London Bridge Unlocked A recovery action plan for the London Bridge Business Improvement District (BID) 2020-21
“From key workers at Guy’s and London Bridge hospitals to small businesses totally changing their offer overnight, the London Bridge business community has been inspiring throughout this crisis. Team London Bridge is proud to support the area as we continue to work towards a sustainable, resilient and successful future” Nadia Broccardo Team London Bridge, Chief Executive
A recovery action plan for the London Bridge area 2020/21 A considered response Under the leadership of the Board, Team London Bridge has been working hard throughout the Covid-19 pandemic period to help support our Business Improvement District members. We have retained essential services and adapted others as we move through the London Bridge Recovery Plan with the help of our Back to Business working group. 4
CRISIS Supporting businesses and employees through initial stages of the pandemic
PRE-RECOVERY Building capacity for recovery and sustainability
RECOVERY Supporting businesses and employees in recovery
GROWTH Delivering responsible growth and sustainable success
Our projects and services in the coming months will focus on: Inspiring confidence in employees and visitors by making sure London Bridge is a safe, clean and welcoming place to be Promoting businesses and celebrating the area’s culture Sharing best practice, knowledge and guidance Ensuring Responsible Business, Sustainability and community values are not lost Creating a five-year BID plan to ensure growth and support businesses in the long-term Thank you to our many partners and business members who have helped continue to deliver our projects through an exceptionally difficult period.
Your community Your vote A ballot process every five-years allows you, the local business community, to prioritise your needs and continue these BID services. The BID ballot scheduled for Autumn 2020 will now take place in February 2021.
This work is funded by the Business Improvement District levy for the direct benefit of local businesses.
For more information on upcoming projects visit www.teamlondonbridge.co.uk 5
Safety and Security Crisis and Pre-Recovery What we’ve delivered so far Early public health briefings before lockdown Additional patrols by BID funded police officers Prioritised the prevention of crime and anti-social behaviour against key workers Empty business premises checked and kept safe Mobilised urgent donations for key workers Free floor vinyls to promote social distancing (over 800 distributed)
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Recover, Reassure, Renew / Planning ahead
Restart the subsidised
BCRP radio & intelligence system with refresher training for businesses
Dedicated police operations targeting bicycle and property theft
Work in partnership with the Met Police to deliver online counter-
terrorism awareness training Introduce a new mass
notification platform
High visibility patrols from our two funded
Increase the frequency of free bike marking sessions in anticipation of greater demand
police officers
Fund engagement work by the Southwark Young Advisors to
tackle anti-social behaviour and help safeguard young people
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Environment Crisis and Pre-Recovery What we’ve delivered so far Introduced subsidised PPE disposal service for businesses Ongoing cleaning of public spaces, including deep cleaning prior to the re-opening of leisure and hospitality businesses on the 4th July Kept public gardens thriving and safe during lockdown Adapted and increased our litter picking service to reflect new footfall patterns and hotspots
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Recover, Reassure, Renew / Planning ahead
Re-introduce our
coffee cup recycling programme
Additional cleaning
of our busiest pavements and public seating areas
Restart subsidised recycling collections saving members 50% of their costs Create new public gardens and improve existing ones, providing much-needed outdoor space for wellbeing
Additional street planting around retail/ hospitality businesses
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Marketing & Promotion Crisis and Pre-Recovery What we’ve delivered so far Established Covid-19 crisis hub on website, signposting guidance, grants and updates Refocused and rescheduled newsletters to deliver timely updates for businesses Critical business and crisis information via Chief Executive’s briefings ‘Reopening Map’ to promote businesses as they started trading Repurposed the DealCard to share stories from retailers and promote offers Increased website usage; important resource for displaced community Hosted #LoveLondonBridge social media competition with prizes to spend in local businesses 10
Recover, Reassure, Renew / Planning ahead
Develop ‘Digital High Street’ concept, opening online opportunities to businesses
Temporary wayfinding opportunities for retail/leisure
New London Bridge dining out guide for when employees return
Continual update of
atlondonbridge.com
website as businesses open and types of service change Support
#BecauseImALondoner London and Partner’s campaign
#BackInLondonBridge
social media campaign and competitions Boosting consumer confidence to return to the workplace; safety, reassurance, inspiration
Work with partners to promote wider area and culture offer to visitors
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Placeshaping Crisis and Pre-Recovery What we’ve delivered so far Coordinating transport partners to manage street space Developing sustainable food delivery options for restaurants Bike repair sessions, popular with key workers New wayfinding ‘beacon’ at the Tooley Street Triangle, promoting walking routes New ‘fresh air square’ on the Low Line, working with Nine Lives bar
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Recover, Reassure, Renew /
Planning ahead
Delivering new street space projects, promoting social distancing and sustainable travel
Launch sustainable food delivery service using cargo bikes
Support outdoor
seating licenses and positive environments for business recovery
Work with the council and developers to promote Support drive for
increased cycle commuting; parking, safety, security
Expand Bikes for Business service; safer, cleaner and cheaper deliveries
business, social and sustainability interests in new developments
Respond to business desire to ‘build back better’ in terms of
reducing carbon use and air pollution
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Arts & Culture Crisis and Pre-Recovery What we’ve delivered so far Make Music Day Festival and Musicity at Home live online in June A strong programme of Love Lunch cultural collaborations Online poetry performances RCA Masters partnership with Rachel Pimm concluded online Musicity X Low Line made available for home listening
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Recover, Reassure, Renew / Planning ahead
Commissioning a series of new public art works by Mark Titchner around London Bridge promoting wellbeing and confidence in the area
Support culture projects as part of Mental Health Week in October
Winter celebrations to
make outdoors more welcoming during colder months
Re-introduce the Sunshine!
Kiosk by Andrew Logan to welcome visitors
New Musicity and
Thames Clippers collaboration to
celebrate the River Thames Develop Virtual Reality experience on the riverfront as part of Thames Festival
Free Poetry Takeaway service and National
Poetry Day workshops
Self-guided walks
and experiences linking to attractions, retail and hospitality
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Events Crisis and Pre-Recovery What we’ve delivered so far Extended series of Love Lunch events online for employees at home Wellbeing in the workplace online workshops; signposting to resources ‘London Bridge Back to Business’ online forums held; working group formed Sustainable workplace workshops online in partnership with Hubbub
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Recover, Reassure, Renew / Planning ahead
Repurpose London
Bridge Hive space to accommodate altered business needs
Continue to develop
sustainability themed events
previously known as the Green Network Introduce
experiences as
incentives to explore the area physically and virtually (e.g. city exploration games)
Re-start physical events programme for limited audience; integrate with online offer
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Responsible Business Crisis and Pre-Recovery What we’ve delivered so far Working with Southwark Council to identify and signpost crisis grant opportunities for eligible businesses and charities Connecting our business community with local charities Team London Bridge on the advisory Board for Southwark Giving Ensuring Responsible Business standards are not forgotten in crisis response
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Recover, Reassure, Renew / Planning ahead Create a wellbeing
in the workplace
group; new workshops to focus on diversity/ inclusion
Continue to offer resources on wellbeing
support and mental health for employees
Ensure Responsible Business values are upheld and evolve with changed business/social needs Produce a Social Impact Audit of our grant funded projects to direct future policy
Create a baseline of London Bridge
Responsible Business Standards
Promote ‘One Community’ approach with increased resident engagement
Alternative Christmas Campaign 2020 as needs and guidance change
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