The Masthead April 2020 by Benham Publishing Limited

the

masthead

Official Magazine for South East London Chamber of Commerce - Issue 14

Sustainability

is key to success • LEWISHAM - Supporting Lewisham’s businesses and each other • GREENWICH - Latest news from Royal Borough of Greenwich - Royal Greenwich Business Awards Winners - First virtual business meeting • BROMLEY - Your Bromley supporting town centre businesses • BEXLEY - Bexley goes electric • EDUCATION & SKILLS - The skills funding gap • VISIT GREENWICH Tourism body provides vital support for business • REGENERATION - Creating a new community • BIG INTERVIEW with Stewart & Partners

TOYOTA CAMRY EXCEL SELF-CHARGING HYBRID

£279.46 £1,676.76 +VAT PER MONTH*

+VAT INITIAL RENTAL*

Contact us today for a personalised quote. Derek Palmer 07468 861109 derek.palmer@jemca.co.uk Jemca Toyota Bromley jemcabromley.toyota.co.uk

Jemca Toyota Sidcup jemcasidcup.toyota.co.uk

*Business users only. Initial rental and VAT applies. Available on new leases of Camry Excel when ordered and proposed for finance between 1st April 2020 and 30th June 2020, registered and financed by 30th September 2020 through Toyota Financial Services on Toyota Contract Hire. Advertised rental is based on a 36 month customer maintained contract at 8,000 miles per annum with an initial rental of £1,676.76 +VAT. Excess mileage charges apply. You will not own the vehicle. Other finance offers are available but cannot be used in conjunction with this offer. Offer may be varied or withdrawn at any time. At participating Toyota Centres. Toyota Centres are independent of Toyota Financial Services. Indemnities may be required. Finance subject to status to over 18s only. Toyota Financial Services is a trading name of Toyota Financial Services (UK) PLC; registered office Great Burgh, Burgh Heath, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5UZ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Terms and conditions apply. Model shown is Camry Hybrid Excel 2.5 VVT-i Auto at £31,990. Additional charges may apply on selected paint colours and finishes. Prices correct at time of being published. 5 year/100,000 mile manufacturer warranty. Terms and conditions apply. Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km): combined 50.4 (5.6) - 51.3 (5.5). Combined CO2 126 - 127 g/km. Figures are provided for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results. Fuel consumption and CO2 produced varies significantly depending on a number of factors, including the accessories fitted (post-registration), driving style, conditions, speed and vehicle load. All models and grades are certified according to the World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), which replaces the New European Driving Cycle test procedure (NEDC). All CO2 figures quoted are NEDC equivalent. This means the CO2 figures are based on the new WLTP test procedure but calculated (using a standard European calculation method) to allow comparison with the NEDC test procedure. The NEDC equivalent figures will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. All mpg figures quoted are full WLTP figures. More information can be found by visiting: [https://www.toyota. co.uk/world-of-toyota/environment/wltp]. The official CO2 figures for vehicles will change as from 6 April 2020, due to a change in the official method of calculation. CO2 figures are used in the calculation of Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) for new cars during their first year of registration. As a result, all CO2 figures, car tax and recommended ‘on the road’ prices for new vehicles are subject to change for vehicles registered after 6 April 2020. Please consult contact your local Toyota Centre for further information.

Welcome 3

find

inside Supporting Lewisham’s businesses and each other

Shaun plots the route to business success

5 Chamber News 6-7 Economy 8-11 Focus on Lewisham 12-13 Royal Greenwich Business Awards 14-16 Focus on Greenwich 17 Your Bromley 18 News 19 Your Sidcup 20-21 Skills 23 Legal 24 Theatre Review 25 Past Events

Sustainability is key to success

26-27 Big Interview 28-29 Made in Greenwich 30-31 Visit Greenwich 32-37 Regeneration 39 In Conversation with… 41 News 44 Finance Update 42-43 Technology 45 Ask the Expert 46-47 Health & Wellbeing 49 The People behind the Business 50 New Members

Simple steps to work and colloborate securely from home

Welcome to The Masthead the South East London Chamber of Commerce magazine. business world and we held our regular monthly Board Meeting via Zoom. On page 14 you can read about our first virtual business event with the Royal Borough and a second one is scheduled for Thursday, 16th April.

he Chamber is T celebrating 131 years of being in business for business and we find ourselves in surreal times. The Chamber has moved to the new virtual

Editorial and General Enquiries South East London Chamber of Commerce Unit TW/145, Trinity Wharf, Harrington Way Warspite Road London SE18 5NR Tel: 020 8317 3365 Email: office@selondonchamber.org www.selondonchamber.org

@SELondonChamber

@SELondonChamber South East London Chamber of Commerce

Before the world changed so radically, we enjoyed some excellent events which you can read about in this issue. I had hoped to talk about our Summer Party which was scheduled to take place in the yard of Davy’s Wine Vaults in Greenwich, as part of their Publisher Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com Published: April 2020 © Benham Publishing

150th anniversary. Chamber member, Think Events had planned a wonderful event which will take place, but we don’t know when. Obviously, all our other planned events are on hold, but some will take place in the new virtual business world. We’ll commence with breakfasts as dates have been agreed. These will be free, but we will ask for a £5 donation to the newly created FE Foodbank Friday initiative. LSEC started this fundraising campaign on Advertising and Features Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com Production Manager Mark Etherington Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: mark@benhampublishing.com Media No. 1723 Disclaimer The Masthead is published for South East London Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members.

Friday, 20th March with an aim to raise £20,000 so that food banks can continue to operate despite social distancing. All donations will be split across the three boroughs they embrace once the campaign has concluded. Expect to receive more electronic communications from your Chamber I look

forward to seeing many of you in this new virtual business world.

Helen McIntosh FCIPR President All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at South East London Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in The Masthead are not necessarily those of South East London Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2020 Please note that submitting an article does not guarantee publication. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility forthe veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

April 2020

How can my office staff and I work remotely? With recent events, we have been busier than ever helping our customers and some non-customers with making their staff agile by enabling them to work at home remotely so they can continue their business. We have done a 30 minute video and blog here:

https://bit.ly/homeandremoteworking We have even helped some new customers transition to HOME WORKING within just a few hours – it can be pretty easy REGARDLESS of what phone system or IT set up you currently have. You may have already made some provision for this. But there is a chance you have done this the quickest way possible and it may not be very workable or give your organisation or people access to all the tools they need. It may be ‘makeshift’. There are immediate answers to this. In our video and blog we cover:

INTERNET CONNECTIVITY

COMPUTING • Connection to your work servers

• Connections for your office

• Connection to your Office PC

• Connections for home workers

• Working in The Cloud from anywhere and any device with Office 365, Sharepoint and Onedrive

VOICE • Quick fixes to work at home

• Terminal Services • Hosted Desktop

• Diverting your phone lines and numbers– ISDN, analogue and SIP diverts – what is possible…..and what isn’t

COLLABORATION

• Instant soft phone and smart phone working at home – Low cost and instant – look and feel like your staff are in the office – no difference for your customers – keep them happy and communicating

• Video Chat and Conferencing

• How a Hosted VoIP system is your REMOTE AND HOME WORKING UTOPIA

• Getting instant answers on threads with Microsoft Teams

HOW TO MOVE TO HOME WORKING INSTANTLY • Temporary Measures

• Why moving to Hosted VoIP will PROBABLY lower your costs

• Permanent Transition

• How to get FREE HANDSETS

• Seamless Migration of Data and Emails

For help and advice, please call us on 020 8906 6890 www.tecwork.co.uk | Email: helpme@tecwork.co.uk linkedin.com/ tecwork-uk

Chamber News 5

Providing the skills of the future -

a college at the heart of the conversation As part of the National Apprenticeship Week 2020, London South East Colleges got itself involved in a packed programme of events and activities that began with an announcement to recruit 100 apprentices in just 100 days.

hat followed was a tour of local schools by its Apprenticeships team staging classroom workshops for pupils, dispelling a number of common myths and promoting them as serious and aspirational programmes of study to rival the traditional academic route to success. They also pointed out the advantage of earning a monthly salary, not having to pay fees or running up a debt..

The College teamed up with Bexley Council for a borough-wide event for local employers interested in recruiting apprentices and training their existing staff. On Tuesday 4 February it staged a fantastic live-stream, via its Facebook timeline entitled ‘Meet the Heads of Industry’. A panel of industry experts assembled to discuss two related topics Women into Construction and Men into Early Years. The College was honoured to welcome students from across its curriculum and major employer representatives from construction firms Wates, Econ, Berkeley, and early years specialists LEYF Nurseries, Purple Willows and More2 Childcare. On Wednesday 5 February, the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich was the setting for an Apprenticeships and Skills for Greenwich event where the College teamed up with Royal Borough of Greenwich, South East London Chamber of Commerce, and Visit Greenwich to discuss all things skills, employment, the future of south east

London and the exciting developments due to happen over the next decade and beyond. With special guest speakers Cllr Denise Hyland, Barry Kelly, CEO of Visit Greenwich, Chris Rooney, Talent and Culture Manager at InterContinental London - The O2, Peter Ellis, Job Brokerage Manager at Greenwich Local Labour and Business (GLLaB), and Neil Coates, Group Director of Business Development at London South East Colleges, it welcomed over 50 employer representatives to an all-day seminar and workshops extravaganza encompassing many related topics from the visitor economy and tourism, transport links and infrastructure, job creation and skills matching, growth, regeneration and lots more. The event’s keynote speaker Anthony Impey MBE provided a fitting finale for the event with a lecture about ‘what is driving skills and training now and in the future’. He gave the audience lots to think about with the impact of leaving the EU (the pros and cons of this) and what we (the UK) need to do to invest in providing skills to power our economy in almost every single sector, how technology will affect us all and the ways in which people are employed - new innovations in automation and AI and the future impact of a carbon-free economy. There was plenty to take in and the conversation is one that will go on for a long time to come.

On Thursday 6 February, a number of speed interviews took place at the College’s Bromley Campus. Students met Alex Dimsdale, Director of HR at London Marriott County Hall Hotels Group, along with his newly recruited shadow general manager, Level 3 Travel and Tourism student Lois Buckland. The two conducted the interviews to decide which students would be taking part in a highly ambitious student takeover week that happened in early March 2020.

To round off a truly fabulous week of activity and endeavour, staff and students at the College’s Bexley Campus were paid a visit by Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford. He was greeted by Trust CEO Dr Sam Parrett and Chair of Corporation Stephen Howlett CBE and then taken on a tour of the site’s facilities, meeting students and teachers along the way. Speaking to the College’s media students, Sir David talked about his support for Colleges and how he believes Further Education holds the key to unlock the UK’s economic potential. At the end of the week, there was lots left to think about. One thing is for certain, change is coming, and the College’s employer forums, links and partnerships are going to play a major role in how it responds to the changing landscape. Skills and vocational training, apprenticeships and technology aren’t just for National Apprenticeship Week - they are forever.

If you are an employer and thinking of taking on an apprentice or providing your existing staff with bespoke training opportunities that will help them become more qualified and confident in a range of skills and practices, London South East Colleges would like to hear from you.

Call us on 020 3954 4965 or email julie.hollman@lsec.ac.uk April 2020

6 Economy

April 2020

Economy 7

Multi-billion-pound boost for beleaguered businesses The government has unveiled a £350 billion package of financial measures to shore up the economy against the effects of the coronavirus.

hancellor Rishi Sunak announced that £330bn will be made available in the form of loans, as well as £20bn in other aid. The business rates holiday will be extended to all firms in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors irrespective of the rateable value of their business premises, and cash grants of up to £25,000 will be made available to smaller companies. In a move to allay widespread fears over the potential impact of the virus on businesses and everyday life, the Chancellor also said he would make further funds available should there be demand for it. He said: “The measures I have announced are part of a comprehensive, coordinated and coherent response to

what is a serious and evolving economic situation. “This is not a time for ideology and orthodoxy. This is a time to be bold. A time for courage. I want to reassure every British citizen [that] this government will give you all the tools you need to get through this. “We will support jobs, we will support incomes, we will support businesses, and we will help you protect your loved ones. “We have never faced an economic fight like this one. But we are well prepared. We will get through this. And we will do whatever it takes.” Responding to the Chancellor’s announcements, BCC Director General Dr Adam Marshall said: “Businesses will welcome the scale of the Government’s

latest response, as well as the specific support it is offering to some of the worst-affected parts of our economy. These measures could be a lifeline for many businesses across the UK who are now experiencing wholesale disruption as a result of the pandemic. “The key to the success of these measures is whether they get cash to businesses on the front line, fast. Companies need practical details, at great speed, for these interventions to have the desired impact, and to reassure firms across the UK. “Both the Prime Minister and the Chancellor were clear that the Government would do whatever it takes over the coming days to support businesses, their employees, and the economy. Further measures will be

needed to help all firms and their employees meet this unprecedented challenge.” Mr Marshall’s comments come after the BCC downgraded its economic growth forecasts amid disruption caused by the coronavirus. The organisation expects growth to fall from 1% to 0.8% in 2020 – which outside of the 2008-09 financial crisis would be the weakest full-year growth outturn since 1992. However, the BCC also said it expected growth to pick up in subsequent years, to 1.4% in 2021 and 1.6% in 2022. This forecast indicates that by the end of 2022, the UK economy will have grown below its historic average growth rate of 2.6% for eight successive years, the longest period since records began.

“Businesses will welcome the scale of the Government’s latest response, as well as the specific support it is offering to some of the worst-affected parts of our economy. These measures could be a lifeline for many businesses across the UK who are now experiencing wholesale disruption as a result of the pandemic.”

April 2020

8 Focus on Lewisham

‘The community’s overwhelming response to the coronavirus has shown Lewisham at its best. The Council is working with Lewisham Local, Age UK and Voluntary Services Lewisham and all of our local partners to coordinate our response so we can help our most vulnerable residents. Within days of launching, over 1,000 residents signed up to Lewisham Local’s coronavirus community response hub.’ Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham April 2020

Focus on Lewisham 9

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham, with volunteers at Lewisham Foodbank

Supporting Lewishamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s businesses and each other Coronavirus is first and foremost a public health emergency and we all have a role to play in preventing the spread of this disease. But we know that it is having a very significant impact on many businesses in Lewisham and the wider economy.

hese are unprecedented times and Lewisham Council is working hard to support everyone in our community, including our amazing local businesses. At the time of writing, the Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s measures requiring all non-essential shops to be closed, and people to only leave home to shop for food, health reasons or

work if they absolutely cannot do so from home, has seen many Lewisham businesses close their doors. Our borough is the micro and startup business capital of London, so these necessary measures to control the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable people are all the more impactful. Lewisham Council will be doing all it can in the coming weeks

and months to mitigate the impact on our local economy and on the businesses that you have worked so hard to build. For instance we will be providing a four month reduction on annual business parking permits from the beginning of April. We are also contacting local businesses who are affected by the Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Small Business Grant Scheme.

April 2020

10 Focus on Lewisham

The national and global picture regarding coronavirus is changing daily. The Government has announced a series of measures to support businesses and workers impacted by the coronavirus. At the time of writing, these include: • Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, so employers will be able to access financial support to pay part of the salaries of employees who otherwise would have been laid off • Deferring VAT and Income Tax payments

April 2020

• HMRC’s Time to Pay scheme to support businesses and self-employed people with their tax affairs

• Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

• Statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs

Information and advice from the Government will continue to change quickly. We will be updating our website to keep you informed of the support available at: www.lewisham.gov.uk/coronavirus. You can also sign up to receive regular emails from me and the Council via: www.lewisham.gov.uk/emailupdates

• Small Business Grant Scheme • Business rates holiday for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors • Cash grant scheme for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors

• Support grant for self-employed people

Focus on Lewisham 11

‘I have been moved by local Lewisham businesses who have gone above and beyond to support their communities, such as restaurants providing affordable meals for families on low incomes and businesses offering office space and supplies for key workers.’

To contact the Council about support for your business, you can email economyandpartnerships@ lewisham.gov.uk

Lewisham Local volunteers

The Council will continue to make representations to Government to urge them to support Lewisham businesses and self-employed people who have been affected by the coronavirus.

The community’s overwhelming response to the coronavirus has shown Lewisham at its best. The Council is working with Lewisham Local, Age UK and Voluntary Services Lewisham and all of our local partners to coordinate our response so we can help our most vulnerable residents. Within days of launching, over 1,000 residents signed up to Lewisham Local’s coronavirus community response hub. From delivery of food and supplies to befriending to IT support, there are many ways that local businesses and employees can support those in need. To find out more and register to volunteer visit www.lewishamlocal.com I have been moved by local Lewisham businesses who have gone above and beyond to support their communities, such as restaurants providing affordable meals for families on low incomes

and businesses offering office space and supplies for key workers. I have also launched a one-off emergency appeal for Lewisham Foodbank who are experiencing a big rise in demand as a result of the coronavirus. Every penny of donations goes directly to the foodbank so they can buy items they are short of. The generosity of residents has been overwhelming and at the time of writing the appeal has raised over £68,000. If your business would also like to consider donating please visit www.lewishamfoodbankappeal.co.uk The next few weeks and months may be uncertain but Lewisham Council will always be on the side of local residents and businesses. Thank you for everything you are doing to keep yourselves, your employees and our business community safe. Damien Egan Mayor of Lewisham

‘Our borough is the micro and startup business capital of London, so these necessary measures to control the spread of the virus and protect vulnerable people are all the more impactful. Lewisham Council will be doing all it can in the coming weeks and months to mitigate the impact on our local economy and on the businesses that you have worked so hard to build.’ April 2020

12 Royal Greenwich Business Awards

Exceptional businesses in the borough were honoured at the third annual Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards on Friday 6 March.

uest presenter, breakfast TV’s Steph McGovern, handed out the honours at the glittering awards ceremony, held in association with the headline sponsor U+I at the InterContinental O2. The Royal Borough of Greenwich was supported by the South East London Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the diversity, passion and contribution of businesses in the borough and to highlight the vital role local businesses play in providing sustainable growth. Greenwich is home to over 11,000 businesses providing around 100,000 jobs. This year, there was an incredible 240 nominations across the 10 categories. Cllr Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:

“Congratulations to all the winners at the Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards. I’d also like to thank our sponsors for making it possible, as well as all those who took time to enter the awards, and everyone who attended the ceremony.

a staple in our calendar of events.

“These awards show that Greenwich really is a great place to do business and as a Council, we’re doing everything we can to help businesses of all shapes, sizes and varieties to thrive.”

The 350 ticket holders at the event enjoyed a champagne reception courtesy of Riney, followed by a two-course lunch.

Cllr Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Apprenticeships, said: “As head judge, I got to see firsthand the quality of this year’s entries – and the number of entries we received which truly shows that the Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards has become

The shortlist represented very tough competition, and every single business who made the shortlist should be celebrating that they’re among the best of Royal Greenwich’s businesses.”

Sponsors, contributions in kind and ticket sales fully funded the awards ceremony and £1,000 from ticket sales plus £625 from additional raffle tickets was raised for the Mayor’s charity – Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice – through a raffle which featured some great prizes sponsored by Lovell.

For more information about the awards and the judging process, visit royalgreenwich.gov.uk/businessawards

April 2020

Royal Greenwich Business Awards

Class of 2020 - Business Awards Winners

The Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards winners: • Business of the Year sponsored by Willmott Dixon Mo-Sys Engineering

• Workforce Development sponsored by London South East Colleges Bluebird Care Greenwich

• Micro to Small Business sponsored by Handlesbanken • Tourism and Culture Eltham Escape Rooms sponsored by • Food and Hospitality London City Airport sponsored by Greenwich Dance Drury Tea & Coffee Co First Choice Caribbean • Professional Services Hut Lunches sponsored by Hindwoods Chartered Surveyors • Greener Greenwich sponsored by IKEA Child Safe VPN Ltd Creative Nature HQ • Made in Greenwich • Health and Wellbeing sponsored by sponsored by GLL University of Greenwich Champions4Change Mo-Sys Engineering • Social Enterprise • High Street Retailer sponsored by Greenwich sponsored by British Land Enterprise Board Village Green Grocers Afyah Organisation

(Left) Andrew Geldard, Willmott Dixon. Jurga Sakalauskaite and Michael Geissler from Mo-Sys Engineering - Business of the Year

April 2020

14 Focus on Greenwich Zoom Event

First Virtual Business Meeting On Tuesday, 7th April in cooperation with the Royal Borough of Greenwich the Chamber held its first Virtual Business Meeting via Zoom. Hosted by Charlie Hughes in the Leader’s office, 65 people logged into the video event with questions being submitted in advance.

he Chamber President, Helen McIntosh took the chair and asked the questions, many of which came from the Royal Borough’s recent Covid-19 Business Survey. The Leader, Cllr Danny Thorpe gave an update on all borough matters relating to the pandemic and Claire Pritchard, GCDA and Chair of the London Food Board talked about food distribution. An appeal was given for surplus food, chefs/ commercial kitchens to prepare meals and freezer space. Following the event, GCDA

received many offers of help from Chamber members who participated in the event. Ray Crudgington and Michael Pope from Grant Saw LLP, answered general legal questions and employment law. Raff Gallo, Chamber Vice President and manager at Handlesbanken was the banking expert. Cllr Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Business, Economy, Skills & Apprenticeships led a team of officers who answered questions on grants, business rates and how they are coping with the current situation.

If you would like to ask a question or talk about your own business, please contact Helen McIntosh and the login details will be forwarded.

helen@selondonchamber.org April 2020

The joint SELCC/RBG Virtual Business Event was productive, informative and much appreciated. It was agreed to hold a further one after Easter and this will take place on Thursday, 16 April 2.00 – 3.30pm. There will be a panel of experts and everyone already mentioned above has agreed to participate. We think it will be a good idea to have a bit more sharing of how people have been dealing in their own businesses with practical issues and if they have any tips to offer.

Focus on Greenwich - Covid - 19 15

Royal Borough of Greenwich Business Impact Survey Over 450 businesses completed an on-line survey carried out by the Royal Borough of Greenwich between 23rd March and 30th March. The survey gives a snapshot of how the current COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly impacting on businesses in the Borough.

• 87% of business were taking contingency measures to mitigate impact of COVID-19 including:

ost of the business responding (84%) employed under 5 people with 13% of businesses responding employed between 6 -20 staff which reflects the fact that small and micro businesses are the driving force of the Borough’s economy. Of those responding 61% were private limited companies, followed by sole traders at 24%; 4% were public limited companies and 6% were either co-operatives, social enterprises, self-employed or charities.

o 6% stockpiling o 37% introducing new flexible working patterns o 20% seeking new supply chain solutions o 20% providing additional hygiene measures. o Over half 52% were accessing the available business support

The headline findings are very worrying; • The table below shows that 66% of businesses expect revenue to decline by over 90% and that this impacts most on the smallest businesses

• 62% of business completing survey do not pay business rates; 38% do pay. Of the business responding to survey 48% confirmed that they qualify for Small Business Rate Relief.

• 26% of business have already made staff redundant • 87% said COVID-19 has impacted on their business, of those: o 37% reported supply chain issues o 82% saw fall in consumer demand for goods/services o 50% reported financial impact in terms of liquidity and capital reserves o 43% experienced reduced staff productivity • 87% of businesses reported concerns, of these the main concerns were: o 97% lost income o 55% site premises closure o 64% possible cessation of trading o 65% access to finance o 48% threat of having to lay off staff o 45% reduced productivity

The survey shows an overwhelming 96% of Business taking part in the survey would like further contact from RBG about the support available to businesses. The Council will use the findings of the survey to inform is response to supporting businesses through the current crisis. The survey also gives a good baseline position for monitoring the on-going impacts and will repeat the survey at regular intervals. The survey highlights the need for more support from Government schemes for smaller businesses and those businesses not eligible for the business rates grants. The Council will take this up with the Government and press them to for improve to the package of support on offer.

April 2020

16 Focus on Greenwich

Community Hub launched to support local residents We have created a section of our website dedicated to communicating messages about how coronavirus is affecting council services to our residents and local businesses.

pdated daily as the situation develops, royalgreenwich. gov.uk/coronavirus includes information about closures, changes to services, details about how people in the community can volunteer or ask for help and more. Our Community Hub has been launched to support residents by linking thousands of volunteers with opportunities to help people who are most in need of support. So far over 1,000 people have signed up to help. We’re working with the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency and Charlton Athletic Community Trust, who are providing an important part of our emergency response. Our support for businesses during this time includes IT support from local company, LP Networks. They have kindly offered to provide free support for up to 700 Greenwich SMEs who are registered on the councils free eBusiness programme. The support is aimed at people who are working remotely from home and who may have problems or questions about how to get the best from their remote setup. We’ve also distributed over £5 million of the Small Business Grant fund in the last week alone. The payments have been made via the faster payment system, ensuring that funds are in businesses’ accounts within two hours. People across the country are having to adapt to new ways of working, including council staff. Although our teams may be working differently or with a reduced number of staff, we’re doing everything we can to keep essential services running. We encourage everyone to listen to the advice from the government and NHS to stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.

April 2020

Regeneration in Woolwich Woolwich is the main commercial retail centre in the Royal borough of Greenwich. Its history can be traced back to pre-Roman times and has been associated with the river and maritime trade for many centuries.

he town is now benefiting from significant regeneration with huge investment in new housing, transport, retail, leisure and culture.

New housing

The Woolwich Estates project is well underway to redevelop three housing estates and create 1500 new homes, 35% of which will be affordable. As part of the redevelopment, and in association with Lovell, the Woolwich Estates Community Fund was set up to fund projects for local people to improve the area and make a difference to people’s lives. Fifteen projects have since secured funding, including a community garden, the Ajoda Community Alliance to give lonely residents the opportunity to meet for lunch and go on day trips, and the Anchor of Love to help provide games and adaptive equipment for children with disabilities. Other developments in the pipeline from a range of developers will also mean a large number of additional homes will be built in Woolwich over the coming years.

Transport

Access to excellent transport links is already a reality for many residents and businesses in Royal Greenwich. A new Crossrail station will further revolutionise public transport in the area and is being built at the Royal Arsenal. It will provide connections to Canary Wharf, Central London and Heathrow with 12 trains per hour. Woolwich is one of only two stations south of the Thames on the route, the other being Abbey Wood.

Culture

In October 2018, planning permission was granted for the first phase of a multi-millionpound restoration of historic buildings, to create a 15,000sqm culture and business complex. Woolwich Works will include large-scale concert venues, rehearsal and studio spaces, offices, places to eat, and a base for internationally acclaimed theatre companies such as Punchdrunk. It’s anticipated that the new creative district will provide more than 400 local jobs in addition to new roles during construction. The district will have a significant economic impact on Woolwich and the surrounding areas and bring benefits to the whole borough.

Leisure

The Waterfront Leisure Centre will be replaced with a new state-of-the-art leisure centre to encourage families, young people and adults to be more

active. It will include flexible and accessible community spaces and be easily accessible by public transport. A design team for the project has been appointed and, using feedback from more than 2,300 people submitted during a public consultation in 2019, is in the early stages of designing the new leisure centre.

Retail

The former covered market in Woolwich town centre will be redeveloped as part of a wider site earmarked for regeneration between Plumstead Road and Spray Street. Plans for the Woolwich Exchange project will keep the covered market building and open it up for the community to enjoy. The plans include new housing, including affordable housing, a Picturehouse cinema, cafes, bars, restaurants, workspace, a new gym and nursery. The plans are being developed by St. Modwen and Notting Hill Genesis.

‘It’s anticipated that the new creative district will provide more than 400 local jobs in addition to new roles during construction. The district will have a significant economic impact on Woolwich and the surrounding areas and bring benefits to the whole borough.’ Information about all these exciting regeneration projects can be found on the Royal Borough of Greenwich website: royalgreenwich.gov.uk

YourBromley Masthead Half Page Advert v3.pdf 1 06/04/2020 19:26:18

Focus on Bromley 17

CMY

Celebrating the culture and environment of Bromley

April 2020

18 News

Council home pilot scheme speeds ahead Construction work has begun on the first of hundreds of new council homes being built across the borough.

he Greenwich Builds programme will deliver 750 much-needed new homes for rent, due in part to funding from the Mayor of London and Royal Borough of Greenwich Council. The scheme will help to meet the needs of the 19,000 households currently on council housing waiting lists. One of the commitments made by the council is that construction will be quick, efficient and sustainable without sacrificing quality. Key to this is the use of modular building techniques, and the first highquality pre-built modular units have already been delivered to the pilot Greenwich Builds development in Robert Street, SE18. The council said: “This approach will allow our new homes, which feature other innovations like eco-friendly solar panels and efficient air-source heat pump heating, to be built in a matter of weeks, thereby minimising disruption for neighbours and allowing new residents to move in as soon as possible.” The first of the modules were craned into place at an event attended by member for housing, Chris Kirby, and director for housing, Jamie Carswell. With more than 30 more sites to be developed in the next two years, there promises to be plenty more Greenwich Builds news to come!

April 2020

Supporting Bromley’s Businesses We’re all aware that these are exceptionally difficult times for businesses, and we welcome the Government’s support schemes to help businesses through the impact of the public health measures required at this time.

romley Council is working with our partners to provide businesses with information, advice and guidance. Additionally, we have been working to ensure the funding support announced by the Government, and administered by the Council, reaches businesses as quickly as possible. General advice and guidance is set out on the Council’s webpage www.bromley.gov.uk/ covid-19 under ‘Business advice and support’. It summarises the available business-specific support packages, as well as signposting to a number of other useful organisations and websites who can provide additional help at this time. The Council website is being updated regularly as new guidance is received. If you have any problems accessing this information or applying for the support available please email business@bromley.gov.uk In addition to this, the Council is forming a borough-wide Business Support Task Force which will take a lead role both in helping businesses to navigate through the immediate crisis, and also as we look ahead towards the eventual re-establishment of the

local economy. The Task Force will work to collate and share up-todate information, coordinate the local business support offer, and explore opportunities for effective partnership working that will best support the borough’s businesses. If you would like to be part of the Task Force, or kept up to date with their work, please email the address above. The efforts of the task force will be complementary to the work already being undertaken by the borough’s four Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) – Beckenham Together, Orpington 1st, Penge SE20 and Your Bromley. The BIDs are already actively supporting businesses in their town centres by offering guidance and support. You can find contact details on their individual websites if you would like to get in touch. NEWS ROUNDUP While attention is focussed on the pandemic at present, efforts are still underway to improve the borough’s infrastructure. The Council will this year be publishing its first Regeneration Strategy 2020 – 2030. The strategy will provide a framework for regeneration over the coming decade, focussing investment on

schemes that will have the most significant impact on our residents’ lives. It will ensure that Bromley continues to represent the best of town and country, for the benefit of everyone who lives and works in the borough. The Council’s Executive has recently agreed to develop a Digital Infrastructure Work Plan. The work plan will identify ways that the Council can encourage investment in the delivery of full fibre broadband across the borough. Finally, the Executive has also agreed to take forward supplementary planning guidance for future improvements in Orpington and Bromley town centres. This means that new investment will build on the public realm improvements made to date and in so doing, activate the centres, making them places for recreation, leisure and culture, as well as retail.

Bexley goes electric Thirteen electric vehicle (EV) charging points have gone live across Bexley in an initiative led by Bexley Council - and more are on the way.

ach of the chargers can accommodate two cars and are located close to amenities in parking bays that were previously underused. Cllr Peter Craske, Bexley’s cabinet member for places, said: “We’re investing in electric vehicle charging points because we know

that access to these is key to making residents feel confident about switching to cleaner, greener electric vehicles. Making the switch will help to reduce harmful emissions and improve the quality of our air.” The charging points are operated by BP Chargemaster and can be accessed in two ways. Residents can purchase a Polar Plus membership subscription which costs £7.85 a month plus approximately 0.12p per kilowatt (KWh) used. Alternatively, they can download the pay-as-you-go app, Polar Instant. Charges are approximately £1-£1.50 an hour. For more information visit www.bpchargemaster.com/polar/

The EV charging points are located at: • Welling – Bellegrove Road, Danson Lane, Sherwood Park Avenue, St. John’s Road • Blackfen – Blackfen Parade • Erith – Walnut Tree Road, Erith Road • Bexleyheath – Methuen Road, Sandford Road • Belvedere – Nuxley Road, Picardy Street • Sidcup – The Oval • Crayford – Waterside Plans for more EV charging points in the borough are well underway, with another 26 expected to go live in the next year.

Your Sidcup 19

Sidcup Partners are Looking to the future and are already thinking about Recovery Planning

owns will re-open for business. Those that do not have a clear plan for recovery are likely to take longer to return to successful trading. Many town centre businesses have been forced to close or remodel their trading arrangements; they will also need support to help them adapt again to the new post shutdown trading environment. Town and city centres across the country will need to quickly and effectively re-open for business as soon as the enforced closure comes to an end. We want Sidcup to be ready to face the challenge. A clear and collective plan will be essential for us as we seek to welcome

consumers back and stimulate business growth. We will be working very closely with our partners to ensure we do our best to have an effective plan in place.

wwww Sidcup Partners Ltd

We would like to say please stay safe and keep to the government guidelines only going out when necessary and if you do go out please keep to the rules about social distancing. We are keeping our web site up to date with the latest information. Sidcup Partners are here to offer support and advice during these difficult times.

We have also tried to supply practical help. • We have delivered 100 face masks to a local retailer to offer some reassurance to staff who continue to offer a service to shoppers. • We have delivered over 50 essential food boxes to local people in need. • We have also supplied 100 gift bags with hand sanitiser and other useful items. If you need to contact us please email cheryl.curr@sidcuppartners.co.uk or call mobile 07758 127643

www.sidcuppartners.co.uk

April 2020

20 Education & Skills

he UK has one of the largest funding gaps between academic and technical education, according to a new report from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) think tank. The study said technical students in the UK receive 23% less funding than academic students – in stark contrast to several other developed countries where the reverse is common. The report found that, overall, the average spend of OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries is 16% more per technical student than per academic student. Funding per technical student in Austria is 26% higher than for academic students, and 37% higher in both the Netherlands and Germany. The lack of funding for technical education in England is also reflected in less generous student support, the study found. Government bursary funding to students decreased by 71% per student between 2010-11 and 2018-19, while for apprenticeships there are also less generous subsidies given to employers to pay for training compared to other European nations. Another key finding from the study is that technical education at upper secondary level in England is “uniquely short,” and its narrow curriculum may be depriving students of valuable skills. Entitled “An international comparison of technical education funding systems: what can

April 2020

The skills funding gap A new study has revealed the paucity of funding for technical education in the UK… England learn from successful countries?”, the report undertakes a comprehensive comparison of technical education in the UK with other developed countries. This research considers how far England is behind leading nations, and what reforms would be necessary to match their technical education offer. The study examines the approach of leading technical education nations at upper secondary level (age 16-19) to funding, qualifications, student support and the curriculum.

To narrow the technical education gap, the report recommends that the government should review funding for technical pathways and increase the number of apprenticeship starts for 16-19 year-olds. It said: “While the government has pledged to address academic-technical imbalances, proposed funding increases of £400 million still leave funding at a lower level than the past, and far lower than leading technical nations.

“While the government has pledged to address academic-technical imbalances, proposed funding increases of £400 million still leave funding at a lower level than the past, and far lower than leading technical nations.

“Apprenticeship starts among 16-19 [year-old] students are already very low by international standards. Half of students opt for a technical pathway in England, but just 16% of these take up an apprenticeship, compared to 27% across the EU. The government should consider further redistribution of apprenticeship levy funds towards younger apprentices, and other incentives to encourage the hiring of younger workers.” The study also recommends reviews of the adequacy of student support and the curriculum breadth and length of technical courses. It said: “Leading technical education nations provide more generous student support at age 16-19 than in England. While targeted funding is available for the most disadvantaged students, bursary funding has fallen significantly since 2010-11. “While there are positive developments, such as the introduction of T levels including increased teaching hours and industry placements, England’s 16-19 curriculum remains an outlier among developed nations for its narrow breadth. The government should commission an independent review to consider whether these narrow upper secondary pathways are providing the right skills for young people.”

Education & Skills 21

Students’ ‘Super-Marriott’ takeover runs like a dream Enterprising students from London South East Colleges recently undertook a pioneering work experience challenge at the five-star London Marriott Hotel County Hall.

he cohort of 13 were chosen from dozens of other hopefuls earlier in the term after senior managers from the hotel group came along to conduct speed-interviews. They were offering work-shadowing roles in General Management, Door, Porter and Concierge, Housekeeping, Sales, Marketing, Finance, HR and Events, Engineering, Culinary and Food and Beverage. The aim of the exercise was to give students a real taste of working in this growing industry, boosting their technical, communication and employability skills – hopefully leading to the launch of some exciting careers. The students began their week with an induction session in one of the Hotel’s function rooms given by members of the HR department and other section managers. In it they were taught about the Group’s ethos, house rules and expectations before getting down to the essentials of providing top of the range customer service. Students were then taken on a detailed tour of the luxury hotel and, after a series of role-play and confidence building exercises, they met with their respective managers and set off to work for the week. Multi Property Director of Human Resources at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, Alex Dimsdale worked with College curriculum managers as well as its work experience team to create relevant and highly beneficial positions within the Hotel. The main focus being to show students how their work contributes to offering guests a five-star experience and making them aware of all the routes into becoming senior and executive managers.

Alex said: “We have created a unique partnership with the College that enables us to open the doors of opportunity to those who made it through to this stage of the project. Each individual student has been given a chance to take on responsibility and show us what they can do. They have worked alongside experienced professionals who have donated their valuable time and expert knowledge, guiding them throughout the week in a wide variety of different disciplines. “I have to say, after talking to the students today, we have achieved a high level of success. Each one will be going back to College with greater insight and vision, and above all, much more confidence and optimism. We are all delighted with the results and will be collaborating further to offer similar opportunities in the near future.” London South East Colleges’ Vice Principal Adults, Apprenticeships and Partnerships Neil Coates led the project. He said: “The College’s priority is to ensure that our students are equipped with the real-world skills they need for a successful career. Classroom learning is only half the story and it’s crucial that young people get out and into a workplace to see for themselves exactly what’s involved. “This project not only gave our students a chance to develop a wide range of employability skills, it also showed them the wide range of career options within this exciting industry. It was a huge success and we are very proud of how all our students performed. “We are hugely grateful to the London Marriott Hotel County Hall for engaging with us and giving our students such a fantastic opportunity.”

London’s hotel, restaurant and catering services, leisure and sports industries is forecast to grow by 2.9% over the next six years meaning 3,500 new jobs. Employers will need to look closer to home in order to find reliable and highly trained staff to cover the shortfall caused by the UK’s exit from the EU. Travel and Tourism Level 3 student Lois Buckland shadowed the Hotel’s General Manager taking part in day-to-day operational business meetings regarding marketing, finance, HR, and even one to discuss the Hotel’s response to the current coronavirus pandemic. “This has been a very eye-opening week for me and one I won’t forget in a hurry,” says Lois, “I wanted to do something like this and really challenge myself. Nothing extraordinary is ever going to happen for you if you simply stay in your comfort zone - and this week certainly has been extraordinary.” Other students taking part have also lots to say about their own personal work experience challenges this week. Here’s just a few: Lucy Durell, 18, is a Hospitality Level 2 student hoping to become a professional pastry chef. She said: “I’ve been given the biggest welcome here and the staff are just lovely throughout. It’s almost like working for a family business everybody is supportive, amiable, polite and helpful. I’ve learnt lots this week and sad that it’s got to end.” Noureldin Ahmed, 19, is studying Entry Level 3 ESOL. He is over the moon to be given the chance to take his first step into the hotel business. He is working as a Porter but would like to become a hotel manager one day. He said: “I’ve loved it. The training we got at the beginning of the week has been very useful - this isn’t just a job carrying people’s cases, it’s more

about being sociable and ensuring your customers are being taken care of. Everybody starts somewhere in this business and learns the ropes before really taking off.” Nick Ackland, 17, is also studying Travel and Tourism and has been privileged to don a traditionally smart Crombie coat and welcome guests as they arrive. He said: “There’s a lot more to this job than meets the eye. I worried that I might get bored and fidgety but it’s been anything but. Working alongside and observing my two bosses Alba and Mark has led me to consider this as a potential career; I hadn’t even considered it before. You really need a big personality and be chatty, funny and reassuring. You also need to know how to get things done and act quickly in certain situations.” Angela Tasarra, 19, studies ESOL at Level 1 and wants to progress to an Accountancy course at the College next year. She is working with the Housekeeping service. She said: “What I’ve learnt above all else during this programme is how to see the bigger picture of working in such a prestigious hotel like this. Whether you are in housekeeping, concierge or general manager, you fulfil an important role and are a crucial cog in the engine.” Heidi Eaves, 17, studies Level 2 Business at our Bexley Campus. She was very keen to embrace every opportunity this programme would bring and is impressed with how much she has learnt in just one week. She said: “I hope one day to work as a paralegal but don’t really want to go through the university system to get there. I’d much rather go along the apprenticeship route where I can learn everything I need by actually doing the job from day one. That’s pretty much how I operate and so this work shadowing programme has been truly amazing.”

“The College’s priority is to ensure that our students are equipped with the real-world skills they need for a successful career. Classroom learning is only half the story and it’s crucial that young people get out and into a workplace to see for themselves exactly what’s involved.” April 2020

Handelsbanken strengthens Blackheath team to meet growing demand for local relationship banking Handelsbanken Blackheath has appointed a new Individual Banking Manager, in response to increasing demand for its local relationship banking services.

ippa Sturgeon joined the Handelsbanken Blackheath team in 2018 with over 17 years of banking experience and in her new role, will be involved in developing existing customer relationships as well as welcoming new locally-based customers to the Bank. Built on sustainable values, Handelsbanken’s focus on delivering high levels of bespoke service, through lasting customer relationships, has seen the Bank rated top for customer satisfaction 11 years in a row in an independent survey of British banks’ personal a nd business customers*. At Handelsbanken, branches are responsible for making all day-to-day banking decisions based solely on their customers’ requirements, free from product and lending targets or bonus incentives.

Pippa commented: “What attracted me to Handelsbanken was its values and pure focus on serving the customer. Customers benefit from a branch teamed by experienced local bankers who have the power to make everyday banking decisions. We always aim to provide our customers with an extremely high level of service, and we are able to structure our products to meet their individual needs.” Handelsbanken’s Blackheath branch, established in 2017 and located in Cresswell Park has developed a reputation for its high levels of bespoke customer service, financial strength and high standards within the local business and professional services community. Raff Gallo, Branch Manager of Handelsbanken Blackheath, added: “I am very pleased to have Pippa and her wealth of experience in our team. Pippa’s new appointment

means that we can continue to meet the growing needs of both existing and new customers in Blackheath & Greenwich whilst maintaining the high levels of service for which we are renowned.” Handelsbanken Blackheath is one of over 200 Handelsbanken branches supporting individuals and businesses with bespoke banking and wealth management services across the UK. In February, Handelsbanken was named the most recommended provider for SME banking by the Competition and Markets Authority’s Independent Service Quality Survey for business banking, for the third time. The Bank was ranked top in four of the five categories identified by the survey - with 82% of SME banking customers saying they would be extremely or very likely to recommend Handelsbanken to other SMEs for its overall service quality**.

Handelsbanken was named the joint top-scoring commercial bank in Global Finance’s ranking of the World’s Safest Banks 2019***

Contact details

Pippa Sturgeon, Individual Banking Manager Handelsbanken Blackheath 1 Cresswell Park, Blackheath London, SE3 9RD Phone: 020 8318 3108 Mob: 07970 723560 E: phst03@handelsbanken.co.uk

www.handelsbanken.co.uk

* EPSI Rating (Extended Performance Satisfaction Index) is a system created to collect, analyse and disseminate information about how an organisation is perceived by its stakeholders. The assessment is done in terms of image, preferences and perceived quality as well as loyalty and attractiveness by customers, employees and other interested parties. With a system of databases including more than 70,000 indices derived from some 2 million interviews taken during surveys in numerous country studies over almost two decades, ESPI Rating is the European leader in stakeholder management and benchmarking. For more information on EPSI Rating visit www.epsi-rating.com. ** Competition and Markets Authority, February 2020. *** Global Finance, World’s Safest Banks, September 2019.

Corporate headshot photography SE London, Docklands, City of London, Kent

Update your LinkedIn profile picture or shoot a new photo for your website. Sessions available at studios in Bromley and Greenwich. Book a 20 or 30 minute session, with prices starting at £40. Contact us for available dates and times. SE London Chamber members qualify for a 10% discount

Photo shoots for teams and individual businesses at company premises or studios in South East London Contact Warren: 07779 337765 / warren@wkphotography.co.uk www.wkphotography.co.uk

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April 2020

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Legal 23

Keep data in lockdown while tackling the virus crisis Businesses processing personal data need to keep protection of customer and employee data at the front of continuity planning as they tackle the coronavirus threat.

taff are likely to be working remotely or in different circumstances which could make customer information more vulnerable to data breaches, and cyber-criminals are ratcheting up their fraudulent scams. Alongside, data relating to employee health during the pandemic may be subject to special security requirements. Businesses are implementing contingency planning, with staff working from home and using domestic internet and possibly personal devices to access cloud-based software and systems, making it more important than ever to keep data safe and secure, as fines for data breaches will still apply. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides strict operating boundaries for businesses processing personally identifiable information about individuals with a statutory obligation to notify the regulator of any breach which places an

individual’s personally identifiable information at risk. It also gives wide ranging power to the UK’s data regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), who can impose high penalties for breaches. Tackling the threat of coronavirus is taking us into unchartered territory and while data protection law doesn’t stand in the way of homeworking, or the use of personal devices, it demands even greater attention to security measures, as the ones that you use in the office will need to be tailored to suit these new circumstances. The human element is often the reason for data breaches and without direct supervision and colleagues to consult, these may be more likely to happen. Certainly, there are reports of a steep rise in attempted cyber fraud, with many more phishing emails, malware and social engineering, where fraudsters dupe staff into revealing information or making money transfers.

The other major threat to data security during the crisis is the handling of individual information about staff and visitors who have travelled to high risk areas, symptoms, test results and when self-isolation has taken place. This is personal data protected by GDPR, but where it concerns health it may be special category data under Article 9 of GDPR, which requires special security measures. Such information should be collected and used only as necessary in managing risk and should not be retained unless essential, such as for an insurance claim. Ideally the management and sharing of information is set out in a policy so you know who to tell and what information is shared with whom. So, for example, the ICO has said that it is ok to inform other staff if someone tests positive, or is suspected of having contracted the virus, so as to protect the health and safety of all, but to avoid naming those individuals.

The ICO has published advice to help organisations in facing up to the data management challenge and while they say they will be pragmatic about matters such as speed of response to information requests during the crisis, there is no suggestion that they will accept reduced standards of data security. Organisations will be struggling to keep pace in this fast-changing environment. It’s important to make sure you don’t drop the ball when it comes to data. If you end up with a breach and compromised data when you come out the other end it will be a serious issue. The ICO has the power to impose fines of up to €20m or 4% of total worldwide turnover and the damage to corporate reputation can be immense. David Morrison david.morrison@cwj.co.uk 01689 887838

Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for employers Contact our Employment Team today for the latest advice on: • Furlough arrangements • Lay-offs and redundancies • Vulnerable employees • Absences from work and entitlement to pay

www.cwj.co.uk Call us now on 01689 887812 or email judith.curran@cwj.co.uk April 2020

24 Theatre Review

Suits and Ties and Paper Party Crowns Macbeth at the Greenwich Theatre by Susan Isaacs Arts and Culture Correspondent

he stage is black as we stare out at the scene of a coronation. Confetti flutters down and a robe is lifted off a tailor’s dummy to drape on the new King’s shoulders. To the sounds of ‘Zadok the Priest’ a flimsy paper party crown is placed on the new King’s head, King Duncan. The atmosphere is bleak and metallic, voices blare out over a tinny loudspeaker. It feels like being in a bunker during the Cold War. The play is Macbeth, and the theatre is the Greenwich Theatre, situated in charming tree lined Crooms Hill. Shakespeare’s play tells the story of Macbeth, a Scottish general. When three witches predict he will be one day be King, he is consumed by ambition. Spurred on by his power-hungry wife, Lady Macbeth, he murders his own King. Then he embarks on a spree of further murders to protect himself from suspicion. The bloodbath and subsequent civil war drive him and his wife into madness and death. The play is so famous and frequently performed that it is difficult for a company to breathe new life into it. But the Lazurus Theatre Company have done a skilful job. Jamie O’Neill is absolutely outstanding as Macbeth, devoured by ambition, but tortured by remorse. The finest piece of silent acting I have ever seen is the moment Macbeth is crowned King. O’Neill plasters a wonderful fake smile of triumph on his face, walking unsteadily forward, as the flimsy crown is placed on his head. He collapses moments later in an agony of fear, when he realises that he is being crowned by the bloodstained ghost of the former King he murdered. The stage designer Ricky Dukes and the costume designer Sorcha Corcoran have come up with some interesting ideas, some of which work better than others.

April 2020

Macbeth wears a fantastic trench coat that feels both contemporary and historic. We get a thrill when Macbeth and other soldiers strip to the waist to show off their rippling torsos. But the three witches are played by men in dark suits and ties, who do not quite fit the bill as “unearthly” “withered” and “wild” hags. However, the dark suits form a wonderful contrast to the only coloured costume in a bleak setting, on Lady Macbeth, played by Alice Emery. She flares onto the stage in a glorious full length rich blue evening dress, that half the women in the audience, me included, would like to pinch. Although she is the more ruthless of the Macbeths, that glorious

dress reminds us that she still has some of the softer feminine side to her. And when we see her sleepwalking and descending into madness, we feel some pity for her. The ending of the play mirrors the beginning as a new, and we hope, good King is crowned, wearing the same robe from the same tailor’s dummy and to the same chords from ‘Zadok the Priest’. But our heart stops for one moment when we see that the character placing the paper crown on the new king’s head, is Macbeth. And we are left wondering, as the play closes, whether a new cycle of violence is to begin. Macbeth featured at the Greenwich Theatre between Feb 26th to March 7th.

Following government advice, we took the painful decision to suspend all performances in both the main house and the studio with immediate effect. There is very little that we find more upsetting than a closed theatre, particularly when we had a host of exciting new shows lined up for the weeks ahead, but public health is and must be our priority. As most members of both the creative industry and our audiences are now based at home, we are announcing the launch of Greenwich Connects, an online programme of interactive theatre opportunities for anyone and everyone to express and expand their creativity and engage with other members of the community through a series of weekly events.

To find out more visit www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/greenwich-connects

‘The play is so famous and frequently performed that it is difficult for a company to breathe new life into it. But the Lazurus Theatre Company have done a skilful job. Jamie O’Neill is absolutely outstanding as Macbeth, devoured by ambition, but tortured by remorse.’

Making the right connections

Past Events 25

Each month the Chamber hosts a variety of events which offer members a superb opportunity to meet and chat to fellow business people. Here, we review a few of our past events.

Bromley Breakfast Meeting at The Bromley Court Hotel January 2020

The first breakfast meeting of 2020 was held in Bromley at The Bromley Court Hotel. Our guest speakers were the Leader, Cllr Colin Smith and Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, Cllr Peter Morgan. Both gave an interesting outline about their plans for London’s largest borough and there were stimulating questions, as well as an excellent breakfast.

Lewisham Breakfast Meeting at Lewisham College February 2020 It was good to return to Lewisham College for February’s breakfast meeting. We were welcomed by the Principal, Asfa Sohail who talked about the work of the college. The guest speaker was Vicky Foxcroft MP, Lewisham & Deptford.

Despite an injured foot, Vicky talked about her work as Chair of The Select Committee on Youth Violence. There was a good Q&A session and attendees enjoyed an excellent breakfast prepared by the on-site catering College.

Executive Lunch at the Doubletree by Hilton London Greenwich March 2020 The first Executive Lunch of 2020 sponsored by London South East Colleges took place in early March at DoubleTree by Hilton London Greenwich. The guest speaker was the Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Enterprise, Rajesh Agrawal.

Attendees enjoyed an update on how he aims to be a strong voice for London’s business community. Rajesh is an award winning entrepreneur who talked about how he came to London from India in 2001 and in 2005, co-founded RationalFX where today he is non-exec Chairman.

London South East Colleges is a further and higher education college operating across London and the South East. We offer a range of provision, including vocational apprenticeships, HE and run adult and community learning courses in the Royal Borough of Greenwich.For more information visit www.LSEC.ac.uk Photos courtesy of Warren King Photography

April 2020

Chamber MEMBER DISC OUNT

Business Insurance ‘Your local insurance experts’

• • • •

Property Insurance Liability Covers Professional Indemnity Directors and Officers Insurance

• Office and Retail • Fleet • Vans • Cyber Cover

Chamber Account Manager faran@stewartandpartners.co.uk Tel : 020 8304 2638 www.stewartandpartners.co.uk 146A Bellegrove Road, Welling, Kent, DA16 3QR

Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Big Interview 27

Shaun plots route to business success While Shaun Hetherington spends his spare time sailing around the Mediterranean on his wooden boat, he’s also setting his business on the right course to stay ahead of the competition…

haun Hetherington likes a challenge – both in and out of the workplace. In his spare time, he loves nothing more than navigating choppy waters in his wooden boat, sailing to exotic locations around Europe. For him it’s the perfect way to unwind from his day job: managing a well-known insurance business with more than 50 years’ history in the South London and Kent market. Stewart & Partners Insurance Brokers provides commercial insurance for start-ups and SMEs, as well as home, motor, travel and other types of personal insurance for individuals. In the commercial market, Shaun says more businesses are taking time to look after their cyber security. He says: “This is a strong trend in our industry. Cyber security insurance is a huge thing; a failure to protect your business could result in the loss of thousands or even millions of pounds. Some companies have had to shut down because of it.

“The statistics are staggering; thirty-five per cent of businesses have been hit by a cyber incident in the last twelve months. This figure could be much higher as many businesses won’t admit they suffered a breach because they don’t want to fall foul of the GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation] rules. “With cyber security you can’t just take out cover and forget about it. You need to back up your data and protect it at all times.” Shaun’s wealth of knowledge stems from almost three decades of experience in the industry. After growing up in Welling, he left school in 1986 and worked as an office junior for an insurance broker before an opportunity to acquire Stewart & Partners arose eight years later. He grew the client base and, after a period of expansion, the company bought Alexander James, another insurance business, in 2001.

Now the business has ten staff on its books and has become the go-to company for personal and commercial insurance. Shaun says: “We focus on providing a top-class personal service for our clients. We like to keep it personal – that means getting to know our clients and tailoring their cover to suit their requirements. Whilst technological advances are important – and they have benefited our business – there’s still a huge value in face-to-face contact. A lot of our clients are local so we use Welling’s great access to London and the Thames corridor to go and visit them.” Whilst Shaun is keen to attribute the company’s success to the diligence of his staff, he concedes that one of his best achievements has been to develop and nurture young talent. “It’s great to see young people come into our business and learn and grow with us,” he says. “Some of them might not have any experience in our

industry, but if they have a good attitude it’s a great starting point. We have two apprentices on our books and they’re keen to develop their career with us. We don’t have a high turnover of staff so we must be doing something right.” So, what of the future – a brave new world following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union? “I’m glad that the decision has been made,” says Shaun. “It gives the business community more certainty. Some of our clients are even seeing something of a post-Brexit bounce. Trading with the EU will take on a different complexion but business will still be done. “From our point of view, we’ll just continue providing a great service for clients and seeking out opportunities to build on and grow our client base. Stewart & Partners has been around for more than half a century so the brand is wellknown in London and the South East.”

THE INSIDE TRACK: Shaun Hetherington Favourite food: Fresh seafood

Favourite tipple: A nice glass of rioja Favourite holiday? A recent trip to The Galapagos Islands Describe your family life? Hectic but fun! How do you spend your downtime? Sailing and traveling What are your key strengths as a manager? Empowering others to take ownership

And your limitations? I’m prone to take setbacks to heart Best thing about doing business in the borough? Probably the excellent connectivity to the city of London and the South East Famous person you’d most like to spend dinner with? Sir David Attenborough Most interesting fact about yourself? I sailed around the coast of the UK three times, across to Norway and to the Mediterranean – mostly single-handed in my wooden sailing boat

April 2020

28 Made in Greenwich local people in countless ways, offering start-up business training, running a large community centre in Woolwich and teaching hundreds of people how to cook. The CEO Claire Pritchard is a driven creative with limitless imagination and energy. If inspiration strikes (which happens frighteningly often) there’s no stopping her. So, when the owners of an empty gallery in central Greenwich suggested that GCDA take it on, she couldn’t say no. I was purloined from my PR role and duly appointed project manager.

The making of a community shop by Mary Jane Baxter

t was with a certain amount of trepidation that I set about opening Made in Greenwich for the not-forprofit organisation GCDA last autumn. The brief was to create and curate a shop selling the work of local artists, makers and food entrepreneurs whilst also populating an adjoining community space with workshops and events. The challenge might have been a lot less daunting if the budget had been bigger – but I was told to spend as little as possible, £300 was about all we had to bring the place up to scratch.

April 2020

I’d joined GCDA (Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency) two years previously after nearly 20 years working as a journalist for the BBC. I’d left my reporter’s notebook behind to focus on my own writing but needed a Press & PR job to run alongside. GCDA immediately struck me as a place where big ideas could flourish. With a brief to help build thriving communities, GCDA originally focused on helping tackle food poverty. However over the last few years it’s expanded its remit to engage with

Fortunately for me, I relish a challenge, and as an artist and maker myself, I loved Claire’s vision for Made in Greenwich as a community shop promoting the work of local creatives. I set about doing up the space with a tireless team of volunteers (using recycled paint from The Forest Recycling Project) and brought IKEA Greenwich on board for the shop refit (which they generously donated for free). By September, we had recruited dozens of borough-based artists to stock the shop (all on a sale-or-return commission basis). We finally opened Made in Greenwich to customers for four days a week in October with a skeleton staff and a list of enthusiastic helpers. It was an immediate hit with the community. Greenwich Council sponsored Black Female Entrepreneur Greenwich to run a series of events for Black History Month and hot on the heels of that, we hosted a pop-up of ten talented local potters. By December, the shelves were fully laden with beautiful handmade objects by makers living and working throughout the borough, many of whom had been through GCDA’s start-up business training courses. We also initiated a programme of craft workshops in our affordable rental space at the back of the shop offering everything from mindful collage, to pottery and needle-felting. We celebrated a great Christmas and were humbled by how readily we were adopted by everyone, happily offering cups of tea to those who fancied stopping by for a chat. And then. Coronavirus struck. Like the whole nation, we were catapulted into unknown territory, closing the door on the newly opened shop for the foreseeable future and postponing the workshops which

Made in Greenwich 29 had only just got underway. It’s tough enough opening a retail business on the high-street these days, but let’s just say, we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds. Nobody really knows. But we haven’t given up. Far from it. Like many other businesses we have shifted our focus to on-line sales. Within a day of receiving the government closure advice, my unstoppable colleague Gary Mack was on the case, building a shoppable Made in Greenwich website and getting the stock on-line. With more than 50 makers on our books, many of whom are self-employed creatives, we feel a responsibility to help them take their work to as wide an audience as possible and are continuing to improve the way in which we do that day by day. We’ve already had our first international order: a beautiful Wayne Foskett print of a dandelion seed head taken by Wayne’s pinhole camera and printed on a vintage book cover. It’s already winging its way to Spain. The next few months are going to be incredibly tough in numerous ways for everyone, but we hope we can play a small part in helping support the livelihoods of our artists and makers. Shopping local has never been so important as many small businesses face extreme financial hardship and possible closure. We need to do all we can to help bolster them and those that rely on them. Let’s hope that Made in Greenwich, alongside other businesses in the South East will be able to re-emerge with communities stronger and more supportive than ever before. To shop Made in Greenwich, please go to www.madeingreenwich.shop Follow us @MIGreenwich and support the wider work of GCDA at www.gcda.coop

‘Like the whole nation, we were catapulted into unknown territory, closing the door on the newly opened shop for the foreseeable future and postponing the workshops which had only just got underway. It’s tough enough opening a retail business on the high-street these days, but let’s just say, we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds. Nobody really knows. But we haven’t given up.’

April 2020

30 Visit Greenwich

Tourism body provides vital support for businesses Visit Greenwich is offering support and advice to companies hit by the COVID-19 crisis.

reenwich is home to many internationally renowned tourist attractions. The Meridian Line and Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum, Old Royal Naval College including the fabulous Painted Hall, The O2, Emirates Air Line cable car, Greenwich Market, Greenwich Park and Eltham Palace & Gardens all sit within this London borough, usually attracting thousands of visitors each year. However, these are not normal times. The coronavirus outbreak has forced Britain into lockdown and only companies that provide essential products and services remain open for business. Sectors that are related to the visitor economy, including tourism, heritage, retail, leisure, entertainment, transport and accommodation, have been particularly badly hit. This is why Visit Greenwich is providing timely and useful information that they, and firms in other sectors, might need to get through this difficult time. COVID-19 business support

There is an array of business support available from central government, local authorities and banks. The UK Government has published a COVID-19 page which details the types of support available.

April 2020

This includes:

• Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all businesses in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief. The scheme will be available from April and your local authority will get in contact automatically

• Grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000. Contact your local authority if you think you qualify • The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offers loans up to £5m with a six-month interest-free period. The loans will be provided through normal banks and other lenders. If you want to use the scheme you should speak to a bank or lender • A 12-month business rates holiday is available to all firms in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. If you think you might be eligible, contact your local authority

• The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme allows UK employers to access additional financial support from the government to continue paying up to 80% of their employees’ salaries up to a maximum of £2,500 per month

Full details at: www.gov.uk/government/ publications/guidance-to-employers-andbusinesses-about-covid-19 and www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirusbusiness-support/

VisitBritain:

Following the government’s instruction to temporarily close non-essential businesses and premises, VisitBritain has shared some useful information for tourism-related firms: www.visitbritain.org/covid-19-newcoronavirus-latest-information-and-advicefor-businesses In particular, specific guidance on the following issues has been provided: • The closure of all non-essential businesses and premises as part of further social distancing measures. This directive applies to any business providing holiday accommodation including short-term lets such as hotels, hostels, B&Bs, campsites, boarding houses and caravan sites. An exception has been made for key workers, who can continue to stay in hotels or similar where required, and for people living in these premises as interim abodes whilst their primary residence is unavailable.

Visit Greenwich 31

“Now, more the ever, our tourism partners need to pull together and ensure we all survive this international emergency. There is a huge amount of support now available across our sector and our job is to make sure all businesses are aware of and use this support. We are already planning for the recovery and we remain hopeful that this will take place later this summer. Greenwich is an incredible destination and we will bounce back.”

People who live permanently in caravan parks, or are staying in caravan parks as interim abodes where their primary residence is not available, may also continue to do so. Hotels, hostels and B&Bs that are providing rooms to support homeless people through arrangements with local authorities and other public bodies should remain open. Restaurants and catering outlets providing takeaway or delivery services can also remain open.

For more information visit www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-advice-foraccommodation-providers and www.gov.uk/government/publications/ further-businesses-and-premises-to-close/ further-businesses-and-premises-to-closeguidance • Updated guidance has been released which sets out details of eligibility and delivery of the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF).

For more information visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/ coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-onbusiness-support-grant-funding

Royal Borough of Greenwich:

• The council publishes regular coronavirus updates via its daily e-bulletin. Businesses can sign up here: www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/coronavirus

South East London Chamber of Commerce:

• The Chamber publishes useful information via its website at www.selondonchamber.org/coronavirus/

Other forms of help:

• Support with tax: if you need help with your tax liabilities, you should speak to HMRC’s Time to Pay service on +44 (0) 800 0159 559

• Insurance claims: government advice to avoid hospitality and leisure venues is sufficient for businesses to claim on their insurance where they have appropriate

business interruption cover for pandemics in place. You should speak to your insurer if you think you may be covered

• The Treasury has published guidance for local authorities on the Expanded Retail Discount 2020/21: Coronavirus Response, which sets out in more detail what is meant by “leisure, hospitality and retail” when referring to the business rate holiday and other schemes. More information at www.gov.uk/government/publications/ business-rates-retail-discount-guidance

Barrie Kelly, CEO of Visit Greenwich, said: “Now, more the ever, our tourism partners need to pull together and ensure we all survive this international emergency. There is a huge amount of support now available across our sector and our job is to make sure all businesses are aware of and use this support. We are already planning for the recovery and we remain hopeful that this will take place later this summer. Greenwich is an incredible destination and we will bounce back.”

Follow Visit Greenwich on LinkedIn for further useful advice and tips: www.linkedin.com/company/visit-greenwich/ The information contained in the websites mentioned in this article was correct at the time of writing. With the COVID-19 situation evolving rapidly, businesses are advised to check these websites regularly for the latest updates. As a catch all, www.gov.uk/coronavirus has everything whether for home, health or business.

April 2020

32 Regeneration

Sustainability is key to success

Putting sustainability at the heart of local regeneration schemes can generate long-term benefits for residents and businesses…

hile much of the economy has temporarily shut down in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, South East London’s construction and regeneration specialists are well placed to capitalise when the market returns to normal. Major schemes are transforming the skyline of areas such as Bexley, Lewisham, Greenwich and Bromley – creating jobs, attracting investment and improving quality of life for local residents. Naturally, some of these schemes may have stalled due to the coronavirus, as many others have across the country. But local developers and regeneration specialists are taking a long-term view and the positive impact of key projects will be felt across South East London long after the virus has passed. Sustainability is a key pillar of many of these schemes, as the ongoing fight against climate change continues. Housebuilder Berkeley Homes puts sustainability at the heart of all of its projects, which include some of the most ambitious redevelopment schemes around London. The company’s Our Vision strategy provides a framework to integrate sustainability improvements and innovation in all aspects of the business, including communication with customers, design of the developments, operation of the construction sites and management of the workforce.

April 2020

Berkeley is focused on continual improvement, so every two years the company sets itself new targets and key performance indicators in areas such as carbon emissions, water consumption and waste diversion from landfill. This approach is continually developed and updated to ensure Berkeley is at the forefront of sustainable housing development. The company became a carbon-positive business in 2016 and in 2019 was named Most Sustainable Housebuilder in the Housebuilder Awards. Giorgia Franco, head of sustainability at Berkeley’s East Thames division, said: “We have put in place robust procedures for measuring and mitigating our impact on the environment. As part of this we are committed to continually reducing our carbon footprint and achieving a net biodiversity gain in all of our new developments. This means that, when complete, our developments are more sympathetic to the local environment than when we started.” The Berkeley Net Biodiversity Gain Toolkit forms an important part of the company’s approach for maintaining this industry-leading

Kidbrooke Village position. It ensures that Berkeley goes beyond just minimising any negative impact on the environment. Instead, the focus is on making all new sites greener after development than they were before. Nowhere is this policy seen in action more than in Berkeley East Thames’ Kidbrooke Village. A redevelopment of the infamous Ferrier Estate, located near Blackheath and Greenwich Park, Kidbrooke Village is one of the industry’s best examples of what can be achieved. As part of its net biodiversity gain commitment, Berkeley East Thames is in the process of delivering habitat enhancements aimed at achieving a 40% increase in biodiversity. Before its redevelopment, the Ferrier Estate consisted of concrete structures that encased low-diversity green spaces – in effect, green deserts. The closed nature of these squares meant that wildlife couldn’t access the space and native species were low in number. A raised A-Road split the development in half, providing another barrier to nature as well as splitting the community.

“We have put in place robust procedures for measuring and mitigating our impact on the environment. As part of this we are committed to continually reducing our carbon footprint and achieving a net biodiversity gain in all of our new developments.”

Regeneration 33 When pulling down the concrete structures, Berkeley made a decision to use the rubble onsite, as opposed to transporting this away on polluting lorries. The rubble was used to raise the land around the road, creating a smooth incline and lessening the divide through the development. It was also used to create a more interesting landscape, with hillocks and rock features. Partnering with London Wildlife Trust, the company then began a project of re-wilding the park that now runs through the heart of Kidbrooke Village. This involved prioritising native species that many developers may shun to seek an immaculate ‘golf course’ look for the open spaces. This project helped Kidbrooke Village win the Sustainable Residential Development award for London at the International Property Awards. But more importantly, it has also seen nature return to the area. Residents regularly share images of a local family of swans on their social media, alongside a frequently visiting heron and even a peregrine falcon. The return of this rare falcon to the area speaks volumes about the transformation from a green desert to a biodiverse landscape.

Royal honour for London South East Colleges London South East Colleges was presented with a Queen’s Anniversary Prize by HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at a special Buckingham Palace ceremony. Chair of London South East Colleges, Stephen Howlett, said: “Being awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize represents our commitment to the communities we serve – in particular, the work we are involved in to support Mayoral housing ambitions across London. I am proud to be part of such an organisation and offer my congratulations to all of this year’s most deserving prize winners.”

However, being sustainable doesn’t stop at planting and wildlife. Berkeley East Thames became the first division in the group to employ a dedicated person to support the development of an organised community that will keep thriving when Berkeley leaves the site. With ongoing collaboration with the London Wildlife Trust and other partners, Berkeley is able to promote sustainable lifestyles. The company sent guides to residents on how to reduce their environmental impact in everyday life, held sessions in schools on sustainable construction and sponsored the creation of the Greenwich National Park City Map. Throughout these activities the local community has been engaged through learning and volunteering, which has encouraged residents to take more care of their surrounding environment. Having regular local volunteering days has meant that the residents now look after much of the landscape themselves, with litter picking days becoming a regular activity and ‘cutting back days’ ensuring that the meadow areas are encouraged to grow. Berkeley Homes has been consistently reducing its carbon emissions from operations since 2016. The company now emits less than 50% of what it emitted per head in 2016, which has been achieved by improving efficiency in the way it runs sites and offices and by moving as much of its operations as possible from diesel generators to electricity.

he prestigious medal was collected on behalf of the college CEO and principal, Dr Sam Parrett OBE, and vice principal (STEM) Errol Ince. Joining 22 other prizewinning institutions, London South East Colleges was one of just four further education colleges nationally to receive the accolade, which is the highest honour that can be awarded to a further or higher education institution. The college was chosen in recognition of its high-quality technical and vocational provision, specifically in relation to its recent work within the construction industry – the Construction Skills Generator. This pioneering initiative is helping to support housing ambitions across greater London in partnership with employers and stakeholders.

CEO and principal of London South East Colleges, Dr Sam Parrett, added: “Receiving this prize is a real honour for all of us at London South East Colleges – and fantastic for further education as a whole. This award recognises some of the great work taking place in our sector and the positive effect this work is having on so many lives.”

Louise Wolsey, David Winstanley, Helen McIntosh and Michelle Rankin at The Guildhall Dinner on Wednesday 19 February

April 2020

34 Peabody

overing an area the same size as central London, around 760 hectares, Peabody owns around 65% of the land in the Thamesmead and is investing billions in the town over the next three decades. Thamesmead town was formed in the 1960s by the then Greater London Council, built on the Erith and Plumstead Marshes. Today it is home to a community of more than 45,000 people with dozens of green spaces, more than 150 hectares of open space, five lakes, 5km of River Thames frontage and two nature reserves. Peabody became part of the Thamesmead story in 2014 when it acquired Gallions, Trust Thamesmead and Tiffen Land. For the first time in a generation the town was once again owned by a single organisation. More than 50 years after the first homes were completed Peabody has ambitious plans and is at the start of a 30-year regeneration programme designed to create as many as 20,000 new homes and 9,000 new jobs, alongside major leisure, cultural, commercial and community facilities. To achieve this Peabody is delivering two Housing Zones in partnership with the London Borough of Bexley and the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Southmere Village is the first development in the Abbey Wood and South Thamesmead Housing Zone that will consist of more than 1,600 new homes on four sites close to the new Elizabeth Line station at Abbey Wood. The first phase of Peabody’s South Thamesmead’s regeneration is currently being built by the contractor Durkan. It will consist of 130 new homes around a lakeside square with shops, cafes, leisure facilities, new library and civic building, and is due to be completed by the end of autumn 2021.

As London’s biggest regeneration project Thamesmead is the most ambitious undertaking in the 158-year history of Peabody, one of the city’s oldest and largest housing associations. April 2020

Work on the second phase has already begun and is scheduled to be finished in summer 2022. It will create more than 400 homes for rent, shared ownership and private sale (more than 50% of which will be affordable) overlooking a rejuvenated Southmere Lake. Peabody has already refurbished the formerly derelict Lakeside Centre there, creating studio spaces for more than 40 artists, a new nursery, soon to be followed by a café.

Peabody 35 Work is underway on improving the water quality of the lake, boosting biodiversity and creating new wildlife habitats. Peabody also has planning permission for a new Boating and Sailing Club. In West Thamesmead The Reach, a new residential development, has already been completed, bringing 66 families to the town and providing a key amenity space for the area. Perhaps the most ambitious regeneration project is the creation of 11,500 new homes by the Thames. Peabody has agreed a partnership with international property and infrastructure group, Lendlease, for what will be the biggest development in Thamesmead since it was first built and will also revitalise the existing town centre. As well as the massive building and development work Peabody is also running a major cultural programme, including an annual festival, and the town’s landscape and green spaces are being transformed.

Alongside all this activity Peabody has in place a wideranging programme designed to boost the socio-economic life of the town and its residents. Peabody is using the regeneration to create employment and learning opportunities for local people. Work placements and training for residents are found on the schemes under construction and the first students have just graduated from a new building skills programme launched in partnership with YouthBuild Ventures UK. There is also extensive support for local

business from the Peabody Economic Inclusion Team. This includes; helping established and new businesses to secure finance, premises and guidance; hosting the monthly Thamesmead Business Forum and even support to enter awards to boost their profile and reach. At the past two Best of Greenwich Business Awards two local firms, Back A Yard Grill and First Choice Caribbean Hut Lunches, have scooped prestigious prizes after being supported by Peabody. Last year’s Bexley Business Awards

saw another Peabody-backed enterprise, The Feel Good Co-op, enjoy success too.Meanwhile the Thamesmead Business Forum goes from strength to strength with more than 20 businesses coming together every month to share their experiences and expertise as well as finding out about potential growth opportunities in the town. The next 30 years promises to be the most exciting in Thamesmead’s history and Peabody are ensuring that alongside the redevelopment residents are being the given the opportunity to play a crucial role in the town’s rebirth.

‘At the past two Best of Greenwich Business Awards two local firms, Back A Yard Grill and First Choice Caribbean Hut Lunches, have scooped prestigious prizes after being supported by Peabody. Last year’s Bexley Business Awards saw another Peabody-backed enterprise, The Feel Good Co-op, enjoy success too.’

Peabody is here to help small businesses We know the Coronavirus crisis has created the most challenging environment ever for small businesses and at Peabody we want to do everything we can to help. Our Economic Inclusion Team are here, working remotely, to support you and your business. If you are a Thamesmead business keep in regular contact with the team and up to date with the information from government, local authorities, banks and the wider business community about the assistance available. Where needed we will be able to assist you. For more information please contact madeinthamesmead @peabody.org.uk to arrange an appointment with one of the Economic Inclusion Team. Please also check the enterprise pages of the Thamesmead Portal for updates:

www.thamesmeadnow.org.uk/portal/enterprise/

Our priority is to provide the most up to date information to help you deal with this unique set of circumstances and assist you throughout this difficult period.

April 2020

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U+I 37

U+I is working to create a new community on Greenwich Peninsula centred around a new riverside park, where people will live, work and relax.

Regeneration for the Resilient Royal Borough What strange times these are. But how many times have those who came before us to develop parts of London said that?

reenwich is London’s most historic borough, subject to development and regeneration many times over in the hundreds of years that it has been a place of enterprise, innovation, community and global significance.

So, in the way we see old industrial sites around London becoming something entirely else by their rebuilding as residential communities, so a former royal palace and birthplace of kings and queens becomes home to retired seamen returning from foreign wars.

So, even though we still have no idea what long-term impact the Coronavirus will have on the 21st Century’s version of the regeneration of Greenwich, we know that it has been there before, always survived. Always thrived.

Two hundred years later the world has changed again. England at the height of its colonial powers and with a hugely powerful navy commandeers the Royal Hospital for a naval training college. One hundred years on the University of Greenwich has taken up occupation and the Old Royal Naval College has a completely new life as a place of learning, research and globally significant innovation.

The Old Royal Naval College – the jewel in the crown of Greenwich’s historic town centre – is built on the site of Henry VII’s original Greenwich Palace, where his son Henry VIII and his granddaughters Mary I and Elizabeth I were born. It was the centre of Royal life outside of the City of London for almost 150 years before it fell into disrepair during the Civil War and was finally demolished in 1694. Even before it was completely demolished Queen Mary II ordered redevelopment of the site, creating the Royal Hospital for Seamen in a beautiful set of buildings designed by the greatest trio of architects England could muster – Wren, Hawksmoor and Vanbrugh.

Now we have moved a little further North East to the Peninsula and further East to Charlton Riverside in the shadow of the Thames Barrier. On the Peninsula we are developing 20 acres of former industrial land, once home to Tudor ropemakers, transatlantic under-sea cable manufacturers and sugar refiners. On our site we will build a completely new community where people will live, work in creative industries and enjoy themselves in the beautiful new riverside park we will lay out.

It was at the start of this incarnation that Cathedral Group, one of the companies that came together to form U+I in 2015, got involved in this historic place. We were lucky enough to be able to work with the University to develop Devonport House, the former Dreadnought Seamen’s Hospital into a hotel and conference centre and student accommodation.

We are very clear as we plan our schemes across London that we are standing in the shoes of giants, adding only a small footnote to a long history of building and regeneration. While this contribution, through the lens of history, may be small, we are no less cognisant of the responsibility that it puts on our shoulders to do it properly, to pay enormous respect those who came before us and to those for whom we are building now.

Our taste for working in places where great opportunities lie has always been satisfied by the Royal Borough.

The story of Greenwich is the sum of all those efforts over centuries. We are very proud to be only a part of the way into our own chapter.

April 2020

In Conversation with Jane Harrington

University helps students and businesses during crisis

Professor Jane Harrington, vice-chancellor of the University of Greenwich

In the space of a few short weeks, the world has seen unprecedented change. The COVID-19 outbreak has forced countries into lockdown; businesses that sell non-essential goods have temporarily closed their doors, companies have had to furlough staff and the general public is observing strict social distancing rules imposed by governments across the globe.

t’s undoubtedly a challenging time – and not what Professor Jane Harrington expected when she took up the role of vice-chancellor at the University of Greenwich last year. In recent weeks she has been extremely proud of how the university and wider regional community have pulled together, helping each other through these difficult times. The university is leading the way in this respect by supporting students in several ways, such as making the move to online learning and adopting a full virtual campus set-up to ensure social distancing guidelines are adhered to. Students can access remote one-to-ones and weekly virtual drop-ins with tutors, as well as careers and employability services. International students can access support via Skype, phone or email, with financial support also available via email and phone. The library service has expanded its virtual capabilities with more resources than ever before, academic subject librarians are available to offer help and advice, and the students’ union team is on hand to support students and offer regular Q&A sessions. For students who have had to remain on campus, online food ordering is available. For those

who are sick or self-isolating, university staff can collect and deliver food. Student wellbeing support is available online and by phone. While the university is playing its part in tackling the spread of the coronavirus, Jane is also delighted that many students are doing likewise. She says: “Our whole university community is committed to doing what it can to help during the current period of crisis and its immediate aftermath. Many of our final year health students, studying paramedic science, nursing and midwifery, are being released from their studies early to bolster the NHS’s efforts; many of our students and staff are taking on volunteering roles. Our virology labs on our Medway campus are the site of coronavirus-related research and we’ve opened our Avery Hill campus to provide training by our experts for nurses and health professionals returning to the workforce.” Post-COVID-19, Jane will focus on extending the university’s reach in the business community, building and nurturing relationships with companies seeking to recover from the effects of the virus. “The university recognises the enhanced role that education of

all types is likely to play postCOVID-19,” she says. “Where job continuity has not been viable for many businesses, there is a role to play in retraining and reskilling this group in the medium term as well as diversifying apprenticeship provision. “However, we also recognise that long-term growth is critical and we have a strong role to play, particularly alongside our diverse regional economy. Productivity is going to be a significant issue facing the UK economy. Currently, most businesses are still in COVID-19 response mode but after this higher education has a role to join up, support and help businesses when they are ready to move forward, stimulating economic growth and productivity.” Together with the business community, the university will continue to drive forward vital projects that are helping to improve lives and solve real-world problems. Its Natural Resources Institute (NRI) recently received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for piloting a ground-breaking scheme to create smart solutions for pest control. The project has had a major impact on human, animal and plant health, especially in the developing world.

To put it into perspective, NRI’s work on blackfly contributed to the elimination of river blindness in eleven countries in West Africa, preventing 600,000 people from becoming blind and re-claiming 250,000 km2 of abandoned land for cultivation and resettlement. NRI is a team of international experts on the global crisis and food scarcity, world problems that will only become more prevalent as we move away from the current crisis. They offer expert research in these fields and programmes to support training and upskilling for anyone interested in knowing more and helping to combat these world problems. The university’s knowledge exchange projects have also seen academics and companies develop solutions that have made a huge difference to people’s lives. For example, Carbon8 Systems, a university spin-out, was the first company to use Accelerated Carbonation Technology (ACT) to produce carbon-negative building materials. The production process reduces carbon rather than creates it – a notable achievement that will help to fight climate change. For more information visit http://www.gre.ac.uk

April 2020

Festive Lunches

Adults: 3 Courses £27.95 or 2 Courses £25.95 Children: 3 Courses £15.00 or 2 Courses £14.00 www

Festive Afternoon Tea All Inclusive Nights

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Tribute Nights

£110 or all-inclusive price with Accommodation £180 Over 18’s Only www

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April 2020

Christmas Day Buffet Dinner

Adults £27.50 Children £16.00 www

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Christmas Day Lunch

Adults £97.00 Children £40.00 www

Adults £24.95 Children £14.00 www £70.00 Over 18’s Only www

Fantastic Festive Programme

Christmas Eve Dinner

Adults £39.00 Children £14.95 www

Festive Party Nights

from £48.00 Over 18’s Only www

Boxing Day Carvery New Year’s Eve Gala

New Year’s Eve Family Celebration

Adults £49.00 Children £17.00 www

New Year’s Day Carvery

Adults £35.00 Children £17.00 www

Please contact the Events Team on 020 8461 8600 to discuss availability, dates and Terms & Conditions. All subject to availability

News 41

Engine House powers crucial construction industry summit London South East Colleges, in partnership with Berkeley Group plc and the Engine House Bexley, has held its first Construction Industry Summit –to help tackle a national skills shortage.

ver 30 delegates attended the summit at The Engine House in Bexley, made up of College teaching and technical experts, teachers from Shooters Hill Sixth Form College, and many construction employers and contractors based in the south east. Representatives from Peabody, JTL, GLLaB, Bexley Council, Sapphire Balconies, PIB Contractors, Vital Energi and Wilton Electrics also attended.

The aim of the summit was to engage colleges and employers in constructive dialogue in order to provide the growing industry with suitably qualified employees. This will enable businesses to access a wide range of craftspeople, engineers, surveyors and management staff to cover their extensive range of building projects in the south east over the next decade. In a post-Brexit economy, the option for firms to enlist employees from the EU is going to be more difficult and could result in a significant shortfall unless the country acts swiftly to train its future staff. Failure to do this could result in many large developments and infrastructure projects grinding to a halt.

Introducing the event, Andrew Cox, London South East Colleges’ Group Head of Strategic Development, Partnerships and Projects, told delegates: “As a lead in the Greater London Authority’s Mayor’s Construction Academy, London South East Colleges has a golden opportunity to start the conversation between education and training providers and the construction and built environment industries. “A lot depends on us getting this right as we embark on a new decade and a new technological era. We can begin the process of knowing more about what employers need, how we can gear our curriculum to providing students with the right skills for the right job and creating a highly skilled, homegrown workforce fit for purpose.

In return, employers can get involved in shaping the way skills training is offered and provide us with expert, working knowledge to keep us permanently up to date with new technologies and best practice. “It’s great to see so many employer representatives here today – this shows us that we are all taking this as seriously as each other and eager to forge some very exciting partnerships.”

Plan Ahead & help Charity

In these strange times, many of us are spending more time at home than usual, and I suspect several of you will have come to the view that you house or flat is not quite big enough. If you also have a bit more time on your hands than normal, then now is a good time to plan ahead and you can help charity at the same time.

t Russell Associate Architects we always run a scheme where we will give you an hour of our time in exchange for a donation of approx. £40 or £50 to charity. We usually come out to your home, discuss your aspirations and give advice as to what could be achieved. In the current circumstances, of course we cannot actually come out to see you, but with the wonders of modern technology and various on-line tools we can still give you some ideas, and in some case will then be able to move towards drawings and a planning application.

All charities are struggling at this moment with many revenue streams closed down. The two charities we support are Shelter, the charity for the homeless, and South London Special League, which an award-winning local charity that provides organised sport for disabled people in South London. For larger charities like Shelter it is about trying to maintain a decent service, for smaller charities like SLSL it is about survival. You can opt to support either or both.

When we come out the other side of the current crisis the planning system is likely to be overwhelmed so there is lot to be said for getting ahead of the game, at the same time as helping worthwhile charities. If you would like to discuss this, please call Paul Russell 020 8320 0990 or 07972 160 533

April 2020

42 Innovo IT

Simple Steps to Work & Collaborate Securely from Home We’re all dealing with a sudden, huge, change to the way we need to live and work. As someone

who’s evangelised about the benefits of remote

working for some time, I have compiled this list of simple steps to help you and your teams work from home effectively and securely.

Productivity: 1 - Internet.

Before you do any work, check that

your home internet connection is fast

enough to cope.Run an internet speed test from https://broadbandtest.which.

co.uk/. Anything over 2Mbps download and.5Mbps upload is fine. If you run

the test while others in your household

are using the internet, you’ll get a more real world result.

April 2020

Check that your mobile phone contract includes unlimited data.Your monthly bill will detail this. If your broadband goes down, you’ll still be able to work online by using your mobile phone as a hotspot.

2 - Save your files to the Cloud.

Saving files on your computer is convenient, but risky. If your computer fails during this current crisis, your computer repair man may not be able to come and collect your laptop. Using a software toolset like Google’s G Suite,

gives you business email, 1TB of data, video calling, instant messaging and much more. It’s built on cutting edge security and costs around £10 per month. If your laptop fails, you can just grab your mobile or another device, login and carry on where you left off. No need to install anything.

3 - Morning Standup.

Call it a roll call, catch up, or whatever you want. Start a group video call for 15 minutes each morning, with your whole team. You can use it to discuss tasks for the day, issues to be dealt with, or just to check on health and mood.

4 - Chat reguarly.

When in the office, you probably take a few minutes to walk to the coffee machine and chat with your team. Don’t stop that just because you’re not physically together. Send an instant

Innovo IT 43

‘When in the office, you probably take a few minutes to walk to the coffee machine and chat with your team. Don’t stop that just because you’re not physically together. Send an instant message to say, “Coffee?”. Go and make a coffee, then fire up a video chat, together.’

1 - Email.

Treat email like the front door to your home or office. You wouldn’t let just anyone waltz in and steal your valuables, so treat email the same way. Scammers are sending emails pretending to be from the NHS, or WHO, advising you to click a link for more information. Whatever you do, do not click on the link. It may install malicious software on your computer that will trigger a delayed response. Your files may be encrypted by the software and you’ll receive a Ransomware alert, demanding money.

message to say, “Coffee?”. Go and make a coffee, then fire up a video chat,together. I have a colleague, who runs his own IT company, and we do this a lot. A quick message saying, “got 5 minutes?” and we’re on an informal call working through problems, discussing progress, or talking about F1 or Rugby. It doesn’t matter. What’s important is maintaining the personal connections. It’s very easy to act as if you are alone, when in reality you are not.

Security:

Everyone is talking about practicing good hygiene, I will now talk about how to practice good IT hygiene. Many people are being targeted by scammers and criminals, taking advantage of the uncertainty around the current crisis. Good IT hygiene is simple to set up, easy to follow and will help make sure you are not one of the victims.

If you get an email from a sender you don’t recognise, the spelling is off, or it looks odd. Be alert. Ask yourself how the NHS, WHO, or whoever got your business email address and why they’d waste their own time and resources emailing individuals. The best thing to do is delete the email, or mark it as Spam. You can open a web browser, go to the website of the agency who supposedly sent you the email and call them to ask. Most likely they’ll tell you it’s not a legitimate email.

Use a password manager, like LastPass. It’s free, simple to setup and means you never have to remember your passwords again. They are encrypted and secure from any attack.

3 - Back your files up.

If you already use Microsoft Office 365, or Google G Suite, you will need an extra layer of safety to avoid accidental or malicious data loss. A cloud based tool like Backupify will give you peace of mind and ensure you can get files back if the worst happens. It’s inexpensive, too.

Summary

The beauty of these tools is that they are built to be flexible and informal and easy for you to use. You work hard for your customers and staff, these simple steps will ensure you don’t risk it all. Paul Goggin has over 20 years’ experience in the IT industry, if you’d like to find out more visit

www.innovo-it.com

2 - Passwords.

Please stop using your dog’s name as your laptop or email password. You think no one knows your dog’s name, but one look at your Facebook page shows you out walking with Fido, on his birthday. Hacking software picks these details out, chooses passwords from them and hammers your email and social media accounts until it hits the right one.

April 2020

44 Finance Update

Government unveils finance package for self-employed Self-employed workers hit by COVID-19 are now able to claim back most of their monthly income due to a new government scheme…

reelancers and the self-employed who are financially struggling as a result of the coronavirus will be able to claim 80 per cent of their monthly income from the government. Under the new Self-Employed Income Support Scheme announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, selfemployed people who faced a loss of income due to the outbreak will be able to apply for taxable grants worth four fifths of their average monthly profits, up to a maximum of £2,500 a month. The average will be calculated based on profits over the last three years. The scheme will be open only to those who are already self-employed and who filed a self-assessment tax return for 2019. It will not be available to high earners – defined as those with trading profits of more than £50,000. The scheme will cover an estimated 95 per cent of self-employed workers, although it will not come into force until June. Dr Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “The Chancellor’s announcement

offers a lifeline to the vast majority of the UK’s five million self-employed people, many of whom have seen their livelihoods vanish overnight. “Chambers, along with other business groups, have worked constructively with government to ensure the self-employed receive similar support to those who are employed through PAYE. “We welcome the scale of this scheme and recognise the complexities involved in its design. It is now critical that the government delivers this practical support to people on the ground as soon as possible.” Peter Cheese, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), welcomed what he described as a “comprehensive and generous package”. He said: “The complexities of building a support package for the self-employed has no doubt proved a significant challenge. We are pleased to see the fair approach to creating parity between this support scheme and the job retention scheme for employees.”

However, he added that self-employed workers who needed money now would likely be “anxious” about having to wait until June to benefit from the scheme, and that it was important these people could access Universal Credit as soon as possible until the scheme came into effect. “There is also a need for guidance on whether people who can still work some hours or jobs, albeit in a greatly reduced capacity, are still able to benefit from this scheme,” he said. While the initiative has been welcomed in many quarters, some critics have denounced it for being more generous than the government’s job retention scheme for employees. Under this scheme, the government will pay 80 per cent of wages up to £2,500 a month for employees who would otherwise have been made redundant. Freelancers and self-employed people can still earn while accessing the income support scheme, whereas furloughed employees under the job retention scheme cannot perform any work for their employer or another business while temporarily out of work.

“The complexities of building a support package for the self-employed has no doubt proved a significant challenge. We are pleased to see the fair approach to creating parity between this support scheme and the job retention scheme for employees.” April 2020

Ask the Expert 45

How does the construction industry prepare for life after COVID-19? In the midst of the worst pandemic to hit our shores in this lifetime, businesses could be forgiven for downing tools and waiting until life returns to normal again. However, this would be neither useful or practical.

t the moment, the most important people in the UK workforce are the health workers and key workers who are providing vital front-line services. As time goes on and the coronavirus is brought under control, thoughts will inevitably turn to getting the economy moving again to avoid a deep recession or depression – and then a different set of people will be needed. Construction professionals of all persuasions – architects, planners, developers, property agents and industry suppliers – will be responsible for driving forward housing schemes and regeneration projects across the country. Importantly, they need to be doing all they can to prepare for this now. Getting projects into the planning system is crucial. The alternative scenario is that everybody waits until the coronavirus crisis is over to submit their applications.

If this happens, it will inevitably clog up the system and cause unnecessary delays to projects – resulting in more economic pain for companies and individuals. The quicker schemes make it through the planning process, the quicker developers can get cracking with work on site. Some innovative thinking is also required. Sadly, some retailers have not survived, meaning that many units are left empty. Could some of these units be transformed into residential property under current planning laws? Now is the time to find out. Recently I spoke with Greenwich Council’s assistant director of planning, who understood the importance of these issues. Existing applications are still being reviewed by the council and, with many employees working from home, the possibility of creating virtual committees to fast-track decision-making is being considered.

BUSINESS, IF NOT QUITE AS USUAL!

The importance of construction schemes extends far beyond this sector. They also indirectly provide a source of income for the local sandwich seller, newsagent and many other small businesses. That’s why the country needs the construction industry to get the economy back on track when life returns to normal. The key is to start planning for this future now. ••••• In 1991 Paul Russell left the world of corporate architecture to establish Russell Associates in the depths of a recession. The company undertakes work on urban infill and regeneration projects, new build houses, with 4 notable examples on the exclusive Cator Estate in Blackheath, numerous house refurbishments, and conversions of such as churches into homes, and various commercial projects on pubs, restaurants, retail and offices.. For more information visit www.russellassociates.co.uk

RUSSELL ASSOCIATES A R C H I T E C T S A R C H I T E C T U R E

I N T E R I O R S

P L A N N I N G

In these strange times, along with everybody else we are trying to look after the health of both our clients and our own team, whilst keeping the practice running. It is good time for quiet reflection and planning ahead, whether for home of for your business. We are still here to help you and to discuss your aspirations. Give us a call.

Tel: 0208 320 0990

www.russellassociates.co.uk

April 2020

46 Health & Wellbeing

Ways to improve well-being while staying safe April 2020

Health and Wellbeing 47

How workers can stay happy and mentally well-balanced in these uncertain times…

n Friday, March 20 the UK government took the unprecedented step of urging the British public to stay at home and ordering all bars, restaurants, sports clubs and gyms to close for the foreseeable future to slow down the spread of the deadly coronavirus. People who experience any of the COVID-19 symptoms – a persistent cough or fever, for example – have been told they must self-isolate for a period of time. These instructions from the government were entirely understandable, with the death toll from the virus rising on a daily basis. However, it has forced everybody to recalibrate their way of life, to commit to doing things differently until the threat of the virus has passed. Many workers are now doing their day jobs from the comfort of their own home, elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are sensibly staying indoors to avoid infection, and much of the public are using Skype, social media and other forms of communication to keep in touch with their friends and loved ones. Some people will cope with making these adjustments but for others it will inevitably have an adverse impact on their mental health and well-being – especially if they live on their own.

However, there are several measures that they can take to maintain a positive mood. • Support groups such as Mind (www.mind.org.uk) are available to provide advice and guidance online or over the phone • Maintaining good physical health during quarantine or isolation is key to keeping mentally well. Walking, running or cycling outside can help, although stay a safe distance (at least two metres) away from others. Yoga is also a great stress-buster and can be done at home. For those needing additional guidance on specific poses, there are several decent videos on YouTube

passionate about, such as a charitable cause, a particular sport or television programmes. For those who like music, British choirmaster, composer and TV presenter Gareth Malone has launched a digital choir, The Great British Home Chorus, to bring together amateur and professional performers around the UK by encouraging them to sing with others online • Learn some meditation and mindfulness techniques. There are several apps such as Headspace that offer tips to alleviate anxiety and stress and get people in a positive frame of mind

• Video calls with friends and loved ones can be a great way of lifting the mood and reducing loneliness

• Practise the art of planning. Often, poor mental health can result from drifting aimlessly from one hour to the next. While life will be different for the next few months and normal routines may be disrupted, take some time to write down the key tasks that need to be achieved that day. Remember to build in time for little treats, such as exercise or a glass of wine in the evening. Planning gives a structure and sense of order to the day ahead

• Join an online community. These forums are places where people can make new friends, get inspired and chat about things they’re really

• Above all, reach out. Those who are struggling can pick up the phone to a friend or family member if the sense of isolation gets too much

• Take regular breaks from social media. Various social channels are rife with rumours and misinformation about the virus. Stick to official sources of information, such as the World Health Organisation website https://www.who.int/

“Many workers are now doing their day jobs from the comfort of their own home, elderly people and those with underlying health conditions are sensibly staying indoors to avoid infection, and much of the public are using Skype, social media and other forms of communication to keep in touch with their friends and loved ones.” April 2020

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The People Behind the Business 49

High-achievers

are a force for good Masthead meets two ambitious women who are making a success of running a big-brand franchise… Lorraine Ellis and Satvir Saran

uggling family life and business is a major challenge for many professionals – but Lorraine Ellis and Satvir Saran have shown it can be done. While looking after three children each, they’re also heading up a fast-growing Vodafone franchise with 25 staff and three stores across South East London. Since taking over the franchise a matter of months ago, they’ve grown revenues, doubled headcount and increased the proportion of women working in the business from around 20% to 50%. Lorraine says: “Getting more females into high-profile positions in business is hugely important. We want more women to be inspired by what we’re doing, to realise that even if they have a family, they still have a vital role to play in the business community. It’s all about increasing diversity in business in this country. Across our three stores our staff speak 14 languages, including Albanian, Portuguese, Italian and Punjabi.” In the UK, women now account for nearly 25% of franchisees, making an estimated £105 billion contribution to the national economy and are the fastest growing market for franchise investors. One of the biggest attractions of being a franchisee is the reduced risk factor compared to getting a new-found business idea off the ground. Buying into a franchise of an already established brand offers a tried and tested business model that can be up and running quickly with a greater probability of success. In many ways, it’s a ‘best of both worlds’ scenario – the flexibility that comes with being your own boss with the marketing and management support of a strong brand. Lorraine and Satvir were attracted by this type of venture at Vodafone and joined forces after embarking on vastly different career paths. Lorraine has a background in software engineering and built a successful career in IT management in the City, with extensive expertise in technology and management. More recently she worked at a chartered accountant and has experience of business operations from working at an EE franchise. Meanwhile, Satvir has more than 15 years’ experience in property management, with expertise in industry regulatory compliance and property marketing. Together with her husband, she’s a director of a successful property development and

land acquisition business with a property letting company, and has worked on an array of residential development projects across Kent and London. Both women believe that their complementary skills provide the ideal recipe for business success. Satvir, who has a degree in business information management and finance, says: “Lorraine’s strengths are her technology and management experience, whereas I’m more of a people person and quite creative. Our staff are brilliant in that they’re keen to get up to the required level quickly; they’re on a steep learning curve when they join the business as they have to get up to speed

with the range of products we have, as well as Vodafone’s customer-focused approach to doing business.” The dynamic duo are now looking to the future with optimism, with an eye on potentially taking over more stores. They’ll also continue helping the local community by supporting local charities and organisations and building relationships with local schools to support students online. Satvir says: “We’re dedicated to providing a personalised and tailored service for every customer to ensure they have the best experience with us in store. In a fast-evolving telecoms market, this approach won’t change.”

“Getting more females into high-profile positions in business is hugely important. We want more women to be inspired by what we’re doing, to realise that even if they have a family, they still have a vital role to play in the business community.”

50 New Members

Welcome to our new members Brownhill Insurance Group

Ellsar Ltd

Email: ben.henderson@brownhillgroup.co.uk

Email: directors@ellsar.co.uk

Tel: 020 8658 4334

Listening Ears

Tel: 07818 665682

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Contact: Ben Henderson

Contact: Satvir Saran & Lorraine Ellis

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Tel: 020 3004 4176 Email: ian@thinkeventslondon.com Contact: Ian Taitte

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Utopia

Crystal Associates Ltd Tel: 07305 948582

FISHBONE Business People Matters Ltd

Email: mark.jenkinson@crystal-associates.co.uk

Tel: 07789 654862

Email: tom.fisher@fishbone-hr.com

Contact: Mark Jenkinson

Contact: Tom Fisher

Tel: 020 8191 8528

As a member of our Chamber, you are joining a unique organisation with a strong campaigning voice for business to local and national government.

Think Events London

Tel: 020 3319 0618

Zenith Inclinations Ltd Tel: 07445 292928

Email: info@zenitsec.co.uk

Contact: Raphael Ewomazino

You can access a range of services, networking events and support to help your business do better. Importantly, you can also access other members to find new suppliers,

For more information telephone: 020 8317 3365

Tel: 07827 320379 Email: info@utopiastudios.org Contact: Lara Platt

promote your business services, or join forces on new opportunities. Find out how to join and learn how others are benefiting from their membership.

email: office@selondonchamber.org

“As a member you’re well connected with access to our range of benefits and services, including our directory of local member businesses.” April 2020

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