The City of London Chamber hosted its second annual Autumn Reception at Lloyds Bank, bringing together business leaders and financial professionals to explore the future of London’s economy and its critical role as a global financial hub.   

The event featured prominent speakers, including Alderman Prem Goyal OBE, Chairman of the City of London Chamber committee, Sir Nicholas Lyons, former Lord Mayor of the City of London 2022-23, and Rhys Herbert, Senior Economist at Lloyds Banking Group. Each provided valuable insights into the current economic climate and discussed the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the City of London. 

Alderman Prem Goyal emphasised the importance of reinforcing London’s role as a global financial hub. He called for financial and professional services to be central to the UK’s economic strategy and highlighted the need for stronger partnerships between the government and economic stakeholders to restore investor confidence. Goyal also endorsed the City of London Corporation's SME Strategy to boost growth. 

Sir Nicholas Lyons, reflecting on his tenure as Lord Mayor, stressed the need for better financial literacy and a positive dialogue around financial services. He urged the government to adopt resilient investment strategies and work with private businesses on infrastructure projects to drive national growth. 

Rhys Herbert provided an economic update, noting some improvement in the UK’s short-term outlook but cautioning about international risks, particularly related to China and the Middle East. He acknowledged the City of London’s significant contribution to the UK’s GDP but remained cautious about the national economy due to slow productivity growth. 

Special thanks were extended to Lloyds Banking Group for supporting the event, as well as to HRUC (Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges), the City of London Chamber Programme Partner.