Southwark Business Today September 2016

Southwark

BUSINESS TODAY

Issue 10: Autumn 2016

Bankside keeps up a long and lively tradition - page 16 • Brexit - Opportunity beckons in the new economic landscape • Trading with the United Emirates • The importance of Education

page 4 page 10 page 30

Welcome to

Welcome

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Contents

The Southwark Chamber of Commerce magazine for all Businesses in Southwark House of Commons. It may be the last for some year, since they intend to close if for a £6 billion refurbishment, due to take 6 years, plus a trip along Southwark’s burgeoning artisan brewers in the Bermondsey Mile.

We have been running a feature on women in business for the last two years.

From next issue, reflecting the rich ethnic mix of our community, and in support of this diversity we will cover BAME (black Asian and minority ethinc) businesses.

To launch this we propose a meeting at 805, a West Indian/African restaurant in the Old Kent Road.

It seems a long time ago, pre Brexit era, that I wrote the last welcome, but it is only the other side of summer and the short term dust is yet to settle, I hope by the time I write the next welcome the future will be clearer. A couple of points that I am clear on is that we have not immediately fallen off a cliff,(my own company’s current strapline is KEEP KALMARs AND CARRY ON), the second is the Chamber of Commerce’s role supporting businesses in Southwark is more important than ever.

We had an another successful Thames Cruise with 135 people attending, networking and, revelling on board on afterwards, thankfully the rain held off again, just! Future events include a talk on Mayflower 2020, (including dinner in the Mayflower pub). This is to celebrate the 400th anniversary, of the sailing from Rotherhithe, on to found modern day America. Southwark council Cabinet Member for business Johnson Situ has kindly agreed to discuss the opportunities this presents for Southwark companies, and Veronica Alden to discuss the history.

We have our annual winter trip to the

Two new committee members Peter Hadfield, from Southbank University, and Susan Rich, a private language tutor, have taken over supporting education and have opened a positive dialogue with Southwark Council Education and Business Alliance. Should any of our readers be interested in mentoring, taking on apprenticeships or their SEED programme, (whereby the Council will pay half a new employees’ salary for a year) you should contact Lulzim Osmani at Southwark Council.

Thanks to Better Bankside and Team London Bridge for agreeing to organize a meeting of the 15 or so business groups that exist in Southwark, all too often without talking to each other, sharing best practice and combing strengths of meetings where appropriate etc.

For anyone reading this that is not a chamber member, or knows others that might be interested, I urge joining, not only to help your company benefit, but also to help Southwark businesses and prosperity throughout the borough.

Richard Kalmar

Chairman Southwark Chamber of Commerce

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4 5-6 7 8 10 12-13 15 16-21 23 24 25 26 28-31 32 33 34 Enquiries

Brexit Up Front Education Matters Up Front International Trade Women in Business Up Close Spotlight on Bankside Voice from Westminster Remembering when....

Cage Rattlers Finance for Business Education and Training Chamber events Last Word Chamber membership

Southwark Chamber of Commerce Southbank Technopark 90 London Road, London SE1 6LN 020 7403 9922 Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com Web: www.SouthwarkCommerce.com

Editor

John Dean Email: deangriss@btinternet.com

Publisher

Benham Publishing Limited 3tc House, 16 Crosby Road North, Crosby, Liverpool L22 0NY Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com

Published

September 2016 © Benham Publishing

Advertising and Features

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

Studio

Mark Etherington Email: mark@benhampublishing.com Media No.1473

Disclaimer

Southwark Business Today is published for Southwark Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members businesses in the Borough.

All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Southwark 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. © 2016.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published

in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility 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.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Brexit

Opportunity beckons in the new economic landscape after that vote These are uncertain times following the EU Referendum vote in June but that does not mean that business should grind to a halt.

For a start, what has become clear since June 23 is that the departure from the European Union will not happen immediately and that means many business ventures under consideration before the referendum vote will be able to continue in this new climate.

Also, many see new opportunities in the trade deals which the UK will be drawing up with European nations and countries elsewhere in the world.

Export is very much seen as key to helping the economy to thrive. So the message from business leaders is ‘keep calm and carry on’. However, it is difficult not to be concerned in the face of conflicting recent statistics, some of which have suggested that business optimism remains higher than might be expected, others of which raise the spectre of another recession, albeit less severe than 2008.

One of the reports which highlighted the confusion came from the CBI which showed that the UK’s small and medium sized (SME) manufacturers saw a rise in the volume of output in the three months to July, but that business optimism fell sharply amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Brexit vote. According to the CBI Quarterly SME trends survey, the survey of 472 firms reported that new orders and new domestic orders were relatively unchanged, although firms expected these to fallover the next three months, highlighting the need for action to raise confidence.

Whilst the UK’s SME manufacturers reported higher production, more staff hired and now expect to sell more of their world-class goods overseas over the next quarter, with a weaker sterling having a hand in this overall they do feel less optimistic and are scaling back some investment plans in machinery and plant.

Naturally, much of the concern is related to uncertainty and business wants to now see the new Government deliver a clear plan and timetable for the EU negotiations ahead, while cracking on with immediate domestic priorities, including a decision on new aviation capacity in the South East, which will help the UK’s SME manufacturers to reach new markets in the future.

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Key findings for the three months to July:

• 8% of small & medium sized enterprise (SME) manufacturers said they were more optimistic, while 53% said they were less optimistic, giving a rounded balance of -44% - the sharpest fall in optimism since January 2009 (-71%)

• 27% said their volume of output was up, and 20% said it was down, giving a rounded balance of +6%. Companies expect output to be flat in the next quarter (+1%)

• 26% said their domestic orders were up, while 24% said they were down, giving a balance of +2%. Firms domestic orders to fall next quarter (-10%)

• 15% said export orders rose over the past three months, 23% said they fell, leaving a balance of -8%, but firms anticipate export orders to grow over the next three months (+9%).

• Firms were a little more optimistic about their exports prospects for the year ahead (+4%)

• The proportion of SME manufacturers citing concerns about political and economic conditions abroad as likely to limit export orders were at a survey record high (49%)

The Bank of England remains concerned, leading to its recent cut to record levels of interest rates and the announcement of further measures to stimulate growth.

Bank experts have forecast UK GDP growth for 2016 at 2.0%, unchanged from May's report, but growth was downgraded from 2.3% to 0.8% for 2017, and from 2.3% to 1.8% for 2018. Suren Thiru, Head of Economics at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "While the scale of the downgrade mostly reflects the greater political and economic uncertainty in the wake of the Brexit vote, it is significant that this is the fourth successive inflation report in which the bank's expectations for UK growth have

been weakened - confirming that the UK's economic outlook was softening long before the outcome of the EU referendum was known.”

Francis Martin, President of the British Chambers of Commerce, sees some cause for optimism. He said: “We have seen first-hand that the ‘business’ view is not monolithic. Many of our members are taking stock and making the best of the decision to leave the EU, seeking the opportunities on offer as well as considering the challenges. We are supportive of the (Government’s) proposed Industrial Strategy, but it needs to have a broad-based focus that encourages a partnership between business and government, focusing on areas such as the large skills gap in our workforce and infrastructure projects, that benefit every business. The Government must, in particular, address the longstanding underinvestment in the UK's infrastructure.

This means action on transport, broadband, and energy generation, which is absolutely vital in driving longterm growth.” London, that bellwether of economic health for the country has recorded a mixed initial reaction to the Brexit vote but investment and hiring intentions remain relatively robust amongst many of the capital’s firms, according to new analysis by the CBI and CBRE. More than two fifths (41%) of the 186 firms surveyed after the referendum vote said that they planned to maintain their investment plans, with one in ten (9%) planning on actually increasing their plans.

16% said they will freeze investment plans, whilst a fifth (21%) think they will reduce them. Half of businesses (50%) plan to continue to hire after the Referendum, with less than a third (29%) not planning to do so. 12% plan on reducing staff numbers.

Adam J. Hetherington, Managing Director – London, CBRE UK, said: “Despite the widespread fear that a leave vote would send shockwaves through London businesses, these results show the capital city is resilient and already planning the best way of ensuring it thrives in the new climate.”

Up Front

New Chamber Member needs your support to look after Southwark’s older generation

Link Age Southwark has been providing friendly volunteer support to older people across Southwark for more than 20 years.

All donations received make a huge difference to the lives of older people in Southwark. A regular gift can give the security needed to provide a consistent service and enable the team to plan for the future.

For more information about how you can donate to support Link Age Southwark’s work, please visit www.linkagesouthwark.org/ support or email info@linkagesouthwark.org

How your business could benefit

They currently have over 300 fantastic volunteers and work with more than 500 older people. The charity helps combat isolation and loneliness and bring cheer to people’s lives, improving their health and wellbeing.

Link Age Southwark provide one-to-one befriending, run 22 activity groups across the Borough, provide practical support including light gardening or helping with small odd jobs in the home, provide volunteer transport and organise intergenerational work with local schools. They have specialist services for people with mildmoderate dementia.

The services are free to people in Southwark aged 60+ and are ever-popular. Volunteers and donations are always needed to bring cheer and improve the lives of older people in our neighbourhood.

Why your support is needed?

More than 9,000 Southwark residents over the age of 65 live alone, many without friends or family nearby. In fact, it’s not unusual for people to go for days without speaking to another person.

Link Age Southwark is a vibrant local charity that provides friendly volunteer support to combat loneliness and isolation.

They bring members of our community together, improve

older people’s quality of life and create a stronger, happier and healthier society.

They do this by: • Recruiting and supporting volunteers to befriend older people and provide practical support to them, including light gardening, driving, escorted shopping and odd jobs.

• Organising group activities including reminiscence, yoga, bridge and work with local schools allowing skills to be shared across the generations.

• Offering specific support for people with a recent diagnosis of dementia.

Last year, the Link Age Southwark team of 388 dedicated volunteers supported 565 older people.

None of this would be possible without the generous donations we receive from Friends, Patrons and supporters in the community.

How you can help

Any gift you donate will allow us to continue to develop our important work helping older people maintain active lives within the local community.

You can: • Make a one-off donation • Become a Friend of Link Age Southwark by making a regular monthly, quarterly or annual donation of any size • Become a Patron of Link Age Southwark by making an annual donation worth £500 • Consider leaving us a gift in your will

Your support of Link Age Southwark and their volunteering opportunities can be good for your business. The benefits of encouraging staff to participate

in volunteer programmes are well recognised. These include team building; attracting and retaining top people to work in the business; boosting public image; and ultimately improving the bottom line.

Link Age Southwark would be delighted to discuss the possibilities with businesses in Southwark on what kind of volunteering programme or opportunities could be developed to support your aims.

These could include organising and sponsoring an event, or giving your staff a little time to explore opportunities that they could take up outside work.

If you would like to explore such opportunities, please contact Gemma Juma, Director, Link Age Southwark on 020 8299 2623 or gemma@linkagesouthwark.org Twitter #laswark

Friendly Support for Older People in Southwark Link Age Southwark is a vibrant local charity that provides friendly volunteer support to combat

To find out more about our services, to volunteer or donate please get in touch.

We bring members of our community

Link Age Southwark Dulwich Community Hospital, East Dulwich Grove, London SE22 8PT

together, improve older people’s

Tel 020 8299 2623

loneliness and isolation.

quality of life and create a stronger,

Email info@linkagesouthwark.org

happier and healthier society.

www.linkagesouthwark.org

Charity No 1109523 Company No 05189161

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Up Front

Mayor calls for employers Seeing the benefits of a to close gender pay gap living wage Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called on employers to The benefits of a real living wage are understood by businesses and employees but wider implementation requires a genuine dialogue between policymakers and business, a report has found.

The report from Southwark Council, which summarises the findings from a Living Wage Symposium held in the House of Commons in March, considers the advantages of a real living wage for employers and employees and some of the barriers to introducing it.

Taking part was a panel of experts including Jessica Studdert of the New Local Government Network, Sarah Vero from the Living Wage Foundation, and Anne Golden from Morgan’s Hotel Group, and the discussion was chaired

by Professor Peter Fleming, Professor of Business and Society at City University.

The key findings were: • There are genuine benefits for employers who pay a real living wage, including improved quality of work from employees, positive customer perceptions, lower absenteeism and a better quality of candidates for jobs • Businesses have moved on from simply seeing cost as a barrier and are now looking for ways to pay a living wage • In London, businesses recognise that if they don’t pay a living wage, there will be a dwindling pool of employees who can afford to live in the Capital • A living wage may not improve lives on its own – changes to housing and benefits policy need to go hand in hand with a fair wage if lives are to improve • Councils can encourage businesses by celebrating good practice, and promoting the benefits of a real living wage.

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close the pay gap for women as he launched a plan for pay equality across the Greater London Authority and its associated bodies.

The Mayor has urged Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade to publish their own plans.

His own proposals to increase female representation at senior

levels at City Hall include increasing part-time and flexible-working options and aiding career progression.

City Hall is offering mentoring, career-support programmes and sponsorship for qualifications, training

managers to ensure that the recruitment process is fair and piloting ‘no name’ application forms.

Sadiq said: “There is an unacceptable pay gap between men and women at City Hall caused by not having enough women in senior roles. I am determined to address this.“It is unacceptable that in London, one of the world’s greatest and most progressive cities, someone’s pay and career prospects can still be defined by their gender.”

A recent audit revealed that women employed at City Hall on full-time contracts were paid an average of £21.40 per hour, while male counterparts earned £22.44, a pay gap of 4.6 per cent. The pay gap for all full-time London workers is 11.9 per cent.

Charities benefit from initiative

News Corp’s Giving philanthropic initiative has donated £100,000 to three more UK charities, as voted for by employees at Dow Jones, HarperCollins UK and News UK. The Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity was awarded £50,000, enabling it to support 50 seriously ill children.

Walking With The Wounded received £25,000 to re-educate and retrain wounded servicemen and women, helping them to gain independence through careers outside the military.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Solace Women’s Aid, a charity that provides life-saving support to more than 10,000 women and children survivors of domestic and sexual violence a year, was awarded £25,000.

The winners were chosen from a shortlist of seven charitable organisations.

More than 1,000 votes

were cast by employees from the three companies, including those at News Corp UK’s London Bridge headquarters.

Now in its second year, the initiative opens up opportunities for employees to involve themselves in volunteering and fundraising.

Education Matters

Why the world’s best leaders do less How a devastating burnout taught a self-confessed workaholic how to achieve more by doing less.

For many, being a successful leader means working every hour god sends and putting family life, personal health and happiness to one side.

‘It will be worth it in the end’, right?

In reality, this personal cost is rarely justified and doesn’t make people better leaders, just inefficient and stressed

ones. Wellbeing in all aspects of our life should be the path to true success.

Now a new book, Stop Doing, Start Leading, explains how the key to effective leadership actually centres on improving the self in order to become an inspiring figurehead, and reveals how by focusing on personal empowerment you can enable those around you to also succeed.

The author, Sue Coyne, is a former business leader and a renowned leadership coach.

A self-confessed workaholic, she understands only too well the dangers of burnout having put herself and her family to one side in the pursuit of her career.

It took cancer and a consequent near-death experience during chemotherapy to make Sue take-stock of her situation and now, as a result, she is on a

quest to enable others to lead effectively without facing the mental, physical and personal costs she experienced.

Whether you are a leader in the making, a manager who has been promoted to a leadership position or an expert thrown in at the deep end, Stop Doing, Start Leading will help you to understand how to delegate, inspire and lead others. It provides practical advice that will enable you to grow in confidence as a leader, create conditions and energy that allow others to thrive and achieve fulfilment in your own career and personal life, something that will benefit everyone around you – at work and at home.

Stop Doing, Start Leading is available on Amazon, priced £15.99.

We have one copy of Stop Doing, Start Leading up for grabs.

To be in with a chance to get this copy, simply email Karen@benhampublishing.com with your name and address by 28th October 2016.

The winner will be chosen at random and notified by email.

French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese Classes Autumn 2016 Classes held near London Bridge and the Barbican

A series of language courses will be running from the end of September for ten weeks.

The cost is £150 for returning students and £180 for new students.

The Tuesday classes will be held at Silk Street near Barbican and the Thursday classes 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 Portuguese, subject to demand. Students come from City firms and hospitals including Norton Rose Fulbright, Linklaters, HSBC, Linklaters, The Sunday Times, Harper Collins, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Guys Hospital, the GLA and the Bank of England. www.languages2000.co.uk Contact susanelizabethisaacs@icloud.com To join the mailing list click on http://eepurl.com/bev4c9

How to help children stay safe on-line With an ever-changing internet, it is important that parents are engaged and informed to ensure that their children can get the most out of it, safely, says Matthew Llewellin, Digital Strategy Leader at Sydenham High School GDST.

Being able to keep up to date with your children’s use of technology can be a challenge.

Moreover, they will need advice and protection when it comes to managing their lives online and using social media - and the internet as a whole - positively and safely.

Children need to understand the impact that their online activity and the digital footprint they create can have on both themselves and other people. It is not only about the now, as the permanence of their digital lives can have a long term impact on their online reputation, well-being and future career prospects.

It’s easy to feel anonymous online, so it’s important that children are aware of who is able to view, and potentially share, the information that they post.

Personal information must be kept safe. Privacy settings on devices and within browsers and apps allow for greater control of what information is shared and what is protected. They must be comfortable in the knowledge that there is an understanding adult that they can turn to if something online has worried or upset them.

There are real advantages in maintaining an open dialogue with your child about their internet use. Here are some simple steps to follow:• Ask them to talk to you about their time online, who they’re talking to, what services they are using, and any issues that they may be experiencing.

There are some excellent resources from the Safer Internet Centre (SIC) and ChildNet to help structure these

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discussions and provide further information.

Create a family agreement to establish your children’s boundaries, and your expectations, when on the internet.

Give your child strategies to deal with any online content that they are not comfortable with – such as turning off the screen, telling an adult they trust and using online reporting facilities.

Consider using filtering software to block unwanted content. In addition to filtering, remember that discussion with your child, and involvement in their internet use, are both effective ways to educate them about the internet.

Encourage your children to ‘think before you post.’ Online actions may impact not only

their lives but the lives of others too. Content posted privately online can be publicly shared by others, and may remain online forever. Some online behaviour may break the law, for example when comments online threaten or incite hatred.

• Familiarise yourself with the privacy settings and reporting features available on popular sites and services.

• Get to know the meaning of age ratings for games and apps, which can help to indicate the level and suitability of the content. Also see if online reviews are available from other parents as these may be helpful.

• Model how to protect personal information, creating strong passwords for every account.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Up Front

Support grows for Lido campaign

Boat yard plans undergo changes Southwark Council has revised plans for the regeneration of the South Dock Marina boat yard in Rotherhithe.

Southwark Council has pledged £10,000 to help local campaigners bring a lido back to Peckham Rye.

The Peckham Lido, to the north of Peckham Rye, fell into disrepair in the 1980s and was largely demolished.

However, a new community-driven campaign has plans to bring the lido back to life with a 50m swimming pool, open air cinema, restaurant and gym.

The Mayor of London has also contributed £7,500 to the Peckham Lido campaign.

Chance to shape future of famous road Proposals to change the face of one of London’s most famous thoroughfares have gone out for public consultation.

Southwark Council has been seeking views on the regeneration of the Old Kent Road.

The council has put forward a draft area action plan with potential for 20,000 new homes, 5,000 additional jobs, new schools, new parks, and two new underground stations for the extended Bakerloo line.

The plans also identifies significant improvements to Old Kent Road itself, including transforming it into a green boulevard with better provision for buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

To become involved, visit the council’s website at www.southwark.gov.uk and click the link for the consultation documents or for the new Dialogue service where you can join in the online conversations.

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The council has been working with Adam Khan Architects to create a new scheme for affordable homes and new facilities for the boat yard.

The scheme would also include a new public park and retail and workspace alongside the marina.

Now, after listening to concerns raised by local people including the height and density of some buildings, the original proposals are being revised and new designs will be presented to the public during the week commencing Monday 12 September.

The new plans will address the issues around the height and massing of the blocks to tackle density and light concerns and offer improved access.

The boatyard is a key partner in the development and has been fully involved in the design process.

It will be given modern new facilities as a part of the development, which includes five undercover workshops and 18 business units that will provide engineering and maintenance services for the boating industry in London.

Patrick Keating, the boatyard’s harbourmaster, said: “The South Dock marina boatyard will remain a crucial facility for all small craft activities on the river, both leisure and commercial.

“The new development will allow the boatyard to offer state-of-the-art facilities and enable the creation of a fully serviced marine hub serving the tidal Thames and London’s canal systems.

“The development will increase employment and training opportunities in the local area and allow further development of commercial business on the river."

Following the revisions, a public consultation will take place during the week commencing Monday 12 September, giving people the opportunity to see the revised proposals and speak to councillors.

Following this, a further exhibition in October will provide greater details on the design details for the project prior to the council making its planning submission.

Street for creatives is launched Hotel Elephant and Southwark Council have launched Spare Street, a new street dedicated to creative enterprise.

Spare Street is a new street at the Elephant and Castle that is now home to 8,750sqft of workspace and a public space across five railways arches.

Hotel Elephant will create workspace for between 80 and 100 emerging artists and creative entrepreneurs including recent graduates, local micro businesses and growing creative businesses.

Spare Street has been named

by Hotel Elephant after the artist Austin Osman Spare,

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

who lived, worked and exhibited in the area from the early 1900s until his death in 1956.

Hotel Elephant has secured funding for the project from Mayor of London through the London Regeneration Fund and from Southwark Council’s Arts and Culture Grant fund.

The move is the first phase of proposals to refurbish a series of under-used railway arches.

Loosely based on the famous 'High Line' project in New York, the aim of the council is

to work with Network Rail to create a new pedestrian route down from the more tourist spots in Borough and Bankside into the heart of the borough, following the line of railway arches.

Reuben Powell, director of Hotel Elephant, said: “Our mission is to establish Spare Street as a destination which celebrates and encourages Creative Enterprise and Artistic production in Southwark.”

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P R O U D T O B E A M E M B E R O F T H E S O U T H WA R K C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E F O R O V E R 2 0 Y E A R S

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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International

Trading with the United Arab Emirates

By Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, Director Trade Services, Arab British Chamber of Commerce

Approximately 5,000 British companies operate in the UAE while around 120,000 British nationals are resident and working in the country as well as the nearly one million Britons who visit the UAE each year.

Both sides are fully committed to strengthen commercial and customs cooperation in a bid to drive forward growth in bilateral trade. The UAE and the UK are aiming to double bilateral trade to a value of £25 billion by the year 2020.

The UAE is Britain’s largest market in the Middle East and its 12th biggest export market

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globally, with bilateral trade standing at £12.95 billion in 2014. Recognised as a global hub for trade between East and West, the UAE is a regional transit for goods with around 50% of British exports going on to be re-exported to regional markets.

The UAE and especially Dubai is renowned as a high end leisure destination with numerous facilities that attract

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

visitors from all over the world.

The growth in the tourism, leisure, hotel and hospitality markets show little sign of diminishing in coming years and continue to offer opportunities to investors and suppliers.

Mega events such as the Dubai Expo 2020 are driving further expansion in this market. “Dubai is likely to witness an addition of nearly

57,000 rooms in hotel and serviced apartments in the five years to 2020,” according to a forecast by investment bank Alpen Capital in its GCC Hospitality Industry Report.

While the well-established Dubai and Abu Dhabi markets remain dominant in the UAE, there is increased focus on the smaller emirates such as Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) both of which have been

International

Advice for Exporters to the UAE The UK’s Department of Trade provides free international export sales leads and various other services to assist exporters to the UAE. Details of the key Embassy personnel at the UK offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/world/organi sations/uk-trade-investment-unitedarab-emirates

“While the well-established Dubai and Abu Dhabi markets remain dominant in the UAE, there is increased focus on the smaller emirates such as Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) both of which have been making determined efforts to raise awareness among UK investors of the opportunities available in their respective emerging markets.” making determined efforts to raise awareness among UK investors of the opportunities available in their respective emerging markets.

Sharjah’s Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) has recently stepped up its trade and investment promotion in the UK by opening a permanent office in London. Last year the authority concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the Arab British Chamber of Commerce to promote and facilitate greater investment and development cooperation between Sharjah and the UK.

Shurooq has identified key sectors where it is seeking to attract investors and form business partnerships, such as tourism, transport and

logistics, healthcare and renewable energy. An attractive package of incentives is now available to persuade investors of the benefits of choosing Sharjah as a business location.

In addition, a portfolio of construction projects in Sharjah has been unveiled

by Shurooq. Further information about the advantages of doing business in Sharjah can be obtained by visiting the Shurooq website: www.shurooq.gov.ae/ business-opportunities/ project-portfolio/ Ras Al Khaimah, whose meaning in Arabic is 'head of the tent', is the northernmost emirate covering 1,684 kms2 and with a population of 345,000 (2015). Tourism and industry are the emirate’s key sectors.

It boasts one of the MENA region’s fastest growing economies, with a yearly average growth rate of 8.8%.

RAK is now playing a crucial role in the growth of the UAE’s industrial activity.

The emirate enjoys some of the most successful free zone operations in the region and MENA's largest bulk handling port at Saqr Port. This serves the local quarrying industry that supplies much of the materials for the Gulf's construction boom.

Investment authority RAKIA can provide assistance to companies seeking entry into the Ras Al Khaimah market. For further information on how RAKIA can help see: www.rakia.ae

Travel Advice

The FCO advises travellers to the UAE to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance prior to flying out.

A passport will be stamped with a 30-days visit visa free of charge at the airport on arrival. No advance visa arrangements are required for British passport holders.

The regularly updated FCO travel advice can be found here: www.gov.uk/foreign-traveladvice/united-arab-emirates

Arab British Chamber of Commerce

The ABCC can help UK companies to gain a foothold in the market and assist exporters through its trade documentation services. The ABCC is a membership organisation. More about the Chamber’s services can be found here: www.abcc.org.uk/#

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Women in Business

Successful Business Women in Southwark Education has never been more important as Britain seeks to train the next generation of workers. We talked to three women at the heart of some exciting educational initiatives.

Training the next generation

Yolanda Houston Enhanced Education Limited “This year has seen a new brand called Teach Me added to Enhanced Education’s portfolio.”

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Everyone should get an Enhanced Education When Yolanda Houston founded Enhanced Education Limited, even she could not have foreseen the expansion of services that was to follow.

The business now offers everything from educational consultancy to arts and crafts courses for adults and children.

For nearly ten years, Yolanda was the Business Manager then Business Director for the Southwark Headteachers Council, a body made up from every school in Southwark.

Working under the auspices of the Headteachers Council Executive, she organised conferences, continuing professional development and Inset days.

Under the Enhanced Education Limited banner, she delivers consultancy to schools in Southwark and East Sussex with projects as

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

diverse as managing premises and facilities projects, clerking for the Southwark Association of Secondary Headteachers, mentoring school business managers and helping them through National College qualifications, organising and publishing school journals and participating in volunteering groups within schools.

This year has seen a new brand called Teach Me added to Enhanced Education’s portfolio. Teach Me aims to deliver first-class extracurricular teaching to adults, children and families in a broad variety of arts and creativity. Teach Me has already become an acknowledged “Learning Destination” for the Children’s University.

The Children’s University is an international criticallyacclaimed charity which encourages all children aged 5 to 14 years to try new experiences, develop new

interests and acquire new skills through participation in innovative and creative learning activities outside of the school day.

Finally, Yolanda has developed a special relationship with Three Elements, a company that places volunteers from corporations, into projects to benefit various public and charitable causes. In a recent project, she tutored a group of more than 200 people in a mosaics project at Ethelred Estate near the Oval cricket ground. All proceeds from the day were donated to Kings College Children’s Liver Unit.

Yolanda said: “I grew up and went to school in Southwark and working with the local schools, business and charities helps to give something back and encourage everyone to use their talents and abilities – there’s a little bit of creativity in everyone and we can help you find it.”

Women in Business

College open for business

Carole Kitching Principal and CEO Lewisham Southwark College These are exciting times for Lewisham Southwark College as it recovers from tough times and re-establishes itself as an important educational establishment for the area.

After difficult years in which it received two poor Ofsted reports, the college has revamped its curriculum and worked hard to improve its services, always bearing in mind the needs of businesses seeking the next generation of new talent.

Overseeing the evolution is Principal and CEO Carole Kitching, who came to the job in June 2015 after four years at Newcastle on Tyne College, the last two as Principal.

Before that she worked at a college in Scarborough.

Carole, whose great grandmother lived in the Southwark area, said: “When I arrived at the college, it had been through some tough times so the priorities were to improve our curriculum and restore staff morale.

“The college had become almost invisible to local people

and we have undergone a lot of changes since then to make it the college that local young people starting out, or adults seeking to re-train, need it to be.

“We are a vocational college so we do not offer academic qualifications as such and we have worked hard with employers to provide the young people that they need by preparing students for the workplace.

“Companies have been coming in to work with us and we are seeing a lot of improvements in our curriculum, something that Ofsted has recognised.

Although we knew there is more work to do, we are certainly making progress.”

The college operates three campuses across south east London, catering for about 13,600 teenage and adult learners, and the Southwark

Campus has just been dramatically expanded.

Carole said: “The new Southwark Campus is four times as big as before and we have focused on areas that employers tell us are important, including business, digital, finance and science.

“I think more and more young people are looking to apprenticeships rather than university and we seek to cater for the opportunities that are on offer.

“For instance, we are in the heart of London’s theatre-land so we run apprenticeships in performing arts and technical theatre and have apprentices in every London theatre.

“There are benefits for both employers and students – an apprentice earns while they learn and an employer is able to train up someone in the skills that they need.”

The legacy of a Headteacher who led her school to an ‘outstanding’ rating When Kathryn Pullen retires as Headteacher of Sydenham High School GDST at the end of the year, it will be with an immense amount of pride at the achievement of her students and staff.

The independent girls’ school, which this summer achieved a 17.5 per cent increase in A level A and A* grades against the national trend, has been improving steadily over the 26 years that Kathryn has worked there, driven by a determination to produce rounded young women ready for the challenges that lie ahead of them.

Kathryn began her career training as a social worker but found herself inspired by the impact that teachers can have on young lives.

She said: “I saw that teachers could make a real difference because they were the ones giving children the key to achieve things for themselves.

I decided that I wanted to become a teacher.”

Kathryn retrained and, after a few years heading up English and Drama departments in the maintained sector, secured a job at Sydenham High in 1990, as Deputy Head then appointed Headteacher in 2002.

She said: “Sydenham High is about education as well as examination. Excellent qualifications are crucial for the world beyond school.

Equally important is that our students recognise the transferable life skills that underpin their learning.

“We have introduced ways of teaching that broaden the

experience of our students in addition to preparing them for examination success.

“We know that it is not possible to find a job clear of pressure and deadlines and we have worked to prepare our girls through our three Rs – to make them resilient, resourceful and responsible.

“One of my other ambitions was to achieve an ‘outstanding’ rating when we were inspected, something that we achieved the last time the school was inspected.

“I am proud that my legacy is an outstanding school and thrilled at our A Level and GCSE results in the summer.

“This school has been a huge part of my life and I leave with a huge sense of pride at what we have achieved together.”

Kathryn Pullen Headteacher Sydenham High School GDST

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

13

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Up Close

The satisfaction that comes from changing lives Few jobs can produce such satisfaction as that done by Harley Street ophthalmic surgeon Mr C T Pallai, whose work transforms lives on a daily basis.

A Fellow of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and the Royal College of Surgeons, he is founder, Managing Director and Medical Director of Advanced Vision Care (AVC).

Mr Pillai, who has been at the forefront of pioneering eye surgery for twenty five years, has been listed as the number one laser eye surgeon in the UK according to Clinic Compare and was one of the first surgeons in the UK to perform LASIK (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) laser eye surgery on both eyes.

He said: “The work that we do changes lives. People come to us for vision correction work and leave able to live life better.”

Because he lives in Essex, his day begins at 6.30am as he needs to be on the train for 7.30am and he generally reaches the clinic for 8.40am.

He said: “We have a mix of clinic days and surgery days and if it is a surgery day I will first of all meet with the team that is going to be involved in the procedures so that everyone understands what we are going to do. I will have planned the surgery the previous day.

“It is also important to give our patients plenty of time so next I will sit down with them and make sure they understand what is going to happen.

“For the surgery itself, we use local anaesthetic which is not administered by injection these days but rather by eye-drops then carry out the work with the whole process taking twenty minutes to forty minutes.

“Once it has been completed the patient can go home but we always give them a courtesy call later in the day to ensure that they are alright.

“However, the job is not done because they may have queries

in the hours that follow and wish to talk to someone to reassure them so I have two phones, my personal one and the emergency one which patients can ring if they need to.

“The work that we do really does change lives. We are, for example, seeing an increasing amount of young patients booking for surgery who find caring for their contact lenses very inconvenient.

“Alternatively, you might get people who are approaching retirement and do not want to wear glasses any more. Laser correction surgery can give them that freedom and we find that the surgery gives women in particular much more confidence.

“Sometimes it can be much more basic than that. We had an Army veteran come in one

day seeking vision correction for his wife.

“Because he had lost both legs serving in Iraq, his wife had to help him if he needed to get to the toilet in the middle of the night.

“However, she did not want to have to fumble around for glasses or contact lenses so we corrected her vision and it made life a lot easier.”

Whether it is a surgery day, which happens once a week, or a consultation day when he sees patients ahead of procedures, Mr Pillai tends to get home by 8pm but even then his work does not stop.

He said: “I catch up with my admin and emails when I get home then when that is finished about 9pm I can spend the rest of the evening with the family.”

“The work that we do changes lives.

People come to us for vision correction work and leave able to live life better.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

15

Spotlight on ...

Bankside keeps up a long and lively tradition

Great things are happening in Bankside as it cements its place in London as a vibrant cultural centre which brings in large numbers of people to enjoy its attractions.

They may not know it but those people are visiting one of the oldest settlements in Britain, dating back more than 6,000 years.

When the Romans founded Londinium on the north bank of the Thames, a bridge was

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built near the present day London Bridge and the surrounding area has been inhabited ever since.

The main entertainments that drew crowds to Bankside initially were the 'stewhouses' (brothels), animal-baiting pits and public theatres.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

The Rose, the Swan, the Globe and the Hope were the four Bankside playhouses of the Tudor era and some of the first ever in London. Some of England's greatest writers and players, including William Shakespeare, lived and worked in the area.

During the late 18th Century Bankside developed into an industrial environment, with docks, warehouses and wharves and is now enjoying a renaissance as one of the capital's prime visitor destinations.

Spotlight on ...

Factfile

How Tate Modern plays its part in the Bankside renaissance Donald Hyslop, Head of Regeneration at the Tate Modern and chairman of London BID Better Bankside.

The foundations for the regeneration of Bankside were laid in the late nineties.

A number of Bankside based businesses recognised the importance of harnessing the impetus from the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe in 1997 and the opening of Tate Modern in 2000. This cultural and urban regeneration on the south side of the river sparked discussion regarding a neighbourhood strategy with the primary aim of shaping the course of the physical, social and economic development of the area. It is from this that Better Bankside was born.

The Better Bankside Business Improvement District (BID) was the third BID to be established in the UK and is now made up

of 620+ companies in the area.

It is no coincidence that Tate Modern and Better Bankside are of the same vintage, both institutions have been in collaboration for over a decade.

Tate were amongst the first directors of the Better Bankside BID and alongside my role as Head of Regeneration and Community, I have chaired the BID since its first ballot success in 2004.

My role at Tate is to ensure that we play a role in wider society and the life of the city.

This involves working and engaging with the residential and business communities that surround the gallery. The Better Bankside BID provides an open and efficient vehicle for this, where local business representatives form the

Executive and have an active say in which direction neighbourhood regeneration will go.

The considerable success of Tate and the surrounding Bankside area has presented its own challenges. With more visitors to the area, there are increased pressures on the public realm. The first weekend after Tate Modern's Switch House opening saw the BID’s foot fall cameras recording an increase of over 20,000 visitors (26% uplift) on Saturday and almost 17,000 visitors (34% uplift) on Sunday when compared with the previous weekend. Tate Modern itself welcomed a total of over 140,000 visitors.

It’s here that the importance of the relationship between Tate

• It is estimated that 6m visitors a year will visit Tate Modern.

• 25 million people now shop or visit Borough Market annually.

• 60,000 people now work in Bankside compared to 6,000 in 2000. Major companies include Time Inc, Omnicom, Allies and Morrison.

• The area between Tower Bridge to the London Eye and south to Elephant and Castle contains 22 not for profit Cultural Organisations working closely with four BIDs. The South Bank and Bankside Cultural Quarter is the largest of its type in the world.

• Additional information on Bankside Urban Forest www.betterbankside.co.uk/buf • Example of completed Better Bankside and Tate Modern project to improve the public realm in Bankside www.betterbankside.co.uk/buf/ sumner-street-transformation • First commission for Avenue of Art, a Bankside Urban Forest Project www.betterbankside.co.uk/buf/ colourful-crossings-putspotlight-on-southwark-street

and Better Bankside is further highlighted. Since its opening Tate has always attracted more (five million) people than projected (two million).

The riverside can become crowded, and working with Better Bankside, Tate has played an important role in encouraging social and economic activity to flow southwards.

Better Bankside has a range of projects in place to promote and support directing footfall towards the heart of the neighbourhood including the Avenue of Art, a long term initiative to transform public spaces along Southwark Street through working with artists and creative businesses.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Spotlight on ...

Seeking a Better Bankside Peter Williams CEO of London BID Better Bankside “The Bankside area has seen impressive amounts of investment and can now arguably be described as the cultural capital of London.

“Tate has invested heavily in the Switch House, Shakespeare’s Globe opened the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse and Borough Market hosts regular cultural events. The regeneration of these globally renowned landmarks is key in stimulating the further

The changing face of Southwark

London is a rapidly changing place. No Borough typifies this more than Southwark, to which we have recently relocated our London office.

Whether Bankside, or the Old Kent Road, Canada Water or Elephant and Castle, wherever you look, Southwark is undergoing an accelerated process of change, providing both opportunities and challenges to developers, politicians and local residents alike.

The decision to move our London office to Southwark was an easy one – the dynamism and diversity of the place, combined with the vibrancy of the business community makes the Borough one of the best to do business in. The work of the Chamber of Commerce is testament to that and we are delighted to have recently joined such a lively and important institution.

Bringing forward a planning application in the Southwark? Need help understanding the local political and community dynamics? Need support with a project elsewhere in London?

Feel free to contact us for a confidential discussion about the communications support you might need. We would be happy to help.

For more information telephone 0203 1764 161 or visit www.snapdragonconsulting.co.uk

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regeneration and development of the wider area.

“Alongside supporting these regeneration projects, the Better Bankside BID invests in the social and physical fabric of the area, incrementally transforming an area of warehousing and light industry into the mixed neighbourhood where people choose to live, work and visit.

“In 2014, the approximately 620 businesses in the area voted to extend the BID for its

third five-year term, backing our plan which will see £2 million per annum spent on our programme that ranges from improvements to the streetscape and measures to tackle congestion and air pollution.

“Through our relationship with Southwark Council, major landowners and other stakeholders such as Transport for London and Network Rail, Better Bankside is able to make considerable change to the fabric of the area.”

Whole Market Free Financial Advice

At Aurora we offer the full range of Independent Financial Advice and are directly regulated by the FCA.

This allows us the autonomy to decide exactly who we use and how we give this “Whole of Market” advice, however we have tended to specialise in Employee Benefits over the last 5 years.

This mainly revolves around Directors schemes with corporate extraction (How to get money out of your company tax efficiently) and Auto-enrolment with additional plans for the employees. On a day to day basis we look after those employees Pensions and health care whilst also providing a discount on our rates to those members for any personal financial issues needed.

With Aurora, over 80% of our staff have over 15 years’ experience providing advice and so we have a plethora of knowledge to share and no day or problem ever seems identical.

Most of our current commitments revolve around Workplace Pensions as the deadline for many businesses auto-enrolment schemes are looming. Our Borough office either develops fully packages to take the burden off of businesses or we train businesses how to run their own schemes.

There are many issues and solutions that we can provide assistance with including communications strategy and simply just helping with the

administration. If you don't know where to start and need some guidance, don't hesitate to get in touch.

We provide several very affordable packages to ensure that you have the right options available for you.

Get in touch now and arrange to have a FREE 30 minute consultation with an adviser.

This is a no-obligation meeting where we can identify your situation and ascertain the right way to proceed providing a full quotation once we know what your specific business needs are.

Office: 020 3713 7600 www.aurorafinancial.co.uk

Old Vic preview tickets released shortly Be among the first to know about future PwC £10 Previews ticket releases, including King Lear.

At least half the seats in our auditorium are £10 for the first five previews of every show.

Ticket are released 5 weeks before the first preview and announced first to our PwC

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

£10 Previews mailing list.

Seats are spread across the full auditorium and are bought on a first come, first served basis.

Sign up to the mailing list at oldvictheatre.com

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

19

AccorHotels

AccorHotels joins Southwark Chamber of Commerce AccorHotels is proud to have become a new member of the chamber. With six hotels located within the Southwark area, and over SPECIAL OF for South FER 21 across the capital, we have the Chamber wark Members perfect settings for both business 1 0 % OFF on all con and personal occasions. ference b ook a

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We’re excited to be part of the chamber and are looking forward to welcoming other members.

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Novotel London City South Hotel ****

The centrally located 4-star Novotel London City South Hotel is within walking distance of the Shard, Tate Modern, St Paul’s Cathedral and Borough Market – making it an ideal base to explore the Southwark area. The hotel offers 182

modern bedrooms, six fullyequipped meeting rooms with capacity for up to 100 people, a fitness centre with sauna and hammam plus a restaurant and bar. Enjoy a stroll along the South Bank to the Millennium Bridge and the London Eye.

53-61 Southwark Bridge Road London SE1 9HH Tel. (+44) 207 660 0676 | Email: h3269@accor.com

ibis Styles London Southwark - Borough Market ***

ibis Styles London Southwark – Borough Market is only a few minutes’ walk from the sights of the South Bank, including the London Eye, the Shard and Tate Modern. You’ll love the contemporary atmosphere

of our hotel: designed around West End musicals, our bedrooms include themes based on The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked and Chicago! Feel inspired from the moment you walk through the door.

43-47 Southwark Bridge Road London SE1 9HH Tel. (+44) 207 015 1480 | Email: h7465@accor.com

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

AccorHotels Mercure London Bridge ****

A flagship hotel in the Mercure network, Mercure London Bridge is walking distance from Tate Modern and the tube. Guests can enjoy the hotel’s unique atmosphere from the minute they arrive: with every detail carefully considered with your comfort in mind and drawing

inspiration from the local environment. Relax in one of the 144 stylish bedrooms before experiencing a twist on traditional Italian cuisine at the hotel restaurant, Marco’s New York Italian, courtesy of celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.

71-79 Southwark Street London SE1 0JA Tel. (+44) 207 902 0800 | Email: h2814@accor.com

Novotel London Blackfriars Hotel ****

The beautifully designed contemporary Novotel London Blackfriars Hotel is within walking distance of Waterloo Station and some of the capital’s most famous landmarks. The 4-star hotel boasts 182 modern bedrooms, seven fully-equipped

meeting rooms catering for up to 90 guests, an indoor heated pool with digital art, a sauna and fitness centre, plus complimentary Wi-Fi throughout.

Enjoy flavours from around the world at the infamous Jamboree Foodfest & Bar.

46 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8NZ Tel. (+44) 207 660 0834 | Email: h7942@accor.com

ibis London Blackfriars ***

Conveniently located for Waterloo, Southwark and Blackfriars stations, ibis London Blackfriars offers 297 inviting and modern bedrooms – each with adjustable lighting, designer furniture, eco-friendly features and the Sweet Bed

by ibis™, which guarantees a great night’s sleep at a great price. Why not also relax at the hotel bar or discover the bustling atmosphere and globally inspired menu of Fogg’s restaurant?

49 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8NZ Tel. (+44) 207 633 2720 | Email: h7943@accor.com

Novotel London Waterloo Hotel ****

Ideally situated in central London within walking distance of the Thames, Big Ben, the London Eye and Westminster, this 4-star hotel is the perfect venue for business in the capital – with six fully equipped meeting spaces catering for up to 50 people with an impressive

view of Lambeth Palace. Stay in a room with a view of London’s skyline, and start your day with a delicious breakfast or enjoy a burger in the contemporary bar.

A workout in the onsite gym or a sauna session are the perfect way to unwind after a long day.

113 Lambeth Road London SE1 7LS Tel. (+44) 207 660 0674 | Email: h1785@accor.com

For more information or to place bookings with AccorHotels in Southwark and around the world go to www.accorhotels.com or call the hotel of your choice directly for information on our rooms, restaurants, bars and facilities.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

21

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Voice from Westminster

Trying to make sense of a postReferendum world Neil Coyle MP Whilst business continues, the political world has turned upside down since the last Southwark Business Today.

We have a new Prime Minister, Labour are electing a new leader and negotiations on Brexit have begun following the EU referendum.

I am grateful to Southwark Chambers of Commerce for hosting a debate on the European Union. I campaigned vigorously for us to remain a member and was impressed with the overwhelming support from Southwark voters: 73% chose Remain. Sadly, this was not reflected in the national result and Southwark has already lost business as a result. Some firms have not taken premises in the constituency. Bermondsey and Old Southwark also has the third highest financial sector employment of any UK parliamentary constituency and some firms are indicating a gradual shift of employees to Frankfurt or elsewhere.

Those job losses could be matched by losses affecting cleaners, security personnel, as well as bar, cafĂŠ and restaurant staff. Tourism could also be hit - although I understand that the pound falling in value has attracted some additional visitors to London this summer.

If your business or organisation has been affected by the result please let me know. I can be contacted by email at neil.coyle.mp@parliament.uk or phone on 020 7219 8733.

On the back of the huge vote in favour of the EU in my constituency - and because of the harm I believe it would do businesses and opportunities for my constituents - I will not be voting to trigger Article 50 and would support a new referendum now the impact is clearer and on the outcome of Brexit negotiations. That is the same position

as Labour leadership contender Owen Smith who I hope cuts through in the election this September. He has echoed London Mayor Sadiq Khan's commitment to being business friendly and I think would attract far more support than Jeremy Corbyn.

As a business friendly Labour MP, I'm also keen to showcase Southwark's fine food and drink offerings in parliament for a special afternoon in November. If you'd like the chance to be part of a tabletop market-style day of selling your wares to MPs, peers and other parliamentary staff please get in touch. It'd be great to have some of Southwark's finest involved in what should be a fun and enterprising afternoon!

Neil.Coyle.MP@parliament.uk or call me on 020 7219 8733

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Remembering when ...

Remembering when Tate Modern opened in Bankside

By Ken Hayes, Honorary Secretary

Tate Modern was opened by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 11th May 2000, one of London’s most successful Millennium projects.

Much of the internal structure was retained and a two storey glass walled extension was built on the riverside half of the building. The cavernous turbine hall and its travelling crane were retained to give a dramatic entrance and display space for large art objects. The electrical substation in the southern third of the building was still in use

by EDF Energy until the western end of this was released to the Tate by EDF in 2006.

Tate modern is a wonderful combination of old and new created in the former oil fired Bankside Power Station, built by the River Thames in Bankside Southwark in two stages, between 1947 and 1963.

It was constructed of a brick shell supported by an interior steel structure with a single central chimney whose height was restricted to 325ft so that it was 50ft shorter than the dome of St Pauls Cathedral on the opposite north side of the river.

Approximately 4.2 million bricks were used in its construction.

It was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed Battersea Power Station and the Waterloo Bridge and the British red telephone box.

The Power Station was shut down in 1981 and in the ensuing years was at risk of being demolished for redevelopment but many people campaigned for the building to be put to other uses and an application to have the building listed at this time was refused.

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In December 1992 the Tate trustees announced their intention to create a separate gallery for international modern and contemporary art in London and in April 1994 they announced that the former Bankside Power Station would be the home of Tate Modern.

In July of that year an international competition was launched to select the architectural design for the new Gallery. Battersea Power Station had also been considered as the site for the new gallery, but that was already in private ownership whereas Bankside Power was still in public ownership.

The winning design was by Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and the £134 million conversion started in June 1995 and was completed, on time and on budget, by January 2000. I can remember visiting the site with Southwark Chamber of Commerce during the reconstruction of the building in the 1990's, as Tate Modern were members of the Chamber of Commerce.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Tate Modern has attracted more visitors than was originally expected and was visited by 5.25 million in its first year.

In the previous year the three existing Tate galleries had a combined total visitor number of 2.5 million. This has resulted in the Tate planning an extension on this area to create more display space in a tower over the old oil storage tanks of the former Power Station.

The first phase of this was the conversion of the three circular oil tanks into display spaces and facilities areas, which opened on 18th July 2012 and closed

again on 28th October2012 as work on the Tower building commenced directly above.

They reopened on the completion of the Switch House extension on 17th June 2016.

Two of the Tanks are used to show live performance art installations and the third tank is a utility space, described as the first museum galleries permanently dedicated to live art.

Tate Modern is located in Bankside Southwark. It is the U.K’s national gallery of international modern and contemporary art and part of the Tate group of art galleries comprising of Tate Britain, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives.

As with other national galleries in the UK there is no admission charge for access to permanent collection displays that make up the majority of the gallery space, but tickets must be purchased for the major temporary exhibitions.

Cage Rattlers

Cage Rattlers Letters from members

These do not represent the views of the Chamber

More signage please!

Hospital ‘ - Fine but when you get off there are no signs to the Hospital and it is quite a complicated 10 minute walk for the unknowing.

And the number of tourists, usually Americans, who ask where London Bridge is – you spend ten minutes to explain to them that they actually want Tower Bridge and whilst they are in the Borough did they know John Harvard of University fame, was born here as the son of an Inn/ Brothel keeper The Queens Arms. No signage I am for ever being an indicating the Tabard Inn start unpaid Council Tour Guide for visitors to the Borough – of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales or all the other famous Inns along why can’t we get proper the Borough where Dickens, signage, directions and Shakespeare and Samuel promotion of all things Johnstone used to sup ale. wonderful and useful in Or indeed the Southwark Tavern the Borough. whose basement was used as For instance I travel on the holding cells for prisoners such number 21 bus and I am sure it as Daniel Defoe awaiting trial is the same for other routes but for bad debts (the cells are still as we approach the Union Street there and worth seeing) and Bus Stop it says ‘ alight for Guys many more.

The UK Post Brexit

We should all be very proud of Team GB’s performance at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, where we won more medals than we won at the 2012 London Olympic Games, coming second, in the overall medal table to the USA, pushing China into third place.

Well done to all, including Southwark resident Tom Daley, who won a bronze medal in the

Men’s Synchronised Diving competition.

I am exasperated that Vote Remain supporters of staying in the ‘failed’ European Union model, (according to many economists), think that this great country cannot stand on its own and achieve economic success.

When we put our minds and expertise to use, as we have proved in many fields

Indeed the Borough Road itself is not lauded in signage as the first Road into London across the only river crossing at the time.

The route was famous for Henry V’s triumphant procession into London after Victory in the Battle of Agincourt in November 1415 – Shouldn’t every year on the 14th November we have a re-enactment after all we did beat the French and it was the first time the Red Cross of St George was used as a standard.

No promotional signs indicating this and the many other historical happenings along the Borough.

Come on Borough let’s let the world know what we got and I can go and have my pint in The George without being a tour guide.

Barry Martin

previously, we can still be one of the greatest countries in the World.

Don’t those who voted to remain in the European Union want this to happen?

We are the financial capital of the World.

English is the business language of the World.

The people have spoken and we must all accept this and put our efforts into getting the best deal for leaving the European Union, instead of being negative.

Cycle thieves stealing mobile phones We have received a warning from the City of London Police about cyclists mounting the pavement and snatching mobile phones from peoples’ hands as they are using them.

Presumably, once they have snatched the phone they can make a quick unhindered getaway by using the TFL/council-supplied Super Cycle Highway.

The Police car chasing them is stuck in traffic caused by the narrowing of the road to accommodate the Super Cycle Highway.

Another case of TFL/Council ensuring that the cyclist, no matter what profession, is the assisted and preferred mode of Transport for London.

Barry Martin

Britain has been punching above its weight since Lord Nelson’s Royal Navy explored and colonised the far flung reaches of what became the British Empire, the largest the word has ever known and today’s British Commonwealth of democratic and successful economic countries bears witness to that.

Let’s put our differences behind us and go forward together.

Name and address supplied

The opinions expressed here represent those of the individual and not those of Southwark Chamber of Commerce or Benham Publishing.

What’s rattling your cage? Write and let us know Email at admin@southwarkcommerce.com

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

25

Finance for Business

Where to now for investment returns & how long will you be waiting Daren O’Brien I said before that Investing is a longer term issue and this timeframe may have just have got even longer.

The Bank of England has recently reduced interest rates to a historic 0.25% which won’t really make a huge difference to borrows, but it’s another nail in the coffin for savers and those with a low risk appetite.

investor move to even higher risk alternative investments for a return or simply look to a longer time horizon for their returns in traditional markets.

This means that the BoE policy is directly responsible for those that saved a nest egg, now needing to take more risk (hoping to achieve a higher return) just to stay still and it could all end badly.

We’ve seen equity markets recover and increase, property prices at an all-time high (especially when compared to average incomes) and now cash deposits continue to lose value in real terms against inflation. So should an

Should you choose to remain in traditional investments such as equities or property, it appears that the old adage of “time IN the market” rather than “TIMING the market” might be in vogue again for quite a while as you’ll be buying in at a high price in both. Even so, we still believe that Equity investing is and will remain the preferred route for most investors and now some property market data seems to agree.

We’ve seen recently that there a steep decline in Large mortgages being taken out, so will that effect the south east property gravy train (I know a few renters hoping so). Unfortunately, simply with the Supply and demand requirements of the Souths

property market, those renters may also simply need to accept that they are buying in at a high price if they choose to jump on board.

So property investors (& those simply wishing to get on the property ladder for the first time) and Equity investor may simply need adjust their expectations of joining any gravy trains and will have to wait some time to see any genuine growth. Maybe we all need to just lower our expectations as I keep telling my wife (although I think in fairness she did that before she married me..)…

Daren O’Brien Director Aurora Financial Solutions Ltd Office: 020 3713 7600 Mobile: 07796 167 275 www.aurorafinancial.co.uk www.aurorafinancialdirect.co.uk 56 - 57 The Hop Exchange, Southwark Street London SE1 1TY

“We’ve seen recently that there a steep decline in Large mortgages being taken out, so will that effect the south east property gravy train.”

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Time is running out ...

All employers must now have a workplace pension scheme and pay into it for their employees.

Failure to do so can lead to a fine and a potential criminal record for the employer.

Mary seems pleased with her company pension

20% Off our fees

for advice regarding company pension schemes!

Exclusively for all Southwark Chamber of Commerce members! Simply quote SCC20!

Contact us now for a free initial consultation.

Call: 020 3713 7600

admin@aurorafinancial.co.uk www.aurorafinancial.co.uk

56-57 The Hop Exchange, Southwark Street, London, SE1 1TY Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

27

Education

The importance of education

Never has the need for developing the skills of new and established staff been more apparent for businesses as the economy works to tackle challenges including the skills gap.

Many business and economic support agencies have identified training and Continuous Professional Development as playing a key role in helping companies to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.

They argue that well-trained staff are able to better support their employer as well as identify opportunities and bring forward fresh ideas because they have been exposed to different ways of thinking.

It’s a joined up process and it begins with schools, colleges and universities who aim to motivate and support young people to raise their levels of achievement and aspiration, gain relevant work-related skills and develop an understanding of the world of work.

Education, training and business sectors have always been important partners as they seek to produce the next generation of young people and support older workers working to develop their skills.

To that end, they have formed mutually beneficial partnerships to ensure that not only provides leavers of the education sector with the right skills, but that employers are also being given access to young people who better fit into their business.

Education does not stop when you leave college or university, it is a lifelong process. Training

providers have the vital skills to maintain this culture throughout the working lives of employees.

All provide a fresh approach to working with business, focusing on building positive, long-term partnerships.

Training falls into two categories, the re-training of people for new roles and the training of those already in jobs who wish to develop their skills further.

A key part of the training is teaching practical skills, everything from understanding changes in legislation to keeping on top of effective customer service, but training companies also help employees recognise opportunities when they see them.

That could be anything from tapping into new markets to coming up with ways of making sure that their employer makes inroads into foreign markets.

Sometimes, the opportunity to step aside from the day job and spend time in a training session or on a course can have dramatic outcomes.

Southwark and London is rich in nationally recognised providers and we are highlighting a selection for you in this special Education & Training Feature.

We would highly recommend engaging with the following to the benefit of your company.

“Training falls into two categories, the re-training of people for new roles and the training of those already in jobs who wish to develop their skills further.�

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Education

Where academic heritage goes hand in hand with new ways of thinking Exciting future for award winning college As the new academic term begins, the new £41million building for the Southwark Campus of Lewisham Southwark College is completed on The Cut.

The building has already won an award, and it shows the future of learning spaces. The space includes state-of-theart facilities including open learning spaces, computer rooms, touchscreen technology, fashion studios, dance studios and pop-up shops.

The College won’t just deliver courses for school leavers – alongside the usual vocational courses, it’s opening up a wide range of adult learning including evening and weekend learning. In October they will also be launching online courses, with personal support on campus should learners need it.

Then there will also be rooms for hire, so companies can go and use the facilities and spaces for anything from team building exercises, to CPD days.

With the Government also focussing on apprenticeships the College is well equipped to work with businesses to develop employable young people for the future. A dedicated team are at the Southwark Campus to work with local businesses, bridging that gap between work-based learning and academic qualifications.

The future definitely looks exciting for our local college.

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At Goldsmiths, University of London there’s an opportunity around every corner.

Our highly regarded courses in management, humanities, social sciences and computing are taught by top lecturers in outstanding facilities.

You get to mix with pioneering students and renowned academics on one

central campus. We encourage students to engage with your subject creatively. We prepare all of our students for a career in the real world, so you will graduate capable, adaptable and very employable.

Study for an internationally recognised University of

London degree, in an institution where academic heritage goes hand in hand with new ways of thinking about and applying your subject.

From inspiring lecturers and tutors to enterprising fellow students, everyone you encounter at Goldsmiths will shape you as a person.

We really are a community defined by our people.

Regardless of where you're from or where you're going, our reputation is one that brings learning to life through personal contact with the best and brightest of the academic world.

For information on all of our postgraduate programmes and life at Goldsmiths visit our website www.gold.ac.uk/pg

Creative team building days

Enhanced Education Limited provides a range of services to education, but also organises team building creative workshops for commercial enterprises.

These days enable employees to leave their comfort zones and try something creative and new.

Apart from established formats such as painting projects, Enhanced Education, through its Teach Me brand, also delivers courses in mosaics, stained glass, cake decorating, chocolate making, silver clay jewellery making and shabby chic restorations.

In each case the teams learn new skills and then get to actually make some objects hands on. The results are often spectacular and everyone leaves with something to take home and be proud of. Projects can be

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

collaborative as well as individual. It also gives the chance for colleagues to work side by side on an equal footing since it is unlikely any of them will be experienced in the new art or craft they are learning.

The classes effectively bring a studio to the venue used for the day. All materials, tools safety equipment and so forth are provided and prices start from as little as £65.00 per person for a day long course.

Visit www.teachmecourses.co.uk to learn more about the corporate creativity days or call 01797 364366 or 07770 347616.

Training and Development

There is conclusive evidence to show that businesses who invest in training and developing their people perform better From skills gap analysis to evaluation of the training we give a full service.

AS TRAINING (International) LTD are specialists in delivering the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Leadership and Management development programs along with Coaching and Mentoring training from Level 2 to Level 7 to improve the organisations management performance.

We also offer a range of one, two or three day training workshops for all your staff and a Customised Training Service to meet all your training development needs INCLUDING Microsoft Office training and Bespoke Database creation. All our

workshops are designed to involve the participants fully in their learning experience.

Flexibility is key to our success with repeat business from organisations including GlaxoSmithKline, Black and Decker, Smurfit kappa UK, Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, Durham County Council, Newcastle College, the NHS along with other organisations including SME’S across the UK.

For improved EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT and CULTURE CHANGE look no further than our EVEN BETTER PLACE TO WORK PROGRAM a proven program at a very low cost. Please ask for a FREE demonstration of our SATISFACTORY@WORK SURVEY

Call 01325 788141 or email Stephen.foster@as-training.co.uk

For a free consultation on your training needs.

Developing your Professionals

Nationwide experts in raising standards of professional leaders and managers • LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT TRAINING On-site training across the UK

• COACHING & MENTORING

Developing your staff support systems

• DISTANCE LEARNING Work at a pace to suit you

• EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM Get the best from your staff

• WORKSHOPS

Customised training to match your needs

T: +44 (0) 01325 788141 • enquiries@as-training.co.uk • www.as-training.co.uk

Start your management degree with an ILM level 3 course

SPECIAL OFFER

For Southwark Chamber Members

10% OFF

All Your Training Needs Booked in 2016 Code AST 24450

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Chamber Events

Annual River Thames Boat Save the dates Party Join our informative and

Upcoming Events engaging range of events.

A perfect opportunity to make new business contacts.

Times and locations to be confirmed.

DATE Thursday 6 October 18:30hrs Monday 17 October 08:30 – 10:00hrs Thursday 10 November 08:30 – 10:00hrs Monday 28 November 12:30 – 14:30 Thursday 15 December 18:00 27 January 2017 15:00 arrival for 15:35 tour

EVENT

Mayflower 2020 Networking Dinner The Mayflower Pub, 117 Rotherhithe Street, SE16 4NF

Health & Wellbeing at Work – boost your efficiency - Southwark Council Offices, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1

Business Property & Legal Update (venue TBC) Networking Lunch 805 Restaurant, 805 Old Kent Rd, SE15 1NX

Bermondsey Beer Southwark Brewery, 46 Druid St, SE1 2EZ Tour of the Palace of Westminster (House of Commons)

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

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Spectacular river sights, dinner, dancing, business networking and making new friends

Last Word

Southwark Chamber of Commerce welcomes its latest member companies Accor Hotels

Frederique Suffisseau

Account Development Executive 46 Blackfriars Road London SE1 8NZ Tel: 07825 430869 Email: frederique.suffisseau@accor.com

ANSUN

George Curtis Associate 177 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 0ED Tel: 07805 333333 or 020 7299 4340 george@ansun.co.uk

JMBP Ltd

Jerome Pereira Digital Reprographics Unit 2 Sandgate Trading Estate Sandgate Street London SE15 1LE Tel: 020 7928 5765 Email:jerome@jmbp-print.co.uk

Link Age Southwark Charity

Lesley O'Mara Dulwich Community Hospital Dulwich Grove London SE22 8PT Tel: 020 8299 2623

Email: lesley.omara@mombooks.com

Career Management Service Lisa Quiglery

Employee Engagement Officer

South London and Maudsley NHS

Maudsley Hospital

Denmark Hill

London SE5 8AZ

Tel: 0203 228 3221

Email: lisa.quigley@slam.nhs.uk

Schools Plus Robert Sladden

Ark Globe Academy

Harper Road

James Vanner Notary Public

Vanner Perez Notaries LLP

James lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and baby son. He has been a notary for over 11 years and has owned a business in Southwark for almost 4 years. James’ day-to-day work covers all kinds of sector from banking to maritime to fashion, working with very large businesses right through to private individuals.

Q1

I was a shop assistant in a computer game shop when I was 15. It paid £3.50 an hour, but the big prize was the staff discount!

London SE1 6AG

Tel: 07985 412279

Email: robert.sladden@schoolsplus.co.uk

Q2

www.schoolsplus.co.uk/globeacademy Debbie Street

211 The Print Rooms

164-180 Union Street

Q3

What is the biggest challenge in your business?

Reconciling client expectations with the law, as well being helpful rather than obstructive. Too many service providers work against their clients rather than with them. I always try to find a solution that’s within the law, but that also works well for my client.

London SE1 0LH

Tel: 0203 176 4161

Email: debbie@snapdragonconsulting.co.uk

To find out more about becoming a member contact Southwark Chamber of Commerce.

Southbank Techno Park, 90 London Road, London. SE1 6LN Tel : 07477 581977 Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com

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

I'd introduce a law that compels big businesses to pay small suppliers within 30 days. We've been very fortunate, but I can well see how good businesses go under just because large clients don't pay their bills quickly.

Snapdragon Consulting Head of Business Development

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

Q4

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

I'd be a car salesman selling sports cars to the enthusiast market. Outside of work I love spending time either in or working on my car and I'd love to do it for a living.

Q5

What's your favourite London building?

The natural history museum - just beautiful.

I can't wait to take my son around the inside when he's a little bit older.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Join Us

Join Us

Our Committee Chairman Richard Kalmar 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)

Vice President Baroness Jowell DBE PC

(former MP for Dulwich and West Norwood)

Patron Cllr Kath Whittam

(The Worshipful Mayor of Southwark)

Patron Sir Simon Hughes

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

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.

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:

(former MP)

Council and Community Representatives Councillor Johnson Situ

(Cabinet Member for Business, Employment and Culture)

Abdul Mohamed

(Past Mayor of Southwark & Past Councillor)

Executive Members

Vice Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair Honorary Secretary Honorary Solicitor Honorary Treasurer Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Executive Member Administrator

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Les Johnson Roger Beckett Yoko De Souza Ken Hayes Peter Mantell John Steward Sharon Achillea Duncan Field Prem Goyal Peter Hadfield Dan Harder William Harwood Susan Isaacs Nicole Leggett Barry Martin Margaret Rowse Cait Wilkinson Sonia Sutton

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Post Code:

Telephone:

Email:

Number of Employees: Full Name:

Position:

Payment Details: BANK DETAILS: SORT CODE:

HSBC - SOUTHWARK C OF C 40-06-21 ACCOUNT NO:

21357646

To join, please send your details to: Southwark Chamber of Commerce Southbank Techno Park, 90 London Road,London. SE1 6LN Tel : 07477 581977 Email : admin@southwarkcommerce.com www.SouthwarkCommerce.com Twitter : @southwarkcomm Facebook : southwarkcommerce

SOUTH LONDON'S LEADING AGENTS

KALMARs are an expanding firm of South London

estate agents and an independent property adviser.

Our expansion is being achieved through improving client service by planned growth and training. We have many

years’ experience as South London estate agents with

average time for staff at the company being 8 years,

complemented by a young enthusiastic team. We have an

unrivaled record in sales and lettings of commercial and

residential properties in the South London area.

AGENCY

Our principal objective is to provide a professional service with quick results whilst maintaining complete integrity.

As South London Estate Agents we offer Development,

Office, Industrial, Retail and Residential Sales and Letting.

DEVELOPMENT

We offer a comprehensive package on development

projects starting at the site appraisals stage, often prior to

acquisition, working with other professions in developing plans, continuing with sales and marketing advice, and concluding by arranging a letting or sale.

Jamaica Wharf

2 Shad Thames

London SE1 2YU CONTACT US

Telephone: 020 7403 0600

Email: info@kalmars.com

www.kalmars.com