As we launch our Voices of the Ward initiative, CEOs and Founders from businesses of all sectors across the Ward of Cheap are invited to share their experiences and insights, as well as how being part of this unique community within the City has benefitted them. Here, we look at the foundations of what makes the Ward so unique before adding their voices to its ever-evolving narrative.
Why the Ward of Cheap is Unique
The City of London is one of a kind within the global business community, recognised worldwide for the opportunities it has to offer, the expertise it has within its ranks and its contribution on the world stage. Within it, the Ward of Cheap is critical, home to many respected firms and reputable organisations spanning industries from finance to law, technology to insurance and beyond.
Historic Significance
The Ward of Cheap has historic significance. The name ‘Cheapside’ comes from the Saxon term for ‘market’, and to this day, it’s one of the main shopping streets within the City. On the other side of the Ward is Guildhall, with a plaque commemorating the terminal point of the first public water supply system – The Great Conduit.
The foundations of that particular building go back to 1400, although the site traces its roots to a Roman amphitheatre that was located there nearly 2,000 years ago. They’re all examples of bringing people together for conversation, communication and activity – things that continue to define the City, and the Ward today.
A Commercial Community
As a business community, the Ward of Cheap is rich in professionalism and skills, and it has more than 20,000 workers within its boundaries. It also hosts a balance of the largest employing firms as well as small businesses, and is the most heavily liveried of all the 25 wards in the City.
In many ways, Cheap is a microcosm of the City of London as a whole, and that heritage is something that it does not take for granted. Organisations, including the Ward of Cheap Club, are proactive in seeking to encourage and enhance the experience and well-being of both individuals and organisations within the Ward and connected to it.
In fact, the role of the Ward of Cheap Club is essential for providing a chance for people to meet, learn, connect, support and socialise, recognised as one of the most active Ward Clubs in London. It’s a wonderful way for those connected with the business community to understand one another, which is why we wanted to take that tradition online with our Voices of the Ward series.
About Voices of the Ward
The Ward of Cheap’s Voices of the Ward initiative has been launched by our 2024 President, Mark Magnacca, to give business leaders in the Ward a platform to reach Club Members and others interested in the City of London. We will invite CEOs and founders whose businesses are located in the Ward of Cheap to share their stories and inspire and inform other business leaders, aspiring entrepreneurs and those interested in the City.
In these interviews, we explore innovation, leadership, infrastructure and leaders’ experiences of Cheap’s particular business community.