
For more than a decade, Future of London has offered its cross-sector urban network independent, timely, practical content in a convivial atmosphere that supports diversity and next-wave leadership. More than 5,000 people engage directly with FoL across its live and online platforms; as of 2020, 500+ increasingly influential city leaders will have graduated from our professional development programmes.
Future of London is now expanding that offer beyond its core network of built environment practitioners – and beyond London and the UK – via a new podcast, City Bites. The ingredients are all here: a trusted platform; a track record in intelligent, objective analysis; a broad, mixed-level network; an online audience growing rapidly through webinars and social media; and the capacity to connect diverse groups and ideas.
This is a peer-driven podcast: FoL staff, associates and members of the alumni network invite guests from different sectors and roles to share stories, insights and ideas. The main aim is to support and inspire the next wave of city leaders. As other city lovers join the conversation, all the better.
Programme
“Leading through crisis”
The podcast starts with a special run of interviews – led by FoL alumni – on staying resilient and effective during the Covid-19 crisis. In these five episodes, decision-makers from the public, private and third sectors share their views on how the sector is adapting and what the future may hold for cities, and leadership, post-crisis. This series ties to FoL’s multi-media Learning from Crisis programme.
“Connections”
Moving on from the kick-off series, we next explore how the pandemic is changing our relationship to shared space, community engagement, negotiation, connectivity and culture as the lockdown eases and we enter the recovery phase. We talk with a spectrum of frontline workers, analysts and strategic-level influencers charged with restarting the UK economy in an era of unpredictability and eroded public and business confidence.
Further content
As Covid-19 impacts unfold, the podcast will feature housing, economy and place related issues, as well as leadership topics. As a recognised leader in network-building and responsive, engaging content, FoL is poised to deliver a programme of themes and formats that will appeal to both its growing core membership and to new global audiences. The podcast is hosted on universally available and user-friendly Anchor and distributed through Spotify, Google and similar platforms, plus FoL’s website and social media channels.
Get involved
We’re looking for partners interested in helping FoL shape content around sector priorities, gaining profile and connection with FoL’s cross-sector, mixed-level network and reaching a potential global audience of prospective partners. To find out how you can get involved and support the podcast – or a mini-series of episodes – get in touch with Oli Pinch.