Latest news with #HowardDawber
Time Out
6 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
More than 14,000 new homes are planned for this southwest London borough
If there's one thing about London, it's that new homes are almost always being built. As we speak, there are plans for an entire new town in west London, 6,000 new homes in the northwest, 900 in south London and a whopping 20,000 in the southeast – and that just scratches the surface. Now, it looks like there could be thousands of new homes coming to Wandsworth. The southwest London borough has unveiled its 'growth plan', mapping out its new 'growth corridor' – an area that has been specifically designed to boost economic development and population growth. One of its major promises is that it'll build up to 14,400 new homes along that corridor over the next decade. The plan highlights the capacity for 8,400 new homes to Nine Elms, 3,000 to Clapham Junction and 3,000 to Wandsworth Town, with the council pledging to prioritise 'genuinely affordable homes for local people'. It also says that it'll be able to slash living costs by refitting existing properties. The council's vision also involves improving transport in the borough, with facelifts for Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Town, Battersea Park and Queenstown Road stations. Howard Dawber, London's deputy mayor for business said: 'With strong existing infrastructure and real assets, including the UK's busiest interchange at Clapham Junction, Wandsworth has a major role to play in unlocking the inclusive and sustainable growth we need to see across London over the next decade. 'The mayor and I are committed to working with boroughs across the capital through the London Growth Plan to build a fairer and more prosperous city for all.' There is already a 'Homes for Wandsworth' programme underway, which has seen more than 600 homes built in the area since November 2024 and is on track for 1,000 new council homes in the area by 2029.
Zawya
29-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Excel London hosts first event in new 25,000sqm state-of-the-art expansion
London venue now the largest fully integrated conference & exhibition centre in Europe Expansion stems from growing demand from UK, Europe & North America and will 'reinforce London as a worldleading event destination' London's Deputy Mayor for Business Howard Dawber shows support for Excel and London's events industry Expansion opening coincides with Excel's 25th anniversary year LONDON: Excel London – part of ADNEC Group, a Modon company – has successfully hosted the inaugural event in its new state-of-the-art expansion – making it the largest fully integrated conference and exhibition centre in Europe. The weekend's season finale of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship marked the opening of the new 25,000sqm purpose-built space, built by McLaren Construction, expanding the venue's existing world-class facilities by a further 25% – totalling 125,000sqm (1.3m sqft). Developed due to growing demand from the UK, Europe and North America, the expansion forms part of a wider £350 million investment programme from ADNEC Group in London's business tourism economy, and forms part of Excel's mission to become the best event destination in the world. Offering stunning views of London's skyline, the new facilities include an expanded International Convention Centre – allowing Excel and London to compete for a some of the largest congresses in Europe – together with ultra-modern exhibition halls, conference spaces and meeting rooms. Built to leading BREEAM sustainability standards, the expansion includes new public green spaces, an enhanced waterfront for pedestrians and cyclists and, like the entirety of Excel, uses 100% renewable energy. In addition, the construction process saved more than 11,000kg of CO2e by using Cemfree, an ultra-low carbon masonry mortar. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Excel London and Managing Director and Group CEO of ADNEC Group, said: 'The expansion of Excel marks a pivotal moment and a strategic investment to drive growth for ADNEC Group, as well as reinforce London as a world-leading event destination. 'This expansion enhances our competitiveness to attract the largest international events, generating significant economic flows for the city, and supporting thousands of businesses and local jobs. The increased space directly translates into higher revenues and profits through improved occupancy rates and the ability to host larger and concurrent events. 'The flexible spaces allow us to accommodate new types of events, increase our annual event count, and attract leading global names in vital sectors such as technology and science. This expansion is the driver of our future growth, enabling us to better serve our clients and strengthen our role as a vital economic engine for London.' Jeremy Rees, CEO of Excel London, added: 'This expansion is a historic moment of pride not just for Excel in its 25th anniversary year, but for the entire city of London. It is not just an increase in space, but an investment in the future and a testament to our commitment to providing a world-class environment for world-class events…fitting therefore that the spectacle of Formula E should be the first.' He added: 'Interest and bookings for our new expansion, and Excel as a whole, are at unprecedented levels, with 10 major international congresses already confirmed for 2026 – a record for a single year – and demonstrating London as a global events destination.' Excel, together with its new entertainment district Immerse LDN, hosts more than 400 events annually, welcoming four million visitors – a quarter of these from overseas – with these figures expected to rise over the coming years. The venue was acquired by ADNEC Group in 2008 and, thanks to their investment and vision, has grown from strength to strength ever since. For more information on Excel London visit
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Innovation in Focus: Highlights from the Two-Day London Biotechnology Show 2025
The London Biotechnology Show 2025 opened to a dynamic two-day run at ExCeL London, offering a rich blend of insightful conference sessions, cutting-edge exhibitions, and strategic networking opportunities. At the heart of it all, the conference featured some of the most impactful discussions on the current and future state of biotechnology. Kicking off with remarks from Mr. Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London, who shared London's life sciences growth strategy, the conference brought together 75+ global experts across government, academia, pharma, and tech. Mr. Chris Johnson, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, followed with a keynote on innovation, cybersecurity, and regulation. The two-day programme included high-level panels on: Automation in biotech labs with AAID, AWS, Ellab, Emerson AI/ML in diagnostics with Novo Nordisk and Microsoft Digital Health & Bioinformatics with speakers from Pfizer, Roche, IBM, NHS GCC, and Innovate UK Medical Devices & Biomedical Engineering, and Cell & Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine featuring CGT Catapult, Thermo Fisher, MHRA, and King's College London. Outside the conference rooms, the exhibition floor featured 100+ leading biotech brands and startups, including Thermo Fisher, Symbiotica Therapeutics, Discovery Park, and ACRO Biosystems. Attendees navigated through innovations in AI, diagnostics, biomedical materials, compliance services, and smart manufacturing. The BioBridge London programme facilitated over 140 curated 1-on-1 meetings between solution providers and major buyers including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Syngenta, and Lonza—cementing the show as a catalyst for high-value commercial partnerships. Meanwhile, the Discovery Park Startup Showcase brought the spotlight to emerging innovators with pitch sessions, investor Q&As, and inspiring founder-focused discussions, energising the startup ecosystem and attracting packed audiences. With strong feedback from participants and packed conference rooms, LBS 2025 has once again proven to be a key convergence point for global biotech leaders. "Innovation in Focus: Highlights from the Two-Day London Biotechnology Show 2025" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour is cosying up to China after years of rollercoaster relations
The sprawling city of Chongqing in southwestern China is an incredible sight. Built on mountainous terrain and crisscrossed by rivers, it is connected by vast elevated roads. Trains even run through some buildings. TikTokers have begun documenting their commutes in the striking urban architecture, generating millions of likes and much hype. But it is also where, on a somewhat quieter trip, mayors and their deputies from the UK recently visited - the largest British civic delegation to visit the country in modern history. The whole trip, which took place in March, received substantial Chinese media coverage, despite flying more under the radar in the UK. The impression it left on some of the politicians who travelled there was vast. "[The city is] what happens if you take the planning department and just say 'yes' to everything," reflects Howard Dawber, deputy London mayor for business. "It's just amazing." The group travelled to southern Chinese cities, spoke to Chinese mayors and met Chinese tech giants. So impressed was one deputy mayor that, on returning home, they bought a mobile phone from Chinese brand Honor (a stark contrast from the days the UK banned Huawei technology from its 5G networks, just a few years ago). Roughly half-a-dozen deals were signed on the back of the trip. The West Midlands, for example, agreed to establish a new UK headquarters in Birmingham for Chinese energy company EcoFlow. But the visit was as much about diplomacy as it was trade, says East Midlands deputy mayor Nadine Peatfield, who attended. "There was a real hunger and appetite to rekindle those relationships." To some, it was reminiscent of the "golden era" of UK-China relations, a time when then-Prime Minister David Cameron and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared a basket of fish and chips and a pint. Those days have long felt far away. Political ties with China deteriorated under former UK Conservative Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. The last UK prime minister to visit China was Theresa May, in 2018. But the recent delegation - and the talk of Sir Keir Starmer possibly visiting China later this year - suggests a turning point in relations. But to what greater intent? The course correction seemed to begin with the closed-door meeting between Sir Keir and Chinese President Xi in Brazil last November. The prime minister signalled that Britain would look to cooperate with China on climate change and business. Since then, Labour's cautious pursuit of China has primarily focused on the potential financial upsides. In January, Chancellor Rachel Reeves co-chaired the first UK-China economic summit since 2019, in Beijing. Defending her trip, she said: "Choosing not to engage with China is no choice at all." Reeves claimed re-engagement with China could boost the UK economy by £1bn, with agreements worth £600m to the UK over the next five years — partially achieved through lifting barriers that restrict exports to China. Soon after, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband resumed formal climate talks with China. Miliband said it would be "negligence" to future generations not to have dialogue with the country, given it is the world's biggest carbon emitter. Labour simply describes its approach as "grown-up". But it all appears to be a marked shift from the last decade of UK-China relations. During the so-called "golden era", from 2010, the UK's policy towards China was dominated by the Treasury, focusing on economic opportunities and appearing to cast almost all other issues, including human rights or security, aside. By September 2023, however, Rishi Sunak said he was "acutely aware of the particular threat to our open and democratic way of life" posed by China. Labour claimed in its manifesto that it would bring a "long-term and strategic approach". China has a near monopoly on extracting and refining rare earth minerals, which are critical to manufacturing many high-tech and green products. For example, car batteries are often reliant on lithium, while indium is a rare metal used for touch screens. This makes China a vital link in global supply chains. "China's influence is likely to continue to grow substantially globally, especially with the US starting to turn inwards," says Dr William Matthews, a China specialist at Chatham House think tank. "The world will become more Chinese, and whilst that is difficult for any Western government, there needs to be sensible engagement from the get-go." Andrew Cainey, a director of the UK National Committee on China, an educational non-profit organisation, says: "China has changed a lot since the Covid-19 pandemic. To have elected officials not having seen it, it's a no brainer for them to get back on the ground". Certainly many in the UK's China-watching community believe that contact is an essential condition to gain a clearer-eyed view of the opportunities posed by China, but also the challenges. The opportunities, some experts say, are largely economic, climate and education-related. Or as Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies at King's College London, puts it: "China is producing information, analysis and ways of doing things that we can learn from". He points to the intellectual, technological, AI, and life sciences opportunities. Not engaging with China would be to ignore the realities of geopolitics in the 21st century, in Dr Matthew's view, given that it is the world's second largest economy. However he also believes that engagement comes with certain risks. But Charles Parton, who spent 22 years of his diplomatic career working in or on China, raises questions about the UK's economic and national security. For example, the government is reportedly weighing up proposals for a Chinese company to supply wind turbines for an offshore windfarm in the North Sea. Mr Parton warns against allowing China access to the national grid: "It wouldn't be difficult in a time of high tension to say, 'by the way, we can turn off all your wind farms'". But earlier this year, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU issued a statement expressing concern over the "politicisation" of deals between wind developers in Europe and Chinese turbine suppliers. Xi's real test is not Trump's trade war North and South Korea are in an underground war - Kim Jong Un might now be winning The Conservative Party faces problems - is its leader one of them? James Sullivan, director of Cyber and Tech at defence think tank Rusi, notes there are also some questions around cyberspace. "China's activities in cyberspace appear to be more strategically and politically focused compared to previous opportunistic activities," he says. As for defence, the UK's recently published defence review describes China as a "sophisticated and persistent challenge", with Chinese technology and its proliferation to other countries "already a leading challenge for the UK". Ken McCallum, MI5 director general, meanwhile, has previously warned of a sustained campaign on an "epic scale" of Chinese espionage abroad. But Prof Brown pushes back on some concerns about espionage, saying some media narratives about this are a "fairytale". Beijing has always dismissed accusations of espionage as attempts to "smear" China. Sir Keir and his team will no doubt be closely monitoring how this is all viewed by Washington DC. Last month, President Donald Trump's trade advisor Peter Navarro described Britain as "an all too compliant servant of Communist China", urging the UK against deepening economic ties. "When it comes to foreign policy towards China, America's influence on policy will be quite substantive compared with say continental Europe," says Dr Yu Jie of China Foresight at LSE IDEAS think tank. Most analysts I speak to in both the UK and China are still clear on the need for the two countries to get back in the same room, even if they differ on where to draw the line: in which areas should Westminster cooperate and where should it stay clear. These red lines have not yet been drawn, and experts say that without some kind of playbook, it is difficult for businesses and elected officials to know how to engage. "You can only keep firefighting specific issues for so long without developing a systematic plan," warns Mr Cainey. Certain thorny issues have arisen, including Chinese investments in the UK. For example in April when the government seized control of British Steel from its former Chinese owner Jingye, to prevent it from being closed down, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds admitted that he would "look at a Chinese firm in a different way" when considering investment in the UK steel industry. China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, warned that Labour should avoid "linking it to security issues, so as not to impact the confidence of Chinese enterprises in going to the UK". After Starmer met Xi last year, he said the government's approach would be "rooted in the national interests of the UK", but acknowledged areas of disagreement with China, including on human rights, Taiwan and Russia's war in Ukraine. Securing the release of pro-democracy activist and British citizen Jimmy Lai from a Hong Kong prison is, he has said, a "priority" for the government. Labour's manifesto broadly pledged: "We will cooperate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must." What is still lacking, however, is the fine print. Asked about the British government's longer-term strategy, Mr Parton replied: "No.10 doesn't have a strategy." He tells me he has some specific advice: "Go with your eyes open," he says. "But have a clear idea of what needs protecting, and a willingness to take some short-term financial hits to protect long-term national security." Labour has suggested that some clarity on their approach will be provided through the delayed China "audit", a cross-government exercise launched last year, which will review the UK's relations with China. The audit is due to be published this month, but many doubt that it will resolve matters. "If we see a visit from Starmer to Beijing, that will be an indication that the two sides have actually agreed with something, and that they would like to change and improve their bilateral relationship," says Dr Yu. But many people in Westminster remain China-sceptic. And even if the audit helps Britain better define what it wants out of its relationship with China, the question remains, do MPs and businesses have the China-related expertise to get the best out of it? According to Ruby Osman, China analyst at the Tony Blair Institute, there is an urgent need to build the UK's China capabilities in a more holistic way, focusing on diversifying the UK's points of contact with China. "If we want to be in a position where we are not just listening to what Beijing and Washington want, there needs to be investment in the talent pipeline coming into government, but also think tanks and businesses who work with China," she argues. And if that's the case, then irrespective of whether closer ties with China is viewed as a security threat, an economic opportunity, or something in between, the UK might be in a better position to engage with the country. Top image credit: PA BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Why Labour is now cosying up to China
The sprawling city of Chongqing in southwestern China is an incredible sight. Built on mountainous terrain and crisscrossed by rivers, it is connected by vast elevated roads. Trains even run through some have begun documenting their commutes in the striking urban architecture, generating millions of likes and much hype. But it is also where, on a somewhat quieter trip, mayors and their deputies from the UK recently visited - the largest British civic delegation to visit the country in modern whole trip, which took place in March, received substantial Chinese media coverage, despite flying more under the radar in the UK. The impression it left on some of the politicians who travelled there was vast."[The city is] what happens if you take the planning department and just say 'yes' to everything," reflects Howard Dawber, deputy London mayor for business. "It's just amazing." The group travelled to southern Chinese cities, spoke to Chinese mayors and met Chinese tech giants. So impressed was one deputy mayor that, on returning home, they bought a mobile phone from Chinese brand Honor (a stark contrast from the days the UK banned Huawei technology from its 5G networks, just a few years ago).Roughly half-a-dozen deals were signed on the back of the trip. The West Midlands, for example, agreed to establish a new UK headquarters in Birmingham for Chinese energy company EcoFlow. But the visit was as much about diplomacy as it was trade, says East Midlands deputy mayor Nadine Peatfield, who attended. "There was a real hunger and appetite to rekindle those relationships." To some, it was reminiscent of the "golden era" of UK-China relations, a time when then-Prime Minister David Cameron and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared a basket of fish and chips and a days have long felt far away. Political ties with China deteriorated under former UK Conservative Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. The last UK prime minister to visit China was Theresa May, in 2018. But the recent delegation - and the talk of Sir Keir Starmer possibly visiting China later this year - suggests a turning point in relations. But to what greater intent? A 'grown up' approach The course correction seemed to begin with the closed-door meeting between Sir Keir and Chinese President Xi in Brazil last November. The prime minister signalled that Britain would look to cooperate with China on climate change and then, Labour's cautious pursuit of China has primarily focused on the potential financial upsides. In January, Chancellor Rachel Reeves co-chaired the first UK-China economic summit since 2019, in Beijing. Defending her trip, she said: "Choosing not to engage with China is no choice at all."Reeves claimed re-engagement with China could boost the UK economy by £1bn, with agreements worth £600m to the UK over the next five years — partially achieved through lifting barriers that restrict exports to China. Soon after, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband resumed formal climate talks with China. Miliband said it would be "negligence" to future generations not to have dialogue with the country, given it is the world's biggest carbon simply describes its approach as "grown-up". But it all appears to be a marked shift from the last decade of UK-China the so-called "golden era", from 2010, the UK's policy towards China was dominated by the Treasury, focusing on economic opportunities and appearing to cast almost all other issues, including human rights or security, aside. By September 2023, however, Rishi Sunak said he was "acutely aware of the particular threat to our open and democratic way of life" posed by China. 'The world will become more Chinese' Labour claimed in its manifesto that it would bring a "long-term and strategic approach".China has a near monopoly on extracting and refining rare earth minerals, which are critical to manufacturing many high-tech and green products. For example, car batteries are often reliant on lithium, while indium is a rare metal used for touch screens. This makes China a vital link in global supply chains."China's influence is likely to continue to grow substantially globally, especially with the US starting to turn inwards," says Dr William Matthews, a China specialist at Chatham House think tank. "The world will become more Chinese, and whilst that is difficult for any Western government, there needs to be sensible engagement from the get-go." Andrew Cainey, a director of the UK National Committee on China, an educational non-profit organisation, says: "China has changed a lot since the Covid-19 pandemic. To have elected officials not having seen it, it's a no brainer for them to get back on the ground".Certainly many in the UK's China-watching community believe that contact is an essential condition to gain a clearer-eyed view of the opportunities posed by China, but also the challenges. Questions around national security The opportunities, some experts say, are largely economic, climate and education-related. Or as Kerry Brown, Professor of Chinese Studies at King's College London, puts it: "China is producing information, analysis and ways of doing things that we can learn from". He points to the intellectual, technological, AI, and life sciences engaging with China would be to ignore the realities of geopolitics in the 21st century, in Dr Matthew's view, given that it is the world's second largest economy. However he also believes that engagement comes with certain Charles Parton, who spent 22 years of his diplomatic career working in or on China, raises questions about the UK's economic and national example, the government is reportedly weighing up proposals for a Chinese company to supply wind turbines for an offshore windfarm in the North Sea. Mr Parton warns against allowing China access to the national grid: "It wouldn't be difficult in a time of high tension to say, 'by the way, we can turn off all your wind farms'".But earlier this year, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU issued a statement expressing concern over the "politicisation" of deals between wind developers in Europe and Chinese turbine suppliers. James Sullivan, director of Cyber and Tech at defence think tank Rusi, notes there are also some questions around cyberspace. "China's activities in cyberspace appear to be more strategically and politically focused compared to previous opportunistic activities," he for defence, the UK's recently published defence review describes China as a "sophisticated and persistent challenge", with Chinese technology and its proliferation to other countries "already a leading challenge for the UK".Ken McCallum, MI5 director general, meanwhile, has previously warned of a sustained campaign on an "epic scale" of Chinese espionage Prof Brown pushes back on some concerns about espionage, saying some media narratives about this are a "fairytale".Beijing has always dismissed accusations of espionage as attempts to "smear" China. Is the UK really a 'compliant servant'? Sir Keir and his team will no doubt be closely monitoring how this is all viewed by Washington month, President Donald Trump's trade advisor Peter Navarro described Britain as "an all too compliant servant of Communist China", urging the UK against deepening economic ties."When it comes to foreign policy towards China, America's influence on policy will be quite substantive compared with say continental Europe," says Dr Yu Jie of China Foresight at LSE IDEAS think analysts I speak to in both the UK and China are still clear on the need for the two countries to get back in the same room, even if they differ on where to draw the line: in which areas should Westminster cooperate and where should it stay red lines have not yet been drawn, and experts say that without some kind of playbook, it is difficult for businesses and elected officials to know how to engage. "You can only keep firefighting specific issues for so long without developing a systematic plan," warns Mr thorny issues have arisen, including Chinese investments in the UK. For example in April when the government seized control of British Steel from its former Chinese owner Jingye, to prevent it from being closed down, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds admitted that he would "look at a Chinese firm in a different way" when considering investment in the UK steel foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, warned that Labour should avoid "linking it to security issues, so as not to impact the confidence of Chinese enterprises in going to the UK".After Starmer met Xi last year, he said the government's approach would be "rooted in the national interests of the UK", but acknowledged areas of disagreement with China, including on human rights, Taiwan and Russia's war in the release of pro-democracy activist and British citizen Jimmy Lai from a Hong Kong prison is, he has said, a "priority" for the government. 'Go with your eyes open' Labour's manifesto broadly pledged: "We will cooperate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must."What is still lacking, however, is the fine print. Asked about the British government's longer-term strategy, Mr Parton replied: "No.10 doesn't have a strategy."He tells me he has some specific advice: "Go with your eyes open," he says. "But have a clear idea of what needs protecting, and a willingness to take some short-term financial hits to protect long-term national security."Labour has suggested that some clarity on their approach will be provided through the delayed China "audit", a cross-government exercise launched last year, which will review the UK's relations with audit is due to be published this month, but many doubt that it will resolve matters. "If we see a visit from Starmer to Beijing, that will be an indication that the two sides have actually agreed with something, and that they would like to change and improve their bilateral relationship," says Dr many people in Westminster remain even if the audit helps Britain better define what it wants out of its relationship with China, the question remains, do MPs and businesses have the China-related expertise to get the best out of it?According to Ruby Osman, China analyst at the Tony Blair Institute, there is an urgent need to build the UK's China capabilities in a more holistic way, focusing on diversifying the UK's points of contact with China."If we want to be in a position where we are not just listening to what Beijing and Washington want, there needs to be investment in the talent pipeline coming into government, but also think tanks and businesses who work with China," she if that's the case, then irrespective of whether closer ties with China is viewed as a security threat, an economic opportunity, or something in between, the UK might be in a better position to engage with the country. Top image credit: PA BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below.
