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
