Southwark Business Today Feb 19

Southwark

BUSINESS TODAY

Issue 22: February 2019

Making a difference in a fast-moving world Charles Davies, MD, ISP, one of the UK’s largest

gigabit broadband provider

talks of developments.

Page 18

• Full speed ahead with

1Gb Broadband. Page 15

• Mercato Metropolitano

London’s first sustainable community market. Page 20

• Remembering when...

Charles Dickens experienced life in Southwark. Page 28

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Proud members of the Southwark Chamber of Commerce

Welcome

Contents

Welcome to

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 10

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The Southwark Chamber of Commerce magazine for all Businesses in Southwark A strategy for difficult times In my previous column, I indicated that the direction of travel was unclear and that I felt business was suffering as a result.

I could say I was proved right but, of course, that’s a bit like saying the sun is going to rise tomorrow.

It’s good that the sun rises but that information doesn’t really assist anyone.

It is easy to preach doom and gloom, but that doesn’t assist us either; once you know no one is listening it’s time to stop wasting energy and channel effort into something more productive.

The launch party for the 2nd annual Southwark Business Awards at the Shard on 24th January gave me a real dose of optimism. I met lots of people who were determined to make their businesses more successful and to move into the future with energy and optimism.

This year we have refined the criteria shaken up the categories and put last

Disclaimer

Southwark Business Today is mailed without charge to all Chamber members and distributed to businesses in the Borough. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Southwark

4-5 6 7 8 9 10 11 14 16-17 18-19 20-22 23 24-25 26-27 28-29 30-31 32 33 33 34 Enquiries

year's success to good use in planning for an even better awards ceremony on 13th June.

I think it is worth mentioning here that one of the constants from last year’s awards was a realisation from those who participated that the journey was as worthwhile as the end; the requirement to look at yourself and evaluate what you do and how you do it really assisted the participants.

Of course, for those who were shortlisted and who won the recognition might have been a bit useful, too!

Apart from the shameless advertising, the point of mentioning the business awards here is to try to generate a bit of energy and optimism wrapped up in a bit of fun. Networking and looking forward is much more likely to get positive results than sitting in a dark room with a wet towel on your forehead, tempting though that may be at times.

Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in publication are not necessarily those of Southwark Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2019. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this

I still cannot see what will happened over the next few months, but I am also sure that if you want a better future the only person likely to deliver that to you is you.

Please go out and promote your businesses, look for the positive and push forward; standing still is like moving backwards but with less commitment.

Chairman Southwark Chamber of Commerce

Peter Mantell

journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the 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.

Up Front Legal Economy News Finance Skills Education News New Member Profile Big Interview Focus on Mercato Metropolitano Southwark Business Awards Skills Property Focus Remembering When ...

Health & Wellbeing Voice from Westminster Chamber Events & New Members Last Word Join Us

Southwark Chamber of Commerce 169 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW Tel: 07477 581977 Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com Web: www.SouthwarkCommerce.com

Editor

John Dean Email: deangriss@btinternet.com

Contributing Editor Susan Isaacs

Publisher

Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com

Published

February 2019 © Benham Publishing

Advertising and Features

Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com

Studio

Mark Etherington Email: mark@benhampublishing.com Media No.1667

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Up Front

Council buys commercial complex to generate income for front-line services Southwark Council has confirmed the acquisition of Courage Yard, an office, retail and residential square next to Shad Thames, close to Tower Bridge and also near Potters Field Park and the council’s headquarters on Tooley Street.

The property, which was on the market at £89m, is made up of seven buildings, one of which serves as the headquarters for global tech company ZPG Ltd. The investment will generate about £5m per year in revenue, which the council will put towards vital services.

Cllr Victoria Mills, cabinet member for finance, performance and Brexit, said: “Income we receive from our commercial property portfolio is essential to help support our highly valued public services in this time of decreasing government funding.

“Over the years, we have acquired commercial assets that we can manage to generate revenue.

Projects are chosen based on being in Southwark and the size and resilience of their revenue return, which can then be used to support our frontline services.

“Over recent years, a number of properties the council owns have been sold to help finance our substantial capital programme or we have developed them to deliver new council housing. This has reduced our income from commercial assets.

“During 2017, we purchased four properties in the borough with an established rental income of more than £2.18million a year and we believe that Courage Yard will be another valuable asset for the council.”

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Mayor announces scrappage scheme for most polluting vans The Mayor of London has announced a £23million scrappage scheme to help London’s small businesses prepare for the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

The scheme will initially help London’s micro-businesses – defined as those with fewer than ten employees – to switch to the cleanest vehicles, including electric.

It is planned to be in place ahead of the introduction of London’s new central London ULEZ, which from 8 April will bring in charges for vehicles which do not meet stricter emission standards that apply 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Diesel vans which do not meet the latest Euro 6 standard will have to pay £12.50 a day to drive in central London.

Under the City Hall scheme, funding would be available to scrap vans that do not comply with the new ULEZ standards, but which are driven into the ULEZ zone regularly, helping thousands of micro-business owners update their vehicles.

Sadiq Khan said: “Air pollution is a national health crisis that is stunting the lung development of our children and leading to thousands of premature deaths. To truly get a grip on our lethal air we need to take bold action to rid our city of the most polluting vehicles.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “The AA welcomes the Mayor’s diesel scrappage scheme.

Some small businesses that cannot

afford to switch their vans to cleaner Euro 6s have been taking the hit from higher road use charges and simply passing on the extra costs to their customers.

“This scrappage scheme gives them a route to cleaner vehicles, an escape from air quality charges, the chance to stay competitive in their trades and businesses, reduce customer costs and above all the means to cut street-level pollution.”

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “Vans crisscross the capital making journeys that are crucial for London’s economy. They are likely to cover more miles per day than a car simply driving to and from a single place of work. Helping smaller businesses, with limited cash flow, trade up to newer cleaner vehicles faster than they could do otherwise makes sense.”

Dr Penny Woods, Chief Executive of the British Lung Foundation, said: “Air pollution affects all our health with children, the elderly and those

with lung and heart conditions most at risk. Urgent action can’t be delayed. London is leading the way; now we need to see similar schemes introduced for residents in other polluted cities.”

Gerry Keaney, Chief Executive of the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA), said: “It is great that the Mayor is providing extra financial support for upgrading vans, which are an essential tool for so many SMEs operating in London.

“More and more firms are choosing to lease because it provides an affordable, fixed cost way of accessing the latest low-emission vehicles. The BVRLA and its members look forward to working with the GLA on its plans to remove older, more polluting vans from London’s roads.”

People in London unaware of cancer care support services Dimbleby Cancer Care has officially launched the cancercaremap.org, after research found a significant lack of awareness across London of the support and advice services available following a cancer diagnosis.

New research revealed that more than half (52%) of those in the region were unaware of emotional support services, such as talking therapy or support groups, despite studies finding mental ill health can affect up to 49% of people with cancer.

Nearly three quarters (74%) lacked awareness of the availability of

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

practical support, such as help with driving or coping with housework.

The cancercaremap.org has been launched to address this information gap, and provide the UK’s only comprehensive directory of cancerrelated services for those living with cancer, their friends and family, carers and clinicians.

Jonathan Dimbleby chair of Dimbleby Cancer Care and creator of the map,

said: “These results illustrate a shocking truth - that vital cancer care and support services are available, yet remain hidden to those who need them. By 2020, one in two people in the UK will have had a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.

That’s 27.6 million people who may not know where to find cancer support groups in their local area.”

Up Front

Accolade for theatre founder Teresa Early, the founder of Theatre Peckham who helped shape the careers of thousands of creative people, was awarded an MBE for services to young people in the arts in the Queen’s New Year Honours list.

After more than 30 years at the helm it was such a richly rewarding role that enabled us to lay strong foundations for Theatre Peckham to go forward into the future, and I wish them all continued success.”

Teresa, who recently stepped down as Artistic Director after 33 years said: “I feel very proud to have received the accolade of an MBE in this year’s Honours, and very grateful to have had the chance to introduce so many young people and their families to the magic of theatre, and the joys of performing arts.

Sioban Whitney-Low, Chair of Trustees, Theatre Peckham, said: “The creative case for the arts for young people is well made and Teresa Early has played a significant role in increasing and widening accessibility to performing arts opportunities for the young people of Peckham.

“It is wonderful that this has been recognised in the year in which she stepped down from the company she founded.

“Teresa has helped many young people to connect and find their voices through the arts.

Southwark leads London plans for global commemoration of Mayflower voyage Southwark will be leading London’s commemorations to mark the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower sailing to America, in 2020.

Southwark Council has opened the first round of funding from a pot of £140,000, which will help local people to get involved with London’s international commemoration.

The Mayflower set sail for America from Rotherhithe in July 1620. Captain Jones and many of his crew also lived

there, making London central to the historic voyage.

A global programme of events is being organised for the lead up to the anniversary, which will run from November 2019 to November 2020 and include a programme of activities taking place across the UK, Netherlands and America.

Now, in the beautiful building she helped to secure, young people will continue to thrive and flourish for years to come.”

During Teresa Early’s tenure, Theatre Peckham grew into a renowned training hub which introduces thousands of young people to theatre every year.

The new Theatre and studio spaces deliver an extensive education and performance programme for young people from across inner city London.

Alumni are employed across the Creative Industries and include Star Wars actor and Theatre Peckham Patron John Boyega.

Other patrons of Theatre Peckham include Sir Ian McKellen, Jenny Agutter OBE, David Harewood MBE and Paulette Randall.

Southwark Council, United St Saviour’s Charity and British Land have worked together to establish a Southwark Mayflower 400 Grants Fund, making £140,000 available to local projects celebrating the themes of migration, tolerance, enterprise and community, for the international Mayflower commemoration event.

Cllr Rebecca Lury, Deputy Leader of Southwark Council, said: “We hope this funding will help bring the story of the Mayflower to generations to come and that the community connections established throughout Southwark’s celebrations, will form the foundation of many friendships and future activities.”

The council is inviting community groups, tenant and resident associations, faith-based organisations, schools and arts, cultural and heritage organisations in SE16, to consider how they could use the Mayflower’s heritage to create meaningful and exciting projects that enhance and highlight its stories for a local and international audience.

Charging point goes live Connected Kerb, a start-up company backed by the Mayor of London, has launched its first series of electric car charging points, which are fully embedded into the road kerbside in Borough Road, Southwark.

The launch was supported by Southwark Council, Virgin Media and the National Grid and the move comes after the London-based start-up won the Mayor's Award for Urban Innovation last year.

The company intends to roll out the technology across London in the near future and the charging points will also provide environmental and traffic data to the public authorities.

Projects from groups in SE1 and those based outside the immediate area may also be considered.

People working on smaller activities and events can bid for up to £1,000, while bigger projects and events will be eligible of over £1,000. All initiatives must include a live event or activity to take place in the lead up to the anniversary of the Mayflower sailing in November 2020. They should also take place within the SE16 area or areas of Mayflower significance in the wider SE1 area.

You can find the application criteria and apply for Mayflower 400 funding here: https://www.ustsc.org.uk/ mayflower-400-grants-fund/

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Legal Advice

Prepare to Sell your Business – Steps to Help Maximise your Profits Owners of small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) need to take steps to prepare their business for sale.

Here are some legal points to consider before you market your business for sale.

The same principles apply to most types of business, including shops, restaurants, cafes, service industries, pubs, newsagents, bars and nightclubs.

Shares or assets?

If your business is run through a limited company, your first decision is whether to have a share sale or an asset sale.

With a share sale, you are selling not only assets, but also any liabilities of the company. This means that a buyer will usually ask you for warranties and indemnities. Transferring assets is usually a simpler matter.

Either way, the type of sale is usually determined by tax considerations so that you maximise your share of the sale proceeds and minimise the tax cost.

Always take tax advice before you even market the business for sale.

Which assets are you selling?

You will first need to identify the assets used in the business.

These will usually include a lease of the property occupied, goodwill, intellectual property rights, equipment and stock.

The next step is to clarify which of those assets you are selling, and which ones won’t be included in the sale. This is particularly important where a division of a larger business is being sold.

Consider a pre-sale reorganisation by transferring assets into another company within the group.

Capital vs Income

You should consider whether to sacrifice receiving a capital sum now for a potentially larger capital sum later. A seller’s willingness to continue in a consultancy or employment role after sale may assist in maximising the price which a purchaser is willing to pay. Consider also taking non-cash consideration, usually in the form of shares in the purchasing company.

Although to many people ‘cash is king’, you may be able to achieve a greater sum overall if you are prepared to consider deferred payment of the consideration over a period of time.

Restrictions on the seller

Your buyer will be concerned to protect the goodwill and name of the business against the risk of you setting up in competition or soliciting customers.

No restrictive covenant is implied, so consider offering an express clause in the sale contract.

Restrictive covenants will be enforced, but only to the extent that they are not an unreasonable restriction to trade.

The reasonableness of a restriction will be tested against the geographical area to which it applies.

Employees’ rights and unfair dismissal

The rights of employees are protected under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2014 (TUPE), in the case of a ‘relevant transfer’. A relevant transfer is the transfer of an economic entity which retains its identity. This includes the transfer of a business or part of a business.

The rights of those employed immediately before the transfer will automatically be transferred to the buyer, thus preserving continuity of

employment. Any action you as the seller have taken towards your employee before the sale is now deemed to have been taken by the buyer. What this means in practice is that any claim an employee could have brought against you, such as race discrimination or harassment, may be brought against the buyer instead.

There are exceptions to these conditions. In cases where there is an ‘economic, technical or intending change to the workforce’ (ETO) before or after the relevant transfer, the employee will not be deemed to have been unfairly dismissed.

Which legal documents will your solicitor need?

Once you have decided to sell part or all of your business, it will save time and money if you provide to your solicitor those contracts and other documents which they will need to see, including: • All HP or leasing agreements • Contracts with customers • Contracts with suppliers • Employment contracts • Property title deeds and leases • Software licensing agreements

If you are thinking of selling your business and need expert legal advice, please contact Alan Zeffertt on aze@anthonygold.co.uk or ask for our Commercial Team.

Anthony Gold Solicitors specialise in many different areas of law

Our solicitors are experts in their fields. We are negotiators and litigators,

committed to doing whatever is best for our clients.

T: 020 7940 4060

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Offices in London Bridge, Elephant & Castle and Streatham.

E: mail@anthonygold.co.uk

W: www.anthonygold.co.uk

Economy

Too many businesses ‘unprepared for digital tax change’ A new poll of Southern-based finance directors has revealed that four in ten believe their businesses are unprepared for new digital VAT rules which come into force in April.

The survey of 640 finance directors, carried out by audit, tax and consulting firm RSM, found that 43 per cent of respondents in the region said they were either somewhat or very unprepared for the new Making Tax Digital for VAT rules, while only seven per cent described themselves as very prepared.

The regional figures reflect the UK-wide picture. In total, 41 per cent said they were unprepared with only four per cent saying they felt very prepared.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) is the Government's plan to bring the UK's tax system into the 21st Century by transforming the way taxpayers interact with HMRC.

With only a few exemptions, VAT-registered businesses trading over the VAT threshold of £85,000 will be required to keep records in a digital format, ensure that the transfer or exchange of VAT information is digitally linked and submit their VAT return information to HMRC using MTD-compatible software.

Any business affected by these changes must ensure that they are using MTD-compatible software by April, although the introduction for more complex businesses has been deferred to October 2019.

To be compatible the software must include an Application Programme Interface (API).

The API will create a link between the business’s accounting software and HMRC's systems. The API will enable the business to submit their VAT return figures to HMRC directly from their accounting software.

HMRC has indicated that there will be a ‘soft landing’ between April 2019 and April 2020 for ‘non-complex’ organisations.

This 'soft landing' should also apply for a 12-month period until October 2020 for ‘complex’ organisations.

During this time there will be no financial penalties for failing to have digital links in place between the accounting and the API-enabled software.

There must, however, be an API creating a digital link from the outset between the accounting records of the business and HMRC.

Philip Munn, VAT partner at RSM, said: “With just months to go before Making Tax Digital becomes a reality for most organisations, it's concerning that so many businesses appear to be so unprepared.

“There are still some people who believe that Making Tax Digital has been shelved amid uncertainty surrounding the Brexit outcome, but this isn't the case. The only delay has been for more complex organisations who will have an additional six months to get ready. For everyone else, the 1 April 2019 still applies.

“Affected businesses really need to make the next months count, to ensure that their software, systems and people are all ready for the change.”

The survey was carried out among 640 finance directors at a series of RSM events held between 25 September and 13 November 2018.

RSM is a leading audit, tax and consulting firm with nearly 3,500 partners and staff operating from 35 locations throughout the UK. For the year ending 31 March.

“With only a few exemptions, VAT-registered businesses trading over the VAT threshold of £85,000 will be required to keep records in a digital format, ensure that the transfer or exchange of VAT information is digitally linked and submit their VAT return information to HMRC using MTD-compatible software.”

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News

Company expands Commercial property information group CoStar has joined the ranks of companies that have chosen to expand within The Shard.

They add to a growing list of office occupiers that have opted to take more space, having seen their businesses grow within Western Europe’s tallest building.

Others include Foresight, Duff & Phelps, Jellyfish, MATCHESFASHION.COM and Warwick Business School.

CoStar moved its European headquarters to Level 26 of The Shard in 2017. It will now increase its presence from 15,912 sq ft to 23,064 sq ft, with the opening of additional office space on Level 13.

The move follows significant expansion within its business, including the recent acquisition of commercial property marketplace Realla.

The Shard has benefited CoStar, both as a central London meeting place and through its transport links to London airports and the company’s offices in Germany, France and Spain, according to Co-Star, Managing Director - Europe, Matthew Green.

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Shard occupiers show their generosity As part of the Team London Bridge Community Christmas initiative, occupiers at The Shard bought, donated and wrapped 517 presents for local charities in December.

Team London Bridge, the local Business Improvement District which continues to develop the area as a business and culture hub, delivered the presents to local charities that support the homeless, elderly and disadvantaged members of the Southwark community during the festive season.

Employees from companies based at The Shard wrapped the

517 presents over two days.

The work was part of a collection which started in November and is an annual local tradition with local employees donating gifts, then volunteering to wrap and deliver them.

Over the past ten years, Team London Bridge have collected thousands of gift donations from London Bridge employees.

In December, 2,162 gifts went to Southwark residents who otherwise may not have had anything to unwrap this Christmas.

And new for 2018, the gift deliveries created zero emissions thanks to the PedalMe cargo bike service. Sixteen cargo bike trips transported the donated gifts to London Bridge Hive and onwards to their final port of call.

Vegan food sales on the up A survey of more than 2,000 people has found that 57% of those surveyed in London are eating more vegetarian and vegan food since the start of the year.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

The results were very balanced across both female and male participants of the survey, with slightly more women (58% vs 56%) saying they were they are eating more vegetarian food in January.

But there was a much bigger distinction in responses by age, with 64% of those aged under 35 stating this as their aim for January.

The survey was conducted by Pure, London’s leading food-to-go brand, which has seen sales of vegetarian and vegan food explode this year.

Co-founder of Pure, Edward Bentley, said: “Sales of our most popular vegetarian and vegan soups, pastas and Hot Boxes grew by more than 30% in January. It is incredible to see so many people embracing a plant-based lifestyle.”

Finance

Advertising Feature

Your tax year-end checklist 2018/19

A more secure financial future is within reach. Make the most of your tax-saving opportunities before the 5 April.

We ask Andrew Rumbles our latest member - Wealth Management Consultant of Prospera Wealth Management LLP based in the new Fora building in Borough about tax year-end strategies.

There is no shortcut to financial security for you and your family.

And the route isn’t always easy.

Uncertainty in the markets, about the economy or government tax policy, can all present obstacles.

But having a plan, and the discipline to keep taking steps over a number of years, can get you to where you want to be.

That plan includes taking advantage of your tax-saving and investment opportunities before the end of the tax year. Missing a step can mean it takes you longer to get there.

Here are ten ideas to consider to help ensure you make the most of your tax allowances and exemptions before it’s too late.

3 Make use of your ISA allowance of £20,000.

3 Check your spouse or partner has maximised their ISA allowance to fully utilise the combined allowance of £40,000.

3 Make contributions of up to £4,260 per child into Junior ISAs to help them get a head start.

3 Those wishing to maximise pension saving should consider fully utilising their annual allowance. Unused allowances can be carried forward, but only from the three previous tax years.

3 High earners could take steps to bring their taxable income down by making pension contributions or charitable donations.

These can help individuals: • Bring their income to below the additional rate tax band, which starts at £150,000.

• Regain their Personal Allowance, which starts to be withdrawn for incomes over £100,000.

• Avoid losing Child Benefit, which is gradually removed if one parent in the household earns more than £50,000.

3 Take advantage of your annual Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exemption by realising gains of £11,700 in this tax year. Those with larger liabilities might look to take gains over two tax years and make use of tax-free inter-spouse transfers.

3 Use your IHT gifting exemption of £3,000 for this year.

3 If you’re thinking of making a large pension withdrawal, it could make sense to spread the withdrawal over two or more tax years to minimise your Income Tax liability.

3 If you own a business and depending on your earnings, consider taking dividend income instead of salary to avoid National Insurance contributions (NICs).

The first £2,000 of dividend income is tax-free.

3 Divert your company’s pre-tax profits into a personal pension to reduce your company’s liability to Corporation Tax, Income Tax (including on dividends) and NICs. Contributions will need to be paid before your company’s financial year-end in order for the business to qualify for the deduction in that accounting period. In many cases, that deadline will be 31 March 2019.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested.

Andrew Rumbles, Wealth Management Consultant

The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and are generally dependent on individual circumstances.

To take advantage of these tax-saving opportunities contact Andrew on 07496 966474 or email Andrew.Rumbles@sjpp.co.uk

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Skills

Trailblazing employers to be celebrated The theme of National Apprenticeship Week 2019 (NAW2019) in March will be Blaze a Trail and Southwark employers are being urged to take part.

Apprenticeships and Skills minister Anne Milton made the announcement as it was confirmed that the 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week will run from 4 to 8 March.

The week is seen as a great opportunity to highlight the opportunities that an apprenticeship brings to employers, individuals and the economy.

The Blaze a Trail theme will feature throughout the week to highlight the benefits of apprenticeships to employers, individuals, local communities and the economy.

As in previous years, NAW2019 will see a range of activities and events being hosted across the country.

Organisers want to change the perceptions that people have on what an apprenticeship is, and who takes them up, to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to take up an apprenticeship.

The week, which will include Southwark employers, will also show the number of high quality of apprenticeships opportunities available at all levels around the country in

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a huge variety of sectors such as aviation engineering, finance and policing.

Anne Milton said: “Blazing a trail is what being an apprentice is all about and will be our theme for National Apprenticeship Week 2019.

That’s what’s happening up and down the country – apprentices and employers blazing a trail.

“I want everyone to recognise the change that apprenticeships can bring - for employers blazing a trail to new markets, apprentices to new career opportunities and for colleges and training providers raising the skills levels for everyone.”

Keith Smith, director, Education and Skills Funding Agency said: “I want the 12th annual National Apprenticeship Week to be the biggest and most successful yet.

“The theme for this year, Blaze a Trail, is at the heart of what apprenticeships are all about. I really hope our partners feel as excited about it as we do and, like previous years, they will can get fully behind the week.

“We want everyone to consider hosting an event or activity so more people get to see and

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

hear about the huge benefits apprenticeships can bring to employers, individuals and local communities.”

National Apprenticeship Week 2018 was record-breaking, with 780 events taking place across England.

The ambition of delivering a 10,000-talks movement #10kTalks - to inspire the next generation of apprentices was exceeded, reaching more than 33,500 people in more than 300 schools across the country.

A further 130 schools hosted teacher-to-teacher talks, reaching an additional 2,300 adults, to support them to talk to their students about apprenticeships.

The Big Assembly reached 20,000 young people with a live video stream, showcasing apprentices and employers sharing their apprenticeships stories.

Events also took place to celebrate International Women’s Day, apprenticeships diversity and a launch event with the BBC and Sutton Trust included the announcement of a new ground-breaking apprenticeship programme.

Richard Hamer, Education & Skills Director, BAE Systems, is one of the business people supporting the event.

He said: “We have always supported National Apprenticeship Week.

It’s a great, focused way to showcase the many benefits of apprenticeships. For National Apprenticeship Week 2019 we will be celebrating our apprentices’ achievements through our own internal apprenticeship awards.

“We’ve been a ‘trailblazer’ in developing new standards across the engineering sector and were delighted to hear that the theme for this year is Blaze a Trail.

“We have 2,000 apprentices in learning and for 2019 will be recruiting more advanced, higher and degree apprenticeships across a wide variety of apprenticeship standards.”

More information on National Apprenticeship Week 2019 is available by following @Apprenticeships on Twitter.

Education

Kickstart your career with a new course in 2019 The start of the new year is traditionally a time for going on strict diets, committing to exercise regimes and avoiding alcohol… resolutions which are often a distant memory a few months later.

But the start of a year is also a great time to ask yourself the question: do I want to be in the same position this time next year?

If the answer is ‘no’, then starting a course at college is an excellent way of making a change in your life.

Whether you’re looking for a completely new career direction, feel ready to raise your game and get that promotion at work, or just want to improve your skills or try something a bit different, Southwark College has a huge range of options which will help you get started.

Many of our courses take place in the evening, enabling you to

fit studying in around your work and family commitments, and become part of a friendly, supportive group of like-minded adults. Our courses are designed to be interactive, engaging and fun, and are focused on the skills which will help you in the world of work.

You might decide to take one of our IT courses such as Introduction to Web Design, which will give you the basic skills you need to design your own website, or could even open the door to an exciting career in

the IT sector – one of the areas where there’s a real shortage of skilled workers in London.

You might want to brush up on your maths or English with one of our many functional skills courses, or you may fancy exploring your creative side with our Dressmaking, Fashion Illustration or DJ Skills courses.

Whatever your aims for 2019 and beyond, enrolling on a course at Southwark College is one of the best new year’s resolutions you can make.

Easy to reach by public transport and offering a great range of state-of-the-art facilities, it is an amazing local resource.

If you aren’t sure which one is right for you, our experienced advisers are on-hand to help you explore your options.

Just give us a call on 020 3757 3000 or browse what we have to offer at lscollege.ac.uk/courses.

Now’s a great time to make that change!

From business to teaching, counselling to web design we have so much to offer!

NEW YE AR COURSES

Why not change up your career with

FO R A D U LT S AG E D 1 9 +

which are free, and give you a taste

one of our Explorer qualifi cations, of a new industry.

Start your journey today – see LSCollege.ac.uk

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

11

Warwick Business School at The Shard, London

For the Change Makers

W

wbs.ac.uk/go/WBSLondon

Warwick Business School

How an MBA helped Team GB win Olympic gold medals There are a lot of buzzwords around when it comes to data now: Big data and Business Intelligence to name but two. and form what is known as a world-class programme,” says Samir, who completed his Full-time MBA in 2010.

“UK Sport invests in these programmes to create sustainable high-performance, sustainable success – this is where we come in.”

However, for one MBA graduate from Warwick Business School (WBS), the world of data analytics was already part of his job, so combining data and engineering together with a love of sport made perfect sense.

Out of this combination came a business venture which has now supported no less than 15 British gold medal winning teams.

As the ‘team behind the team’ Samir Abid’s firm Pace Insights has been part of the professionalisation of the Great Britain Olympic team, where lottery funding has transformed them from also-rans, winning just one gold in Atlanta 1996, to sporting powerhouses, collecting 27 golds and beating China to second in the medals table at Rio in 2016.

“Behind every athlete you see on TV is a team of all sorts of people - nutritionists, support staff - all these individuals come together to support the athlete

In London 2012 Samir was working only with UK Sport, the central funding body with only Samir himself as staff.

By Rio 2016, the team had grown to six and now have their own offices and workshop facilities in Leamington.

“We’ve added value to over 30 different sporting organisations, including one very well-known UK based professional cycling team we’ve provided bespoke software tools and training equipment to,” says Samir.

“We also had 16 teams competing in the Rio Olympics and Paralympics, 15 of whom achieved one or more gold medals - many of those golds medalling for the first time.”

These marginal gains for Team GB are all thanks to Samir’s passion for motorsport, where analysis of a mass of data has long been a part of the winning process.

It was thanks to taking time out to do an MBA at Warwick Business School that Samir saw the opportunity for using data in other sports and also gained the skills in managing people and

organisational behaviour to give him the confidence to set up his own business.

“During the economic downturn in 2008, I took the opportunity to study the MBA full-time,” says Samir.

“I came out wanting to set-up and run my own business.

I tried several ideas for appbased systems until a friend of mine from motorsport, who had recently moved into a new role within Olympic Sports, asked me to help with a project.

"A benefit of the MBA I found surprising was the network you build. I went for knowledge, but the people you talk to make a longer lasting impact. I'm still in regular contact with quite a few of them.

“My technical background was clear and I have personally always enjoyed developing others to understand and appreciate what technology and engineering can offer.

I'm also a bit competitive and so that passion for leaving no stone unturned in your preparations for a race enables me to find strong common ground with our customers no matter what sport they're in.

“We look to empower coaches, to become at a minimum better ‘critical customers’ of their data providers.

“Our role is to give them belief that an evidence base learning process is valuable

and relevant to them. When a robust, evidence-based approach, is conducted in practical, real-world environment the results can be startling, plus providing knowledge they can build on in the future.”

What advice does he have for entrepreneurs looking to start a new business?

“Aside from don’t do it?”

Samir jokes. "Go in with your eyes open – the big business question is whether you want to take investment or not? But the real question you have to ask yourself is what are you doing it for? That is the main thing.

“If it is not something you are very passionate about it will be a big challenge. It is a challenge for me and I’m doing what I love. It’s a job that is a seven-day responsibility, juggling all that – you need to understand why you’re doing it, and it has got to be a positive reason, don’t go in it just for money.

“If anything you need to prepare for having to live with very little. Ask yourself what is the value you are going to create? And then give it a go.”

For more information on Warwick Business School's suite of MBA programmes go to wbs.ac.uk/go/WBSLondon

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

13

News

Assembly moves to tackle aircraft noise

More workspace to be created Southwark Council’s Cabinet has introduced measures to support regeneration of the area, including proposals for more affordable workspace.

Among the measures are a new obligation on major development schemes to provide ten per cent affordable workspace and a new lease for the Livesey Exchange to develop and run a space on the Old Kent Road.

The new community hub will provide retail and affordable business and community spaces to support local businesses, event and meeting space and training for local people.

The project will be largely funded by Southwark Council and the GLA’s good growth fund, with an additional contribution from the Livesey Exchange Crowdfund.

Cllr Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Growth, Development and Planning, said: “The council is always listening to local people and we know how important it is to our residents to have affordable workspace as well as genuinely affordable homes.

“The community hub will be a great addition to the Old Kent Road, encouraging small businesses, helping local people to upskill, and making Southwark the destination for small business.”

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London Assembly members have called for a slowdown to airport expansion in the City in order to give residents a break from noise.

The Environment Committee made its move after Heathrow announced plans for 25,000 extra flights a year, bringing new areas of London under its flight paths, and London City Airport saw record passenger numbers in 2018.

Although increased air travel is seen as important to develop the economy of London and the wider UK, the Assembly says that it comes at a personal cost.

A new report, ‘Aircraft Noise’, published by the Environment Committee, says that noise nuisance levels are unacceptable.

The report builds on evidence given by residents who told the Committee of a ‘dawn chorus of disruption’ that continued well after their children’s bedtime.

Among the recommendations in ‘Aircraft Noise’: • The Independent Commission on Civil Aviation Noise should use lower thresholds for disturbance, allowing residents to leave their windows open when they need to • Air traffic at Heathrow and London City should not increase and Heathrow’s third runway should not go ahead • Air traffic controllers should minimise continuous stacking and maximise descent and ascent to keep aircraft further from the ground for longer. They should also minimise overlap between City and Heathrow flight paths.

• There should be no night flights, and restrictions on early morning flights should be strengthened.

All London airports should provide predictable periods of respite.

Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the Environment Committee, said: “The experiences of residents living with the daily nightmare of overhead noise are deeply worrying.

There are significant health impacts that follow from an inability to sleep, relax and concentrate.

“This drive towards filling airspace capacity must be checked. For too many people, including children, aircraft noise is a major dominant intrusion into their everyday lives.

It is not an acceptable price to pay for air travel. It isn’t right and must be challenged.

“We have already made clear our objection to the expansion of Heathrow but aviation authorities and operators must prioritise the health and wellbeing of Londoners and give us a break.”

Southwark plays key role in air quality campaign Mayor of London Sadiq Khan officially launched Breathe London in a quest to address the effects of air pollution.

Cllr Richard Livingstone, Southwark Council Cabinet Member for environment, transport management and air quality, joined the Mayor at Charlotte Sharman School to launch the project.

Breathe London is an initiative that shares Southwark’s approach to improving air quality by measuring the problem, sharing knowledge and taking action to reduce it.

Breathe London launched with the introduction of eight air quality monitoring sensors in Southwark.

They, along with another 92 new sensors across the Capital, will add to existing data that illustrates the

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

air pollution problem in London.

Further to this, two Google Street View cars will spend a year driving around the city, measuring air quality every 30 metres.

Cllr Livingstone said: “The launch will support our rigorous monitoring of local air and the many council actions, from banning engine idling to closing roads outside our schools, that we’ve introduced since launching our ambitious new Air Quality Strategy in 2017.

“With the help of the new monitoring and continued support from our residents and many other partners, we will continue to work to improve London’s air quality.”

The data generated by the new network will be available for the public to view on an interactive online map on the Breathe London website: www.breathelondon.org

Fibre broadband that means business “Hyperoptic is the fastest internet provider we have ever had. I found them extremely easy to deal with and it made a real difference to our business.”

Richard Nichols Director, Vitamin London Ltd.

Same upload & download speeds

Unlimited usage

No traffic management

Static IP addresses available

24/7 business support

(1Gb & 150Mb plans)

Whatever your business does online, do it better with Hyperoptic full fibre broadband.

Prices starting from just £40 a month.

Choose from fast, superfast or hyperfast:

Register your interest today at www.hyperoptic.com/business 1Gbps speed is not achievable by a single device over wi-fi. If you are looking for a 1Gbps connection to a single device, a wired connection is required. Same download and upload speed applies to 150Mb and 1Gb services. 30Mb download and 1Mb upload speed applies to 30Mb service. Pricing accurate as of /2018. All prices are exclusive of VAT. Please see our website for full Terms & Conditions.

New Member Profile

Low emission flexible car sharing for your business needs The first stage of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is about to be implemented as Mayor Sadiq Khan takes further steps to tackle London’s air quality problems.

From April 8th 2019, the Zone will cover the existing Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) and charge drivers of older cars and vans £12.50 per day if they enter the ULEZ. Businesses with older, higher polluting vehicles will now have to consider the alternatives.

While there are many incentives aimed at encouraging small businesses to switch to lower polluting private vehicles, like electric vehicle (EV) grants from central government, there is a better choice than a like-for-like replacement for your business trips. Flexible car sharing can provide an alternative option to a privately owned vehicle alongside other modes of transport.

DriveNow is London’s flexible car club and is now available in Southwark, having expanded into the borough and 4 others at the end of last year. By using DriveNow for business trips and enabling your employees to use a car club, as a business you are supporting more sustainable means of transport and also saving on travel costs. Mixing car club usage with public and active transport lowers CO2 emissions and contributes to improved air quality. Flexible car clubs can take up to 13 cars off the road and reduce annual household mileage by 238 miles.

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DriveNow give members 24/7 access to over 700 cars, including the electric BMW i3, which can be found and unlocked at the touch of a button through the DriveNow app. Users can pick up and drop off vehicles at residents’ and pay & display bays within the operating zone (Southwark, Westminster, Tower Hamlets, Barnet, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest) without having to return the car to the original parking bay.

This enables one-way and round-trip journeys, paying by the minute, hour or day with fuel, tax and insurance included.

Shared electric vehicles are an effective way of improving air quality whilst still providing the necessary transport to meet people’s needs. DriveNow has recently introduced 130 BMW i3 electric vehicles into the fleet, which have zero tailpipe emissions and can travel up to 180 miles on a single charge. There is an opportunity for businesses to try electric vehicles without the hassle or significant costs associated with owning or leasing the vehicle.

A key advantage for businesses in Southwark of using the BMW i3 in Central London is that it’s exempt from both the congestion charge and the future ULEZ charge. As a further bonus, DriveNow members can be rewarded driving time when they leave a BMW i3 on charge at the end of their rental.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Pricing for the BMW i3 starts at 39p per minute, but can be as low as 24p per minute for oneway journeys in the DriveNow Zone. Hourly packages are also available at around £10 per hour or from £80 per day, for longer journeys like going outside of the DriveNow Zone.

For businesses with international clients or those needing to go abroad for business, DriveNow has a connection to London City Airport. You can take any DriveNow vehicle from the operating zone, drive one-way and drop-off in the exclusive bays at the airport without paying for parking. Returning from your trip?

Take a DriveNow from London City Airport for your journey home. DriveNow is also available in 11 major cities and airports in Europe, and our customers have access to thousands of BMW and MINI vehicles in these cities.

Join DriveNow for free with £20 driving credit to try out the service.

Visit www.drive-now.com and use code BUSINESS on the last page of registration to take advantage of this offer.

If you wish to discuss your business car sharing needs further contact us at business_uk@drive-now.com

So how can you and your employees use DriveNow for business in Southwark?

The fastest way to get employees to use the service for business is for them to register with DriveNow, then expense invoices provided when they end their rental. For businesses looking to streamline their employee use of flexible car sharing, a corporate DriveNow account with a company credit card can be created to add employees to. Employees can then select ‘Business Trip’ in the app, and invoicing will go to the administrator of the corporate account with payment being deducted by the central credit card. You can also purchase driving credit upfront and DriveNow will provide weekly reports on employee usage.

London at your ngertips.

There’s a DriveNow for every occasion.

Now available in Southwark!

JOIN FOR

FREE + £20 driving credit

FIND IT Find a BMW or MINI in the app.

DRIVE IT

DROP IT

Drive by the minute, hour or day.

Now available in more of London!

Join at drive-now.com with code: BUSINESS

Terms and conditions apply. £20 credit valid for 30 days from date of online registration. No monthly or annual fees.

Big Interview

Q&A with

Charles Davies and Southwark Chamber of Commerce

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Big Interview

Q. Name Title

A. Charles Davies, Managing Director, ISP at Hyperoptic

Q. Tell us a little about your career to date and what attracted you to your new job?

A. I’ve had twenty years’ experience of building digitally led technology and entertainment brands around the world. This has included brands such as Stubhub, Formula E and Yahoo!

What attracted me to the role is the opportunity to lead a new category in broadband, which is the cornerstone of all things digital. In the UK, we’re only at the beginning of a journey which will see gigabit, full fibre connections become the ‘norm’.

Hyperoptic is a genuine disruptor and is on track to pass two million homes in just two years and five million by 2024. The opportunity for me is to build a truly national brand that will take on BT and Virgin Media and become a compelling third option for business and consumers up and down the country.

Q. Why is super-fast broadband so important?

A. The UK has allowed the pace of innovation to be set

by BT for too long, which has resulted in 97% of the UK having theoretical access to ‘superfast’ broadband, but the experience of their speeds tells a different story.

Hyperoptic looks beyond superfast (defined as between 30Mbps and either 100 or 300Mbps depending on who’s definition you choose) to the ‘gold standard’

of fibre-to-the-premises (full fibre) broadband.

Nationally, just 5% of UK premises can offer full fibre broadband. We lag other developed nations, registering just 32nd out of 34 OECD countries for full fibre. We’re planning for the future and well placed given that in July last year, the Government set out its ‘Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review,’ which outlines it ambition to see every home in the country receive full fibre by 2033.

With full fibre broadband, uploads are the same speed as downloads - the experience is seamless, and it enables limitless possibilities.

New and evolving businesses are succeeding through new models, which rely on realtime communications with suppliers and customers, data-driven cloud-based business processes, and high dependency on reliable, limitless broadband connectivity.

When businesses experience gigabit broadband, they find that all these processes and interactions become instantaneous, giving them an immediate and significant productivity boost.

Q. Hyperoptic is now the UK’s biggest gigabit broadband provider with services available in 28 UK towns and cities.

How big do you think the company can become?

A. I’m pleased to say that such is the pace we’re moving at, Hyperoptic is now active in 39 UK towns and cities. We are not putting a limit on our ambition.

Right now, our target is to get to the 5m premises passed target by 2024.

Our existing customers really love us, and we have one of the highest rates of customer satisfaction in the industry. One of the most commonly asked questions we receive is ‘when will Hyperoptic be available in my area’. We’re trying really hard to bring our service to anyone that wants it, as we know the demand is there.

Our services run at 21x the national average so it’s perhaps not a surprise, but we know that the more people experience Hyperoptic, the more word will get around and enhance our position and ability to take on BT and Virgin Media at a truly national level.

Q. What are the big highlights ahead for the company in 2019?

A. We’re coming in to 2019 fresh from investment in 2018. This has given us extra financial fire power and as well as myself, we’ve seen our senior leadership team boosted with several new faces with proven track records in accelerating high growth businesses. 2019 is all about executing on our long-term plans.

As I said, we’re moving speedily ahead to effectively quadrupling the size of our network to 2m premises in two years. However, it’s important to me that we give our existing customers a world class experience – they’re our biggest advocate and ‘word of mouth’ is still the biggest sales tool we have.

Looking locally to Southwark we announced last year an exciting partnership with Southwark Council, which will see 100,000 homes and business have access to our services. Expect to see this roll out really progress in 2019 so residents within the borough will soon be realizing why I am so passionate about the Hyperoptic difference!

“New and evolving businesses are succeeding through new models, which rely on real-time communications with suppliers and customers, data-driven cloud-based business processes, and high dependency on reliable, limitless broadband connectivity.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Focus on Mercato Metropolitano

In celebration of individuality In a world where so many restaurants and shops are the same, developed to a format, many shoppers and diners are increasingly drawn to those which champion a sense of individuality.

That is why Mercato Metropolitano has proved so successful.

Centrally located near to Elephant & Castle, it is London’s first sustainable community market.

Founded in Milan in 2015, the idea behind the Mercato Metropolitano concept is revitalising local neighbourhoods, promoting

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

a thoughtful attitude towards food and raising awareness of sustainability and environmental, economic and social aspects of the community through a host of activities.

The UK debut, focusing on artisan producers, urban farms, community activities and cultural programmes throughout the year, launched in Elephant & Castle in 2016.

Focus on Mercato Metropolitano

“MM Factory will represent a new concept of grocery, retail and dining experience. The highlight will be the urban production centre, a unique and immersive food experience where customers will be able to observe and participate in the traditional arts of food production.”

Mercato Metropolitano’s first site has now generated more than 200 permanent new jobs, creating longer term sustainable changes in employment, skills and opportunity within the area.

The market has incubated more than 48 food and beverage businesses, a delicatessen with sustainably sourced products from local farmers and artisans, a unique cinema experience, a communal kitchen and several circular economy concepts including a Bavarian micro-brewery, a hydroponics farm, a mushroom garden

from spent coffee grounds and a vertical garden in a double decker bus to name a few.

The venture attracts up to 60,000 people a week to a part of the city that previously had little footfall.

It aims to teach urban dwellers that they can support their local and rural communities while at the same time protecting the environment by focusing on what they eat and how they eat.

And the concept is expanding. Elephant Park, a partnership between developer Lendlease and Southwark Council to deliver a £2.3 billion regeneration project in Elephant & Castle, recently announced that Mercato Metropolitano has signed for 17,500 sq ft of retail, dining and social space to launch MM Factory, due to open in Summer 2019.

As an anchor tenant, MM Factory will be situated at an important gateway to

Elephant Park, facing onto Sayer Street – a new street for local and independent businesses – as well as overlooking Grade II listed Walworth Town Hall on Walworth Square, and playing a major role in establishing this part of the Elephant Park masterplan as a new food hub for London.

MM Factory will represent a new concept of grocery, retail and dining experience.

The highlight will be the urban production centre, a unique and immersive food experience where customers will be able to observe and participate in the traditional arts of food production.

The space will also feature Mercato Metropolitano’s signature mix of microrestaurants and high-quality, sustainable food concepts from around the world.

MM will work with Lendlease to offer apprenticeships for community members, as well as community cooking classes to provide people from all walks of life the opportunity to learn how to prepare healthy, sustainably-sourced meals.

Heritage and organic grains will be milled on-site and worked into handcrafted bakery, patisserie and pasta products, allowing customers to enjoy the exceptional flavour and health benefits of natural and unadulterated flours.

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Focus on Mercato Metropolitano

Guy Thomas, Head of Retail at Lendlease, said: “The new MM Factory from Mercato Metropolitano will bring a vibrant and varied offer to Elephant Park serving Elephant & Castle’s diverse community.

“Lendlease is committed to creating the best places with longevity, sustainability and a strong sense of community, and like-minded Mercato Metropolitano is the perfect anchor tenant to help us deliver on this promise.”

Andrea Rasca, Founder and ‘Chief Executive Dreamer’ of Mercato Metropolitano, said: “Elephant Park is an amazing opportunity for us, when looking at potential destinations it quickly became apparent that Lendlease is a landlord that shares our ideals and vision for the future.

“The Mercato Metropolitano ecosystem is all about community, a place for an ongoing dialogue between local people, farmers, chefs, retailer and artists, and we cannot think of a better place to build upon this community with a new approach to urban retail than Elephant Park.”

Nash Bond and CF Commercial represented Lendlease in the negotiations, while Mercato Metropolitano represented themselves.

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

“Elephant Park is an amazing opportunity for us, when looking at potential destinations it quickly became apparent that Lendlease is a landlord that shares our ideals and vision for the future.”

www.southwarkawards.co.uk Closing date for entries: Wednesday 20 March 2019

Skills

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Willmott Dixon would like to launch a Building Lives Academy in Southwark

Leaving a legacy – Willmott Dixon’s ambitions in Southwark Roger Forsdyke, managing director of Willmott Dixon in South London and the South East, talks about Willmott Dixon’s aim to upskill a generation of young people in Southwark as part of the company’s ambition to leave a lasting legacy.

Why is legacy so important to Willmott Dixon?

We’re one of the oldest construction companies in the UK, having been founded in 1852. The Willmott family have been involved in our business from day one

and their values which guide us have never changed; to be a positive force whose activities strengthen society’s wellbeing.

This commitment to legacy is in our DNA, just look at our accounts in 1978 when the then chief executive Peter Willmott wrote, “It is easy for the company to concentrate solely on its proclaimed activity, with little or no reference to the environment and society of which it forms a part.

At Willmott we have, for a long time, recognised our responsibility to help wherever the advice or services of our employees can be of use.”

Those words pretty much sum up our philosophy today.

Skills What does it mean in practice?

We invest over £2m each year in activities that improve people’s lives and the wider community.

This includes initiatives like Ready for the Gate, where we work with offenders inside prison to prepare them for life outside, plus our newly launched Building Lives Academy programme that helps young unemployed people gain new skills that lead to jobs.

Through the Willmott Dixon Foundation, we’re committed to enhancing the life chances of 10,000 young people by 2020.

This is measured in outcomes rather than financially, meaning we look at the opportunities created for individuals that they might not have otherwise had.

We work with our customers in targeting how best we can improve their communities, be it though initiatives like tackling homelessness, providing mentoring and work experience for young ex-offenders, plus upskilling unemployed young people so they can enjoy longterm, rewarding jobs.

The investment can be up to 15% of the project value.

How does that apply to Southwark?

I would love to see a Building Lives Academy open in Southwark. On future construction projects in the borough, we’d link the opening of an academy to the site itself, just like we have done on similar academies in Croydon and Kingston. We’d also team up with local employment and training agencies to ensure we had a good inflow of students.

These academies give young people construction related training which includes operational and practical skills, CSCS training, employability skills, health and safety.

On each one, we aim to upskill 10-15 people every six weeks and once trained, they are able to obtain work experience and placements through us, our supply chain partners and through other jobs advertised by the employment service.

Can you tell us more about the impact the skills gap is having on construction and how you are addressing that?

The skills gap continues to grow at a crucial time; Brexit looms on the horizon and we are at a point where the country needs more homes and infrastructure to meet demand.

According to the most recent Construction Skills Network report from the CITB and Experian, the industry will need to recruit an average of 44,690 workers each year to meet the projected annual growth of 2.9% as reported in Construction Manager.

More people are leaving the industry than joining.

Construction is also traditionally a male dominated environment, so there is a real drive to make the industry more attractive to pools of talent in under-represented groups, such as among women.

I am proud that 10% of our workforce is made up of apprentices and management trainees, so we are investing in the future.

We’re also doing our part by setting a target to achieve gender parity by 2030 which will in turn create more diverse working groups.

What benefits does construction bring?

A construction site is a sign of investment in the future.

In the short-term it creates income for local businesses both directly and indirectly associated with a project.

In the long-term it creates an economic benefit, a service to the community and a source of further inward investment.

The better we can deliver a building, the better it will deliver for the community and economy. I am excited about Southwark’s plans for the future and the part we can play in that story.

Feel free to contact Roger at: roger.forsdyke@willmottdixon.co.uk

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

25

Property Focus

An update from British Land on the Canada Water Masterplan 26

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Property Focus

We look forward to continuing to work with local businesses over the coming years to make our proposals a reality.

New temporary low-cost workspace ‘Thrive’ opens in Canada Water

This month a new, temporary low-cost workspace in Canada Water will open. Thrive will be run by Tree Shepherd, in partnership with British Land, as part of the wider Start Up and Thrive programme which has been helping would-be entrepreneurs from the local area for the last 18 months. The former Flame Grill restaurant in Surrey Quays Leisure Park, which had been vacant for several years, has been leased to Tree Shepherd at a peppercorn rent and since December they have been busy transforming it into a multi-functional workspace suitable for a variety of start-ups and small-scale businesses.

With a priority for residents living nearby, Thrive aims to provide a workspace for those who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford to use one, in line with our aim to ensure the Canada Water Masterplan supports businesses existing and new in benefiting from the opportunities the Masterplan will create. The space will also provide enterprise training and expert advice clinics, as well as aiming to connect local businesses old and new with each other and market opportunities.

Following the submission of a planning application in May 2018, we continue to progress our plans to deliver the Canada Water Masterplan, a new urban centre for Southwark and are anticipating that the application will be considered by Southwark’s planning committee in the Spring.

Thrive is being launched in February 2019, and is already being used to engage with local people and businesses. Meetings have been held with local entrepreneurs, including Thrive’s own Keeping In Touch ‘KIT’ networking group, and a range of local SE16 entrepreneurs, from web designers to hairdressers, to inform how the space is utilised and how the project can reach out to local people.

It has also hosted events with local volunteers, including a ‘paint party’, which invited people to help with decorating the building. With a base provided for the next few years, our partnership with Tree Shepherd aims to enable the Start Up and Thrive project to go from strength to

Thrive: new workspace being fitted out strength, supporting local residents to take advantage of enterprise opportunities coming to the area, and connecting local businesses to strengthen the local economy.

We look forward to seeing the workspace flourish moving forward!

If you would like to explore getting involved as a business volunteers or have ideas about supporting the project then please contact Info@treeshepherd.org.uk.

Southwark Business Excellence Awards

We have continued this year to partner with the Southwark Business Excellence Awards, in recognising and rewarding the wide range of businesses based in Southwark.

With approximately 18,000 businesses in Southwark there are many potential winners, and we look forward to seeing who is recognised at the awards ceremony in June after the success of last year’s inaugural event.

We will again be sponsoring the Southwark Cultural Commitment Award, which gives recognition to cultural and creative organisations for their contributions to the borough.

It is free to apply, and the category is open to every cultural or creative business based in Southwark, from art galleries and drama schools to design businesses and theatre companies.

Businesses of all sizes that contribute to art and culture in Southwark are encouraged to apply, with entrants measured on factors including their creative impact on the community, the reputational and economic benefits they bring to the area, and their approach to community engagement and inclusive participation amongst others.

If you would like to find out more about the Southwark Business Excellence Awards, including how to apply, please go to www.southwarkawards.co.uk The deadline for applications is on the March 20th 2019, with the shortlist announced on April 4th 2019, so don’t miss out.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Remembering when...

Remembering when...

Charles Dickens experienced life in Southwark

By Ken Hayes Honorary Secretary Charles Dickens was twelve years old when he lived in lodgings in Lant Street, Borough when his father was imprisoned for debt and he later used this experiece to write serial stories in weekly Journals.

These stories were later turned into the Novels that he is most famous for.

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth to John and Elizabeth Dickens, the oldest son of ten children fathered by John Dickens who had two children from a previous marriage and eight with Elizabeth.

John Dickens was a Royal Navy Pay Clerk in Portsmouth and later, he was transferred to Chatham and to Somerset House in London. He struggled financially to support his growing family on his income and his debts mounted, forcing him to sell his furniture and silver to pay his mounting debts.

However, matters came to a head in February 1824, when he was imprisoned for Debt in the Marshalsea Debtors prison in Borough High Street due to a debt to a Baker, James Kerr of £40.10 shillings.

In April he was joined by Elizabeth and his four youngest

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children. Charles took up lodgings with the Verger of St. George the Martyr Church, Borough High Street and went to work at a Blacking factory in Blackfriars. While there he met Bob Fagin, a name he later used in his novel Oliver Twist.

When John Dickens mother died in May 1824, she left him £450 in her will and he was able to pay his debt and was released from the Marshalsea, only having spent three months there. Charles went on write 15 novels in total,between 1836, The Pickwick Papers and 1870, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, which was unfinished when he died of a Stroke at the age of 58.

Southwark in the 19th century was a thriving busy area with shops, Coaching Inns and Pubs the length of Borough High Street, and two Debtors Prisons, the Kings Bench and the Marshalsea. There was also a criminal prison and a prison for infringements regarding Weights and Measures, called a Counter.

The oldest profession in the world, Prostitution, was prevalent as well as, pickpocketing, thieving and common begging.

The population was also expanding rapidly with large families, and plenty of work in

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

the Docks and Warehouses.

The Area also had two hospitals, St. Thomas’ and Guy’s. Public hangings also took place at The Surrey County Gaol in Horsemonger Lane, behind Surrey County Court, which is now Inner London Sessions Crown Court.

There was also a great deal of poverty, with slum tenements, owned by private landlords, with no sewage or piped water until later in the century. Disease was rife, especially Cholera, water was pumped from Artesian wells. Cattle and sheep were driven from Kent and Surrey going to Smithfield Market via London Bridge.

All human Life was there in the raw. This obviously made a big impression on the young Charles Dickens and led to him becoming a social reformer. A letter he wrote to the Times newspaper about Public hangings, which eventually led to them being carried out behind closed doors.

There was no provision of affordable good housing until near the end of the 19th Century with the City of London Corporation building Key Worker Housing, the Peabody and Guinness Trust, and Octavia Hill, building homes for the working

classes in Southwark and other areas surrounding the City of London. Later the London County Council built social housing also.

A survey of London Labour and the London Poor in 1862 describes walks among the Thieves Dens in the Borough, an edited section of which I am reproducing here.

“On leaving Stones End policeoffice along with a detectiveofficer, we went one afternoon to Gunn Street a narrow by street off Borough Road, inhabited by costermongers, burglars and pickpockets. Here one of the most daring gangs of burglars and pickpockets met our eye, most of them in the dress of costermongers. A professional pickpocket, a well-attired young man was seated on a costermonger’s barrow. He was clothed in a black cloth coat, vest and trousers and a shining silk hat and was smoking a pipe with two or three “pals” by his side. It was then about seven o’clock p.m. and as clear as mid-day about forty young men ranging from seventeen to thirty-five years of age, were engaged in a game of pitch and toss and others were lounging idle in the street. We went forward through the crowd and stood for some time alongside.

Remembering when...

At first, they may have fancied we had come to arrest one or more of them and were evidently prepared to give us a warm reception. On seeing us standing by smiling they recovered their good- humour and most of them continued to cluster together, but numbers sneaked off to their houses out of sight. Here we saw a tall robust man with a dissipated ruffianly look, smoking a long pipe, who had been an accomplice in an atrocious midnight murder. He had narrowly escaped the gallows by turning Queen’s evidence on his companions. He is a determined burglar. We could observe from the brutal bull-dog look of the man that he was fit for any deed of heartless villainy while inflamed with strong drink. Three burglars stood in the middle of the crowd who soon after left it and entered a beer shop in the street. Ten of the persons present were had been previously convicted of robberies. The greater part if not the whole of them were thieves or associates of thieves.

We also visited Market Street a narrow by-street off Borough Road a well-known rookery of prostitutes. In a brothel in this street a few days previously an atrocious crime was perpetrated

by George Phillips, a young miscreant termed the Jew-boy.

A sailor recently returned from India happened to enter this foul den. The inmates consisted of the Jew-boy’s sister, a common prostitute, who cohabited with Richard Pitts, a well-known burglar recently sentenced to transportation for 10 years, another prostitute named Irish Julia and this a young villain the Jew. After remaining for some time, the sailor told them he was leaving their company.

On hearing this Phillip’s sister told her brother to stab him in the heart. He instantly took a knife from his pocket opened it and stabbed the sailor beneath the collar bone. After committing this atrocious crime, he wiped the knife on the cuff of his guernsey stating he would give him the other end of the knife if the sailor had not had enough. The sailor, apparently mortally wounded was taken to St Thomas’ Hospital.

His sister on seeing what her brother had done desperately grabbed a bottle of Laudanum and drank half of it and is still in a precarious state.

In this part of Market Street, we understand that every house, from basements to attics are occupied by prostitutes and thieves. We entered a nearby Public House and three of these young women followed us to the bar, anxious to know the object of our visiting the district. They called for a pint of stout which they drank off heartily and stood loitering beside us to hear our conversation, so that they might have something to gossip about to their companions.

One evening in September about eight o’clock, we took another ramble over the criminal district of the Borough.

As we went along Kent Street, (now named Tabard Street), the lamps were lit and the shops in the adjoining streets were illuminated with flaring gas lights.

On passing St. George’s Church we saw a crowd collected around a drunken middle-aged Irish woman. It was one of those motley scenes one often meets in the streets of London.

Young people and middle-aged, old women and children were clustered together, some well dressed, others in mechanics dress, begrimed with dust and sweat, and others hanging in rags and tatters. They were collected around the woman who stood on the pavement, while the mass were gathered in the street, many of them looking on anxiously with eyes and mouths open, others grinning with delight and some with sinister countenance while she gesticulated wildly, yet in good humour, in a strong Irish accent, amid the applause of the auditory.

We could not hear the subject of her oration. On our coming up to her and remaining for a short time, curious to know the nature of the comedy the woman went away followed by part of the crowd, when she appeared to take her station again in the middle of the crowd. We had no time to lose and moved on.

On proceeding farther into Kent Street, a good-looking girl, evidently belonging to the lower orders, stood in a doorway with a beaming smile, and beckoned us to enter. She had accosted us before on in a like manner in the light of day on a previous visit to Kent Street, while another young woman of her own age and size apparently her sister, stood by her side. As on the former occasion we did not

trust ourselves to these syren sisters, but again passed on.

Further along the street we saw a small group of men and boys, thieves and utterers of base coin.

A young woman of about twenty-five years of age stood among them, who was a common prostitute and expert thief, although we would scarcely have known it from her heavy stupid looking countenance, which was bloated and dissipated.

One of the group was a burglar.

He was under the middle size and, pock pitted and had a callous daring look about him.

We then came back to Mint Street, leading out from the High Street in the Borough to Southwark Bridge Road. which as we have said is very low and disreputable.

Leaving Mint Street, we directed our way to Norfolk Street, a very narrow street leading into Union Street in the Borough, a very disreputable area, infested with pickpockets and ‘dragsmen’, i.e., those who steal from carts and coaches. At one corner of the Street there were seven or

eight persons clustered together, several of them convicted thieves.

Leaving the alleys and the slums behind us we went along Newington Causeway, a far brighter and a more salubrious scene. This is a wide business street and one of the main streets on the Surrey side of the river, where especially in the evenings a great deal of shopping is carried on. The southern end of Newington Causeway from Hoesemonger Lane to the Elephant and Castle is crowed with shops, the street being lit up clear as day. There are several splendid Gin Palaces in this locality, crowed with motely groups of people of various ranks. The street is full of people going shopping or returning from their daily toil and many respectable people taking their evening walk, as it is a favourite place for promenading”.

History has a habit of repeating its self and many of the things described here, that were put right in the late 19th Century have been allowed to repeat themselves.

“Southwark in the 19th century was a thriving busy area with shops, Coaching Inns and Pubs the length of Borough High Street, and two Debtors Prisons, the Kings Bench and the Marshalsea.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Health & Wellbeing

Among the many benefits an Everyone Active corporate membership package can bring you, your company and your employees, is a free personal training session for everyone. Now, while a personal trainer may sound like a slightly intimidating prospect, they are, in reality, nothing of the sort.

Every one of our personal trainers are fully-qualified and dedicated to helping people of all shapes, ages and sizes get the most from their workout sessions at their Everyone Active centre and getting them closer to their fitness goals; whatever they may be.

But how do they manage this?

How can a single session with a personal trainer help you and your employees get on the road to where you want to be?

Well, for starters a personal trainer’s expertise means they can listen to what it is you want to achieve and recommend a training programme that will help you to attain those targets.

Secondly, a personal trainer is a fantastic source of motivation for just about everyone.

Having someone who really knows their stuff by your side and pushing you on to achieve more

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Making it Personal Everyone Active corporate memberships bring with them a myriad of benefits, one of which is a free Personal Training session with a fully-qualified PT. These sessions can help you get the most of your membership and help you and your employees reach their fitness goals. Here’s how. and more is a great help for everyone. Thirdly, even seasoned gym-goers can get bogged down by their exercise routine and might need their routine revamping in order to really push on towards achieving their objectives.

Furthermore, many people have a specific condition, illness or injury that means they are unable to exercise in certain ways, but still need to either lose weight to reduce the impact of the condition

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

on their body or need help in the rehabilitation phase after an injury. In these circumstances, a personal trainer can help set you on the path to recovery and help you exercise effectively and above all, safely.

This free personal training session is also perfect for those who aren’t getting the results they are expecting from their existing training regimen. Their personal trainer can help them see where

they might be going wrong and how they can improve their workout, as well as devising a plan for how they might implement this new exercise routine.

All this can be achieved as part of the free personal training session that all corporate members can enjoy and it will help set you and your team on the path towards achieving your aims. However, such is the incredible impact a personal trainer can have on your outcomes, all our members – corporate and non-corporate alike – are encouraged to try further personal trainer sessions.

They’re great for helping people get the most out of their exercise sessions and are more affordable than you might think too.

We also offer small group training sessions which bring together groups of around five people with similar targets and one personal trainer to help keep you on the right track and even less cost than a one-on-one personal training session.

To find out more about Everyone Active corporate memberships, as well as the benefits of personal training sessions, visit www.everyoneactive.com

Health & Wellbeing

Seven steps

towards good mental health This year promises to be a testing one for everyone, not least business owners and employees dealing with the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.

Such uncertainty will inevitably bring stresses and strains on mental health but there are steps that can be taken to ease the anxieties.

To acknowledge the fact, the Mental Health Foundation marked the start of the year by releasing seven handy hints to ensure good mental health: Lee Knifton, of the Foundation, said: “With 2019 set to be a year of significant transition and change for everyone, we are sharing advice on what people can do to prevent stress and manage change. The start of the year is a good time to set goals; by taking steps to look after our mental health, we can prevent problems from building up into serious issues.

“Often when change carries a perceived threat or negative consequence, it can cause an overwhelming feeling of not being able to cope. That is why we want people to know the practical ways they can manage change in 2019 as best they can.

“The New Year is also an opportunity accept ourselves for who we are and put our energy into making the world a better place - one person’s mental health at a time. By understanding how to look after our own mental health, we are in a better position to look out for others’ mental health, too.”

The tips include:

Show compassion: Seeking to understand and accept that it’s okay for others to have different views is an important first step in managing mental health problems.

Sometimes it’s better to resist the urge to immediately respond in a state of agitation and wait a couple of hours to see whether we still think it is worth responding, says Lee. Spring clean your apps: Turning off app notifications is a practical way of limiting the demands they place on our attention.

News is now available 24 hours a day and so much exposure to uncertainty can be stressful, although it’s important to stay informed, be aware of how it is making you feel and limit yourself to how many times you check you phone.

Look at the people or accounts you are following on social media – are any friends or accounts you follow causing you stress or negativity?

Muting those accounts will help manage those stresses, says Lee.

Stay connected: There’s nothing better than catching up with someone face to face, but that’s not always possible. You can also give them a call, drop them a note or chat to them online.

Keep the lines of communication open: it’s good for you.

Look outwards: Keep an eye out for your friends and family who may be struggling.

Looking after for someone else is good for your mental health as well.

Take proactive steps to support good mental health: Many of the things that support good physical health support good mental health, too.

Often, the simplest things we can do, like exercise or spending time in nature, can give our mental health a big boost.

Make time for something you really enjoy: Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it, and achieving something boosts your self-esteem.

The final tip from Lee, who heads up the Foundation in Scotland, is:

Don’t be afraid to get help: It is better to act early if you feel rising levels of stress.

There are a range of online resources and apps available plus effective psychological therapies through the NHS.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Voice from Westminster

One thousand days on but no end to Brexit uncertainty Neil Coyle MP

It is 1,000 days since the referendum on Brexit.

Southwark businesses have been almost entirely unanimous in representations to me in the time since.

I have heard from hospitality, legal, architecture, construction, music, food and drink firms as well as qualifications and standards bodies, universities and the public sector. All have aired concerns, especially around recruitment and retention of employees.

With so much uncertainty, it is not surprising that employers are fearful of May's plans. She triggered Article 50 prematurely and did not have an agreement within her cabinet or party on the terms she would negotiate and the outcome has been abysmal.

She has unilaterally damaged the UK's international standing already dented by the referendum result. I am proud to have voted against triggering Article 50 and think my decision has been more than vindicated.

May has compounded that mistake with recent errors, including profligate waste of public funds on No Deal plans, including millions for the now

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infamous ferry company with no ferries, after years of telling businesses that there were no resources for the infrastructure we need - like the Bakerloo Line extension still waiting for Treasury money, or to cover the housing we desperately need.

Her Home Office has also withheld over ÂŁ100 million from the Metropolitan Police that its advisors recommended to help cover the additional policing costs of our capital city, for major sports events, managing demonstrations or international visits for example.

May should be looking to settle anxiety and end the waste by revoking Article 50 now. The EU has stated that there is no appetite to renegotiate - even if May voted against her own plan by backing an amendment to trash the vital 'backstop' to prevent a hard border with Ireland that would end the No end Good Friday Agreement.

Even if further negotiations were open, the time required to secure a new agreement with a meaningful vote for the Commons does not exist. As a minimum, extending Article 50 seems necessary and I hope May reaches that conclusion sooner rather than later.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

May has belatedly published an Immigration Bill that would also harm British businesses.

Thresholds for visas are set too high and decisions already take too long. Over 300,000 people are waiting for Home Office decisions currently and the system is not ready to cope with adding twenty seven European Union states to the logjam. It is bad enough for individuals waiting months

longer than the deadline expected, but is equally harmful for employers seeking to recruit.

If you have employees worried about their status at this time, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I have a rough guide that may help explain what they could do now - and can advise on how to reclaim the money spent before May u-turned on fees for people from EU member states.

Neil.Coyle.MP@Parliament.UK

020 7219 8733

“Even if further negotiations were open, the time required to secure a new agreement with a meaningful vote for the Commons does not exist.�

Upcoming Events Join our informative and engaging range of events.

DATE

Wednesday 6 March 2019 6-8pm

Thursday 14 March 2019 6-8pm

Tuesday 19 March 2019 8.30-10am Tuesday 9 April 2019 6-8pm

Thursday 25 April 2019 6-8pm

you broaden your network, learn

The Last Word

something new or get involved with key topical issues for

businesses in Southwark.

James Taylor

Our networking events are great

for regular members to make and

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maintain useful contacts, and

A perfect opportunity to make new business contacts.

Tuesday 19 February 2019 6-8pm

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we always welcome first-timers.

EVENT

VENUE

An Evening with Sir Simon Hughes

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Property Update

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Tourism

The London Bridge Experience 2 - 4 Tooley Street, SE1 2SY

Mindfulness

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Europe – Business as usual?

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Annual General Meeting

I was born and bred in Yorkshire but moved to London after finishing my degree in French and German at the University of Nottingham.

I’m still very much a proud Yorkshire man (is there any other kind?) but London has been my home now for the past 20 years.

I’ve worked in senior marketing and operational roles for over 15 years across a variety of sectors and have been with DriveNow UK for the past four years, starting out leading the marketing, before taking over as Managing Director in May 2017.

I am responsible for driving the growth of the UK business, raising awareness and promoting the benefits of car sharing for both customers and cities alike.

DriveNow is a flexible car club, giving customers 24/7 access to BMW and MINI vehicles conveniently located across London.

Now with DriveNow’s most recent borough expansion, we are available in 9 London boroughs, including Southwark, as well as 11 major European cities.

The George Inn, 77 Borough High Street, SE1 1NH

Q1 What was your first job and what was the pay packet?

Other planned events for 2019

My first job was graduate trainee with Boots the Chemists at Brent Cross. It’s such a long time ago I can’t even remember what my pay packet was!

• Pensions Update • • Cross border networking with South East London Chamber of Commerce • • 2019 Southwark Business Awards Gala Evening • • Annual River Boat Party • • Tour of the House of Lords followed by drinks on the Terrace •

Q2 If you were prime minister, what would be your first decision?

I would introduce mobility credits to encourage people to give up their private cars and switch to more sustainable alternatives.

Please check the website www.southwarkcommerce.com for updated information. Times and locations to be confirmed.

Q3 What is the biggest challenge in your business?

Southwark Chamber of Commerce welcomes its latest member companies DriveNow UK Ltd Car Club James Taylor, Managing Director United House 39-41 North Road London N7 9DP www.drive-now.com

Prospera Wealth Financial Planners Andrew Rumbles, Financial Adviser 180 Borough High Street London SE1 1LB Mobile: 07496 966474 www.ProsperaWealth.co.uk

William Rose and Company Butchers David Isaacs, Owner 126 Lordship Lane London SE22 8HD Tel: 020 8693 9191 www.williamrosebutchers.co.uk

To find out more: Southwark Chamber of Commerce, 169 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW Tel: 07477 581977 Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com www.southwarkcommerce.com Twitter : @southwarkcomm Facebook : southwarkcommerce

I think the biggest challenge is around securing agreements to operate. DriveNow is committed to working with local authorities to lower emissions and embed shared e-mobility, providing a viable alternative to private car ownership. So, having to get agreements to operate services from every individual borough rather than a London-wide approach, does prove difficult sometimes but is all worth it in the end.

Q4 If you could do another job, what would it be?

I’d like to have been an architect – sadly I’m rubbish at drawing, so that career change is out.

Q5 What's your favourite London building?

I’m a big fan of brutalist architecture, so the Barbican centre is probably my favourite London building.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Join Us

Join Us

The Chamber is made up of active and successful business people from a wide range of sectors, who are based in Southwark, believe in Southwark and wish Southwark to prosper.

Making the most of your SCC membership Our Committee Chairman Peter Mantell

Once you’ve joined us you have access to the opportunities we provide to help support you and your business. Whether you simply want to attend our networking events, run a seminar or sponsor or run an event, we’d love you to get involved. We like our members to make the most of their membership and get as involved as much as they can.

President Neil Coyle MP

(MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark)

Vice President Lord Roy Kennedy (House of Lords)

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• Sole trader

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• Large companies - 51 employees plus

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• Small/Medium sized companies 2 to 50 employees £150 per annum • Corporate/PLC’s by agreement.

• All new members pay a one off administration fee of £25

(MP for Camberwell and Peckham)

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(Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills & Innovation)

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To join, please send your details to: Southwark Chamber of Commerce 169 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW Tel : 07477 581977 Email : admin@southwarkcommerce.com www.SouthwarkCommerce.com Twitter : @southwarkcomm Facebook : southwarkcommerce

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Visit www.everyoneactive.com/corporatemembership for more information or to sign up today. PLUS! All members receive a free introductory personal training session.

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