Richard Burge LCCI

London: a world-class

jewel in the country’s crown

It’s fair to say that Richard Burge has had a challenging year. Since he took over as CEO of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in February 2020, the world has been hit by the biggest health pandemic in living memory and lives and livelihoods have been turned upside down.

With many businesses hunkering down and just looking to survive in these difficult times, it seems slightly incongruous to embark on a mission to promote London as a premier destination for world trade – but that’s exactly what Richard is doing with great vigour and enthusiasm.

His belief is that if this message is marketed to the world effectively, the whole country stands to benefit.

“London is the jewel in our country’s crown,” he says. “It’s a pearl richer than all of its tribe and should be treated by Westminster as such. That’s not to say that London is more important than or separate from the rest of the country but if we don’t champion our best asset, the resulting wealth and job creation won’t filter to other parts of the country.

“In short, there can be no levelling up in the UK if London levels down. The growth of London is absolutely critical to the health of the national economy.”

While the UK capital is rightly viewed as an international financial services hub and primary gateway to Europe and beyond, Richard is keen to point out other its other assets, including a growing number of small, indigenous businesses built on a culture of innovation and entrepreneurialism.

“London businesses are run by people who are hugely adventurous,” he says. “There’s a marvellous sense of diversity here, although there needs to be a greater effort to be more inclusive.”

Richard’s words are based on a wealth of experience in international trade and global affairs, particularly in relation to social impact investment and the use of innovative technology. An independent advisor on international affairs, he has had a varied career that has seen him lead four multi-million-pound organisations including a famous charity, a UK government agency, a private company and a membership body over a total of 18 years.

He has been on the board and a non-executive director of five multi-million-pound operations and has worked in more than 55 countries, principally in emerging economies, specialising in Africa, the wider Commonwealth, and post-conflict situations.

He’s acutely aware of the challenges posed by Brexit, yet believes it’s time to look forward, not back.

“Brexit has happened, whether we like it or not,” he says. “The deal we have is better than no deal and now it’s time for London businesses – and businesses around the country – to seek opportunities to create jobs and foster growth. London is outward-looking, not just to Europe but to the rest of the world. “It’s not simply a case of how London and the UK can benefit, either; how can our capital city add value to the world in terms of its social and economic impact, sustainability and inclusivity?”

It’s clear that London, with its ten million people and 880,000 businesses, has the potential to influence the global debate on macro issues such as climate change, economic prosperity, poverty and social mobility. The size and diversity of its business community highlights the importance of having an organisation such as LCCI in place to act as a focal point for companies and to build links with other chambers that operate across London’s 32 boroughs.

Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Kingston Chamber of Commerce is an affiliate of LCCI and it is also a member of London’s Local Chambers, a forum that works closely with LCCI to promote membership of local chambers across the capital. By bring together these Chambers, and the views of their memberships, these partnerships have considerable strength, shared knowledge and experience.

Richard says: “There’s no way that one organisation can cater for the needs of every type of business in London. That’s why it’s vital that LCCI continues to work with Kingston Chamber, our other Chamber affiliates and the London’s Local Chambers (LLC) network to represent our businesses in the context of London as a world city.”