of a Trust established in his will. Barber later became the first known Black schoolteacher in British history.   

Dr Johnson's House, now a charity running a museum at the site, is believed to be the only surviving property in the City that was home to a formerly enslaved person who later lived there as a free man.  Located in the heart of Fleet Street Quarter, the House forms part of the area’s rich cultural heritage, which the Fleet Street Quarter BID (Business Improvement District) is working with partners to celebrate and make more accessible by creating opportunities for people to discover this historic part of the City and the stories that have shaped the district.   

During yesterday's event, a Blue Plaque honouring Francis Barber was unveiled by Alderman Tim Hailes and Michael Bundock, director of Dr. Johnson's House Trust and author of The Fortunes of Francis Barber. The plaque, which refers to Barber's enslavement in Jamaica and subsequent career as a teacher near Lichfield in Staffordshire, was approved under the previous Blue Plaques Scheme.  The event also marked 150 years since the City’s oldest Blue Plaque was unveiled in honour of Dr Johnson at the same historic site, making it an appropriate setting for the launch of the redesigned scheme. 

Of the 140 plaques in the Square Mile, most of them commemorate institutions and organisations, such as the Samaritans, Great Synagogue, and Royal College of Physicians, with 32 plaques representing individuals.  Following a comprehensive review, the scheme has been redesigned to provide a modern, transparent, and inclusive process with clear guidance, embedded equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, and strong governance. Other improvements include an advisory panel of experts to assess applications, a new online application form, and a refreshed webpage.  

While each plaque will be funded primarily by applicants or their sponsors, a new annual City of London Corporation funding pot will support at least one outstanding application each year that is unable to self-fund.  Successful applicants will be supported with comprehensive guidance to commission and install approved plaques, and to bring them to fruition. 

Brendan Barns, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, said:  

"Our Blue Plaques Scheme makes a very welcome return and highlights the City of London Corporation's renewed commitment to commemorating remarkable people, places, and institutions that have shaped the Square Mile. 

"It is our hope that the redesigned scheme will attract thoughtful and persuasively written applications from a wide range of backgrounds, all of them reminding us that, behind every Blue Plaque is a story worth telling." 

Celine Luppo McDaid, The Hyde Director of Dr Johnson’s House, said:  

“We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable life of Francis Barber with this Blue Plaque. Enslaved on a Jamaican plantation, Barber came to London and, in this house, he learned to read and write, going on to become the first Black teacher in British history. His story is central to our commitment to bringing long-overlooked lives into the present day. 

“As the House of Words, Dr Johnson’s House explores and represents the experiences and legacies of Francis Barber and the extraordinary people who were living here in the middle of the 18^th century.  By engaging with issues such as friendship, grief, gender, identity, slavery, and mental health, the lives of those who went before us resonate with our 21^st-century audiences.” 

Lady Lucy French, CEO of Fleet Street Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) said: 

“Fleet Street Quarter has always been a place where stories are created and brought to life, so it feels particularly fitting to launch the City of London Corporation’s redesigned Blue Plaques Scheme at the historic Dr Johnson’s House with a plaque commemorating Francis Barber’s life.  

“The BID is proud to be working with our partners to create more opportunities for people to discover this fascinating part of the City, and to ensure that its rich cultural legacy continues to inspire in the years to come.” 

The City of London Corporation is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £145m every year. It manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Library, Guildhall Art Gallery, The London Archives, and Keats House.  The City Corporation also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and London Museum, which will open on 28 November. 

ENDS

Notes for Editors:  

About the City of London Corporation: 

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk   

About Dr. Johnson’s House:   

Dr Johnson’ House is located at 17 Gough Square, amidst the medieval alleyways and courtyards just north of Fleet Street, on the western side of the City of London.   

A 17th-century town house, it was home to the writer and wit Samuel Johnson, Francis Barber, Anna Williams, and many others in the middle of the 18^th century. Today, the House operates under the concept of “The House of Words,” reflecting both Johnson’s literary legacy and the achievements of all those living here with him, each of whom fought against adversity.   

Through their lives we explore and represent the experiences and legacies of these extraordinary people, by engaging with issues such as friendship, grief, gender, identity, slavery, and mental health — drawing connections between Johnson’s era and modern-day life.   

Dr Johnson's House is open to the public with collections of manuscripts, artwork, and ephemera, as well as a research library and restored period interiors. By researching and providing access to all these, we are committed to exploring contemporary educational and social issues through the lens of language.  We reflect the value Johnson placed on learning by offering a broad and rich education programme and by regularly staging exhibitions and events that amplify diverse voices and foster community engagement.  www.drjohnsonshouse.org

About Fleet Street Quarter: 

The Fleet Street Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) is a 43 hectare area on the western side of the City of London. The Fleet Street Quarter BID aims to enhance the economic vitality and cultural vibrancy of London’s historic Fleet Street area by investing in public realm improvements, community initiatives, and business support services. We focus on fostering a thriving, dynamic environment for businesses, visitors, and residents, through collaboration and strategic developments. https://fleetstreetquarter.co.uk/  

As the global ambassador for UK financial and professional services, the Lady Mayor will look to deepen the UK's relationships with three strategically important ASEAN markets.

The visit will position London and the UK as a long-term partner for capital mobilisation, international financial-centre development, sustainable infrastructure, transition finance and risk management. It will also promote the UK as a destination for ASEAN investment, helping UK businesses identify commercial opportunities and address barriers to growth across the region.

• Mobilising two-way investment: building relationships with institutional investors, asset managers, banks, and family offices to unlock two-way investment in sustainable infrastructure, technology and private markets in the UK and across the ASEAN region.
• Sharing UK financial expertise: promoting London’s strengths in capital markets, English common law, insurance, professional services, innovation, green finance and international financial-centre development in Vietnam.
• Supporting business growth: creating commercial opportunities for UK firms in ASEAN while promoting the UK as a destination for financial services FDI, capital raising and capital deployment. Additionally, meeting with regulators to strengthen collaboration, promote regulatory interoperability, and reduce market barriers that serve to limit cross-border investment and capital flows.

The Lady Mayor will also promote InvestConnect, a new investor-led and AI-enabled platform being developed in partnership with the City of London Corporation. The platform will connect professional investors with curated infrastructure and real-asset opportunities across the UK, with investors representing more than US$3 trillion in assets under management already engaged in its development.

Lady Mayor of the City of London, Susan Langley, said: 

“ASEAN is home to some of the world’s most dynamic and ambitious economies, and there is enormous potential to deepen the UK’s partnerships across the region.

“London offers deep capital markets, trusted legal and regulatory expertise, speciality insurance experience and a world-leading financial and professional services ecosystem. From mobilising investment and financing sustainable infrastructure to managing emerging risks and supporting the development of international financial centres, we have a great deal to offer.

“This visit is about turning that expertise into practical partnerships, creating new opportunities for businesses and investors in both directions, and demonstrating that London remains open, connected and ready to support ASEAN’s long-term growth.”

Emma Loynes, CEO of Lloyd’s Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region said:

"We are honoured to support the Lady Mayor’s visit to ASEAN and welcome the continued strengthening of the UK–ASEAN partnership.

"Lloyd’s has a long-standing commitment to ASEAN, and we are proud to support businesses across the region with the expertise, risk solutions and global capital that help them grow and build resilience."

ENDS

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. 

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

An independent City of London Police has a ‘vital national role’ in keeping people safe and supporting economic growth right across the country, the Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board has said. 

Speaking before an invited audience of serving police officers, criminal justice representatives and Police Authority Board Members, Tijs Broeke welcomed police reform that makes policing more effective, efficient and better equipped to respond to the changing nature of crime.

He said reforms should be based on outcomes rather than structures, pointing to the City of London Police’s strong record on reducing crime.

Guests at the Police Authority Board annual dinner, held in the City, also heard from Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey and City of London Police Commissioner Pete O'Doherty.

City of London Police Authority Board Chair Tijs Broeke said:

“Tonight is an opportunity to recognise the contribution you all make to keeping our communities, our economy, and our country safe. It is also an opportunity to look ahead.

“Crime is changing. Technology is changing. Public expectations are changing.

"Policing must change too.

“The City of London Corporation supports reform that makes policing more effective, more efficient, and better equipped for the future. But reform cannot simply be about structures.

“Effective reform should look closely at what already delivers results.

“Businesses tell us clearly what they value about the City Police: its specialist expertise, its close relationship with industry, and its deep understanding of, and dedication to, the Square Mile’s distinct policing needs.

“Safe streets matter enormously to the businesses that drive our economy, as security is the foundation on which prosperity is built.

“The City contributes around 110 billion pounds to the UK economy and supports 2.5 million jobs across the UK, two thirds of them outside London.

“When we protect the Square Mile, we help protect jobs and investment across the country- supporting the Government’s goal of delivering growth in every postcode.

“It also supports a wider principle set out by the Prime Minister.

“Decisions should be made at the level where leaders have the knowledge, relationships, and accountability to respond effectively to local needs.

“The best way to improve the service provided to the public is through the evolution of the City Police, harnessing the force’s capabilities alongside those of the City of London Corporation.

“That evolution must protect the independence and distinct role of the City Police.

“We do not oppose change. But merging the force would not make our residents, workers, businesses and visitors safer.

“Nationally, the City Police should be a key delivery partner for the new National Police Service, using its expertise to help the fight against fraud, safeguard the successful delivery of Report Fraud, and support its wider mission.

“Locally, it could become more closely integrated with the Metropolitan Police and the National Police Service, strengthening cooperation whilst retaining its dedicated focus and the specialist capabilities that make it so effective.

“We already have excellent relationships with our partners in the Met, the National Crime Agency and the Serious Fraud Office. We want to work together more closely in future, to better protect member of the public and businesses.”

Notes to editors

Imagery of the City of London Police officers engaging in community safety activity near the Bank of England is available.

ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The event will see 21 companies present to almost 300 investors, with participating businesses collectively seeking £350 million of scale-up investment. It is the fourth in the Lady Mayor’s Scale Up Showcase series and the first to focus on defence and national resilience.

Against a backdrop of war in Europe, daily cyber threats and rapid advances in artificial intelligence, and data-led warfare, the Showcase is designed to connect the financial firepower of the City with the technological innovation of the next generation of British start-ups.

Keynote speakers include Luke Pollard MP, Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry, and General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Senior military officers, defence innovation leaders and representatives from the National Security Strategic Investment Fund are also expected to attend.

The Government’s Strategic Defence Review set out the need for a step-change in UK defence, including faster innovation, greater industrial partnership and a stronger focus on technologies such as AI, drones, cyber capabilities and autonomous systems. The Defence & Resilience Tech Scale Up Showcase responds directly to that challenge by helping high-growth British firms access the capital, networks and commercial opportunities they need to scale.

Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley, said:

 “The City’s ecosystem of deep pools of capital, world-class talent and unrivalled global connectivity makes it a special environment for turning innovation into capability. At a time when the UK and our allies face a range of serious security threats, from war on our continent to cyber-attacks, disinformation and risks to critical infrastructure, that ecosystem has an important role to play.

“Meeting these challenges will require more than government action alone. It will require the ingenuity, pace and ambition of our technology and defence sectors, backed by the capital and expertise needed to scale. Today’s event does exactly that: bringing together some of the best of British defence and resilience innovation with the investors who can help turn ideas into capability, capital into resilience and innovation into greater security for us all.”

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said:

“Ukrainian companies are able to respond quickly to the needs of the battlefield and develop new types of weapons based on real combat experience. No other country can offer more relevant experience for the development of new weapons, their modernization and new ways of using them. However, the lack of technologies and funding does not allow us to take the initiative from Russia and its partners.

“Therefore, we call on our partners to increase financial and technological investments in weapons production in Ukraine, not only to reduce Russia's military potential but also to strengthen their own defence capabilities.”

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said:

 "With war in Europe and the threat from Russia growing, re-industrialising and building sovereign defence capability has never been more urgent – and that means real investment in British industry. 

"At the Scale-up Showcase, we're bringing together the innovators and investors who are turning that investment into lasting industrial capability. From missiles to drones, British SMEs are strengthening our Armed Forces and driving growth and jobs across the UK, while supporting our allies including Ukraine.”

The companies taking part were selected from a competitive field of defence-related businesses introduced by organisations across the UK innovation and investment ecosystem. Each company will pitch twice, with delegates allocating virtual investment currency to the firms they believe show the strongest promise.

Supporters for the Showcase include Alantra, Amadeus Capital Partners, AWS, BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, Dalton Cyber, Goodwin Proctor, HSBC Innovation Banking, Leonardo, RCK Partners, Sky News, Think and Grow, Women Empowering Defence and the Worshipful Company of Entrepreneurs.

Gus Machado, Master, WCIT, the London Livery Company for the Tech Sector

“We are delighted to organise this event, the fourth in a series of Scale-up Technology showcases at Mansion House. This event is our biggest one yet and the interest shown by both companies and investors indicates the vital need for innovation in the nation’s defence.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

·       The Defence & Resilience Tech Scale Up Showcase takes place at Mansion House on Wednesday 9 September 2026.

·       The event is organised on behalf of the Lady Mayor by the Entrepreneurship Panel and Armed Forces Committee of the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, the City of London livery company for the tech sector.

·       The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK.

· Decision follows review finding no previous effective lawful mechanism to remove Freedoms

· In May, City of London Corporation elected Members instructed officers to pursue steps to lawfully remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom of the City of London

· New process will now be followed “as a matter of urgency” to ensure that a decision is made in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom

The City of London Corporation's Court of Common Council, the organisation's principal decision-making body, has today approved a process enabling the Freedom of the City of London to be removed from individuals.

Elected Members approved an Act of Common Council giving the Court the power to remove a Freedom. The decision follows a detailed legal review which concluded that there was previously no effective lawful mechanism to do so.

Under the new process, each case would be considered on its individual circumstances and in accordance with the law. The person concerned would be informed and given opportunities to make written representations before a final decision is taken.

In May, the Court instructed City Corporation officers to “commence such proceedings as are necessary to enable it to lawfully remove the Freedom of the City from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor". The newly established process will now be undertaken in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor inherited the Freedom in 2012 by virtue of patrimony, as the child of a Freeman.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:

"Today, we have approved a lawful and effective process for considering whether the Freedom of the City of London should be removed from an individual.

"This ensures that future decisions are taken fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the law, with appropriate safeguards in place for all parties involved.

"The process will now be followed as a matter of urgency to ensure that a decision is made in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Freedom”.

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.

As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also inherited via patrimony or offered by the City Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.

Over the last year, recent notable recipients include two-time Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian, Cate Blanchett; former British Ambassador to the US, Dame Karen Pierce; City of London Police Special Constable and TV presenter, Penny Lancaster; actor, Adrian Dunbar; and veteran broadcaster and breast cancer charity ambassador, Gloria Hunniford.

ENDS

Notes to editors

ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

ABOUT THE NEW PROCESS:

1. Where the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chamberlain, Comptroller & City Solicitor and City Remembrancer is of the opinion that grounds for the disenfranchisement of a Freeman/woman has arisen they shall submit the allegations to the Policy and Resources Committee for its consideration.

2. Before doing so the Town Clerk will write to the Freeman/woman setting out the allegations against them and inviting them to make written representations within 14 days.

3. The Policy and Resources Committee will consider the matter, including any representations received, at the first convenient meeting. The Town Clerk will notify the Freeman/woman of the outcome and where the Committee resolves to submit the matter to the Court of Common Council the Freeman/woman will be given a further and final opportunity to make written representations which will be placed before Court when the matter is considered. The Town Clerk will notify the Freeman/woman within 7 days of the decision and provide reasons for the decision.

Victoria will join the Square Mile’s governing body in November from St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, where she is Group Chief People Officer.

She has previously held senior HR and transformation roles at the Ministry of Defence, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Victoria will lead the City Corporation’s People and HR function, supporting more than 4,500 employees and helping to strengthen leadership, culture and organisational performance.

In particular, she will continue delivery of the City Corporation’s People Strategy, which sets out how it will develop its workforce, leadership, and culture to support its Corporate Plan and wider transformation programme.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said:

“Our people are at the heart of everything we do, from supporting the City’s role as global financial hub to delivering excellent services for communities across London and beyond.

“Victoria comes to us with a wealth of experience in leading people, culture and transformation at some of the country’s largest and most complex public sector organisations, along with considerable private sector experience.

“I look forward to working with her as she builds on the excellent progress already made in delivering our People Strategy and strengthening the support we provide to colleagues across the City Corporation.”

Incoming Executive Director of HR and Chief People Officer Victoria Smith said:

“I am delighted to be joining the City of London Corporation, bringing together two things I care deeply about: public service and the City, where I began my career in professional services.

“I’m looking forward to returning to the Square Mile and working with colleagues, Members and partners to build on the strong foundations already in place, strengthen leadership and culture, and help ensure the City Corporation has the people and capability to deliver its ambitious agenda.”

Five rare-breed sheep have returned to Hampstead Heath this week as part of a conservation mission, helping City of London Corporation ecologists explore how traditional grazing techniques can support nature recovery in London.

A flock of five Norfolk Horn and Oxford Down ewes, on loan from Mudchute City Farm, are grazing the Heath's anthill meadow for a second time this year from Wednesday 9 to Monday 21 September between 8am and 7pm each day. The sheep will be stabled locally overnight, with staff and volunteers continually monitoring their welfare throughout the day.

The City of London Corporation has managed Hampstead Heath since 1989, and has been trialling conservation grazing since 2019 to understand how it can help to maintain wildlife-rich habitats.

While sheep were once a familiar sight on Hampstead Heath, grazing disappeared during the 1950s. New research by The London Archives has uncovered records showing sheep grazed Parliament Hill, and other parts of the Heath, from the 18th century.

Their return forms part of an ongoing programme to restore traditional management techniques to support biodiversity while protecting the character of the site.

Meadow ants thrive in this area of the Heath, creating conditions for a rich variety of plants and wildlife, including green woodpeckers. The uneven terrain created by the anthills makes grazing a low-impact alternative to machinery.

The project is being delivered in partnership with the Heath & Hampstead Society, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and Heath Hands. The London Natural History Society is surveying the site before and after grazing to help measure ecological change.

Chair of the City Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood and Queen’s Park Committee, Alderman Gregory Jones KC, said:

“Grazing sheep were a familiar part of Heath life for generations, and archive discoveries have helped us better understand that history.

“We've also learned through recent trials these traditional methods can still deliver real benefits for nature today, particularly in sensitive habitats where grazing offers a low-impact alternative to machinery.

“By bringing sheep back to the Heath, we're reconnecting with that heritage while learning how to care for this special landscape in the future."

On Wednesday, a ceremonial grazing declaration was made in the presence of the Masters of both the Woolmakers’ and the Butchers’ Liveries, reflecting the historic links with the City Liveries and the life of the Heath.

Hampstead Heath, run by the City Corporation as a registered charity, is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, and forms part of the 11,000 acres of open spaces owned and cared for by the City Corporation across London and southeast England.

The Heath attracts around 8.1 million visits every year and has since 1997 continuously held a Green Flag Award – the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Visitors are being reminded to keep dogs under effective control around the grazing area to ensure the safety and welfare of the sheep.

ENDS

Notes to editors

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Additional information

• The return of the sheep will be marked by a ceremonial declaration that celebrates the Heath's pastoral heritage and the longstanding relationship between London's historic institutions and its green spaces.
• Norfolk Horn and Oxford Down sheep are traditional British breeds that are particularly well suited to conservation grazing.
• Research undertaken by the London Archives shows with formal grazing licences were granted from at least 1895. The Heath experienced five heatwaves this summer and these ancient documents reveal licences adapting to the impact on grazers’ revenue caused by summer droughts.
• Historic images held within the London Picture Archive depict sheep grazing on Hampstead Heath from the late eighteenth century onwards, including artwork dating from 1786 and photographs taken on Parliament Hill in the early twentieth century.
• Conservation grazing is used across the UK to maintain species-rich habitats and support biodiversity.
  

The UK economy attracted £200 billion of new investment in 2025, but its share of international capital declined, with sovereign investment and foreign direct investment falling.

Investment in the UK totalled £4.1 trillion last year, demonstrating its continued scale and resilience as the UK economy grapples with macroeconomic headwinds. The figure marked a 5 per cent improvement from the £3.9 trillion of UK investment assets owned in 2024, when the City of London Corporation first began to measure UK investment levels.

 UK public equities recorded the largest increase in new capital, rising by £222 billion (23%) to nearly £1.2 trillion. Business and infrastructure investment^1,2 also recorded large increases, while holdings in UK government bonds remain the largest investment destination, at nearly £1.3 trillion³

 The UK lost ground among international investors. Sovereign wealth funds and global public pension funds increased the amount they invested globally in 2025 to £215bn, from £169bn in 2024. But the UK's share of global sovereign investment fell from 13% to 9% as sovereign investors cut back their UK investment by £3 billion to £19 billion.

Foreign direct investment fell by £14 billion (21%) to reach £54 billion. The drop was driven by 51 fewer projects across the UK, particularly £1 billion-plus mega projects. The largest drops were in in Scotland and the North East. Renewable energy projects were the largest draw of foreign direct investment, rising £2 billion (11%) to £21 billion.

The need for action to keep driving investment is clear, and that is why the City of London Corporation is leading several initiatives to boost investment levels in the UK. InvestConnect⁴, a new AI-enabled platform being developed in partnership with the City Corporation and InvestConnect Global Limited will launch in the Autumn. It will enable investors managing trillions of pounds of assets to back UK infrastructure projects. Cornwall Council, the Scottish Government, and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority are the platform’s first Founding Opportunity Partners and will play a leading role in shaping the development of the platform.

Last year, the City Corporation, together with HMT, the Office for Investment, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority launched the Office for Investment: Financial Services⁵, providing a “single front door” for international financial services firms looking to set up or expand British operations. The City Corporation also secured commitment from 17 of the UK’s largest workplace pension providers to invest in UK growth assets via the Mansion House Accord⁶. Together, these initiatives have the potential to mobilise £35 billion of investment into the UK.

The City Corporation is also preparing a Budget submission to deliver a more dynamic economy, with eased planning rules, a competitive tax system, and proportionate regulation, to encourage investment.

Policy Chairman for the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward said:

"Growth in every UK postcode requires investment across our nations and regions. With deep capital markets, a large domestic savings base, and an established and growing ecosystem for international investors, the UK remains one of the world's leading investment destinations. But the overall growth in investment masks a more complex truth which we must tackle head on: the UK is losing ground to international competitors.

“Some of this is cyclical, but we must confront adverse trends early: strengthening the UK’s offer to global investors and ensuring that domestic capital is channelled more effectively into productive UK assets.

“The investment capital is available. So are the growth opportunities. It is the shared task of HM Government, the financial and professional services industry and regulators to connect the two.”  

Notes to editors

1. Business investment rose by £46 billion (16%) to £331 billion.
2. Infrastructure investment also rose by £13 billion (24%) to £68 billion.
3. Holdings fell by £56.5bn, or 4.2%, to £1,285bn in 2025
4. InvestConnect: https://www.investconnect.com/
5. OFI:FS: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-investment-financial-services
6. The Mansion House Accord: https://www.theglobalcity.uk/insights/mansion-house-accord
7. OFI:FS: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-investment-financial-services

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

· Recruitment underway for highly sought after role

· Chair of Governors praises outgoing Head’s ‘warmth, energy, optimism and a genuine sense of fun’

Alan Bird, Head of City of London School (CLS), is to step down from his role after nearly a decade in charge at the end of this academic year (31 August 2027). He has been appointed as Master of Magdalen College School, Oxford.

The search for his successor is already underway. Working with colleagues in the City of London Corporation, the school’s Board of Governors has appointed Odgers, a leading executive search firm with extensive experience in education, to support the recruitment process.

Pupils, parents and staff were all informed this morning (4 September).

Under Alan’s leadership, the School has seen significant change and development. Facilities have been improved and enhanced. Relationships with City of London School for Girls have deepened, with the Joint Sixth Form Centre on track for 2028. City Junior School opened in 2022; shared professional services have improved operational effectiveness across CLS, City of London School for Girls and City Junior School, and important curriculum innovations include the introduction of Design, Computing and Robotics.

Academic outcomes remain outstanding, while the School’s partnerships have expanded significantly. The creation of the Futures Department has helped establish CLS as a leader in preparing young people for an increasingly complex world.

Keith Bottomley, Chair of Governors, said:

“By next summer, Alan will have served almost ten years as Head of CLS. During that time, he has led the School with distinction. He will hand over a community that is thriving, confident and clear about its values and purpose.

“As Head, Alan has brought warmth, energy, optimism and a genuine sense of fun to the role. These qualities have had a lasting impact on everyone who has worked with him.

“Perhaps Alan’s most important contribution has been the development of the School’s culture and values. The principles of being Kind, Aware and Ready are now deeply embedded in School life and help guide pupils, staff and governors alike. As a Board, we will ensure that remains at the heart of CLS.

“Additionally, he has been careful to nurture excellence among his staff, especially among his senior team, who will build on the strong foundations he has laid long into the future.”

Alan Bird, Head of City of London School, said:

“It has been such a privilege to hold the post of Head at CLS over nearly a decade.

“Working with a brilliant team of staff, and wonderful pupils, has been, and remains, a source of enrichment and joy, and I will be very sad to say farewell next summer.”

The City of London Corporation’s Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) has achieved International Air Transport Association (IATA) CEIV Live Animals re-certification for a third consecutive cycle.

The globally recognised accreditation independently verifies that HARC continues to meet the highest international standards for animal welfare, specialist handling facilities, training and operational excellence in the transportation of live animals by air.

The re-certification follows an independent assessment of HARC's facilities, procedures, staff expertise and regulatory compliance.

Operating from Heathrow Airport, HARC protects the UK's biosecurity by carrying out health and welfare checks on animals entering the country, from family pets and livestock to zoo animals and exotic species.

The centre plays a vital role in preventing the spread of diseases such as rabies while ensuring animals meet strict welfare requirements.

HARC remains Europe's only CEIV Live Animals-certified Border Control Post and is the UK's only Live Animal Border Control Post designated for all species.

Located on the perimeter of Heathrow Airport, it enforces UK and international import regulations and works with airlines to ensure high standards of animal welfare.

The facility cares for millions of animals each year, including thousands of pets, hundreds of horses, and millions of fish, reptiles and invertebrates.

Chair of the City of London Corporation's Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, Peter Dunphy MBE, said:

"When it comes to animal welfare, there is no room for compromise, and HARC is setting the international benchmark for the safe and humane transport of animals by air.

“Achieving our third CEIV Live Animals re-certification is an important endorsement of the expertise and dedication of our staff, who continue to deliver the gold standard of care for animals travelling through one of the world's busiest airports.”

Global Head of Cargo at IATA, Brendan Sullivan, added:

“We congratulate the Heathrow Animal Reception Centre on achieving CEIV Live Animals certification for a third time. As Europe’s only CEIV Live Animals-certified Border Control Post, HARC is leading by example and helping to raise standard for the safe, healthy and humane transport of animals.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Visitors, foragers, and social media influencers are being urged to leave wild mushrooms untouched in Epping Forest as conservators prepare for the start of the autumn fungi season.

The City of London Corporation, which manages Epping Forest as a registered charity, is reminding visitors that picking fungi is prohibited under Forest byelaws.

While many content creators may be unaware of the restrictions, videos and posts showing mushrooms being collected can inadvertently encourage others to do the same.

Recent warm weather has already prompted the early appearance of some fungi, including ‘Chicken of the Woods’, Laetiporus sulphureus, with Forest experts closely monitoring how this year's season develops following a summer of heat and drought.

Epping Forest is nationally recognised for its fungal diversity and supports hundreds of recorded species. Many play a vital role in the health of the Forest, helping recycle nutrients, supporting wildlife, and helping preserve some 55,000 ancient trees.

The warning comes as fungi-related content continues to grow in popularity on social media, with posts showcasing unusual mushrooms and foraging finds attracting large audiences online. Even after leaving the Forest, users could be subject to fines or prosecution.

Visitors are encouraged to enjoy fungi responsibly by taking photographs and leaving mushrooms and other wildlife exactly as they are found.

Chair of the City Corporation's Epping Forest and Commons Committee, Caroline Haines, said:

"Epping Forest is one of the country's most important habitats for fungi, and many species depend on being left undisturbed.

"We know people are fascinated by mushrooms and want to share their discoveries online. Many influencers and visitors may not realise that picking fungi is not permitted in the Forest, but posts showing mushrooms being collected can encourage others to follow suit.

“We want everyone to enjoy the Forest and experience its remarkable wildlife. Our message is simple: click, don't pick.”

The City Corporation's open spaces have been home to several significant fungi discoveries in recent years. In 2024, a species of mushroom new to science, Hydropus inopinatus, was discovered in Burnham Beeches, while in 2025, the UK’s first confirmed record of a rare fungus species, Russula blumiana, was made in Epping Forest.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

Epping Forest stretches from Manor Park in the south to Epping in the north, covering around 8,000 acres and attracting over 10 million visitors annually.

The Forest is of national and international conservation importance, containing two registered historic parks, eight listed buildings and four scheduled ancient monuments.

It is one of the last remaining examples of ancient wood-pasture in southern England and holds national and international conservation status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

The City Corporation protects 11,000 acres of green space across London and southeast England. Most of these sites are charitable trusts and run at little or no cost to the communities they serve.

Applications are now open for the latest round of funding from the City Corporation’s Enjoying Green Spaces and the Natural Environment Fund.

It supports projects run by community and voluntary organisations which connect people with nature while improving and protecting open spaces, including Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, West Ham Park and Burnham Beeches.

The scheme offers grants of between £2,000 and £15,000, for projects lasting up to three years which benefit both local communities and the natural environment.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said:

“Our green spaces are the lungs of London, playing a vital role in supporting nature, improving wellbeing and bringing communities together.

“Through this fund, we want to support organisations delivering innovative ideas that help more people enjoy and benefit from these remarkable places while protecting them for future generations.”

Projects eligible for funding should improve biodiversity, connect communities with green spaces, help children and young people engage with nature or support wellbeing.

In previous funding rounds the scheme has supported 52 projects, including Moth x Human, an Epping Forest project which uses music, science and community events to help people discover the hidden world of moths.

Led by composer Ellie Wilson, who grew up near the forest, the project turns moth monitoring data into music while raising awareness of the important role moths play in supporting biodiversity and woodland habitats.

Ellie Wilson, composer and creator of Moth x Human, said:

“The Epping Forest element is about shining a light on the amazing work taking place to protect biodiversity and the incredible variety of moths found there. Because of the Forest’s ancient woodland it is home to many rare species.”

“One of the most rewarding things has been seeing people’s perceptions change. Many people think moths are scary or a pest, but when they learn more about them, or see them up close at one of our Moth Mornings, they’re amazed by their colours, diversity, and ecological importance.

“This funding has been vital in helping us reach new audiences. It has also enabled us to launch an immersive sound installation in 2027 encouraging more visitors to enjoy and appreciate this remarkable forest.”

The fund has also supported London HogWatch – run by the Zoological Society of London in conjunction with volunteers from Heath Hands – which is studying hedgehog populations on Hampstead Heath and at Highgate Wood.

The project highlighted a boom in the wood’s hedgehog population. When the site was surveyed in 2017, researchers found evidence of just one hedgehog. Following habitat improvements including increased scrub cover, new nesting areas and better access routes, hedgehogs were recorded on 21 cameras across the wood.

Kate Scott-Gatty, London HogWatch Project Manager at ZSL, said:

“The results at Highgate Wood have been incredibly encouraging and show that conservation action does work. It’s been fantastic to see the impact that habitat improvements have made.

“This funding was really important because it enabled us to carry out monitoring we'd wanted to do for a long time, while working with volunteers and local communities. Bringing together research, conservation and engagement was incredibly valuable.”

Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposals with the City Corporation’s Central Funding and Charity Management Team before applying, by emailing grants@cityoflondon.gov.uk. Applications close at noon on Monday, September 21.

Anyone interested can find more information and apply at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/about-us/working-with-community/central-grants-programme/enjoying-green-spaces-and-the-natural-environment

The City Corporation protects 11,000 acres of green space across London and southeast England. Most of these sites are charitable trusts and run at little or no cost to the communities they serve.

Managed by the City of London Corporation, New Spitalfields Market (in Walthamstow) is a nationally significant hub within the UK’s food supply chain, supplying fresh produce to businesses across London and beyond.

The installation by Vital Energi comprises 2,730 solar panels, creating a 1.4 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar array, the largest rooftop solar installation in London. The system is expected to generate around 1.27 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power approximately 470 homes.

Operating overnight and around the clock, the market has significant energy requirements to support refrigeration, lighting, and essential infrastructure. By generating more of its electricity on site, the market will reduce its reliance on grid power while improving its long-term operational resilience.

The project is expected to cut carbon emissions by approximately 225 tonnes each year, equivalent to the electricity used by around 50 homes annually. 

The circa £1million investment forms part of the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, which commits the organisation to achieving net zero across its own operations by 2027, while demonstrating how large-scale renewable energy can be integrated into critical commercial infrastructure.

Every unit of electricity generated and used on site is one that does not need to be drawn from the National Grid, helping free up capacity elsewhere while supporting the decarbonisation of one of London’s most energy-intensive market sites.

The solar array is the largest rooftop installation of its kind in London (by MWp) and represents one of the City Corporation’s most significant renewable energy investments to date, whilst also supporting the market’s continued operation as a key wholesale food hub.

Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:

“Projects like this show how practical climate action can deliver benefits far beyond carbon reduction and are yet another example of the City Corporation delivering on its Climate Action Strategy.

“As the UK experiences periods of extreme heat and rising electricity demand for cooling, this project demonstrates the value of investing in local renewable energy generation.”

Chairman of the City of London Corporation Markets Board, Mark Wheatley, said:

"New Spitalfields Market is a vital part of London's fresh produce supply chain, serving businesses and communities across the capital every day. This investment helps ensure the market remains a modern, efficient and well-equipped facility, supporting traders and customers while strengthening its long-term future."

· Featuring two major new commissions with the University of Oxford’s Lincoln College and Turner Prize-nominated artist, Hurvin Anderson, V&A Dundee, and Farshid Moussavi

· A unique collaboration between Guildhall Art Gallery and Dovecot Studios, the exhibition highlights the continuing relevance and potential of tapestry as a 21st century art form

Beyond Bayeux: Tapestry Now, which opens at the City of London Corporation’s gallery on 23 October, presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reflect on tapestry’s past and shape its future.

The exhibition complements the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry in the UK for the widely anticipated exhibition at the British Museum.

Guildhall Art Gallery's exhibition will highlight how, since the 20th century, Dovecot’s highly skilled weavers in Edinburgh have collaborated with artists to demonstrate the continuing relevance and potential of tapestry as a contemporary art form.

In the past, tapestry has been commissioned to mark key moments in history. One of the stand-out artworks is a new commission with Turner Prize-nominated artist, Hurvin Anderson. Measuring an impressive six metres in width, the tapestry will be unveiled in the exhibition before it is installed in the University of Oxford next year to mark the 600th anniversary of Lincoln College.

Other key artworks include a tapestry version of David Hockney’s 1963 painting, Play within a Play, commissioned by the artist.[KP1] [2] Hockney, who died in June this year, was drawn to tapestry for its narrative qualities and chose to live for many years in Normandy close to the Apocalypse tapestries and the Bayeux Tapestry.

More recent collaborations demonstrate how artists are playing with the medium, pushing the power of warp and weft to embody storytelling and symbolism. Dovecot and Farshid Moussavi created The Garden Carpet for the V&A Dundee in 2025, using the heritage of Persian textile to explore a paradise populated by plants and wildlife at risk in Scotland today.

Similarly, Dovecot has worked with Yinka Shonibare to interpret traditional African masks with a modern mix of coloured hanging warps, knots, single and double weave in Modern Spiritual (Fang Ngil, Kumbaduba).

Dovecot’s tapestries with Alberta Whittle on Ring Around the Rosy and with Rachel Maclean on Goo Gaa present particularly creative expressions interpreting shaped outlines and digital imagery respectively.

During the exhibition’s five-month run, the events programme will include historical tours and insights from artists and weavers on new ways of thinking about the art of tapestry and collaboration.

Celia Joicey, Dovecot Studios Director, said:

“This exhibition is an opportunity to showcase tapestry as not only one of the world's oldest fine art mediums, but also one that has a powerful connection to contemporary artists.

“To ensure that tapestry continues to flourish, it is crucial to highlight the importance of commissioning new work, while celebrating the incredible skills of Dovecot and British tapestry weavers.”

Brendan Barns, Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, said:

“Tapestry has brought luxury and storytelling to some of the world’s most beautiful interiors, including the Sistine Chapel, Royal Palace of Madrid, Versailles, Hampton Court Palace, and Guildhall in the City of London, which has a long history of commissioning some of the finest tapestries in the UK.

“This exhibition reflects our mission to be an art gallery about London for London by highlighting the capital as a powerhouse for commissioning contemporary tapestry and creating outstanding opportunities for artists and weavers alike.

“While the British Museum highlights the Bayeux Tapestry and key moments in history, Dovecot Studios and Guildhall Art Gallery are proud to be playing their part in celebrating the future of UK tapestry.”

Guildhall Art Gallery is an integral part of the City’s rich and vibrant arts and cultural offering. The gallery supports Destination City, the City of London Corporation’s growth strategy, and forms part of the City of London’s wider arts and cultural offer.

The City of London Corporation is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £145m every year.

The City Corporation manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Library, Guildhall Art Gallery, The London Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra, and London Museum, which will open on 28 November.

Beyond Bayeux: Tapestry Now runs from 23 October 2026 to 21 March 2027 at Guildhall Art Gallery. Admission: Pay What You Can

www.onecitylondon.com/beyond-bayeux-tapestry-now

• Never lighting barbecues or fires, disposing cigarettes safely, and taking litter home or using bins provided
• Keeping out of un-lifeguarded lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and other open water where swimming is prohibited. Cold water shock and hidden hazards can prove fatal, even in hot weather
• Carrying plenty of water, stay hydrated, use suncream, and seek shade during the hottest part of the day
• Respecting park staff, wildlife, and fellow visitors by following local safety advice

London's parks provide vital places for people to cool down and spend time in nature during periods of extreme heat; however, weeks of hot and dry weather have left many green spaces increasingly vulnerable to fire and environmental damage.

The organisations behind the appeal manage some of London's most popular green spaces, including Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, Hyde Park, Richmond Park, Morden Hall Park, Osterley Park, Walthamstow Marshes, and Gunpowder Park, which welcome tens of millions of visitors every year.

Chairman of the City of London Corporation's Natural Environment Board, James St John Davis:

“As London heats up, its parks are drying out – providing vital refuge from soaring temperatures but leaving grass, vegetation, and wildlife increasingly vulnerable to fire.

“We’re urging Londoners to enjoy these spaces responsibly: stay hydrated, seek shade, and keep out of prohibited waters, while leaving barbecues at home and disposing of cigarettes and litter safely. A single careless act can have serious consequences for people, wildlife, and our precious green spaces.”

Director of Parks at The Royal Parks charity, Darren Share, said:

“London’s parks are a lifeline for millions during extreme heat, offering shade, space and refuge, but in hot, dry weather, the risk of wildfire escalates. A single spark from a barbecue, cigarette or piece of glass can ignite a fire in seconds, putting visitors in extreme danger, burning through protected habitats and killing wildlife. Please enjoy a picnic, but leave barbecues at home, fully extinguish cigarettes, and take litter home if bins are full.

“We know many people will be looking for ways to stay cool in this heat, and we’re reminding Londoners to only swim in designated areas during lifeguarded opening times. Please follow the rules and help ensure a day in the park does not end in tragedy.”

Head of Parklands at Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, David Hutley, said:

“Many of Lee Valley Regional Park’s London sites are vulnerable during prolonged hot, dry weather. They have already suffered six fires, destroying almost 2.5 acres of grassland, so we urge visitors to take extra care. Please take your rubbish home, as discarded glass bottles and cigarettes can all spark fires.

“London’s parks welcome millions of visitors and are home to precious wildlife and habitats. From water voles and kingfishers to hundreds of plant species, these spaces need protecting. By using our parks responsibly and following safety advice, everyone can help keep London’s green spaces safe this summer."

General Manager at National Trust Morden Hall Park, Abi Mcneil, said:

"We know first-hand how devastating these fires can be. In 2022, a fire believed to have been caused by a disposable barbecue burned through part of Morden Hall Park, damaging habitats and putting wildlife at risk. With the park currently so dry, it only takes a single spark to start a serious fire. What might seem like a small mistake can have lasting consequences, destroying decades of conservation work in a matter of hours and putting people, wildlife and emergency responders in danger.

"We're asking everyone planning to enjoy London's parks this summer to help protect these special places. Please leave barbecues and campfires at home, dispose of cigarettes safely and take all litter home with you. By making a few simple choices, we can all play a part in keeping Morden Hall Park and other green spaces safe for people and nature."

Executive Director of Estate and Neighbourhoods at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Mark Camley, said:

"London is one of the world's greenest cities, with parks, commons and open spaces that give millions of people the chance to enjoy nature, stay active and find respite during high temperatures.

“We're proud to be working alongside park organisations across the capital to encourage everyone to enjoy these places safely. We are asking everyone to help protect them by taking sensible precautions, following local safety advice and showing consideration for the people and wildlife that share these spaces. By working together, we can ensure London's green spaces remain safe, welcoming and resilient for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer.”

Executive Director of Parks for London, Ed Stannard, said:

“London’s parks and green spaces are invaluable places for people to escape to and enjoy during hot weather and we all have a role to play in keeping them - and the people who work in them - safe.

“By taking simple precautions such as staying hydrated, avoiding unsafe swimming, and helping to prevent wildfires, visitors can protect themselves, others, and the precious green spaces that millions of Londoners rely on.”

With hot weather expected to continue this week, visitors are encouraged to check the latest weather warnings and heat health advice from the Met Office and UK Health Security Agency before travelling and follow any local guidance issued by park managers.

Ofsted inspectors found support for children and families has been “sustained and improved” since its last “outstanding” rating was awarded in November 2024.

In what it calls a ‘focused visit’, the watchdog explored support for children affected by domestic abuse, exploitation and youth violence.

Inspectors praised the City Corporation’s “strong and well-established culture of child-focused practice” and highlighted its “committed leadership”.

Meanwhile, Ofsted also noted “strengthened practice and increased practitioner confidence” in areas previously identified for improvement, including domestic abuse, exploitation and youth violence.

Deputy Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Community and Children’s Services Committee, Steve Goodman, said:

“We are delighted Ofsted has recognised the high-quality support our children’s services teams continue to provide.

“Most importantly, inspectors found children and families get the help they need when they need it, with support tailored to their individual circumstances.

“It’s particularly encouraging to see Ofsted recognise the progress we’ve made in areas previously identified for improvement, showing our commitment to continually learning and improving to deliver the best for children and young people.”

Following the issue of an Amber heat alert, the City of London Corporation, The Royal Parks, The National Trust, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Crystal Palace Park, and Parks for London have joined forces to encourage people to enjoy the capital’s open spaces safely. 

With millions of visitors expected in London’s parks, the organisations are urging everyone to take a few simple steps to protect themselves, others, and the environment: 

• Keep out of un-lifeguarded lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and other open water where swimming is prohibited. Cold water shock and hidden hazards can prove fatal, even in hot weather
• Help prevent wildfires by never lighting barbecues or open fires, disposing of cigarettes safely, and taking litter home or using bins provided
• Carry plenty of water, stay hydrated, use suncream, and seek shade during the hottest part of the day
• Respect park staff, wildlife, and fellow visitors by following local safety advice 

The organisations behind the appeal manage some of London's most popular green spaces, including Epping Forest, Hampstead Heath, Hyde Park, Richmond Park, Morden Hall Park, Osterley Park, Walthamstow Marshes, and Gunpowder Park, which welcome tens of millions of visitors every year. 

Chairman of the City of London Corporation's Natural Environment Board, James St John Davis: 

"London's green spaces are at their best in the sunshine, but after weeks of hot, dry weather they're also at their most vulnerable. It only takes one barbecue, one discarded cigarette, or one decision to enter unsafe water for a day out to end in tragedy or put others at risk. 

"We're asking everyone to make the safe choice - stay hydrated, keep out of un-lifeguarded water, dispose of litter responsibly, and never light barbecues or open fires. By making a few simple choices, we can protect these treasured green spaces and help ensure everyone can enjoy them safely throughout the summer." 

Director of Parks at The Royal Parks charity, Darren Share, said: 

“London’s parks are a lifeline for millions during extreme heat, offering shade, space and refuge, but in hot, dry weather, the risk of wildfire escalates. A single spark from a barbecue, cigarette or piece of glass can ignite a fire in seconds, putting visitors in extreme danger, burning through protected habitats and killing wildlife. Please enjoy a picnic, but leave barbecues at home, fully extinguish cigarettes, and take litter home if bins are full. 

“We know many people will be looking for ways to stay cool in this heat, and we’re reminding Londoners to only swim in designated areas during lifeguarded opening times. Please follow the rules and help ensure a day in the park does not end in tragedy.” 

Head of Parklands at Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, David Hutley, said: 

“Many of Lee Valley Regional Park’s London sites are vulnerable during prolonged hot, dry weather. They have already suffered six fires, destroying almost 2.5 acres of grassland, so we urge visitors to take extra care. Please take your rubbish home, as discarded glass bottles and cigarettes can all spark fires. 

“London’s parks welcome millions of visitors and are home to precious wildlife and habitats. From water voles and kingfishers to hundreds of plant species, these spaces need protecting. By using our parks responsibly and following safety advice, everyone can help keep London’s green spaces safe this summer.” 

General Manager at National Trust Morden Hall Park, Abi Mcneil, said: 

"We know first-hand how devastating these fires can be. In 2022, a fire believed to have been caused by a disposable barbecue burned through part of Morden Hall Park, damaging habitats and putting wildlife at risk. With the park currently so dry, it only takes a single spark to start a serious fire. What might seem like a small mistake can have lasting consequences, destroying decades of conservation work in a matter of hours and putting people, wildlife and emergency responders in danger. 

"We're asking everyone planning to enjoy London's parks this summer to help protect these special places. Please leave barbecues and campfires at home, dispose of cigarettes safely and take all litter home with you. By making a few simple choices, we can all play a part in keeping Morden Hall Park and other green spaces safe for people and nature." 

Executive Director of Estate and Neighbourhoods at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Mark Camley, said:

"London is one of the world's greenest cities, with parks, commons and open spaces that give millions of people the chance to enjoy nature, stay active and find respite during high temperatures.

"We're proud to be working alongside park organisations across the capital to encourage everyone to enjoy these places safely. We are asking everyone to help protect them by taking sensible precautions, following local safety advice and showing consideration for the people and wildlife that share these spaces. By working together, we can ensure London's green spaces remain safe, welcoming and resilient for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer."

Executive Director of Parks for London, Ed Stannard, said: 

“London’s parks and green spaces are invaluable places for people to escape to and enjoy during hot weather and we all have a role to play in keeping them - and the people who work in them - safe. 

“By taking simple precautions such as staying hydrated, avoiding unsafe swimming, and helping to prevent wildfires, visitors can protect themselves, others, and the precious green spaces that millions of Londoners rely on.” 

For the latest weather warnings and heat health advice, visitors should follow guidance issued by the Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency before travelling. 

ENDS 

Notes for Editors
 
For further information, please contact City of London Corporation Media Officer, Joe Smith / 07743 167 194 / joseph.smith@cityoflondon.gov.uk 

About the City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk. 

The organisation protects 11,000 acres of green space across London and southeast England, including Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath - an area equivalent to 20 Hyde Parks. 

Most of these sites are charitable trusts and run at little or no cost to local taxpayers. These sites attract nearly 50 million visitors a year and remove an estimated 16,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. 

About The Royal Parks charity

The Royal Parks is the charity which manages, protects, and improves the parks in an exemplary and sustainable manner so that everyone, now and in the future, has the opportunity to enjoy their natural and historic environments. 

The charity looks after eight of London’s finest open spaces: Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park, The Green Park, The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, Greenwich Park, Richmond Park, and Bushy Park. It also manages other important open spaces in the capital, including Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens. It costs around £75m a year to manage the parks. The charity raises around 85 percent of its income independently with the remaining 15 percent funded by Government. 

For further information please visit: www.royalparks.org.uk and follow The Royal Parks on, Facebook.com/TheRoyalParksLondon and Instagram.com/TheRoyalParks. 

About Lee Valley Regional Park

Lee Valley Regional Park stretches 26 miles along the River Lee from the banks of the River Thames at East India Dock Basin to Ware in Hertfordshire. It’s patchwork of award-winning nature reserves, green spaces, heritage sites and riverside trails, attracting around five million visits a year. In London these include Bow Creek Ecology Park, Walthamstow Marshes, Tottenham Marshes, Gunpowder Park and around a third of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Our open spaces include eight Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a designation reserved for the most important areas for nature across the UK. 

About The National Trust 

The National Trust is an independent conservation charity founded in 1895 to preserve historic and natural places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and open them up for everyone to enjoy. 131 years later and that mission is still at the heart of what we do. 

Over the next decade, our cause will be delivered through our People & Nature Thriving strategy. We have three ambitious goals: to restore nature - not just on National Trust land, but everywhere; to end unequal access to nature, beauty and history; and to inspire millions more people to care and take action. 

With our 5.3m members, 40,000 volunteers, and our supporters, partners and communities, we collectively represent a cause that's bigger than just ourselves: it's about caring for nature and heritage everywhere, for everyone, for ever. 

About Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) is responsible for the development of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park - a vibrant east London destination where culture, creativity and community converge. Built on the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is now an innovation district where people can live, work, study and visit – bringing new homes, jobs and opportunities while driving long-term growth and investment across east London, the capital and the UK.

Spread across 560 acres, it brings together dynamic neighbourhoods, diverse communities, world-class cultural, entertainment and sporting venues, leading education and research institutions and a food and drink scene, all set within expansive parklands, historic waterways and rich biodiversity.

At its heart lies a collaborative ecosystem anchored by innovation leaders, universities and East Bank – the UK’s most ambitious cultural and education quarter, home to BBC Music Studios, UAL’s London College of Fashion, UCL’s East campus, Sadler’s Wells East and V&A East Museum and Storehouse. Working alongside local entrepreneurs and communities, these globally recognised institutions develop, test and scale bold ideas in real-world conditions that deliver tangible benefits for east London and beyond - QueenElizabethOlympicPark.co.uk.

About Crystal Palace Park

Crystal Palace Park is not your typical park. At over 200 acres, it is far larger than most urban parks. Beloved as a ‘back garden’ to many people in the surrounding neighbourhoods, it is also of national and international significance due to its design as the grounds to the Victorian architectural masterpiece, The Crystal Palace, following its move from Hyde Park in 1854. 

As a result – as well as being home to a wide variety of plants, trees and animals, the park is rich in unique heritage including the 170-year-old world-famous Dinosaurs, sphinxes and Italian Terraces, as well as a younger, but not less unique, architect-designed outdoor concert venue. Today, about one million people visit the park every year; to relax and meet friends and family, take part in sports and physical exercise, enjoy world class acts during summer festivals or simply have a moment of peace and enjoyment of nature – www.crystalpalacepark.org.uk

About Parks for London

Parks for London is a pan-London infrastructure organisation that represents those who own, manage, and maintain London’s parks and green spaces. We work closely with the London boroughs, major landowners, and those from independent park trusts, grounds maintenance contractors, conservation organisations, charities, NHS Foundation Trusts, housing associations, and others. We work collaboratively to create a connected and valued green space sector which delivers quality, resilient, accessible, and inclusive green spaces for people and the environment. 

ENDS 

*  Intimate talk and Q&A at Barbican Music Library to be held next to ‘1996’ exhibition curated by Dominic Mohan

*  ‘OASIS AT KNEBWORTH – 30 YEARS ON’ will offer “three differing perspectives on the biggest concerts held on British soil” and discuss rumours about the band’s return to Knebworth, says event host Dominic Mohan

A showbiz journalist who followed the meteoric rise of Oasis, the photographer behind some of the band's most iconic images, and the publicist who helped shape its public profile will share their memories at Barbican Music Library next month.

The Sun’s former editor and ‘Bizarre’ columnist, Dominic Mohan; the band’s former head of press, Johnny Hopkins, and acclaimed photographer, Jill Furmanovsky, will take part in ‘OASIS AT KNEBWORTH – 30 YEARS ON’, to look back at the story of one of Britain's most influential rock groups, and how they played their part in it.

Held in the run-up to this landmark anniversary of the band’s legendary concerts, the exclusive talk and Q&A will take place on 5 August (7-9pm), next to the music library’s exhibition, ‘1996: A celebration of the wildest year of Britain’s wildest decade - 30 years on’, which has been curated by Dominic Mohan. 

Tickets for ‘OASIS AT KNEBWORTH – 30 YEARS ON’ cost £15 and include refreshments sponsored by Wonderwall Session Lager – available from Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oasis-at-knebworth-30-years-on-tickets-1993823436571?aff=oddtdtcreator

Exhibition curator and event host, Dominic Mohan, said:

“Jill was on the stage, Johnny was backstage, and I was in the Knebworth audience, so we have three differing perspectives on the biggest concerts held on British soil. Thirty years later, we will discuss the enduring legacy of the shows and of the band itself, with rumours that they will return to the hallowed turf next summer.”

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, Brendan Barns, said:

“Dominic wrote the headlines, Johnny ensured that Oasis made headlines, and Jill’s evocative photography captured the magic and mayhem of the band on-stage, in the wings, and at recording studios. Between the three of them, they will have some incredible stories to tell in this intimate event on how Oasis shot to fame, rocked over 250,000 fans at Knebworth and 30 years on, continue to electrify fans at sold-out concerts around the world.”

Barbican Music Library supports Destination City, the City of London Corporation’s growth strategy for the Square Mile, and forms part of the City of London’s wider arts and cultural offer.

The City of London Corporation is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK, and invests over £145m every year.

It manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Library, The London Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra, and London Museum, which will open on 28 November.  

ENDS

“We look forward to working with the new Prime Minister and his Government to create good growth in every postcode.

“As a partner to successive governments, the City of London Corporation will continue to champion the UK’s world-leading financial and professional services sector, which supports 2.5m jobs across the UK; two thirds of them outside London.

“Backed by a stable business environment geared for innovation and investment, we will do our utmost to ensure growth generated in the City of London reaches all corners of the UK.”

ENDS

Note to Editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 

 https://www.investconnect.com/

Wholesale Digital Markets Champion 

 Reacting to the news, City of London Police Authority Board Chair Tijs Broeke said:

 “This ranking recognises the exceptional service provided by City Police, whose work helps protect the UK's economic and financial interests while ensuring the Square Mile remains one of the world’s safest business districts, with its security providing the foundation for investment and confidence.

“City Police is a model that works, combining local accountability with national specialist capabilities, ensuring the Square Mile remains a place where people want to live, work, visit, and invest.

“As the Government considers the future shape of policing, this assessment reinforces the value of our dedicated police service for the City which delivers outstanding performance, specialist expertise and economic value, supporting the competitiveness and investability of the Square Mile and wider UK economic growth.”

New figures show Islington Collegiate Sixth Form, sponsored by the City of London Corporation, ranks eighth out of 4,354 schools in England, making it the third highest performing state school in the country, well above prestigious fee-paying schools such as Eton and Harrow.

 Despite serving a community where almost 60% of pupils are eligible for free school meals – more than double the national average – those from disadvantaged backgrounds achieved exceptional results, outperforming their peers nationally.

 The results are backed up by impressive university offers, with 42 out of 43 students receiving at least one offer from prestigious Russell Group institutions. Almost 60% of students who interviewed for Oxbridge have received an offer so far, with three students being offered full bursaries for their university education due to academic excellence.

 The City of London Corporation sponsors 12 high-performing academies across Hackney, Islington, Newham, Lambeth and Southwark through the City of London Academies Trust.

 They form part of the City Corporation’s family of schools, which also include one state primary school in the Square Mile and three independent schools.

 City of London Academy Highgate Hill principal Prince Gennuh said:

 “These results are a testament to the dedication, resilience and ambition of our students, and the unwavering support of our staff and families. We are incredibly proud of what they have achieved.

 “These successes reflect more than academic outcomes. Our students support one another, contribute to school life, and take up the opportunities available to them, helping to create a culture where everyone can thrive.

 “Our sixth form is a welcoming and ambitious community, and these results show what is possible when young people are challenged, encouraged and supported. We congratulate them and wish them continued success in their next stage.”

 The new Department for Education A level progress figures show students at the sixth form make substantially more academic progress than their peers nationally, compared with students across England who achieved similar GCSE results.

 Meanwhile, the Department for Education performance tables showed City of London Academies Trust is ranked first nationally for A level points score for disadvantaged pupils.

City of London Academy Trust Chair Steve Goodman said:

 “Everyone at Highgate Hill can be justifiably proud of these results, which are testament to the high ambitions and the high quality teaching the school delivers for all its students.

 “The results for disadvantaged students are even more remarkable, demonstrating that background is no barrier to students achieving success in their career and in life generally.

“The high A-level performance across our academies is proof of our commitment to operating in areas of need, uplifting and empowering young people across London.”

Highgate Hill sixth form has an A-level progress score of +0.77, or +0.88 among disadvantaged students, with 0 representing the average progress made. A score of +1.0 means students progress on average by a full grade more than their peers nationally.

The full set of figures can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/yeyvfzty

The City of London Corporation's adult social care services have been rated Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The assessment found that residents in the Square Mile generally had positive experiences of adult social care services. People reported feeling listened to, involved in decisions about their care, and supported when they needed help – describing how staff act quickly to arrange care that reflected their cultural preferences.

Inspectors highlighted the City Corporation's strong focus on helping people stay independent, effective partnership working, and the organisation's commitment to learning and continuous improvement.

The report also recognised services that help residents regain confidence and independence after illness or a stay in hospital.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Community and Children's Services Committee Helen Fentimen said:

“Everyone should be able to live an independent, healthy and fulfilling life for as long as possible, and this report recognises the work we’re doing to help City residents do just that.

"It is also a tribute to the dedication of our staff, providers, and partners, who work tirelessly to deliver high-quality care and support for people across the Square Mile.

“While the report identifies opportunities for us to build on and strengthen our services further, what shines through most clearly is the difference our support makes to people's everyday lives. 

“That is something we are incredibly proud of, and we remain committed to building on these strengths and delivering even better outcomes for residents in the years ahead.”

The assessment is available to view on the CQC’s website. 

ENDS

Notes to editors

About the City of London Corporation: 

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care services in England. Its purpose is to work together with the public, systems and providers of care to protect people, and to promote and improve the quality of care – www.cqc.org.uk.

Adrian Dunbar, best known for playing Superintendent Ted Hastings in the hugely popular BBC-1 drama series, Line of Duty, has received the Freedom of the City of London today, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to drama and his support for emerging acting talent.

The Enniskillen-born actor, director, and singer was nominated by Emily Benn, Chair of the City Corporation’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and former Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman Sir William Russell.

A graduate of Guildhall School’s Class of 1983, Adrian received the Fellowship of Guildhall School – the institution’s highest accolade – in 2024.

His television and film credits include Line of Duty, Ridley, Ashes to Ashes, Broken, The Hollow Crown, The Crying Game, Richard III, My Left Foot, Cracker, Shooters, A Touch of Frost, and Silent Witness.

Adrian co-wrote and starred in the 1991 film, Hear My Song, which was nominated for a Best Original Screenplay BAFTA Award, and in 2018, he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor BAFTA Award for Line of Duty.

In 2024, he made his musical theatre debut, playing Fred Graham / Petruchio in the widely acclaimed production of Kiss Me, Kate at the Barbican Theatre.

Speaking after his Freedom ceremony, Adrian Dunbar, said:

"Having arrived in the City of London to take up my course in Drama at Guildhall School in 1980, to then work with the RSC at the Barbican and recently, in Kiss Me, Kate, and with Guildhall Alumni, to round off this journey nearly 50 years later with the Freedom of the City of London is truly special.

“I cannot thank everyone enough for making this singular honour happen."

Guildhall School of Music & Drama is supported by the City of London Corporation as part of its contribution to the cultural life of London and the nation. The City Corporation, which is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £145m every year, manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall Library, Guildhall Art Gallery, The London Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and London Museum.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:

“One of our most popular and respected actors, Adrian Dunbar is a worthy recipient of the Freedom of the City of London and I offer him my congratulations and warmest wishes.

“I hope that he and his guests will have happy memories of the Freedom ceremony, which is both unique and historic, for many years to come.”

Professor Jonathan Vaughan, Principal, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, said:

"We are delighted that Adrian Dunbar is receiving the Freedom of the City of London - a much-deserved honour for an artist who honed his craft right here in the Square Mile.

“As an alumnus of Guildhall School, we are very proud of Adrian's many successes across stage and screen, and grateful that he has chosen to give back to the School in myriad ways.

“Be it performing with our alumni in the Guildhall Session Orchestra, sharing his experience with our current Acting students, or supporting the next generation of emerging talent through the Adrian Dunbar and Neil Morrissey Scholarships, Adrian is creating opportunities for future Guildhall creatives to follow in his footsteps."

Chair of Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Emily Benn, said:

“Adrian Dunbar is a Guildhall School great: one of the defining actors of his generation, thrilling us with unforgettable performances.

“All of us at Guildhall School are hugely proud of everything that Adrian has achieved since he graduated, and we are also very grateful for his ongoing support of the School and our students, helping the next generation of Guildhall talent to go on to thrive on stages and screens around the world." 

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade.

As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement. 

Recent notable recipients include choreographer and theatre director, Dame Arlene Phillips; City of London Police Commander Umer Khan; two-time Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian, Cate Blanchett; TV and radio presenter and cancer charity ambassador, Gloria Hunniford; and novelist, Ken Follett.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

For further information, please contact Andrew Buckingham, Media Officer (Arts, Culture, Heritage, Sport), City of London Corporation / 07795 333060 / andrew.buckingham@cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

News Release  

City of London Corporation  

 14 July 2026    

New investor-led and AI-enabled platform to connect UK infrastructure projects with $3 trillion of global capital   

• New investor-led and AI-enabled platform will connect major professional investors with curated UK infrastructure and property investment opportunities
• Three nations and regions have already signed up as founding Opportunity Partners
• Investors representing over $3 trillion of assets under management from across North America, Gulf, Asia and Australia will participate in InvestConnect, with work ongoing to secure more by its planned launch in Autumn 2026 

The UK’s nations and regions will be connected to trillions of pounds of global capital through a new AI-enabled platform designed to accelerate investment into UK infrastructure projects. 

Speaking at the Chancellor’s annual Mansion House dinner on Tuesday 14 July, the Lady Mayor will announce plans for InvestConnect, a new digital investor-led platform being developed by InvestConnect Global Limited in partnership with the City of London Corporation.  

InvestConnect will address a long-recognised challenge in the UK's investment ecosystem: while global appetite to invest in the UK remains strong, investment opportunities are often fragmented, inconsistently presented and difficult for investors to access and compare. 

Developed in close consultation with professional investors, government partners and the UK's nations and regions, InvestConnect will provide a trusted, AI-enabled platform to help package opportunities, standardise information and connect global capital with credible UK investment opportunities more efficiently. 

Complementing existing public and private sector investment initiatives, InvestConnect aims to help convert investor interest into deployed capital and completed transactions. Expected to launch in Autumn 2026, the platform will initially focus on large-scale infrastructure and real asset opportunities, typically representing transactions of £100 million or more. 

In her speech, the Lady Mayor will confirm that professional investors representing more than $3 trillion of assets under management across North America, Europe, the Gulf and Asia-Pacific are already engaged in the platform's development. 

The Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley, said: 

"The UK's challenge is not a shortage of capital or a lack of investable projects. It is connecting that capital with opportunities in every corner of the country. InvestConnect will help bridge that gap, unlocking the investment needed to drive growth and support regional development. 

"Capital comes where it feels welcome and stays where it can grow with confidence. The UK has the innovation, talent, and ambition to help solve the defining challenges facing the global economy, from the clean energy transition to harnessing the potential of emerging technologies. InvestConnect is about bringing global investors to the table, giving that capital a place to thrive and helping deliver growth in communities across the UK. 

Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward said:  

"Global investors are looking for high-quality, long-term investment opportunities, and every part of the UK has ambitious projects with the potential to drive growth, create jobs and strengthen local communities. 

“This is where InvestConnect will be game changing, the City provides the finance, the regions provide innovation, expertise and industrial capability, and together they create the conditions for good growth across the whole country.” 

Founder of InvestConnect, Daniel Cannizzaro said: 

"Global growth is constrained when the right capital cannot find the right opportunity. The UK offers some of the most compelling long-term investment opportunities in the world, yet they remain fragmented, inconsistently presented, and slow and costly to assess. InvestConnect is built to change that – an investor-led and AI-enabled information and discovery platform giving institutional investors a single, trusted place to discover curated, investment opportunities from across the UK's nations and regions, presented to a consistent standard. Our ambition is straightforward: make it easier for global capital and opportunity to find each other, in the UK and beyond." 

Cornwall Council, the Scottish Government and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority have become the platform's first Founding Opportunity Partners, demonstrating a shared commitment to pioneering a new approach to attracting investment into opportunities across the UK. 

As Founding Opportunity Partners they will play a leading role in shaping the development of the platform and initial investment pipeline, helping ensure that investment opportunities are presented in a way that aligns with investor requirements and supports more efficient capital deployment. Their early commitment reflects the strong appetite from the UK's nations and regions to work together to create a more connected and internationally competitive investment ecosystem. 

The City of London Corporation is continuing to work closely with partners across the UK's nations and regions to expand participation ahead of launch. 

InvestConnect is planned to formally launch in Autumn 2026.  

Councillor Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for Economic Regeneration and Investment, said:  

"InvestConnect represents a fantastic opportunity to put Cornwall's unique investment opportunities in front of a global network of investors.  As a founding partner, we look forward to working to develop this innovative new approach in the months and years to come." 

Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, Stephen Flynn, said: 

“As a founding partner, the Scottish Government looks forward to InvestConnect being an opportunity to build on our partnership agreement with the City of London Corporation and also work with other partners to unlock the potential of the platform. 

“With globally-renowned talent, expertise and innovation running throughout our businesses and key sectors, Scotland offers a phenomenal investment proposition and InvestConnect offers an excellent opportunity to showcase this proposition to a significant global audience.” 

Tim Games, Executive Director Investment and Delivery at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:  

“The Liverpool City Region is a place built on entrepreneurship, innovation and trade - that's never been content to stand still.  

“We have a shared vision, a masterplan to supercharge our economy, and £11billion of investment opportunities that, through our partnership with InvestConnect, we look forward to showcasing to investors across the world.   

“We’re building a great place to grow a business, grow a family and create a long-term legacy - and we’re looking for partners to help shape that future.” 

Disclaimer 

InvestConnect is a planned information platform to be operated by InvestConnect Global Limited. The platform is proposed to launch in Autumn 2026. InvestConnect is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. InvestConnect is directed at persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments and access is restricted to such verified investment professionals representing institutional investors only. Persons who do not have professional experience in matters relating to investments should not rely on anything provided via InvestConnect. 

Notes to editors  

1. InvestConnect is being developed by InvestConnect Global Limited in partnership with the City of London Corporation. 

2. InvestConnect is a digital, investor-led execution platform designed to connect professional investors with investment opportunities across the UK. 

3. The platform uses AI-enabled tools to support opportunity packaging, standardisation and investor matching. 

4. The initial focus of the platform will be on infrastructure and real asset investment opportunities with transaction sizes typically exceeding £100 million. 

5. InvestConnect is being developed through engagement with professional investors, government partners and the UK's nations and regions. 

• Chris Woolard CBE, HM Treasury’s Wholesale Digital Markets Champion, supported by City of London Corporation, delivers inaugural sector report to the Chancellor and convenes 54 UK businesses to deliver programme of work
• Report sets out key actions for industry, supported by government and the UK regulators, to tokenise UK financial markets at scale – including building secondary markets, tokenising collateral and building on the issuance of DIGIT, the UK Digital Gilt instrument
• Tokenisation could add hundreds of billions of pounds of economic value to the UK economy by 2035

The UK’s Wholesale Digital Markets Champion, Chris Woolard, has today (13 July) published his inaugural report (09:00 13 July) to the Chancellor, setting out how the UK could accelerate the adoption of tokenisation and related technologies across wholesale financial markets – and generate significant economic growth for UK Plc.

Wholesale financial markets are a fundamental driver of economic growth, directly supporting jobs and financing activity in the wider economy. Tokenising wholesale markets will boost the UK’s competitiveness, generating additional liquidity and revenues, securing cost and capital efficiencies, enabling innovation, and strengthening the resilience of the financial system.

The UK has already made strong progress through a series of pilots and small-scale commercial trials, but given international competition, accelerated pace is needed to secure its leading role in shaping the next generation of global market infrastructure.

Estimates put the tokenised real-world assets market at $88 trillion by 2035. The scale of the market – combined with other benefits of tokenisation – could result in a sizeable economic benefit for the UK. Up to £33 billion could be added to the UK’s annual economic output and £14 billion in annual tax revenues by 2035.

Wholesale Digital Markets Champion, Chris Woolard said:

“As one of the world’s largest and most international financial services markets, the UK is uniquely placed to become the global leader in wholesale market tokenisation. There is so much potential, technologically and economically, if the right actions are taken and decisions are made now to embrace and support tokenisation.”

Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward said:

“The UK has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead a digital Big Bang in financial services.

“By accelerating the adoption of tokenisation across our wholesale markets, we can build the market infrastructure of the future, set global standards, and reinforce UK’s position as the world's leading international financial centre.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said:
“The UK is already a world leader in global finance and keeping that top spot means harnessing technologies like tokenisation. It will make our markets even more competitive, attract investment to the economy, and drive growth across the UK.”

The UK is well placed to remain at the forefront of global financial markets, championing trusted legal and regulatory frameworks, globally significant financial markets intermediaries and a strong innovation ecosystem. To enable the adoption of tokenisation at scale, pace, clear regulatory, legal and tax frameworks, conditions for interoperability (domestically and internationally) – all in a joined-up national vision – are a must.

The report sets out a framework for practical action led by industry, in coordination with government and regulators, to move from experimentation to scalable live markets. It sets out clear priorities and actions, identified through extensive industry engagement. These include primary issuance (including DIGIT), tokenised collateral, tokenised funds, payment rails for digital markets, legal and regulatory certainty, interoperability standards, financial crime compliance, tax neutrality and resilience.

Over the next 12 months, the members of the cross-industry taskforce – currently consisting of 54 firms – will be working with the Wholesale Digital Markets Champion. They will be supported by the City of London Corporation, working closely with industry partners: TheCityUK, the Investment Association, UK Finance, Innovate Finance. The taskforce will drive delivery of live end-to-end use cases, focusing initially on tokenised repo. Nine Action Groups will be set up to deliver on priority areas across the market value chain and develop cross-cutting best practice standards.

The firms supporting the work of the Digital Markets Champion and the City Corporation are:

• Ava Labs
• Aviva Investors
• Baillie Gifford
• Barclays
• BlackRock
• Bloomberg
• BNP Paribas
• BPX
• Calastone
• Cboe Global Markets
• Chainalysis
• Circle
• Citadel Securities
• Citi
• ClearBank
• Clearstream
• ClearToken
• Coinbase
• Ctrl Alt
• Deutsche Bank
• Digital Asset / Canton
• DTCC
• Euroclear UK & International (CREST)
• Fidelity International
• Fireblocks
• Fnality
• GFO-X
• Goldman Sachs
• HSBC
• Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)
• Invesco
• Jane Street
• J.P. Morgan
• Kinexys by J.P. Morgan
• Kraken (Payward)
• Legal & General Asset Management
• Lloyds Banking Group
• LME Clear
• LSEG and LCH
• Mobius
• Montis Digital
• Morgan Stanley
• Northern Trust
• Optiver
• Ripple
• Schroders
• SLIX
• Standard Chartered
• State Street
• Tokenovate
• Tradeweb
• UBS
• Ubyx
• Wintermute

A project to install 94 solar panels and other low-carbon heating systems is now complete at Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) – the UK’s only facility capable of receiving any animal entering the country.

Managed by the City of London Corporation, HARC protects the UK’s biosecurity by carrying out health and welfare checks on all animals entering the UK via Heathrow Airport, from pets and farm livestock to zoo species and exotic consignments.

The centre plays a vital role in preventing the spread of diseases such as rabies while ensuring animals meet strict welfare standards upon entering the country.

The clean energy upgrade also includes a number of low-carbon heat pumps, helping to replace outdated systems and provide more consistent, energy-efficient temperature control across the specialist facility.

The upgrade also reduces the facility’s reliance on the National Grid, strengthening its energy resilience and long-term operational reliability.

The investment forms part of the City Corporation’s own Climate Action Strategy, which commits the organisation to becoming net zero in its own operations by 2027.

The new solar panels will generate clean electricity on site, helping to power low‑carbon heating and hot water systems, energy‑efficient lighting and upgraded ventilation. 

Together, these improvements will cut the site's carbon emissions by nearly 56 tonnes a year – equivalent to powering roughly 21 average-sized homes – and save more than £44,500 annually in energy costs.

Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:

“Our Climate Action Strategy is delivering real results right across London. Even in some of our most complex environments, we’ve shown that no site is too challenging – cutting carbon while protecting critical national infrastructure.

“By continuing to invest in HARC, we’re ensuring it is ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead at Heathrow, strengthening the long-term resilience and security of this vital national asset.”

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Port Health and Environmental Services Committee, Peter Dunphy MBE, added:

“HARC is one of the UK’s most critical border facilities, operating at the front line of biosecurity.

“Delivering this upgrade without interrupting our 24/7 operation is a major achievement and underlines our commitment to sustainability alongside resilience.

“It also supports the high standards of care we provide, helping us maintain the controlled environments animals rely on when they arrive in the UK.”

Operating around the clock, HARC relies on stable, carefully controlled conditions to protect animal welfare and support the UK’s biosecurity. The entire upgrade has been delivered without disrupting this essential service.

HARC is the UK’s only Live Animal Border Control Post designated for all species. It enforces UK and international regulations on animal imports and works with airlines to ensure compliance with welfare standards.

Located on the perimeter of Heathrow Airport, the facility is IATA CEIV Live Animals certified and cares for millions of animals annually, including zoo species and high-value consignments. This includes thousands of pets, hundreds of horses, and millions of fish, reptiles and invertebrates every year.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

·       Document dating from 1067 has never previously been loaned to an exhibition

·       William Charter’s addition to Museum’s landmark exhibition aims to help put the tapestry into a broader context of medieval England

One is nearly 230 feet long, the other, just six inches – both of them, unique, hugely valuable, and of immense historical significance in their own right.

And for the first time ever, they will be viewed together at the British Museum later this year.

The William Charter - the oldest document held in the City of London Corporation’s extensive archives and never previously loaned to an exhibition - will be on display at The Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum, which opens in September.

Stored at the City of London Corporation-owned The London Archives, the Charter was given to the City of London by King William I in 1067, shortly after the Battle of Hastings, but before he entered the City. Measuring just six inches by one-and-a-half inches, it was written on vellum (parchment) in Old English.

The Charter bears one of the earliest surviving seals from William the Conqueror’s reign and is the earliest known royal or imperial document to guarantee the collective rights of the inhabitants of any town, granting nothing new to Londoners, but confirming the citizens' rights and privileges, which were already in existence.

Translated into modern English, the Charter reads:

“William King greets William the Bishop and Geoffrey the Portreeve and all the citizens in London, French and English, in friendly fashion; and I inform you that it is my will that your laws and customs be preserved as they were in King Edward’s day; that every son shall be his father’s heir after his father’s death; and that I will not that any man do wrong to you. God yield you.”

Alongside the Charter will be a small display of items from the Museum’s collections and loans, including an illustrated manuscript from The Bodleian Libraries at the University of Oxford and the Chew Valley hoard of silver pennies of Harold II and William I.

Chair of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee, Brendan Barns, said:

“What this remarkable, 969-year-old document lacks in size, it more than makes up for in its historical significance and importance to the history of the City of London Corporation and more widely, to our understanding of life and being ruled in 11^th-century England.

“Taking its place within a small and exclusive list of items, the William Charter’s inclusion in this landmark exhibition will help provide a compelling parallel with the Bayeux Tapestry.”

The Bayeux Tapestry opens at the British Museum on 10 September and is being hailed as its return to England for the first time since it was created nearly 1,000 years ago.

The City of London Corporation, which owns The London Archives, is one of the largest funders of heritage and cultural activities in the UK and invests over £145m every year. The organisation manages a range of world-class cultural and heritage institutions, including the Barbican Centre, Tower Bridge, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Guildhall Library, Guildhall Art Gallery, The London Archives, and Keats House. It also supports the London Symphony Orchestra and London Museum, which will open on 28 November.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

About The London Archives (TLA):

The London Archives (TLA), which is funded and managed by the City of London Corporation, focuses on the history of London. The documents and books that TLA cares for, and provides access to, date from 1067 to the present day and collections are constantly expanding. The archives are free to use and many of our exhibitions and events are free to attend.

The London Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London, EC1R 0HB The London Archives | London Archives

The London Archives is open to visitors at the following times:

• Monday - 10am to 4.30pm
• Tuesday - 10am to 6pm
• Wednesday - 10am to 7pm
• Thursday - 10am to 4.30pm

The London Archives is open one Saturday every month from 10.00am to 4.30pm – they are 11 July, 8 August, 12 September, 10 October, 7 November, and 12 December.

Closed on Bank Holidays – please check Opening Times | London Archives for full details.

The Lady Mayor, Dame Susan Langley, will reaffirm the City of London Corporation’s commitment to the rule of law and highlight the importance of judicial institutions at the annual His Majesty’s Judges Dinner.  

Speaking to senior members of the judiciary, government ministers and City leaders, the Lady Mayor will tonight highlight the fundamental role of the rule of law in supporting economic growth, international trade and the UK’s global reputation. 

She will emphasise that trust in institutions remains one of the country’s greatest assets, noting English law continues to be relied upon around the world. Today, two in every five cross-border business and financial transactions use English law, reflecting the confidence that businesses place in the UK’s legal framework — one of the key strengths championed in the Team UK campaign.

The Lady Mayor will tell guests: 

“The United Kingdom possesses something that cannot be built overnight and cannot easily be replicated: an independent judiciary, a world-renowned legal profession, trusted institutions and an enduring commitment that justice is administered according to law, not according to power.   

“That reputation is recognised across the world - on my international visits as Lady Mayor, I am reminded time and again that our legal system is one of Britain’s most admired strengths.” 

The Lady Mayor will highlight the City Corporation’s continued investment in legal infrastructure, including the £600 million Salisbury Square development. The new complex will bring together the Square Mile’s civil and magistrates’ courts in a purpose-built facility featuring 18 courtrooms dedicated to economic and cyber-crime. The development will also include a new headquarters for the City of London Police, alongside public realm improvements and commercial office space. 

In her speech, the Lady Mayor will say: 

"Situated between the Old Bailey, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Inns of Court, it will strengthen what is already one of the world’s great centres of legal excellence - a true Law Mile.  

“At a time when the future structure of policing is being considered nationally, businesses in the Square Mile consistently tell us how much they value the specialist expertise of the City of London Police. Their work helps protect not only the City, but the wider UK economy on which jobs, investment and public services depend.

“The City’s investment is not simply in buildings, but in Britain’s future.” 

The Lady Mayor will also reaffirm the City Corporation’s commitment to championing the UK’s legal sector internationally through its wider work promoting London as a global legal and business centre.

The Lady Mayor will speak alongside the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, David Lammy MP, and the Lady Chief Justice, The Right Honourable the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill. 

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. 
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk 

Following the publication of Securing growth: the digital verification opportunity in March 2025 in partnership with EY, the City of London Corporation has published a new blueprint to transform how identity is verified and shared across the UK economy. Launching at Guildhall on 30 June, the blueprint, developed with oversight from government, regulators (including FCA), global law firm Hogan Lovells, and consultancies EY and Collectively Better, proposes a Digital Verification Orchestrator (DVO) - a secure, consent-based model which could reduce fraud, cut duplication and improve customer experience across financial services. The service connects identity providers (banks, financial institutions and government) with organisations that need to verify identity. Priority uses include opening bank accounts, accessing credit, fraud checks and securely reusing verified identity data across financial services.

Trusted digital verification is essential infrastructure for economic growth, financial security and trust. But the current system is fragmented - making it easier to prevent fraud, reuse data and deliver seamless services. The DVO would limit fraudsters entry points into the financial system.

Under the new model, individuals could verify their identity once and reuse it across services, reducing duplication for both businesses and consumers. Built on DSIT Trust Framework standards, strong governance and clear liability, the system is designed to improve consistency, strengthen security and support wider adoption. It could help cut compliance costs for firms and, ultimately, consumers, speed up processes and improve customer experience.

The blueprint reinforces a major opportunity: minimum £5bn in economic benefits, driven by reduced fraud and improved digital services, including £1.8bn from a secure Digital Verification Service (DVS) and at least £3bn in fraud loss reductions through stronger verification measures. It also points to strong growth potential in the UK’s still-developing digital verification market.

Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said:

“Trusted digital verification is now critical infrastructure for the UK economy. At a time of rising fraud, rapid technological change and increasing geopolitical uncertainty, the need for secure, reliable identity verification has never been greater.

“This blueprint sets out a practical path from concept to implementation - showing how organisations can work together to share verified information safely, build trust and strengthen resilience across financial services.

“The opportunity is significant, but delivering it will require coordinated action from government, regulators and industry. We now need to move from blueprint to delivery to create a safer, faster and more trusted digital future for the UK.

“The next step is delivery. Over the next 9-12 months, the blueprint calls for pilot programmes, industry participation and regulatory alignment to test the model in practice and scale adoption. The blueprint sets out a clear path to a secure, interoperable and privacy-first verification system, with the potential to strengthen trust, reduce fraud and support long-term UK growth.”

Key takeaways

Digital verification as national infrastructure

·       Digital verification is foundational infrastructure, not just a back-office tool.

·       A Digital Verification Orchestrator (DVO) could strengthen economic resilience, security and trust, while enabling data-driven innovation.

·       Opportunity estimated at minimum of £5bn over five years (£1.8bn from a secure Digital Verification Service (DVS) and at least £3bn in fraud loss reductions through stronger verification measures).

·       Supports UK sovereignty by ensuring core verification infrastructure remains a secure, domestic capability.

From policy to practical delivery

·       Blueprint provides a clear, implementation-ready model aligned to the UK Government’s Trust Framework.

·       Defines roles, standards and priority use cases, such as onboarding, fraud prevention and data reuse.

·       Builds on existing market capability and infrastructure.

From design to implementation

·       Calls for coordinated action across government, regulators and industry.

·       Focus now on live pilots, firm commitment and resolving liability frameworks.

·       A successful rollout would strengthen economic security, resilience and data sovereignty.

Chair of the Digital Verification Orchestrator Initiative, Ezechi Britton MBE, said: 

“The Digital Verification Orchestrator is about moving from ambition to delivery. The UK has the policy foundations, market capability and institutional expertise to build a verification system that is secure, interoperable and trusted by consumers and firms alike.

“This blueprint shows how we can reduce duplication, tackle fraud and make verified data easier to reuse safely across financial services. The next step is to test this model in practice through pilots, industry commitment and close collaboration with government and regulators.”

Vice-Chair of the Digital Verification Orchestrator Initiative, Alderman Sushil Saluja, said: 

“Trusted digital verification is now a strategic capability for the UK economy. A well-governed, consent-based model can strengthen resilience, improve customer journeys and help ensure that critical verification infrastructure supports UK security and sovereignty.

“The City is uniquely placed to bring together financial services, technology firms, regulators and government around this agenda. This blueprint provides a practical route to making digital verification work at scale for the benefit of all citizens in the UK”

Sir Ron Kalifa, Vice-Chair, Brookfield and Author of Kalifa Review of UK FinTech said: 

“Trust is becoming the UK's next critical infrastructure. As AI accelerates and fraud becomes more sophisticated, secure digital verification will be as important to the digital economy as transport networks and energy systems are to the physical economy. If we get this right, the UK can reduce fraud, unlock innovation, attract investment and reinforce its position as one of the world's leading financial centres. This blueprint provides a practical roadmap for turning that ambition into reality.”

Jana Mackintosh, MD, UK Finance, said: 

“Digital verification services have an important role to play in driving growth and innovation, and we welcome the City of London Corporation’s work to provide a clear, practical blueprint that supports consistency as pilots are rolled out. We are pleased to be supporting our members in developing a live, financial services-led pilot in partnership with Select ID.”

Ivan Heard, Partner, EY said:

“Digital verification is fast becoming an essential capability as consumers increasingly engage in digital-first ways. The blueprint creates a strong foundation for industry, government, and regulators to collaboratively build a digital infrastructure that is market-leading in its operability and governance, and has the potential to drive digital growth for UK Plc.”

John Salmon, Partner, Hogan Lovells, said:

“Digital verification will only succeed at scale if it is underpinned by clear governance, robust legal frameworks and confidence in how liability is managed. This blueprint is an important step in setting out how those foundations can support a trusted, consent-based model for financial services.

“By next confirming the liability boundary, the Digital Verification Orchestrator can help firms share verified information safely, reduce fraud and improve customer outcomes while maintaining trust in the system.”

Janine Hirt, CEO, Innovate Finance, said:

“Digital verification is a vital enabler of FinTech innovation. By reducing friction, improving trust and making verified data easier to use safely, the UK can unlock new services that are faster, more inclusive and more secure.

“The blueprint reflects the kind of public-private collaboration that has made the UK a world leading FinTech centre. Moving into pilots will be critical to proving the model, building confidence and ensuring the benefits are felt across the ecosystem.”

Anna Wallace, CEO, CFIT, said:

"Trusted digital verification is a critical enabler of the UK's digital economy. Through CFIT's work on Corporate Digital Verification, we've seen how reusable digital identity has the potential to simplify how directors and businesses are verified, reducing friction while strengthening trust across financial services and supporting wider efforts to streamline how SMEs interact with government.

“The Digital Verification Orchestrator has the potential to become an important piece of national digital infrastructure. Beyond supporting business verification, it could enable new models of financial inclusion, including helping verify trusted third parties supporting vulnerable customers, as well as underpinning future innovation across financial services. Realising that potential will depend on practical delivery, clear governance and liability frameworks, and broad collaboration across industry and government."

Read the full report here

Notes to editors 

About the City of London Corporation: 

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. 

www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, said:

"Andy Burnham is right to recognise London as the world’s greatest city and a vital driver of national prosperity. The capital’s success underpins growth, investment and opportunity across the whole UK, driven by our thriving financial and professional services sector. This sector supports two-thirds of financial and professional services jobs outside London and around 12% of UK tax receipts which pay for vital public services.

“We support giving local leaders the tools to drive growth, improve productivity, and deliver better outcomes for their businesses and communities across the country. We look forward to seeing the details in due course."

The direction concerns the assessment of tall buildings and their impact on the Tower of London World Heritage Site. The Minister has asked for additional hearing sessions, to consider an alternative approach raised during the process, before the Planning Inspectors issue their final report.

The Corporation strongly disagrees with the decision and considers further hearings unnecessary.

This issue was examined in detail during the formal examination hearings, held over a year ago, and the Corporation sees no need to reopen a question that was scrutinised in full at that time.

City Plan is complete and ready for adoption, subject to the Main Modifications consulted on earlier this year, and is vital to supporting economic growth, investment and jobs, in the most highly productive part of the UK. This latest intervention will create a delay in the adoption of the Plan, although the extent of that delay is unclear. 

The Minister's letter stressed that this is a targeted and technical request relating to a single aspect of the Plan. It does not call into question the overall soundness of the Plan and is considered a robust and deliverable strategy for the future of the Square Mile. The Corporation shares that view of the Plan's soundness, which makes the delay harder to understand.

The intervention will delay adoption of the Plan, with the prolonged uncertainty to impact the decision making of developers and investors, putting at risk growth, investment and the jobs that depend on them. City Plan 2040 will also move the Square Mile to a ‘retrofit-first’ approach for development, which is critical for climate action.

Planning activity in the City reached a record high in 2025, with the highest number of planning applications received in a decade and more than 500,000 square metres of office floorspace granted permission, equivalent to more than seven ‘Gherkin’-sized buildings.

Around half of that floorspace is already under construction. Major schemes including 1 Undershaft, 60 and 85 Gracechurch Street are progressing, reflecting continued confidence in the Square Mile.

The Corporation will continue to approve and deliver major development against the City Plan 2040 target of at least 1.2 million square metres of net additional office floorspace over the plan period, anticipating that it will need to accommodate around 192,000 additional jobs by 2050, with historically low vacancy rates in its existing Grade A office space.

The Corporation also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting and enhancing the City’s historic environment, as set out in City Plan, by adopting it as soon as possible.

Chairman of the City of London Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee, Tom Sleigh, said:

“This is unnecessary and anti-growth. The issue was examined in full more than a year ago. The Inspectors heard it, and the Government's own letter does not call into question the soundness of the Plan. To send a complete, ready-to-adopt plan back for more hearings on a settled point is the wrong call, and the cost will be missed economic growth. It beggars belief.

“City Plan 2040 is the framework investors and businesses commit to. Every month of delay is a month that certainty is missing, and schemes that were ready to proceed, with the investment behind them, are put at risk. London and the UK need this Plan adopted. This was avoidable, it is wrong, and it should be put right quickly."

The City of London Corporation is urging Londoners to enjoy the capital's green spaces responsibly during hot weather, following a series of incidents involving unlawful swimming and anti-social behaviour. 

The organisation manages more than 11,000 acres of open space across London and southeast England and is calling on its nearly 50 million annual visitors to help safeguard these nationally important sites by disposing of litter responsibly, never lighting fires or barbecues, respecting wildlife, and following local rules.

The City Corporation's green spaces include internationally important habitats such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves. Together, they are home to around 58,000 ancient trees and support some of the country's most important wildlife habitats.

The sites also provide a wide range of recreational and sporting facilities, from the ancient woodlands and walking trails of Epping Forest to Hampstead Heath's world-famous Bathing Ponds and Lido. 

The City Corporation’s portfolio also includes Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire, Ashtead Common in Surrey, West Ham Park in Newham, several Commons across south London, and more than 180 parks, gardens, and green spaces within the Square Mile itself. 

The appeal comes after a series of incidents at Hampstead Heath where people were seen unlawfully swimming in the Model Boating Pond – disturbing nesting birds and putting themselves in danger – as well as a separate incident of verbal and physical abuse towards staff and visitors at the nearby Lido. 

The City Corporation is urging people to only swim in clearly designated, lifeguarded areas, and to stay out of all other water bodies on its sites. 

Entering non-designated bodies of water is extremely dangerous due to risks including cold water shock, hidden hazards, and exposure to blue green algae, which becomes more common in hot weather and can be harmful to people and pets. Visitors are also reminded to behave responsibly and treat staff and each other with respect, while dog owners should keep pets under effective control, particularly around wildlife and water. 

The City Corporation is also warning of the heightened risk of wildfires during hot, dry weather. Fires can start easily from discarded litter such as glass bottles or carelessly dropped cigarettes. Visitors are urged to never light fires or barbecues and to dispose of waste responsibly or take it home if bins are full, helping to protect these sensitive landscapes and the wildlife that depends on them. 

People are also being encouraged to take sensible precautions during hot weather, including staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen, seeking shade during the hottest parts of the day, and looking out for vulnerable friends and family members. 

Chairman of the City of London Corporation's Natural Environment Board, James St John Davis, said: 

"Our green spaces welcome more than 47 million visits every year and are among the country's most important natural assets. 

“We want everyone to enjoy them safely and responsibly this summer and make use of our amazing facilities. Let’s work together to protect these treasured landscapes, the wildlife they support, and the people who care for them." 

Chair of the City of London Corporation's Epping Forest and Commons Committee, Caroline Haines, said: 

"Epping Forest and our Commons are internationally important habitats, and simple actions such as keeping dogs under effective control and taking litter home can make a huge difference. By showing consideration for wildlife and other visitors, everyone can play a part in protecting these special places." 

Chair of the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, and Queen's Park Committee, Alderman Gregory Jones KC, said: 

"Our Lifeguarded Bathing Ponds, Lido, and the wider Heath are enjoyed by millions of people every year. We are asking visitors to follow the rules, respect our staff and fellow visitors, and only swim where it is permitted and properly supervised, so everyone can enjoy the Heath safely." 

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile, dedicated to supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk. 

The City Corporation’s open spaces are patrolled by dedicated constabularies, including the Hampstead Heath Constabulary and Epping Forest Keepers (Constables), who are responsible for enforcing byelaws, protecting wildlife, and ensuring the safety of visitors. 

For more information about the City Corporation’s open spaces and the charities that run them, visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/natural-environment 

 

·       Business, innovation, and public service expertise at the heart of new Sheriff team

·       New Sheriffs to champion rule of law and UK's global competitiveness

Alderman Prem Goyal CBE and Alderman The Hon. Tim Levene have been elected by Common Hall at Guildhall as the Sheriffs of the City of London for 2026–27.

They will take office on 28 September, holding the position for one year and succeeding Alderman Robert Hughes-Penney and Deputy Keith Bottomley.

The office of Sheriff of the City of London, a pre-requisite to becoming Lord Mayor, is one of the oldest in existence and dates to the Middle Ages.

The Sheriffs’ modern-day duties include supporting the Lord Mayor in his or her civic roles and serving as ambassadors for the UK’s financial and professional services industry by promoting Great Britain as a place in which to do business.

In addition to assisting the Lord Mayor, the Sheriffs support His Majesty’s Judges at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) by promoting the importance of the English rule of law to businesses, schools, diplomats, charities, the City Livery, and leading arts figures.

The City of London powers the UK economy, supporting 676,000 workers and 24,000 businesses, generating £109 billion in output, and £1.3 billion in business rates, and a major share of the FPS sectors’ £110 billion annual tax revenue.

Growing up in India, Sheriff-Elect Alderman Prem Goyal CBE graduated with degrees in Engineering from IIT (India) and Clarkson University (New York), before obtaining an MBA from UCLA and completing executive education at Chicago Booth.

Prem holds several board and advisory roles across the financial and business sectors, and currently serves as Chair of Greengage and as a non-executive director at Dolma Impact Fund II and the Federation of Small Businesses. His finance experience includes over 20 years at global investment banks, including Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank in New York, Tokyo, Zurich, and London.

An Alderman of the City of London representing Portsoken Ward since 2017, Prem was awarded a CBE in 2025 for public service.

Sheriff-Elect Alderman Prem Goyal CBE, said:

“It is a tremendous honour to have been elected Sheriff of the City of London.

“The City succeeds because it combines enterprise, opportunity, and global talent. I look forward to serving, and working alongside, the Lord Mayor, and His Majesty’s Judges to champion these strengths, both, at home and internationally.”

Sheriff-Elect Alderman The Hon. Tim Levene has represented the Ward of Bridge and Bridge Without in the City of London since 2022. Educated at the City of London School and the University of Manchester, Tim is an established entrepreneur who helped found and build Crussh and Betfair.

In 2010, he founded Augmentum, taking it public in 2018 as the UK's first listed fintech investment company. In May 2026, Augmentum was acquired by the European private equity firm Verdane. Tim continues to lead Augmentum under Verdane's ownership. Companies backed by Augmentum have created over 10,000 new jobs since 2018.

Tim was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2012. He chaired the Royal Foundation's Digital Board for six years and now sits on the National Gallery's Digital Board.

Sheriff-Elect Alderman The Hon. Tim Levene said:

"The City does two things at once: it embraces what is new and protects what we have. That balance, between innovation and the rule of law, is what I hope to bring to the role.

“I have spent my career founding and backing businesses and as Sheriff, I want to put that experience to work for the City: championing the Square Mile as a global home for financial services in general and for fintech and AI in particular, and opening doors for the next generation of founders. 

“It will be an honour to support His Majesty's Judges at the Old Bailey, and to serve the Lord Mayor and the Livery."

During their year in office, the Sheriffs live and work at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), which is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation and recognised as the most famous criminal court in the world.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes received the accolade ahead of appearing at a star-studded Pride panel event at The Mansion House, official residence of the Lady Mayor of the City of London, where she was guest of honour.

The athlete scaled the heights in her field by winning 800-metre and 1500-metre gold medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, having overcome injuries and struggles with mental health earlier in her career.

In 2022 she said she ‘finally felt free’ after coming out as a gay woman, having hidden her sexuality for decades due to fear, especially while serving in the Army at a time when gay people were banned from serving.

Speaking after receiving the Freedom, Dame Kelly Holmes said:

“I am incredibly honoured to receive this very special recognition. It’s something I feel genuinely proud of, particularly knowing the history and significance behind the Freedom.

“Much of my life has been about finding the confidence to be myself on and off the track. Being able to speak openly about my experiences and connect with others who feel the same has been hugely important.

“It’s a privilege to be part of Pride activity across the City and to see so many people coming together. Days like this are a powerful reminder of why visibility and inclusion, and creating spaces where everyone can belong, really matter.”

Dame Kelly answered questions about her life, career and LGBTQ+ issues at a panel event organised by City of London Corporation City Pride staff network.

The event, supported by bridge owner and charity funder City Bridge Foundation and Amazon, featured guests from the LGBTQ+ community and the world of showbiz, culminating in a performance by Heather Small of her 2000 hit and gay anthem Proud.

Guests included Birds of a Feather actor Linda Robson, Amanda Collier from The Traitors, trans advocate and TV personality Ella Morgan, Dr Ranj Singh, swimmer and presenter Michael Gunning and actors Gabriel Constantin and Lee Knight.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said:

“Dame Kelly Holmes’ achievements as an athlete and her courage in sharing her story make her an inspiring and thoroughly deserving recipient of the Freedom of the City of London. Pride activity like this brings together communities, businesses and civic leadership, and reflects our commitment to making the City a place where everyone feels welcome and able to be themselves.”

Also speaking at the event was Alderman Tim Hailes – one of two elected Members of the City of London Corporation to nominate Dame Kelly for the Freedom – who, subject to election, is in line to become the City’s first openly gay Lord Mayor, taking up office in November.

Alderman Tim Hailes said:

“I’ve long admired Dame Kelly not just for what she achieved on the track, but for the honesty and strength she has shown in telling her story. That combination of resilience, talent and authenticity is incredibly powerful to me, and it felt absolutely right to recognise her in this way at a moment that celebrates the diversity of our City.”

The City Corporation’s Lead Member for Sport and former Pride Trust and LGBT Foundation board member, Edward Lord OBE, who jointly nominated Dame Kelly for her Freedom, said:

“Dame Kelly Holmes stands as an extraordinary role model, both through her sporting achievements and the impact she has had since. Her journey will resonate with so many people and, having known Kelly through both sport and her LGBTQ+ advocacy, I was proud to support her nomination for the Freedom as someone who truly embodies the values of openness, inclusion and belonging.”

The Mansion House event was followed by the now customary Pride flag raising at Guildhall, headquarters of the City Corporation, and was one of a series of activities across the Square Mile during Pride month.

Event listings and details of how to sign up for Pride in the Square Mile, part of the City Belonging Project connecting communities in the City, can be found at https://belongingproject.city/pride

LONDON, 18 JUNE 2026 – The UK Carbon Markets Forum (CMF) today announces the appointment of Mike Zehetmayr, UK Financial Services Partner at EY, as its new Chair. The CMF is a private sector initiative designed to scale global carbon credit markets, supported by the City of London Corporation.  

This appointment marks a new chapter, as the Forum turns its focus to putting climate on the balance sheet, and broadening membership to a wider range of voices from across finance, technology and sustainability. Zehetmayr succeeds Dame Clara Furse, who led the CMF since its founding in 2021. 

Zehetmayr brings over three decades of experience building and scaling financial markets infrastructure, including senior roles at EY and IBM. Within his current role at EY, he led EY’s advisory work on the Great British Tokenised Deposits project, a pilot bringing together six of the UK’s largest banks to develop next-generation tokenised payment infrastructure. He also serves as a Board Trustee of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. 

Mike Zehetmayr, Chair of the UK Carbon Markets Forum, said: “Carbon markets exist because the global climate problem is real and urgent, and altruism alone will not scale solutions. The City of London has the infrastructure, and the CMF has the legal frameworks, the trading mechanisms, and the data and assurance capabilities. It’s now time to accelerate decisions and act on them. It’s a privilege to build on the platform Dame Clara Furse established, and lead the Forum through this next chapter.” 

A recent report by the CMF found that the UK carbon credit economy already generates £1.2bn annually, and the global market for carbon credits is projected to grow up to 190 times its current value by 2050. 

Over the next 12 months, the CMF will focus on turning its ambitions into practical action to support the growth of global carbon markets. It will work closely with Government and international partners to help shape emerging policy frameworks, while advancing solutions to strengthen market infrastructure and enable greater cross-border activity.  

Alongside this, the CMF will seek to build a stronger commercial case for carbon credit use, supported by targeted engagement to broaden participation across corporates and financial institutions. Together, these efforts will support the development of carbon markets that are trusted, efficient and globally competitive. 

Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, said: “The UK is the dominant force in global carbon markets – but this is a nascent sector, and we must provide the solutions if we are to continue to lead.  

Mike’s appointment will be crucial in achieving this. I look forward to working with him driving forward the work of the Forum, as well as thanking Dame Clara for her work over the past five years.”  

Rachel Blake, Economic Secretary to the HM Treasury, said: “Carbon markets have a critical role to play in mobilising finance for the transition to net zero and the UK is uniquely placed to build trust and growth in these markets. 

I welcome Mike Zehetmayr’s appointment as Chair of the UK Carbon Markets Forum at this important moment and the group’s continued focus will be key to accelerating progress, supporting the Government’s growth and clean energy missions.” 

Millions of UK workers have no emergency savings, are overwhelmed by debt, and aren’t saving enough for retirement, according to a new report¹ published today by the City of London Corporation and nudge.

An estimated 8.2 million (24%) UK employees have no emergency savings at all, leaving them vulnerable to unexpected financial shocks. A further 4.4 million (13%) report being overwhelmed by debt.

Higher earners are feeling financial pressure too. Among workers earning more than £95,000 a year,  (27%) reported stress linked to finances while (20%) report struggling with their sleep.

Short-term financial pressures are also impacting long-term financial planning. Just 9.2 million (27%) of employees are happy with their retirement contributions while 15.1 million (44%) either do not know whether they are contributing enough or do not understand how their retirement savings work.

These results come despite 94% of UK employers believing their employees are confident in managing their savings.

Policy Chairman of the City of London, Chris Hayward said:

“Millions of people across the UK are understandably struggling with their finances. Despite the challenging economic environment, many were never taught how to build resilience to manage shocks, nor how to plan for the future.

“Without urgent action to improve financial literacy and support in the workplace, too many people will continue to face unnecessary financial stress and uncertainty.”

Issues including geopolitical conflict, rising housing costs, higher energy prices and food inflation have all made managing personal finances more difficult. But a lack of financial education often leads to worse financial outcomes too.

Employees with lower financial capability were:

• significantly less likely to have emergency savings, with 75% reporting no emergency fund vs. 16% of employees with strong financial literacy
• Less likely to have a retirement fund, with 33% reporting having no retirement fund at all vs. 7% of employees with strong financial literacy and;
• overspend their income each month 49% vs. 12% of employees with strong financial literacy

Conversely, employees receiving financial wellbeing support are less likely to report stress: 32% vs. 41% and anxiety 27% vs. 38%

To improve financial literacy, the report’s authors are calling on employers to prioritise more personalised, life-stage financial well-being support that centres on education and is built around real-world scenarios. Roundtables conducted as part of the research showed that employees felt that current support was often too generic.

The report also calls on government and regulators to clarify guidance vs regulated advice boundaries; expand trusted financial education support into the workplace; and support consistent employer standards.

Employers told the report authors that:

• 390 (39%) want government-backed financial education resources;
• 370 (37%) want public awareness campaigns; and
• 340 (34%) want clearer boundaries between financial guidance and regulated advice

CEO and Co-Founder of nudge, Tim Perkins said:

“This report shows that workplace financial education plays a critical role in improving financial resilience and health. When people understand how to manage their money, they are better prepared for financial shocks and more likely to improve their overall financial situation and wellbeing.

“The impact extends beyond the individual, helping to create healthier families, stronger communities and a more resilient UK economy. We would encourage Government to consider tax incentives for employers investing in financial wellbeing support, reflecting a trend we are already seeing emerge in the United States.”

Notes to editors

1. The report combines employer insights from qualitative research, including two roundtables and 8 semi-structured interviews with industry experts and employers responsible for a collective headcount of over 104,300 UK employees, with a survey of 1,000 senior HR, Reward or Benefit decision-makers (Director level and above) at UK employers with 500+ employees, conducted by Censuswide. The report also draws on findings from nudge’s 2026 global financial wellbeing research covering 11,500 employees across 17 countries, with 2,102 from the UK.
2. The estimated number of employees is calculated using the percentages identified in our reporting against the latest ONS employment data Number of People in Employment (aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted):000s - Office for National Statistics. These figures are rounded down to the nearest hundred thousand.
3. Defining low financial literacy: https://www.gov.uk/research-for-development-outputs/financial-literacy-and-financial-resilience-evidence-from-around-the-world

About nudge

nudge is the leading financial education platform helping employees make great financial decisions, when it matters. Combining personalized education, behavioural science and technology, nudge delivers proactive guidance tailored to each employee's goals, life stage, location and workplace benefits.

Trusted by global employers, (such as Microsoft, Accenture, PepsiCo and P&G) nudge helps employees build financial confidence and resilience while enabling organizations to improve financial wellbeing, increase benefit engagement and maximise the value of their reward investment. Through impartial education, enterprise connectivity and human expertise, nudge supports better financial outcomes for employees and healthier, more productive workforces.

For more information, visit nudge-global.com.

·       Annie, The Meaning of Life, Starlight Express, Grease, We Will Rock You, and Guys and Dolls among major films and theatre productions choreographed by Dame Arlene Phillips

·       “very honoured to be recognised and join such an eminent list of recipients” says Dame Arlene Phillips

Olivier Award-winning choreographer and theatre director, Dame Arlene Phillips, has received the Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to dance and support for charitable causes.

Widely recognised as a pioneer of jazz dance in the UK, she developed her signature style inspired by American Modern Jazz and taught at Dance Centre, Pineapple Dance Studios, and numerous stage schools, including Italia Conti and Arts Educational.

From creating the dance group, Hot Gossip, in the 1970s to working with stars from film, television, and theatre, Arlene has become a household name. Celebrated for choreographing hit West End and Broadway musicals, Hollywood films, and music videos, her expertise extends through to her television work as a dance show judge and presenter. In 2021, Dame Arlene was honoured as a DBE for services to dance and charity.

Her recent projects include Guys & Dolls at Bridge Theatre; the new musical, I Wish You Well, at the Edinburgh Fringe; the recent UK tour of Grease, which followed on from two successful runs at Dominion Theatre, as well as celebrating 38 years of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express in Germany as choreographer and director, while also being creative dramaturg on the London revival of the show.

Dame Arlene, who was nominated for the Freedom by the City of London Corporation’s Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, and Sheriff of the City of London, Keith Bottomley, attended her ceremony in the Chamberlain’s Court at Guildhall this afternoon.

Speaking after her Freedom ceremony, Dame Arlene Phillips, said:

“I’m very honoured to be recognised by being given the Freedom of the City of London and it is truly a privilege to join such an eminent list of recipients.

“Although I was born in Manchester, London is where I started my career as a choreographer and it has been my home for over 60 years. 

“Thank you to everyone involved, especially, my nominators, Chris Hayward and Keith Bottomley, who I had the pleasure to work with when we launched ‘Let’s Dance!’ at the Old Bailey earlier this year.”

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:

“By receiving the Freedom of the City of London, Dame Arlene Phillips is stepping gracefully into a well-choreographed line-up, which includes Strictly’s Oti Mabuse and Len Goodman, the celebrated choreographer and director, Sir Matthew Bourne, and her friend and colleague, Angela Rippon.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to join my colleague, Keith Bottomley, in nominating Dame Arlene for the Freedom for what she brought to dance in a career spanning five decades, and for her charity work.”

Sheriff of the City of London, Keith Bottomley, said:

“Arlene is an icon of the UK’s creative industries and is passionate about community dance, and bringing the joys, and emotional and physical benefits of dance and movement to a wide audience.

“Her expertise, vision, and ingenuity as a leading choreographer of major films, and West End and Broadway shows, and her wisdom and warmth as a TV dance judge have won her legions of fans all over the world.”

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade. As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.  

Recent notable recipients include TV and radio presenter and cancer charity ambassador, Gloria Hunniford; two-time Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian, Cate Blanchett; City of London Police Special Constable and TV presenter, Penny Lancaster; novelist, Ken Follett; and actor, Ray Winstone.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

About the City of London Corporation: The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

 During his mayoralty, Sir Alastair played a leading role in advancing the Mansion House Accord and delivering a comprehensive programme of international engagement to promote the UK’s financial, professional services, legal and maritime sector.

Jointly led by the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) and the City of London Corporation, the Accord harnesses the higher potential net returns for defined contribution default funds available in private markets. The Accord also offers investment support for UK businesses as well as driving funds into major infrastructure projects and clean energy developments. Total pension assets currently in scope amount to £252 billion.

Sir Alastair's work also spanned a wide range of initiatives, including support for the Armed Forces and defence industries, championing the contribution of minority communities, and sustained charitable and public service.

 Simon Duckworth, a member of the City of London Corporation, has also been awarded a military CBE for his conspicuous and sustained contribution to the Armed Services.

Alderman Sir Alastair King, said:

“I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition. It has been a privilege to serve the City of London. Throughout my time as Lord Mayor, I have been proud to champion the UK’s financial, professional services, legal and maritime sector at home and abroad, helping to strengthen our global competitiveness and promote long-term investment through initiatives such as the Mansion House Accord.”

 “This honour reflects the collective efforts of many individuals and organisations committed to driving positive change, from improving pension outcomes for savers to supporting our Armed Forces and widening opportunity to all no matter their background. I remain committed to supporting the continued success of the City and the UK as a leading international financial centre.”

Notes to Editor

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Mansion House Accord:

Seventeen of the largest workplace pension providers in the UK have agreed to invest at least 10% of their defined contribution (DC) default funds in private markets by 2030, with 5% of the total allocated to the UK. Signatories to the new commitment include: Aegon, Aon, Aviva, Legal & General, Lifesight, M&G, Mercer, Natwest Cushon, Nest, NOW: Pensions, Phoenix Group, Royal London, Smart Pension, the People’s Pension, SEI, TPT Retirement Solutions, and the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).

·       Khan became first British Asian police officer appointed Commander at the City of London Police

·       Umer Khan: “I accept the Freedom of the City of London with great humility and gratitude.”

The capital’s most senior British Asian police officer, City of London Police Commander Umer Khan OBE, has received the Freedom of the City of London, in recognition of his exemplary service to policing and work in communities.

On being appointed as Commander for Security and Operations at the City of London Police in 2022, Khan also became the first police officer of his background to hold the role.  

Having moved to Manchester from Pakistan at the age of 11, Khan went on to serve almost 27 years with Greater Manchester Police after joining the force as a Constable at 21. During his career, he has held a range of senior leadership positions across neighbourhood policing, criminal investigation, and operational command.

Among his many achievements, Commander Khan helped introduce the National Reassurance Programme in Oldham following the 2001 riots, supporting efforts to strengthen trust between police and local communities. He later served as Territorial Commander for the City of Manchester and played a senior leadership role in the response to the Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017.

In recognition of his commitment to policing and community cohesion, Commander Khan was awarded an OBE in 2019.

Since joining the City of London Police, he has played a leading role in policing operations across the Square Mile, supporting those who live and work in, and visit the area.

During his time with the force, the City of London Police has achieved outstanding HMICFRS inspection results and continues to rank among the country’s top-performing forces, combining high-performing local policing with national leadership on fraud and protecting the UK’s economic and financial infrastructure.

Commander Khan has been nominated for the Freedom by Deputy City of London Corporation Policy Chair, James Thomson, and Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board, Tijs Broeke.

Speaking after his Freedom ceremony, Commander Umer Khan OBE said:

“As an 11-year-old arriving in this country having to learn a new way of life, I could never have imagined receiving the Freedom of the City of London, and it means a great deal to me personally.

“Firstly, I want to thank my late mother and father for all that they did for me. Their love, sacrifice, and unwavering support shaped the person I am today. Although they are no longer here, they are with me constantly and I know they would be immensely proud of me today. Secondly, I want to thank the City of London Police and everyone that I have had the privilege of working alongside during my time here. Their tireless dedication is a credit to policing. Every day, they work to make people safe and feel safe in the City, often, in challenging circumstances and I am proud to have served with them.

“I am also extremely grateful to the City of London Corporation for bestowing me with the Freedom of the City of London, which I accept with great humility and gratitude.”

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman, Chris Hayward, said:

"Commander Umer Khan is a true frontline leader, who commands the respect of so many, and his commitment to policing over the last three decades is underpinned by his personal warmth, humility, and compassion. I send him my sincere thanks and congratulations on his admission to the Freedom today."

Deputy City of London Corporation Policy Chair, James Thomson, said:

"Since joining the City of London Police, Umer has demonstrated exceptional dedication, professionalism and integrity. He is a visible and approachable leader who consistently puts frontline officers and the communities he serves first. His Freedom of the City of London is richly deserved and it has been a privilege to support his nomination."

Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board, Tijs Broeke, said:

“Throughout his career, Umer Khan has shown a deep commitment to responsible policing, reflecting his strong belief that it works best when it creates and builds trust in communities, and fosters a genuine sense of inclusion and belonging. His Freedom recognises his outstanding service and dedication to ensuring that the Square Mile is, and remains, a place where every community feels safe, seen, listened to, and valued.”

City of London Police Commissioner, Peter O’Doherty, said:

“Umer's Freedom of the City of London is a fitting recognition of an exceptional career dedicated to public service. His journey is particularly inspiring and his time in the City has left a lasting contribution to the safety and security of all those who live in, work in, and visit the Square Mile. Throughout his career, Umer has demonstrated outstanding leadership, integrity, and commitment to the public. He has always championed the values of policing and has been a passionate advocate for the communities we serve.

“On behalf of everyone at the City of London Police, I offer my warmest congratulations. This recognition reflects not only Umer’s personal achievements, but also the dedication and service he has given to the City, the force, and the wider policing profession over many years.”

One of the City of London’s ancient traditions, the Freedom is believed to have begun in 1237 and enabled recipients to carry out their trade. As well as being nominated for, or applying for, the Freedom, it is also offered by the City of London Corporation to individuals as a way of paying tribute to their outstanding contribution to London or public life, or to celebrate a very significant achievement.  

Recent notable recipients include two-time Academy Award-winning actor and humanitarian, Cate Blanchett; City of London Police Special Constable and TV presenter, Penny Lancaster; novelist, Ken Follett; veteran broadcaster and breast cancer charity ambassador, Gloria Hunniford; and actor, Ray Winstone.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the City of London Police:

The City of London Police is responsible for policing the City's business district, the 'Square Mile' in the historical centre of London. In addition, it holds national responsibility for economic crime, including cybercrime and fraud and, under this remit, is host to Report Fraud (the national cybercrime and fraud reporting service). The City of London continues to be one of the safest urban areas in the country.

Schools from Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster can sign up their year fives for the event at Kennington Park on Wednesday, June 17 2026 – the same day as England’s opening group game against Croatia in Dallas.

Hosted by London Nautical, City of London Academy, in Lambeth, the event will see schools come together for a day of matches focused on teamwork, confidence and enjoyment of the game.

The tournament will also showcase the new 11-16 football academy at London Nautical which will open in September 2027.

The school is part of the City of London Academies Trust, which runs the City of London Corporation’s sponsored academies. The City Corporation sponsors 12 high-performing academies across Hackney, Islington, Newham, and Southwark.

Michael Schofield, Principal of London Nautical, City of London Academy, said:

“Football has a unique way of bringing people together, especially during big tournaments like the World Cup. This event captures that spirit, enabling pupils to represent their schools, enjoy the competition and build their confidence.

“We’re very proud to be launching our new football academy will give young people the chance to develop their talent while also achieving in the classroom.”

The academy will offer a combined pathway of strong academic study and elite football training, delivered in partnership with youth coaching provider Volenti Academy.

It builds on the school’s established sixth form football programme, which has produced professional players including Arsenal’s Brentford loanee Reiss Nelson.

Steve Goodman, Chair of the City of London Academies Trust Board, said:

“This is a great example of how our schools use sport to inspire and engage young people, helping pupils develop important skills that stay with them beyond school.

“We are delighted to support the launch of the new football academy at London Nautical as part of our commitment to broad, high‑quality opportunities for all students.”

The tournament will take place on Wednesday, June 17 from 9.30am to 2pm. Schools can find out more and register to take part at: http://londonnautical.cola.org.uk/football

Hampstead Heath’s Bathing Ponds will continue to operate as trans inclusive spaces under a future access policy agreed by elected Members of the City of London Corporation today.

It means that biological and trans women will continue to use the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond, and biological and trans men will continue to use the Highgate Men’s Pond. The Hampstead Mixed Pond is open to everyone.

This marks a continuation of access arrangements that have successfully been in place for a number of years. 

The decision follows an extensive public consultation, in which more than 38,000 respondents took part. A clear majority (86%) favoured retaining the Ponds’ existing trans inclusive arrangements. Feedback from independently run focus groups involving regular pond users supported the same approach.

The decision-making process followed the City Corporation’s formal governance arrangements, including input from the Hampstead Heath Consultative Committee, which represents local stakeholder groups and organisations with an interest in the Heath.

Members of the City Corporation’s Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood & Queen’s Park Committee and Policy & Resources Committee carefully considered the consultation findings alongside their legal duties, equality impact assessments, safeguarding responsibilities, and operational requirements.

They also agreed to a series of improvements across all three Bathing Ponds, including upgrades to toilet and shower facilities. The proposed changes would enhance the visitor experience and provide greater privacy for swimmers through the addition of more private cubicles.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said: 

“It’s clear how much these Bathing Ponds mean to the communities who swim here. Many people told us how they value them as calm, safe and welcoming spaces with a strong sense of inclusion and belonging.

“Although our consultation was never a referendum, the message from regular swimmers and the wider community was clear – people want these Ponds to remain safe, respectful and inclusive.

“Whilst the Supreme Court judgment confirmed the legal definition of ‘sex’, it did not decide that all trans inclusive services must become single-sex services. 

“We have continued to listen and take detailed legal advice throughout this process. The approach agreed today protects the character and unique spirit of the Ponds while ensuring they remain welcoming to all.” 

The City of London Corporation manages Hampstead Heath as a registered charity, at no cost to council taxpayers, investing nearly £12 million of its own funds in the last financial year. 

It is a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation and forms part of the 11,000 acres of open space owned and protected by the City Corporation across London and southeast England. It attracts around 8.1 million visits every year and has won a Green Flag Award every year since 1997. 

ENDS 

Notes to editors 

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk. 

Images for download

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The Team UK campaign, in partnership with City trade associations, brings together a coalition of over 200 influential advocates from FTSE companies, industry associations and global partners, to promote a clear, confident and evidence-based narrative about the UK’s financial services strengths and challenge misleading narratives.

It follows concern that disinformation about London is increasing rapidly and risks undermining international confidence. Recent analysis by the GLA shows negative perceptions about London have risen by as much as 150–200% over the past two years. The reality is London remains the world's most desirable city to live, work and visit for eleven years running, according to a global Ipsos Mori poll. London’s homicides are also at their lowest level in a decade and London’s rates of violent crime lower than many of its global peers.

The launch will be announced at the annual Business and Trade Dinner at Mansion House attended by the Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle.

The campaign will ask businesses and institutions to act as ambassadors, amplifying positive, fact-led messages across global networks.

At its core, the campaign aims to:

* Counter disinformation and support evidence-based strengths with confidence

* Promote London’s global reputation as a stable, innovative and high-return economy

* Encourage greater investment, business expansion and entrepreneurship in the UK

* Build a coalition of advocates to champion the UK internationally

The campaign will highlight how the UK remains one of the world’s most competitive business environments, with strengths including:

* 2,760 fintech companies — the most in Europe

* A global insurance market larger than all other competitors combined

* The largest and most active capital market in Europe

* Europe’s leading destination for foreign direct investment in financial and professional services

Lady Mayor of the City of London, Dame Susan Langley said:

“Around the world cities and nations are competing harder than ever for capital, talent and influence. They are promoting their strengths and telling their stories with confidence, clarity and conviction. We must stand up and do the same and not allow inaccurate stories to colour how the world perceives us.

“This matters because what starts online doesn’t stay online. It seeps into boardrooms and companies. Team UK is about bringing together the full strength of British businesses to tell a clear confident story about what makes our country exceptional and to ensure the world hears it. Because the truth is London is a fantastic City in which to live, work and invest - one of the greatest economic success stories in the world. It's down to all of us to tell the truth about our City, not because we are defensive, but because we are proud.

“Every positive investment decision in the U.K. creates a ripple effect far beyond just one company and creates real jobs. That’s why speaking up together for Britain is important, and I thank the trade associations and industry for their support for the Team UK campaign.”

Janine Hirt, CEO of Innovate Finance, said:

"The UK FinTech story is one of genuine, world-leading strength, and it is time we told it with confidence. The UK is the second largest market globally in terms of FinTech investment, behind only the United States, and has more FinTechs and unicorns than anywhere else in Europe. Our incredible ecosystem of diverse founders and innovators is second to none. Innovate Finance is proud to support the Team UK campaign led by the Lady Mayor of the City of London, which amplifies the evidence-based case for why London remains a fantastic city to live in, a leading business hub and the world's greatest place to build, start and scale a FinTech."

David Postings, Chief Executive of UK Finance, said:

“The UK is a global leader in financial services, which drives innovation and supports households and businesses across the country. Regulatory reforms are enhancing our competitiveness, and we are setting the pace in areas such as green finance, payments technology and more. We have a vibrant, strong financial sector, and it’s important that this strength is recognised.”

Miles Celic OBE, Chief Executive Officer, TheCityUK, said:

"The UK is a world-class international financial centre, with London at its heart. At a time when capital and talent can move faster than ever before and markets are rapidly innovating, it’s vital that industry, government and regulators are talking up UK strengths and acting with pace and ambition to ensure its continued success.”

Notes to editors

For more information or to support Team UK, contact: teamuk@cityoflondon.gov.uk

ABOUT THE CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

The ‘From the Thames to Eternity’ project, repurposes 21 granite stones originally used in the construction of the Victorian river wall at Victoria Embankment. Having supported London’s infrastructure for more than 150 years, the stones have been adapted to create sustainable seating in one of the capital’s most iconic locations. 

The project has been delivered in partnership with the Cheapside Business Alliance and will be launched as part of this year’s London Festival of Architecture, through a series of public events showcasing the granite stones’ unique legacy.  

Installed in 1870 as part of Sir Joseph Bazalgette’s embankment works following the ‘Great Stink’ of 1858, they formed part of the infrastructure that transformed public health in London. 

More recently, sections of the river wall were dismantled during construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel, with hundreds of stones salvaged and a number transferred to the City of London Corporation, to support reuse in new public realm projects. 

Designed by Matthew Barnett Howland, CSK Architects & Oliver Wilton, the installation at St Paul’s represents the latest chapter in this story, showing how historic materials can continue to serve the City across generations. The design celebrates the stones’ history, retaining traces of their geological origin, their former use in the river wall, and the marks of contemporary craftsmanship. 

Designed by Matthew Barnett Howland, CSK Architects and Oliver Wilton, the installation at St Paul’s marks the latest chapter in the stones’ long history – showing how heritage materials can be reimagined for modern city life. The design celebrates their journey, preserving traces of their geological origins, their time in the river wall, and the marks of contemporary craftsmanship. 

Every element of the project has been carefully reused. Offcuts from the granite were transformed into bench supports and an information plinth, while armrests were crafted from timber reclaimed from fallen London trees. Bronze details were cast using recycled plaques, ensuring nothing went to waste. 

An accompanying information plinth, designed by OZRUH with Matthew Barnett Howland, takes this approach even further. Made from crushed stone fragments too small for traditional use, it has been reconstructed using cutting-edge 3D printing technology — believed to be the world’s first permanent outdoor structure of its kind. The result demonstrates how even the smallest pieces of material can be given new purpose, pointing to a more sustainable future for construction and design. 

John Edwards, Chairman of the City of London Corporation Streets & Walkways Committee, said: 

“These stones have seen an extraordinary journey, from the Thames to one of the City’s most recognisable spaces, and now they’re part of how people can sit and contemplate our wonderful Cathedral. 

“Whether someone is taking a break, eating lunch, meeting friends, or simply passing through, this adds to the everyday experience of being in the City. It’s a great example of how small, carefully designed interventions can make a real difference to the life of our streets.” 

City of London Corporation  

02 June 2026  
 

KPMG, BDO, and Eversheds Sutherland to support City of London to boost UK investment

• KPMG, BDO, and Eversheds Sutherland collaborate with the Office for Investment: Financial Services
• Firms will assist companies looking to invest in the UK
• Support will cover areas including listings, regulation and visas

The City of London Corporation will be working with three of the world’s largest financial and professional services institutions to boost investment in the UK.

KPMG, BDO, and Eversheds Sutherland will collaborate with the City Corporation’s Office for Investment: Financial Services (OFI:FS). Announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her Mansion House speech in July 2025, the OFI:FS offers tailored support to companies looking to invest in the UK.

The three firms will provide early-stage support for overseas companies coming through the OFI:FS. Support includes a range of services, such as explaining the tax and regulatory system,  providing introductory advice on visas, and navigating the pathway to buying, listing or selling a company.

As well as offering technical expertise, KPMG, BDO and Eversheds Sutherland will help OFI:FS to promote UK investment opportunities to stakeholders in the nearly 170 combined jurisdictions they operate in.

Minister for Investment Lord Stockwood said:

"The UK is a global hub for financial services, and by drawing on the expertise of these leading professional services firms - the OFI:FS will be well-placed to attract the investment Britain needs to become the number one destination for financial services by 2035.

 "With financial services identified as a key sector in the Modern Industrial Strategy, we're creating the right conditions to boost economic growth and create jobs, supporting local communities across the country."

Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward said:

“This agreement marks a major step forward in strengthening the UK’s position as a leading global investment destination. By bringing together the expertise of City of London Corporation, KPMG, BDO and Eversheds Sutherland, we are creating a powerful platform to unlock new opportunities and drive long-term growth. We are grateful to our partners for their commitment and collaboration in supporting this shared ambition.”

The OFI:FS combines government authority, regulatory expertise and industry insight to deliver responsive, tailored support aligned to company needs.

Since its launch, the OFI:FS has been instrumental in assisting more than 30 international financial services firms to enter into or expand in the UK market.

The collaboration with KPMG, BDO and Eversheds Sutherland will further strengthen the OFI:FS’s ability to provide specialist expertise across regulation, tax, legal structuring and business set-up, supporting growth in a sector that employs 1.2 million people across the UK.

Anna Purchas, London Office Senior Partner & Vice Chair at KPMG UK, adds:

“This initiative will bring investment, jobs and growth to London and across the country. The UK’s strong legal and regulatory system is a jewel in our crown, providing stability and a platform for growth for those entering the market. KPMG UK has a historic depth of expertise in the financial services sector, which is invaluable in helping overseas investors navigate the UK’s rules and regulations. Working alongside the City of London Corporation and OFI:FS, we will be proud to play an important role in maintaining both London’s and the nation’s global standing.”

Leigh Treacy, Head of BDO's Consulting, Risk and Outsourcing practice and Executive Board member said:

“We are proud to be partnering with the City of London Corporation to help showcase that the UK very much remains a leading destination for international investment. At BDO, we work closely with businesses at every stage of their lifecycle and we understand just how important clear, practical support can be when entering a new market. Through this partnership, we look forward to helping firms navigate the UK’s regulatory, tax and business environment, all the while supporting vital investment into the economy.”

Matthew Allen, Global Head of Financial Services at Eversheds Sutherland, said:

“As a global law firm with one of the most extensive UK footprints, we combine international reach with deep, on-the-ground expertise. We are therefore delighted to support OFI:FS to help international investors in unlocking new opportunities for investment, growth and innovation across the UK.”