Southwark Business Today Dec 23

Southwark

BUSINESS TODAY Official Magazine for Southwark Chamber of Commerce

ISSUE 44 | DECEMBER 2023

Patrick Gilmour

The ‘lightbulb’ moment that has led to a long career in law

INSIDE 25 new walking maps for Southwark Move more in 2024!

Voice from Westminster

Relationship Relationship Relationship banking banking banking with sustainable with sustainable with sustainable thinking thinking thinking

PERSONAL. EXPERT. LOCAL. PERSONAL. EXPERT. LOCAL. PERSONAL. EXPERT. LOCAL.

Rooted in community with Rooted in community with a prudent approach and Rooted in community with a prudent approach and unique decentralised model, a prudent approach unique decentralised model, we’re well placed to and make a unique decentralised model, we’re well placed to make a difference to our customers we’re well placed tofocus makeon a difference toWith our customers and society. a difference toWith our customers and society. a focuswe on long-term relationships and society.

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Would you like to experience Would you like to experience the Handelsbanken difference?

Would you like to experience the difference?

Call Handelsbanken London Bridge and Blackheath branch today on 020 7511 9830 the Handelsbanken difference?

Call London Bridge and Blackheath branch today on 020 7511 9830 Call London Bridge and Blackheath branch today on 020 7511 9830 handelsbanken.co.uk/londonbridge

handelsbanken.co.uk/londonbridge Handelsbanken is the trading name of Handelsbanken plc, which is incorporated in England and Wales with company number 11305395. Registered handelsbanken.co.uk/londonbridge

office: 3 Thomas More Square, London, E1W 1WY, UK. Handelsbanken plc is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by Handelsbanken is the trading name Handelsbanken plc, which is incorporated EnglandRegister and Wales with company number 11305395. the Financial Conduct Authority and of the Prudential Regulation Authority.

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Welcome

to Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

The Southwark Chamber of Commerce magazine for all businesses in Southwark.

Dear Members As an award-winning businessman born and raised in the London Borough of Southwark. I never thought I would see the day I would get a chance to give something back to the Southwark community I love.

I have been battling cancer and serious illnesses over the last 7 years. I am not out of the woods yet; however, it is time to give my knowledge and help the businesses of Southwark grow flourish and be successful.

With a committee of people with a can-do attitude anything is possible. I am honoured to step into the role as Acting Chair of the Chamber as it enters its 100th Anniversary.

As we say goodbye to the previous Chair Shade Abdul who has had to step back due to circumstances beyond her control. The Chamber has strength in depth within our committee to take the Chamber forward to new heights in its 100th year. The executive team has been bolstered by the arrival of a new administrator Maia Hazell, a social media officer Tiranke Diakite and the

Contents 5 7 12 14 18 23 24 25 26 27 28 31 32 33 33 34

Legal Up Front The Big Interview Local Business Spotlight Health & Wellbeing Skills Arts & Culture Remembering When Sport Voice from Westminster James Watkins LCCI Fostering Reasons to Join Chamber Events The Last Word Join Us

Enquiries Southwark Chamber of Commerce Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com Web: www.SouthwarkCommerce.com Editor Sarah Dale Email: Sarahdale@benhampublishing.com Contributing Editor Susan Isaacs Disclaimer Southwark Business Today is mailed without charge to all Chamber members and distributed to businesses in the Borough. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Southwark

welcome return of Sonia Sutton who has been working with the Chamber for nearly 25 years.

With ambitious plans to modernise the Chamber and grow the membership base we need three or four more volunteers to manage our corporate members and our “Links & Drinks” & “Lunch & Learn” events.

The committee and I are excited about what we can achieve in our 100th year. A new website is due to be launched in early 2024.

We can only shape the Chamber for the future with your help. Information advice and guidance is our modus operandi. Let us do it. Get involved for the greater good of the businesses in the London Borough of Southwark.

Enjoy the magazine!

Roderick Lynch Acting Chair Southwark Chamber of Commerce

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Publisher Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 admin@benhampublishing.com www.benhampublishing.com

Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in publication are not necessarily those of Southwark Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2023. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in

this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

31 Published December 2023 © Benham Publishing Advertising and Features Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com Studio David Wright Email: dave@benhampublishing.com Media No.1973

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 3

Business Services Headed by new Partner Patrick Gilmour

Talk to our experts for all your legal business needs

A multi-specialist law firm with a national reputation Contact us: T: 020 7940 4060 www.anthonygold.co.uk 4 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

The Beehive Coffee Tavern, 496 Streatham High Road, London SW16 3QB

The Cottons Centre 5th Floor, South-West Hay's Lane, London SE1 2QG

Legal

AI’s potential impact on contract writing in legal practice Patrick Gilmour Anthony Gold Solicitors

In the dynamic world of legal practice, the conversation around the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gained prominence. This blog explores the potential impact of AI on contract writing, envisioning a future where technological advances could reshape traditional drafting processes within legal firms such as Anthony Gold.

Revolutionising Traditional Contract Drafting For decades, contract drafting has relied on manual processes, requiring legal professionals to invest significant time and effort. The prospect of integrating AI into this domain raises exciting possibilities. By automating routine tasks, AI could revolutionise the drafting process, enabling legal experts to focus on more strategic and value-driven aspects of their work.

Unfortunately, the problem of AI “hallucinations” (whereby the AI invents stuff ) means that a legal expert still needs to check that the document correctly reflects the law, so the time saving is currently not as great as it might be. There is also the problem of client confidentiality. Many of these programs retain copies of data which would be a breach of solicitors’ professional duties.

Enhancing Efficiency and Precision AI’s prowess in swiftly analysing vast datasets brings the promise of expediting the drafting process without compromising accuracy. This efficiency boost could not only save time but would also allow legal professionals to allocate their skills more effectively were it not for the problems mentioned above. As we explore the potential of AI, we envision a future where our experts can deliver even more timely and precise legal solutions to our clients.

Customisation for Industry-Specific Needs The adaptability of AI to diverse industries is a compelling aspect of its potential impact on contract writing. Customisable solutions could tailor contracts to meet the unique demands

Image by Andrea Piacquadio @ pexels

of specific sectors at a lower cost than having a solicitor do this work. Although Anthony Gold Solicitors has not yet incorporated AI into contract drafting, the theoretical ability to align quicker and cheaper AI solutions with industryspecific needs is a future prospect that excites us.

Mitigating Risks and Ensuring Compliance The legal landscape is marked by complexities and regulatory intricacies. AI, in theory, can play a role in mitigating risks by staying abreast of evolving regulations. The potential to enhance compliance and reduce the risk of oversights is an aspect worth exploring in the evolving legal tech landscape.

Anthony Gold Solicitors: Navigating the Path to Legal Innovation At Anthony Gold Solicitors, we embrace the ongoing dialogue surrounding legal innovation.

While AI has not been integrated into our contract drafting processes, our commitment to

exploring advances that align with our values remains steadfast. By actively participating in conversations about the ethical and practical considerations of AI, we position ourselves to leverage future opportunities that benefit our clients and elevate our standards of legal excellence.

Conclusion As the legal landscape evolves, so does the potential for innovative solutions to enhance traditional practices. The theoretical impact of AI on contract writing offers an exciting glimpse into a future where greater efficiency, precision, and customisation take centre stage. At Anthony Gold Solicitors, we remain attuned to these possibilities, actively engaging in discussions and staying informed about emerging technologies. We look forward to the day when such advances align seamlessly with our commitment to delivering exceptional legal services to our clients.

The adaptability of AI to diverse industries is a compelling aspect of its potential impact on contract writing. Customisable solutions could tailor contracts to meet the unique demands of specific sectors at a lower cost than having a solicitor do this work.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 5

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Up Front

London’s first cross-borough network of safe havens launched by Lambeth and Southwark Lambeth and Southwark councils’ safe haven network is the first of its kind in London to cross borough boundaries in a joint bid to target harassment hotspot areas along their border.

Staff at the 39 licensed premises and other businesses in both boroughs undergo bespoke training with the Safer Business Network, a crime reduction agency.

Women who feel unsafe or have been harassed can get assistance at safe haven businesses, including staff helping organise safe transport home or calling family, friends or the police.

No.1 London Bridge in Southwark and Oasis Hub Waterloo in Lambeth belong to the scheme.

Dave Cox, Head of Security at London Bridge City, said: “London Bridge City aims to provide a welcoming, safe, and secure environment for all our customers and visitors. We recognise that this requires a multi-faceted and agile approach including embracing technology and supporting central and local government initiatives. We are pleased to help those in their time of need through Safe Havens on our estate.”

Ellie Wormald, Advice Centre Coordinator & National Lead Practitioner (Community Support) at Oasis Hub Waterloo, said: “The Oasis Centre mission is to provide a safe and accessible place for our local community to gather. Becoming a Safe Haven is a natural extension of this, and complements the holistic support provided

by Oasis – we’re really pleased to start this partnership.”

Cllr Dora Dixon-Fyle MBE, Southwark Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Women and girls feeling unsafe at night in London is

Four e-cargo bikes available for hire across Southwark

Image by Norbert Braun on Unsplash

nothing new. But historically, authorities have responded as if perpetrators and bad behaviour are bound by borders. We cannot tackle street harassment in isolation. Our joint approach with Lambeth means women are within easy distance of a safe haven across our border in known hotspots.”

Cllr Mahamed Hashi, Lambeth Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said: “Women and girls face on-street harassment and abuse regardless of where borough borders start and stop. The safety of women and girls is an issue we must tackle together, and the opening of our Safe Havens is another measure put in place to help support those who may be facing harassment or in need of help.

“The launch of our safe havens follows a programme of practical interventions we have established to deter perpetrators from harassing women and girls, such as dedicated street wardens and increased CCTV. We will continue to work together to prevent problem behaviours and support those affected by harassment and abuse.”

The new safe havens network is part of Lambeth and Southwark’s partnership work to tackle violence against women and girls in all forms.

This will initially focus on areas along the borough boundaries including London’s South Bank, Loughborough Junction, Denmark Hill and Camberwell, which were chosen after analysing crime data.

The scheme was designed specifically around women and girl’s safety, but safe havens are open to support anyone who is feeling vulnerable or needs help.

“We cannot tackle street harassment in isolation.

Our joint approach with Lambeth means women are within easy distance of a safe haven across our border in known hotspots.”

Four e-cargo bikes are now available to hire by businesses, community groups or individuals.

Southwark was the first London borough to introduce a community e-cargo bike share scheme and now has bikes available in Lordship Lane; East Dulwich; Walworth and Dulwich Village.

The scheme, run by Peddle My Wheels on behalf of Southwark Council, is similar to a car share scheme but for electric cargo bikes, which can be hired by the minute.

Café and bakery Louie Louie on Walworth Road has just started using the new Streets for People e-cargo bike.

Chris Greenwood, who runs four Louie Louie cafes around Southwark, said he uses the bikes to deliver baked goods between his main kitchen and bakery in Walworth and the other sites.

“It makes sense to me because everything is within cycling distance of our central kitchen and bakery,” he said.

“When we first looked at it, the cost of a cargo bike was high and we didn’t have secure storage, so we were worried about it being stolen. So instead we now hire cargo bikes when we need them.”

Cllr James McAsh, the council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Streets and Clean Air, said: “Cargo bikes are a great way of transporting goods across the borough – fast, cheap and good for our environment.

“It’s great to see a local business really embrace sustainable ways of transporting goods across the borough.

“As part of our ambitious Streets for People strategy, we’re supporting local businesses to switch to cargo bikes to help improve the air we breathe, reduce congestion and reliance on larger vehicles.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 7

Up Front

New additions mean over 50 school walking maps in Southwark To encourage more children and families to walk, cycle and scoot to school, Southwark Council has produced 25 new walking maps showing routes 10 and 15 minutes away from local schools.

In 2022, 27 walking maps were shared with schools and parents. They proved very popular so a further 25 have been created and were being sent to local schools during October, International Walk to School month.

The waterproof maps will be displayed at a prominent place either inside or outside the schools.

The first of the new walking maps was delivered to Rotherhithe Primary School which has been working closely with the council’s sustainable travel team and has just been awarded gold accreditation in the Transport for London STARS (Safety and Citizenship and TravelSmart) scheme. This inspires young Londoners to travel to school sustainably, actively, responsibly and safely by championing walking, scooting and cycling.

Pupils and parents at the school are delighted with the new maps. Hal Phillips walks with his mum every morning: “I like walking to school as a family as it gives us a nice chance to connect.

We really like doing things like spotting nature.

And it’s a quick way of getting to school without using a car.”

His mum, Dominique said: “We get to have a good chat, we enjoy walking through the park.

It’s a nice way to start and finish the day.”

Geovani Goncalves cycles with his son, Leo: “We live about a mile from here. We take a route through the park sometimes, which is nice. The maps are helpful as they guide us to the best routes.”

Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for the Climate Emergency, Clean Air and Streets, said: “Through Streets for People we are working to

improve the air we breathe in Southwark. We want to encourage more children and families to walk and cycle to and from school so we are investing in making it easier and safer. We have 28 School Streets schemes in place across the borough; these timed closures reduce congestion and air pollution outside schools, encouraging parents and pupils to walk, cycle, scoot or use other greener ways to travel. We aim to get at least three new schools signed up each year.”

The council is also improving access around schools, with wider pavements and improved paving benefiting people with prams, pushchairs or wheelchairs. In addition, 140 new pedestrian crossings have been put in over the last five years to make walking safer, with plans to install around 25 more before April 2024.

“Through Streets for People we are working to improve the air we breathe in Southwark. We want to encourage more children and families to walk and cycle to and from school so we are investing in making it easier and safer.”

The new Kingswood Library in Dulwich has reopened Kingswood Library has reopened in its new permanent home on Seeley Drive on Kingswood Estate.

The new community facility includes a contemporary library for adults and children, a dedicated children’s area for story times, free WiFi and internet access, seating and study space and an outdoor reading area.

The team will be working in partnership with Kingswood Arts to deliver library related activities and events at Kingswood House.

These include additional study space during busy exam periods, digital drop in sessions,

8 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

IT learning sessions, reading groups and conversation cafes, additional children’s events, story/rhyme time, Bookstart sessions and homework clubs for young people. There will also be a new programme of activities for young people starting soon on the estate.

The library held a special open day on 30th September with free arts and crafts, storytelling and poetry reading.

Councillor Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Leisure and Parks, said: “We’re pleased to see a new, permanent library in the Kingswood area of Dulwich. It’s a space we’ve all

been eagerly waiting for. The library is not just a place to study but also a hub for key community groups, providing an important space for residents.

“We’re especially excited to be teaming up with Kingswood Arts to bring an engaging programme of events for our young residents. It is a place for exciting activities and adventures.”

Library opening times are Mondays 2pm to 6pm, Tuesdays 10am to 2pm, Thursdays 2pm to 6pm, Fridays 10am to 2pm and Saturdays 1pm to 5pm. It is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

British Land pushes sport for cities Physical activity contributes £39bn to the UK economy every year*, half of which comes from people’s involvement in grassroots sport. Sport for England has highlighted two ways in which sport at the community level boosts the economy – directly, through job creation, and indirectly, by reducing healthcare costs thanks to a healthier population. Every £1 spent on sport and physical activity generates almost £4 in return across health and wellbeing, stronger communities and the economy.**

Here at Canada Water, those four principles are already being put into practice thanks to the dedicated work of some of the sports organisations British Land are proud to support:

With the huge economic and social value of sport in mind, British Land has joined forces with Art-Invest Real Estate (ArtInvest), Ryder Architecture and Future Places Studio, to unveil the first half of ‘Sport and the City’, a report setting out fresh thinking aimed at making sport more accessible and creating social value in urban spaces and communities.

Sport and the City presents an innovative plan for cities to improve their approach to incorporating sport into the everyday, to establish its positive impact in an area beyond health and wellbeing.

It proposes four principles of a place-based approach to providing everyday sport:

• sport should be at the heart of placemaking as we design new urban spaces

• urban sports facilities and clubs should reflect diverse

populations and be designed with the effects of climate change in mind

• urban spaces should pioneer creative approaches to

integrating sport and physical activity into the everyday

• sports facilities of all shapes and sizes should function as wellbeing anchors in a local urban design that’s inclusive, walkable, connected and green.

* www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-business-of-sport ** Measuring the Social and Economic Impact of Sport in England, 2020

The wallball courts next to Surrey Quays Shopping Centre are free to use. Bring your own ball or buy one on site for £2

At Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, two wallball courts offer a free-to-use sports facility. Wallball is a game based on the simple concept of hitting a ball against a wall with your hands – a bit like squash without a racquet.

British Land has teamed up with UK Wallball to launch the outdoor wallball venue at Canada Water. Players can bring their own ball, or buy one for £2 from an onsite vending machine.

The Arch is a 7,000 sq ft bouldering venue inside the shopping centre. The space offers a bold new vision for indoor bouldering, and a range of walls cater to all levels of ability. Sessions start from £5, while regular family days are available for the whole community and free improver sessions are available to join most days.

Roosters of Rotherhithe is a boxing club that runs youth and adult sessions throughout the week. British Land supported October’s half-term club, plus a trip to the Rumble in the Jungle experience at Dock X in Canada Water.

Ballers Academy is an award-winning, fun-filled independent sports organisation. British Land sponsors their Canada Water FC under-14 team so no player misses out because they can’t afford to pay.

Fisher FC is Rotherhithe’s fan-run football club. They play at the St Paul’s ground in the Southern Counties East League Premier Division.

The new Canada Water Leisure Centre is expected to open its doors in early 2025, with an 8-lane swimming pool, learner pool, 150+ station gym, sports hall and dance studios. The leisure centre will host a wide range of activities for people who live and spend time in the area, to help local people live active and healthy lives.

The Arch offers bouldering inside the shopping centre, with all levels of ability catered for

Contact us:

canadawater.co.uk

team@canadawater.co.uk

0800 470 4593 (freephone)

@CWmasterplan

Canada Water Masterplan

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 9

Advertising Feature

Green tech offers solutions to make property more energy efficient

W

ith an ever-increasing focus on what we can do to make our buildings greener and more energy efficient, here we take a look at some new green technologies that could one day be the norm in the race to reach our net-zero targets.

“The sun has long been our friend when it comes to renewable energy, and solar panels are becoming an increasingly efficient way of generating low to zero-cost electricity or warm water. Could the next step be transparent solar panels? This technology harnesses light “through windows and glass surfaces turning it into energy.”

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Transparent solar energy The sun has long been our friend when it comes to renewable energy, and solar panels are becoming an increasingly efficient way of generating low to zero-cost electricity or warm water. Could the next step be transparent solar panels? This technology harnesses light through windows and glass surfaces turning it into energy. Whilst tentatively in use in larger upgrades, there’s still some way to go however, as scientists work to make scaling-up the solution more efficient and viable for our homes.

Hydrogen for heat Heat pumps, whether air source or ground, are fairly well known as an alternative to gas boilers (ask our neighbours in Norway and Sweden who have used these for years), but could hydrogen also be part of the solution here in the UK, to make heating more efficient and less harmful to the planet? With approximately 20m gas boilers in UK homes, replacing them all with heat pumps would be a massive undertaking and currently impossible for some buildings. Hydrogen technology uses the pipes already delivering natural gas to boilers, but replacing it with hydrogen. Using the infrastructure we already have may seem an easy fix, but there’s an ongoing debate about how green the solution is, as producing hydrogen at the scale required for nationwide home heating would almost certainly result in new carbon emissions to then be dealt with. Our head of sustainability Richard Winder predicts that hydrogen produced via wind turbines will be scaled up as far as economically viable to meet demand from the steel, chemical and certain other carbonintensive sectors that can’t be met electrically.

He suggests that any surplus may be stored and used to boost grid electricity when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing, though communities close to coastal hydrogen hubs may eventually be heated this way.

“Heat pumps, whether air source or ground, are fairly well known as an alternative to gas boilers (ask our neighbours in Norway and Sweden who have used these for years), but could hydrogen also be part of the solution here in the UK, to make heating more efficient and less harmful to the planet?”

That said, the eventual solution to dealing with the UK’s boiler estate may be a mix of more traditional heat pumps and hydrogen; the results of pilot schemes in the UK using hydrogen in homes will inform the government’s decision on that in the coming years.

Hempcrete A relatively new alternative to insulation and concrete hempcrete or hemplime is made with the woody pulp of hemp, mixed with lime and water. It’s durable, airtight, resistant to mould and pests, toxin-free and does a better job at storing heat than concrete and masonry.

It can be used to form walls and to insulate the roof of new-builds, and for upgrading insulation in existing buildings; due to the way it sets hempcrete is ideal for insulating more traditional or historic buildings with tricky layouts. The use of lime in its production does have a carbon cost due to the heat used as part of the process, however as hemp absorbs carbon as it grows it more than cancels that out, making it carbon negative.

The production of hemp is very quick, taking only four to five months to grow and harvest.

Although hempcrete is unlikely to replace concrete as it’s unsuitable for standing water meaning it can’t be used for foundations, it could still become a mainstream building product.

Micro hydro generation Working on the principle that moving water can generate energy, micro hydro generation installations divert water flow from a river, stream or waterfall, to a turbine to produce electricity, before returning the water to the source. Whilst micro hydro may not be seen on suburban estates any time soon, it could come into its own if a large property such as a farm has a water source running through it. For more rural areas where fast flowing water is a feature, community micro hydro installations could be an option to provide renewable energy to the surrounding homes.

Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery These units – and the network of ducts that feeds into them - work by extracting polluted or stale air from the property, pass it over a heat exchanger to retain the heat from that air, then feed-back that recovered heat into the home’s air flow. It’s sustainable energy technology that can work with other renewable heating systems. Its perfect partner is a heat pump which also uses heat exchangers to multiply natural warmth in the air, ground or water outside into space heating and hot water - when the two technologies work together they’re even more energy efficient. Trickier to retrofit into homes than installing into new-builds, they could mean an end to radiators or underfloor heating, they would however also mean the end of cosy winter nights in front of the fire, since the system can’t work with open fires or wood burners.

To find out more about Handelsbanken and how they may be able to support your sustainable ambitions, please visit:

Call London Bridge & Blackheath branch today on 0207 5119830

www.handelsbanken.co.uk/londonbridge Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 11

The Big Interview

Patrick relishing his new challenge Patrick Gilmour is the newest member of Anthony Gold Solicitors, joining the team as Head of Corporate and Commercial.

He talks to Sarah Dale about why he became a lawyer and his plans for his new role.

When Patrick Gilmour’s German teacher suggested he become a lawyer when he successfully argued that a question on a test his teacher had set the class was ambiguous and should not have been marked wrong, it was his lightbulb moment.

At 15, he knew what he wanted to do and started researching how to become a lawyer.

Now a successful commercially driven corporate lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience, it is not surprising that Anthony Gold Solicitors snapped him up.

Patrick joined the law firm as the new Head of Corporate and Commercial on October 1st and is excited to be leading the new department, which he plans to grow over the next few years. His expertise is private company acquisition, disposal and corporate restructuring.

“I’m a big fan of [English-born American author and inspirational speaker] Simon Sinek and his theory of people buying into the idea of not what you do but why you do it,” said Patrick, who recently celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary and has four children, two dogs, three cats and 20 chickens.

He was born and raised in Nottingham and was the first in his family to graduate from university. He grew up loving the stories of Robin Hood and King Arthur and, when

asked why he became a lawyer, he refers to these tales as a way of explanation.

“Both are about ‘might’ being for ‘right’, rather than ‘might’ deciding who was ‘right’,” he explained.

“In my teens, I saw Charlton Heston in A Man for all Seasons where he makes his famous speech defending the rule of law and that has always stayed with me.”

Patrick’s role is helping businesses from startup to sale with any corporate and commercial issues. These include setting up the company, drafting agreements between partners, investment, terms and conditions, bespoke contracts, any regulatory issues such as data protection, for example, software contracts, shares, and investment.

His primary passion as a lawyer lies in the buying and selling of companies and providing all the legal advice to clients they need for both.

“Anthony Gold has work that needs doing that fits my skillset,” he added.

“The thing that attracted me to Anthony Gold was one of the senior partners was a trainee at one of my old firms who I remembered warmly, and it turned out that David Marshall, the Managing Partner, when we were talking in the interview, he knew my wife. Everyone here is really lovely.”

Now a successful commercially driven corporate lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience, it is not surprising that Anthony Gold Solicitors snapped him up.

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“In my teens, I saw Charlton Heston in A Man for all Seasons where he makes his famous speech defending the rule of law and that has always stayed with me.”

He is looking forward to becoming more involved with Southwark Chamber of Commerce in his new role at Anthony Gold Solicitors, which is a member of the Chamber.

“I’m absolutely positive about the Chamber,” he said.

“I’ve had relationships with other Chambers and always found them to be very helpful.

“Meeting people face-to-face and building new relationships is what I am doing at the moment in my new role. I am going out with the partners to meet clients and explain the services my department provide. Attending events is another way of meeting new people. I find that once you help someone with a problem, they are more receptive to you when you have a problem.”

Patrick’s advice to those embarking on a career in law is to learn as much about AI (artificial intelligence) as possible including the potential issues surrounding the evolving technology such as confidentiality and copyright laws.

“AI is going to have a huge impact,” said Patrick, who is a voracious reader of science fiction books.

“I’m a big science fiction fan but AI still has a long way to go.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 13

Local Business Spotlight

Okinawa Day in full flow!

Five more years!

In a renewal ballot conducted throughout November, Blue Bermondsey businesses have voted in favour of keeping their Business Improvement District, and in April 2024 Blue Bermondsey BID will embark on its third five year term.

Blue Bermondsey’s main priority is offering a range of beneficial services to help members reduce costs and be a unified voice to enable a better involvement in the area in which they trade. This is driving the revitalisation of the Blue through a myriad of innovative projects, initiatives, and events, achieved by working closely with the local community and partner organisations to bring about positive change and attracting new businesses an investment.

Blue Bermondsey chair, Jack Shah said; “It’s a great outcome and we are excited to continue serving local business and will do our best to sustain a thriving local business economy for all.

We are also eager to strengthen the mutually beneficial partnerships we have built with a varied of range of local community stakeholders what they feel and know about their neighbourhood is crucial to our vison for the future. An individual businesses contribution depends on the size of the premises and against a backdrop of a very challenging economic time for our businesses, I think it’s really good for local people to know our businesses are doing their bit to make our little corner of the world a better place”.

Future plans include several legacy projects to build on the ‘Made in Bermondsey’ regeneration scheme, which was centred on the rejuvenation of the historic Blue Market. As well as making it a better place for traders, it it now a flexible multi-purpose community hub that hosts an annual calendar of diverse community events

and activities that are attracting thousands of visitors and raising the profile of the Blue to new levels.

As a dedicated member of the Low Line partnership group consisting of Better Bankside, Team London Bridge, Borough Market, The Arch Co, and Southwark Council, Blue Bermondsey are developing new initiatives to bring more businesses to the empty railway arches, which have huge potential to bring a better spread of economic activity along the ancient railway viaduct that has spanned Bankside, London Bridge and Bermondsey for over 150 years.

As a strand of this work, Blue Bermondsey has gained funding to open a ‘test bed’ arch to accommodate start-up businesses and community uses, which is being enthusiastically supported by the Arch Co. As a key local stakeholder, organisation the BID also works closely with local greening group ‘Trees for Bermondsey’ to identify new locations where projects could be implemented whilst improving existing spaces. This has led to a gaining funding for a current project that is transforming the historic Shuttleworth Park, which has been a treasured local amenity for generations. This also links up with aspirations to develop green corridors along and around the Low Line, which overlooks the park.

All of the work that Blue Bermondsey embarks on in the area is connected to a long term vision, that is geared to bringing more prosperity for Blue Bermondsey to be an attractive place where businesses feel part of and want to be.

The Bermondsey Lion sculpture at Blue Market

The Blue Market as it looked before

Plans are in place to transform Shuttleworth Park

“It’s a great outcome and we are excited to continue serving local business and will do our best to sustain a thriving local business economy for all.”

14 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

The Blue is the historic town centre of Bermondsey with a history going back more than 150 years.

Blue Bermondsey BID is funded and led by local business to support local business whilst playing a significant role in improving the Blue through innovative projects, initiatives and events.

Most notably we gained the funding and led the ‘Made in Bermondsey’ project that has transformed the Market Place, which represents a true turning point in the history of the Blue and helping to attract new businesses and customers.

The levy contribution and support of our member businesses is the backbone of all the work that Blue Bermondsey BID does. We look forward to beginning our next five year in April 2024 and continuing serving our business members and improving the place where we do business.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 15

Local Business Spotlight

The Blue goes from strength to strength I am proud of the work we have done over the two terms, and to be part of the gradual transformation of the Blue.

We are non-political and work only in the best interests of our levy payers.

We are run by a board made up of levy paying businesses and organisations.

We are financially transparent, publishing annual reports and running AGM’s for our levy payers, who are eligible to join the board or one of our project groups.

Funds cannot be spent on services that are already provided by your business rates.

We communicate and engage with our businesses and adapt to changing needs.

We recognise that we exist as part of a wider community and place importance on also engaging with them.

The Blue now has an inviting and unique community hub at its heart, which as well as being home to the Blue Market, is now hosting a regular calendar of diverse cultural events and activities which are attracting more footfall and interest to the area from new businesses and visitors.

We are funded primarily through the BID levy and committed to supplementing levy income with additional grant funding and sponsorship from external sources.

The pandemic and now the rising cost of doing business means we are facing unprecedented times as business owners and more than ever a strong and unified voice for local business is essential.

We set out clear objectives and a sensible, costed programme of work and act in good faith to deliver these.

We operate a voluntary membership scheme for local businesses who are not eligible.

With the current Biscuit Factory housing development set to create a brand-new neighbourhood with 1,500 new homes, we stand on the brink of a new chapter in the long history of The Blue.

Jack Shah, Blue Bermondsey Chair

Business & Community

in over £2.5m of external funding to develop and deliver a multitude of projects that have yielded positive and tangible change, whilst being tied in to an overarching long term vision.

Local people are likely to be customers or employees of our businesses and what they feel and know about their neighbourhood is vital, and sustained closer collaboration will be the key to a successful third term of operation.

We work with a diverse of range of local community stakeholders such as: youth service providers, tenants/ resident’s associations, action groups, charities, voluntary groups, schools, and individuals. Co-operating together makes us sturdier and better equipped to meet challenges and embrace new opportunities that will present themselves in the future.”

Since 2014 when the BID began, we have built mutually beneficial partnerships that have helped lever

Russell Dryden Blue Bermondsey BID Manager

16 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

We are an independent, not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.

We deliver beneficial services and projects that are in addition to those provided by Southwark.

The momentous achievements of the Made in Bermondsey project are a testament to the influence of local businesses working collectively in partnership with local stakeholders and the community.

The levy contribution and support from our business members throughout has enabled us to go from strength to strength and in our third term we will carry on doing what works and where there are weaknesses we will enhance our operations in line with what we have learnt from the constructive feedback from our businesses and also the local community.

OUR OPERATING PRINCIPLES

COMMUNITY PARTNER PROFILE All of our community partnerships are highly valued, since working extensively together on the Made in Bermondsey project, we have identified Big Local Works as a key collaborator whose work in the community has opened many doors.

As a community-focused economic inclusion and regeneration charity, Big Local Works was founded to support people in the South Bermondsey area.

Their main objective is to help create a thriving, inclusive local economy, and a community in which everyone has the opportunity to be involved in sharing economic benefits that arise or are created.

To facilitate this, they provide training and advice to amplify the financial and economic wellbeing of individuals with packages of ongoing support to assist in sustainable and active routes out of poverty through employment and small-scale start-up enterprise schemes.

This is all the more important during this time of intensive local regeneration and massive new housing developments in the local area, to show there are genuine pathways to a better more prosperous future for local people from all backgrounds.

www.biglocalworks.org.uk

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 17

Health & Wellbeing

Move more in ‘24!

Why staying active is good for your wellbeing It is expected that in 2024 we will see a greater return to the office for employees in and around London. For some, it will mean moving more to get to your place of work, but for others, the commute will make the day shorter, meaning less time to spend on physical exercise and activities that make us feel good.

Southwark Leisure is committed to improving the wellbeing of residents and local workers and shares why it’s important to make time for being active and mindful as we adjust to a change in work-life balance.

• Regular activity releases endorphins, improves mood and reduces stress • It enhances cognitive function and promotes better sleep • Boosts self-esteem • You feel more energised • It can provide new opportunities for social interaction Incorporating physical activity into your daily routine will keep your mind and your body healthy for improved wellbeing.

How much should we be moving?

The current government guidelines state that adults should be doing either 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week plus strength exercises on 2 or more days.

What gets you moving?

We all like doing different things. What gets your colleagues moving might not get you moving! Cycling, jogging or walking to work could rack up your weekly exercise minutes or you might enjoy doing one of the many activities across the eight Southwark Leisure Centres. There’s something for everybody

including swimming, gym, classes, and a wide range of activities.

Find something you love to do and that will keep you active, more often and for longer.

Set a goal for added motivation Setting yourself a goal for 2024 could help keep you focused and motivated. A goal can be as challenging as you want to make it.

You might want to take part in a challenge, practice mindfulness every day, get better at a particular sport, lose weight, exercise three times per week, build strength, gain flexibility and improve mobility. The list is endless. If you have a goal and need help achieving it, you can speak to a fitness instructor or personal trainer to get a bespoke programme to help keep you on track.

Cycling, jogging or walking to work could rack up your weekly exercise minutes or you might enjoy doing one of the many activities across the eight Southwark Leisure Centres.

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Move More Inspiration The good news is that you don’t have to go far to find lots of facilities and activities. There’s plenty to do right here in Southwark.

For the first timers

For the adventurous

Not sure what to do? Why not visit your local

Find a new hobby on the water with sailing,

leisure centre and talk to them about your

kayaking or paddleboarding at Surrey Docks

goals. The hardest part is taking that first step.

Fitness and Watersports Centre.

Once you’re through the door, you’re on your way to achieving your fitness targets..

For the fitness fanatics The choice is yours! All the leisure centres are equipped with a good range of cardio equipment, functional kit, and weights for

“Not sure what to do? Why not visit your local leisure centre and talk to them about your goals.

The hardest part is taking that first step. Once you’re through the door, you’re on your way to achieving your fitness targets.”

For mindfulness Enjoy a leisurely swim at one of the many pools across the leisure centres. Try a holistic class such as yoga or Pilates or enjoy nature as you stroll through one of the many parks.

strength training.

For the social ones

For the sporty types

Group exercise is one of the most social

Have fun in the sports hall at The Castle

activities across Southwark leisure centres.

Leisure Centre. You can hire it for 5-aside

They have all the favourite classes including

football, badminton, netball and basketball.

Les Mills and a fun community that will entice

Or why not challenge work colleagues

you back for more! Plus the Council has just

to a game of tennis at Geraldine Mary

invested £150k in refurbishing all the studios

Harmsworth Sports Facility.

for an enhanced workout experience.

Try it for free!

If you would like to beat the New Year rush you can enjoy a free day pass at Southwark’s leisure centres up until December 31st.

Claim your pass at www.southwarkleisure.co.uk/free-pass terms and conditions apply.

For more information about Southwark leisure centres visit www.southwarkleisure.co.uk or download the Southwark Leisure app.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 19

Advertising Feature

Rugby Icon Phil Greening Scores with easyGym Camberwell Rugby Icon & Olympic Coach Phil Greening Partners with easyGym Camberwell to Strength Southwark

Camberwell residents, brace yourselves for an exciting fitness journey as rugby legend Phil Greening, a proud former SE5 resident, collaborates with easyGym Camberwell.

Trusted and locally owned, easyGym Camberwell’s new Results+ membership is designed to keep members motivated, energised and connected in an entirely new way. This unique offering combines the expertise of high-performance coaching with the convenience and guidance of a 24/7 local gym in order to help Southwark residents reach their highest fitness goals in 2024.

Greening will design bespoke classes and online programming for easyGym Camberwell. Members can tackle goals from fat loss to strength, conditioning, endurance and agility training through the convenience of an online app, while having access to guidance from in-gym personal trainers and Greening himself.

This hybrid model will be the first in the area to deliver scientifically based high performance training with an affordable price point in the company of real people.

A Fitness Vision for a Fitter Southwark

Results+ was born from easyGym Camberwell’s resilience in the 3 years since COVID lockdowns. In overcoming adversity, easyGym Camberwell recognised a need for proven methods to support everyday athletes who juggle work and home while managing their own mental and physical wellbeing.

The planned collaboration will introduce premium classes, equipment and training based on Greening’s Athlete Factory methodology - built on his 25 years as a professional international athlete and high performance coach.

How to Join:

Real Results for Everyday Athletes

About Phil Greening: As a proven coach and player in elite sport, Greening brings the best of sports programming from around the world.

Greening’s impressive career spans 14 years a professional rugby, which included 24 England caps, 2 Australian tours with the British Lions, 3 premierships and 2 Six Nation titles with London Wasps. Since 2014, he has coached the USA7s team, taking them to number 2 in the HSBC World Series, Olympics in Rio and qualifying for Tokyo 2020.

Greening’s involvement with easyGym Camberwell will focus on fitness that is effective and tailored to the needs of individuals of all fitness levels. The Results+ upgrade and partnership will give local residents an exciting, high quality fresh start for many trying to build a positive, healthy lifestyle in and around Camberwell.

Phil Greening, expressing his excitement about the collaboration, said, “I am thrilled to contribute to the local fitness scene in Camberwell. Partnering with locally-owned easyGym Camberwell, aligns perfectly with my vision of fostering a resilient and vibrant community through fitness.”

The benefit to members should not be missed - real, proven methods to help everyone perform at one’s best, no matter the circumstance.

For those ready to embrace a fitness journey rooted in community spirit and supported by global expertise, sign up for easyGym Camberwell’s membership at www.easygym.co.uk/camberwell and select Results+.

For corporate/local business partnerships, please email camberwell@easygym.co.uk Flexible memberships start at £21.99 per month, Results+ include monthly bespoke Athlete Factory programming, premium classes and member discounts for the price of £49.99 per month. Discounts available for NHS, Bus Drivers and Students.

20 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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JOIN ONLINE www.easygym.co.uk/camberwell Visit us at 60 A Denmark Hill SE5 8RZ Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 21

Ping Pong and Beanbags:

Why presenting the workplace as fun and engaging can end up being inauthentic Over the past several years, companies have rushed to copy design concepts championed

by WeWork and Palantir. Budgets were secured to ‘transform’ offices into more social places, with serendipitous collaboration hubs, and relaxation pods. While the pandemic may have slowed some of this, there remains a belief that ‘cool’ office space may be the key to attract great talent.

Causation versus correlation There is a danger of this becoming another fad. This isn’t an unusual thing. Over the past 50 years, organisations have fallen in and out of love with different things, like how we dress, measuring the time it takes to do things, and publishing mission and values statements.

It’s tempting in a busy world to look for hacks and shortcuts that can help us simplify complex challenges. The problem becomes when we confuse their convenience for something more meaningful.

challenge this, we are often confronted with justifications along the Bandwagon Fallacy spectrum.

The authenticity pyramid: a visualisation

1. The basics: pay, security, basic respectability.

2. The conditions: the office, the benefits.

3. The unwritten rules: degrees of freedom, self-expression, what is acceptable behaviour.

4. The work itself: is it engaging, challenging, am I encouraged, nurtured?

5. Co-workers: are they cool or jerks?

7. The leadership: do they walk the talk, do I trust them, do I respect them?

8. A higher purpose: do I feel good about what we do, is it something I’m proud of?

So, at what point does striving to create a practical but appealing work environment run the risk of inauthenticity? Quite simply when it is used to compensate for a lack of genuine substance.

What surprises us about some justifications for ping pong tables and beanbags, is the suggestion that they will help organisations attract millennial and GenZ talent. When we

Smart talent can smell inauthenticity and see it as attempted deception.

A much more effective way to appraise investments in a companies’ employment proposition, is to remember there is a clear hierarchy in what matters. Think of this like a pyramid of glasses stacked, sequentially, on top of one another – overfilling one cup doesn’t help you with the others:

6. The future: can I go further, what is the ceiling?

Focusing on substance over form

Image by Aleksandrs Karevs - unsplash

Skills

In our experience, companies who overemphasise one of these at the expense of the others tend to get counterproductive outcomes.

Smart talent can smell inauthenticity and see it as attempted deception. This was very apparent in research for our book, the belief that companies were being disingenuous and manipulative was one of the major drivers for Millennial and GenZ talent to make a change.

Their number one concern was to find a job that gave them the best possible opportunity to experience the higher levels of fulfillment available in those organisations with authentic substance…. even if it meant their table tennis games suffered.

Dr Helmut Schuster and Dr David Oxley

Drs Schuster & Oxley, longtime friends and work colleagues launched the first book in the Shey Sinope saga on October 13th.

They bring their considerable experience as energy executives, HR leaders, and social scientists to successfully navigating the four big existential crisis we are all likely to face across a 40-year working lifetime.

A Career Carol: A Tale of Professional Nightmares and How to Navigate Them

by Dr Helmut Schuster and Dr David Oxley is out now, published by Austin Macauley Publishers and available on Amazon.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 23

Arts & Culture

ONE Picture My Story exhibition shares Black heritage at Peckham Library ONE Picture My Story is an oral history and pictorial project by Southwark Archives that captured the oral histories and images from Southwark’s Black heritage communities.

Between 2021 and 2022 reminiscence sessions were organised and recorded

by Southwark Archives at different community and day centres across Southwark. Participants were invited to bring their favourite photograph of Southwark and share the story behind it. Although not everyone brought along a photograph, all participants had a connection to Southwark and had stories, comments or memories to share.

What came from these sessions were personal histories that covered themes around culture, migration, social integration, communication,

employment, education and family.

Some are difficult to listen to because of their emotional context, some contributors speak passionately about the things in life that concern them, whilst some stories are very funny.

Some contributors speak in a mixture of English and Patois. All the stories give a little insight into the lives of others.

This project was a collaboration with The London College of Communication and various artists, with photography

by India-Mae Alby and Lisa Soverall, artist and designer, Veronica A* Amon and sound engineer Sam Mbatha.

All 30 recordings from ONE Picture My Story are available on the Southwark Heritage YouTube channel.

The free exhibition runs until 29th December. The library, on Peckham Hill Street, is open from 9am to 8pm.

Classic fairytale, Hansel and Gretel, comes to the Globe A new version of the Brothers Grimm’s fairytale, Hansel and Gretel, by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage is set to transform the Globe Theatre this winter.

The boy’s name was Hansel, the girl’s was Gretel; their dad was a woodcutter and their mum, a breadmaker. In the rubble of their war-torn village, the parents decide that the only chance they have to give their children a safer life is to lead them – and leave them – in the woods.

Left to fend for themselves, Hansel and Gretel’s plans to find their way home get sidetracked,

“a joyous ode to the heritage and traditions of these Sings Stranger dynamic communities” at Southwark

Playhouse

quite literally, by a trail of treats too good to resist and they meet a strange, old lady with a plan of her own.

The Vault presents the award-winning, smash-hit parody musical Stranger Sings.

The show is filled with music, magic, songs and a sprinkling of hope. The stage premiere of this new production of Simon Armitage’s poem, directed by Nick Bagnall (Love’s Labour Lost, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Globe), is suitable for everyone aged five and over.

Following a sell-out run underground and extensive UK tour, Stranger Sings, by Jonathan Hogue, returns to Southwark Playhouse Borough for Christmas.

The five-star sci-fi spoof is a “wild, irreverent twist” of the hit Netflix series.

Tickets are priced from £5 to £55 and half-price seated tickets for under-18s are available for all performances. The show runs from 8th December to 7th January.

The audience is invited to enjoy a night of indulgent pop culture references, heavy synth, poor parents and dancing demogorgons, with a 1980s’ backdrop.

The show is filled with music, magic, songs and a sprinkling of hope.

24 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Tickets are £25 standard, £22 concession, all previews £16, family-of-four tickets £70.

The show is on from 13th December until 6th January at Borough SE1.

Remembering when...

Remembering when

Southwark Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established in 1924

Ken Hayes Life Member

Few areas have undergone as dramatic a change as that covered by the Southwark Chamber of Commerce over the past 100 years.

It’s a story that stretches back hundreds of years, characterised by a rapid development which began in the 1500s.

The small but important medieval town surrounded by undeveloped land turned into a major industrial area between the 16th and 19th centuries, prompted largely by trade on the Thames, its proximity to the markets of the City of London and its position on the road to the only bridge across the Thames in London until 1750.

Although created in 1924, the Chamber can trace its own story back to 1900 when the first Metropolitan London Boroughs were created by amalgamation of the former Rating Parishes. Three Metropolitan Boroughs were created in SE London namely Bermondsey, Camberwell and Southwark.

In the 1920’s the United Kingdom was recovering from the economic recession following the end of WW1 and the influenza pandemic that followed it.

In 1924 the business communities in the three Metropolitan Boroughs of Bermondsey Camberwell and Southwark established Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Membership was open to all businesses based in the three boroughs or trading with business in those boroughs. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 made the Chamber’s work redundant until the end of the War in 1945.

In 1965 Local Government in London was re-oganised again and the Metropolitan

A coloured print of the vicinity of Southwark Cathedral and the approach to London Bridge in the 1830s (when the cathedral was simply St. Saviour’s Church);

Boroughs of Bermondsey, Camberwell and Southwark were merged to create the London Borough of Southwark. Bermondsey and Southwark Chambers of Commerce and Industry also merged but Camberwell Chamber remained independent until 1984.

The aims of the Chamber have not changed.

A Chairman’s annual report to members in the 1980s said: “Southwark Chamber of Commerce was formed to promote the interest of trade in the borough. Its existence exemplifies the truth of the old saying ‘Unity is Strength’.

Whereas the individual views of a few traders may carry very little weight, the collective opinion of an active organisation is too powerful to be ignored.”

This is as true today as when it was first written 30 years ago.

To survive for 100 years supporting business in Southwark through good and bad times is a great achievement. The Chamber looks forward to continuing to support local businesses.

Southwark Chamber of Commerce was formed to promote the interest of trade in the borough.

Its existence exemplifies the truth of the old saying ‘Unity is Strength’. Whereas the individual views of a few traders may carry very little weight, the collective opinion of an active organisation is too powerful to be ignored.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 25

Sport

Tennis champion Andy is backing Padel Jamie & Andy Murray

At first glance, it’s not surprising to see tennis star Andy Murray and his brother Jamie with rackets in hand, but look again, and you’ll see these are not tennis rackets.

In fact, they aren’t really rackets at all, but bats. Padel bats, and that’s because Britain’s most successful tennis playing siblings have put money into the new sport sweeping the country, with courts recently opened in Crystal Palace and Wandsworth.

Padel is the world’s fastest growing sport and is best described as a cross between tennis and squash, played on court one third the size of a tennis court with enclosed walls. It’s fast paced, highly sociable (played in doubles pairs) and those that have adopted it, say it’s extremely addictive.

Murray explained: “I decided to invest in padel because I think it’s a really easy entry point into racket sports. Many people are put off the idea of joining a tennis club because it’s not really somewhere they feel they’ll fit in or the expense of it stops them, but padel is much more accessible.

“It’s a much easier sport to pick up and learn, and so people who would battle to have a decent game of tennis, can actually have pretty good rallies in padel after one or two sessions”.

Game4Padel, the UK market leader, is the company they have backed. With 15 venues open around the country already they are planning on opening around another 20 venues in 2024 in destinations as varied as sports clubs, business parks, hotels, schools and universities and even shopping centres.

26 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Murray continued: “I first played padel in Spain when I was training there as a teenager. The sport is massive there – it’s the second biggest participation sport after football and there are over 20,000 courts. Part of the reason it’s grown so quickly is that it doesn’t require as much space as a tennis court, so padel does well in towns and cities where space is limited”.

The sport originated in Mexico in the late 1960s when a Spanish squash player modified his squash court to incorporate elements of tennis. It took til 2011 for padel to come to the UK but since then it’s seen something of an explosion and is rapidly gaining pace as a sport for everyone, whether they’ve ever picked up a racket before or not.

“Game4padel set up a padel court in Westfield shopping centre last year, and it was a huge hit”, said Murray. “People were really fascinated by what this new sport was, and they didn’t find it intimidating at all”.

Westfield are currently awaiting a planning application for three courts at their Shepherd’s Bush site, as they can see the potential to attract a new audience to the centre and build a community – a quality that padel also adds. The social side of the game is easy to see as people chat whilst playing because they are so close to each other at the net and have a drink or a coffee afterwards.

The new courts in Wandsworth and Crystal Palace are already doing well, attracting a mix of fitness fanatics and trend setters, as well as

“Part of the reason it’s grown so quickly is that it doesn’t require as much space as a tennis court, so padel does well in towns and cities where space is limited”. families, older people, work colleagues and teenagers.

Whether the sport will take over from tennis, Murray isn’t so sure: “I think there’s a place for both. There are still plenty of people that play tennis and love tennis. The tennis Tour and the Grand Slams are such huge events that attract massive audiences, that I can’t see that changing. But can padel sit alongside that? I think so. There’s definitely room for both”.

Westminster

Voice from Westminster Neil Coyle MP

Working for British interests In September I wrote for Southwark Business Today about the heavy burden that the cost-of-living crisis is taking on local people and businesses. Sadly, the Government did not take the opportunity of the Autumn Statement to alleviate the pressure on local employers or constituents more widely.

The Tories have promised to end late payments and reform business rates since 2010. The Statement also turned up empty on these issues. Our tax regime is worsening. The tax burden on working people is the highest since 1949. Compared to the overall rate of tax in 2009-2010, taxes are £4000 higher per household and prices continue to soar, especially for food shopping and energy bills.

The Chancellor seemed to want to be patted on the back for not crashing the economy a la Truss, but his sums do not add up either

when we examine the ensuing years. The limited changes made in 2023 are predicated on eye-watering cuts from 2025, including to education and hospitals despite the crumbling concrete issues affecting many schools and the longest waiting lists in the NHS’ history.

Labour’s Chancellor-in-waiting, Rachel Reeves, is ensuring the Party is in a stronger position on the economy. She will insist we provide a costed manifesto when the next election comes and is enforcing a more disciplined approach to policy announcements. Labour is promising to modernise business rates with a system fit for the 21st century, as well as to tackle the scourge of late payments and to create a level playing field for smaller firms to access public contracts. Labour will, if elected, also establish GB Energy and help reduce bills for domestic and commercial consumers across the country.

I have also been pushing again for more help to British businesses in Westminster. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill has now completed Commons stages, but Ministers are trying to dodge accepting

my amendment which would remove unsafe products from sale online. My ‘takedown powers’ would remove counterfeit or dangerous goods and help ensure only products that meet UK safety standards can be marketed. Bermondsey-based Electrical Safety First back the proposals and they follow a coroner specifically citing a faulty e-bike charger bought online as the direct cause of death of a young man in London who died when the battery overheated and caused a house fire. Other deaths have occurred but Minister are delaying acting despite the EU now having powers to tackle the problem that UK customers are not provided sadly.

I will continue to urge caution to customers in the UK when they buy online, especially as cheaper goods seem more attractive during the festive season for those doing their Christmas shopping. Consumers across the country will only be safe when buying online if the Government accepts the amendments and helps our high streets, manufacturers and consumers alike. It should not be this difficult to get Ministers to work for British interests, but I will keep plugging away until they do!

Our tax regime is worsening.

The tax burden on working people is the highest since 1949. Compared to the overall rate of tax in 2009-2010, taxes are £4000 higher per household and prices continue to soar, especially for food shopping and energy bills.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 27

LCCI

Being forward-thinking and inclusive will boost the economy

Image by Rebrand

James Watkins, Head of Policy and Public Impact at London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, talks to Sarah Dale about the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and the highlights and issues affecting the London business community.

Being a forward-thinking, inclusive Chamber is extremely important to the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This is demonstrated in several ways from its work with the Metropolitan Police to make London’s streets safer for women and girls to its call for the implementation of new policies to ensure that the inclusion of women in the negotiations of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) will increase.

“I think in years gone by equality, diversity and inclusion was a nice to have and not seen as functional to business growth,” said James Watkins, Head of Policy and Public Impact at LCCI. “But if you scratch the surface, we must have inclusion. My colleague Esenam Agubretu has said there were too many barriers to BME businesses that were holding back business growth and creation.

“What we are saying is equality, diversity and

28 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

inclusion is not just a moral imperative, it’s fundamental to business growth.”

The LCCI’s policy proposal calls for the implementation of new policies to ensure that more women are included in the negotiations of FTAs will push forward women’s roles in trade agreements and could in turn lead to an economy boost, more jobs, and lay the foundations for the advancement of gender equality in business and decision-making settings.

Cabinet reshuffle The Cabinet reshuffle has seen various highprofile changes including the sacking of the Minister of London, Paul Scully, MP for Sutton and Cheam.

“I want it on record how much respect we have for Paul and what he did,” said James.

“He is an expert negotiator and he brought people from different political parties

together and worked with the business community. We wish him the very best for the future.”

The LCCI welcomes the appointment of James Cleverly, the new Home Secretary, and says the appointment of David Cameron, former Prime Minister and now Lord Cameron, as the new Foreign Secretary, is a “chance for a refreshed look at the Government’s Ukraine policy”.

Crime in London The LCCI recently had meetings with the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police not only to address business crime but also women’s safety. They will continue to work closely with both police forces on these issues.

“We want women and girls to be safe and feel safe in all London boroughs,” he said.

“But if you scratch the surface, we must have inclusion. My colleague Esenam Agubretu has said there were too many barriers to BME businesses that were holding back business growth and creation.

“What we are saying is equality, diversity and inclusion is not just a moral imperative, it’s fundamental to business growth.”

“There have been some horrific incidents involving the police too in recent times.

The Metropolitan Police said they take this very seriously and have suspended 1,000 officers for misogyny and racism.

“London overall is an incredible city for many people who don’t see crime on a regular basis but crime does happen.”

LCCI’s partnership with Ukraine The LCCI’s work with Ukraine continues and the partnership was celebrated at the City of London Lord Mayor’s Show, an event that has been running for 800 years. ‘London and Kyiv: Two Cities United’ was the theme of this year’s “stunning” float.

“Everybody was so excited and exhilarated by the whole experience,” added James.

“Ukrainian refugees very kindly volunteered to take part. There’s an arch in Kyiv, the Arch of Freedom, set up in Soviet times to commemorate the union of Russia and Ukraine. So in 2014 when Russian forces invaded Crimea they did a pretend crack to show there was no unity between Russia and Ukraine. For the float we reconstructed the crack and painted it gold rather than black to show the strong links between the UK and Ukraine.”

The LCCI will return to Ukraine in 2024 and continue their support of SMEs in Ukraine.

Changes at the top at LCCI James Watkins, Head of Policy and Public Impact at London Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Recently, the CEO of LCCI, Richard Burge stepped down as CEO and Karim Fatehi MBE has stepped up to act as Interim CEO. “As a long-serving member of LCCI’s Council and more recently the board of directors, I’m delighted to step into the role of Interim CEO of LCCI”, said Karim.

“We will continue to provide first-class services to the capital’s business community. From our

trade documentation support and trade advisory services, through to our events, networking platforms, support hubs and our advocacy work, the Chamber has a very busy period ahead. LCCI’s tireless work continues to ensure that London remains the best place in the world to do business.”

The King’s Speech The King’s Speech was eagerly anticipated by everyone and “from a London perspective, it was a very good result”, said James, quoting the new regulations introduced for pedicabs.

“When tourists go to the West End, pedicabs should be a fun experience but it’s not regulated because of an old law,” he said.

“People have been intimidated and there have been some very ugly incidents. We, along with other organisations, have been calling for them to be regulated.

Now there is a specific bill to be heard which will close a loophole of 100 years.

It’s a very positive step for the London economy and visitors that are coming to London.”

The British Chambers of Commerce has been quoted as saying the King’s Speech was disappointing and James said that you could argue that they make a fair assessment because of the work needed to address the skills crisis.

Plans for 2024 Next on the agenda for the LCCI is launching the London Mayoral election manifesto in the new year.

“We’re in the final stages now,” added James. They have also launched a report that calls for exhibitions to be supported in London.

“We’re competing with big, international cities,” he said. “We want to lever these exhibitions into London and have put forward a series of recommendations.

We want arts funding to be protected £47 billion is created in London alone in arts. It’s not just a nice to have, it’s a key part of the economy, and the cuts before Christmas last year were unacceptable.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 29

COULD YOU COULD YOU FOSTER? FOSTER? Do you have a space in your home and heart?

Do you have a Change space inayour life! home and heart?

Change a life!

For an informal chat contact the Camden Fostering team on 020 7974 6783 or email fostering@camden.gov.uk For an informal chat contact the Camden Fostering team on 020 7974 6783 or email fostering@camden.gov.uk camden.gov.uk/fostering

30 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Fostering

Could you make a difference?

Fostering is a deeply meaningful and rewarding experience that can positively impact the lives of both the foster child and the foster parent.

People choose to become foster parents for a variety of reasons: Providing Stability: Many children enter the foster care system due to difficult family situations, such as abuse, neglect, or parental substance abuse. Foster parents offer them a stable and loving environment where they can feel safe and cared for.

Making a Difference: Fostering provides an opportunity to make a significant difference in a child’s life. It allows you to be a positive influence and help them overcome adversity and trauma.

Community Support: Fostering is a way to give back to the community. By opening your home and heart to a child in need, you contribute to the welfare of your community and society as a whole.

Blair’s Story

Teaching Empathy and Compassion: Fostering can teach your own children empathy, compassion, and the importance of helping others. It’s an opportunity for your family to grow together through shared experiences.

Building Relationships:

Image by Shutterstock

Cultural Exchange: Fostering can bring together individuals from different cultural backgrounds and provide an opportunity for cultural exchange and learning.

Supporting Reunification: In many cases, the goal of foster care is to reunify the child with their biological family once the family’s issues are resolved. Foster parents play a crucial role in supporting this process.

Image by Shutterstock

Fostering often involves collaborating with social workers, therapists, and other professionals to provide the best care for the child. This can lead to forming meaningful relationships and networks within your community.

Learning and Growth: Fostering challenges you to learn and grow as a parent and as an individual. It requires patience, resilience, and adaptability, which can be personally fulfilling.

It’s important to note that fostering is not without challenges. It can be emotionally taxing, and it requires patience, dedication, and the ability to navigate complex situations.

However, for those who are committed to making a positive impact on a child’s life, fostering can be an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling journey.

“My wife and I have been fostering now for over 20 years, our birth children grew up and benefitted from fostering others.

We care for older teenagers preparing them for independent living and also for younger children and babies.

It is a unique privilege to provide a nurturing environment, with security, consistency, laughter and a family setting which can help children to trust and understand boundaries and rules. We helped babies develop strong bonds and saw them crawl, take their first steps and heard their first words. Many say it is too painful to let them go but for us it is too painful to think they might not have a secure future if foster carers didn’t provide for them.

Our joy in fostering is giving children wings and see them fly onto new things.

Some stay in touch and we often pinch ourselves at how truly lucky we are to foster and create life stories”

“It is a unique privilege to provide a nurturing environment, with security, consistency, laughter and a family setting which can help children to trust and understand boundaries and rules.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 31

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.

Whether you are a sole trader, micro-business, a mid-sized firm or part of a global organisation, our members reflect 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.

5 reasons to join us...

1 Networking events • • •

Develop new business relationships Find trusted suppliers and meet new customers Regular mailings on news & up-coming events in the Borough Social events

2 Advice and Support • • •

Seminars on new developments, local policy, and key business issues Access to peer-to-peer advice Engagement with Local councillors

4 Southwark Business Today • • •

Free quarterly copy of Southwark Business Today Discounts for advertising in Southwark Business Today Members can submit articles about their business sector

5 Discounts & Promotions • •

Discounts at local establishments Member to member discounts

3 Affiliate benefits from London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)

•

Access to selected LCCI events as advertised by SCC

Join us today email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com southwarkcommerce.com

The Last Word Julie Leggatt Company: White Label Creative Job title: Associate Director Image by Pavel Danilyuk

Our Events

Designed to help your business flourish

Networking We’ve designed our events to help you broaden your network, learn something new or get involved with key topical issues for businesses in Southwark. Our networking events are great for regular members to make and maintain useful contacts, and we always welcome first-timers.

Business Events Our events cover a variety of topics, often hosted by key speakers.

Examples include: • Meet your councillors - Council initiatives for business • Discussions on Business Rates • Marketing and social media presentations • Apprenticeship and meet the buyer sessions Non Members are welcome to attend two FREE networking events before joining.

Social Events Joining the Chamber is a great way of growing your network.

Examples of some of our social events: • The Annual River Cruise • Lunch in the Houses of Parliament • Southwark Business Excellence Awards • Private tours of Southwark’s most iconic buildings • Christmas drinks at Southwark Cathedral

For further details on forthcoming events email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com

southwarkcommerce.com

Julie has over seventeen years’ experience in delivering events, which includes: business exhibitions, conferences, seminars, launches, graduation ceremonies, Christmas lights switch-ons, festivals, street food markets, meanwhile use, topping out ceremonies, awards programmes and ceremonies, judges’ meetings, roundtable lunches, corporate anniversaries, and agency events.

Julie has run over 300 virtual events including: conferences, AGMs, STEM festivals, webinars, round tables, speed networking, college open days, awards ceremonies and judges’ meetings.

Julie has a diverse range of skills and is a highly determined, self-motivated, results-driven individual. She is focused on delivery and exceeding customer satisfaction, alongside developing, building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and suppliers to maximize end results, performance and client satisfaction.

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

I worked as a business administrator for South London Business, an organisation providing business leadership in South London, and I have always been based in this area.

My first pay packet was £12,000 per annum which I believe is equivalent to about £24,000 today.

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

Sustainability and mental health are issues that are very close to my heart so I’d look to policies that would create mandatory initiatives, both around net zero ambitions and for well-being in both public and private spheres including schools and workplaces. I’d also be driving forward existing plans to boost equal opportunities in school sport following the Lionesses and FA’s #LetGirlsPlay campaign.

What is the biggest challenge in your business?

Technology, global events, economic challenges and opportunities have brought seismic change to the business landscape in recent years. It is an exciting time but one that is ever-changing, and businesses need to have an eye on trends at all times, to adapt and evolve in response.

If you could do another job what would it be?

I would’ve loved to have been a footballer. It was my dream as a little girl to play in the World Cup but back then you could only play semi-pro or go to America for a scholarship.

That’s why it’s so wonderful to see women’s football really come to the fore with the success of the Lionesses.

What is your favourite London building?

Not sure I would say favourite, but an impressive building is No 1 Blackfriars. It’s very clever and a bit different, architecturally. It stood out to our whole team when we walked past it on a social and we all stopped to take photos.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 33

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.

Successfully helping Southwark Businesses for 100 Years

Our Committee Acting Chair Roderick Lynch President Neil Coyle MP

(MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark)

Vice President Lord Roy Kennedy (House of Lords)

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

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

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

Membership Application • Business directory​​​​​ • Sole trader ​​​​​ • Small/Medium sized companies 2 to 50 employees • Large companies - 51 employees plus • Corporate/PLCs ​​​​by appointment.

• All new members pay a one off administration fee of

FREE registration £150 per annum ​​​​​​£300/500 per annum £1000 per annum £25

Company: Address:

Executive Members Acting Chair Roderick Lynch Vice Chair Teekall Mair-Macfarlane Executive Member 1 Hon Membership Secretary Executive Member Jacy Stewart Executive Member Cedric Whilby Executive Member Lyn Hamblin Executive Member Parminder Kanda Executive Member Julie Leggatt Executive Member Cait Wilkinson Executive Member Ken Hayes Executive Member Sonia Sutton Executive Member Executive Member Hon Treasurer Agata Wiak (soon to step down) Council Representative Cllr Martin Seaton Administrator Maia Hazell Social Media Assistant Tiranke Diakite Bankers Handelsbanken

Post Code: Telephone: Email: Number of Employees: Full Name: Position: Payment Details: BANK DETAILS: Handelsbanken SORT CODE: ​40-51-62 ACCOUNT NO:​ 76489843

To join, please send your details to: Southwark Chamber of Commerce, 95A Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com www.SouthwarkCommerce.com X: @southwarkcomm

Facebook: southwarkcommerce

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/southwark-chamber-of-commerce/

34 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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