Business at Kingston upon Thames’ Post

London’s Deputy Mayor for Business Howard Dawber visited Kingston on Thursday 12 December along with colleagues from the Greater London Authority. Howard, who is also Chair of London & Partners and co-chair of the London Growth Plan, came to the borough to better understand the strengths and challenges faced by high streets and town centres like Kingston. He and his team spent time talking to councillors and council officers as well as some key representatives from the local business community. The event was held at TownSq Kingston, an affordable workspace opened earlier this year as part of a joint council, South London Partnership and GLA funded project to increase co-working space and regenerate the riverside. The delegation also took a walking tour of the town centre and riverside, visiting a number of key places. Discussions focussed on how the emerging London Growth Plan might support the borough - including boosting the visitor economy, increasing workspace, supporting skills development and businesses and making the most of heritage and culture. Much needed improvements to infrastructure such as power, digital connectivity, transport and housing were also discussed, including how the GLA could support the council to deliver local growth. London’s promotional agencies such as the GLA and London & Partners have a key role in supporting Kingston’s pitch for investment and its role in London’s economy, including helping the borough attract more visitors and promoting the experiences available here. Working closely with them offers great potential for enhancing the borough’s profile and adding value to the local economy. Transport links remain a key constraint, however. Improvements to rail and bus services must remain on the agenda for Kingston to be able to fulfill its potential, attract investment, and ensure residents and workers can travel more easily across south London and Surrey. As we look to the future of the borough, through the lens of the borough’s new Economic Development Strategy, we are working to ensure it will be increasingly recognised as a place where business flourishes, where investments are welcome, and where all residents and businesses can benefit from good growth, with a strong green economy at its heart. We’ll achieve this by working closely with partners and stakeholders, being ready for change in a fast-changing world and ensuring that no residents are excluded from the opportunities the future brings. https://lnkd.in/ekVRCReS #FairerKingston #KingstonTogether #ConfidentInKingston Business at Kingston upon Thames