Southwark Chamber of Commerce celebrates 100 memorable years

It is a great privilege and honour to have been asked to contribute to this special centenary autumn edition of Southwark Chamber of Commerce’s magazine

I would like to start by congratulating the Southwark Chamber on its centenary anniversary. I hope that the next 100 will be as glorious, rewarding and memorable to all.

In the not too distant past, I was privileged to have worked closely with Southwark Chamber of Commerce for many years through my community initiatives and most especially, BBI (Building Blocks Initiative) formerly known as Black Business Initiative. There was a strong collaborative working relationship between the Chamber, Southwark Council, London South Bank University, Job Centre Plus, Southwark Law Centre, Citizens Advice Bureau, business associations, Southwark College, London College of Communication (University of the Arts), local businesses and many social enterprises across the Borough. The Chair, with the new Executive Committee, hope to rebuild these relationships.

It is my understanding that the Chamber has been working closely with Cllr John Batteson, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Jobs and Business since his appointment in May 2024 and they are looking forward to this relationship going from strength to strength. The relationship will give Southwark Chamber of Commerce more access to information, advice and guidance about council services than it has had in recent years. The Chamber will continue to be the umbrella voice for business interests within The London Borough of Southwark. There was a time when businesses and business interests were rightly at the forefront of everything the council was doing for promoting local inward investment and economic development. However, I do accept that every government at any level would like to do things differently, especially if in their opinion it makes things work better and more effectively.

The negative effects of the recent COVID-19 lockdown are still being felt by many businesses. Some businesses have even gone under as a result while others are still recovering gradually.

Southwark has been lucky so far. The current administration has helped in many ways to minimise the negative impacts through both financial and nonfinancial measures to mitigate the negative effects of COVID and cost-of-living crisis for many years. They are still doing so in many ways to help alleviate the negative effects of the cost-of-living crisis across the borough in a more targeted manner. This must continue.

It’s time Southwark Council delivers for the people, creating more social and economic opportunities for all through collaboration and partnership working with our diverse interest groups, including the Southwark Chamber of Commerce.

The Bakerloo Extension will be great for our borough, bringing in much needed infrastructural inward investment and renewed energy to our local economic and social development. I am convinced Southwark Chamber of Commerce will play an active part in business negotiations going forward.

Southwark Council must continue be a welcoming borough for businesses, small and medium enterprises, including social enterprises, and most importantly creating affordable business spaces and enterprise incubators. I hope working in partnership with the Chamber will keep officers minds focused on the job in hand.

The Chamber has the potential to become the catalyst for business, including economic and commercial advocacy for businesses both within Southwark and beyond. It was evident from the admiration and support given to the Chamber’s new Executive Committee and the new Chair Roderick Lynch by one of its Patrons, Sir Simon Hughes, in helping them to steady the ship.

I hope that the Chamber will continue to be proactive and outward looking in working with Southwark Council and using its influential strategic leadership position to help shape local business and enterprise related policies on employment, nighttime economy, self-employment, business engagement, affordable business incubation spaces, etc.

It was evident from my attendance at the recent Annual General Meeting of the Chamber that there have been some past challenges.

Now the Chamber is taking on more personnel to be that listening ear to local business, it will enable the Chamber to be more proactive and forward looking in everything it does.

The Chamber has the potential to become the catalyst for business, including economic and commercial advocacy for businesses both within Southwark and beyond.

It was evident from the admiration and support given to the Chamber’s new Executive Committee and the new Chair Roderick Lynch by one of its Patrons, Sir Simon Hughes, in helping them to steady the ship.

The Executive Committee must be as diverse as possible, bringing in people with high levels of professional expertise and experience, and reflecting the diversity of our borough; which is our strength.

The Southwark Chamber of Commerce and its leadership need to work, either alone, or in collaboration with other agencies within the borough and beyond.

Looking at the in tray of the new Executive Committee 2025 is going to be a full-on year with a multitude of events and networking opportunities.

I’m sure there will be opportunities for new and old stakeholders to come together in a renewed effort to highlight the work of some of the thousands of Southwark Businesses.

Once again, congratulations on the centenary anniversary of the Southwark Chamber of Commerce.

I wish Roderick Lynch as the Chair, and Executive Committee a successful, forward looking, progressive and inclusive next 100 years. A little bit about me:

I formed the Confederation of African Professionals UK in 1998, representing interests of African professionals. I was a member of Southwark Group of Tenants and Residents Organisation for several years, representing the interests of Southampton Way Tenants and Residents Association, dealing with issues around repairs, homelessness, re-housing, property insulation, children’s play area, cleaning, lift breakdowns, antisocial behaviour issues, etc.

While I was the chairman of Southwark Black History Month and Black Heritage Organisation (SBHO) for several years, I took the Black History Month event celebration to the Peckham Square for the first time in 2005 in order to use it as a vehicle to ‘building community cohesion and a spirit of togetherness’ among our diverse community.

I’m a community leader with a highly active involvement and participation in numerous community initiatives such as Southwark Alliance Enterprise/Local Economic Partnership Board (deputy chair), school governing bodies, tenants and residents’ associations, church council, and many other voluntary professional contributions. My leadership style transcends ethnic, tribal, and racial divides!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my views.

I look forward to working with the Chamber and Executive Committee in helping to create a more collaborative, inclusive, and sustainable business environment.

Southwark, United to Serve!

Cllr

Dr (Hon)

Sunny Lambe Deputy Mayor of Southwark Labour and Cooperative Councillor for Southwark Bermondsey Ward