London businesses were today urged to highlight the fun of after-work socialising to help draw staff back to the office.
Mayor Sadiq Khan expects a “steady increase” in the number returning to central London workplaces during the autumn but admits that working patterns are likely to have “changed for good”.
He said that a return of at least one day a week would help get the economy “back on its feet” — and launched a campaign to encourage workers to visit the capital’s entertainment venues after work.
The loss of spending by commuters going out to bars, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues after their working day has had a devastating impact on the central London economy over the past 18 months.
The Let’s Do London Lates season, launched today by Mr Khan, includes events at Tate Modern, the Science Museum and London Dungeon, late-night jazz and cabaret in the crypt of St Martin-in-the-Fields, outdoor cinema screenings at the Barbican and a collaboration between the English National Opera and Fabric nightclub.
The Mayor’s initiative came as businesses urged the Government to set an example by encouraging more civil servants to return to the office.
They expressed frustration at job adverts for Treasury civil servants revealing that most of the department’s staff will never have to come back to their desks full time, and will be free to stay at home for two or three weekdays in a “hybrid pattern”.
Boris Johnson is expected to urge civil servants to lead by example with new systems of flexible working but will stop short of forcing them back in.
Mr Khan said: “London’s recovery is vital, not only for our own economy but for that of the entire country. A key part of our recovery will be getting our world-leading hospitality sector back on its feet in a safe and sustainable way. The return of more workers to the city, alongside domestic tourists, is vital to support this.”
Today’s campaign includes the unveiling of “After Work Social” roundels in several Tube stations.
