6 minute read
British Land
Working with the Southwark Council to create a vibrant, inclusive, mixed-use development at Canada Water
An update from the Canada Water Masterplan team
Thrive - a low-cost, multi-functional maker and flexible co-working space run by charity Tree Shepherd - has re-opened its doors after closing during Covid-19. It is returning to help support Canada Water’s small businesses and local entrepreneurs with a safe working space.
We know that the past few months have been difficult and that these uncertain times will have a very real, material impact on people’s lives - not least for Southwark’s smaller businesses and local entrepreneurs.
That is why we wanted to share the news that Thrive, located in an old restaurant in Surrey Quays Leisure Park, has recently reopened its doors with new COVID safety and security features including individual offices. Thrive originally launched in February 2019 in partnership with local charity Tree Shepherd, quickly becoming a platform for local small businesses and individuals to connect and support each other, as well as the wider Southwark business community. While it continued to support local entrepreneurs during the crisis by offering business advice remotely, we are delighted to have supported Tree Shepherd in introducing social distancing measures, meaning that Thrive is once again able to provide its full range of services. The partnership has turned an empty unit into a flexible coworking space, providing local residents and businesses with meeting rooms, makerspace and super-fast Wi-Fi, as well as access to free professional business advice and mentoring, networking events and start-up training workshops. We’ve been partnering with Tree Shepherd since 2018, although the organisation has also been running a similar workspace in Tulse Hill and other projects which support entrepreneurs across London with low incomes since 2015. What we have found from our work over the years is that the key to ensuring that smaller businesses progress to the next stage in their development has been the ability to access ongoing support and space to work. We are therefore hoping not only that Thrive can continue the fantastic success it achieved during its first year in operation, during which it had attracted over 40 new members, but that the reopening will play its part in supporting the recovery here in Canada Water post-lockdown. This includes providing a costeffective and flexible space that local SE16 entrepreneurs and small businesses who are unable to afford office space, can use to return to working again.
How to access the space and business support
Thrive is currently open three days a week to the public (Monday to Wednesday and seeking to expand when conditions allow) and offers 24/7 access for entrepreneurs renting individual offices and who are key holders. It is accessible on a membership basis, with daily and monthly passes set at rates affordable to those on low incomes. Thrive also has a number of meeting spaces which can be booked on a daily or half-daily basis. Thrive has also received additional support from the Southwark Chamber of Commerce. While it is primarily aimed at SE16 residents and focused on entrepreneurs and small local businesses, it is open to others in the area who are in need of its services. If you know someone who might be interested in using the Thrive space or accessing its business support programmes, then please email the Thrive team at
info@treeshepherd.org.uk
or call 020 3948 3020. You can also see the latest at @TreeShepherdUK on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
To find out more about the Canada Water Masterplan please check our website - www.canadawatermasterplan.com
Likewise, you can follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to get regular updates on the project.
Should you have any questions or would like to be added to the mailing list to receive direct updates about the project, please get in touch by emailing team@canadawatermasterplan.com.
In many other places in the UK, this type of change could be met with an unexpected obstacle – shifting broadband supplier.
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