I knew Sir Richard Lambert very well from his time as Editor of the FT when I was Development Director for its owner, the Pearson Group. He gave an excellent Tacitus Lecture at Guildhall on ‘Industry and the City – Revitalising the Economy’. He was introduced by Sheriff Nigel Pullman, who had also worked with Richard and is former Clerk to the World Traders. The Chair was the Master World Trader, Mr John Burbidge-King. Gaye Duffy, Clerk to the World Traders and our own Hon Liveryman did the honours. Also from our own Company Court Assistant Diane Morris and Honorary Liveryman Adèle Thorpe are also active World Traders helping with the organisation of the evening.
In true journalist style Sir Richard outlined a trilogy. First the bad news on the economic side - despite financial services, including the related professional services sector being our largest export earner generating £55 billion in trade earnings, more than the rest of net exports, we are in depressing difficulty. However, we are also the EU’s - and indeed the world’s - pre-eminent financial centre with a distinctive role to play in achieving recovery. Lastly, the sector now needs to prove that it can indeed be the catalyst for growth and helps facilitate the recovery of business outside of the financial sector across both the UK’s and the EU’s economy. No mean feat.The full transcript of the lecture is available through the World traders website and is recommended reading.
Tribute was also given to the work of the FSG, the Financial Services Group of Livery Companies in which the Marketors plays a part in aiding this recovery.
There were over 800 in the Guildhall and, after the lecture it was good to catch up with many familiar City faces and the Masters of Livery Companies present.
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