New West End Company

June 09 2009

New West End Company and Heart of London Business Alliance today brought together 150 major retail, property and leisure businesses at the ‘West End for 2012’ conference to see how London’s West End, already London’s biggest contributor to the UK’s GDP, can best leverage the opportunity of London 2012 in the countdown between now and the Olympics.

Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas and Simon Wilson, respective Chairmen of New West End Company, representing the area of Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, and Heart of London Business Alliance, the area surrounding world famous landmarks Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, announced the new ‘West End Task Force for 2012’. Made up of public and private sector members from across the two Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), which represent over 1,000 individual businesses, the West End Task Force for 2012 will drive forward action and investment and get London’s West End ready in time for the Olympic Games. 

The West End Task Force for 2012 will act to maximise the commercial opportunity of the Olympics and position the West End during London 2012 as the recognised location of the shopping and entertainment centrepiece of London to complement the activity of the East End.

Dame Judith Mayhew Jonas, Chairman of New West End Company said: “The countdown time period is crucial – everyone is committed to ensuring our shopping and entertainment offer is at peak performance for London 2012. The state of the West End reflects the state of London, and in large part it will be the window that presents the UK as a whole. The West End Task Force for 2012 will focus our collective endeavours to ensure that we are providing an international example of excellence both now, for London 2012, and beyond.”

Simon Wilson, Chairman of Heart of London said: “With international and domestic competition intensifying, and a more challenging economic context, the West End Task Force for 2012 will continually review the competence of London’s West End as a world class retail and entertainment destination over the next three years and how we can leverage the ‘value’ that London 2012 will create.”

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London said: “Even in these tough economic times London is still the place to be, with a recent report confirming that the capital has, for the seventh year in a row, retained its position as Europe’s most attractive city to invest in. London’s West End plays a significant role in the capital’s success story, offering the world’s greatest shopping destination and attracting millions of visitors from across the country and overseas each year".

"The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will deliver much more than just six weeks of sport and I am delighted that New West End Company and Heart of London Business Alliance are leading by example, setting up a task force which will drive forward action and investment in the area and maximise the full commercial opportunity of London 2012.”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said: “The West End will be a real hub for the thousands of people visiting the city in 2012 who want to soak up the diverse and exciting atmosphere which is so unique to London. Our vision is to use the power of the Games to inspire lasting change and this West End Task Force for 2012 will play a significant part in helping us create a real business legacy after 2012, promoting all the business and cultural opportunities available.”

Colin Barrow, Westminster City Council’s Leader, said: “When the Olympics come to London in 2012 the eyes of the whole world will be on the capital, and with Westminster at its heart, we are working to make sure it stuns visitors. The West End is the unrivalled shopping and entertainment capital of Europe and we would like to see the Olympic Committee support our efforts to ensure that it maintains its standing as a world class destination and as a great place to live, work and visit. We are already working on 23 different projects in the West End as well as revamping Marble Arch with partners from the public and private sector to ensure the area delights people in time for 2012.’

Peter Hendy, Transport for London Commissioner, said: “The 2012 Games are a huge opportunity for the West End and for the whole of London. We estimate that up to 350,000 extra people will be in and around the West End on any given day of the Olympic Games. We have already done an enormous amount to make sure people can get to and from the area by public transport".

"We welcome the establishment of the West End Task Force for 2012 as it is important for businesses to start planning for the Games now. TfL is already working with New West End Company, Heart of London Business Alliance, the local boroughs and other partners to guarantee the West End and London are seen in the best possible light and this new Task Force will help ensure that.”