A City That Works

The Finsbury Institute

A City That Works is a brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, that aims to bring research, policy and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive.  We're living through an era of profound change; economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and social transformation - so how can we ensure the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest and trade in it.  Across this series, we'll unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping one of the world's most influential cities, with leading academics, policymakers, practitioners and thinkers.  Hosted by Diana Beech, Director of the Finsbury Institute and Professor & Assistant Vice-President of Policy & Government Affairs at City St George’s.   Funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.   This is a Research Podcasts production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    A Safe City

    Why do we still ask why victims don't report sexual violence, rather than fixing a system that makes reporting so difficult? As national attention focuses on reforming police responses to sexual violence and domestic abuse, a critical question emerges: how can law enforcement, universities, and corporate employers shift from reactive policing to early intervention and shared accountability? In this final episode of the current series of A City That Works - the podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Professor Katrin Hohl OBE (Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at City St George's and independent advisor to the UK government on sexual violence responses) and Commander Mandy Horsburgh (Operations and Security at City of London Police). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together, they examine the impact of Operation Soteria, the new national operating model for rape investigations, and why the Square Mile’s unique demographics require innovative, trauma-informed policing. From "Ask for Angela" schemes and hotel safety toolkits to behavioural detection training and data-driven intelligence, they challenge us to rethink how we protect victims and target predatory behaviour. Moving beyond the criminal justice system alone, this episode explores the vital role of civic institutions and corporate employers in spotting early red flags, signposting support, and funding early intervention before serious harm occurs. By outlining why agencies must "dare to share" vital information across health, education, and policing, this discussion provides a cross-sector roadmap for ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it. Global Commercial Awareness short course Taught by former Lord Mayor of the City of London, Professor Michael Mainelli, our new short course will develop your strategic and commercial awareness by exploring the global forces shaping business, markets, organisations and decision-making. Running for 5 weeks from 15 November 2026, click here to find out more and secure your place. Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website. This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s. You can access a transcript of this conversation here. This is a Research Podcasts production. Episode Credits Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's Guests: Katrin Hohl and Mandy Horsburgh Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Safe City

  2. Oct 19

    A Fair and Equitable City

    What good is opening doors for diverse talent if the ladder to the top is broken? In a global financial capital generating astronomical wealth, why does someone's socioeconomic background still dictate their chances of senior promotion, leaving so many navigating unwritten rules and hidden corporate codes? As the gap between entry-level recruitment and senior leadership representation persists across the Square Mile, a critical question emerges: how can employers shift from performative goodwill to systemic change, making invisible barriers visible to ensure performance and not privilege determines career progression? In this sixth episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Dr Haseeb Shabbir (Co-Director of the Centre for Poverty and Innovation at City St George's) and Shraddha Kaul (Director of Growth and External Affairs at Progress Together). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive. They unpack the structural hurdles holding back working-class talent across financial and professional services from the vital role of executive sponsorship over passive mentorship to the emerging risks and opportunities of AI literacy, they challenge us to rethink corporate social responsibility as a driver for internal mobility. Moving beyond superficial headcount metrics, this episode explores the necessity of tracking socioeconomic data alongside gender and ethnicity, the hidden curriculum of professional life, and how universities and employers must collaborate across the full career pipeline. By outlining how board-level accountability can turn good intentions into measurable promotions, this discussion provides a rigorous, cross-sector roadmap for ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it. Global Commercial Awareness short course Taught by former Lord Mayor of the City of London, Professor Michael Mainelli, our new short course will develop your strategic and commercial awareness by exploring the global forces shaping business, markets, organisations and decision-making. Running for 5 weeks from 15 November 2026, click here to find out more and secure your place. Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website. This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s. You can access a transcript of this conversation here. This is a Research Podcasts production. Episode Credits Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's Guests: Haseeb Shabbir and Shraddha Kaul Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Fair and Equitable City

  3. Oct 5

    A Retail City

    Organised theft, verbal abuse, and direct violence against retail staff is not just shoplifting. With shop workers facing threats, intimidation, and assault on a daily basis, when did stealing from a store become so dangerously normalised, and why is retail crime still routinely dismissed as a victimless offence? As shop theft hits 20-year highs nationally, a pressing question emerges: how can police, businesses, and local leaders dismantle the culture of impunity surrounding store theft and protect frontline workers without compromising the open, welcoming nature of our high streets? In this fifth episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Professor Emmeline Taylor (Professor of Criminology at City St George's and presenter of the Retail Crime Uncovered podcast) and Tijs Broeke (Chair of the City of London Police Authority Board). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive, they unpack the true scale of retail crime and why the Square Mile’s targeted hotspot policing is delivering outcome rates double the national average. From the lucrative theft of everyday products like chocolate to the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding live facial recognition and AI, they challenge us to look beyond simplistic headlines and confront the realities facing our high streets. Moving beyond superficial fixes, this episode explores the profound psychological toll on retail staff, the hidden costs passed down to honest consumers, and the essential role of cross-sector partnerships in tackling underlying social drivers like addiction and poverty. By examining how better technology and swift enforcement can rebuild public confidence, this discussion provides a rigorous, cross-sector perspective on ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it. Global Commercial Awareness short course Taught by former Lord Mayor of the City of London, Professor Michael Mainelli, our new short course will develop your strategic and commercial awareness by exploring the global forces shaping business, markets, organisations and decision-making. Running for 5 weeks from 15 November 2026, click here to find out more and secure your place. Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website. This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s. You can access a transcript of this conversation here. This is a Research Podcasts production. Episode Credits Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's Guests: Emmeline Taylor and Tijs Broeke Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Retail City

  4. Sep 21

    A Devolved City?

    Where does Andy Burnham’s drive to decentralise government and devolve more power to the regions leave the City of London? Can policymakers truly spread growth to every postcode without killing the golden goose of London’s global financial status?   While London and the southeast remain the nation's sole net tax contributors, the push toward regional rebalancing forces a critical reflection: should empowering the regions be seen as a threat to the capital, or as the essential key to long-term national resilience?   In this fourth episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Professor Charles Lees (Executive Dean and Professor of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George's) and Dr Nick Bowes (Partner and Managing Director of Insight and Public Affairs at LCA). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City continues to thrive amid political reshuffling, shifting economic priorities, and new industrial strategies, they unpack the dynamic tension between national decentralisation and capital prosperity. Reminding us that the City doesn't survive for a millennium without constantly adapting, they examine everything from high-value manufacturing and green energy to multi-tier European governance models, challenging us to rethink how power, capital, and public sentiment interact across the UK.   Moving beyond political rhetoric, this episode explores the vital, often overlooked dynamics of regional economic growth, the housing and rent burdens facing younger voters, and the urgent need to rebuild trust in the higher education sector. By examining the political landmines of student debt and charting a pragmatic roadmap toward a balanced, collaborative economy, this discussion provides a rigorous, cross-sector perspective on ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it. Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.   This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.   You can access a transcript of this conversation here. This is a Research Podcasts production.   Episode Credits  Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's Guests: Charles Lees and Nick Bowes Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Devolved City?

  5. Jul 13

    A Cyber City

    When we think of a city’s critical infrastructure, our minds naturally drift to visible networks like railways, roads, and power grids. But in an era where the fluffy innocence of "the cloud" translates into massive, high-impact physical data centres, shouldn't we view digital systems with the same material urgency? With the UK government’s landmark decision to ban social media for under-16s exposing a stark pacing gap between lightning-fast technological development and decades-late legislation, a pressing question emerges: can policymakers truly strike a balance between protecting citizens and fostering innovation, or are national solutions fundamentally toothless against global tech giants? In this third episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Adham Harker (Senior Associate in Media and Communications Law at Brett Wilson) and Dr Elinor Carmi (Senior Lecturer in Data Politics and Social Justice at City St George's). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive amid an era of profound change, technological disruption, and social transformation, they unpack the complex friction between global digital power and local community sovereignty. From the impassioned community resistance against data centres in Brick Lane to the sobering national security vulnerabilities of sub-surface fibre optic cables in Tower Hamlets, they challenge us to look beneath the surface of our digital metropolis. Moving beyond the fear of cyber threats, this episode explores the vital, often overlooked roles of digital inclusion, media literacy, and the human workers who quietly maintain our tech infrastructure. By tackling the commercial incentives behind fraudulent advertising and charting a hopeful roadmap towards a safer-by-design technological framework for 2035, this discussion provides a rigorous, cross-sector perspective on ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it. Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.   This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.   You can access a transcript of this conversation here. This is a Research Podcasts production.   Episode Credits  Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's Guests: Elinor Carmi and Adham Harker Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Cyber City

  6. Jun 29

    A Finance City

    Can a global city survive in an age of de-globalisation, or does its fluid, amorphous nature make it resilient to the threats on the horizon? Can the UK bridge the venture capital gap to scale its brightest fintech innovations domestically, or will the next generation of finance be dominated by overseas superpowers?   In this second episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Kirsty Rutter (Director of Fintech Investment at Lloyds Banking Group) and Professor Keith Pilbeam (Professor of International Economics and Finance at City St George’s). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive during an era of profound economic uncertainty and technological disruption, they unpack the strengths and vulnerabilities of the City as a global financial hub, exploring how it must adapt to maintain its stellar reputation.   From the strategic development of a connected network of regional fintech hubs to the critical challenge of securing domestic scale-up capital, this episode explores the shifting dynamics between traditional banking and rapid fintech disruption. By examining the commercialisation of university research, the infrastructure of artificial intelligence, and the market adaptation driving fintech investment, this discussion provides a rigorous, cross-sector roadmap for ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it. Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.   This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.   You can access a transcript of this conversation here. This is a Research Podcasts production.   Episode Credits  Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's Guests: Keith Pilbeam and Kirsty Rutter Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Jun 15

    A Global City

    Can a global city survive in an age of deglobalisation, or does its fluid, amorphous nature make it resilient to the threats on the horizon? How do we protect the delicate ecosystems of talent, trade, and the rule of law that keep the Square Mile thriving?   In this inaugural episode of A City That Works - the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London - host Diana Beech is joined by Professor Michael Mainelli (Emeritus Professor of Commerce at Gresham College and former Lord Mayor of London) and Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein (President of City St George’s). Aiming to bring research, policy, and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive, they challenge traditional definitions of the City of London, moving beyond geographic boundaries to explore the complex networks, systems, and global connections that define a modern powerhouse.   From the strategic role of universities as engines of global connectivity to the unexpected cultural indicators of a thriving tech hub, this episode provides a rigorous, cross-sector roadmap for ensuring the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it.   Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.   This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.   You can access a transcript of this conversation here. This is a Research Podcasts production.   Episode Credits  Presenter: Diana Beech, Director of The Finsbury Institute at City St George's Guests: Sir Anthony Finkelstein and Michael Mainelli Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts Editor: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts Music: Indie House - Modern City, Sonican from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Global City

  8. Season 1 Trailer

    A City That Works Trailer

    We are living through an era of profound change, marked by economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and social transformation. How can we ensure the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair, and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest, and trade in it? A City That Works is the brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, University of London, designed to answer that very question. Hosted by Diana Beech - Director of The Finsbury Institute and Professor & Assistant Vice-President of Policy & Government Affairs - this series serves as a strategic platform bringing world-leading research, public policy, and corporate practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive. Across the coming episodes, we will unpack the complex challenges and critical opportunities shaping one of the world's most influential cities, engaging in rigorous conversations with foremost academics, policymakers, practitioners, and thinkers. Hit follow or subscribe on your preferred podcast platform to join the conversation and ensure you never miss an episode. Join the Conversation: If you have a comment on any of the themes discussed today, we would love to hear from you. Follow The Finsbury Institute on LinkedIn to share your thoughts or visit us on The Finsbury Institute website.   This series is proudly funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.   You can access a transcript of this trailer here. This is a Research Podcasts production.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • 1 Trailer
    7 Episodes

Trailer

About

A City That Works is a brand-new podcast from The Finsbury Institute at City St George's, that aims to bring research, policy and practice together to ensure the City of London continues to thrive.  We're living through an era of profound change; economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and social transformation - so how can we ensure the City of London remains competitive, safe, fair and vibrant for all those who live, work, invest and trade in it.  Across this series, we'll unpack the challenges and opportunities shaping one of the world's most influential cities, with leading academics, policymakers, practitioners and thinkers.  Hosted by Diana Beech, Director of the Finsbury Institute and Professor & Assistant Vice-President of Policy & Government Affairs at City St George’s.   Funded by the School of Policy and Global Affairs at City St George’s.   This is a Research Podcasts production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    The Finsbury Institute
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Research Podcasts
  • Show Website
    A City That Works