Meeting the Lord Mayor of London

Lord Mayor of London John Stuttard has met with leaders of South Yorkshire's professional sector to discuss how the local region can attract more commercial business from overseas.

By The Newsroom

Published 1st Aug 2007, 15:35 BST

Updated 7th Aug 2007, 15:55 BST

Alderman Stuttard, whose role includes promoting the use of UK-based financial services worldwide, met with Tony Goulbourn and Trevor Kelly , chairman and chief executive of Pro-South Yorkshire, which promotes the professional expertise available in the Sheffield city region.

Hailing Pro-SY as “an excellent partnership organisation”, he said it had created a mechanism which could be used by professional firms to tap into the overseas market.

Alderman Stuttard said UK financial services businesses have a strong hand.

“The UK-based financial services industry has more clout worldwide than it has ever had. It manages 3.5 trillion of funds; carries out 50 percent of the world’s ship brokering; 90 percent of the world’s trade in metals and 25 percent of the world’s aviation and marine insurance,” he added.

He urged Pro-SY members to work with others who had already penetrated overseas markets.