24 September

Recap: City Giving Day 2026

City businesses swapped boardrooms for bikes, treasure hunts and quizzes yesterday as businesses across the Square Mile came together for City Giving Day 2026. The annual fundraising and volunteering initiative hosted by The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, saw companies across the City turn the working day into community activities, challenges and fundraising.

David Johnston OBE, Chief Executive of The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, said: “City Giving Day is one of the most visible demonstrations of the City coming together to make a difference. It shows that giving is not simply about writing a cheque – it is about donating time, skills, ideas, connections and opportunities.”

Starting at the London Stock Exchange, Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley opened the markets alongside businesses including Standard Chartered, Fidelity International and China Construction Bank; followed by a photocall at St Paul’s Cathedral, with Centrus, Euroclear, Access Bank and BE Offices among those joining the celebrations. City wide hospitality chain, Drake & Morgan provided refreshments.

At Addleshaw Goddard, students took on the Legal City Challenge, visiting City businesses in an Apprentice-style introduction to working life in the capital. Lloyds Banking Group hosted a panel discussion examining the barriers women face in business, while Linklaters ran a Digital Hackathon, pairing volunteers with grassroots community organisations from East London to help strengthen their websites and social media presence.

Elsewhere, Janus Henderson Investors hosted a table tennis tournament for children with Greenhouse Sports, Music in Offices led a choral performance at the Royal Exchange and City of London Guides organised historical walking tours for City workers.

Drawing onlookers outside The Leadenhall Building, Tour de City saw teams battle it out on static watt bikes. BNY, Columbia Threadneedle Investments, The Fishmongers’ Company, City of London Police, First Sentier Investors, Killik & Co, PwC, Gallagher and Nomura were among those taking part in the pedal-powered challenge, sponsored by Eastern City Business Improvement District.

Later, teams headed out across the City for Treasure Hunt, with BMO Financial Group, CubeLogic, Haggie Partners and IPS Group among those putting their knowledge of the Square Mile to the test. Latham & Watkins entered five teams of trainees, as well as a further team made up of its trainee development and graduate recruitment team.

The day finished with City Giving Day’s Quiz Night, with more than 50 teams competing across venues including Andaz London Liverpool Street, BACB, Pinsent Masons and Woolgate. Among the businesses joining the quiz were T. Rowe Price, Pool Re, RPG Crouch Chapman, Skanska, The Chartered Surveyors’ Company, The Nurses’ Company and The Mercers’ Company. The Lord Mayor’s Appeal’s new partner Sompo Foundation also joined the celebrations, taking part in both the quiz and the St Paul’s photocall.

The City’s business community also helped make the events possible. Culture Mile BID sponsored refreshments for the Quiz Night at The Gild, while Fleet Street Quarter sponsored refreshments at The Happenstance. The Investment Association sponsored the Treasure Hunt T-shirts.

The day also began with a major property industry networking breakfast hosted by The Chartered Surveyors’ Company and Women in Property South East, attracting more than 160 people and raising around £2,500 for The Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

From global financial institutions and professional services firms to livery companies, community organisations and City businesses, City Giving Day once again brought together a broad cross-section of the Square Mile. In her opening speech at St Paul’s, The Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley said “lets show everyone the heart of the City”.