I wasn’t planning on writing much more about London for the time-being, but it just occurred to me that I should at least recognize the economic strategy recommendations made by the LEDC. I already bloviated on their recent summit — not once but twice – and I’ve written so much on the topic my silence would seem deliberate avoidance.
So, I know this is late, but for the sake of diligence here’s Jonathan Sher’s LFPress story and here’s Phil McLeod’s more exuberant version. Better yet, here’s a copy of the presentation and written recommendations – via Paul Hubert.
One proposal that stood out for me was the medical device initiative. I like that idea and I hope to see some substantial follow-up on that — though “Centre of Excellence” doesn’t ring well in my ears, personally. Sounds salesman-like and contrived.
I’m definitely behind advanced manufacturing, greentech, agri-food, and digital arts. I think those are all very opportune and appropriate areas for London — though I don’t have enough industry-specific knowledge to comment on exactly how London should go about attracting and nurturing those kinds of businesses.
I also like promoting downtown as an asset. I believe in vital city centres in general; in London’s case there is a distinctive downtown in terms of heritage and geography that helps it stand apart from otherwise similar cities. And something not mentioned — and which I haven’t said much about myself — is promoting London’s outlying geography as well, developing intra-regional partnerships, etc.
In general I can only say there isn’t much to disagree with, really. I don’t want to be Debbie Downer but it’s fairly vanilla stuff — more in line with keeping up than standing out. My reaction to most of it ranged anywhere from “that looks familiar” to “why the hell isn’t London already doing that?”
To be very honest, the question that stood out most, for me, was, “Why do I still live here?”
As I’ve transitioned to a more entrepreneurial phase of my career, it’s a question that’s on my mind more and more. So far I haven’t heard a satisfactorily clear & distinct answer.
