London,
08
September
2016
|
14:18
Europe/London

Camden makes case to Government on Brexit negotiations

Major Camden-based businesses and institutions have joined forces with local government in an approach to Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, to make a series of requests to ensure the continued success of businesses in our borough.

Camden is important to the UK economy, with more than 29,000 businesses, major creative, tech and ‘med-tech’ hubs and is an established destination for foreign investment and head-quartering. Nearly 2% of national growth (GDP) is created in the borough.

In a joint letter Camden-based signatories from life sciences, tech firms as well as small and medium sized enterprises, urged the government to do the following:

  • Assure EU workers already in Camden that they remain welcome to stay in the UK
  • Ensure that Camden’s businesses and institutions can continue to attract staff with the skills they need through the free movement of talent from the EU and elsewhere.
  • Negotiate to ensure Camden’s businesses and institutions continue to have access to the EU single market with over 500 million people.
  • Maintain investment in locally-supported infrastructure projects that Camden needs to continue to grow and prosper.
"As the government progresses with negotiations on the UK’s relationship with the EU we’re determined that Camden’s residents and businesses should not be disadvantaged in any way.

“Many thousands of migrants and people with migrant heritage live in Camden and we want them to continue to feel welcome here and vitally, we need to keep their skills so Camden continues to thrive. We also want Camden’s business and research communities to continue to benefit from direct access to the EU single market and we’re sending a clear message to the government that Camden must remain open for business.”
Cllr Theo Blackwell, Cabinet Member for Finance and Technology Policy

Over one in ten of the Camden workforce was born in (non-UK) European Union countries. This rises to one in six of people in Camden’s professional, scientific and technical industries. One in eight students in London and one in seven university staff are from EU countries.

The referendum result in Camden contrasted heavily against this national result, with almost 75% voting for Remain and 25% for Leave - one of the most pro-remain results in the country.

Signatories

Cllr Theo Blackwell, Cabinet Member for Finance, Technology and Growth, London Borough of Camden.

Roly Keating, Chair, Knowledge Quarter.

Professor David Roblin, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Scientific Translation, The Francis Crick Institute (Member of Camden Business Board).

David Whittleton, Deputy Chair, Arup (Member of Camden Business Board).

Chris Shaw, Director, Shaw Corporation.

Simon Pitkeathley, Chief Executive, Camden Town Unlimited.

Alistair Subba Row, Midtown Business Club.

Further information:

  • 10.3% of Camden workforce were born in the EU (non-UK) compared to 6.8% of the UK workforce.
  • Camden makes up almost 2% of total UK GDP
  • 13% of Camden residents over 16 and in employment hold non-UK, EU passports. This rises to 17% for professional, scientific and technical industries, 14% of financial and insurance services and 10% of information and communications.
  • Camden is a base for a higher proportion of large businesses than London or the UK.
  • Camden specialises in highly skilled, high value parts of the economy such as law, management consultancy and advertising. The largest industrial sector in Camden is Professional, Scientific & Technical.
  • Nearly 350,000 jobs are done by people working in Camden, over 7% of all employment in London. The latest figure relates to 2014 and shows the total number of jobs is growing strongly, with Camden now having 19% more jobs than in 2009, and compares well against overall jobs growth in Greater London (14%) and UK (4%).
  • The largest sector by employment in Camden is the Professional, Scientific & Technical sector, accounting for 22% of employment compared with 14% for London as a whole.