2022 saw the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry gain a series of successes for London businesses which included:

• London Mayor Sadiq Khan formally endorsing our diversity report and agreeing to work with the Chamber so that the Greater London Authority (GLA) implements the report’s key recommendations to end the hurdles faced by too many ethnic minority owned businesses
• GLA agrees to develop a database for micro firms and SMEs who are interested in bidding for procurement work
• Work begins with Business LDN, FSB and CBI on the legally backed London wide Local Improvement Skills Plan – London Chamber call for workplace modular training – details to be worked out
• Work with the Help for Households Government Czar to shape the Government response to the cost of living crisis
• Campaign with other organisations for Government to agree funding deal for Transport for London. The campaign was a success and was critical to keep London moving
• Pilot project to begin to tackle skills gaps in Westminster
• GLA agreed to pay local affiliate chambers for promoting their careers advice service
• Worked with the Department for International Trade for a successful International Trade Week 2022 – engaging with London businesses considering exporting for the first time
• Persuaded HMRC and DVLA to drop red tape that was being imposed on Ukrainian refugees
• Agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions on joint working to support Ukrainian refugees in London
• Commenced work to support SMEs operating in Ukraine via the Ukrainian Chambers of Commerce

LCCI’s work was recognised at City Hall and in Parliament in 2022:

• Business confidence
• Local Improvement Skills Plan
• London Chamber of Commerce
• Government Led Excessive Public Transport Fares Rise
• Ethnic Diversity in Business – LCCI report (1)
• Ethnic Diversity in Business – LCCI report (2)
• Promoting Ethnic Minority-led Businesses
• Supporting Small Business Owners (Supplementary)
• London’s economy

We gave evidence to the London Assembly to ensure GLA actions work for London businesses. You can watch the videos of the evidence sessions here:

• A Green Transition for London’s hospitality businesses: Environment Committee
• £500m Green Bond Programme: risky business? - GLA Oversight Committee
• Lifelong learning: how is £344m improving learning opportunities for Londoners? - Economy Committee

We also called on the Mayor to take action on procurement as part of the campaign to tackle institutional discrimination – where the Mayor responded positively to our call.

Parliament

The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for London as a Global City.

The APPG launched its very first report in 2022.

The London Chamber contributed to a series of Parliamentary and Government investigation which included:

• LCCI response to Review of Net Zero
• LCCI response to Independent customs regime call for evidence

In addition, Sir Stephen Timms MP raised the many obstacles that too many ethnic minority owned businesses have to face.

Sir Stephen initiated the debate in the House of Commons in December 2022 which raised the conclusions in the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry report.

Sir Stephen referred, in the debate, to the good work of the Chamber's Parliamentary and Regulatory Affairs Manage, Esenam Agubretu

We are grateful to Sir Peter Bottomley MP and Dr Lisa Cameron MP for their statements in the debate and for the considered response of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Minister, Nusrat Ghani MP

You can watch the debate here - from 16:00:25 or you can read the transcript of the debate here.

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue its campaign so that the hurdles that too many ethnic minority businesses face are finally removed.