A key responsibility for the Lord Mayor is to
promote the UK-based financial services industry and related
businesses abroad. The City of London is the heart of this
industry, but it also includes the UK retail financial services
centres in cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds,
Birmingham and Bristol.
During his year of office the Lord Mayor spends
between 50 and 80 days overseas promoting this industry and the
City of London as a place of excellence in which to do business.
Accompanied by a senior business delegation, he meets and makes
representations to government ministers and other authorities.
Important contacts are made at the highest levels - links which are
made increasingly valuable by the growing international
participation in the City and in British manufacturing
industry.
The UK financial services industry is a major
source of employment and is the greatest wealth generator in
Greater London. It is a highly international operation and 40% of
the workforce within the City are employed by overseas
companies.