Southwark
BUSINESS TODAY Issue 30: Autumn 2020
Carol Massay EasyBuild Breaking down barriers to success. Page 8
• LSBU is open for business. Page 16
• Southwark is open and ready for business. Page 18
• Full speed ahead with 1Gb Broadband. Page 15
Join an international, award-winning university business school with a reputation for a holistic approach to your personal development and career ambitions. Applied, professional, accredited programmes in: • Accounting • Finance • Business • Economics • Marketing Full-time and part-time courses including apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees starting in January and September. Find out more and register for an Open Day: lsbu.ac.uk/opendays
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Welcome
Welcome to
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
Contents
The Southwark Chamber of Commerce magazine for all businesses in Southwark
I can’t really remember when I first met Les. I am not surprised as he was not a bombastic, in your face character, just a really nice guy who got on with everyone and had a heart of gold. Unfortunately, some of his other bits were made of less stern stuff and he passed away on August 19 after an incredibly brave battle with cancer over several years. It was probably around ten years ago, we met through Southwark Chamber of Commerce, which he had been introduced to by a previous chair and drinking comrade-in-arms, Barry Martin. Les immediately took to the Chamber and, like so many things he did, he became passionate about it and put in so much in his normal selfless commitment to assist others. Winding the clock right back, Les was born in early September 1957, making him two weeks older than me, a fact that I don’t think I ever pointed out to him – well, at least not more than once a month. It was easy to have that sort of friendly schoolboy relationship joshing with Les, like we had known each other forever. He told me he grew up in Boston, Lincolnshire where he went to the same school as fellow Chamber member Diana Powley. This sounded like a bucolic idyll that he cherished, fondly recounting stories of working on his uncle’s farm in this fertile land. Next thing I know he moved to Ashford, working for the council as a building surveyor, and lived in another rural gem. He married and had two boys who he was immensely proud of and, I am pleased to say, he managed to travel to see his son in Australia last autumn – no mean feat given his state of health at the time. He then started his own building surveyor business and commuted up to London. He was on the local council, joined Kent Chamber of Commerce, and several other business organisations. He was a social animal. Les’ business moved to Southwark. His office was near Borough High Street where he met Barry Martin and, although he never lived in Southwark, he was deeply committed to helping businesses in the borough. When I became chair of Southwark Chamber of Commerce in 2015, I asked Les along with our good friend, Roger Beckett, to help on the entertainment side, knowing that he relished a challenge and was full of positivity and interesting ideas. Les and Roger both had health issues and I frequently tried, usually unsuccessfully, to steer them away from the topic of their prostates. Nonetheless, these were happy meetings over a furtive pint or two to discuss and put together events to help Southwark businesses gel.
The times were marred by knowing that Les had contracted cancer and numerous other associated health issues, but his positivity never let get him down and he was great fun to be with. One particularly good example was when we represented Southwark businesses on a trip to Southwark’s twin town of Langenhagen in Germany, where through his friendly Englishness he made many friends. He was keen to do everything he could and wanted to chair the Chamber in 2018, but his health problems were obvious and therefore he did not realise his dream, agreeing to Peter Mantell chairing the Chamber that year. However, he struggled on and still wanted to help. Peter kindly stepped aside to allow Les to fulfil his dream in 2019, which he did with great warmth and camaraderie, leading the Chamber to many successful gatherings including its 95th year celebration and the Southwark Business Awards black tie event with 400 guests. Wanting to carry on till the last, he stood again as chair and was elected uncontested in 2020. This has proved to be a challenging year with the coronavirus preventing meetings. He was very popular and a typical comment from our friend Roger says it all: ‘Dear calm, kind, courageous and focused Les was a joy to know. He was well switched on but exuded decency and understanding. We will miss such a man and are so sad realising that the world needs a lot more like Les, but sadly has gone backwards in losing Les. God bless him and we pray that he is in a better place and at peace. Roger and Diana Beckett’ Although we all knew that Les would die very soon, he struggled on for so long, dodging so many bullets, it was still a shock when the finality of the inevitable happened. His final text to me and my wife, with his typical positivity, read: ‘Hi both, I will struggle to have any meaningful conversation at present, poor signal plus feeling under the weather. I have a blockage in bowel caused by bladder cancer and have not eaten for 12 days. Extreme dieting. Enjoy your weekend. Big hugs all around.’ ‘Under the weather’ goes along with Spike Milligan’s epitaph ‘I told you I was not feeling well’. Les’ business was in Southwark and as chair he worked tirelessly to promote fellow businesses. It is beholden on all chamber members, and the committee in particular, in his memory to ensure that the Chamber lives on, prospers and is a tribute to a very brave, kind and generous man who I respected enormously and who many, including me, will miss greatly.
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4 Legal 5-6 Up Front 8-9 Big Interview 11 News 12-13 British Land 16-17 Skills 18-20 Southwark Open for Business 25 Arts & Culture 27 Voice from Westminster 28 Remembering When… 31 Health & Wellbeing 32 New Members 33 Last Word 34 Join Us
Enquiries
Southwark Chamber of Commerce 169 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW Tel: 07477 581977 Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com Web: www.SouthwarkCommerce.com
Editor
Jez Davison Email: jez@benhampublishing.com
Contributing Editor Susan Isaacs
Publisher
Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com
Published
Sept 2020 © Benham Publishing
Advertising and Features
Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com
Studio
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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 3
Legal Advice
Have you updated Can a periodic businessyour tenant commercial in occupation ofcontract premises obtain aterms lease from landlord? aftertheir Covid 19? You are a commercial tenant running a business from Why and theyousmall matters. now wantprint your landlord to grant you premises • Cancellation of the contract either your lease standard aReview written forcontracts a fixed term. automatically or at the request of one of
or T&Cs
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the parties. a new lease,have the tenant be lease, perhaps in order to grow You may have been paying rent resolve the dispute which could becontract • the terms been will effectively The wayor in quarterly which wefor dosome business has changed or sell your business, you will the not performing monthly unsatisfactory both parties and able to obtain a new lease on • Excusing partyto from incorporated into the contract, according as a result of the pandemic, be able to serve onfurther the landlord years, but your landlord has stilland businesses of aincourt case terms to be agreed or if not performancethe ofuncertaintly the contract need to ensure that term they lease. have adapted their under section lawas principles. Youbymust a notice 26or of in thepart. not given you a fixed could be avoided by agreeing to common agreed determined the show whole trading thethe ‘new normal’. It Act is requesting a new lease. 1954 What canterms you dototofit force upon lease terms. that thecourt. otherAccordingly party specifically agreed the landlord • thisSuspending of granting an The right to do only appliesperformance landlord’s hand? important to review your standard business cannot simply impose anyformation terms of, the terms before One wayperformance. in which the landlord to, or knew extension of time for future tenants whose tenancy was contracts or terms and conditions to(T&Cs) it wishes and and the court will look can regularise the position is to of the contract; Rights under a periodic granted fixed drafting term certain is important it will be under in order to minimise the future effects of afor a The at the implied terms of the periodic servesince a written notice tenancy exceeding onestrictly year or for any by the courts are when fair, considering as determined construed tenancy what in pandemic or events beyond your control. sectionwhen 25 of deciding the 1954 Act • the terms term and thereafter from yearand obligations It is likely that you are a periodic upon the rights of thethe parties. accordance with thebe Consumer Rights terminating tenancy and terms should inserted in the Most boilerplate to year. tenantbusinesses and if you will havehave beenstandard in Careful attention needs tostating be given to various whether or not the landlord new lease. Act 2015. T&Cs which may have been in place for years, occupation of business premises So what should the tenant do? definitions including ‘pandemic’ is willingor to ‘epidemic’ grant a new lease and The landlord is therefore likely to paying for more but it isrent advisable to than review these to take into Fairness test so on whataccepted terms including rent using a definition that isif generally Negotiate with your be agreeable to grant a lease to 12 months, youmajor will have become events could account how intervening and length of lease. Terms in B2Ca contracts and toespecially a lesser degree periodic tenant since landlord eg the definition adopted by the World Health a protected businessfor tenant with governmental frustrate contracts, example Organisation which would accepted in theingrant If thebelandlord opposes it cannot increase thetorent B2B contracts, are subject thewithout unfair the rights granted by the Landlord A periodic protected tenant should interference, pandemics, natural disasters, international contracts or where a party of a new lease, then it may only first terminating the2015. leaseAunder & Tenant Act 1954 Part 11. terms provisions set out in CRA term or be in a strongisposition to negotiate and other supervening events. reliant upon a supplyrefuse from on abroad. certainEven grounds set out As such the landlord cannot theif, Act, and thetoposition will a new lease with the landlordofwho notice is unfair contrary the requirement the definition ‘force majeure’ needs to be in the statute, most commonly simply terminate yourclauses lease by are would be keen to regularise the remain uncertain. Force majeure refusal on the grounds of of good faith, it causes a significant imbalance examined since the long established definition giving you one month’s notice. position. Without a lease, the important Taking legal advice under the persistent rent arrears, being able of an event that ‘could not have been in the parties’ rights and obligations landlord cannot unilaterally It would need to serve you with toavoided’ demonstrate annot intention to reasonably anticipated or would While there is a common law doctrine It is best to seek first contract to the detriment oflegal theadvice consumer. increase the rent, or regulate the a statutory notice under the 1954 own now cover a pandemic occupy which the waspremises alreadyfor itsTerms before finalising termsthe in principle of which may6 apply where use ofan the premises or prevent which do not satisfy fairness Act frustration giving you not less than nor orentered an intention known when the contractuse was into.to redevelop. with your landlord ensure that unforeseen the tenant from sharing more than 12 event months’has noticemade and a contract test are unenforceable againsttoconsumers. the terms of the new lease are not landlord must demonstrate its majeure The occupation assigning impossible ofhave performance, the doctrine is very orIs you will then the right to a force clause The Markets Authority the ability to do these things if Competition onerous and reflect the terms of tenancy. It is unlikely that the apply to to theestablish court for and a new lease difficult has been construed enforceable in a BtoC contract necessary by producing plans and published your existing oral Where landlord could easily sell its (CMA) guidance ontenancy. unfair contract on terms to be agreed decidedSo businesses very narrowly by theorCourts. because of Covid 19? specifications and the necessary interest there is a dispute the landlord upon by terms entitled ‘Unfair contractwith terms: CMA37’ need to the relycourt. upon specially designed forcein the property while planning permissions. can a protected periodic tenant There are statutory provisions imposed upon This (CMA and theThis landlord is taking steps to Guidance). includes guidance on majeure in their Can youclauses require the contract terms. make it difficult for a landlord to contiuues in occupation an businessesfor seeking to rely on force majeure terminate the tenancy without the grey list and other potentially unfair terms landlord to grant a new They are important because theyindefinite make period. offering acceptable new lease provisions in contractsregain withpossession. consumers Annexit will A ofbethe CMA Guidance lease? on the happening of a specified provision important to seek relating to delays If the tenant iscaused a protectedand notices.terms, With oral tenancy agreements if in performance provides illustrative wording event or event beyond the controla of the arises legal adviceexamples as to your of rights and by the Covid or to relieve them of and theirthe landlord business tenant If the time has come that you dispute court19, would how to protect yourby position. does not have grounds to oppose need theincluding:certainty of a fixed term need to hear contractual evidence andobligations. try to parties which may regarded as unfair the CMA.
If expert you need expert legal advice, please contact Alan Zeffertt by email on If you need legal advice, please contact Alan Zeffertt by email on aze@anthonygold.co.uk or ask for him or a memberorofaour Commercial Team,Team telephone 020 7940 aze@anthonygold.co.uk member of our Property Commercial on 020 79404000. 4060.
Anthony Gold Solicitors specialise in many different areas of law Our solicitors are experts in their fields. We are negotiators and litigators,
committed to doing whatever is best for our clients.
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Up Front
Mayor calls for urgent support to protect businesses The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has met with firms to highlight the urgent action needed to protect their future in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. With current estimates indicating that one third of the retail and hospitality workforce could potentially be made redundant by the end of this year, the mayor has written to the Prime Minister with eight proposals that would help secure firms’ future survival. These include: • An extension to the business rates holiday, which is due to end in March, or a discount for businesses in the central London area for the next year, guaranteed now • A direct financial aid scheme for hospitality, retail, leisure and cultural businesses in central London • Targeted support for jobs and the extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for retail, hospitality, leisure, and creative businesses • Extended support for freelancers and the self-employed • Overhaul of business rates • A support scheme for SMEs that are struggling to meet their rent bills due to coronavirus
• Increased investment in NHS Test and Trace and more support for hospitality businesses to implement systems • Other measures which might increase public confidence, such as making face coverings compulsory in the busiest public spaces (as has been done in Paris), and further scientific research into the efficacy of such measures Sadiq Khan said: “For decades, central London has been the economic engine of the UK, a cultural powerhouse, and a gateway for global tourism to the UK. It now faces a real existential threat from the COVID-19 pandemic. “In the face of a perfect economic storm, our businesses need urgent and sustained support from government to ensure they can survive this pandemic. This must include extending the business rates holiday beyond next March, in addition to a comprehensive package of new financial support.”
Funding gives skills boost to 15,000 young Londoners
More than 15,000 young Londoners benefited from an additional £2.1million investment by the mayor Sadiq Khan in activities and projects over the summer, to boost skills, improve mental health and steer young people away from becoming involved in violence. The funding helped 85 youth organisations across the capital at a crucial time, as London emerged from lockdown and ahead of the new school year. City Hall research, backed up by a UK Youth report on the impact of COVID-19, shows that lockdown has had a significant impact on young people’s mental health, wellbeing, loneliness, activity levels and future opportunities, and continues to have a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, who are likely to suffer the
worst effects of the recession. The research also reveals evidence of a link between poor mental health, poverty and deprivation, and young people becoming involved in or becoming victims of serious violence. The Mayor of London and London’s Violence Reduction Unit invested an extra £2.1 million to support projects which are dedicated to improving the wellbeing and opportunities of young people aged up to 25 across London, including some of the most vulnerable young people and their families. Sophie Linden, deputy mayor for policing and crime, said:
“The mayor’s funding is supporting some of the city’s most vulnerable young people, providing crucial activities – sports and creative programmes – that help build skills, relationships and resilience. They also provide early-intervention opportunities to prevent young people from being involved in or a victim of crime.” Since the launch of the mayor’s Young Londoners Fund in May 2018, it has supported more than 300 projects that will help more than 110,000 young people fulfil their potential, particularly those who are at risk of getting caught up in crime.
Council calls on businesses to help stamp out racism Southwark Council has written to local businesses to ask them to join the council in standing together against racism and injustice, and to work with the council to take positive action to ensure equality of opportunity and a fairer future for all. Cllr Johnson Situ, cabinet member for growth and planning, is leading a new, proactive approach in this area of work under the Southwark Stands Together initiative. The initiative forms a clear, threepart focus on ways in which the community can identify, listen, learn, and tackle racism and inequality in the borough. It includes an anti-racist audit of the borough to identify statues and street names that do not reflect the borough’s diversity, especially anything with links to slavery or the country’s colonial past, and to identify positive opportunities for the celebration of more diverse figures which truly reflect the foundation on which Southwark stands. Running parallel is a listening exercise with communities across the borough, partner organisations, and council staff, to hear their concerns. The aim is to explore the plethora of ways racism creates barriers to BAME people achieving true equality, from jobs and prospects, to housing, safety and health. With this increased knowledge, the council hopes to identify solutions to address entrenched and persistent racism and injustice. It has now written to businesses and organisations in the borough, inviting them to get involved in the initiative. Councillor Situ said: “Nobody should ever feel that society has placed a glass ceiling on their ambition. Our promise of a fairer future for all is committed to ensuring no person in Southwark should feel that there is no hope, and that nothing will change. In the borough, and as a society, we must actively do better to address the structural inequalities that still hold black people back.”
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 5
Up Front
Celebrating 20 years of IT support and solutions to business September 2020 marks the start of Labyrinth’s 20th year providing proactive and efficient IT Support & Solutions to businesses in the London area. Our business has changed significantly and continuously over the last two decades- as has the technology that we supply and support. Voice over IP (VoIP) telephony, online storage services and cloud-based software were simply not available only ten years ago in the way that they are now- and how different the current year would have been without them! The diversity of solutions available now have, however, made IT for businesses of all sizes far more complex, and even the smallest business should have expert advice on IT strategy and security. Twenty years ago, IT support was very reactive: when a problem was reported to us, we fixed it. Now, when a single, successful cyber-attack could put an unprepared company out of business it is imperative that a proactive approach is taken to planning IT strategy. Labyrinth Technology focuses heavily on a Partnership Based approach to IT outsourcing. We recognised very early on that to build a relationship of trust where our advice had weight, we had to be completely ethical in our approach to sales and only work on the principle of “Best Advice”. To be clear: I can honestly say that I am not aware of one case in the last twenty years where we have sold a product that a customer did not need. That dogmatic position might impact short term profitability but our professional, considered advice helps our clients get the most from their IT-saving them money and most importantly time- and we benefit long-term from a rewarding, ongoing business relationship. Some of our clients have been with us for our entire journey. We look forward to working with many more up to and beyond our milestone anniversary next year. To find out how we can assist with your workplace requirements contact: Enquiries@LabyrinthIT.com Tel: 020 3790 7500
Mayor launches £1m fund to help small businesses and community groups The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced a £1m fund to help London’s small businesses and community groups recover from the coronavirus crisis, improve their resilience and ensure they’re better prepared for future emergencies. Businesses, social enterprises and community groups will be matched with innovators who will help them find new ways of delivering their products and services in these new circumstances. Grants of up to £50,000 will be available to support the design and testing of these innovations. Examples of innovations that could receive support include new forms of data capture and digital infrastructure, and ways of using data and technology to identify and address vulnerabilities in supply chains, or local food or energy production.
Organisations which make the best use of data and technology have been shown to have greater sustainability during times of crisis. Supported by the London Enterprise Action Partnership, the London Resilience Fund is the latest part of the mayor’s plan to help London’s small businesses and local communities survive and thrive after the pandemic. He said he would use £1m to match-fund money spent by the public through his Pay It Forward London crowdfunding initiative, with around 200 of the capital’s small businesses expected to benefit.
Sadiq Khan said: “The last few months have tested the resilience of London and Londoners as never before. As the capital’s businesses and communities adapt to a postCOVID future, it is essential we learn the lessons the pandemic taught us and ensure we are prepared for the future. This fund will help our small firms and our local community groups to be better prepared for that future. “Our small businesses and voluntary organisations are the lifeblood of our high streets and communities. Many of them are now struggling to survive and I’m determined to give them all the support I can.”
COVID-19 fails to stop Southwark regeneration
Work is continuing on regeneration schemes that will provide hundreds of new council homes across Southwark. With special measures in place to protect builders and local residents from spreading the virus, work has continued on a number of sites to keep Southwark Council’s building programme on track. Councillor Leo Pollak, cabinet member for social regeneration, great estates and new council homes, and councillor Kieron Williams, cabinet member for housing management and modernisation, visited one of the council homes construction sites at Daniel’s Road, Southwark. Leo Pollak said: “I was excited to see the progress made on this development which will be exclusively council housing to meet the urgent need in the
6 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
borough. I was impressed by Osborne’s health and safety practices and their commitment to meeting the planned timescales of the project despite the disruption caused by COVID-19.” The Daniel’s Road site forms part of Southwark’s New Homes Delivery Programme to create 11,000 new council homes across the borough by 2043. The site has been contracted to Osborne to build 19 new council homes, including five terraced houses and 14 flats in a separate block. The new site will also feature new open areas, play spaces, landscape improvements and new pedestrian connections between Barset and Howbury Road to Daniel’s Road.
The site was originally identified by the current Daniel’s Road residents as unused space that had the potential to be developed for new council homes. The residents approached the council with the suggestion of developing the existing car park, children’s play area and garages into new homes. To meet the urgent need for new council homes, Osborne has continued working on the site as much as possible throughout the coronavirus pandemic, and has implemented rigorous health and safety regulations to make this viable. The development is expected to be completed by February, 2021.
WELCOME TO CASTLE SQUARE Discover 25 local traders with warm and welcoming smiles and years of experience providing a wide range of products and services. Castle Square sits at the heart of a wider retail and leisure offer and includes Ash Avenue and Elephant Park. It’s home to fashion, textiles, electrical products and services and some of the most delicious cafés and restaurants available locally.
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Easily accessible, Castle Square is located just 5 minutes walk from Elephant and Castle tube station and directly opposite Elephant and Castle train station. Be sure to pop by and find out what our local traders with bags of spirit have in store.
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Big Interview
Breaking down barriers to success Carol Massay has spent much of her 30-year career changing perceptions. As a woman working in a traditionally male-dominated construction industry, she has had to fight harder than her male counterparts to be recognised and respected to achieve her aspirations. But recognised and respected she is, having worked her way up the career ladder and transformed a construction software specialist into a thriving, award-winning company. Since Carol took over the reins at Borehamwood-based EasyBuild UK, the company has doubled staff numbers, increased revenues and become a much slicker, more efficient operation. New systems have been put in place, marketing campaigns have attracted new customers, and people with the right skills have been recruited into key positions. Carol has built up a strong reputation in the industry as a construction software leader who “listens and cares about her client’s technology needs”. She also spends time speaking with other industry leaders to ensure that she is kept informed on the challenges faced managing a construction company and projects. With this information, she ensures that the range of EasyBuild solutions are kept up to date. This year, seven new well-known UK contractors came on board before the coronavirus hit UK shores, and although there was an understandable lull in business during March and April, activity has picked up once again. The plan now is to grow the company’s presence across London and the South East – particularly in the borough of Southwark and surrounding areas – as well as further field in the North of England and Scotland. It’s an ambitious target in what undoubtedly will be a volatile post-COVID, post-Brexit trading environment, but taking on tough challenges seems to be in Carol’s DNA. She says: “As a woman, I enjoyed the challenge of trying to make my way in the construction software industry. I have always remained focused on the job and challenge in hand, and never get distracted on the negative comments, or people’s opinions on me. Even when I took on the job at EasyBuild, I read one or two negative comments on social media basically suggesting that I might fail. All that did was to make me more determined to succeed.”
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She has done just that. EasyBuild is now one of the most recognised providers of ERP (enterprise resource planning) software to the construction industry. The three year award-winning software addresses all the operational needs of a modern construction business, covering finance, commercial, project management and compliance. It is customisable with easy-to-use applications providing all trades within the industry – including main contractors, civil engineers, demolition, interior fit-out, roofing and cladding, joinery, rail and utilities – with the tools needed to manage projects in a timely and efficient manner. Carol says: “Previously, it was mainly the larger construction firms that had adopted the software, whereas smaller players tended to stick with tried and trusted methods. This is now changing; more SMEs are realising the value that this type of software can bring to their business. It helps the industry to identify and manage risk on construction projects and track spend against the whole lifecycle of the project on a day-to-day basis.” Carol and her team are currently transitioning many of EasyBuild’s existing and new clients to a cloud offering. The company’s cloud software gives clients access to business-critical applications at any time from any location and reduces the cost of servers and day-to-day IT management. Carol says: “Time and efficiency are important factors when trying to manage the day-to-day running of a business and knowing you have a secure dedicated platform for hosting your ERP construction software is a vital component. EasyBuild Cloud provides access to our applications for each customer using secured logins. This service is inclusive of the day-to-day management of the hosted environment, as well as daily backups, security updates, operating system upgrades and patch releases. “Moving to the cloud could therefore also help companies to save money by reducing IT costs. The cloud can help eliminate the need for costly hardware, upgrade and maintenance costs but also gives the benefit of easily scaling up a business as it expands and grows.”
Businesses of all sizes can now benefit from using EasyBuild’s Cloud platform, which ensures compliance and management of all projects simultaneously on any device and in real time. One of the core applications is the widespread use of mobile technology, providing everyone on site with familiar and powerful technology and information. EasyBuild Mobile allows operatives to use their smart phone remotely to record essential information and upload it back to head office immediately. This application enables the capture of labour cost via a timesheet app, requesting material and plant deliveries via the requisition app and recording the delivery of materials via the goods received app. Data is automatically synced back into EasyBuild’s ERP solution, which in turn saves time, removes paper and increases efficiency. It is undoubtedly a busy time for Carol, who has enjoyed a 30-year career in the industry. During that time, she has gleaned a wealth of experience building strong relationships with customers, understanding their needs and unearthing opportunities to upsell to clients. In 2015, the opportunity to apply for the CEO position at EasyBuild arose and she took it with both hands. She says: “The role of CEO was new for me; however, having worked for a larger software house previously, I understood construction software delivery and the art of managing people. I thought, I can do this.” Five years on, she’s glad she did. She’s keen to encourage other aspiring females into the industry and has set a goal of touring schools and colleges to talk to girls about the benefits of a career in construction. “If I can share my journey to help bring more young women into the sector, then this is my ultimate goal,” she says with conviction. “It’s great to see companies offering opportunities to young women through apprenticeships and work placements. The industry would benefit from more diversity and I think that companies are starting to recognise this.”
Big Interview
Inside story Carol Massay: u Favourite food? Jamaican traditional chicken, rice and peas, coleslaw, and avocado salad. I am also partial to chicken Caesar salad and ackee and saltfish with breadfruit u Favourite tipple? Gin and tonic and a good quality brand of champagne u Favourite holiday? Definitely Jamaica, with Mexico and Cyprus not too far behind u Describe your family life? I am married to Ray and have two children: a son, Courtney, and daughter Cherrise, I am a hardworking grandma to two beautiful grandsons, JessiahOcean and Reuben u How do you spend your downtime? Spending time with my grandsons and husband, going for bike rides and holidays, gardening and growing my own vegetables u What are your key strengths as a manager? Being able to build relationships with staff and customers, communicating and my desire to keep up-to-date with developments in the sector (e.g. by joining discussion groups) u And your limitations? Guilty of taking on too much rather than delegating to others u Best thing about doing business in the borough? Meeting a wide range of business leaders, sharing their business experiences and seeing how we can help each other
“Time and efficiency are important factors when trying to manage the day-to-day running of a business and knowing you have a secure dedicated platform for hosting your ERP construction software is a vital component. “
u Famous person you’d most like to spend dinner with? The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Harry and Megan) u Most interesting fact about yourself? Although I am from an ethnic origin and work in a male-dominated sector, I have never allowed this to distract me from what I want to achieve. I am also passionate at supporting others to follow their dreams into construction, whether on site or into the world of technology for the sector.
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 9
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News
Mayor’s plea to the Chancellor
Southwark Works has been successfully working with businesses large and small for over 15 years
The Mayor of London has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to express his concerns about the tapering of the furlough scheme. Sadiq Khan said he had “grave concerns” about the approach Chancellor Rishi Sunak was taking and warned of the “devastating impact” that the closure of the scheme at the end of October will have. The multi-billion-pound furlough scheme was introduced in March in a bid to protect companies and jobs. It enabled companies to claim 80% of the wages of furloughed staff (up to a cap of £2,500 per month) from the state. From September 1 the government committed to pay 70% of wages up to a maximum cap of £2,187.50 for the hours the employee is on
furlough. In October, however, the scheme will end.
and its most disadvantaged residents.
Sadiq Khan has urged the Chancellor to extend the scheme to protect millions of London workers and companies in key sectors such as retail, creative, culture and hospitality.
“It is not too late to change course and avoid a sudden unemployment cliff edge at the end of October. As you will know, Germany has recently announced the extension of its support for furlough until the end of next year, following France.
In his letter he said: “As leading voices from the business community have also pointed out, when the scheme ends we are likely to see a significant number of redundancies among previously furloughed employees. The result of this is certain to be a spike in unemployment affecting some of London’s poorest areas,
“I am therefore urging you to follow their example to help save jobs, and announce an extension of government support – at the very least to those sectors of the economy most affected by the pandemic and which are unable to do business sustainably for the foreseeable future.”
Major milestone for ULEZ London has come a step closer to expanding the world’s-first Ultra Low Emission Zone with the installation of the first new cameras. The Ultra Low Emission Zone currently covers the same area as the Congestion Charge Zone and the new cameras will enable it to expand up to the North and South Circular in October 2021 – spreading the benefits of cleaner air across the city. Thousands of deaths in the capital each year are attributed to poor air quality, while emerging evidence suggests there is a link between pollution, higher rates of infection and a worse recovery from coronavirus. The larger zone is vital to ensure that, as London recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, one public health crisis is not replaced with another. The expanded zone will help all Londoners breathe cleaner air. The ULEZ schemes will reduce harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from road transport by around 30% across the whole city, improving air quality for millions of Londoners.
Cameras are deemed to play an essential role in making the ULEZ effective. The central zone has seen the number of vehicles meeting the tough emission standards rise from 39% in February 2017 to more than 80%. It has also had a transformational impact on air pollution, contributing to a 44% reduction in roadside nitrogen dioxide within its boundaries. The area covered by the existing Congestion Charge and ULEZ has around 650 cameras. The new zone will be 18 times the size, but new technology means only around 750 additional cameras will need to be installed. Alex Williams, Transport for London’s director of city planning, said: “We are fully committed to cleaning up London’s toxic air, and expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone will play a key role in discouraging people from driving heavily polluting vehicles.”
Whatever your company size and recruitment needs, we can tailor our services to support you and there is no cost involved in the recruitment process. From sourcing candidates or apprentices to helping with Job Descriptions, screenings, applications, virtual interviews etc we can provide an end to end service that suits your business needs. We advertise through as many channels as possible – including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and through our well established provider networks. During the Covid19 pandemic we have continued to work with busineses remotely and held a virtual job fair in July with over 20 employers and 400+ candidates participating. We are now continuing to source candidates for those employers and placed our first apprentices and candidates into work with them in August. All at no cost to the employers. We can also help with things like accessing Government grants for taking on apprentices (currently £2,000 for a 16-24 year old) and getting information about other employment programmes such as Kickstart. We could help your business with any future recruitment needs – don’t hesitate to contact us if you’d like to find out more about how we can support your business. info@southwarkworks.org.uk Tel: 0800 052 0540
WHY SOUTHWARK WORKS? 4 We do not charge for our recruitment services 4 We can source consistently high levels of quality candidates through our strong links with referral partners 4 Candidates undergo a rigorous screening process in order to ensure they fit the employers’ criteria 4 We provide office space for interviews, employer meetings and screening free of charge 4 Employers save money and resource on HR and advertising costs 4 We provide a dedicated point of contact for all employers 4 We offer support whilst on the job and mentoring for all candidates Please contact our team of experts to find out how you can get professional recruitment advice and make a difference to the lives of many Southwark residents.
Tel: 0800 052 0540 Email: info@southwarkworks.org.uk
EMPLOYERS WE HAVE WORKED WITH • • • • • • • • • • • •
Hoxton Hotel • Southwark Council Premier Inn • Aqua Restaurants Tideway Tunnels • Lendlease Network Rail • Erith Notting Hill Genesis • Keltbray National Theatre • Secret Cinema The Shangri-La Hotel ... AND MANY Sainsbury’s MORE! APCOA Parking Guys and St Thomas’ NHS Trust Multiplex Marks & Spencer
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 11
Working with the Southwark Council to create a vibrant, inclusive, mixed-use development at Canada Water
Find out more at: www.canadawatermasterplan.com www.britishland.com
British Land
An update from the Canada Water Masterplan team Thrive - a low-cost, multi-functional maker and flexible co-working space run by charity Tree Shepherd - has re-opened its doors after closing during Covid-19. It is returning to help support Canada Water’s small businesses and local entrepreneurs with a safe working space.
We know that the past few months have been difficult and that these uncertain times will have a very real, material impact on people’s lives not least for Southwark’s smaller businesses and local entrepreneurs. That is why we wanted to share the news that Thrive, located in an old restaurant in Surrey Quays Leisure Park, has recently reopened its doors with new COVID safety and security features including individual offices. Thrive originally launched in February 2019 in partnership with local charity Tree Shepherd, quickly becoming a platform for local small businesses and individuals to connect and support each other, as well as the wider Southwark business community. While it continued to support local entrepreneurs during the crisis by offering business advice remotely, we are delighted to have supported
Tree Shepherd in introducing social distancing measures, meaning that Thrive is once again able to provide its full range of services. The partnership has turned an empty unit into a flexible coworking space, providing local residents and businesses with meeting rooms, makerspace and super-fast Wi-Fi, as well as access to free professional business advice and mentoring, networking events and start-up training workshops. We’ve been partnering with Tree Shepherd since 2018, although the organisation has also been running a similar workspace in Tulse Hill and other projects which support entrepreneurs across London with low incomes since 2015. What we have found from our work over the years is that the key to ensuring that smaller businesses progress to the next stage in their development has been the ability to access ongoing support and space to work. We are therefore hoping not only that Thrive can continue the fantastic success it achieved during its first year in operation, during which it had attracted over 40 new members, but that the reopening will play its part in supporting the recovery here in Canada Water post-lockdown. This includes providing a costeffective and flexible space that local SE16 entrepreneurs and small businesses who are unable to afford office space, can use to return to working again.
How to access the space and business support Thrive is currently open three days a week to the public (Monday to Wednesday and seeking to expand when conditions allow) and offers 24/7 access for entrepreneurs renting individual offices and who are key holders. It is accessible on a membership basis, with daily and monthly passes set at rates affordable to those on low incomes. Thrive also has a number of meeting spaces which can be booked on a daily or half-daily basis. Thrive has also received additional support from the Southwark Chamber of Commerce.
While it is primarily aimed at SE16 residents and focused on entrepreneurs and small local businesses, it is open to others in the area who are in need of its services. If you know someone who might be interested in using the Thrive space or accessing its business support programmes, then please email the Thrive team at info@treeshepherd.org.uk or call 020 3948 3020. You can also see the latest at @TreeShepherdUK on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
To find out more about the Canada Water Masterplan please check our website www.canadawatermasterplan.com Likewise, you can follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to get regular updates on the project. Should you have any questions or would like to be added to the mailing list to receive direct updates about the project, please get in touch by emailing team@canadawatermasterplan.com.
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 13
Business broadband your way
Hyperoptic launches UK’s most flexible full fibre broadband contracts for business
Across Southwark, thousands of businesses are making the difficult adjustment to the ‘new normal.’ For many, this will involve changing premises as they downsize offices as staff opt to work from home on a more permanent basis.
LIGHT
In many other places in the UK, this type of change could be met with an unexpected obstacle – shifting broadband supplier. There will be the initial financial pain of leaving a contract early. This will then be compounded by the inevitable wait to be connected in the new office. In fact, the issue with waiting for a connection date is one of the biggest reasons that businesses delay their office move. However, businesses in Southwark are in much better position. Back in 2018, Hyperoptic – disruptive broadband supplier - signed an agreement with Southwark Council to roll out its full fibre network across the length and breadth of the borough. This means that the vast majority of commercial buildings in Southwark already have access to our full fibre service, the gold standard of connectivity, which offers symmetrical broadband speeds of 1,000 Mbps.
be purchased with just 30 days-notice required to cancel or change – ideal for organisations changing premises with the increase in flexible working, or businesses that need short term connectivity. The 150 Mbps, 500 Mbps and 1 Gbps packages come with symmetrical upload and download speeds - vital for businesses using cloud-based services, including video conferencing. Prices for rolling contracts start at just £65 per month for the 150 Mbps package, £120 for 500 Mbps and £200 for the top tier 1 Gbps speeds. All packages are subject to a £150 activation fee.
The world of work is changing. Now, more than ever, businesses need LIGHT the highest speeds, alongside complete flexibility. We are proud to be setting the bar and offering these new services to businesses in Southwark. But don’t just take our word for it. Hyperoptic was named 2019’s ‘Best Business Broadband’ provider at the Internet Services Providers’ Association awards, which is run the UK’s Trade Association for providers of Internet services. We are also rated ‘excellent’ on Trustpilot with thousands of 5-star reviews, which is significantly higher than all the mainstream broadband suppliers.
If you are interested in finding out more, just visit: https://www.hyperoptic.com/business/
To sweeten the situation even further, we have also launched the UK’s most flexible full fibre broadband packages for businesses. Our packages, which range from 150 Mbps to 1 Gbps, can
14 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
“The world of work is changing. Now, more than ever, businesses need the highest speeds, alongside complete flexibility. We are proud to be setting the bar and offering these new services to businesses in Southwark.”
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Call us on 0203 318 8216 or visit hyperoptic.com/business Prices shown are for monthly rolling packages (30 day’s notice required to cancel) and exclude VAT. Other contract terms are available. 1Gb speed is not achievable by a single device over wifi. If you are looking for a 1Gbps connection to a single device, a wired connection is required. Same download and upload speed applies to 150Mb, 500Mb and 1Gb services. 50Mb download and 5Mb upload speed applies to 50Mb service. Trustpilot rating correct as of 01/9/2020. Please see our website for full Terms & Conditions.
Skills
We’re delighted to be welcoming students to LSBU Business School once again This September marks the start of the new academic year. Usually, campus is buzzing with students, both those returning and those starting with LSBU.
16 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
Skills
Research focus: What’s been the effect of lockdown on employees?
How can LSBU Business School support your businesses?
Whilst we’ve continued to work remotely, our research hasn’t stopped over the past few months, either. For LSBU Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Professor Karin Moser, COVID-19 provided an opportunity to look at how full lockdown affected UK employees wellbeing and productivity at work. Joint with academic colleagues, her research shows how remote work generally leads to greater fatigue and more need for recovery compared to onsite work – or ‘zoom fatigue’. It also shows - and explains why – some types of digital communication, like video calls (called synchronous) is more tiring than others emails, texts, chats (known as asynchronous) as it requires higher self-control and emotion regulation. This means that remote work poses much higher self-regulation demands on employees compared to onsite office work.
This year, we’ve been looking at the best way to introduce our students back to LSBU in a safe way; some facilities are open, whilst we’re taking a blended approach to teaching with remote and on-campus teaching.
Staying safe on campus There will be some face-to-face activities for all students, but only in an environment where we can ensure safety through social distancing. We’ve put detailed measures in place to keep our campus COVID-19 secure, including full risk assessments, one-way systems, protective screens, enhanced cleaning, fewer people on-site, 2 metre social spacing in teaching rooms, and hand gel dispensers available in all buildings. We’re pleased to be welcoming our students back.
As a result of these findings, the research makes a set of recommendations. This includes that employers need to be aware that their employees need adequate recovery from the demands of remote work, with things like additional breaks, no working after hours, shut down of online devices or phones and a healthy work-life balance. It also recommends that employers support healthy recovery from remote works, for example with sports, family time, off-screen activities and dedicated at home work space where possible. In particular, it also notes that employees who already have other high self-regulation demands, such as those with caring or family responsibilities and/or existing health issues, are especially in danger of high depletion and fatigue and need further additional support. To find out more about Professor Karin Moser’s work, please see lsbu.ac.uk/BusinessSchool
Throughout lockdown, we’ve provided support to local businesses through our Business Solutions Centre and through our student placements. Many of our students have been working with business - both on-site and remotely. With many things still in-flux, some businesses may be looking for temporary solutions to support their needs. Many of our Business School students are actively looking for placements and provide a fantastic solution to business challenges, whether that’s for a year, a month or somewhere in between. Our students are skilled in many areas, and businesses can benefit from their tech-savvy skills or the application of their academic knowledge. With courses in accounting, business, economics and marketing, our students want experience and provide an ideal, skilled solution to business needs. LSBU Business School Commercial Student Experience Partner, Lyn Hamblin, works closely with businesses and students, matching needs and skills. Lyn is also able to help with job analysis and job design, identifying the skills your business would benefit from. She is also able to support with pre-selection, easing the recruitment process for you.
Get in touch To discuss your business needs and find out more about our talent pool, please contact Lyn Hamblin at lyn.hamblin@lsbu.ac.uk
To find out more about LSBU and our start dates in January 2021, join us at one of our virtual events: lsbu.ac.uk/open
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 17
Southwark Open for Business
Southwark is open and ready for business! Back in March, time seemed to stop as COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation. Many non-essential businesses such as shops, restaurants, theatres and bars temporarily closed their doors as the UK went into lockdown.
Now, however, there are signs of optimism on the horizon. Large swathes of the business community have opened up again and there is much-needed activity on the high streets. Locally, companies in Southwark are keen to promote the message that they are very much open and ready for business. Bodytonic Clinic London reopened on June 1 to offer osteopathy and massage services, and since then has been able to reintroduce its health and beauty services. Although not at full capacity due to COVID-19 security measures, the clinic has gradually seen business recover and hopes this trend will continue now that more people are returning to work and schools have reopened. Clinic director James Gill said: “As a medical clinic we have to follow Public Health England (PHE), General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and Institute of Osteopathy guidelines in order to become COVID-19 secure. We already implement infection control measures and alcohol hand sanitisation measures in the clinic. We have had to introduce social distancing, face masks, fallow time between appointments – in other words, the aeration rest time between patients – and provide full PPE Osteopathy at bodytonic clinic
18 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
Southwark Open for Business for our therapists. These have been easy to implement and the team has adapted brilliantly to the new changes and challenges. In addition to this, we have also had to remove all touchpoints within the clinic but this has given us an opportunity to go digital in lots of aspects. “Whilst a lot of the measures needed for COVID-19 security were already in place, the lockdown enabled us to review the business, take stock and plan for the future. We’ve gone cashless, we’ve systemised all our admin so the registration forms are online and we’ve introduced a self-check-in system. The fallow time has also allowed for a better daily working pattern which all of the team have enjoyed. We’ve been able to implement these policies and procedures without losing our patient-centred and customerfocused approach that we’ve always had. We’ve also introduced virtual appointments conducted over video call and these have been really successful.”
The Dixon, London
Another business that’s recovering from COVID-19 and stepping up trade is The Dixon hotel in Tower Bridge. The business has adapted its offering for the staycation market and is seeing a weekly increase in bookings for the upcoming months, especially around Where culinary provenance the key seasonal holiday dates such as Christmas 2020 and Easter 2021.
EAT, DRINK & INDULGE meets timeliness grandeur.
When it comes to inspiring dining and drinking experiences, there are
Hasham Soliman. general manager at We’ve added to this rich tapestry with two few cities to match London. the hotel, says: “Our opportunities lie in outstanding venues – Provisioners restaurant and our Courtroom bar. appealing to different audiences that are menu, limiting the need to touch items more locally focused. One example of The menu at Provisioners reflects its surroundings, combining unnecessarily. We’ve also increased the how we’ve been able to leverage this frequency of the cleanliness timeless classics with modern flavours. At the Courtroom bar procedures you’ll was by joining the government’s Eat Out for cocktails, public spaces and individual a fantastic to be sipped in anbedrooms. to Help Outfind campaign and selection promotingof delicious atmosphere of wood-panelled heritage. our Courtroom Bar and Provisioners “We ensure all these details are reviewed Team learning at restaurant located within the hotel. frequently and adapted depending on bodytonic clinic the latest government guidelines and we “The safety of our guests has always With regards to future trading, James actively encourage guests to give feedback been our number one priority and in a is quietly confident whilst remaining so we can continue to strive for perfection pandemic, even more so. Our staff go pragmatically cautious. when providing our services. to extreme lengths to ensure that the hotel is as clean as it possibly can be. “Located in the heart of Southwark, “People want face-to-face, hands-on We have contactless IR scanners to check The Dixon is a hotel infused by the vibrant treatment so there will always be a individuals’ temperatures as soon as they culture and creativity that makes up the need for our services,” he says. arrive and we promote the download of unique fabric of SE1. The hotel is placed “We’ve returned to work in a sensible the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programme amongst cultural icons such as Tower manner and have been able to bring Steeped in history, The Dixon is a fine Bridge, examplethe of 19th prior to a guest’s stay as it enables them Tate Century Modern,architecture. Southbank back the whole team, and we’re already A former magistrates court station, fusingMarket, subtle references to to check into their room virtually andand policeand Borough which is especially hiring new team members to expand our heritage with beautiful modern décor. The Grade II listed building is gain access via a contactless key card. popular with tourists. The Dixon ais inspired the services that we provide. QR codes are placed around the hotel truly stunning venue with a plethora ofbyoriginal detailsart, andmusic features located the history, and theatre “We haveprovenance clinics in other boroughs culinary meets timeliness so guestsgrandeur. can scan order from that walk shapeaway the from vibrant neighbourhood within theand heart of SE1, just a few minute’s Tower Bridge – and I have to say that, from our the Provisioners anda perfect Courtroom bar for your photographs. and hold such energy!” creating backdrop experience, Southwark is a very
A BESPOKE WEDDING TAILORED FOR YOU
AT, DRINK & INDULGE
e
t comes to inspiring dining and drinking experiences, there are business-friendly and supportive borough es to match We’ve added to this rich tapestry with two to work London. in. Financial support and initiatives “The hospitality were well–implemented andrestaurant quick to ding venues Provisioners and our Courtroom bar.
industry is fighting back after being hit harder than most in the pandemic. Hotels pubs and access. We’ve been updated with useful information all the way so communication restaurants that managed to innovate during these last nu at Provisioners its surroundings, combining has been great!reflects It’s fantastic to be in a borough that is business friendly; s classics with modern flavours. At the Courtroom you’ll are the ones that are making the strongest few bar months it gives us confidence and helps with antasticourselection of delicious cocktails, to be sipped in annow.” recovery plans to invest and grow.”
here of wood-panelled heritage.
Dixon 210x270 Ad.indd 1
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 19
Southwark Open for Business
Paladar - Wine selection
Paladar’s main concern is that operations could be reduced or shut down again if the virus spreads again during the winter months. However, the company believes that if it can get through this winter intact, its long-term future is bright.
Paladar - Food selection
“We’ve adopted extra cleaning and hygiene procedures behind the scenes with anti-viral cleaning agents and have plenty of alcohol hand sanitisers at strategic points throughout the restaurant for use by staff and guests. We’ve lost about 25% of our capacity by spacing the tables further apart and got rid of the tablecloths.
The hospitality industry is fighting back after being hit harder than most in the pandemic. Hotels pubs and restaurants that managed to innovate during these last few months are the ones that are making the strongest recovery now. Paladar, a vibrant restaurant serving Latin American cuisine in the heart of London, temporarily closed its doors on March 17 but quickly adapted to offer a local orderand-collect/deliver service. The business also opened a retail wine/spirit shop before reopening for dining in on July 4. Charles Tyler, director of Paladar London, says: “We really did not know what to expect when we re-opened in July. We anticipated some pent-up demand from diners eager to get back to restaurants, but equally we were aware that there would be many guests who would be nervous about going out again. Having the garden with outside tables has been a big benefit and we were pleased that business was actually quite brisk during August - partly thanks to the Chancellor’s Eat Out to Help Out deal.
Charles says: “We see a great future for Paladar. We already have a loyal following and our reviews continue to be great, so we’re obviously giving diners an experience that they love. The borough of Southwark seems to be increasingly friendly towards businesses and strikes a great balance between business and residential guests.
Wherever possible we seat guests outside (weather permitting) and we now have single-use paper menus where we collect track and trace information for all guests. We also went cashless back in June, with contactless payment wherever possible.” We review our practices every couple of weeks and if we see the COVID risk increasing, we may start to implement the wearing of PPE for staff – something we have tried to avoid to date. We are upgrading our reservation system and till system to make better use of technology and we’re using automation where we can behind the scenes, whilst still keeping our personal touch with guest service. We’re also looking at new business lines, such as boosting our retail wine sales.”
20 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
Peter Mantell
Peter Mantell Interim Chairman at Southwark Chamber of Commerce, adds: “We know that businesses have been through a lot in recent months but there are signs that the wheels of commerce are turning once again. The Chamber will continue to offer assistance, advice and guidance to businesses wherever possible as collectively we try to sustain an economic recovery.”
“We really did not know what to expect when we re-opened in July. We anticipated some pent-up demand from diners eager to get back to restaurants, but equally we were aware that there would be many guests who would be nervous about going out again.”
Sleep, Eat & Work
CitySpace
We are so used to hotel lobbies and lounges being filled with guests enjoying afternoon teas and hearing the clinking of glasses as the cork pops from another bottle of fizz ... not at CitySpace. With their newest location just opened in Bermondsey, following their original one in Borough, they have created an offering that focuses on what really matters to guests: SLEEP, EAT & WORK! Lounges and most public spaces have been carefully and tastefully designed into a space thatlends itself to a perfect working environment. Their offering covers anything from a hot-desk, private offices and meeting rooms available to book by the hour. Staff are on site to offer that full support if and when you need it or simply arrive checkin and get on with your day’s WORK. They offer well-equipped and tastefully designed hotel bedrooms for both long and short stay with studio apartments available at their Bermondsey location. The CitySpace founder and owner (Michael O’Brien), plus his team members all stem from the hospitality industry boasting a wealth of experience.
Their vision is rooted in creating SOPHISTICATED boutique spaces which are designed with CONSIDERATION and CHARACTER. To create strong supportive COMMUNITIES for members along with GENEROUS flexible workspaces. Michael O’Brien commented that “Our lives are ever changing, and we often struggle to find a perfect balance between work and personal life with both encroaching on each other, but our offering allows that to happen in a more seamless and stress free surrounding”.
home may seem the ideal choice but there are often too many distractions and the quietness of a workspace is required in order to discuss important matters with clients or colleagues and achieve those weekly goals.
SLEEP, EAT orWORK at CitySpace.
city-space.com
Members of the workspace get heavily discounted rates on both hotel stays and dining options. Working from
Where members and guests can FOCUS, THINK, FEEL, PLAN, CREATE & EXPERIENCE what they want, how they want.
city-space.com @ourcityspace
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 21
Grown Up Recruitment Here at Amdas, we measure success by end results. These are the results we deliver to clients and candidates. Our results are generated by the four core values of our company culture. Each team member has been selected for their ability to work autonomously, take a logical approach, be open minded and to listen.
Let our experienced team help you. Client or a candidate, we can assure you that you will have one, consistent point of contact throughout your recruitment journey. Each Amdas consultant is a hands on, 360 recruiter. Each recruiter operates in their own niche sector. As a team, we operate on the principle that clients prefer one Key Account Manager (KAM). We have structured the business to this effect. Our sector specialists can resource in their given discipline using their market expertise, but will work in conjunction with your KAM. Therefore, if you have requirements outside of your KAM’s discipline, they will consult with another sector specialist. They will then utilise their specific knowledge to resource the most suitable candidates. In addition to our specialists, our team has the advantage of people joining through training programmes. These people have developed into niche specialists with the support of experienced consultants and the directors of Amdas who continue to manage the business and operate in their own recruitment specialisms. Candidates who register with us will benefit from our commitment to ascertaining their priorities and career ambitions. We cannot guarantee that we will always find them a job. However, we will do our utmost to assist them to secure the perfect role. We can assure you that you will receive honest advice, delivered by capable consultants whose skills have been honed through cyclical recruitment markets.
Delivering the best London talent
+44 (0) 203 814 3600
www.amdas.co.uk
AMDAS
Expert Cyber Security Q&A with Daniel Malkoun
... get cyber ready!
Q1. What have companies had to consider in terms of data privacy during the Covid-19 isolation and the return to work? A number of actions have had to be taken by employers, including the management of sensitive staff data surrounding redundancy, furloughing, and secure home working. Now employers must consider how to migrate some employees back to physical office yet retain flexible working. Redundancy and furlough both require the staff’s personal data to be kept with additional security, as must any “Covid-19 data”, which may be needed to understand travel history and who has tested positive. If you are making staff redundant, you must recover IT assets (laptops and smartphones typically) which will be loaded with commercial and personally sensitive data. IF you cannot retrieve these assets, have you enabled them to be wiped remotely?
The Dark Web is where hackers and even opportunistic cleaners sell, and scammers buy email addresses and passwords. Everything there has a price in BitCoin - hence its rise in value. We can search the Dark Web for you to see if you have been compromised. Q3. What is the G-Cloud and why should I be aware of it? Government Cloud Computing (also called the G-Cloud Digital Marketplace) is a U.K. government programme to promote government-wide adoption of cloud computing.
Q6. How much does it cost to become GDPR Compliant? As shown in the graph, about 60% of businesses spent less than £10,000 on compliance. We estimate it would cost roughly half that for a reasonably run SME business.
The initiative focuses on cloud computing’s capability for economic growth, capitalizing on cloud’s cost savings and flexibility to create a more efficient, accessible means of delivering public services.
It is 1 of 3 layers of the Worldwide Web:
Companies wishing to do business with Government agencies will need to be compliant and gaining Cyber Essentials certification will be a key part in whether you can do business in this arena in the immediate future.
Surface Web – comprised of search engines and all freely available information.
Q4. Will the GDPR still apply when we leave the EU?
Deep Web – all the data deliberately hidden from the public.
As per the ICO guidance, the default position is the GDPR will be brought into UK law as the ‘UK GDPR’, but there may be further developments about how we deal with particular issues such as UK-EU transfers.
Q2. What is the Dark Web?
Dark Web – Government sponsored and covert. Used by spies, whistle-blowers, journalists, Drug dealers, arms dealers and child pornographers.
A Dark Web Report would give you the reassurance your company has not been hacked, which costs £50 for each time we run the report.
Q5. How can I stay safe and become GDPR compliant and/or cyber safe? • Perform a GDPR gap analysis and implement the results • Have a Cyber Attack Plan in place and understand how to recover and escalate any data breaches
GDPR Baseline Questionnaire allows a full report with recommendations, which we will refund from any further work, will cost £500. We estimate it will take, on average, 5 to 10 days to become compliant. A Cyber Attack Plan would cost you less than £1,000 for the audit and recommendations.
For more information please review: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/dataprotection-and-brexit/information-rights-andbrexit-frequently-asked-questions/
• Become Cyber Essentials certified
We have a simple baseline questionnaire to help you understand where you need to invest to become compliant.
To guarantee you never have ransomware issues, we use Sentry Defender, which ensures you will be covered by a ransom guarantee. This cost is £14.97 pcm per machine. We believe in our products that we back them with our PI insurance, offering you significant peace of mind.
For more information please look on our website @ https://privacy-specialists.com/keeping-you-safe/ or contact us at DanielMalkoun@amdas.co.uk
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 23
EAT, DRINK & INDULGE Where culinary provenance meets timeliness grandeur. When it comes to inspiring dining and drinking experiences, there are few cities to match London. We’ve added to this rich tapestry with two outstanding venues – Provisioners restaurant and our Courtroom bar. The menu at Provisioners reflects its surroundings, combining timeless classics with modern flavours. At the Courtroom bar you’ll find a fantastic selection of delicious cocktails, to be sipped in an atmosphere of wood-panelled heritage.
A BESPOKE WEDDING TAILORED FOR YOU Steeped in history, The Dixon is a fine example of 19th Century architecture. A former magistrates court and police station, fusing subtle references to our heritage with beautiful modern décor. The Grade II listed building is a truly stunning venue with a plethora of original details and features located within the heart of SE1, just a few minute’s walk away from Tower Bridge – creating a perfect backdrop for your photographs.
211 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2JX info@thedixon.co.uk +44 (0) 203 959 2900
Passionfruit Sherbet and Smouldering Tobacco
Lant St Wine Merchants in Southwark By Susan Isaacs Arts and Restaurant Correspondent As we rolled the lovely sweet white dessert wine round our mouths, we thought of the whole village that had got up at three in the morning to pick the grapes when they were frozen. That is the optimum time to preserve the very sweet acidity and sweet smell. The wine - a classic Austrian dessert wine - Eiswein Gruner Veltliner 2014 by Weinreider - the wine merchant - Lant Street Wine, an outstanding company, located in what was once a cork factory, just a minutes walk from Borough Underground Station. The street is famous for having housed a teenage Charles Dickens, when he slaved in a blacking factory nearby. Lant St Wine have been able to continue through lockdown, delivering wines and keeping the beautiful shop open. I was incredibly impressed that within an hour of speaking to development manager Louis Cotier, Ben Wilcock the director arrived personally on our doorstep, with a wonderful selection of wines for us to sample. We loved them all. There was a Cote du Rhone 2019 Maison Plantevin tasting of buds of cassis, and strawberry jam. Then there were two wines from a familyrun vineyard in New Zealand, a Savignon Blanc 2018 Waipara West and the Ram Paddock
Red 2014 Waipara West. The Sauvignon mingled passionfruit sherbet, strawberry jam, and sweet florals, and the Ram Paddock, a deep purple colour, had notes of dark chocolate and smouldering tobacco. And of course, sweetest of all was the Eiswein Gruner Veltliner 2014 Weinreider. The company is run by father and son David and Ben Wilcock, and they and all their staff bring an enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the whole world of wine making that is infectious. I loved hearing that oak barrels give wine a vanilla flavour, while steel barrels give it a clean crisp taste. They have a very close relationship with a vineyard in New Zealand, so they have detailed knowledge of every part of wine production, right through from the soil it is grown in, to the distribution system that puts a delicious glass in your hand on a Friday night. Wines come from all over the world, but it was heartening to hear that English sparkling wines are on the up.
Images by Oskar Proctor
The shop itself is beautifully designed with a black and white marble floor, oak cabinets, and steps that wind up into the distance. Jermaine Gallacher is a designer who provides the furniture, so that you can buy the very chair you are sitting on. One of the main advantages they enjoy is the tremendous storage space they have in central London, which enables them to stock a wide range of wines and sell to other
distributors. Although they have kept steady retail sales right through the pandemic, they have of course been affected by the restaurant closures. But with the beautiful wines they stock, and the atmospheric historic setting, Lant Street Wine is thriving. It may take a whole village to pick the grapes for their wines, at three in the morning. But it will be more than a village that will drink them.
‘I was incredibly impressed that within an hour of speaking to development manager Louis Cotier, Ben Wilcock the director arrived personally on our doorstep, with a wonderful selection of wines for us to sample. We loved them all.’ Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 25
R E S TA U R A N T
-
WINE & SPIRIT SHOP
Discover award-winning creative Latin American cuisine and fine wines in the heart of London SE1
Please quote “Southwark Chamber of Commerce discount” to receive a 25% discount* on food at lunch or early dinner Monday-Friday.
Bookings for Christmas now being taken! PALADAR, 4-5 LONDON ROAD, LONDON SE1 6JZ 020 7186 5555
paladarlondon.com
* Offer not available in December and on the Set Lunch Menu.
Voice from Westminster
VOICE from WESTMINSTER Confidence is key in moving forward Neil Coyle MP 2020 has not been a kind year to people or business. I was deeply saddened when I heard that the Chair of Southwark Chamber of Commerce, Les Johnson, had passed away. Les was a bustling champion of Southwark businesses and always sought the best for our local community. Les will be much missed and had a lot more to offer. I am grateful to Richard Kalmar and Peter Mantell for taking on the leadership of the Chamber at this difficult time. I am still trying to help businesses through this crisis. The restrictions put in place to help tackle the spread of the coronavirus are slowly being lifted. The limitations were crucial to prevent the overwhelming of our NHS and many believe the lockdown came too late – a fortnight after the Government agreed it was required, months after the World Health Organisation recommended it, and the UK sadly has experienced the highest excess death toll in Europe. The nation’s sacrifice was essential, but the awful effect has hit business hard, especially in north Southwark where we usually have far more commuters through London Bridge working in local offices and supporting many other local businesses. I know the VAT reduction and ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ have helped some businesses affected. There are also many thousands
of employees across the borough who have been supported by the furlough and Self Employment Income Support Scheme. I am very nervous about the ending of those schemes soon and hope Ministers agree to sector by sector extensions where necessary, including in hospitality and leisure. I am also trying to secure help for local cultural treasures from the funding being allocated by Arts Council England. I hear from businesses and other local employers, especially schools, that confidence is key going forward. People need to know that testing is working and that tracking and tracing will be effective to tackle localised outbreaks. Germany was testing 500,000 people daily months ago, but the UK Government has systematically failed to meet far lower targets. Ministers have also granted millions of pounds in public contracts to close associates who have failed to deliver, whilst legitimate and experienced businesses have not been able to bid for services. The track and trace app has been abandoned and the
only ‘world class’ title the Government has earned is for their bragging in the face of human and economic catastrophe. Public confidence in the Government and its response to covid has plummeted, leaving businesses worse off, even after the 20% drop in the economy earlier this year. Low confidence affects people’s willingness to return to work and other routines, including to local cafés and bars. This could cause even higher unemployment; it has already doubled since the start of the lockdown sadly, tripling for under 25s. Ministers must not allow further steep rises in unemployment or more economic damage, especially with Brexit looming closer and more suffering likely to follow. Johnson said negotiations would conclude in July. His word, as ever, became worthless almost overnight. If you have concerns about the effects of coronavirus and/or Brexit and your Southwark business, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
‘The nation’s sacrifice was essential, but the awful effect has hit business hard, especially in north Southwark where we usually have far more commuters through London Bridge working in local offices and supporting many other local businesses.’ Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 27
Remembering when...
Remembering when...
there were great Social and Economic challenges between WWI and WWII By Ken Hayes - Honorary Membership Secretary When WWI ended in 1918 Great Britain was struck by an Influenza pandemic. The British economy had suffered from the enormous cost of the War, (£50M a day) and had also failed to modernise their industries away from coal power to oil power, as the other industrial countries had. Oil was more efficient than coal and Britain had huge reserves of coal but no oil and had been at war with Germany and her allies since 1914. The years between the wars are mainly remembered for the food poverty caused by the economic downturn and high unemployment. This led to industrial unrest and Trade Union strikes and Hunger Marches. By August 1920 there were 1.5 million unemployed men and unemployment did not fall below 1 million until the outbreak of WWII. By 1932 it had risen to 3 million. The Unemployment Insurance Act of 1911 gave unemployment benefit, was increased in 1920 from five shillings a week to seven shillings per week. (There were 20 shillings to £1 and the average skilled wage, for example, was £2 per week for a Bricklayer and £1 per week for a Building Labourer). Those in work did not have to contribute to this fund and it became known as being on
‘the Dole’. The age children had to stay in education was raised from 12 to 14 years. More housing was built as the Addison Housing Act of 1919 provided funding to build 213,000 new houses and the Wheatly Act in 1924 gave councils money to build affordable housing. As with all economic recessions there were winners, but more losers and some areas like the North of England suffered more than other areas of Britain. The Cinematograph Act of 1909 had led to the growth of cinemas in urban areas, which had a detrimental effect on Theatres, especially Variety Theatres. Up to the end of WWI there were only silent moving films, but the addition of a soundtracks to movies gave cinemas a new lease of life in the 1920’s. The Motor industry was expanding with the mass production of cars, which created steady employment and made cars and holidays an affordable option for more people. Those who had jobs were able to afford to buy radios and gramophones and go to the cinema. Life was good and became known as the Roaring Twenties. Cheap mortgages became available so more people could afford to own their own homes. Britain led the world in shipbuilding and industry, but during the War a lot of this was lost to America and
Japan. Southwark was one of the most industrial parts of London. The Port of London brought in raw goods for the manufacturing industries. Leather making, Canning, Brewing, Hat manufacturing, Jam making to name but a few. During the war exports had declined considerably due to the war and these markets had to be regained. The Coal Miners’ strike in 1921, which lasted 3 months made matters worse. The Strike did not resolve the Miners grievances and led to the General Strike of 1926 whichbegan on 3rd May and was called off on 12th May. The Miners felt they had been betrayed and stayed on strike for another six months. The Wall Street Stock Market Crash in 1929 wiped out all the economic gains of the Roaring Twenties and Britain like the rest of the world went into the Depression. The North of England was again the worst hit area of Britain in the depression. Ramsey MacDonald’s Government, elected in 1929, resigned in 1931 and a National Government was formed. An election was called, which was won by the National government coalition. Matters gradually improved until the outbreak of WWII in 1939, when you could say Britain jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
Life changed dramatically during the Inter-War period. Mass production had reduced the cost of goods, Aviation was being developed, home ownership had increased. All men over the age of 21 and women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote, and Television was invented. Life would never be the same as it was previously. Covid-19 will undoubtedly change how we live our lives in the future and hopefully we have learnt not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
28 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
Remembering when...
‘The Wall Street Stock Market Crash in 1929 wiped out all the economic gains of the Roaring Twenties and Britain like the rest of the world went into the Depression.” Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 29
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Health & Wellbeing
Depression levels double during COVID pandemic The number of adults in the UK with depression has doubled during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report. Official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that almost one in five adults (19.2%) were likely to be experiencing some form of depression in June this year – almost double the 9.7% in the nine months from July 2019 to March 2020. One in eight adults (12.9%) developed moderate to severe depressive symptoms during the pandemic, while a further 6.2% of the population continued to experience this level of depressive symptoms. Only around one in 25 adults (3.5%) saw an improvement over this period. Of those experiencing some form of depression, 84.9% said feeling stressed or anxious was most strongly compromising their wellbeing. The results have raised concerns that more people will experience mental ill-health as emergency support measures
introduced by the government, including the furlough scheme and enhanced statutory sick pay, are wound down. Tim Vizard, principal research officer at the ONS, said: “The research provides an insight into the mental health of adults during the coronavirus pandemic. Revisiting this same group of adults before and during the pandemic provides a unique insight into how their symptoms of depression have changed over time. “Almost one in five adults were experiencing some form of depression during the
pandemic, almost doubling from around one in 10 before the pandemic. Adults who were young, female, unable to afford an unexpected expense or disabled were the most likely to experience some form of depression during the pandemic.” The research has heaped more pressure on employers to do more to protect the mental health and well-being of their workforce. It comes after a separate study by People Management and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) showed that two thirds
“The research provides an insight into the mental health of adults during the coronavirus pandemic. Revisiting this same group of adults before and during the pandemic provides a unique insight into how their symptoms of depression have changed over time.”
(67%) of employers found that managing employees’ fear and anxiety was their biggest challenge during the pandemic. Meanwhile, in the same survey, 70% of employers highlighted the challenge of ensuring staff were staying well both physically and mentally while working remotely. Research from Canada Life showed that almost half (46%) of British workers carrying out their jobs remotely during lockdown said they felt more pressure to be “present” for their employer and colleagues, with more than a third (35%) reporting they had continued to work despite feeling unwell. Of those who had worked through illness, 40% said this was because they didn’t feel they were sick enough to warrant a day off. However, more than a quarter (26%) also reported workload as a reason for not taking a day off, and 16% cited fear of redundancy.
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 31
5
Reasons to Join Us
GROW YOUR BUSINESS
THROUGH QUALITY NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Our broad range of members share advice, experience and peer support for business owners who want to take their business to the next level.
the diverse business demographic of Southwark. We help our members build strong commercial connections within London. We support them in being part of the Capital’s community and economy. Membership is great for networking and building your business.
Whether you are a sole trader, micro-business, a mid-sized firm or part of a global organisation, our members reflect
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4 Southwark Business Today
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JOIN TODAY Tel : 07477 581977
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Southwark Chamber of Commerce welcomes its latest member companies Peckham Soul
LXA
2 London Bridge, London SE1 9RE 0203 176 2375
Email: imogen.buxton@wearelxa.com
32 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
Studio BGB, Bussey Building & Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, London SE15 3SN 07952 716787 Email: info@peckhamsoul.co.uk
The Last Word
The Last Word
French, Italian, Spanish, German and Portuguese
Annette White Owner Osprey UK Associates Limited
Beginning Tuesday September 29th 2020 FULLY INTERACTIVE ONLINE VIA ZOOM The classes are for 10 weeks and are 45 minutes long. Friendly classes with lots of individual attention. Students come from firms including Linklaters, Norton Rose Fulbright, HSBC, the Bank of England, EY and PWC
Contact Susan on Susanelizabethisaacs@icloud.com Website: www.languages2000.co.uk
£195 for new students and £165 for returning students.
French
German
• Tuesday 08:00-08:45 French Advanced/ Higher Intermediate
• Wednesday 18:30-19:15 German Stage 1
• Wednesday 12:00-12:45 French Stage 1 • Wednesday 19:15-20:00 French Intermediate Grammar • Wednesday 20:00-20:45 French Intermediate Conversation
• Wednesday 08:00-08:45 German Stage 2 • Wednesday 12:45-13:30 German Advanced • Thursday 17.45-18.30 German Higher Intermediate
Spanish
• Thursday 12:00-12:45 French Beginners Plus
• Wednesday 01.30-2.15 Spanish Intermediate
• Thursday 13:30-14:15 French Advanced
• Wednesday 17.45-18.30 Spanish Stage 2
Italian • Tuesday 08:45-09:30 Italian Intermediate
• Thursday 18.30-19.15 Spanish Higher intermediate
• Wednesday 08:45-09:30 Italian Stage 1
• Wednesday 12.45- 1.30 Spanish Stage 1
• Thursday 12:45-13:30 Italian Advanced
Portuguese
• Thursday 17:00-17:45 Italian Stage 2
• Thursday 19:15-20:00 Beginners Portuguese
• Wednesday 17.00-17.45 Spanish Stage 1
The 45-minute classes cost £195 for all new students and £165 for all returning students. This is for a ten-week course. Refunds are not available, and the classes are very popular, but students may swap to other classes if available. Students are responsible for ensuring their own technology is working, but there are options to swap to other classes I look forward to welcoming new and returning students.
A passionate and trusted Consultant who thrives on delivering results for my clients. I broker and source off-market property deals, deal with high-end contemporary art and jewellery, source investments and manage Business-to-Business clients marketing strategy. My clients generally are from: Family Office, Wealth Management, UHNWI and Business-to-Business companies. I also believe it’s good to give back and have supported various charities and sit on the board of a local large charity in Luton.
Q1. What was your first job and what was the pay packet? My first role was working at Wickes DIY Store wearing a bright red overall which I use to detest wearing lol. My salary was minimum wage in 1987 but we use to get a lot of overtime!
Q2. If you were prime minister, what would be your first decision? My first decision now from a business perspective would be to put a plan in place for all those #forgottenltd small business owners and owner-directors. There are 5.8 million small businesses in the UK with 13 million employees contributing billions to the economy who have had no support from the government during Covid-19.
Q3. What is the biggest challenge in your business? My biggest challenge within my business at this moment, is finding the time to build my own website, as I have been so busy managing my clients’ websites and marketing. Fortunately, a lot of my work is via recommendation.
Q4. If you could do another job, what would it be? I have always adored fashion, so if I was starting out again, I would train as a fashion buyer. That would be an absolute dream job.
Q5. What’s your favourite London building? Ah, it has to be somewhere like the Tower of London. It is the oldest intact building in the capital.
Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 33
Join Us
Join Us The Chamber is made up of active and successful business people from a wide range of sectors, who are based in Southwark, believe in Southwark and wish Southwark to prosper.
Making the most of your SCC membership Successfully helping Southwark Businesses for 95 Years
Our Committee Interim Chairman Peter Mantell and Richard Kalmar
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
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
Company:
(MP for Camberwell and Peckham)
Address:
Patron The Worshipful Mayor of Southwark Patron Sir Simon Hughes
Post Code:
(Former MP)
Council and Community Representative Councillor Stephanie Cryan
Telephone:
(Cabinet Member for Jobs, Business and Innovation)
Email:
Executive Members
Vice Chair/Legal Advisor Vice Chair/Events Honorary Membership Secretary Honorary Treasurer Diversity and Inclusion Events Corporate Membership Membership Employment/ Apprenticeships Publicity Small Business Tourism and Leisure Education Welfare Administrator
Number of Employees:
Peter Mantell Richard Kalmar
Full Name:
Ken Hayes Karon Cook Shade Abdul Emily Bentley-Leek Edward Cree Katharine Glass / Claire Shore William Harwood Susan Isaacs Parminder Kanda James Kislingbury Sarah Moore-Williams Cait Wilkinson Sonia Sutton
Sole trader £100 per annum Small/Medium sized companies 2 to 50 employees £150 per annum Large companies - 51 employees plus £300 per annum Corporate/PLC’s by agreement. All new members pay a one off administration fee of £25
Position: Payment Details: BANK DETAILS: Handelsbanken SORT CODE: 40-51-62 ACCOUNT NO: 76489843
To join, please send your details to:
34 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY
Southwark Chamber of Commerce 169 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW Tel : 07477 581977 Email : admin@southwarkcommerce.com www.SouthwarkCommerce.com Twitter : @southwarkcomm Facebook : southwarkcommerce
UPDATES
INFORM ATION
We are conscious that the ongoing lockdown means we can’t see everyone in person at the moment. We’ve set-up a website in the meantime to provide you with updates on the design and construction of Elephant Park, as well as information on our latest planning applications. Visit elephantpark.commonplace.is to find out more and to sign up for regular updates. If you don’t have access to the internet, please call 020 3600 0001 or write to FREEPOST ICENI CONSULTATION* and we can arrange another way to update you.
*Please write address in uppercase. No stamp required.
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