Bristol can attract international inward investment from major global finance firms by positioning itself as a centre for ‘green’ and other niche financial services, the Lord Mayor of London said on a visit to the city.
While the City of London was still the UK’s number one location for overseas financial firms – and retained its role as the world’s leading finance centre – regional centres such as Bristol were attractive to many businesses operating in other areas of the sector, said Fiona Woolf, the 686th Lord Mayor of the City of London, pictured. 
And Bristol also had the advantage of much lower costs combined with a vibrant culture and excellent quality of life, Ms Woolf added after a whistle-stop tour of some of the city’s major players in the finance sector.
The role of Lord Mayor of London includes promoting the UK on the international stage as a centre for financial and professional services.
Speaking to Bristol Business News after her last official engagement at the Harbourside office of law firm CMS Cameron McKenna, she said: “Bristol has a lot going for it. My role is to attract inward investment to the whole of the UK and while many overseas businesses I meet want to set up in the City, many do not.
“My job is to explain that there is more to the UK than the City. It is not good for the UK economy to have everything concentrated in London. Having said that, for every job created in the City another two are created outside it.”
During her visit, Ms Woolf met Bristol Mayor George Ferguson, who she described as "very impressive" and an excellent ambassador for Bristol as a vibrant business centre. She said it was important Bristol marketed itself aggresively on the international stage as attracting inward investment was now tougher than ever.
Her tour of Bristol also included visits to investment group Hargreaves Lansdown's head office at Harbourside, Lloyds Bank's retail and commercial banking headquarters at Canons Marsh, ethical bank Triodos' environmentally-friendly office and the Engine Shed innovation hub at Temple Meads.
Ms Woolf, a lawyer, worked in the corporate and banking fields at 'magic circle' City firm Clifford Chance for five years before moving to CMS Cameron McKenna.
