Southwark Chamber of Commerce June 2019

Southwark

BUSINESS TODAY

Issue 24: June 2019

London South Bank University transforming the lives of students, businesses and the local community

• The Southwark Business Excellent Awards 2019.

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• Full speed ahead with 1Gb Broadband.

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• Remembering when...

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Join an international, award-winning university business school with a reputation for a holistic approach to your personal development and career ambitions.

Applied, professional, accredited programmes in: • Accounting • Finance • Business • Economics • Marketing Full-time and part-time courses including apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees starting in January and September.

Visit your local university of choice at an Open Day

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lsbu.ac.uk/SouthwarkBusiness *The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018/19.

Welcome

Welcome to

Contents

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY The Southwark Chamber of Commerce magazine for all Businesses in Southwark Welcome to this edition of the magazine, the first following my election as Chair of Southwark Chamber of Commerce.

A special edition as it’s the Southwark Business Awards’ second year following on from a spectacular first.

I hear that it’s another fantastic year for entrants showcasing the best in Southwark and representing the wealth of diverse businesses we have.

I am honoured and privileged to hold this position, especially so as it is the Chambers 95th year!

I think it would be hard for most of us to imagine just how commerce operated then and, indeed, how this part of London looked and felt. I have been working in the Borough since the early 2000s and have seen an incredible level of development and change since then which, continues to this day.

As Chair and local businessman, I am looking forward to building on the Chamber’s current success,

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

developing further relationships within the Borough’s business community, from the backbone SMEs to the larger corporates, the micros and start ups and the amazing educational institutes we have supporting and shaping the future. All of whom are contributing to the vibrancy, wealth and brilliant ambience experienced in the Borough.

For me, it all started over a pint of beer with Barry Martin, former Chair, in the Heeltap where he used his famous persuasive charms and I joined the executive committee. So, a massive thanks to Barry for getting me involved and I’m not sure who bought that pint but I feel I owe him one.

It’s been a great experience ever since.

Whilst the Chamber is promoting business connections and opportunities through our networking events, it’s a great platform for making friends, learning and reinforcing the importance of social

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

commerce which I consider to be a very important aspect of business, often taking second place in this digital world – it's good to talk!

We can also be a voice for the business community, which I feel important during a time of great development and changing landscape of the borough.

I look forward to meeting you all.

Chairman Southwark Chamber of Commerce

Les Johnson

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.

4-5 6 7 9 10 12 17 18-19 20 23 24-26 27 28 29-31 32 33 34 Enquiries

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Up Front Legal Finance Southwark Business Awards Skills Economy Property Focus Big Interview Destination Southwark Venues Arts & Culture Voice from Westminster Remembering When...

Health & Wellbeing Chamber Events 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

June 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.1669

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Up Front

Publisher has cause to celebrate Titles owned by News UK, which is based in the London Bridge area, scooped a record 15 category wins at the National Press Awards, for work published in 2018.

The Times won Daily Newspaper of the Year, The Sunday Times won Sunday Newspaper of the Year and Sun Online won Best News Website.

The Times’ chief reporter Sean O’Neill took Scoop of The Year for his investigation into Oxfam staff’s treatment of Haiti survivors. The story unveiled senior aid workers’ use of prostitutes in the earthquake torn region, and led to an inquiry into the humanitarian sector.

In total, The Times secured seven awards, along with four for both The Sunday Times and The Sun. A further eleven journalists were highly commended in their categories.

Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News UK, said: “Every day we strive to create the best stories and finest editorial, telling our readers the stories that matter. We invest in quality journalism that sets the agenda.

“We are enormously gratified that our talented and dedicated editors, journalists and photojournalists have been recognised with a record number of wins for News UK.”

New heritage plaque is unveiled A new heritage plaque has been unveiled on Joiner Street at London Bridge Station.

The plaque, which commemorates the historic ‘Warren’ trusses at the station, has been created by the Railway Heritage Trust (RHT).

People using London Bridge station can now learn a little bit more about the history of engineering at the station via the plaque, which marks six Warren trusses built in 1849 to enable a railway viaduct to be widened The trusses are located above the northern side of Joiner Street (close to the London Underground station). Network Rail has worked with the Railway Heritage Trust to clean up and restore them as part of the Thameslink Programme’s redevelopment of London Bridge station.

Ian Hanson, stations director for Network Rail South East, said: “We’re delighted to recognise this important piece of industrial history with a blue plaque at London Bridge.

It’s fantastic that we’ve been able to preserve so much of the station’s heritage despite the huge amount of change at London Bridge over the last few years.” Andy Savage, executive director for the Railway Heritage Trust, said: “The RHT has been delighted to sponsor the retention and restoration of heritage features at London Bridge, with grants totalling more than £650,000 during the project.

The Warren Trusses are a wonderful early example of this structural form and have been a hidden feature of the station for too long.”

The trusses are significant as they represent surviving examples of the development of composite iron construction in the 1840s. They take their name from the engineer James Warren (1802–1870) who took out a patent for this form of truss in 1848.

The heritage plaque is not the only change on Joiner Street. As part of the South East route’s station transformation plan, the street has had a makeover to improve the look and feel of the interchange area between the national rail station and the Tube station.

Brickwork has been cleaned and re-pointed, redundant service cables removed to tidy up the appearance of the area further and a stylish brown sheathing has been added to the ceiling.

Project to help turn business dreams into reality A major new initiative has been launched to help new businesses in Southwark.

Start-ups in London Libraries is a three-year project designed to support local entrepreneurs from all walks of life to get their business idea off the ground.

Southwark is one of ten London boroughs selected to launch the coordinated network of free support for start-ups in public libraries, in partnership with the British Library’s Business & IP Centre.

Open to aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage start-ups and those people who have simply dreamed of being their own boss, the new services will equip people with the skills, information, confidence and connections they need to turn their ideas into viable businesses.

The project will invest in three of Southwark’s local libraries in Peckham, Canada Water and East Street to transform their current offer.

Backed by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF),

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Dean Williams has been appointed as SME Champion for Southwark and will receive specialist training to work with business experts to codeliver a comprehensive programme of free two-day workshops and events, confidential business information sessions and tailored, face-to-face advice.

The participating libraries will also offer free, walk-in access to business information resources including COBRA (the Complete Online Business Reference Advisor), a programme of live webinars and practical industry fact-sheets.

Cllr Rebecca Lury, Cabinet Member for culture, leisure, equalities and communities at Southwark Council, said: “Delivered through local libraries, including the award-winning Canada Water library, this initiative demonstrates the critical role our libraries play in strengthening communities and facilitating new economic opportunities.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Cllr Kieron Williams, Cabinet Member for jobs, skills and innovation, said “We have a real wealth of people with great business ideas in Southwark, but as anyone who has started a business will tell you to make it work you have to get the right advice.

“Start-ups in Libraries will bring that advice to many more of our residents. It’s the first of three major programmes we’ll be launching this year to make sure people of all walks of life in our borough can get the support they need to turn their great ideas into thriving businesses, with our Pioneer Fund and South London Innovation Corridor project to follow soon. Together they will harness Southwark’s thriving creativity, to help make us a leading innovation borough.”

Further support is available at the British Library’s Business & IP Centre, which is home to more

than £5 million worth of market intelligence and is the library of the UK’s Intellectual Property Office.

The Centre also offers support and tailored advice to help Londonbased SMEs to grow.

The Centre has a proven track record of stimulating economic growth: new figures show that it has helped to create more than 1,800 new businesses and 3,600 new jobs over the past two years.

Of these businesses, 64 per cent are owned by women and 42 per cent are owned by people from a black or Asian minority ethnic (BAME) background, compared to just 20 per cent and 5 per cent of UK business owners respectively.

The three-year pilot is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the British Library and the, ten participating London boroughs and is supported by J.P. Morgan and Arts Council England.

World’s first 24 hour Ultra Low Emission Zone starts in London Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has officially introduced the world’s toughest vehicle emissions standard in central London to help reduce toxic air pollution and protect public health.

The Central London ULEZ will operate in the same area as the current Congestion Charge zone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

It replaces the T-Charge and operates alongside the Congestion Charge.

Polluting vehicles account for 50 per cent of London’s harmful NOx air emissions and the Ultra Low Emission Zone will help address London’s toxic air health crisis that currently leads to thousands of premature deaths annually and increases the risk of asthma, cancer and dementia.

Motorists who drive into the zone in a vehicle that does not meet the new emission standard (petrol vehicles that do not meet Euro 4 standards and diesel vehicles that do not meet Euro 6) will have to pay a daily charge. There will be two charge levels: £12.50 a day for cars, vans and motorbikes and £100 a day for lorries, buses and coaches.

Thousands of motorists have already started to change their behaviour by driving less polluting vehicles into the

area, and using cleaner alternatives, including walking or cycling, and public transport.

Since February 2017, when the Mayor announced the introduction of the T-charge as a stepping stone for the ULEZ, there has been: • A reduction in the total number of vehicles seen in the Central London ULEZ zone (around 11,000 fewer vehicles a day) • A 38 per cent rise in the total number of compliant vehicles in the zone between February 2017 and March 2019 • An increase in the proportion of compliant vehicles in the Central London ULEZ zone from 39 per cent in February 2017 to 61 per cent in March 2019 This represents a 55 per cent increase in the proportion of compliant vehicles in the Central London ULEZ zone since February 2017.

The ULEZ is the centrepiece of a range of measures that the Mayor has implemented to tackle London’s toxic air.

A total of 6,950 buses (75 per cent of all TfL buses) – including all buses operating in the ULEZ zone – meet or exceed the new emission standards.

By October 2020, every bus in London - all 9,200 of TfL’s fleet - will meet or exceed the ULEZ standard.

The most recent data on air pollution in London reveals that more than two million Londoners still live in areas that exceed legal limits for NO2,.

Sadiq Khan said: “Our toxic air is an invisible killer responsible for one of the biggest national health emergencies of our generation.

I simply refuse to be yet another politician who ignores it..”

Alex Williams, Transport for London's Director of City Planning, said: “The introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone is a central and crucial part of the fight to improve London’s air for the benefit of everyone’s health, and it is great to see that so many drivers and businesses have already taken action to make sure their vehicles are compliant.”

Old Kent Road opens new community space A new community space for organisations including businesses has opened in the heart of SE1.

Southwark Council has transformed 231 Old Kent Road into a place for local residents, businesses, community groups and other partners to share ideas and engage in discussion about proposals for the future of the neighbourhood.

The space launched with Museum of Us, an exhibition and series of workshops, events and tours celebrating the area’s people and history. The programme being led at the centre by local businesses, organisations and residents includes such diverse skills as leather working and Jesmonite tea coaster making.

Cllr Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Growth, Development and Planning said: “Growing up in the area, I know the importance of a space which brings together local people to have their say in the exciting changes taking place in the area over the next 20 years."

Up Front

First round of Mayflower 400 grants awarded With a year to go, the partnership of Southwark Council, British Land and United St Saviour’s Charity has started awarding grants to local organisations for commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower sailing.

Rotherhithe and North Southwark has a long seafaring and shipbuilding history and was the place where Christopher Jones, the captain and part-owner of the ship, and many of the crew of the Mayflower lived.

So far, part of the £140,000 programme has gone to projects including Club Herop’s photojournalism initiative, Bermondsey Artist Group’s two-year community multi-media programme, the Illuminate Rotherhithe festival, Art in the Park’s schools programme, an intergenerational theatre piece run by London Bubble and a number of local historical talks and events.

Cllr Rebecca Lury, Deputy Leader of Southwark Council, said: “We have had a very impressive list of applicants, but the good news is we still have more than £60,000 in grants to award as part of stage two and three. I would encourage any local group, school or other interested party who have a project which is connected to the Mayflower, and use the application process on the Council’s website to apply for a grant.”

Eleanor Wright, Head of Community At Canada Water, at British Land, said: “It was fantastic to see the first round bids and see the local Mayflower 2020 programme really taking shape.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Legal Advice

Selling or buying your restaurant, pub or bar.

What legal due diligence will be required?

What is due diligence?

Depending on what is the optimum transaction for a business, sales of independent businesses can be by way of shares or asset sales. Due diligence will apply to both types of transactions, but, as most sales of independent businesses are dealt with by selling the assets of the business for an agreed price, we have concentrated on the assets aspect here. The assets will usually comprise the lease, goodwill, tenant’s fixtures and fittings, movable assets and stock.

The purpose of due diligence is risk management. The buyer will investigate legal, financial, accounting and taxation issues.

Since the principle “buyer beware” applies, and the Seller is under no duty to disclose defects or liabilities in the business, the buyer must conduct its own, careful investigations.

A checklist should include the financial, legal, and operational detail of the business. You should ask the owner of the restaurant or pub for a list of things which is likely to include those under Due Diligence below.

Heads of Terms

It is advisable to spell out the terms in principle at the outset so that the lawyers for both seller and buyer can work within an agreed framework, which will help to avoid misunderstandings or arguments later in the proceedings.

Where the premises are leasehold, it is most likely that a transfer of ownership will require landlord’s consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.

The requirements of the landlord for granting licence to assign should be addressed early in the transaction, in order to avoid delays and problems. These would include taking up references on the buyer. The landlord’s costs will also need to be paid at an early stage.

Due diligence information The Seller’s solicitor and accountant, as applicable, should prepare: • A legal pack with all relevant legal documents relating to the business and the property from which it trades.

• Financial information including balance sheets, income statements, management accounts and tax returns.

• Information regarding employees and the business’s organization. This includes employee handbooks, information about salaries, schedules, and employee benefit plans.

• replies to a standard set of commercial due diligence enquiries. These cover a wide range of topics including ownership of assets, employees and rights to be transferred under TUPE Regulations, pension arrangements, details of any disputes, corporate matters and liabilities to taxation.

• Replies to commercial property enquiries (including CPSE1 or CPSE7).

• All records regarding the legal standing of the business, including leases, planning permissions, insurance policies (buildings and public liability), contracts, alcohol licences, premises licences, food hygiene certificates, PRS for music licence, sitting out licence for any tables and chairs outside the premises, and any patents or trademarks the business may own.

Disclosure letter

The Seller’s solicitor will prepare a letter making specific disclosures.

This is how the Seller can protect itself against potential liability for breach of warranty. The disclosure letter will make specific disclosures against specific warranties, as

well as general disclosures of matters in the public domain including searches and company registration documents. These disclosures are likely to be negotiated between the parties.

The Buyer’s solicitor will usually deal with: • A list of additional enquiries they wish to raise based on the information supplied and the results of their searches.

• Carrying out of relevant searches. These would typically include company, local authority, water and drainage, environmental, planning and any other relevant searches.

• Prepare the initial draft sale and purchase contract, and draft deeds of assignment of the lease, goodwill and any third party contracts of the business.

• Reporting on Due Diligence findings to the Buyer.

Forward Planning

As with most commercial transactions, the key to a speedy and successful transaction is preparation and getting all usual and necessary information ready at the outset of the transaction.

Our expert commercial solicitors will be pleased to advise.

Please contact Alan Zeffertt on aze@anthonygold.co.uk or Elaine O’Connor on eoc@anthonygold.co.uk

Property issues to consider

Title checks and searches should be carried out by the Buyer’s solicitors to ensure a good and marketable title.

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

A DV E RT I S I N G F E AT U R E

A R E YOU RU N N I N G T H E R I S K O F OU T L I V I N G YOU R S AV I N G S ?

In a world of low interest rates, ever-changing legislation and increasing life expectancy, Andrew Rumbles offers some useful guidance on retirement planning.

A recent Work and Pensions Committee report identified that 32% of people who withdrew their retirement pots in full chose to save the largest share of Andrew Rumbles Wealth Management it in standard savings Consultant products like cash bank accounts and Premium Bonds. These are likely to have lower rates of return than pension savings as well as potentially higher tax liabilities.1 Indeed, concerns continue to grow for those who choose to draw on their pension savings without taking advice. Drawdown demands a different mindset to that needed by those who retire with an annuity, as it requires individuals to plan their own investment strategy and ensure that withdrawals are sustainable. And while the majority are taking a sensible approach, the minority are withdrawing pension funds at rates that would see this money run out in a decade or less. And if they’re relying solely on the State Pension to see them through their later years, they will have to accept that their standard of living is going to drop significantly.

The State Pension provides a limited income (£168.60 for a single person, per week, based on a full NI record in the 2019/2020 tax year), which falls drastically short of what is really needed to fund a comfortable lifestyle.

So how do we avoid poverty in retirement?

First, decide how large a fund you will need. One method is to multiply your target retirement income by 25. For example, if you think you’ll need £25,000 a year, aim for a fund of £625,000.

Next, select the most appropriate investment vehicles to achieve your goal.

Property, investment bonds and ISAs have all proved popular over recent years but don’t offer the same degree of tax breaks as a pension.

RET I REE S WIT H A DRAWDOWN PE NSI O N SHOUL D SE E K ADVI C E WHE N C AL C UL AT ING WI T HDRAWALS.

To help avoid running out of money, selecting a balanced and well-diversified investment portfolio is critical, but knowing how much money to take from a drawdown policy is arguably of greater importance.

For further information, or to arrange a no obligation meeting, contact Andrew Rumbles on the details below.

The value of an investment with St. James’s Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds selected and may fall as well as rise. You may get back less than the amount invested.

An investment in equities does not provide the security of capital associated with a deposit account with a bank or building society.

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

1

Work and Pensions Committee Report – The effects of pension freedoms, March 2018

PROSPERA WEALTH MANAGEMENT LLP Senior Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management Tel: 02036 653439 | Mob: 07496 966474 Email: andrew.rumbles@sjpp.co.uk | Web: www.prosperawealth.co.uk The Partner Practice is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products.

The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

H2SJP31757 04/19

Southwark

BUSINESS TODAY I

Congratulations

to all finalists at the Southwark Business Excellence Awards 2019

From Southwark Business Today magazine

Small Business Category

The vet that’s the cat’s whiskers ISFM Gold Standard, catonly veterinary practice in the heart of Bermondsey Our purpose-built clinic won the most recent National Veterinary Practice Design Awards and everything caters to the well-being of our patients and their carers

With some of the most up-to-date equipment and technology, we offer our patients a wide range of services under one roof Our fabulous feline-focused vets hold additional qualifications in feline medicine and our team are all cat-owners and cat-lovers No dogs allowed!

Our 20 or 30 minute-long consultations give you more time with us to talk about your cat’s needs. We want to hear what you have to say

To register or to make an appointment online visit www.thelondoncatclinic.co.uk Tel: 0203 740 1112 |

@TheLondonCatClinic |

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Email: hello@thelondoncatclinic.co.uk | Address: 82-86 Spa Road, Bermondsey, SE16 3QT

The London Cat Clinic is proud to be a finalist in the Best Small Business Awards

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Awards Shortlist

The Southwark Business Excellence Awards 2019 Shortlist APPRENTICE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR • A J Morrisroe & Sons Ltd • chapmanbdsp • Everyone Active • HLM Architects • Virocom • Waterman Group BEST BUSINESS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE • Archimedes Inspiration – Al Escape • Bodytonic Clinic • Canada Water Café • Cezanne Hr Ltd • Chapter 72 • Complete I.T. • Get Living • London Bridge Hotel • Rat Race Cycles • The Stress Exchange BEST BUSINESS FOR HOSPITALITY, LEISURE & TOURISM • Archimedes Inspiration – Al Escape • Bala Baya • Bermondsey Square Hotel • Escape Rooms • London Bridge Hotel • The Ghost Bus Tours BEST BUSINESS FOR TECH & INNOVATION • Cezanne HR • Cloudscape IT • Fitness Space • Lyte • Peak • Unilink Software

BEST CHARITY OR SOCIAL ENTERPRISE • Bankside Open Spaces Trust • Bermondsey Project Space • Bunker Theatre Productions • Disability Sports Coach • Lloyds Bank Foundation • Cervantes Theatre • Time & Talents • Toucan Employment • Tree Shepherd • Blue Patch.org

BEST EMPLOYER • Ben Adams Architects • Fuse Architects • HLM Architects • Outstanding Branding • Peak • Source Marketing Direct • Superlative Recruitment • Utility Results

BEST FOOD & BEVERAGE AWARD • Bala Baya • Black Cowboy Coffee & Waffles • Café G. • Eden Caterers • Hiver Beers • Hop King Brewery • Origin Coffee Roasters • Paladar • Tibits BEST MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS • Ben Adams Architects • Complete I.T. • Eden Caterers • EngageTech • The Ghost Bus Tours • VHR • Visual Response

BEST SMALL BUSINESS • Adroit Accountax • Fathom Architects • Growing Together Exponentially • Inspired Search & Selection • NEMI Teas • PACK & SEND Elephant & Castle • Pulse Outdoor Media • Re-Wrapped • The London Cat Clinic • Utility Results

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR • Asad Dhunna, The Unmistakables • Olivia Mudie, Concrete Communications • David Taylor, GROW: in London • Simone Vincenzi, Growing Together Exponentially • James Gill, bodytonic clinic • Katharine Elizabeth, Katharine Elizabeth Millinary • Gergana Argirova,London Music Box • Pranav Chopra, NEMI Teas • Colin Crooks, Tree Shepherd • Uorenzo Johnson, UJ Trends INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR • Brand Academy Store • Hiver Beers • Katherine Elizabeth Millinary • Lant Street Wine Company • Rat Race Cycles • Really Maria • Tower Bridge Wellness Pharmacy THE SOUTHWARK CULTURAL COMMITMENT AWARD • Bermondsey Project Space • Cervantes Theatre • London Bridge Hotel • Magnus Rodwell – London Artist • PACK & SEND Elephant & Castle • The Bermondsey Artists’ Group Managing CGP London • Theatre Peckham

WOMEN IN BUSINESS • Charlotte Endacott, Café G. & Gymboree Play and Music • Olivia Mudie, Concrete Communications • Anna Kiho, HLM Architects • Suzy Astbury, Inspired Search & Selection CONTRIBUTION • Angela Burgess, SE Magazines TO THE COMMUNITY • Gergana Argirova, London Music Box • Anthony Gold Solicitors • Sarah Penn, Outstanding Branding • Ballers Football Academy • Kristen O’Connell, Superlative • Bermondsey Project Space Recruitment • Forge Architects • Sharon Potter, University College • Hilton London Bankside of Osteopathy • University College of Osteopathy Clinic • Tessa Gooding, Urban Patchwork

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Skills

Plans launched to boost digital skills for adults Free courses will be offered to thousands of people, in part to help bridge the skills gap which is hitting businesses.

It is estimated that one in five adults have no, or low, basic digital skills, which are needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

The new qualifications, unveiled

by Apprenticeship and Skills Minister Anne Milton, will be based on national standards and be available for free to anyone over the age of 19 from 2020.

They have been designed to help adults learn the essential skills, such as sending emails, completing online forms or using a tablet, that many people take for granted.

Research shows that digital skills have become as important in getting a job and being part of society as English and Maths.

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An estimated 90% of all jobs in the next 20 years will require some form of digital knowledge.

The new offer will comprise of:

• A range of new essential digital skills qualifications, available from 2020, that will meet new conditions and requirements set by independent exams regulator Ofqual, also published today.

• Digital Functional Skills qualifications, available from 2021, that will support progression into employment or further education and develop skills for everyday life.

Anne Milton said: “I want people of all ages to have the skills and confidence they need for work and everyday life.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

“Being online is more important than ever and yet one in five adults in the UK don’t have the basic digital skills that many of us take for granted. This is cutting many people off from so many opportunities – from accessing new jobs, further study and being able to stay in touch with friends and family.

“I am thrilled to launch the new ‘essential digital skills’ qualifications which will give adults the chance to develop a whole host of new skills to help get ahead in work, but also to improve their quality of life overall.”

Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries Margot James said: “The new entitlement will give everyone the opportunity to participate in an increasingly digital world and take advantage of digital technology, whether it is using a smartphone, learning how to send emails or shopping online.

“Implementation of the new entitlement will be complemented by the work of our Digital Skills Partnership to boost digital skills at all levels - from the essential

digital skills that support inclusion, to the digital skills we increasingly need for work, right through to the advanced digital skills required for specialist roles.”

The new national entitlement from 2020 will fully fund adults with no or low digital skills to undertake the new qualifications.

They will be supported to use digital devices like tablets, smart phones and laptop computers and to perform everyday activities like how to navigate the internet, send an email and make online payments.

The announcement follows a 12-week consultation and extensive work with a wide range of providers, employers, subject experts, Ofqual, awarding organisations and digital inclusion charities.

The announcement builds on steps already taken to drive up the Government’s digital offer including making computing a statutory national curriculum subject and introducing a new Computer Science GCSE and A Level.

“The new entitlement will give everyone the opportunity to participate in an increasingly digital world and take advantage of digital technology, whether it is using a smartphone, learning how to send emails or shopping online.”

Education

Deputy Mayor visits local college The Deputy Mayor of Planning, Regeneration and Skills Jules Pipe CBE visited Southwark College as part of Love Our College’s week, a national campaign by the Association of Colleges to promote the good work that colleges do across the country.

Jules toured the campus with Principal, Annette Cast and AoC Director, Mary Vine-Morris, dropping into creative arts classes and looking at rehearsals for an upcoming Shakespeare performance.

He also took time out to chat to a large group of students, including representatives from the College’s student union.

Annette said: “We were delighted to host Jules today; he was really keen to see the College at work. This is a fantastic

opportunity to highlight the great facilities and raw talent that we have at the College.

We are located so close to City Hall, that I hope he pops by again soon.”

Another important aim of the Love Our Colleges Campaign is to lobby government for better investment and fair pay for college staff. Further Education Colleges are an essential part of our communities, they are crucial to driving social mobility and providing the skills to boost local and regional economies.

Jules said: “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting staff and students at Southwark College.

The Mayor and I are determined to ensure that we have a skills system that meets the needs of Londoners, so it is always good to meet young people who are passionate about learning and maximising their potential.”

Find out more about what is going on at your local college

www.southwark.ac.uk

GET AHEAD. GET AN APPRENTICE To be successful, you need a talented, loyal workforce. Apprentices offer enthusiasm, knowledge and a desire to do well - helping you tackle the challenges of the future.

Let us match you with the perfect trainee, taking away the headache of selection. If you’re a levy-payer, we can help you maximise the benefits too.

Contact us today:

LSCOLLEGE.AC.UK/APPRENTICESHIPS Apprenticeships@LSCollege.ac.uk 020 3757 3050

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Economy

Southwark Economy Brexit leads to revised growth predictions The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has slightly downgraded its growth expectations for the UK economy, forecasting just 1.2% in 2019, down from 1.3%, which if realised would be the weakest growth in a decade.

The BCC has also downgraded its growth forecast for 2020 to 1.3% (down from 1.5%) and published its first forecast for 2021 of 1.4% growth. Analysts blame a weaker outlook for business investment and trade amid continued Brexit uncertainty and slower expected global economic growth.

Business investment is forecast to decline by 1.0% in 2019, which if realised would be the weakest outturn since the financial crisis in 2009.

Ongoing uncertainty over the UK’s future relationship with the EU is expected to continue to weigh on investment intentions.

The diversion of resources to prepare for no deal and the high upfront cost of doing business in the UK is also projected to limit

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the extent to which investment activity will bounce back over the near term.

Net trade is expected to make a negative contribution to GDP growth over the forecast period, reflecting the lack of clarity on the UK’s future trade arrangements, weaker global growth and continued trade tensions.

While average earnings growth in real terms is set to improve over the forecast period and unemployment is forecast to remain low by historic standards, household spending is expected to be limited by weak consumer confidence and high household debt levels.

Growth in the dominant services sector is expected to weaken to 1.1% in 2019, which would be the slowest growth since 2009. The manufacturing and construction sectors are also expected to grow by less than expected in our previous forecast.

The BCC forecast assumed that the UK avoids a messy and disorderly exit from the EU. Suren Thiru, Head of Economics

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The downgrades to our near-term growth outlook are a further indication that the UK economy is set to remain on a historically weak growth trajectory for some time to come, unless decisive action is taken.

“Brexit uncertainty, the financial squeeze on business and consumers and a slowing global economy are expected to weigh significantly on business investment and trade and limit the extent to which consumer spending will be boosted by a stronger real wage growth.

The broad nature of the headwinds facing the UK economy is likely to be reflected in widespread weakness across all the main sectors, leaving the UK more exposed to sudden shifts in the economic conditions.

“The significant costs, diversion of resources and loss of business that many firms have had to incur to protect themselves against a possibility of no-deal Brexit and the lack of clarity over the UK’s future relationship with the EU is likely to limit the expected improvement in economic output as Brexit uncertainty eases.

“While heightened uncertainty looms over the near-term outlook for the UK economy, the risks to the forecast remain firmly on the downside.”

Adam Marshall, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, added: “It is clear that political inaction has already had economic consequences, with many firms hitting the brakes on investment and recruitment decisions as a result of ongoing uncertainty.

Worse still, some companies have moved investment and growth plans as part of their contingency preparations.

Some of this investment may never come back to the UK. “For too long Brexit has distracted from efforts to remove barriers to growth at home, including critical skills gaps, ageing physical and digital infrastructure systems, and high costs in the business environment. If the UK economy is to have a shot at escaping a Brexit-induced black hole, practical growth issues here at home need to be tackled urgently.”

“Ongoing uncertainty over the UK’s future relationship with the EU is expected to continue to weigh on investment intentions.

The diversion of resources to prepare for no deal and the high upfront cost of doing business in the UK is also projected to limit the extent to which investment activity will bounce back over the near term.”

We are a procurement project working with SMEs, bringing together buyers and suppliers to ensure a lasting legacy of economic growth in South London.

Since our inception in 2012, our network has grown to over 1000 members across South London.

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Working with the London Borough of Southwark to create a vibrant, inclusive, mixed-use development at Canada Water

Find out more at: www.canadawatermasterplan.com www.britishland.com

Property Focus

Mushroom workshop at the Paper Garden

Canada Water Masterplan British Land speaks about being the long-term steward of the Canada Water area and how it is working with its partners to ensure that the local community and local businesses benefit from its redevelopment proposals.

British Land is creating a new urban centre for London at its 53-acre site in Canada Water.

The masterplan will include offices, retail, homes, leisure and community facilities alongside new public spaces, including a new park and town square.

We will be the new long-term owners of this development and are committed to ensuring that this is an inclusive place to live, work and visit. An example of our commitment as a long-term investor is demonstrated through our management of

our 13-acre Regent’s Place campus, which is home to over 20,000 workers and residents. Moreover, we want to make sure that it knits seamlessly into the existing local community and economy, and helps enhance what is already thriving, and support growth both now and in the future.

At Canada Water we have been delivering on this aim for over five years already – well before the start of any planned redevelopment works – supporting the local community, including businesses, education institutions and community organisations.

Ensuring local people benefit from the redevelopment of their area Through working with some brilliant partners, both local and national, we’ve brought forward projects and programmes which aim to support the local community. This includes, for example, our built environment education programme with Construction Youth Trust and eight local schools, including Bacon’s College, where our CWM team and suppliers have been part of supporting over 1,400 local students so far to raise awareness of the opportunities and careers in the built environment that will be created through the redevelopment of the area. Over the longer term, through our Young Readers partnership with the National Literacy Trust, over 1,500 local primary school students have received free books and taken part in engaging activities aiming to inspire a love for reading and help improve literacy levels.

Making real, tangible improvements to the existing site As part of our commitment to enhance the already thriving local community and economy, we have also sought to make short-term improvements within the masterplan area to the benefit of local people. Some of these improvements include the introduction of a number of temporary retail units at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, which is now home to the likes of Pizza 1889 and the soon-to-open Spiedie Shack, from local restaurant Yellow House. As part of our ongoing management of the

historic Dock Offices, we’ve also helped the award-winning Body-Tonic move and expand.

We have also found a fitting use for the Printworks, and on the same site, a location for Global Generation, an educational charity whose work with children and young people aims to help create healthy, integrated and environmentally responsible communities. They’ve created the Paper Garden at the Printworks, and have had over 3,000 visits this year – the majority from local primary school students including Albion School and Redriff.

Consultants’ Charter Finally, we have been challenging our own consultants to do what they can to deliver social value to the local area. Every one of our core consultants has signed up to our ‘Consultants’ Charter’ which asked them to ensure that they do their bit to create a lasting positive legacy for the local area. So far they have dedicated over 250 hours of their time to supporting local causes and projects, alongside offering paid work experience for local schools, acting as trustees, and even offering a paid year-in-industry placement for a local school leaver.

We are proud of what we have been able to achieve with our partners over the past five years.

A decision on the Canada Water Masterplan by Southwark’s Planning Committee is expected in the coming months, and subject to planning being granted, we’re hugely excited about the potential to scale up this work as delivery of the development gets underway.

To find out more about our work locally and the masterplan, visit the website -

www.canadawatermasterplan.com Symon Bacon from British Land

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Big Interview

Transformative approach that has stood the test of time One of the biggest debates among education professionals and business leaders at the moment surrounds the way in which graduates are prepared for the world of work.

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Big Interview

Sarah Moore-Williams Business School Dean London South Bank University Many employers are concerned that students are graduating from schools, colleges and universities with appropriate academic knowledge and skills but still lacking the attributes and attitudes needed to enable them to add value in a workplace.

Among those educational institutions tackling the challenge is the School of Business at London South Bank University (LSBU).

The solution they have long since adopted is to deliver courses that are accredited, applied and professional, but which have a strong focus on personal development, enabling students to have a much deeper understanding of self and their own potential.

The result, according to Business School Dean Sarah Moore-Williams, is more rounded graduates who emerge from the university with a better understanding of the paths they wish to follow and who have developed the abilities that they need to thrive in the workplace.

It’s a practical and personalised approach to education that can be traced back almost 130 years.

London South Bank University, originally the Borough Polytechnic Institute, laid down roots in south London in 1892 and has been improving the lives of students, businesses and the local community ever since.

The Business School offers courses across a wide range of disciplines, from Enterprise, Economics, Accounting and Finance through to Digital Marketing, Management and International Human Resources and has always had a strong focus on vocational studies, continuing its long-standing ethos.

Sarah, who recently became a member of Southwark Chamber of Commerce’s executive committee, said: “The LSBU ethos has not

Photos: Warren King Photography

really changed since the institution was created in 1892. It has always had a strong vocational theme and has been focused on producing students who are work-ready.”

“The major difference in approach between now and then is the need to develop a much broader range of graduate capabilities. As well as their discipline knowledge and professional capabilities we work with students to develop their cultural competence, creativity, resilience, leadership, team working and communication skills.

This enables them to have a really positive impact when they gain a foothold in the far more complex and fast paced workplace of today.”

Life coaching in the curriculum supports students to reflect upon how they want to ‘Be’ in our complex, global world and enables them to have the focus to flourish.

Sarah said: “Our approach is to look at the student as a whole and help them to focus on their core values and strengths.

We support them to ask questions of themselves and to help them to discover what makes them thrive so that they leave us on the most appropriate career trajectory for them as individuals. If you can align your career to your values and your strengths then you are far more likely to stay on track, be happy and succeed in reaching your chosen goals.”

In addition, the institution provides a wide range of practical, work-based experiences to expose students to fresh possibilities and different career paths.

Sarah said: “The world of work is changing fast and we try to prepare students as best we can even though no one is quite sure what the world of business will be like in ten years. The students leaving us may end up changing

careers four times during their working life. They need to be flexible, adaptive, resilient and creative if they are to be successful.”

The Business School’s focus is also very much on student experience and this is reflected in the support that it offers its students, not only to succeed on its courses but also to take advantage of a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities.

Sarah and her team believe it is vitally important that students develop transferable skills such as networking, entrepreneurship and teamwork.

Link-ups with outside organisations, assisted by the School’s central London location, means that its Enterprise Centre can offer students opportunities to interact with a wide range of businesses through various student enterprise schemes. The Business School itself is accredited by the Institute of Enterprise and Entrepreneurs in respect of its commitment to embedding enterprise and entrepreneurship education in its curriculum.

The London location also makes the University a hub for a wide range of international links, with collaborative partners from across the globe.

Courses are designed to meet the needs of employers and are underpinned by relevant professional accreditation and the School works closely with

professional bodies and industry groups like the Chamber. It also offers a broad range of Apprenticeships.

For the past three years, the Chairman of the Chamber has served on the School’s advisory board and now Sarah has joined the Chamber’s executive committee.

She said: “It is a two-way thing.

Our work with the Chamber is important because it enables us to work with local employers, to better understand their needs and then this learning can feed directly into our course design.

It can provide real world case studies, work placement and business project opportunities.

In addition, we can support local businesses through the provision of tailor made courses, networking opportunities, research and knowledge transfer and initiatives such as our Business Solutions centre and Entrepreneurs in Residence scheme.”

The School’s determination to ensure that students have access to a first-class learning and teaching experience is reflected in its’ high National Student Survey results. Furthermore, the University has been awarded a TEF Silver ranking for its teaching and it is an unprecedented double winner of the title University of the Year for Graduate Employment The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018 and 2019.

“Our work with the Chamber is important because it enables us to work with local employers, to better understand their needs and then this learning can feed directly into our course design.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Destination Southwark

Southwark where it's all happening There's so much to see and do in Southwark is London's most historic borough, comprising five districts, many of its most popular attractions are located in the district of Bankside and Borough, bordering the south bank of the Thames between Blackfriars Bridge and London Bridge.

Among them are the landmark Tate Modern building, linking to St Paul's Cathedral via the Millennium footbridge, and converted from an old power station to showcase the world's finest contemporary art.

Its neighbour, the Bankside Gallery, exhibits watercolours and original prints, showcasing some high quality art and is one of many galleries in the area.

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Southwark, all of which is helping the area to become one of London's most popular tourist destinations. Whether Another stunning building is the recreation of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, which hosts plays, an exhibition and guided tours of both the Globe and the nearby Rose Theatre, an Elizabethan venue also associated with Shakespeare.

Its remains, uncovered in 1989, have been rehabilitated for performances.

Southwark Cathedral, London's oldest Gothic structure, is a prominent attraction, as is the

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

you are a lover of green open spaces or prefer heritage, arts and culture, Southwark has much to entertain.

Borough Market, a centre of food excellence. Southwark has great restaurants and bars aplenty, and any number of galleries and unusual museums.

These include the Kircaldy Testing Museum, the London Fire Brigade Museum, the Clink Prison Museum and the

Golden Hinde Educational Museum, a replica of Sir Francis Drake's Tudor galleon.

And when you are weary and fancy a rest or a bite to eat, the area has a plethora of pubs, restaurants and cafes to satisfy all taste buds.

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Ortus Events

ORTUS has 1500 sqm of dedicated, flexible event and meeting space with state-of-the-art technology and audio-visual equipment, as well as high speed wifi.

Why Choose ORTUS?

ORTUS was built to be eco- friendly and it is our policy to ensure that all aspects of the business have the least harmful effect on the environment. Our light and contemporary spaces are open to everyone and is regularly used by the public sector, and for corporate and private events.

The venue is Healthcare assessed, with a dedicated Healthcare Champion on site, who is trained

Eco-friendly Meeting and Events Venue to understand the Healthcare sector's event needs. The site also has a mia accreditation, the only UK recognised accreditation scheme for the meetings and events industry.

ORTUS is owned by and was purpose-buit by the Maudsley Charity, which works closely with South London and Maudsley (which provides the UK's widest range of mental health services) and the world renowned Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscinece, Kings College London. Surplus goes back into the Trust in the form of grants, to support better care, recovery and prevention of mental illness.

Looking for versatile Meeting Rooms, Conference and Events Spaces in London?

Looking for versatile Meeting Rooms, Conference and Events spaces in London?

Community Café

Café at the ORTUS is open to all.

You are always welcome to pop- in, whether you are attending an event, live or work in the neighbourhood or are simply passing by.

Enjoy a fantastic coffee, grab a bite to eat and make use of the free WiFi.

ORTUSevents

Our food is freshly prepared on site every day, and our menus are made with health, sustainability and wellbeing in mind.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Café Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-4pm

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• 1500 sqm of dedicated, flexible event space, with built in AV. • Larger suites can be divided into 22 rooms, over 7 levels, as and when required.

• Ideal for small or large conferences, meetings, training courses, workshops academic lectures and receptions.

• Shortlisted for the Global Good Awards-Most Sustainable Supply Chain and CHS Awards, Best Sustainable/CSR Venue Practice 2019.

• Discounted rates for the public sector and non-for-profit organisations.

• ORTUS is owned by the Maudsley Charity and surplus goes back into the trust in the form of grants, to support better care, recovery and prevention of mental illness.

• Easily accessible, located just 2 minutes’ walk from Denmark Hill station (Zone 2). Just 10 minutes from Victoria and Blackfriars.

020 3696 9760

www.ortusevents.com enquiries@ortusevents.com

82-96 Grove Lane London, SE5 8SN

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Venues

The rapidly changing event world Talk to anyone involved in the conference and events sector and it will not be long before the word ‘experience’ finds its way into the conversation.

That’s because recent times have seen a distinct move away from ‘bog standard’ events, where everyone sits in a conference hall and watches a series of uninspired Powerpoint presentations for hours on end, towards events where things happen. Events that are different and that will be remembered.

According to research, 93% of marketers believe that their customers are increasingly looking to buy based on experiences, rather than simply on products.

The researchers found that the trend needs to be acknowledged by organisers because memorable events encourage consumers to learn more about a brand, leading eventually to higher sales.

Industry analysts predict that the trend away from passive events towards ones that are more active and engaging will be the big theme of 2019.

That’s not to say that all existing event formats are dead. It’s not all jazzy music and flashing lights.

There is still a need for keynote speeches from industry experts and for exhibition halls showcasing relevant products and services.

It’s just that the trick now is to run an event that has its own personality, one that is different to other events that delegates have attended, an occasion and a venue that makes an impact.

If you are an events organiser, that means asking some tough questions.

Does your audience want to sit through an event that has not changed for ten years or do they want something more interactive with workshops, the chance to meet speakers, the opportunity to engage with other delegates and the potential to be entertained at a memorable venue?

Coming up with the right answer is crucial because events containing experiences are more likely to be talked about and shared on social

media – and that means that their impact will be broad. Technology is one way to achieve that. For example, many leading business events now develop their own apps which show the attendee a map of the venue, the schedule for the event and useful background information and offer them the opportunity to provide feedback during the event.

Technology can help in other ways, ranging from Virtual Reality systems giving delegates a more realistic view of products and services to live streaming of presentations.

For all the exciting opportunities, though, there is still a need to get the basics right. The success of an event can be jeopardised because the basic components were overlooked and one of the key factors is a good venue with excellent facilities, in a good location, somewhere that is easy to reach and attractive for delegates.

When assessing the choice of venue, you are looking at other factors as well. Can it cope with the numbers expected to attend, has it got a good meeting room, will it provide equipment like projectors and Wi-Fi, are the staff friendly and flexible in helping you meet your needs?

The good venues are the ones that can tailor themselves to providing the exact needs of the event organisers.

But why does all this planning matter?

Are events still worth the effort and expense? Well, yes, because in an age that seems increasingly reliant on technology, events help companies to maintain personal relationships with their clients.

In a fast-moving age dominated by the Internet, texting and Cloud Computing, the personal touch remains highly valued because it is often when client and customer are together, and relaxed, that business is done, that relationships are forged and deals struck.

There are benefits for the national and local economy as well. The UK events industry was estimated to be worth £42.3 billion in 2018, an 8% rise on the previous year, with business events by far the largest contributor to the sector.

Business events – conference, seminars, networking sessions and the like – have a combined value of £19.9bn per annum.

Which is why it’s worth taking the time to get it right.

Southwark gems

One trend increasingly being observed is the arrival in the market of venues previously not considered for such events.

Hotels and business centres have always hosted conferences and exhibitions but increasingly other venues are becoming involved.

From football grounds to cathedrals and churches, such venues offer something a little different in terms of visitor experience.

Southwark has plenty of fine venues which take advantage of the opportunities presented by the events sector.

All round the borough can be found ideal venues, ranging from historic to industrial chic, specialist conference centres to sports clubs, all of which offer events and corporate hospitality.

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23

Arts & Culture

Handcuffs in the Chandeliers, and Prison Cells in the Restaurant Lunch at Marriott‘s new hotel, The Dixon, Tower Bridge

by Susan Isaacs Arts and Culture Correspondent

“That sinister- looking one with a moustache and a bowler hat, he was in for indecent exposure,” says our hotel guide. She is showing us a photograph of just one of the former inmates of the newly-opened luxury hotel, the Dixon. It previously served as a magistrates Court, with its own police station, and prison, and closed in 2013. It re-opened on the 27th December 2018 and the transformation has been dramatic.

As you enter the hotel the original tall white pillars support a porch, jutting out from red brickwork.

They face onto the street and the large gold letters “The Dixon,” dangle forcefully before your eyes, like a large pendant.

As you mount the steps you enter a magnificent entrance hall with sumptuous white marble floors,blue carpets, original wooden panelling, massive green plants, and an opulent chandelier.

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If you look carefully, you can see glass handcuffs entwined in the lights, a reminder of its rather grimmer past.

Further steps lead up to a striking painting of the architect who designed the original law court, John Dixon Butler, famous for more than two hundred buildings in London. The painting looms down on us, a figure with a flower for a face, because, for all the numerous archives that remain of his work, there is no trace of what he actually looked like.

Just months ago the hotel was a rubble-covered building site.

The owners and design company Twenty2 Degrees came up with brilliant uses of the orginal features to make this unique.

Some of the walls remain grey from the smoke of people waiting to hear if they were to be sent down for years. All the keys from the prison were preserved and stuck attractively onto a metal door, and the original metal prison door stands by the lift, a stern reminder of the life behind bars. You can see the bench from the prison, with names like Patrick of Bermondsey carved in it, by centuries of desperate prisoners.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

The brightly coloured restaurant, the Provisioners, has been built over the prison itself, so as you sip your gin and tonic, your table may be lying over the exact area of a former prison cell. There was an enticing choice of an array of lunchtime cocktails including twisted negroni, vermouth, and chocolate bitters, but I went for a very satisfactory gin and tonic, and my dining partner had vodka and lemon.

The large green olives were particularly delicious, and we were given a surprise concoction of hot brie balls with sweet gooseberry and chili dip.

My dining partner sampled roast cod, samphire, and seaweed butter, and I had a very nice steak with cauliflower and cumin. We both found the chips crispy and flavoursome.

Those of you who like vegetarian food will find there is an excellent choice, including black rice and pomegranate salad, artichoke and kale risotto, and butternut hash. I had soft cheeses like Wigmore goats cheese, and Bath cheese, served with slivers of cucumber, a dip of gooseberry nettle relish, which tasted a bit like marmelade. It was the crostini though, where I felt the restaurant excelled.

These were thin slivers of curly toast, embedded with delicious

fig and apricot. My dining partner had an imaginative interpretation of an apple, cinnamon apple cake, apple chips, and green apple sorbet.

Numerous photographs and paintings remind you of famous people who lived nearby.

George Orwell lived in Tooley St, formerly a run down area, while researching his famous book down and out in Paris and London. Charlie Chaplin lived down the road in Kennington.

The names of the rooms also reflect the building’s past. There is the “Dock” upstairs, which is now used as a rather tamer business meeting room. The well stocked bar downstairs is a symphony of colour with mauve blinds, orange, purple, pink, and green seats. In the past it was in fact the “Courtroom,” and that is what it is now called. It has its own magnificent chandelier with a hundred and ninety-three spheres - each representing one of the one hundred and ninety three rooms in the hotel.

The bar roasts its own coffee on the premises, and at 3.30 every day you can partake of its delights. Black and white mugs are emblazoned with the name Shakedown. A “shakedown” by the way, is when prison cells are raided, and objects hurled around in a brutal search for guns or drugs. I think afternoon coffee at the Dixon is a rather more sedate affair.

We had a fantastic time and I would thoroughly recommend visiting the hotel to get a flavour of its very colourful past.

Less than a 10-minute walk from London

Bridge Station, Provisioners is a

welcoming, all day à la carte restaurant

that serves locally sourced food,

highlighting the best of British, nestled next to the very best Mediterranean avours.

In partnership with The Dixon, Tower Bridge, Provisioners takes references from

SE1 and the area’s cultural heritage.

Located within the previous Tower Bridge Magistrates’ Court, Provisioners’ interiors

are inspired by modern design movements, whilst also retaining historical elements of the original courthouse structure.

EXPRESS LUNCH 2 COURSES £15.50 Changing daily, our set lunch menu showcases the freshest local produce and seasonal avours.

Available every weekday 12-3pm.

Email hello@provisioners.co.uk and quote “express lunch” to book.

4 Queen Elizabeth St, SE1 2LL

020 3959 2919

provisioners.co.uk

@provisionersldn

Arts & Culture

A Floating City on the Thames Royal Navy Warship HMS Belfast

By Susan Isaacs, Arts and Culture Correspondent

A man with a black mask on his face, lies on his back, his bare toes poking out the end of a green blanket. Over him hovers a surgeon in a white coat and white gloves. Scissors lie on the man‘s stomach and the surgeon‘s fingers are red with blood from the operation. Do not be alarmed, this is only posed by mannequins.

Welcome aboard the operating theatre of Royal Navy warship HMS Belfast.

The vast floating city of a warship, HMS Belfast, lies moored on the River Thames, suspended between Tower Bridge on one side and the Tower of London on another. It is a huge white ship, with tall masts and a neat triangular Union Jack flag flying at one end. It has nine decks and its engine rooms lie fifteen feet below the water. In its heyday it was home to over 950 men. Launched in 1938, HMS Belfast played a key role in the Artic Convoys, the Battle of North Cape and D Day. It is the most significant surviving Royal Navy warship from the Second World War.

The military nature of the ship is unmistakable. A black sleek pointed torpedo lies confidently near the engine room. The multiple guns stand proudly on the upper deck, and there is an immersive reconstruction of the Battle of North Cape, right down to the sounds, smells, and sight of battle.

Highly recommended for kids who are partial to the odd video game.

And some of the recorded stories from the sailors are truly eye opening.

”I got my hand on the Turret door,” says John harrison, a sailor who served in the Arctic “and a big one came over, swept me from my feet. But I didn't get washed overboard because my hand was frozen on the Turret handle.”

Yet it is the picture of the men‘s life aboard this ship, eating, drinking, and sleeping in mess groups of eight, that I personally found most fascinating.

The dangers aboard evidently did not solely arise from warfare.

Enter the reconstructed kitchen, with its bare white walls, vast plain metal tureens, and cooking trays.

A bacon slicer with red handles and metal blade glints in the artificial light.

A notice above it in red and white warns “Do not attempt to clean whilst machine is in motion.“

If you escaped the perils of the bacon slicer, there were other threats. A group of sailors stand slicing up fish by a deep fat fryer. And the red and white notice here reminds you, ”Fryers are not to be left unattended when switched on” And the food itself housed behind locked wire doors, in wooden cartons, had its own dangers. An athletic looking ginger cat, with its jaws round a large grey mouse, stares out at us from an illuminated corner near the kitchens.

It is a stark reminder of where all those ships biscuits might have gone to.

In one room a man sits in agony on a dentist’s chair while the blue coated dentist and prods into his mouth sadistically with a sharp instrument.

The dentist would double up as ship’s anaesthetist, so if you escaped him in the check up room, you might still come across him in the operating theatre.

The sleeping quarters are a sharp reminder of how squashed the living quarters were. There are bunk beds on the walls next to each other, each three layers high, so that you would likely have someone snoring, above, below and next to you, not to mention opposite. In these cramped quarters you had to look after your shoes and clothes, and avoid treading on the person next to you.

The clothes are shown are simple white vests and trousers, or blue shirts, with little room for individuality.

But the opportunity for display did lie in the various badges people wore, and there is a fascinating display.

Badges were kept as simple as possible to be recognizable from a distance There were small badges for minor warships, larger ones for larger ships. Circles were for battleships, pentagons were for light cruisers and a diamond represented auxiliary vessels. The motto in red letters on one attractive example is God Save the King and his Tower. In the foreground is the Tower of London.

On another badge, a cheerful elephant sits in the centre with a lion on top

The culture centre of the ship, appears to be the sound reproduction room, which was introduced after the refit in 1950s. You can see an old wooden record player, with a black vinyl disc sitting neatly on it, red paper covering thr centre.

HMS Belfast confronted many dangers, but the biggest danger to you as a visitor is that there is so much to see, you may never want to get off.

Red Furry Hot Water Bottles and Industrial Chic The Refinery Bar and Restaurant in Southwark St

By Susan Isaacs, Arts and Culture Correspondent Orange and red striped deckchairs line the entrance, like a carpet laid out for film stars at the Oscars. Next to them stand severe black tables, draped with orange blankets and furry hot-water bottles. It is a kind thought for those customers who might need a bit of extra warmth on this sunny Spring evening.

The name of the restaurant is displayed in small black uneven letters.

The Refinery it says. I blink at it and realise it reminds me of the typeface on an old typewriter I have at home.

I blink again and realise it adorns their colourful website too. We peer through the vast windows to see a long bar and bare walls. At the front is an eyeopening buzz of offices workers having a good drink and letting off steam at the end of the day. They are not going to need those orange blankets and hot-water bottles. The joint is hot.

The joint is definitely jumping.

It is rather overwhelming to wriggle past these crowds to the restaurant at the back of the restaurant, but once safely inside the service is excellent.

Two friendly members of staff, Imi, our waiter, a tall enthusiastic young man, clad in a mustard coloured apron over jeans, and Bree, the floor

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manager, a beautiful black-haired Australian, wearing a shirt in gorgeously coloured florals, get us comfortably settled and introduce us to the food, drink, and history of the place.

The Refinery was the very first in a chain of bars and restaurants of the company Drake and Morgan( named after Sir Francis Drake and Captain Morgan) founded by visionary restauranteur Jillian Maclean in 2008.

It certainly bore fruit. She launched the first site at the peak of a global recession, and within ten years expanded the company to twenty three sites. Another flagship restaurant is Drake and Morgan at Kings Cross.

What unites the locations is a sense of fun. Visually they all have the vibe of industrial chic, and are located at the base of tall office buildings, so that they have an instant customer base. Layers of minimalist metal lights are suspended from the celing, and there is a long metal bar behind which chefs in white hats are cooking and serving energetically.

This vision of manufacturing swankis brightened by all sorts of funky touches. Brown tags with intriguing and generous messages are dotted around the place.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

“Feeling Shellfish, take me to the bar for a free drink,” says one. “Take me to the bar for a free Halloumi fires,” says another. If you are too shy to declare your feelings to your beloved, the restaurant will do it for you.

“I think we both need a warm cuddle,“ says another tag, firmly attached to a large grey sock.

There are sumptuous displays of purple and red orchids, green foliage, and wax candles in interesting shapes. Bottles are beautifully gathered in clusters, and some of them have brilliantly coloured labels in gold, blue and red.

The menu itself is intriguing.

Starters include baked summer squash, crispy duck flatbread, and crab on toast averaging out at £7 a plate.

Mains (at an average of £11 a course) include lamb rump, pan-fried salmon, and a grain bowl with quinoa and wild rice. I went for the duck special.

The duck was delicious and chunky, but what really made that dish stand out was the delicious orange rind, and the tang of the orange sauce with the potatoes. My dining partner went for marinated chicken breast. Once again it was the vegetables that really stood out. The shiitake mushrooms with a sweet chilli glaze were deliciously sharp, and succulent at the same time.

The Refinery delights in puns to show that saying no to alcohol can still be fun. There was a fantastic range of mocktails, including a Mojit—no a Cos-No and a Cote de Lavender, all delicious and each with a memorable tang, although perhaps there was quite a liberal use of ice.

My dining partner was delighted to see a restaurant taking soft drinks seriously. He downed all three drinks in one, without having to worry about being able to stand up straight enough to stroll up to the lovely private dining room upstairs, affectionately known as the mezz (mezzanine).

The beautiful colourful cushions, flowers, candles, and sofas make the mezz an ideal spot for that suggestion on the brown tag. For all its metal pillars and industrial chic, The Refinery is an ideal spot when you need “a warm cuddle.” See for yourself.

I highly recommend it.

Voice from Westminster

Why we need to break through the Brexit impasse Neil Coyle MP Southwark Chamber of Commerce held their AGM since the last edition of Southwark Business Today.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended the AGM and all those who served last year and are serving this year.

Southwark business’ contribution to our borough goes far beyond providing employment and I am very grateful for the wider role good businesses play in our local community.

Theresa May triggered Article 50 with no clear strategy for her Cabinet, Party or even Parliament.

Article 50 can now only be revoked by the UK, unilaterally, or extended by agreement with every other European Union member state.

When the other 27 counties agreed the latest extension of Article 50 until 31st October 2019 they gave a very clear message: use this time wisely. This has not been heeded by the Government sadly with further uncertainty and anxiety being created for Southwark businesses.

May should have examined what deal would get through Parliament – which, based on former votes, would be the closest possible arrangements to EU membership (single market or customs union membership) combined with a new public vote. Instead, she attempted to bring back the same package badged as new. It fooled no one and she has paid the ultimate price, leaving office shortly with a legacy of failure.

I hope the new Prime Minister has the courage to revoke Article 50.

Failure to do so re-raises the prospect of a disastrous No Deal scenario hitting the UK and our neighbours alike. The costs of No Deal would hit Ireland, France, the Netherlands and all our major trading partners, and any incoming PM risks their anger in damaging their economies alongside that of the UK. Failing to revoke Article 50 also means any further Article 50 extension is again subject to the other 27 member states agreeing to another delay – which means Malta, with a population not that much more than our borough, having a veto affecting our economy. It is like Tesco leaving all its future stores’ prospects across the nation in the hands of one local mini-market.

I regularly hear from local businesses about the catastrophic consequences of leaving without a deal and all the evidence points to disaster. The IMF have warned No Deal would lead to at least 5-8% decline in GDP and the Bank of England predicts 4.25% lower growth, a stock market crash and a collapse in the value of the pound. I will continue to do everything I can in Parliament to prevent No Deal.

I know some Southwark businesses have seen huge rises in costs through the Government’s revaluation of business rates, higher national insurance contributions and obligatory new pension contributions for employees. Further damage from Brexit must be avoided.

We don’t just have a new PM soon, there have also been changes to Southwark Council’s leadership with Stephanie Cryan becoming the Cabinet Member for Jobs, Business and Innovation. She will be working to deliver the Council’s promise to be a ‘full employment borough’, getting 5,000 more local people into work and creating

2,500 apprenticeships. Southwark already has a strong record on jobs and skills, securing jobs for 5,000 local people and creating almost 2,000 apprenticeships between 2014 and 2018 through the ‘Southwark Apprenticeship Standard’ – more than any other London borough.

The Council offers free support if you’re looking to hire apprentices locally and have invested £5 million in the Passmore Skills and Training Hub at London South Bank University. If you’re interested, please contact localeconomy@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7740 8200.

Neil.Coyle.MP@Parliament.UK

020 7219 8733

“I hope the new Prime Minister has the courage to revoke Article 50. Failure to do so re-raises the prospect of a disastrous No Deal scenario hitting the UK and our neighbours alike.”

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Remembering when...

Remembering when ... in December 1890 the world’s first deep underground railway was opened.

Clapham and Islington The stations were lit by gas lights as the Electric Generators were not powerful enough. The power to the engines was via a third rail, as it still is today on our underground railways. The Prince of Wales, later to become Edward VII, formerly opened the line in November 1890 and travelled the length of the line to Stockwell. The line opened to the public a month later in December 1890 with a standard flat fare of 2d. The carriages were windowless with high backed seats and were claustrophobic, (nicknamed padded cells), access to the platforms was by Hydraulic Lifts.

The original tunnels were twisty and caused derailments and new tunnels were constructed to straighten the line out under Borough High Street to create a new station at London Bridge to connect with the mainline station.

The railway carried over 5 million passengers in 1891 leading to extra rolling stock being provided.

One of the original carriages is on display at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.

The railway was extended to Kings Cross and Euston in the early 1900’s and then became part of the London Underground group of railways in 1913.

Although it was well used, low ticket prices and construction costs created a financial strain on the company. the line closed from 1922-1924 for major construction works. In 1933 all of London’s underground railways were put into public ownership.

In 1939 the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark took over the disused tunnels under Borough High Street, between Borough station and London Bridge to create a large Air Raid shelter, with nine entrances/exits. cut into the tunnels. The shelter had lighting bunk beds and lavatories which gave the large local population protection from the bombing blitz in WWII, saving many thousands of lives.

This was known locally as ‘The Deep’. Other sections of disused tunnels at King William Street and other parts of the line were also used as Air Raid shelters.

By Ken Hayes, Honorary Secretary The City and South London Subway Company was incorporated in 1884 following Royal Assent to an Act of Parliament in August 1883.

The Act authorised the construction of a twin tunnel subway for two-way travel between the Elephant and Castle and King William Street in the City of London, in 10ft 2inch tunnels hauled by cable. This system was owned by the Patent Cable Tramways corporation, which went into liquidation and the company abandoned the cable system in favour the new

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electric traction, which would be faster than the cable system.

An earlier subway had been constructed in 1870, between Tooley Street and the Tower of London comprising a single tunnel and one carriage but was turned into a foot tunnel instead which was more economically viable.

In 1887 a further Act of Parliament gave permission for the renamed City and South London Railway to be extended from the Elephant and Castle to Stockwell in wider 11ft 6inch tunnels. It was extended again by a further Act in 1890 to

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

“The railway carried over 5 million passengers in 1891 leading to extra rolling stock being provided. One of the original carriages is on display at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.”

Health & Wellbeing

The finding emerged from research among almost 44,000 employees whose employers took part in the third annual Workplace Wellbeing Index 2018-19 conducted by mental health organisation Mind.

Nearly half of employees (45 per cent) feel that their manager would be able to spot if they were having problems with their mental health, research by the mental health charity revealed.

When it comes to managers, Mind’s research found that many feel they could do with more support.

About two in five (41 per cent) of the 15,500 managers surveyed said they felt their employer contributed to their ability to support an employee experiencing poor mental health, while two in three (66 per cent) felt confident promoting wellbeing.

The survey – which involved more than 100 organisations also found that more that one in two staff (56 per cent) felt their organisation supports their mental health, and one in two (51 per cent) felt the culture at their organisation makes it possible to speak openly about experiencing poor mental health.

The data revealed that mental health problems are common among staff more than seven in ten employees (71 per cent) have experienced mental health problems in their lives, while more than one in two (53 per cent) employees are affected by poor mental health in their current workplace.

Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, said: “With mental health problems so common

Research prompts mental health concerns Less than half of staff questioned in a survey think that managers would spot their mental health problems, despite two in three managers feeling confident about promoting wellbeing.

among employees, it’s important that every workplace – no matter the size - makes staff wellbeing a priority.

It’s also vital that employers make sure managers know how to spot and support colleagues who might be struggling with issues like stress, anxiety or depression.

“Thankfully, mental health at work is becoming a key priority for many organisations. This year, more than 100 forward-thinking employers of different sizes and sectors took part in our Workplace Wellbeing Index – an opportunity to celebrate best practice and receive support on how to do even better. But there’s still a way to go when it comes to creating a culture where staff feel able to be completely open about their mental health in every workplace.”

80% of UK office workers feel office seating affects their mental wellbeing

New research has suggested that the move towards more flexible practices in the office can have a detrimental effect on workers’ mental health – and hot desking has been identified as a particular concern.

A study conducted for by Brickendon Digital, the technology and product development arm of global consultancy Brickendon, revealed that, while 52% of employers are open to hot desking, 92% of office workers have reported issues with it.

The research showed that 80% of office workers reported that office seating can negatively affect their mental wellbeing.

Researchers found the most prominent causes for what they call ‘hot desking malaise’ were wasting time setting up a computer (44%), wasting time looking for a desk when starting work (31%) and difficulty bonding with their team (22%).

The research also revealed that 58% of respondents found the prospect of not knowing where to sit every day as the biggest stressor when it comes to hot desking, while 61% felt the ability to pre-book their seat in advance would ease this worry.

Christopher Burke, CEO, Brickendon, said: “There are growing issues in the way businesses are currently managing and looking after their workforce causing an alarming need for companies to rectify this situation and enhance employee wellbeing.

Managing this can be a minefield, and in its current state hot desking is very much flawed, and worryingly affecting employees’ mental wellbeing. It’s an important issue requiring urgent attention”.

The research highlighted that hot desking is more common amongst the male office population with 61% of men hot desking compared to just 49% of women.

With 25% of female employees also reporting difficulty in establishing bonds with new desk mates, the researchers say that it’s clear that measures need to be put in place which monitor and combat such issues.

Christopher Burke said: “If hot desking is utilised properly, it has the potential to positively transform the way we work and open doors to incredible results.”

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Health & Wellbeing

New integrated nutrition clinic launching in the borough

The University College of Osteopathy (UCO) Clinic is excited to be launching an integrated nutrition clinic in their Southwark Bridge Road location, with the aim to provide expert nutrition and dietetic care to their existing patients and the wider community.

Patients of the new clinic will have access to a range of experienced nutrition professionals who, using the latest, evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle interventions, will work with patients and service users to create a nutritional support plan tailored to individual's unique needs.

This specialist clinic will also be the main clinic environment in which students on the UCO’s BSc (Hons) Integrated Nutrition & Dietetics undergraduate degree programme will carry out most of their practical training.

The importance of nutrition in achieving optimal physical and

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mental health is increasingly understood, and research supports the role of nutrition and dietetic interventions in positively impacting all systems and functions of the body.

At the new clinic we will aim to help patients in a range of ways, including addressing digestive health issues and achieving their ideal body weight; support those with musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome and mental health problems; help those wishing to meet their body’s needs during pregnancy; and give advice for sports performance and rehabilitation; and help support

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

healthy development and aging.

This will be a weekly clinic running on Tuesdays – opening soon.

Times will vary so please call or email for more details.

Please allow approximately 1 hour 30 minutes for your first appointment – this will include time to complete intake forms on arrival. We look forward to welcoming people from across Southwark, London and beyond.

Find out more about the UCO Clinic and our specialist clinics at www.clinic.uco.ac.uk

To book an appointment, call 020 7089 5360 or email clinicappointments@uco.ac.uk

Become a Community Partner

The UCO Clinic runs a Community Partnership Scheme which is open to local businesses and organisations.

Employees or members or organisations who have signed up to the scheme are entitled to a discounted rate on appointments of the UCO Clinic (typically £20 per appointment compared to the industry average of £45). There is no cost to partner organisations who join the scheme.

Find out more about the scheme at www.uco.ac.uk/communitypartners or contact marketing@uco.ac.uk

Health & Wellbeing

Keep the whole family active with Everyone Active this summer With the summer holidays just around the corner, families are set to enjoy some much-needed downtime together.

However, with the summer break often comes a break from activity as school sports and PE lessons cease.

With physical inactivity and childhood obesity a major health concern in the UK and statistics revealing that children lose 80% of their fitness levels in the holidays, parents may well be wondering what they can do to keep everyone active this summer holiday.

“Once schools break up families have more time to enjoy activity and leisure time together,” says Everyone Active Community Development Manager James Tierney.

“Unfortunately, many youngsters and families are less active in the holidays than they are during term-term with their routine of swimming lessons, school game and sports club schedules on hold until September.”

Everyone Active operates a total of eight facilities on behalf of Southwark Council, including The Castle Centre, Seven Islands Leisure Centre and Camberwell Leisure Centre and advocates that people of all ages are active for at least 30 minutes, five times a week.

To help families get their ‘five a week’ Everyone Active has put together these helpful ideas for an active summer:

1) Have an evening walk after dinner: aim for a mile. As you walk, look at the nature around you and let the children gather things along the way to make a collage / collection.

2) Set the family a weekly triathlon: on day one have a swim; day two a bike ride and day three a walk or run in the park. Start with a short distance and then add a little each week – see how far you can all go!

3) Every week get everyone active by choosing a new activity at any of the eight leisure centres across Southwark. For instance, you could go swimming at Dulwich Leisure Centre, Camberwell Leisure Centre, Seven Islands Leisure Centre or Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre.

You could head down to Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Sport Facility for a game of tennis or visit The Castle Centre for a junior gym session followed by a swim. There’s even the chance to go sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding and powerboating at Surrey Docks Fitness & Watersports Centre.

Take it in turns to choose what activity you’ll do.

4) Play like no-one’s watching release your inner child and take the family to anyone one of the great parks or playgrounds across the borough.

Take plenty of water and healthy snacks to keep everyone’s energy up.

Invite friends to join you and be active together.

5) But don’t forget parents need to take a break too! So why not have the kids come and try one of our summer holiday activity camps at The Castle Centre? Delivered by Fit For Sport, activities on offer range from multi-sports to messy arts & crafts to outdoor adventures. There’s something on offer for everyone. The camps teach children the importance of teamwork, they develop new skills and make new friends for life.

Or you could send the kids along to our ‘Lets Get Physical’ sessions which are completely FREE. Taking place at The Castle Centre every Monday from 4-5pm, for those aged 8-14 years old.

Kids will be able to take part in a range of sports including dodgeball, bench ball and frisbee to name a few.

6) Finally, if you’re a Southwark resident don’t forget to take advantage of our free gym and swim offer.

For more information about any of the activities on offer or to book please visit www.everyoneactive.com and search for your local centre or download the Everyone Active app.

Alternatively you can speak to member of the front of house team at your local centre.

For information about Fit For Sport and the activity camps at The Castle Centre please visit www.fitforsport.co.uk

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Events

Upcoming Events Join our informative and engaging range of events.

A perfect opportunity to make new business contacts.

We’ve designed our events to help you broaden your network, learn something new or get involved with key topical issues for businesses in Southwark.

DATE

EVENT

JUNE Thursday 13 Evening

Our networking events are great for regular members to make and maintain useful contacts, and we always welcome first-timers.

VENUE Hilton Hotel, Southwark Street, SE1

Tuesday 25 10am – 12noon Followed by Lunch

Southwark Business Awards Black Tie

Embassy Reception: Uzbekistan Business, Culture, Tourism

JULY Wednesday 3 7pm to 11pm

Annual River Boat Party

Embark/Disembark at Festival Pier

SEPTEMBER Monday 9

Embassy of Uzbekistan 41 Holland Park, W11 3RP

History Walk: Blackfriars Road

Thursday 26 12.30pm to 1.30pm

Promoting your business effectively

Newington Head Office 96 Great Suffolk Street, SE1 0BE

OCTOBER Thursday 10 12pm to 2pm

Property Update

Tbc

NOVEMBER Thursday 7

Chambers’ Cross border networking

Tbc

DECEMBER Monday 16

95 Years Christmas Drinks

Tbc

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

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

The Last Word

The Last Word

French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese classes www.languages2000.co.uk Please contact Susan on susanelizabethisaacs@icloud.com To join the mailing list please link to http://eepurl.com/bev4c9 A series of language courses will be running from May 23rd 2019 for ten weeks.

The cost is £185 for new students and £155 for returning students. The Thursday classes will be held at More London near London Bridge.

Courses are open to beginners, intermediate and advanced speakers of French, Spanish and Italian as well as beginner and intermediate students of German, and beginners Portuguese.

•••

Class Times and Locations French classes

• Thursday 12.00pm (45 mins) Beginners plus French at More London • Thursday 7.15pm (45 mins) Higher Intermediate French at More London

Spanish classes

• Thursday 8.00 pm (45 mins) Beginners Spanish at More London • Thursday 6.30pm (45 mins) Intermediate Spanish at More London • Thursday 5pm (45 mins) Advanced Spanish at More London

Italian classes

• Thursday 1.30-2.15 (45 mins) Beginners Italian at More London • Thursday 12.45pm (45 mins) Intermediate Italian at More London

German classes

• Thursday 5.45pm (45 mins) Intermediate German at More London • Thursday 8.45pm (45 mins) Beginners German at More London

Portuguese classes

• Thursday 8.45pm (45 mins) Beginners Portuguese at More London •••

Beginners Classes

In the beginners classes we will be looking at subjects like your family, work, where you live, leisure activities, learning to make basic conversation, listening to recordings and covering basic grammar.

We will look at the present tense, maculine, feminine, and neuter, and also singular and plural, and possibly the past and future tenses.

Beginners plus French

This is aimed at people who have done a year or more of French, or completed a term or so in one of my classes. We will be covering subjects like your family, work, where you live, and leisure activities learning to make basic conversation, listening to CD and covering basic grammar.

Founder & Clinical Director

The London Cat Clinic

I am passionate about the health and wellbeing of cats and have dedicated a large part of my career to advancing this knowledge, enabling me to provide the best quality veterinary care I can to these unique animals.

Cats respond best when cared for in an environment designed and built around their specific needs.

The London Cat Clinic is the realisation, after years of planning and hard work, of my ultimate dream to open a cat-only veterinary clinic in London.

Q1 What was your first paid job ?

Intermediate French Higher

This is for people who have done a few years French at school, maybe many years ago up to O-level or GCSE, or perhaps A-level. We read newspaper articles together. As far as the grammar is concerned we'll revise the present tense, and masculine and feminine, singular and plural, and then look at the past and possibly future tenses in detail.

Intermediate German

This is aimed at people who have studied perhaps at GCSE or A-level or spent some time in a German speaking country. This group has been with me for a while and made excellent progress. Do not feel you have to be able to do this by yourself. As far as the grammar is concerned we'll look at singular and plural, masculine, feminine and neuter, and the present tense, and some past tenses, the future and the conditional and the different cases.

Intermediate Italian

This class is a roughly GCSE level. Students who speak other Latin languages or have studied them to A-level or degree level could join too. We will be chatting about subjects like shopping, spare time interests, and holidays in some depth. As far as the grammar is concerned we'll revise the present tense, and masculine and feminine, singular and plural, and then look at the past and possibly future tenses in detail.

Intermediate Spanish

Dr Jeremy Campbell

This is for people who have done some before, perhaps up to GCSE level and or lived in a Spanish speaking country. Often people have studied for a year or more in my classes. We'll aim to cover the following subjects: we'll learn how to say who you are, where you live, what your job is, and talk about your family. We'll look at how to buy clothes in a shop, book into a hotel, get out of an airport, and how to order food in a restaurant. As far as the grammar is concerned we'll look at singular and plural, masculine, feminine and neuter, and the present tense, and some past tenses, and possibly the future and conditional.

As a student, I worked in a supermarket which was more about packing than pay.

My career started as an equine vet in New Zealand and my patients have got progressively smaller since. I would like to say the pay now is inversely proportional to my patient’s size but sadly this is not the case.

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

It’s tempting to say making having a feline friend mandatory so, in these times of political turmoil, we could all keep calm and clutch our cats! But, having started my own business and seen the challenges, red tape and lack of actual ‘on-the-ground’ help available to small business and start-ups, it would be a top priority to enable these in tangible ways to support, rather than stifle, growth.

Q3 What is the biggest challenge in your business?

Maintaining the consistent levels of exceptional customer service as we grow and get busier. It’s easy to forget what sets you apart when you are under pressure, so keeping an open channel of honest communication with the team is key.

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

The Mayor of London but if this isn’t up for grabs, a pilot or supermodel.

Q5 What's your favourite London building?

Although I have no interest in being PM, the Houses of Parliament are my favourite and the view of Westminster as you come over the river always reminds me how happy I am to live in London.

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 Successfully helping Southwark Businesses for 95 Years

Our Committee Chairman Les Johnson

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)

Vice President Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC MP (MP for Camberwell and Peckham)

Patron The Worshipful Mayor of Southwark Patron Sir Simon Hughes (Former MP)

Membership Application • Sole trader

£100 per annum

• Large companies - 51 employees plus

£300 per annum

• 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 Company:

Address:

Post Code:

Council and Community Representative Councillor Stephanie Cryan

Telephone:

Executive Members

Number of Employees: Full Name:

(Cabinet Member for Jobs, Business and Innovation)

Vice Chair Peter Mantell Vice Chair Richard Kalmar Honorary Membership Secretary Ken Hayes Honorary Treasurer Karon Cook Executive Member Shade Abdul Executive Member Emily Bentley-Leek Executive Member Edward Cree Executive Member Katharine Glass / Craig Levick Executive Member William Harwood Executive Member Susan Isaacs Executive Member Parminder Kanda Executive Member James Kislingbury Executive Member Sarah Moore-Williams Executive Member Vanessa Packham Executive Member Cait Wilkinson Administrator Sonia Sutton

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Email:

Position:

Payment Details: BANK DETAILS: SORT CODE:

Handelsbanken 40-51-62 ACCOUNT NO:

76489843

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

Invite you to join us at our

River Thames Boat Party esday Enjoy spectacular river

July 201 , dinner and dancing

Grow your business network & meet new friends.

Tickets: ÂŁ60.00* per head (members) ÂŁ65.00* per head (non-members) *Includes buffet.

Attire: Smart Casual Book now!

Email:admin@southwarkcommerce.com Call: 07477 581977 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/southwark-chamber-of-commerce-networking-boat-trip

Boarding: 1 .00 - 1 .15 hrs at Festival Pier Sailing: 1 .15 - 2 .45 hrs Disembark: 2 .00 hrs at Festival Pier

WANTS A HEALTHY WORKFORCE Flexible membership packages with Everyone Active that suit your company needs, including monthly and annual discounts!

• Free trial days • Range of facilities and activities including state-of-the-art gyms, swimming pools and group exercise classes

• Free access to our online fitness platform with 100’s of workouts, training plans and workout videos • Family members qualify for the same corporate discounts

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

everyoneactive @everyoneactive