Business News
Businesses in Rainham have given overwhelming backing for plans to set-up a Business Improvement District (BID). The London Riverside BID received a thumbs up from 82% of firms that voted and will now work up proposals to improve the business environment and public realm in the area based on four key principles - ‘Safe', ‘Secure', ‘Clean' and ‘Co-ordinated'. London Riverside follows the success of the Hainault Business Park BID, the first such industrial based BID in the Thames Gateway. Under both schemes, businesses contribute a small levy each year towards direct improvements to the local area.
The City of London's Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) 2005 data was released in mid-January showing that City employment (excluding those who are self employed) reached over three hundred thousand (306,300 to be precise) in 2005. This is an increase from 289.5k in 2004. At the same time, employment in Canary Wharf is estimated to have risen to 87.4k from a 78k. Total employment in London has risen to 4.06m in 2005 from 3.97m in 2004 (previously 3.95m).
A recent report from property services firm Jones Lang LaSalle has revealed that London has Europe's best jobs and wealth outlook. The capital has overtaken Paris as the European city with the most to gain in the next five years in wealth, economic growth and general employment prospects. It was seen as benefiting from its solid economic growth prospects, favourable investment climate, diverse population and hosting of the 2012 Olympics. It was also the only UK urban centre to score highly in the study, with its nearest rivals Manchester and Bristol back in 23rd and 41st places.
