Creating jobs and growth will be at the heart of Boris Johnson's mayoralty, as he today announced key appointments to his top team.
The Mayor has pledged to invest in London’s infrastructure, regeneration and housing to create 200,000 jobs over the next four years and to ensure young Londoners can take advantage of the jobs London is creating.
He today announced the first appointments to his team who will drive forward delivery of these priorities. Kit Malthouse has been appointed Deputy Mayor for Business and Enterprise. With a strong track record in business and local government, Kit Malthouse will spearhead plans to boost jobs in the capital, help create 250,000 new apprenticeships and continue to attract investment to the city.
Key to London's growth will be the release of surplus public land inherited from the London Development Agency and Homes and Communities Agency to create thousands of homes and jobs, with the capital receipts being reinvested to the benefit of all Londoners. Richard Blakeway has been appointed Deputy Mayor for Housing, Land and Property and will chair Homes for London (formerly the London Housing Board) to drive forward investment in housing and regeneration.
Equipping young Londoners with the education and skills they need to succeed is vital to the capital's prosperity. The Mayor has appointed Munira Mirza as Deputy Mayor for Education and Culture to focus on a range of projects to boost young people’s education and attainment, including plans for a supplementary schools programme and the Mayor's Education Inquiry Panel.
The Mayor also confirmed that Sir Edward Lister will remain as Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Planning, where he will deliver the Mayor's commitment to cut council tax, and continue building on work to reduce waste and achieve value for money.
The Mayor Boris Johnson said: "It has never been more vital to do everything we can to boost growth and get people into work. That is why I'm putting jobs and growth at the heart of my mayoralty - focusing our efforts on driving London's economy forwards, out of the recession, investing in our infrastructure and securing Londoners' futures."Kit Malthouse has an outstanding business pedigree, knows how to get results and has proved he can do so in the toughest economic conditions with policing in London. He will drive forward my plans to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in the capital over the next four years, help create 250,000 new apprenticeships and ensure our capital's small businesses, the engine room of our economy, are given the support they need to succeed as we invest £221million in our local high streets.
"And I have no doubt that, with Ric Blakeway overseeing the building of homes across the capital and Munira Mirza focusing on improving education for our young people, we have a committed, determined and talented team in place to secure a bright future for Londoners."
Deputy Mayor for Business and Enterprise, Kit Malthouse said: "Jobs and growth is the number one issue facing London and I am honoured that Boris has asked me to lead the work on the economic recovery in London. With my experience as a small business owner, including through difficult economic times, I understand the pressures and frustrations involved in trying to create jobs and I am looking forward to bringing my first-hand knowledge to bear. In his first term, the Mayor brought the city through the credit crunch and created thousands of new apprentices. I want to continue and expand that work, fighting for investment from home and abroad, creating a city where small business in particular can thrive and where crucially, young people can find jobs."
Notes to editors
- Since graduating with a degree in economics and politics, Kit Malthouse has maintained a successful business career alongside his life in politics. He is a Chartered Accountant and Chairman of County Finance Group which he co-founded 17 years ago and in which he is the majority shareholder. He also sits on the board of Alpha Strategic PLC which he also co-founded. Over the years, Kit has been involved in a number of start-ups either directly, or on an advisory basis, and is well versed in the problems and dynamics of founding and growing a business.