London Anchor Institutions’ Network’s latest report reveals benefits for Londoners, businesses and the environment
A £3.3bn cash injection to small and diverse businesses, over 11,000 Londoners benefiting from London Living Wage pay rises, and hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon saved – these are some of the ways in which the London Anchor Institutions’ Network (LAIN) has improved life and work in the capital.
Today (30 September 2025), LAIN published its latest Impact Report highlighting achievements over the last year (2024-2025) and since it was first formed, four years ago.
Backed by the Mayor of London, LAIN is London’s first city-wide initiative that brings together some of the largest organisations ‘anchored’ in London, from the NHS to Transport for London, from the Met Police to London’s universities. It commits institutions to work together, using their procurement, workforce and estates to create a fairer, greener and more prosperous city.
By making changes to the way they hire people, buy goods and services, and manage their own facilities, London’s ‘anchor institutions’ are creating more job and business opportunities for Londoners from underrepresented backgrounds and helping to drive down carbon emissions.
With a growing membership across the public, private, faith-based, education and cultural sectors LAIN represents dozens of anchor institutions across the city - employing tens of thousands of people, spending billions of pounds a year and managing millions of square metres of real estate. The opportunities this presents are immense.
The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has hailed the network’s achievements a success, claiming; “LAIN shows what can be achieved when a city’s institutions work hand-in-hand to address shared challenges and opportunities.”
Lizzie Smith, Chair of LAIN and Director of Workforce, Training and Education, for NHS England – London region said: “I welcome this report that showcases LAIN’s impact at scale.
“Whilst all sectors are facing resource pressures and competing demands, LAIN’s strength lies in its incredible wealth of assets across this city – from our people to our properties.
“As this report shows, so much potential is unlocked when we connect these to a shared purpose, maximising the social value we can deliver.
I’m proud LAIN is helping to create a fairer, greener, more prosperous London for everyone.”
In the last 12 months, the report highlights:
Anchor organisations exceeding their targets to spend more with small businesses, spending £950m collectively – creating jobs, supporting supply chains and boosting the local economy.
A significant increase in the number of apprenticeships created by anchor organisations (3,861) and the amount of apprenticeship levy they transferred to small businesses to fund apprenticeship training.
More staff being trained to take action on climate change.