15 January 2010
Lord Mayor visits Manchester to strengthen ties with key player
in UK business partnership
Lord Mayor Nick Anstee arrives in Manchester today (Friday, 15
January 2010) on a visit designed to strengthen business and
economic ties across the UK-based financial services industry.
Whilst in Manchester, the Lord Mayor, who also acts as overseas
ambassador for UK-based financial, is scheduled to meet his
counterpart Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Alison Firth, and
prominent business figures across the city from NWDA,
pro.manchester and MIDAS among others.
Delegates from Manchester met with the Lord Mayor shortly after
he took office in November last year. The City is recognised both
nationally and internationally as the UK’s largest financial and
professional services centre outside of London. It is also
establishing its reputation as the European capital for lower to
mid-market private equity.
The Lord Mayor, Alderman Nick Anstee said:
"Manchester today is not just an engine for growth in the North
but also a critically important part of the UK financial and
professional services offer. It employs nearly a quarter of a
million people across the sector and offers a range of banking,
accounting and other financial services both domestically and
overseas.
"TheCityUK, a new organisation to promote all UK-based financial
services, will complement my work in highlighting how important
Manchester is to a broader audience across the world.
"I believe TheCityUK can help to bridge the divide that has
emerged between the industry and the public by securing active
representation from every corner of the UK. I hope that we can work
together to restore trust between society and the financial
services sector and raise awareness of Manchester's offering on the
international stage."
TheCityUK is a new promotional body for the UK-based financial
and professional services industry that is being set up with the
support of the City of London Corporation. This independent,
practitioner-led and politically-neutral body will coordinate
overseas promotion of the UK as a global financial centre and it
will begin a domestic programme to promote better understanding of
the wider role that the financial services industry plays in the
UK.
About the Lord Mayor of the City of London
The Lord Mayor is elected for one year and the position is unpaid
and apolitical. The Lord Mayor spends some 90 days abroad leading
delegations to key fast-growing markets and addresses some 10,000
people face-to-face each month (making around 800 speeches a
year).
The Lord Mayor listens to City businesses and helps the City
Corporation advise the Government of the day on what is needed to
help the UK-based financial services sector to function well. The
Lord Mayor frequently travels to represent the City; and travels
overseas with the status of a Cabinet Minister. On average, the
Lord Mayor will meet one head of state a month and will meet a
prime minister or finance minister each week to discuss financial
services, often in conjunction with senior City business
representatives. The Lord Mayor, who is unpaid, lives in the
Mansion House for the Mayoral year.
Ends
About the City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation.
It supports and promotes the City as the world leader in
international finance and business services and provides local
services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting
the Square Mile. It also provides valued services to London and the
nation. These include the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School
of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and
London Metropolitan Archive; a range of education provision
(including three City Academies); five Thames bridges (including
Tower Bridge and the Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court
at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including
Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food
markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs the
Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in partnership with
neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of surrounding areas and
the City Bridge Trust, which it oversees, donates more than £15m to
charity annually.
About TheCityUK – structure and operations
TheCityUK will be an independent, not-for-profit organisation and a
company limited by guarantee.
Its strategic priorities will be guided by an Advisory Council
of financial services leaders spanning all sectors of the industry
throughout the UK.
The Board of Directors will be responsible for developing
strategy and overseeing delivery, including the remits and activity
of the organisation’s advisory groups and committees.
TheCityUK will integrate functions of IFSL (International
Financial Services London) into its operations as soon as possible
and by April 2011 the two organisations will form a unified
corporate structure with IFSL's membership of around 140 financial
services businesses transferring smoothly into TheCityUK.
Initial funding is being provided by The City of London
Corporation. By 2011, TheCityUK will become a membership
organisation, funded largely by the financial services
industry.
An Advisory Council and a Board of Directors will be appointed
in due course.
Press contact:
Sanjay Odedra, Press Officer, City of London Corporation
T: 020 7332 1835 / M: 07831 542 856
Email:
sanjay.odedra@cityoflondon.gov.uk