Greater London Enterprise (GLE), a consultancy group which promotes
economic development in London, is seeking a PR agency to promote it in
the run-up to the proposed establishment of a Greater London Authority
in 2000.
The group has seen pitches from two agencies and chief executive David
Walburn is expected to make a decision next week.
GLE, as the Greater London Enterprise Board, used to be part of the
Greater London Council (GLC). In 1986, when the GLC was abolished, GLE
passed into the private sector under the ownership of a consortium of
London boroughs, and has since straddled the public and private sectors,
providing economic consultancy mainly to the public sector.
GLE’s PR brief will be to communicate its importance as a commercial
organisation in its own right at a time when the role of the London
authority is being discussed. The authority’s initial remit under the
Government’s Greater London Authority (referendum) Bill covers economic
development and regeneration, planning, transport, environmental
protection, police and fire service. Greg Clark, director of economic
development at GLE, said: ’It’s important that people understand we’re a
commercial organisation.’
A referendum on the Government’s proposals for an elected mayor and
separately elected assembly - the two main constituents of the GLA -
will be held on 7 May.
