Southwark
Business Today Issue 1: October 2014
Spotlight
on Southwark p12
The Chamber Celebrates 90 years p18
UpClose
with Mark Burr p25
Considering a construction project? If the answer is Yes! Then we may be able to help.
How? We can discuss your requirements and expectations and assist with project management. With our expertise we can save you time and help avoid the pitfalls. This could range from a simple chat to advice on how best to plan. We can outline the legal requirements; for e.g. planning permission and building regulations as well as party wall matters, CDM regulations, Equality Act provisions, rights of light, thus eliminating risk early on. We are also able to assist by carrying out the above for you. Make that free, no obligation call and mention 'Southwark Business Today' for a free initial one - one consultation. It may make a difference!
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Project Management Contract Administration Building Surveying Services CDM Coordination and Design Risk Management • Client Advisor / Compliance Report • Independent Assessor / Certifier on PFI & PPI Projects ‘Les Johnson of LJPM has been working with me for the past 8 months. It has been a pleasure to have Les on board for a number of reasons. Les is very knowledgeable in all areas within the building industry, he has been a great problem solver and sound board during the development of my new venture Cafè1809. I have also enjoyed working with Les as he is very polite and considerate.’ 'I have no hesitation in recommending Les Johnson and will definitely being working with him on my future projects.' Dame Kelly Holmes
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Welcome to the First Edition of
Southwark Business Today
T
he Southwark Chamber of Commerce & Industry new glossy magazine for all business in Southwark
Launching this month on the 90th Anniversary of the Southwark Chamber of Commerce which has been proudly encouraging, assisting and developing business in Southwark since 1924. When I started work in Southwark in 1962 my boss at L.W. Morland and Co Ltd would not have opened up his door or sent out a letter without the membership insignia of the Southwark Chamber of Commerce on his note paper. Apart from his local Chamber he would not have dreamed of commencing business without being an accepted member of his Trade Association and Joint Country Chamber in which he conducted commerce.
These three ‘badges of honour’ were his assurances to his clientele that he was a respected, honourable and trustworthy commercial partner in his place and field of business. The time honoured traditions of business are not foremost in the minds of our computer aged commercial world today but in my opinion never has there been more Disclaimer
Southwark Business Today is published for Southwark Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members businesses in the Borough.
reason for local businesses to support, use and foster their local Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce & Industry is the essential vehicle to lobby local and national governments on points of issue for business. It is the forum for meetings and networking amongst ones fellow traders to expand local business. It is the avenue for information and business education.
The Chamber of Commerce charter is to encourage the growth of Southwark companies and nurture full employment in our Borough. “Southwark Business Today” will be a major contributor to this brief providing the contact and medium for us all to communicate and promote our businesses.
It is your publication, please read it, by all means question it and feel free to contribute. I am looking forward to your response.
Contents
Welcome
12
16
20
26
04 05 12 15 16 18 20 23 25 26 31 32 34
Enquiries
Cage Rattlers UpFront news Spotlight On Southwark Property Trading with Russia Chamber news Big Interview Voice from Westminster UpClose Hospitality Legal Business News Last Word
Southwark Chamber of Commerce Southbank Technopark 90 London Road, London SE1 6LN +44 (0)845 680 1946 Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com www.SouthwarkCommerce.com
Editor
John Dean Email: deangriss@btinternet.com
Publisher
Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited 3tc House, 16 Crosby Road North, Crosby, Liverpool L22 0NY Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com
Published
October 2014 © Benham Publishing
Barry Martin Chairman Southwark Chamber of Commerce & Industry All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Southwark Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in publication are notnecessarily those of Southwark Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2014.
Advertising and Features
Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com
Studio
Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: studio@benhampublishing.com Media No.1385
Whilst every effort is made to ensure theaccuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and itsagents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions inadvertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.
Southwark Business Today
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Cage Rattlers
The Chambers Cage Rattlers
W
elcome to a regular feature in the magazine in which the Chamber examines some of the big issues facing our businesses - and demands action!
T
axation without Representation
Businesses in the borough pay a very high tax for their Business Rates, which eventually ends up as the majority of funding for the council’s budget. Not only do we have no say in how this is spent but we are not allowed to vote for the councillors that have control over the spending of our taxes. This simply is “Taxation without Representation” - a similar Government policy in the 18th Century lost Britain the American Colonies!
Companies that pay Business Rates should have the right to vote in Council Elections.
G
et the parking sorted out!
And another thing, when is the council going to sort the business parking out in the area?
It’s reached a ridiculous stage where you simply cannot find a space, which is embarrassing and frustrating for Southwark businesses.
We are continually receiving complaints from businesses who receive visits from around the UK and abroad, whose clients travel long distances to be here then cannot find a parking space!
What kind of an impression does that leave them with?
At a time when the council says it is supporting local business, the lack of parking is something that threatens everything they, and we, are trying to do.
I
nward Investment and Visitor Promotion Office
If you are an overseas visitor to London, a businessman or tourist, there is no better place to stay than Southwark.
All three Business Areas of London are within 10 minutes on the Jubilee line or a walk across London Bridge.
We have hotels, restaurants, theatres, museums, galleries, a Thames river frontage with the best view of Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, pubs and not forgetting we have the History of Old London Town Dickens, Shakespeare and Chaucer to name just a few.
Has anybody told the Americans that Charlie Chaplin grew up here and John Harvard of the famous American University was born in the Queens Head, a tavern and brothel in Borough High Street? All this - yet we are not telling anybody.We need an Inward Investment and Visitor Promotion office to spread the word nationally and worldwide that Southwark is Great.
This office should have a budget to Exhibit at International Travel Exhibitions, to place adverts in Frankfurt and Paris newspapers and to let the world travel industry know that Southwark is the place to stay in London. The increase in overseas visitors will see a huge spend in local businesses and expansion of the service industry leading to employment.
We must invest in this office - it is essential to the future economy of the Borough of Southwark.
O
ffline - how on earth can this be?
Finally, broadband.We live in the second decade of the 21st Century in the midst of one of the most important trading centres in the world yet we have slow broadband.
How can that be? This is not a rural backwater where signals drop out, this is bustling London, one of the world’s major business cities, yet we cannot get the broadband to work properly. And believe it or not, we are the lucky ones! In parts of Rotherhithe they cannot get broadband at all.
That is why we support the action group in Rotherhithe as it works to solve a problem that simply should not exist in this great city of ours.
What’s rattling your cage? Write and let us know Email at admin@southwarkcommerce.com
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Southwark Business Today
Up Front
Shard to host prestigious auction
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Business confidence on the up
C
he Shard is to be host and partner for this year’s 10x10 charity art auction,at which leading artists and architects will sell work based on the district around the building. Each participant is allocated a square and will produce art based on buildings and public space in that part of London.
onfidence is rising among business ownermanagers,according to new figures.
The latest Owner Managed Business Barometer (OMB) Index from London-based Bank of Cyprus UK swung to a positive figure (0.09) for the first time following four consecutive negative scores since it was launched in April 2013.
lending facilities if they asked for it, compared to (27% in April 2013.
The research found that half of OMBs (50%) expect to see sales and revenue increase over the next three months.
Tony Leahy, of Bank of Cyprus UK, said: “For the first time since we started the OMB Barometer research in April 2013, our research reveals that owner managed businesses have an overall positive outlook about their business prospects as we approach the final quarter of 2014.
Almost two fifths (39%) of businesses questioned said that they would be confident that their bank would agree to a request for new/increased
Bank of Cyprus UK serves small/owner-managed businesses from its offices in North, Central and South London, and Birmingham.
Businesses are even more positive about longer term sales growth with 60% expecting to see a rise in revenues over the next 12 months. In April 2013, the responses were 32% and 43% respectively.
“It is especially encouraging to see that most businesses feel that their current borrowing commitments are at the right level for growth and that so many are confident that if they needed to, they would be able to access additional financing.”
Funds from the auction, run by charity Article 25 and scheduled for November 27, will go to projects to improve health standards in the developing world. Irvine Sellar, developer and joint owner of The Shard, said: “With The Shard widely acclaimed as a triumph of design, it is appropriate that an event celebrating great art and architecture is hosted here.
“There is so much going on in the area around The Shard and London Bridge Quarter, the artists and architects will have tremendous scope to create some highly covetable pieces for the auction in November.”
Southwark Business Today
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Southwark Mediation Centre [SMC]
Established in 1986, we are one of the oldest Mediation Centres in the UK.
SMC is a market leader in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution & Mediation. Contact us now for all your Mediation needs.
• Family Mediation - Private and Legal Aid work • Anti-social behaviour • Commercial Disputes • Work place Disputes • Neighbour Disputes • Accredited Training • Restorative Justice • Planning Disputes • Legal Disrepair • Hate Crimes • Complaints www.southwarkmediation.co.uk Email: admin@southwarkmediation.co.uk
Call: 020 7708 4959
Welcome to The South London Procurement Network
The South London Procurement Network (SLPN) works with sole traders and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across all industry sectors in the Borough of Southwark and across South London. We help you find out about and bid for contracts large and small both in the public and private sectors. All services are FREE of charge as the project is privately funded by Canary Wharf Group plc and Qatari Diar, with support from the City of London Corporation.
We offer...
• A free one stop shop for buyers to procure from local suppliers. • Alerts to companies when tender opportunities come up. • A funded procurement network team dedicated to offering one-to-one advice to buyers and suppliers. • Access to a quality database of local suppliers of goods and services for competitive contracts. • Measurable results through activity which is tracked, monitored and evaluated allowing businesses to assess the impact of their spending. • Free events on how to grow and develop your business, networking and additional promotional assistance for companies.
For suppliers
Our services for suppliers include: • Free face-to-face business advice • Getting your business fit to supply • Free events • Access to contracts • Free promotional assistance
For buyers
South London Procurement Network provides a seamless offer to buyers through: • Face-to-face engagement to understand their buying needs • Effective supply chain brokerage • Private sector led approach • Free events • Complementing internal corporate responsibility
To register as a buyer or supplier or both with South London Procurement Network please email to info@slpn.org.uk or call us on 0207 902 1171
A
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Southwark Business Today
Up Front
Newspaper group donates tablets
S
outhwark residents have been given access to the latest in tablet technology after a gift to the local council from News UK.
The company donated 88 Nexus and iPad tablets to local libraries to coincide with its move from Wapping to London Bridge. Free subscriptions to the news, sport, analysis and comment of the Times and Sunday Times are included on every device. The tablets will help the council in its vision to deliver a Fairer Future for all, which calls on everyone in the borough from residents, businesses and the voluntary sector to create new opportunities for individuals and communities to realise their potential.
Skills shortage a concern in the Capital
N
early half of London’s businesses (45%) say there is a skills shortage in the capital, according to the latest CBI/KPMG London Business Survey.
Ten Google Nexus ‘7’ tablets have been given to each of the following Southwark libraries: Blue Anchor, Brandon, Canada Water, Dulwich, Kingswood, John Harvard, Newington and Peckham.
to providing the best spaces for learning that are comparable with anywhere in London.
"This is a good example of how we are absolutely focused on growing strong relations with Southwark-based businesses in order to maximise meaningful learning, skills and employment opportunities for local people, particularly the young and disadvantaged."
Each library all received an iPad mounted on a specially-made stand incorporating the Times and Sunday Times mastheads, and News UK’s News Academy logo, the company’s initiative to secure a sustainable future for journalism.
Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said:“Whilst other councils are closing down libraries, we are investing in and opening new state-ofthe-art facilities.These devices will perfectly compliment our commitment Two-thirds of firms (66%) reported difficulty recruiting highly skilled people, such as IT/technology (20%), creative (14%) and finance and engineering specialists (12%).
Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills are in high demand, whilst basic skills, such as core literacy and numeracy, alongside transferable skills, such as communication and business awareness, were also ranked as key traits firms look for in their employees. Half of the firms surveyed have established links with schools or colleges. Of those businesses, half provide work experience to students and over a third (37%) provide careers advice and talks. The survey of 115 London firms shows increased optimism about the economy (59%), but it is growing at the slowest pace in a year.
News UK CEO Mike Darcey said: “I cannot think of a better home for our talented and dedicated staff and I’m delighted with this initiative to ensure that our new neighbours in this vibrant and historical patch will have access to our world class technology and titles.”
About half of respondents (47%) are optimistic about their business prospects over the next six months, with 66% planning to expand their business over the next year - the highest figure recorded since the start of 2014. Lucy Haynes, CBI London Director, said:“Having the right skills to drive the capital’s economy forward is a core ingredient in the recipe for continued success.
“It’s important that businesses seize the opportunity to work with schools and colleges and ensure that London’s students, who will build the capital’s future, are equipped with the skills firms want in their employees. “Science, technology, engineering and maths skills are particularly valuable, given that London’s thriving creative and technology sector is set to be a big growth contributor over the next five years.”
Southwark Business Today
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Bank supports cultural experience
D
eutsche Bank has extended its partnership with Globe Education at Shakespeare’s Globe to target disadvantaged pupils in schools. The deal will provide free access to a cultural experience accompanied by online resources and workshops to support the curriculum. Each year Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank offers free tickets to a full-scale Shakespeare production at the Globe to every state secondary school in London.
DidYou Know? ? Southwark has been host to visitors since the Romans billeted in the area 2,000 years ago
? The bowler hat was
invented and first produced in Southwark to prevent robbers coshing city bankers transporting money
? London ’s first river
crossing was from Southwark across to the City of London.
? Charles Dickens,Charlie Chaplin andWilliam Shakespeare all lived in Southwark
? Southwark is the largest
London borough by area
? More than 100 languages
are spoken in Southwark’s schools and 43% of pupils speak English as an additional language.
? When completed,The
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Shard in Southwark became the UK’s tallest building.
F
Soon to turn 50 Angel HR shares the secret to its Southwark success
ounded in 1965 Angel Human Resources is about to celebrate its golden anniversary. Here,this independent recruitment agency shares why it’s dedicated to creating a bright legacy for Southwark. Often described as ‘vibrant’ Southwark is both London’s most economically active borough, with over 12,500 registered businesses, and the 9th most deprived. And it’s within this dynamic economic landscape, that Angel HR has thrived for almost 50 years: headhunting; filling fundamental roles; providing managed services; and full life-cycle recruitment.
But while the Shard attracts big brands and high flying talent,Angel believes it’s vital to connect local businesses with local employees to ensure a sustainable and profitable future for Southwark, And Angel doesn’t just talk the talk, its community impact scheme has been in operation since day one.
In 2013-14, alone, the scheme supported 269 aspiring local individuals to gain
Southwark Business Today
employment, through free training to achieve skills relevant to local business. While over 90 local businesses - from SMEs to corporates - benefitted from the agency’s specialist local knowledge and economic expertise.
Angel passionately believes a local talent pool must be established to attract business and encourage localised expansion for Southwark’s renaissance to be a sustainable one. Local employment will, it says, impact localised consumer spending and investment in local infrastructure, which in turn will nurture emerging talent.
This way, along with invaluable support from SCCI, the future for Southwark will not just be vibrant, it’ll be golden.
Up Front
Roundabout to be transformed
C
onstruction work will start on the redesign of Elephant & Castle northern roundabout next year.
The announcement came after results of a public consultation showed that more than 80 per cent of people backed the plan, which form part of the wider £4bn investment TfL is making to improve roads across London.
More than 2,000 people responded to the consultation on the scheme, which will dramatically change the northern roundabout at Elephant and Castle and improve facilities for road users and local residents by converting the roundabout into a peninsular. This will create a new, more open and accessible public space, with the road around it converted to two-way traffic.
Isabel Dedring, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “Our radical plans for Elephant & Castle will not only make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians but they will also transform it into somewhere that people will want to gather and interact.”
Key benefits include: • Pedestrians: subways will be replaced with wide pedestrian crossings that allow people to cross directly, easily and safely between Tube, bus and local amenities • Cyclists: new cycle routes through and around the junction to make it better for cycling • Bus passengers: an improved interchange between the bus and Tube and upgraded bus stops • Road users: a better road layout will help reduce collisions, with people benefiting from an attractive public space at the heart of the Elephant Opportunity Area.
Construction is expected to start in late spring 2015 with the main highway works scheduled to be fully completed by summer 2016.
The council's Tooley Street offices then staged an exhibition of the work that the young people produced.
Councillor Mark Williams, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transport at Southwark Council, said:“Transforming the roundabout at Elephant and Castle is a significant step towards making the area safer for all our road users, particularly vulnerable ones like pedestrians and cyclists. "It is also a big part of our own plans for the regeneration of the area and bring new homes, businesses and public open spaces to the area so I am pleased that so many of our residents got involved in the consultation and agreed with the proposals.”
Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL said: “The area around Elephant & Castle
For more information about the scheme and to see the full results of the consultation, please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/elephantandcastle
The project, called the Domino Effect, was initiated by the National Portrait Gallery earlier this year to get young people more involved in the arts. Southwark ran the project in conjunction with Southwark Youth Contract. Cllr Victoria Mills, cabinet member for children and schools said:“Helping young people who aren't quite sure
about what path they want to take yet is really important for us as a council and I think each and every one of those involved in this project found something worthwhile and lasting to take with them as they move forward.”
In the picture oung people from Southwark were given the chance to showcase their Y photographic skills.
Working with Southwark Council, the National Portrait Gallery ran three workshops with Southwark NEETs (Young People who are Not in Education, Employment or Training) to teach them about photography.
roundabout is about to be transformed by one of London’s biggest regeneration projects and I’m delighted that so many people have welcomed the proposed redesign, which will improve facilities through this busy area.”
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15Hatfields Located on London’s South Bank, 15Hatfield’s is an award winning, modern and versatile events and conferences venue with a rigorous commitment to sustainability, the environment and excellent customer service.
At 15Hatfields they have gone that extra mile and in 2008 transformed an empty shell into a remarkable example of ecologically sustainable development. The venue took a little over a year to build with everything from the foundation stone to the last lick of paint incorporating the principles of sustainable development. The team at 15Hatfields is led by Warren Campbell who emphasises
T
P
utting London’s sustainable conferences and events industry on the map
that “sustainability is a journey and an investment, and as far I am concerned we have a responsibility to lead the way forward and to continually make sure that we put the environment at the centre of everything we do. We are in this for the long term.”
Facilities include four large meeting rooms each which can also be opened into one large area with a maximum capacity of 550 standing and 330 seated theatre style. In addition, there are a further seven meeting spaces of various sizes, holding from 4 to 50 delegates. All of the meeting rooms are on the same floor with natural daylight and full environmental controls.
Integrated AV facilities include drop down projection screens, built in PA systems and state of the art lighting.
Environmentally responsible catering features highly at 15Hatfields. It is home to some of the best fair trade, organic and locally sourced catering options on the market.The venue also has a strict ‘no bottled water’ policy. Water is filtered using an in-house filtration system and served up in reusable glass bottles. In 2013, 15Hatfields were awarded the ISO 14001 certification. Interested to learn more?
Visit www.15Hatfields.com for more information.
Programme creates apprenticeships he L&Q housing association has taken on 12 unemployed Southwark residents for training to secure construction apprenticeships.
The programme is part of a wider scheme launched in May which will create more than100 apprenticeship placements within L&Q and its contractors in London over the next four years. Apprenticeships will be provided by L&Q’s construction arm Quadrant
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Construction with support provided by specialist construction apprenticeship training agency K10.
Of the 12 apprenticeship placements, two will be run directly through Quadrant Construction at the Quebec Quarter site and ten by partner organisation K10 and based across a number of different sites. Quebec Quarter was designed by Alan Camp Architects and over the next four years will see 15 blocks built, containing 368 homes and 1600 sq m of commercial space.
L&Q will be offering a further eight full-time apprenticeships to unemployed people local to the Southwark area.Applications will next be accepted in January 2015.
Southwark Business Today
Jason Newbold, L&Q Assistant Director Construction at Quebec Quarter, said:“We are very excited to begin this project, which will be a life changing opportunity for these local Southwark residents. The scheme will be a great stepping stone towards an exciting career within the construction industry and those based on our Quebec Quarter development will have tremendous prospects for career progression and securing permanent jobs.”
Sarah Borien, L&Q Apprenticeship Co-ordinator, said:“The L&Q Apprenticeships programme is an excellent way for us as an employer to bring fresh talent into the organisation and foster relationships with the surrounding neighbourhoods.”
Up Front
Shard in running for prize
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he Shard has been named among the six buildings on the shortlist for the 2014 RIBA Stirling Prize,with judges praising it as‘a thing of great beauty. Judges for the prize, RIBA’s highest accolade, went on to say that The Shard’s architects ‘have added immeasurably to its immediate environs and to London as a whole‘.
Enhanced Design
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wo experienced graphic designers in Southwark have recently united to form Concentric Blue, a new full-service graphic design agency.
Jon Deane, formerly of Enemy Radar in Rotherhithe and Dan Harder from Flaxbunny in Peckham teamed up in July 2014 after several years of sharing projects. 'We had been working together on various jobs on and off for the past five years, and realised that it just made sense to formally team up,' said Deane.
'With my love of all things print and Jon's passion for digital, we make a perfect complement,' added Harder. 'I have been designing for the web since its infancy, and right now we are at one of its most exciting points yet,' said Deane. 'The developments and possibilities with mobile and responsive sites are enormous.'
Also on the shortlist for the Stirling Prize, the winner of which will be announced on October 16, are the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool; the Library of Birmingham; the London Aquatics Centre; the London School of Economics Saw Swee Hock Student Centre; and the Manchester School of Art.
The pair have nearly 30 years of experience between them, and have worked on a vast array of projects for clients of all shapes, sizes and forms.They have ranged from individual sole traders to wellknown names like The Spectator, the The Old Vic theatre and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. The Concentric Blue studio officially opened in August this year in the Peckham's Bussey Building, which has very quickly been emerging as one of London's creative hotspots.There, the pair have already begun working on exciting new pieces, including a choose-your-own-adventure book, a personal trainer's web site and an interiors magazine.
To find out more, e-mail info@concentric.blue or visit http://concentric.blue
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E
Spotlight on Southwark Council committed to supporting business
ven in bustling and successful London,businesses need support and that is the philosophy behind the work being done by Southwark Council to encourage entrepreneurship and reduce unemployment.
some of the ideas from local community and business groups that were funded by Southwark Council’s unique project in the first round.
One of the first events to take place was the popular Munch Festival of culture and food in Peckham. About 7,000 people attended the event that, thanks to funding from the High Street Challenge, supported more than 80 local businesses, cultural venues and residents.
Guiding the council’s work is its new Council Plan, which is broken down into six priority themes, one of which is a strong local economy that focuses on supporting local high streets and town centres and how to invest in more affordable business space.
Included in the Plan are commitments which guarantee education, training or employment for school leavers, getting 5,000 local people into employment and creating 2,000 new apprenticeships.
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Southwark Business Today
As part of the work, the council is also looking to deliver an hour free parking in shopping arcades to support businesses, support new Business Improvement Districts and establish a Southwark Business Forum.
Supporting high streets is a crucial part of the campaign, including the High Street Challenge, which has just launched its second round. Food festivals, pop-up radio stations and Fantasy High Street events were just
Also, with support from the scheme, shoppers this summer enjoyed events in Nunhead with Fantasy High Streets, a new arts organisation that uses performance to enhance the unique characteristics of high street businesses and their products and services. Other projects from round one include a ‘pop up’ London-wide FM radio station that will train local residents to make programmes promoting their local area and businesses, a Trader Training programme to improve the quality of customer service in Peckham, a project to transform a health centre on Rye Lane with a new community cafe to attract visitors to the area, a Christmas Fayre, an art project
Spotlight planned for Tower Bridge Road businesses, promotional events along Walworth Road and Scandinavianthemed markets around Albion Street in Rotherhithe.
Cllr Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for communities, employment and business, said:“No one knows more about our local high streets and town centres than the people working, living and socialising in these communities every day.
“This is why we are working with our local retailers and businesses, large and small, to find out what support they need and what they think will bring people back to our high streets.The High Street Challenge is a great example of what can be achieved when this support is offered and we are working on several other projects that will support small businesses to take on new staff, expand their own business and help Southwark thrive.” Another unique campaign run by the council was Mind Your Own Business where the authority offered bursaries to young would-be entrepreneurs.The scheme offered young people the chance to pitch their business ideas to a Dragon’s Den-style panel in the hope
of receiving a bursary to kick start their own company. Seven fledgling businesses, ranging from designer T-shirts to car cleaning and window washing, shared £35,000 in the most recent round.
Another initiative supporting business is The Southwark Partnership Investment Readiness & Enterprise (SPIRE) Programme, Southwark’s business support service delivered by Prevista Ltd in partnership with Envestors and RBSS. The third and final round of bursaries brought the grand total invested to more than £100,000, which helped 23 new businesses set up by local young people aged between 16 and 24-yearsold, including fashion designers, mechanics, beauty technicians, music studios, digital media, caterers, urban horticulture and gourmet popcorn.
As well as the funding to kick start their business, the council worked closely with the London Youth Support Trust (LYST), a charity that helps young people start businesses, to provide young entrepreneurs with the support they needed to develop their business ideas. If you are a Southwark resident considering self employment or you run a growing business in Southwark, you can work with experienced business advisers to access free support to grow and develop your business and raise finance (where eligible). SPIRE will provide:
• Tailored support to address issues facing your developing business • Professional advice and support to become investment ready
• Support to understand the various sources of funding (including debt and equity funding) and submit high quality funding applications • Early day equity investment or specialist support for social enterprise applications
• A comprehensive package of aftercare support which enhances the sustainability of your business
To register, you will be invited to attend an initial business assessment meeting to identify your support needs. Southwark Council is preparing to launch a range of business support and opportunities, particularly for local small businesses. Keep an eye on our website at www.southwark.gov.uk to get the latest business news.
If you are interested in starting or growing your business, please call 020 7609 4198 and ask for Nadine Bokhoory or Stephen Kain. Alternatively you can email them at nadine.bokhoory@southwark.gov.uk or stephen.kain@southwark.gov.uk Southwark Business Today
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Employing People with Learning Disabilities Toucan Employment is a not-for-profit supported employment charity that works with individuals with a learning difficulty/disability to assist them with finding sustained paid employment. Through doing this,Toucan aims to reduce the social exclusion of people with learning difficulties/disabilities, in turn making them more active members of society that feel equal and valued.These aims can only be achieved through Toucan's understanding of the complexity of learning disability.
Due to this understanding, the support can be delivered in a way that is as flexible as it is varied.Toucan assigns each new client with an Employment Development Adviser that works with them on a one-to-one basis, ensuring that the individual is an active part of shaping the support they receive. Support can involve CV writing, on the job support and coaching, and quite literally everything in between.
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And what distinguishes Toucan Employment among a field of comparable organisations is that they remain active in providing support even when paid employment is secured.
Parallel to this, the organisation has a perpetual goal to engage with employers - national and local - and promote the benefits of inclusion in the workplace, thus increasing the likelihood that they’ll employ people with learning disabilities in the future.
And it’s this holistic approach that can be attributed to Toucan’s retention and success rate and the fact that they are able to engage with what would be seen as more difficult individuals to work with; individuals that had been passed on by other organisations.
These achievements have been recognised by peer organisations and funders. In recent years Toucan has received funding for a social enterprise café - the second project of it’s kind to be run by the charity - and
Southwark Business Today
numerous training projects that provide clients with the opportunity to develop their skills in areas such as horticulture and customer service. Toucan is now working in partnership with several organisations across south east London and Brent. They are always looking to the future to initiate new projects that will further benefit the needs of their clients, and in the long term, further promote inclusion in the workplace.
Founded in Southwark in 1989, Toucan now works across four London boroughs and supports people with a variety of support needs and aspirations from equally varied backgrounds, age groups and cultures.
Please contact Toucan Employment for further information. Sian Jones Employment Development Advisor Unit 14, 83 Crampton Street, London SE17 3BQ
0207 703 2096
sian@toucanemployment.org
Property
A time of change
James Couse, Director ES Group
Of course, long before the News International deal was announced Southwark had been making the headlines because of the iconic structure at 32 London Bridge Street. The “Shard” has become a landmark; it is clearly visible from all corners of the city and over 50 % of the vacant offices totalling approximately 500,000 Sq Ft is now let, reputedly at rents for the best floors at over £70 psf.
I recollect an article I wrote in the Estates Gazette on the Southwark office market in 1995 headed “A bridge too far.”
London Bridge today can hardly cope with the influx of workers to this important stretch of land south of the river from Tower Bridge to the East & Waterloo Bridge to the West, now commonly known as Bankside.
This location historically was always perceived to be a cheaper overflow option to the City and West End, however the completion of the Jubilee line in 1999 has been the real catalyst for investment into the location with travelling time of less than 15 minutes to the West End and Docklands from London Bridge. When Rupert Murdoch’s media behemoth News UK announced in 2013 it was to consolidate its UK Media and publishing businesses into The Place totalling 450,000 Sq Ft adjacent to the shard in July last year, the immediate area of London Bridge has changed radically.
The development of No 1 London Bridge and The More London Complex has attracted some key companies for example PWC,Terra Firma Capital Partners and the Law firm Lawrence Graham, in addition to Howard Kennedy FSI and developer Grainger deciding to relocate.
“Typical rents are now in excess of £50 psf,which has exceeded rents at the top of the market in the last cycle in 2008.”
You might ask how can the transport system deal with the thousands of staff? With £6bn of redevelopment work to London Bridge Station and more than 100,000 Sq Ft of retail space and more platforms anticipated for completion in 2018 the location will continue to attract occupiers.
Office rents in Bankside will only continue to increase in the short to medium term because of the limited office supply and increased occupier confidence.When you compare the current rents being achieved with The West End, Holborn and Kings Cross where rents generally exceed £65 psf, Southwark still compares favourably in terms of overall costs attracting future investment.
Bankside now has its own identity and appeals to a multitude of different companies and with the significant regeneration into Network Rail, increasing retail and restaurants the future is very exciting. My firm, having established offices in the location in London Bridge for more than 20 years, will continue to be very actively involved with our retained clients and all the ongoing changes.That Bridge is closer than ever before to the action.
James Couse is a Director at ES Group and can be reached on 0207 955 8416 or via email: james.couse@es-group.com or visit www.es-group.com for further information.
Office rents for some of the better quality offices situated closer to London Bridge have shown strong upward movement of 60 % in the past two years which is indicative of the market conditions and popular location.
Southwark Business Today
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Trading with Russia T
he Russia House Ltd - a Southwark Based Company that has been facilitating Trade with Russia since 1970 By Barry Martin : Chairman
As you read the daily press and listen to the News Bulletins you may get the impression that Russia is not the place to do business - but that is far from the truth.
comfortable pensions and earn a gong or two from Her Majesty.
For example, Peterhead in Scotland are losing half of their Frozen Fish exports that go to Russia with the inevitable unemployment that will bring. No doubt the Mandarins in Whitehall will still earn their over inflated wages, get their early retirement, with very
A bit like Gordon Brown a Scottish Prime Minister of UK giving his mates in Edinburgh the Isle of Man to administer.
Sanctions over the Ukraine is entirely in the realms of the politicians who as usual know very little about trade. Economic bullying (i.e. sanctions ) by one side of course attracts retaliation by the other and the only people to get hurt are the businesses and the innocent workers whose jobs are lost in the process.
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I would argue that the West started it by courting the Ukraine using NATO and European Union membership that’s very bad manners in Russia’s sphere of influence.Also forget annexation - The Crimea was returned to Russia by the will of its 2 million population. Crimea was only ceded to the Ukraine illegally in 1954 by the then Ukrainian Premier Nikita Khrushchev of the Soviet Union as a gift to his fellow countrymen in Kiev.
That’s enough politics, let’s get on to business in Russia.There is no better
Southwark Business Today
place to start than The Crimea - rather neglected by the Ukraine with its economic woes it is in need of extensive upgrading and Russia is looking for UK Ltd help.
From building roads, rail and communication links across into the Krasnodar region of Russia to the infrastructure of the Peninsula, all needs to be drastically refurbished. The tourist industry needs to be kick - started with new Hotels, Resorts and Cruise ship Port facilities. The cost for all of this will be paid for by the revenue created by a Casino and Gambling resort which will be developed on the coast. Casinos are banned in Russia and there are only 4 cities at present that are licenced to allow casinos.
Trading with Russia The Crimea will also once again become an international Meetings venue needing conference and convention centres - Remember the Yalta conference where in February 1945 Roosevelt, Stalin and Churchill decided their influences in and the future of Europe - it has a tradition of hosting International Meetings. The Education system must be upgraded to high Russian standards as well as improved Healthcare, new Hospitals and recuperation resorts need to be modernised.
The Real Estate Market potential has to be realised too.
Crimean Factories can now tap into the huge Russian population as its home market - Factory upgrades and expansion are needed both here and in general commerce, employment is on the up. Lastly Crimea people are desperate to have the western consumables, consumer goods and clothing styles that are enjoyed by the motherland. Their standard of living will very quickly catch up with Moscow, Sochi and St Petersburg.
All good business for British Companies. In addition to the Crimea, the FIFA World Cup 2018 will also provide a bonanza of business opportunities NOW - eleven cities needing Stadiums, Training facilities, Road and Rail links, New Airports, Policing equipment and crowd control training, Security equipment and personnel. The arrival of the thousands of fans from all over the globe will necessitate the need for fast food outlets, bars, medical facilities, souvenir shops and they will all need the western goods to fill them and trained multilingual guides to assist them.
likes and if that includes hunting and fishing don’t be surprised if you are invited to his country Dacha for some sport.
The Russian Regions consisting of 85 Republics that form the Russian Federation, many of them with well over a million population, all need to catch up with Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Another invite is to the Banya - a sauna type place with a few lashings of tree branches and a dip in an icy cold bath after a hot steam and of course lots of Vodka.
The Governors of these regions are ambitious for their realms and are attracting foreign inward investment. Delegations from all over Russia have visited the UK to talk on these possibilities.Again the local population want to enjoy the consumer life that Moscow and St. Petersburg enjoy.
This is the Russian equivalent of the Gentleman’s club here in the UK
The Budget must also include printing in Cyrillic a synopsis of your company brochure and your business cards. Everything must be done to impress on your Russian partners your seriousness in doing business the Russian Market .
“Having worked with Russia for 50 years I can assure you they are fabulous partners, become good friends and you will enjoy increased business profits.”
Study the Exhibition programme and visit Exhibitions in your field - you will find here the demand for your industry in Russia, what your competitors are doing in the Market and you will meet your potential partners. Having worked with Russia for 50 years I can assure you they are fabulous partners, become good friends and you will enjoy increased business profits.
You can see that there are plenty of opportunities for British Business in Russia.
But how do you start - don’t be mean, create a respectable budget over two years.This budget must include 3 visits a year - Russians want to meet you, they want to get to know you remember their state press is just as derogative about you as our press is against them so they only know about you from what they read and that’s not good.
The Russia House can assist you with all aspects of your trade in Russia from getting your visa, arranging your seminar/meetings, planning your trips with flights and hotels, researching the market, printing your brochure in the Russian language and making the necessary introductions.
First meeting you tell them about your company and get onto your family and
Our standing in Russia is second to none - we are respected by our partners and have a good reputation which allows us to open doors where others come up against brick walls. Get trading with Russia - you will find it exhilarating, fun and very profitable.
The Russia House Ltd. Chapel Court, Borough High Street, London SE1 1HH Telephone: 020 7403 9922 www.therussiahouse.co.uk Southwark Business Today
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A coloured print of the vicinity of Southwark Cathedral and the approach to London Bridge in the 1830s (when the cathedral was simply St. Saviour’s Church); and an invoice from Pink’s, which shows the huge jam factory south of Long Lane.
Chamber celebrates 90th anniversary
F
ew areas have undergone as dramatic a change as that covered by the Southwark Chamber of Commerce,which is celebrating its 90th birthday this year.
It’s a story that stretches back hundreds of years, characterised by a rapid development which began in the 1500s.
The small but important mediaeval town surrounded by undeveloped land turned into a major industrial area between the 16th and 19th centuries, prompted largely by trade on the Thames, its proximity to the markets of the City of London and its position on the road to the only bridge across the Thames in London until 1750. Although created in 1924, the Chamber can trace its own story back to 1900 when the first Metropolitan
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Boroughs were set up in London to replace Civil Parish Vestries and District Boards of Works.
The Metropolitan Borough of Southwark was created out of the St. Saviour’s District Board of Works, St. George the Martyr Vestry and St. Mary Newington Vestry.
It covered the area between the River Thames from Blackfriars Road near the border with Lambeth to Tower Bridge Road and down to the Thomas a Beckett Public House on the Old Kent Road, and down the Walworth Road to East Street.
Southwark Business Today
According to former Chamber Chair Ken Hayes, who served in the post between 1998 and 2000 and who has written a history of the Chamber, and Stephen Humphrey, who has done extensive work on the history of the area, by 1900 this area of London had long been transformed.
It had become one of industry and commerce, with cargo-handling on the Thames, hat-making, leather manufacture, hops and brewing, engineering and food processing to the fore, and all encouraged further by the advent of railways between the 1830s and 1860s.
Chamber News Stephen said that the area’s industrial history stretches back to Domesday Book times.
He said:“Southwark in the Middle Ages may seem small to us today but so were Norwich, Bristol,York, Coventry, etc. It was always the biggest and most important place in the old, pre-1889, County of Surrey.
“Even in the Domesday Book in the late 11th Century, there are references to the tolls of ships plying to and from the Southwark waterfront.There was a port even then.
“The Thames waterfronts in London remained England’s biggest port until late in the 20th century. Shipbuilding on the Thames was a major heavy industry. Not only was the Great Eastern built in the Isle of Dogs in the 1850s but for up to three and a half centuries before that ships of the Royal Navy and the East India Company had been built on the Thames in some numbers. “Rotherhithe was the crucial place for shipbuilding in this borough, but neighbouring Deptford was more important still, with a Royal Navy dockyard from 1513.”
Ken said:“It takes very little imagination to stand in Borough High St and imagine that, until the 18th Century, London Bridge was the only bridge available for all trade to pass to and from the City of London markets and trading houses, both financial and commercial, so the hustle and bustle of traders, carts and commerce must have been immense. “The new borough of Southwark became one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in England and, indeed, the world at the time.
“The reason was the presence of the docks along the Thames and its related manufacturing and other industries, everything from tanneries to perfume manufacturers.
“It was a very important industrialised area complete with vast expanses of warehousing along the river.“
Southwark was merged with the boroughs of Bermondsey and Camberwell.
The Chamber was one of three created in the 1920s, with Rotherhithe and Bermondsey being created at about the same time, followed by Camberwell at the end of the 1920s.
The three Chambers did not amalgamate at this time, but remained independent of each other.They did, however, form a Common Council consisting of nominated representatives from all three Chambers, which met quarterly to pursue common interests.
It was in this world that Southwark Chamber of Commerce and Industry was founded in 1924, designed to promote the interests of trade and the businesses of its members in the borough of Southwark. It is believed that the idea of ‘Trading Houses’ and ‘Commerce Associations’ in Southwark goes back over many hundreds of years.
There were existing Chambers of Commerce in Camberwell, (the Camberwell, Dulwich and Peckham Chamber) and Bermondsey, (the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Chamber).
“Southwark Chamber of Commerce was formed to promote the interest of trade in the borough.” Unfortunately, many details of its early twenty years were lost when the Chamber office was bombed during the Blitz in the early 1940s When World War Two began, the Chamber closed and was reconstituted in 1948, playing a major role in the rebuilding of business and commerce in Southwark in the aftermath of the conflict.
Ken said:“Recent years have seen dramatic changes in the area. The big manufacturers have moved out of the centre of London and their warehousing has gone.
“What has replaced them is corporate financial services and service providers, businesses, hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions and upmarket private housing in previous industrial areas of the borough. It has been a huge transformation.”
Ken said:“It was still an industrialised area with factories and warehousing but much work needed to be done in the aftermath of the damage caused by the bombing.This part on London had been targeted by the Luftwaffe because of its industrial importance and the damage was extensive.” In 1965, the growth of suburban London led to the expansion of the County of London into Greater London and the merger of many Metropolitan Boroughs into much larger London Boroughs.
It was not until the middle 1980s that the three Chambers fully amalgamated into the present day Southwark Chamber of Commerce.
But Ken says the aims of the Chamber have not changed. He points from a a previous Chairman’s annual report to members: which said:“Southwark Chamber of Commerce was formed to promote the interest of trade in the borough. Its existence exemplifies the truth of the old saying ‘Unity is Strength’.Whereas the individual views of a few traders may carry very little weight, the collective opinion of an active organisation is too powerful to be ignored.”
Ken said:“This is as true today as when it was first written 30 years ago.”
Southwark Business Today
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Let there be light!
R
oger Beckett’s journey to his role as a director of the Light Projects Group came via the exciting world of live performance in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Today, he concentrates on spectacular lighting arrays for everything from public and commercial properties to religious buildings but he began his career illuminating stages for some of the best-known acts around. A graduate of the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art, Roger said: “I started out working in theatres, doing the lighting for stage shows and concerts.
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“When I came to work for Light Projects Group in sales and fixture design, it was 1989 and a very different world in lighting.
Southwark Business Today
“In those days, the lighting of buildings was pretty unsophisticated.You stuck a few spotlights up and that was it. At the time, new types of lighting were starting to come over from the United States but there were no fittings so we set out to design and manufacture some.” Light Projects had been established as an independent company three years before his arrival when the directors spun off from the then Theatre Projects Group and bought premises in Jacob Street, near Shad Thames which comprised offices and production facilities.
The Big Interview Today, as then, it specialises in the design, manufacture and supply of lighting fittings and accessories for an extensive variety of interior lighting and exterior lighting, and has worked with some of the world’s best lighting designers on some of the world’s most iconic buildings.
Its products, can be seen on everything from Harrods,The Shard, The Globe Theatre,The O2, Selfridges and the Barbican Theatre in London, to Stansted Airport, Hexham Abbey in Northumberland and York Minster.
Internationally, projects include the Alison Hotel, Singapore, the Grande Sheraton Hotel, in Thailand, Hang Seng Bank, in Hong Kong, and Khasbi Fort in Egypt. Roger, who is Research & Development Director, said:“Every project is different and we take the view that there is an element of art to what we do.
“Lighting has moved on so much in recent years. Go back to the 70s and public building lighting meant rows of spotlights, which was pretty uncouth. “Now look at London, look at its bridges as an example, and you will see a much more sophisticated use of light.”
One of the company’s most successful projects was the Golborne Road Railway Bridge, an iconic Victorian iron bridge in London’s Kensington and Chelsea. Recently, its illumination has been upgraded using Roblon fibre optics and lighting fittings supplied by Light Projects in a design that combined beauty and functionality.
Designed by Urban Eye, specialists in using light and specialist surface finishes to transform urban areas, the mix of lighting has been installed to provide a safe well-lit road and walkways.
“Lighting can be about improving safety, for example.An illustration of how lighting can transform an area was the work that we did on The Westway, in London.
“Before the work, the area was dark. You got out at Ladbroke Grove station and it was dark and you thought ‘here I am with a mobile phone and a wallet and I feel vulnerable. Now, due to the lighting, people get off and say ‘this is nice’.”
This creates a stunning visual spectacle when seen from all angles, while light spill and glare to the surrounding areas are minimised.
“Every project is different and we take the view that there is an element of art to what we do.”
Another project gaining much praise is lighting provided as part of the two-year restoration of the Mauritshuis gallery in The Hague, in The Netherlands, which has now reopened with the galleries illuminated using Light Projects’ specially designed ArtLED fitting.
The scheme, developed in conjunction with Network Rail and Kensington & Chelsea Councils, used the latest in LED and fibre optic technology to minimise energy costs. For Roger, such projects illustrate the changes that have taken place.
He said:“I have taken a series of pictures down the years which show how such areas in London have moved from darkness to light. “To carry out our projects and achieve that effect, we work with artists and a number of lighting consultants, including those in Southwark, who are excellent.
“We all know that lighting is not just about art. Done properly, it can improve the way people live.
Light Projects is now lighting some of the most famous works of art in the world, including Vemeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Rubens and Rembrandt, creating atmospheric galleries in a scheme by Hans Wolff lighting design. One of the admirers is renowned BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz, who said:“The Mauritshuis renovation and new extension has been elegantly executed.The paintings are hung against a variety of wallpapers befitting the building’s 17th Century design, and benefit from some excellent 21st Century lighting, provided by the English firm Light Projects Group.” As Roger concludes:“What we do is like painting with light, there is certainly an artistic element to it and we are always looking to try something new.”
“When I came to work for Light Projects Group in sales and fixture design, it was 1989 and a very different world in lighting." Southwark Business Today
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These will include a “Trash n Show” where school pupils will create outfits, jewellery and so forth from recycled items. A borough wide Schools Olympics will coincide with the 2016 Games will be organised; there will be an event for Nursery and children with Special Educational Needs; and a Careers Fair will be hosted for Secondary and Academy Schools. SEP will generate income through fundraising and grants that will be used to support teaching and learning.
Headteachers in Southwark look to link with local business
Headteachers in Southwark’s schools work remarkably closely with each other and have done so for over a decade following the creation of the Southwark Headteachers Council.
All 106 schools in the borough are members including all nursery, primary, secondary, academies and free schools. Representatives are elected from each phase group (primary, secondary and so forth) to an executive body. This Headteachers’ Council Executive meets with external stakeholders, including the health service, the police and the Local Authority to advise and represent the views of all Southwark schools. One facet of Southwark’s educational setting is its continuing improvement.
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Bucking inner city trends, Southwark schools have raised the borough’s educational performance to become one of the most improved boroughs in the country.This success, year on year, is testimony to a combination of dedicated Headteachers and staff and working in partnership with each other and other stakeholders.
The Executive is supported by Yolanda Houston, the Southwark Headteachers Business Director, who recently enrolled to the Chamber of Commerce on behalf of the Southwark Headteachers Council Executive. She could envision opportunities to work with local business and commerce. Providing the best education for the children and young people of Southwark is only part of the task of schools.The other is to produce well rounded candidates for further education, training and employment. The objective is to make Southwark the best borough in London in which to be educated and find work.
To help support educational and school community initiatives, the Headteachers Council Executive has established a Charity - Southwark Education Partnership.This has already been named as the nominated charity of the Hilton Docklands Riverside hotel. The Charity aims to attract income and provide training for school staff, children and parents as well as to host events and activities throughout the year.
Southwark Business Today
Identifying needs and seeking new partnerships to help improve results, prospects and opportunities is constantly re-evaluated and reviewed. This is why the Headteachers’ Council Executive is so keen to collaborate with other members of the Chamber of Commerce.That co-operative concept will identify local product and service suppliers that benefit schools, while at the same time hoping to partner with willing businesses to engage with some of the projects and initiatives of the Southwark Education Partnership. Events such as the forthcoming Careers Fair offer the opportunity for local businesses to meet and identify potential future employees; there will be an easy access to work experience candidates, potential apprentices, and the possibility of mentoring Headteachers to gain valuable business experience.
Yolanda Houston organises annual conferences and this year a Leadership Conference is to be held at Hilton Docklands Riverside on 12 & 13 November to encourage leadership teams from schools to attend keynote sessions and workshops. Southwark Businesses are invited to exhibit at the event - at the same time supporting Southwark schools and forging new partnerships.
For more information contact Yolanda Houston Southwark School Business Director on 07770 347616 or yolanda@headexec.com
Voice fromWestminster
T
MP paints an encouraging picture for economy
here is a growing sense of confidence in the area’s business community,according to Simon Hughes,the Liberal Democrat MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark.
But despite the upturn in confidence, there remain challenges, including improving broadband in some areas and helping more women into work.
However, the overall picture is encouraging and the MP bases much of his confidence on figures that show that unemployment was at a five-year low for July in Bermondsey and Old Southwark.
The statistics from the Office for National Statistics showed that the number of people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance stood at 3,029, down by more than a thousand compared to 4,137 for July 2013.The unemployment figure is at its lowest since December 2008, when it also stood at 3,029. In the past year unemployment has come down 26.8 per cent across Bermondsey and Old Southwark, and 27.4 per cent among 18-24 year olds. Long term unemployment had fallen by 24.5 per cent. Simon said:“The figures all tell a positive story. Unemployment is down, job creation, output and exports are up.
“Whenever I go to visit businesses, I always ask ‘are you busy?’ and the answer comes back yes.”
The MP added:“We have to remember that most people work in small businesses so we have to support them as well as the big companies.
“I think some of our policies have helped with that, everything from making it easier for businesses to obtain finance to reductions in Capital Gains Tax.
“The work being done to increase the number of Apprenticeships is also having an effect in the area and the figures show that 63 per cent of companies that take on Apprentices keep them on afterwards. That is very positive.
That will help the construction sector.
“I campaigned for the Jubilee line to have stops in the area rather than speeding under it without stopping, and we had new stations, which was good for the construction industry. Now I think we must do the same with the extension of the Bakerloo line.
“What we are also seeing is more young people considering starting their own business.That is something that has really changed in the past four years and we are now seeing colleges and schools teaching young people about running a business. “Everywhere you look it is a positive picture, be it tourism where visitor numbers are up, or hotels or restaurants which are busy.
“Some sectors are busier than others and one that still needs help is construction. One thing I am campaigning for is ensuring that development sites do not all go f or high-end luxury housing but that we ensure we have enough affordable housing as well.
“I am also supporting the campaign for better broadband in the Old Surrey docks. It is astonishing that in the middle of a city like London it does not exist. “So, although the picture is positive, we are not naïve and there remains work to do. For instance, we are adrift on getting women into work. “You would think the figure would be high given our tradition with factory working but we have 57 per cent of women in work when in London the figure is 69 per cent so we have to do more to allow women to take opportunities.”
“We have closed some of the loopholes but councils still need to ensure that affordable housing is encouraged.
Southwark Business Today
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Up Close
Life in a fast moving world
F
or Mark Burr,the working day begins with a brisk walk along the Thames to News UK’s new headquarters near The Shard in Southwark
Once he arrives, his day becomes very busy, very quickly.The Head of Public Affairs, who gets in to work for 9am, said:“Walking to work is a good way to start the day, allowing me to drop the children off at nursery and then enjoy the benefits of a walk along the Thames from Blackfriars Station to the News UK building. “Once I am in to work, it is a case of internal and external meetings. By February 2015, 3,400 people will have moved into the new building and a lot of our work is geared towards making sure that we are part of the Southwark community. “We continually meet many of the people who are affected by our business, local councillors, MPs, community leaders and community groups.
“A lot of what we do is about allowing people access to newspapers so, for instance, we have provided eight Southwark libraries with I-pads so that people can enjoy digital publications. It is all about ensuring that we are part of the community.”
That commitment includes encouraging the next generation of journalists who may end up working on the company’s publications, which include The Times, Sunday Times and The Sun.
The other half of his job is national and international as he guides the company’s response to issues such as regulation of the media.
“We work in a fast moving media world and it’s necessary to keep up to date with what is happening.”
“Sometimes, you get regulations that have consequences that had not been considered, or had been poorly considered, and we have to do what we can to ensure that we can continue to do our job.”
Mark said:“We get into local schools and do a lot of work with young people, explaining to them what a career in journalism can offer.
“As part of our commitment, we also run a News Academy and recently held a summer school for fifteen young people selected from hundreds who applied from all over the UK.
“They had a real appetite for journalism and spent an intensive week learning about the news industry. By the end of the week, they had produced their own newspaper.”
He said:“A lot of what we do involves rulings that come out of Brussels and our job is to keep reminding people that newspapers and digital news providers must be allowed to go about their business of reporting stories.
It’s a busy job and often he has evening meetings but, even if he does not, Mark still keeps in touch with the business at all times.
Mark said:“The I-pad is both Man‘s best and worst invention because it means that you are never out of touch. However, we work in a fastmoving media world and it’s necessary to keep up to date with what is happening.”
Southwark Business Today
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Restaurant Reviews By Margaret Rowse Executive Committee
Boot and Flogger
10-20 Redcross Way London SE1 1TA Tel: 020 7407 1184
Hidden away in a small side street off of the Borough there is a Davys wine bar and restaurant that few people know is there.
It is like stepping into a gentleman’s private club, you are immediately taken back to a bygone era, with an eclectic mix of armchairs, wingchairs and dining chairs scattered around different size and styles of tables.There is even sawdust on the floor, you almost expect to see Charles Dickens seated there.
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This is the Boot and Flogger in Redcross Way.At first glance you wouldn’t know it was there except for the discreet name plaque outside, it is almost as if they want to keep it a secret, I can understand why.
The staff are very attentive, the service excellent and discreet.They boast a huge range of wines to match every taste, but only have one beer, a fairly new concession - Whitstable Bay, so this is not a bar for the beer drinker. The menu is not extensive, but what they do offer is done well.They have daily specials and all the food is in season and freshly cooked to order. The portions are as you would expect of a restaurant in a gentleman’s club, robust and filling.A plate of their mixed cooked meats is served with a salad and hot new potatoes, fish features heavily on the menu.
They have a range of dishes that can be ordered either as a starter or as a main, a good idea if you have a small appetite is to order two starters and forego the main course! A portion of their game pie would defeat many, it is enough for two and the starter of potted shrimp and toast leaves little appetite for a main course.
Southwark Business Today
A glass or two of the many ports on offer together with the selection of cheese is a must - if you still have room!
The atmosphere is warm, cosy and like visiting old friends for the afternoon there is no rush for you to leave.The prices are very reasonable and they offer private dining facilities and can cater for small corporate events in their downstairs atmospheric rooms. They have an outside courtyard for the cigar smoker, or for summer dining.The building was used in the past for curing bacon and ham, so has a long history in the food industry.
Book a table - you will not be disappointed
The Blue Eyed Maid
173 Borough High Street London SE11HR Tel: 020 7378 8259
The samosas are full of filling, many times you bite into one and you get just pastry full of air and maybe one or two carrot slivers, not so with those on offer at the spice lounge. The fillings are tasty and more than fill the casing. The set menu’s start at only £14.50 per person and includes 5 items.
Lunchtimes they serve a help yourself buffet-all you can eat for only £5.00. The Blue Eyed Maid also sell other food items in the bar downstairs, these range from fish and chips and sizzling steak, to Caesar salad and spaghetti bolognaise.All of your usual pub offerings are on the menu. Of course you can also order the Indian dishes to eat in the bar.
The Blue Eyed Maid ‘Spice Lounge’ is situated above the Blue Eyed Maid pub. The entrance is a bit secluded along Chapel Court alleyway by a door that leads upstairs to the restaurant.
This is an Indian Restaurant, as the name may suggest and they have a large and varied menu. Including Jalapeno dishes, Balti Specials,Tandori, Biriani, in fact all the dishes enjoyed by those who love spicy, well cooked and delicious food. The surroundings are a little drab and in need of some refurbishment, however the quality of the food more than makes up for the lack of décor. Each dish is delicately spiced, or hot and fierce depending on your preference.
Hospitality
Edwin's
Upstairs at 202-206 Borough High Street, London SE11JX (above the Trinity) Edwin's recently opened above the Trinity Pub in Borough High Street. Named after a local character with an interesting story, this restaurant has been decorated in the style of a Victorian Parlour, interspersed with Mediterranean artefacts. Tastefully done and with eclectic mix of furniture Edwin's offers a menu of interesting dishes with locally sourced seasonal produce,
Good food at an extremely reasonable price, good sized portions, quickly and freshly prepared. Another hidden gem. Why not start with a meal in the restaurant and then make your way down to the bar for the karaoke that starts at 10pm and goes on until 2am midweek and 3am weekends.
The menu is not extensive, but there is something to please most people. The staff were attentive and pleasant. They offer ‘small plates’ such as Scallops in filo, Beetroot, goats curd and pomegranate,‘roasts’ include Angus Sirloin and Slow roast Lamb Shoulder,‘Mains’ ‘Sides’ and ‘Afters’ are all available.
A Brunch menu is also offered-very popular on a Saturday and Sunday and of course Lunch.They are a bespoke restaurant and their prices reflect this. It is not your everyday pub restaurant and well worth a visit. Look out for the history of ‘Edwin’ in the hallway upstairs!
Southwark Business Today
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Hospitality
Shangri La Hotel Ting 31 St.Thomas Street, London SE1 9OU
The long awaited opening of the Shangri La has finally happened! This 5+ star hotel is not without its teething problems-not least that you can see into other people’s bedrooms due to the shape of the building! (they will supply blinds if shy..) The coffee shop at the bottom of the Shard in the Shangri La looks like an excuse to fill a part of the building otherwise unusable. It looks cold and uninviting, but I am sure will be used by those that want to be seen there.
Accommodation
Ting-what can you say, this restaurant has been very carefully thought out, details fine tuned and the result is a very nice experience to be had by all.
Presentation is a sight to behold, pictures on a plate! Portions are not large but taste definitely is.
Spotlessly clean and with extremely helpful and friendly staff. 5 minute walk to Borough Station, 10 minutes to London Bridge Station and easy access to the West End and City.
A quick calculation told me there was £45,000 worth of hams hanging by hooks from the ceiling-what a sight.
The menu is not extensive, six starters and six main courses, all are as you would expect, pretty expensive.
London Bridge, 58 Great Dover Street, London SE1
Finding an affordable place to stay in Southwark is becoming increasingly difficult, prices rise on a daily basis and a new ‘trick’ of some hotels and apartments is to have a ‘minimum’ two night stay! I wanted a room for one night only, to attend a Gala dinner.All the hotels in the London Bridge area were charging £320+ - no thank you.
Then I came across the Accommodation - London Bridge on the web. £99 for the night for two people. Based at 58 Great Dover Street, I read the reviews (all were good) so snapped up a room.
This is not exactly a hotel and neither is it an apartment.The glass fronted building consists of several rooms with tea/coffee making facilities, flat screen TV and private bathroom.
The rooms are very small but adequate for one night stay and the bathroom was large with bath, shower, toilet, basin and heated towel rail.
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Southwark Business Today
This is somewhere I would recommend. If you are here for a meeting or event and need a bed for the night you could do a lot worse. I am fussy, my recommendation doesn't come easy - I have no hesitation in booking here again.
Maltby Street
South of Tower Bridge on the south side of the South East railway line you will find Maltby Street.
A thin alley bedecked with Union flag bunting running for no more than 50 metres.
What a find-food stalls, outdoor eating and the occasional mini restaurant/bar under the railway arches. On our visit we discovered TOZINO’S - a Spanish Tapas bar with a rustic wood clad interior, serving Spanish beer, sherry and wines. Plus to eat various tapas and the famous hams of Spain.You can even buy a whole ham ranging from £150-£350.
The décor has oriental leanings, abstract sculptures abound and the background music is nice without being intrusive.You have to go once-find an excuse (but save up first!)
Maltby Street is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday-go and see it!
Also in Maltby Street is aptly named ‘40 Maltby Street’
The converted railway arch housing Gergovie Wines, a small business importing idiosyncratic labels from France, Italy and Slovenia. They also have a bar and kitchen which currently opens only on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, lunch and dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday. This is a wine business with a difference - a restaurant.
What makes it different is the food that they sell. From deep fried duck eggs with a soft yellow yolk oozing onto your plate, to glazed Yorkshire ham, baked potato skins with salt code, not your average menu. Please try both bars - but shhhhh don’t tell everyone!
Market
Borough Market milestones
11th-12 Century
A market takes shape along what is now Borough High Street, with traders benefitting from the heavy traffic across London Bridge: for centuries the only route into London from the south. A second market, specialising in grain, forms nearby in the grounds of St Thomas’s Hospital.
13th Century
Borough Market marks 1,000 years with a day of footsteps
B
orough Market invited visitors to celebrate its Millennium by marking the occasion with their footsteps.
In an event entitled Footsteps in Time, Borough Market kicked off a year of festivities by encouraging members of the public to create a colourful trail of footprints across the Market. This will be followed by a series of events scheduled to take place throughout the next twelve months, hosted by the Market in collaboration with leading figures from the food and education sectors.
Donald Hyslop, Chair of the Trustees of Borough Market, said:“Rather than a celebration of a single historic event, the Millennium festivities that will punctuate the next 12 months at Borough Market will reflect more broadly on the Market’s past and explore the possibilities for its future. “We have to be aware of our history, our tradition, our heritage, but it is just as important to think about where we are going to go in the next 20, 30, 100 years.”
This year of special events will provide customers, traders and the general public with the opportunity to celebrate Borough Market’s rich history while also exploring the role Borough Market can play in the centuries to come. Other festivities include: Apple Day festival in October - with 1,000 varieties of British Apples on display in a very unique way. • 1,000 Christmas Kisses – encouraging public displays of affection with 1,000 mistletoe berries suspended in the Market Hall in December.
• Food debates and education programmes – guest speakers will be invited to talk to the public about the future of food and the role markets can play in society.
• Summer arts – next summer, Borough Market will stage a range of music and theatre performances.
Charters issued by the City of London, whose own markets are being threatened by competition from Borough, forbid Londoners from crossing the bridge to buy “corn, cattle or other merchandise”, declare that “no market place shall be kept on London Bridge”, and make it illegal for anyone to cross into the City to re-sell bread brought on the cheap in Borough.”
14th Century
City authorities petition the Crown in an attempt to gain control of Borough which, thanks to the vagaries of the legal system, has become a haven for escaped criminals.
15th Century
Henry IV grants to the City of London “assay and assize of bread, wine and other victuals”, sold at Borough Market: revenues which had previously gone to the Crown.
18th Century
The Market is closed by Act of Parliament due to congestion on the high street impacting on trade in the City. Residents of Southwark are granted the right to start a new market, independent of the City, away from the high street. They raise £6,000 by offering annuities to local citizens and buy the area known as the Triangle. The new market opens in 1756 in its current location.
19th Century
The Market expands considerably and the growth of the railways turns Borough into a vital hub in the fruit and veg wholesale trade, serving commercial customers from all over the South East.
Southwark Business Today
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Legal
Huge Drop in Tribunal Cases - is the new fees regime here to stay?
L
ast summer,the Government’s imposition of a new fees scheme for employees wishing to bring claims in the Employment Tribunal was been a political hot potato.
The Government aimed to deter employees and workers from bringing groundless and time-consuming claims by introducing issue fees ranging from £160 to £250, alongside other new fees for various stages of claims.
The Tribunal system was costing tax payers £74million so the Government wanted employees, where they could afford to do so, to make a contribution towards these costs by imposing the new fees regime. One year on, the new regime together with the changes to the ACAS early conciliation process - have resulted in a huge drop in new Tribunal claims.
Figures issue last week by the Ministry of Justice record a 81% decrease in the number of claims issued when compared to the same period last year. Whilst for employers this has been a welcome outcome, there is, unfortunately, no room for complacency and it is uncertain as to whether the new fees regime is here to stay.
There has been considerable opposition to the fee imposition by many lobbying bodies and unions who claim that they are denying access to justice to those who are most vulnerable and in need.
Jo Keddie,Winckworth Sherwood
The Labour Party has also made it known that it will abolish the new system if it comes into power.
The most notable opposition has come in the form of a High Court challenge by Unison earlier this year that sought to abolish the new regime. The High Court dismissed the challenge as it felt that it was “premature” and the evidence at that time lacked “the robustness necessary to overturn the regime.” Part of its rationale was that it was not satisfied on the sufficiency of the statistics available as to how the new system was working and that further Tribunal statistics would be key to the case.
“Figures issued by the Ministry of Justice record an 81% decrease in the number of claims issued when compared to the same period last year”
Not to be deterred, Unison appealed to the Court of Appeal yesterday. Its appeal was stayed because the Lord Chancellor has agreed that a new High Court hearing should take place as soon as possible to review the dramatic drop in tribunal claims.
No doubt, Unison will be relying heavily on the latest figures to support its arguments that the fees are unfair and should be dropped. Unison is relying on a number of EC law principles and well as adducing evidence that the new regime is having a disproportionate impact on women.
Having reviewed the latest statistics, there is a reasonable prospect that Unison’s appeal could be taken seriously and succeed. If this were to happen, Unison will argue that it should repay Claimants’ fees in full. However, will matters stop there? Would there then be challenges by potential claimants who, but for their inability to pay the new fees, would have brought claims against their employers during the last year? The Tribunals have very strict deadlines for bringing claims and it is probable that such claims would fail. The outcome of the hearing is unlikely to be immediate but it will be of significant importance for employers and employees alike.
Jo Keddie is a partner and Head of Employment at law firm Winckworth Sherwood LLP. She can be reached by email: jkeddie@wslaw.co.uk. Visit www.wslaw.co.uk for further information Southwark Business Today
31
95 years of trading
N
igel and Kathy Bell run Bells,The Dulwich Kitchen & Bathroom Company,on Lordship Lane.
Nigel is the fourth generation of the Bell family, as the company was started in 1919 by Ronald Bell and his two sons, who prided themselves on their customer service. Bells have been trading for 95 years at the same premises and are the oldest business on Lordship Lane.
The business originally was an ironmongers, a locksmith, tool grinders, plumber’s merchant and sold globes for gas lights. During the 2nd World War they charged Accumulators for radios. Customers would keep one on charge at Bells and use one at home, a bit like having a spare battery for your mobile phone today. Another string to their bow was wallpaper, which was hand trimmed by Nigel’s grandmother.
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During the 1970s and 80s they added paints and had one of the first paint mixing machines.
Over the same period of time the ground and first floors were extended and they purchased the next door shop, the old betting shop. Today Bells have evolved into bathrooms and kitchens and are still plumber’s merchants, with more than 20 bathroom sets and 10 kitchens on display.They can offer a wealth of product knowledge with a fine reputation built up over 95 years. Their experienced team of designers lead by Tony Moore and Keith Vero offer free planning and design using a CAD, (Computer Aided Design) program. Customers receive several visual perspectives of how their bathroom or kitchen will look.
Southwark Business Today
They can also visit your home to discuss design options with you. Full installation can be arranged and another thing to note is that there is no charge for delivery in the local area. Just pop into the showrooms for a look around to inspire you.
Business News
Housing scheme wins funding
N
otting Hill Housing’s regeneration of the Aylesbury Estate, Southwark,is one of the schemes that will benefit from new funding.
Under the 2015-18 Affordable Housing Programme, Notting Hill Housing (NHH) has been awarded £77.4m in grant funding from the Greater London Authority to bring 2,250 new affordable homes to London by 2018. NHH Chief Executive Officer, Kate Davies said:“I’m proud that we are a leading partner of the Mayor to meet new housing need in London. “It is important that London remains a place where people on moderate incomes can find a place to live. Our mission is to provide more affordable homes for Londoners, and this contribution will help us continue to do that.”
The funds will enable NHH to deliver 1,050 affordable rent properties (or in the case of the Aylesbury regeneration, target rent properties) and 1,200 shared ownership homes across London within the next five years.
Teams begin the big move
S
taff at News UK,the publisher of The Times,The Sunday Times and The Sun, have begun moving into their new headquarters at The News Building in London Bridge Quarter.
The News Building, formerly called The Place, sits at the heart of London Bridge Quarter next to London Bridge station. It is home to 430,000 sq ft of office space on 17 floors and was designed by Renzo Piano, who also designed The Shard.
Paul Hayes, Managing Director News UK Commercial, said: "With a 30-year lease on our new HQ we intend to be around for a long time as
we build a prosperous and sustainable future for our world-class journalism. “News UK is also proud to take its place on London's landscape at this iconic location and to be rooted into this historic and vibrant community. "We have also used the opportunity of moving to state-of-the-art premises to remove all offices and introduce hot-desking for our
commercial operation. Our new building is transformational and I am convinced that our move and changes to working practices will benefit the bottom line in the long term."
Other News Corp UK companies Publishing firm HarperCollins and Wall Street Journal publishers Dow Jones - will also move to The News Building between now and early 2015.
Southwark Business Today
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LastWord
Q1 Q2 Q3
Name: Les Johnson Company: LJPM Ltd Job title:
Construction Consultants
Director / Owner
Born near Spalding, Lincolnshire and grew up expecting to work on the family farm. Now living in Kent but spend much of my time in London taking advantage of the theatres, galleries and museums as well as local events.
Q4 Q5
Have a wonderful family with two sons, two grandkids.
My sporting activities have been somewhat neglected but involved badminton and small-bore rifle target shooting.
Join Us
For further information contact: Southwark Chamber of Commerce Southbank Technopark 90 London Road, London SE1 6LN +44 (0)845 680 1946 Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com www.SouthwarkCommerce.com
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What was your first job and what was the pay packet?
My first proper job was as a trainee architectural technician for which I was paid the princely sum of ÂŁ600 per annum.
If you were prime minister,what would be your first decision?
Probably delegate final decision making to the monarchy. I think the populous would have better trust.
What is the biggest challenge in your business?
It’s been a tough year with too many eggs in too few baskets so a structured financed growth, increasing client base and responding to regulatory changes within the construction industry.
If you could do another job,what would it be? That is a really difficult question as I love the job I do. Probably a Naval Architect as I am fascinated by the aesthetic quality, grace and sometimes unashamedly opulence of boats and ships and the fact they still float
What's your favourite London building?
May sound obvious but it would have to be the Shard.
Already iconic and such a recognisable feature on the skyline from many parts of London. Not just its architecture but the technical and health and safety challenges it posed being the tallest building in Europe at the time, developing pioneering construction techniques not tested before in this country. Also, it has remained uncluttered by other buildings, which sadly cannot be said for those over the river.
The Chamber is made up of active and successful business people from a wide range of sectors who are based in Southwark, believe in Southwark and wish Southwark to prosper.
We are run by an annually elected Executive Committee who meets ten times a year and there are a number of active sub-committees who work on behalf of the membership. Their work includes developing business networking opportunities and events, organising conferences and workshops, offering business support and advice surgeries and lobbying local decision-makers on the big issues of the day.
By working together we can help create the conditions for business to thrive in the area.
Southwark Business Today
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