Southwark Business Today December 2021 by Benham Publishing Limited

Southwark

BUSINESS TODAY

Issue 36: December 2021

GET AHEAD IN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT “Hire people who are better than you” says Tariq Usmani MBE Page 18

• Arts & Culture Window on the World of Arts. Page 25

• Remembering when... 24 Libraries were built with funding by the Victorian Philanthropist, John Passmore Edwards. Page 28

• Economy Chamber network deeply disappointed at rail u-turn. Page 31

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Welcome

Welcome to Southwark BUSINESS TODAY The Southwark Chamber of Commerce magazine for all businesses in Southwark.

esterday the Prime Minister announced that we were moving to Plan B. Therefore, today I am sitting in my office, watching my diary go from packed to empty in the course of a day, disappointed about a number of cancelled parties and events.

We are living in interesting times that is for sure and for me the onset of COVID has really highlighted two things. Firstly, that we have to adapt if we are to survive. Secondly, when things are good and opportunities present themselves to us we need to seize the moment, be creative and maximise benefits. Here in Southwark there is growing concern around the impact that the latest plan B restrictions will have on our once thriving hospitality sector. The local construction industry is having supply chain issues due to Brexit and there is a growing shortage of highly skilled workers across most markets. Prices are rising and life is not easy. However, as a Business community, we in Southwark are adapting to our situation and pulling together once again. A great example of this is the Blue Market, which has recently had an amazing new makeover for the Christmas season and will be hosting a series of engaging festive events every Saturday. We are also looking to the future. We have the great news that Blue Bermondsey is one of the partners awarded £1m of funding to develop the Low Line, a new walking destination for London along the length of the Victorian rail viaducts. This project has the long-term goal of linking hubs of creativity, entertainment, and industry along its course to unlock potential and create greater prosperity for the surrounding local communities. 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

Furthermore, Southwark Council has put a call out to us all to input into its consultation and review of its Economic Strategy. It is seeking the views from all our stakeholders and communities, particularly those with lived experience of working within the Southwark economy, as a business, resident, educational or community organisation. Each contribution will help to shape the council’s response to the challenges facing Southwark’s economy for the coming years. The consultation is now live so please visit their website and share your thoughts by 7 January 2022. Please play a part in shaping our future. Life goes on, we adapt, we flex and we will grow again. Our amazing Southwark Business Resilience Awards were a testimony to that. All those short-listed were brilliant role models and leaders, shining examples of the best of Southwark Business and a reminder of the amazing talent that we have all around us. Stay positive, focus on the greater good, and I wish you all a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year. Yours,

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. © 2021. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material

Contents 4 Legal 5-6 Up Front 10-11 Hospitality 12-13 The Dixon Hotel 14-15 British Land 16 Finance 17 Southwark Business Awards 18-19 Big Interview 20-23 Skills 24-25 Arts & Culture 27 Voice from Westminster 28-29 Remembering when… 30 Technology 31 Economy 32 5 Reasons to Join 33 Chamber Events 33 Last Word 34 Join Us

Enquiries Southwark Chamber of Commerce 169 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW Tel: 07477 581977 Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com Web: www.SouthwarkCommerce.com

Editor Jez Davison Email: jez@benhampublishing.com

Contributing Editor Susan Isaacs

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

Published

Sarah Moore-Williams FCCA., MSc., PGCHE Dean of London South Bank University Business School, Chair, Southwark Chamber of Commerce Limited e: moorewis@lsbu.ac.uk 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.

December 2021 © Benham Publishing

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

Studio Mark Etherington Email: mark@benhampublishing.com Media No.1830

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 3

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Up Front

More than 40,000 Southwark residents claim Universal Credit Almost 42,000 Southwark residents were claiming Universal Credit in August and two fifths of this number were in work, according to new government figures.

Scissors of Oz founder launches storytelling programme Founder of Scissors of Oz, Oz Izzet, has launched a programme to empower people through hair – “If in despair, brush your hair”, a storytelling programme for women.

he idea started prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, when Oz applied for funding to create workshops for women in the Southwark’s Women’s Hub to talk about their heritage, experiences of any hair-related trauma, hair care and self-care strategies. The aim of the programme was to empower people and to improve wellbeing, healthy mental health and confidence through grooming.

The programme would see 30 participants come together through five sessions of three hours each, to be empowered

through their experiences of hair, re-developing the idea of beauty. Through discussion, creative writing and establishing practical tips, participants would establish their own feel-good strategies to maintain their sense of wellbeing and mental health. Funding for the programme was received from The Culture Seeds. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this did not permit the workshops to take place in the Southwark Women’s Hub, which provides support to women in the area, and the workshop had to be modified to continue to spread the word about the kind of work that Scissors of Oz do. The new idea involved one-toones with women in the Scissors of Oz premises, allowing them to have open conversations in a safe place and connect with others – creating a community

and wellbeing space where they can come and feel amazing and relaxed. Influencer Shahira was the first to be involved and the conversation was recorded with the hope and vision that it would be shown to a wider outreach of people and audiences, helping to encourage self-care and empowerment in sharing stories around hair care and grooming. Oz Izzet, founder of Scissors of Oz, said: “Launching this programme means a great deal to me; I wanted to give back to the amazing women at the Southwark’s Women’s Hub and create a safe space for them to share their experiences together. In doing this, we aid and promote the importance of self-care, have open conversations about stigma, heal together and empower each other through hair.”

The latest data also shows that the furlough scheme was still supporting more than 8,000 people in the borough a month before it was scrapped. Marking London Challenge Poverty Week, local London Assembly Member, Marina Ahmad AM, is calling on ministers to strengthen the safety net and increase the minimum wage to support the lowest income households this winter. Ms Ahmad is raising concerns that alongside the cut to the £20 weekly uplift in Universal Credit payments and the end to the furlough scheme, energy bills and food prices are increasing. Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) also revealed that last year, the least well-off households in the capital spent, on average 60%, of their income on private rent. At the start of the pandemic, the government increased Local Housing Allowance to cover the bottom 30% of rents. However, Ms Ahmad said ministers must boost this further to encompass up to 50% of local rent levels, to prevent more families from falling into arrears to private landlords. Local London Assembly member, Marina Ahmad AM, said: “I am really concerned that it is going to be a very difficult winter for many lowincome and vulnerable households in Southwark, who could struggle to afford to put the heating on, or put enough food on the table. “Thousands in our community have been hit by the cut to Universal Credit and the end of the furlough scheme. On top of this, we are facing increasing energy bills and food prices. “The government simply must do more to stop people from falling below the poverty line. “The safety net needs to be strengthened, with the Universal Credit uplift reinstated and Local Housing Allowance increased to cover average rents. “Our economic recovery cannot be built upon so many in our community being levelled down.”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 5

Up Front

Southwark Council celebrates success at housing awards Southwark Council recently celebrated the achievements of its development programme at the Inside Housing Development Awards ceremony. The council won the Best Development Team in London Award, and William Cuffay House, a new council block in Walworth, was highly commended in the Best Affordable Housing Development under £10m category. Southwark Council has one of most ambitious council homes building programmes in London, aiming to start or deliver 2,500 new council homes by May 2022.

Local London Assembly member welcomes ULEZ expansion The extension of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover most of Southwark has been welcomed by London Assembly member, Marina Ahmad AM, as “one of the biggest public health interventions we have seen in London”. The ULEZ has now been expanded to the North and South Circulars, covering an area eighteen times larger than before. Motorists driving into and around the expanded zone could face a daily charge of £12.50 if their vehicles do not meet new emissions standards. For drivers of non-compliant buses, coaches and lorries, this charge increases to £100. Ms Ahmad said the extension will build upon the success of the Central London ULEZ, which was introduced in April 2019. In the lead up to the pandemic, alongside other measures taken

by City Hall to improve air quality in the capital, the Central London ULEZ led to a 44% reduction in roadside nitrogen dioxide emissions and a 97% drop in the number of schools in areas where there are illegal levels of air pollution. A recent study has also showed that these interventions to tackle toxic air also contributed to a 50% reduction in the gap between the most and least deprived areas for exposure to harmful nitrogen dioxide emissions in 2019. Other research has projected that the ULEZ and the mayor’s other air quality policies will

help to save the NHS £5 billion by preventing more than one million hospital admissions over the next three decades. Local London Assembly member, Marina Ahmad AM, said: “The extension of the ULEZ will spread the benefits of cleaner air for thousands more people in our borough. “Tackling air pollution is an urgent matter of social justice. We know it disproportionately impacts the health of Londoners from BAME backgrounds and poorer communities, contributing to 4,000 premature deaths each year in the capital alone.”

Santander Cycles hits new milestone

Councillor Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for council homes and homelessness, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled with our success at the Inside Housing Development Awards and proud that the hard work of colleagues across the council to provide desperately-needed new council homes is being recognised. These awards are a fantastic achievement and will only spur us on to keep delivering truly affordable homes for our community.”

More than one million hires were made in September, with an average of 40,660 per day – a new record for the month.

The New Homes programme was judged on its performance over the past year, how the teams built relationships and worked with stakeholders, and how they ensured that residents’ needs were met.

Transport for London (TfL’s) flagship cycle hire scheme is continuing to go from strength for strength with its highest September hires in its 11-year history, as increasing numbers of Londoners returned to the office.

William Cuffay House is a 17-unit council block that was completed in January 2021. The development was judged on how it meets local housing need, its design and sustainability features, and the tenure of the homes.

There were 1,219,804 hires during the month, an average of 40,660 daily hires – well above the 37,917 average daily hires in September last year and the 32,323 average daily hires in the three Septembers prior to the pandemic.

Santander Cycles has enjoyed its best September ever as hires reached the highest level since the pandemic started.

6 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Office workers returning after the summer holidays helped to contribute to the record September. During the month, TfL saw the highest volume of Santander Cycles commuter hires since March 2020, with an average 7,573 daily hires made between 07.00 and 10.00 on weekdays. Santander Cycles can be hired from as little as £2 a day for an unlimited number of 30-minute journeys.  The scheme recently reached its latest milestone of 10 million hires via the Santander Cycles app. The free app is available on Apple and Android App Stores, by searching for Santander Cycles.

Using the app lets customers skip past the terminal and get release codes sent directly to their phone, so they can hire their cycle more quickly and easily.   David Eddington, TfL’s head of cycle hire, said: “We’re pleased to see Santander Cycles play a vital role in enabling people to return to work and it’s fantastic to reach yet another big milestone with 10 million hires made through the app.” Dan Sherwood, director of marketing at Santander UK, said: “Bringing innovation to the cycle hire scheme has been a key focus during our partnership with TfL so it’s fantastic that we’ve reached such a great milestone in the number of hires made through the app since its creation together.”

S u p e r ma r k e t s & off -licence shops Come and visit Bermondsey 's original town centre , home to independent businesses and an important business hub . Head to Market Place , the pedestrianised s uare in the centre of the Blue , with cafes , a public library and a brand -new clock tower and drinking fountain , the latter inspired by the original clock at the former nearby Peek Freans Biscuit Factory . Also there , you 'll find the revamped Blue Market , which plans to attract a diverse range of stalls selling food , fashion and crafts . Don 't miss the chance to explore our streets to discover historical landmarks and colourful street art .

Co f f e e s h o p s & cafes Restaurants & t a k e a wa y o u t l e t s Ha i r d r e s s e r s & barbers shops Qu a l i t y f o o d products Ch i l d r e n ' s s t o r y wa l k s A place to explore

WWW.BLUEBERMONDSEY.CO.UK/BUSINESS-DIRECTORY thebluebermondsey

bluebermondsey

AT CASTLE SQUARE This December be sure to visit Castle Square in Elephant and Castle to check out two ‘instagrammable’ Christmas themed grottos. The grottos will be open for all the family to enjoy every Saturday in December in the lead up to Christmas.

to snap up the perfect Christmas gift, whilst taking in the impressive Christmas tree. Visitors can stock up on sweet treats for the festive season at Ayca Sweets and Nuts or enjoy a warming hot chocolate at Coma Y Beba, or head over for a full meal from Original Caribbean Spice, El Guambra and Daddy O’s or Kaieteur Kitchen who offer a diverse range of food.

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8 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

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Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 9

Hospitality

Hospitality firms raise a glass to the return of in-person events A year ago, the country was preparing to enter yet another lockdown as coronavirus cases soared. A COVID vaccine had not yet been found and many businesses were closed, with no certainty on when they’d be allowed to open again.

customers, most people would acknowledge that in-person events can bring additional benefits. A shake of the hand and a welcoming smile can go such a long way to building and maintaining strong, productive relationships.

ow, however, the picture has changed. Despite rising numbers of cases, COVID vaccines have proved effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths. Lockdowns, hopefully, are a thing of the past, businesses are open once more and people can meet others faceto-face again. That has been a real boost to the events and hospitality industries, which were hit harder than most during the pandemic.

As society starts to reopen again, events that were held online last year are now being hosted inperson. It has been encouraging recently to see so many business leaders – many of whom are making a huge positive

difference to the borough of Southwark’s economy – gather at local events to network with each other, explore new trading opportunities and celebrate each other’s achievements. Music concerts, weddings and informal greets in bars and restaurants have all been held in recent weeks as society begins to return to some sort of normality again. This is particularly encouraging for the hospitality industry, which has faced a unique set of challenges in the pandemic – notably, a chronic shortage of staff. This shortage is highlighted more starkly at this time of year, with the festive season traditionally the busiest time for bars and restaurants.

10 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Southwark Chamber of Commerce has forged strong links with the local hospitality industry and has previously hosted several events to showcase the benefits of working in this sector, which makes a significant contribution to the local economy. Sarah Moore-Williams, chair of the Chamber and dean of London South Bank University (LSBU) Business School, says: “It’s fantastic to see businesses come together to meet faceto-face after so long. For the best part of two years, we’ve all had to adapt to a new way of working – with many events and meetings held online via Zoom or Teams. While this has enabled many businesses to maintain staff morale and keep in touch with

Face-to-face events will be a common feature of corporate life in 2022 as organisations come together to discuss key issues and challenges. LSBU Business School’s Professional Lecture Series, which offers engaging

Hospitality

“As our Southwark Business Resilience Awards showed, the local business community has adapted incredibly well to the pandemic to survive and, in some cases, thrive. Many businesses have recorded notable achievements in the last couple of years despite all of the challenges that COVID-19 has brought to their door.” and insightful lectures on a range of interesting topics, is now being delivered in-person again. Meanwhile, Southwark’s Climate Change Citizens’ Jury recently met for the first time to begin discussions on how the borough can work together to tackle climate change and help protect the future of the environment – one of the most pressing challenges of today. Funded by the council, and supported by an independent organisation, the jury is made up of 25 local people, representative of the borough, who applied to learn about, discuss and make recommendations on issues that will help the borough become greener and healthier for everyone. Their areas of focus will be announced in early 2022. Cllr Helen Dennis, cabinet member for the climate emergency and sustainable development, said: “Locally and globally, we know that we need to take urgent action to tackle climate change and protect the future of the planet.

“In Southwark, we are working closely with our residents, community groups and businesses to each play our part in reducing our carbon emissions, cutting toxic air pollution and making the borough more sustainable. “The Citizens’ Jury is critical to our work as it will bring different perspectives, experiences and ideas to the table to inform and strengthen our climate plans. Its recommendations will give us local insight into the areas that matter most to local people and our environment, and I want to thank the jurors who are giving up their time to participate. “Working together will help make the difference we need for a sustainable future.” In February 2022, the jury will shape a series of climate change recommendations and submit them to the council for action. More information about the Citizens’ Jury can be found at: www.southwark.gov.uk/ climate

Latin American Food, London Style

Visit Paladar... Discover Latin America! Paladar is a vibrant Latin American restaurant in the heart of London’s SE1 district. We serve fresh, creative 100% gluten-free food and innovative cocktails inspired by the ingredients and flavours of Central and South America. Our selections of wines and spirits are exclusively Latin American.

020 7186 5555 info@paladarlondon.com www.paladarlondon.com 4-5 London Road, London, SE1 6JZ From Latin America... with Love and Passion

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 11

EAT, DRINK & INDULGE

THE WORLD’S MOST CULTURAL POSTCODE Where culinary provenance meets timeliness grandeur When it comes to inspiring dining and drinking experiences, there are few cities to match London. We’ve added to this rich tapestry with two outstanding venues – Provisioners restaurant and our Courtroom bar. The menu at Provisioners reflects its surroundings, offering the best of fresh Italian flavours and warmth, with delicious Pizza, Pasta and Prosecco. At the Courtroom bar enjoy an afternoon tea and chose from a fantastic selection of delicious cocktails, to be sipped in an atmosphere of wood-panelled heritage.

1905 MAGISTRATES AFTERNOON TEA Including a signature sparkling cocktail – £35pp

SANDWICHES Smoked salmon, lemon crème fraiche, avruga caviar, navette brioche Burford brown Egg, Wiltshire truffle, tomato bread Norfolk turkey, cranberry, white bread

CAKES Carrot financier, Spiced ginger cake, Hazelnut coconut slice, Winterberry dome

SCONES Plain scones with Devonshire clotted cream & strawberry jam

STANDARD AFTERNOON TEA Includes one pot of tea per person of your choice. Following pots of tea are charged at £3.50 each.

LOOSE LEAF TEA SELECTION English Breakfast, Green Sencha, Chamomile, Peppermint, Earl Grey, Gunpowder, Masala Chai, Rooibos Orange, Jasmine Blossom, Elderflower & Lemon

BRUT RESERVE Price per 125ml glass – £12.00

SELECTION OF CLASSIC COCKTAILS OLD FASHIONED

Maker’s Mark bourbon, Angostura bitters, orange – £15

KIR ROYAL Crème de Cassis topped up with Champagne – £15

ESPRESSO MARTINI Our in-house roasted espresso, vodka & Kahlua – £14

MARGARITA Tequila, lime juice, Cointreau – £14

PASSION FRUIT MARTINI Vodka, Passoa, passion fruit – £14

COSMOPOLITAN Vodka, Cointreau, cranberry juice – £14 Please note that an optional 12.5% service charge will be added to your bill. The prices include the prevailing VAT. If you have any food intolerances or allergies, please speak to a member of staff.

EARLY BIRD OFFER CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS FOR 2022

Book now and save on your next years Christmas event

211 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2JX info@thedixon.co.uk +44 (0) 203 959 2900

We’re working with Southwark Council

to build a sustainable, inclusive new town centre for Canada Water

Find out more at canadawatermasterplan.com britishland.com

Live construction jobs Live construction jobs and training opportunities! and training Over the next few months, construction will start opportunities! on the first phases of the Canada

Water development. We want local people be aon part building it, of working in Over the next few months, construction willtostart theoffirst phases the Canada qualitydevelopment. careers they love. In the nextpeople four years, expect a it, hundred jobs Water We want local to bewe a part of around building working in to be created and we are working with our partners to help local people of all ages quality careers they love. In the next four years, we expect around a hundred jobs access these opportunities. Find out more below, on our website or by getting to be created and we are working with our partners to help local people of all ages in touch. access these opportunities. Find out more below, on our website or by getting in touch. Free pre-employment training this autumn The Southwark Construction Skills Centre is offering FREE pre-employment training courses for Southwark residents. The two-week programmes will give you basic The Southwark Construction Skills to Centre is offering FREE pre-employment training construction skills and experience help you get on site, including a CSCS card and courses for Southwark residents. The two-week programmes will give you basic Level 1 Health and Safety. construction skills and for experience to help you onorsite, including CSCS card and The courses are FREE anyone who is out of get work earning undera£16k a year. For Level 1 Health and Safety. more information or to book your place please scan the QR code below or visit:

Free pre-employment training this autumn

theskillscentre.co.uk/courses-services/pre-employability-programmes The courses are FREE for anyone who is out of work or earning under £16k a year. For Alternatively, please more information or to book yourcall: place please scan the QR code below or visit: 020 3621 1940, theskillscentre.co.uk/courses-services/pre-employability-programmes email: info@theskillscentre.co.uk, or drop by the site on Surrey Quays Rd Alternatively, please call: between 08:00-17:00 Monday to Friday. 020 3621 1940, email: info@theskillscentre.co.uk, or drop by the site on Surrey Quays Rd between 08:00-17:00 Monday to Friday. Looking for a job in construction? Access current vacancies

Looking for a job in construction? Our contractors are starting to recruit for construction roles on site. Jobs will be available for

Access vacancies a rangecurrent of skill levels and will include labouring, skilled trades and office roles. Our current contractors include Mace Group, Galldris, and Wates. Our contractors are starting to recruit for Keltbray construction roles on site. Jobs will be available for a range of skillCurrent levels and will include labouring, skilled trades office roles. Our current vacancies including apprenticeships and and training opportunities will be contractors include Maceon Group, Galldris, Keltbray and Wates. advertised site noticeboards and on our website (scan the QR codeincluding on the leftapprenticeships or visit): Current vacancies and training opportunities will be canadawatermasterplan.com/jobs-and-training advertised on site noticeboards and on our website (scan the QR code on the left or visit): canadawatermasterplan.com/jobs-and-training Sign up for updates for upcoming jobs and opportunities by emailing team@canadawatermasterplan.com or by calling 0800 470 4593

by emailing team@canadawatermasterplan.com or by calling 0800 470 4593

Our partners include:

Finance

Record energy costs send inflation soaring

Inflation surged to its highest level in a decade in October on the back of surging fuel and energy costs.

ata from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 4.2% in the 12 months to October, up from 3.1% in September. This was the highest 12-month inflation rate since November 2011, when the CPI hit 4.8%, and more than double the Bank of England’s target of 2%. Suren Thiru, head of economics at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “The latest data confirms that inflation is on a significant upward trajectory. “October’s upturn was largely driven by rising household energy costs following the increase in Ofgem’s energy price cap, rising fuel prices and the partial reversal of the VAT reductions for hospitality and tourism which drove up restaurant and hotel prices. “A substantial winter surge in inflation remains probable, with the rising cost of imported raw materials and higher energy prices likely to lift inflation to around 5% next year. “Inflation should trend back towards target over the medium term as supply chains adjust post-pandemic and demand weakens as fiscal policy tightens and economic conditions moderate.

“The Bank of England is facing a tricky trade-off between surging inflation and a stalling recovery. However, with the UK economy facing mounting headwinds, raising interest rates too early should be resisted to avoid damaging business and consumer confidence.” The inflation news follows a BCC survey which revealed that an overwhelming majority of businesses are raising prices as they face acute shortages and cost pressures – with vehicle fuel, shipping containers and utilities cited as the top areas of concern. When asked if they had seen a change in the price of their goods or services in the past year, 80% of respondents reported increases, with 46% reporting significant increases and 34% reporting slight increases. Just 15% reported no change and only 2% reported any kind of decrease. For manufacturers, the above question drew an even starker answer – 92% had seen an increase in the price of their goods and services. When asked whether they, or any business in their supply chain, had experienced increased costs or shortages of commodities over the past 12 months, the results were striking.

“A substantial winter surge in inflation remains probable, with the rising cost of imported raw materials and higher energy prices likely to lift inflation to around 5% next year.” 16 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

More than half (52%) of respondents cited vehicle fuel, 34% shipping containers and 30% utilities such as gas or electricity. Shevaun Haviland, director general of the BCC, said: “These figures present a deeply worrying picture of the difficulties that businesses are currently facing across multiple fronts as supply chain disruption persists. “Firms are facing huge pressures as they battle to keep on track for Christmas and provide the goods and services the UK needs, but we have yet to see any concrete steps to address these issues. “Unless action is taken soon, firms could be forced to cut back on their capacity or limit the range of products they offer. “The huge number of unfilled vacancies is placing further strain on staff having to cover, and COVID is also still with us. With more than 30,000 people a day having to isolate, it presents another ongoing disruption to the workforce which businesses must grapple with. “While there are some global issues at play, there are levers that the government can pull to improve current business conditions; for example, the introduction of an energy price cap for SMEs and providing more temporary visas in the hardest hit sectors through expansion of the Shortage Occupation List. “The new Supply Chain Advisory Group must look carefully at these and other solutions to the immediate and longer-term challenges. “Firms also want to see a moratorium on all policy measures that increase upfront business costs for the remainder of this Parliament.”

Southwark Business Awards

Southwark Business Resilience Awards

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Winners of the Southwark Business Resilience Awards in association with London South Bank University (LSBU) have been announced – with Bodytonic Clinic clinching Business of the Year. TV presenter Fayon Dixon hosted the Awards Ceremony which was streamed live from a studio to a virtual audience of more than 200. It was the finale in a programme that recognised the successes of the borough’s businesses when faced with the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19.

A total of 52 businesses were listed as finalists across nine categories with winners, highly commended and commended, decided by the 8,436 votes cast by the public. LSBU chose Bodytonic Clinic for Business of the Year. The osteopathy, health, beauty and fitness clinic, also won two category awards: Business Pivot and Outstanding Team.

Sarah Moore-Williams, Dean of LSBU Business School, said: “London South Bank University is very proud to be the lead sponsor of these awards again this year; recognising the creativity, innovation and sheer grit of our local business community. These are attributes which we inculcate within our own LSBU students as we prepare them to find their place in the world of work.”

The awards are managed on behalf of Southwark Chamber and Southwark Council with sponsors including Art-Invest Real Estate Management UK Ltd, Berkeley Homes (Capital) plc, British Land, Hollybrook Homes, Elephant & Castle Town Centre, Landsec, Lendlease, with Southwark News and Southwark Stands Together as supporters.

Full List of Winners, Highly Commended and Commended BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Sponsored by LSBU Winner: Bodytonic Clinic

COVID-19 BUSINESS COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, TRAINING & SKILLS Sponsored by Art Invest Real Estate

BUSINESS PIVOT AWARD Winner: Bodytonic Clinic Highly Commended: The Brunel Museum Commended: The Pizza Room

Winner: Theatre Peckham

COMMUNITY COLLABORATION IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 Sponsored by Berkeley Homes (Capital) plc Winner: Ballers Football Academy Highly Commended: Oxo Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie Commended: Southwark Young Advisors

COVID-19 START-UP

COVID-19 BUSINESS RESILIENCE AWARD Sponsored by Lendlease Winner: SE22 Piano School Highly Commended: Dr.Boo Commended: Castro’s Barbershop

Highly Commended: Bizzie Bodies Commended: Southwark Construction Skills Centre Winner: BB Pads Highly Commended: Sollip Commended: Barefoot Joe’s

LOCAL LOCKDOWN HERO Sponsored by Elephant & Castle Town Centre Winner: UK Homes 4 Heroes

OUTSTANDING TEAM AWARD Sponsored by Hollybrook Homes Winner: Bodytonic Clinic Highly Commended: Adroit Accountax Commended: CareTrade Charitable Trust

SUSTAINABLE GREEN INVESTMENT AWARD Sponsored by Landsec Winner: Plastic Free Peckham Highly Commended: The Scissors of Oz Commended: Bluepatch.org

YOUNG PERSONS CONTRIBUTION Sponsored by British Land

Highly Commended: Ballers Football Academy

Winner: Sameer, Adroit Accountax

Commended: Mountview

Commended: Lucy, Interact

Highly Commended: Louis, Mack Metal

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 17

Big Interview

GET AHEAD IN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT “Hire people who are better than you” says Tariq Usmani MBE Tariq explains: “After doing my A-levels, I went to university to do construction project management but dropped out. I married at 18 and had my son the following year – so I was very young – and at 22 I did a City & Guilds in painting and decorating. I guess I’m just a frustrated perfectionist! “I set up a company doing painting and decorating but quickly realised that there wasn’t much money in it. I saw more opportunities in construction so I eventually built a career in this industry and learned to surround myself with people who are better than me.” Tariq established a property firm, Caine Developments, in 1985 and made a success of it, running it for 14 years. “I wanted to build a brand,” he says. “We were buying three-bed Victorian properties in London,

many of which were in Southwark. We then switched to new-builds and this change of strategy eventually became the catalyst for the creation of Henley Homes.” Since then, he has led the development of Henley into an efficient, progressive and design-led property development group. Specialising in residential and mixed-use developments and regeneration schemes – many of which are in London – the company has become widely recognised for its attention to detail, unwavering commitment to quality and a strong, focused approach to customer care. With around 170 staff and an annual turnover of more than £100 million across the group, Henley has a construction arm that delivers dozens of contracts for housing associations each year. It also has a scaffolding division, a joinery factory in Bedfordshire and a lightweight steel framing factory in a large, modern facility in County Durham.

18 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

The group has been quick to adopt modern methods of construction to make the property development process more streamlined, effective and cost efficient, with a focus on controlling its supply chain. Tariq says: “We established Henley because we wanted to work on more complex, higher-profile development schemes. We evolved very quickly, won awards for our work and we’re now very well known, particularly in London and the south east of England. We have a talented in-house team of architects and designers that is larger than many stand-alone practices ” The last 23 years have not been without challenges, however. Tariq and his team had to navigate the business through the financial crash of 2007-08 and, more recently, the COVID-19 crisis and the ongoing fall-out from Brexit. “Resilience is an essential quality to have in business,” he says. “Mostly it’s down to mindset – the ability to see solutions rather than problems and to react quickly. When COVID first

Big Interview

The Inside Story: Tariq Usmani u Favourite food?

Lebanese grilled chicken.

u Favourite tipple?

Robinson’s orange juice.

u Favourite holiday?

Sailing around the Grenadines.

u Describe your family life?

My children are all grown up and married. Life is quiet until the grandchildren arrive, which is very often!

u How do you spend your downtime?

Reading, going to the gym and engaging in charity work.

u What are your key strengths as a manager? Empathy.

u And your limitations? Impatience.

hit our shores, we had already started to restructure the business so we were more prepared when lockdown was inevitably imposed. We swiftly reviewed processes and procedures so that as many people as possible could work from home. That was so important for business continuity. “For us, the key challenges going forward are the uncertainty surrounding the economy and Brexit, which has had an unsettling effect. Businesses don’t like uncertainty and it does have an impact

on property prices, which is a major risk factor for a business like ours. “Despite this, I’m optimistic about the future. We’ll continue to operate with the same values and do the simple things really well. Succession planning will also be important as we move forward. I won’t be here forever so we’ve assembled a great management team that can take the business forward for years to come. We won’t be a company that just sits still.”

u Best thing about doing business in the borough?

u Famous person you’d most like to spend dinner with?

“We established Henley because we wanted to work on more complex, higher-profile development schemes. We evolved very quickly, won awards for our work and we’re now very well known, particularly in London and the south east of England.”

We have a long association with the borough going back more than 30 years. I’ve seen the borough’s rich historical heritage protected alongside new and exciting developments. We have a good working relationship with the local authority and a healthy mutual respect.

I have been fortunate enough to have met many “famous” people. In my experience, unless their real personality is different to their public persona, we have both ended up being quite disappointed.

u Most interesting fact about yourself?

I was the best in my school, probably even in the borough, at the egg and spoon race, for those who remember.

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 19

Skills Skills

INVEST IN YOURSELF

with in-demand skills Every business is only as good as its employees. Since the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the job market, many employers have reassessed the skills and expertise they seek in their staff. As business goals evolve to ensure both short- and long-term success, so does the staff skillset needed to align with the new organisational vision. This has driven many people to upskill, retrain, or fast-track their learning to keep up with an ever-changing environment.

20 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

London South Bank University (LSBU) are proud to offer accelerated degree programmes at their new Croydon campus, shaped by leading academics to meet employer demands, and enable professionals to earn a degree in just two years, pay lower fees and launch their career sooner. Now more than ever, is the time for professionals to invest in themselves with the expertise that will make them stand out in the job market. So what expertise do employers value today? We will explore the emerging in-demand skills and evaluate LSBU’s commitment to developing high-calibre graduates who are ready to meet the changing needs of the business world.

Skills in decision-making, such as Data for Decision Making or Professional and Digital Skills. The teaching explores the range of ways of handling, analysing and presenting data. The goal is to enable storytelling, drawing key insights from data and using this to drive informed business decisions.

2. Soft skill success Whilst proficiency in the technical side of finance or business management remains vital to organisations, there is also a rising need for professionals who possess soft skills, such as persuading and influencing stakeholders and colleagues. Finance professionals especially are moving away from simply reporting, and are now shifting focus to providing advice to facilitate growth.

5. Autonomous working

3. Aptitude for technology

Businesses have seen unprecedented change and have come to realise the importance of getting to grips with their data, in order to have a better view of their organisation and make informed decisions. This has led to analytical skills becoming a sought-after attribute in new employees. Whether businesses need to identify risks or investigate a problem, professionals who can interpret data, identify trends and integrate new information are increasingly valuable. LSBU supports students in meeting this employer demand, particularly with modules which cover the use for data

Another skill that is essential to businesses is critical thinking. Since the start of the pandemic, effective critical thinking is more important than ever in making business decisions due to the vast quantity of information circulating in the world, especially as much of it changes on a daily basis. This makes business planning difficult so the ability to think ahead and evaluate the most reliable information, for the long-term, is vital. The learning environment and programme structure at LSBU nurtures critical thinking, innovation, creativity and enterprise. The application of theory to practice, in order to develop and implement appropriate business strategies, consolidates the use of these skills in a real business environment.

LSBU ensures their students are equipped with a toolkit of soft and hard skills to succeed in their careers. Both the finance and business accelerated degrees are shaped to include management modules, which explore the complexities of organisations and key management, organisational behaviour and people management strategies.

1. Data literacy

4. Critical thinking

Today’s fast-moving world requires businesses to effectively utilise technology, and the right kind of technology, in order to keep up with change. The pandemic has fasttracked digital transformation in many organisations and it’s an asset to have the skills to use the latest digital trends and apply the most relevant to their business goals. Exploiting these technologies helps organisations remain agile and resilient to future environmental changes. The rich learning content in LSBU’s accelerated degrees explores digital skills, finance in a digital world and digital transformation in organisations. That ensures graduates enter the job market ready to apply the theory, concepts and practices to support business change.

An increasingly common hiring trend by HR managers is skills-based hiring, of which the ability to work independently is highly sought after. As remote working practices thrive, employers seek employees who can work proactively and autonomously to ensure their role is a success, irrespective of working location. LSBU aims to enhance the skills needed for independent learning, in order to ensure that students are prepared to take responsibility for their own personal development during the course of their degree programme and in their future careers. Self-managed study supplements and complements classroom-based learning, building up knowledge with a mix of learning activities that are supported by the virtual learning environment. London South Bank University’s strong links to professional bodies, industry specialists and former students, keep it at the forefront of a changing business world. This market intelligence feeds into maintaining first class business courses for its students, especially those studying the Accounting and Finance or Business Management accelerated degree programmes who want to retrain sooner and enter the workforce with highly competitive skills.

Find out more To learn more about how you can fast-track your career with LSBU’s accelerated degrees, visit www.lsbu.ac.uk/croydon

Southwark Southwark BUSINESS BUSINESS TODAY TODAY 21 21

Skills

How to nudge people from gas to heat pumps In the run up to COP26 the UK Government announced plans to offer households £5,000 grants to assist homes in the transition from gas boilers to heat pumps as part of a raft of measures to move the country to net zero by 2050. Will it work? Behavioural science might have some answers. I am part of a research team looking at which behaviour nudges might encourage people to switch from gas central heating to heat pumps. The study has yielded some interesting results. We found that behavioural science can help inform policy and shape consumer behaviour, but only if the financial pain is mitigated. Let’s begin by looking at the Government’s financial offering. I’d argue that, while the grants are welcome, the funding will only cover 90,000 pumps over three years. Given that up to 25 million homes in the UK have gas boilers and assuming the Government continues this pattern

of investment and pump and installation costs do not fall significantly, it would take more than 800 years to get off the gas. That certainly does not meet the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) objective to achieve full decarbonisation of heating by 2050. And according to our research, behaviour science can help, but it can’t do all the heavy lifting. Money does matter. Heat pumps come in at around £7,000. Gas boilers, by contrast, cost in the region of £2,000 for an average house. Using insights from our research won’t be as effective if transitioning to a heat pump is associated with significantly more financial pain than your average gas boiler. Let me break down what we found in more detail.

22 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

We asked 599 non-student participants a range of questions designed to test how behavioural prompts may influence people’s choices between a traditional gas boiler and a heat pump. Overall, the research explored four of these: alignment effects, discounting effects, social norms feedback effects and messenger effects. Alignment effects are when people compare two products according to their features. We found these nudges aren’t helpful with heat pumps because they work in significantly different ways to boilers. If alignment effects are deployed, people are likely to stick with what they know.

Skills

price. One way to do this is by a more extensive heat pump and insulation funding programme for households and large buildings.

Another group was given information on the impact of heat pumps on the environment, while others were told or the financial benefits of heat pumps compared to a standard gas boiler. We found that normative information about the behaviour of peers or providing details of the financial benefits of investing in a heat pump were most likely to change behaviour. Finally, we looked at messenger effects – which is where people are heavily influenced by who communicates the information. We compared the impact of messaging from the Government, energy companies, neighbours and industry. We found no distinction between who delivered the message; however, the content of the message – how the pro-environment choice was framed – was significant, so using the normative feedback effects we discovered alongside the financial benefits would help.

Policymakers can use priming, however, to engage people’s higher-order thinking. For example, advocating for heat pumps because they help save the climate. Discounting effects are the tendency for people to choose short-term savings over long-term ones. So people might prefer a cheaper gas boiler today over the promise of savings over many years with a heat pump. Surprisingly, we found that participants were more patient than we might have expected over the idea of savings in the long run. Normative feedback effects are about how broader social behaviour and feedback on the consequences of our actions influence choices. We gave groups of people different information, with one being told “a survey reveals that the vast majority of people in your neighbourhood have installed the energy efficient heat pump.”

The good news is that people are persuadable. The bad news is that our findings won’t be significant unless the scale of investment required for a heat pump is reduced. So, where does this leave policy? Recent Governmental behaviour suggests a liking for behavioural science. However, behavioural influencing needs to be underpinned by regulation and cost-reduction for it to be effective. Costs have to be mitigated in some way so that people are not constantly led by

Another might be to mandate heat pumps at the point of sale when large amounts of money are already changing hands, so people feel the financial commitment to be less. A similar model already being used in the UK is the campaign for septic tank conversions. Engaging lenders to offer green mortgages where a portion of the money lent is for eco-friendly upgrades is also an option. The Government needs to prompt the industry to lower the costs of heat pumps, particularly installation. Again, the model to emulate is the offshore wind industry, which has reduced costs so significantly that it is moving into a negative subsidy. And lastly, the policy should focus less on prestige, supply-side projects that make good headlines, like huge wind farms or expensive nuclear energy, and more on local consumption. Converting individual homes, getting communities onto heat networks and better-quality buildings matter just as much as large-scale solar farms. If we can see movement on policy and costs, then our insights can play a critical role in ensuring the messaging and nudges are the right ones. Done right, we may finally get the UK off the gas.

‘Recent Governmental behaviour suggests a liking for behavioural science. However, behavioural influencing needs to be underpinned by regulation and cost-reduction for it to be effective.’

This article was written by David Elmes and originally appeared on the Warwick Business School (WBS) website. For more information on WBS at The Shard, please visit wbs.ac.uk/go/london

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 23

Arts & Culture

o writes the dynamic owner of the authentic Spanish restaurant in Southwark’s super trendy Bermondsey Street, where art gallery owners and city financiers rub shoulders daily.

I sit with my dining partner in comfortable wooden seats facing an open plan kitchen, where the greatest delights of Spanish tapas are made before our eyes. The friendly and helpful staff, Huw the assistant manager, and Peter, the restaurant manager, fill us in about the delicious food, and the story of the man behind it all. José Pizarro, a native of Extremadura in the Southwest of Spain, started life as a dentist technician but was fascinated by the restaurant business. He co-founded Brindisa in London, where he worked for a number of years, but he was determined to strike out on his own. He began with a little tapas bar in Bermondsey St in 2011 and saw the demand for a more formal restaurant. The result, just a block away, is Pizarro Restaurant that serves little tapas dishes and more substantial food. The setting is beautiful and simple, wooden walls, floors and benches, and an open kitchen where you can watch your food being prepared. To the left hangs a painting by Tracey Emin, to the right through the window we see the ultracool trip their way along Bermondsey Street.

JOSÉ PIZARRO

Spanish Tapas to transform your Tastebuds Review by Susan Isaacs - Arts and Restaurant critic

“

I called my restaurant Pizarro after my

grandfather. He had a bar called Pizarro in Talaván. Seeing that name above the door is incredibly special for me. 24 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

”

The ideas are drawn from all sorts of different regions in Spain, as are the staff. So executive chef Monty from Barcelona is Catalan, and Pizarro head chef is Adrian from Galicia. There is Manchego cheese from La Mancha and Jamón Ibérico. Often the way the food is preserved affects the taste, so bacalao, cod, is salted. Huw showed us a wonderful book of recipes collected by José Pizarro, and the most delightful was an image of him surrounded by nuns, making little cakes out of almond dough in a cobbled town in Andalucía called Ronda. We particularly loved, for starters, the buñuelos de bacalao, which are crispy cod fritters with parsley allioli. Equally mouthwatering were the boquerones en vinagre, that is pickled white anchovies, with garlic. The padrón peppers, fried peppers with sea salt flakes, were incredibly more-ish. For the main course the Presa Ibérica does not come cheap. It is 100% acorn fed Ibérico pork, served medium rare with potatoes, padrón peppers, and a sprinkling of salt. But it is outstanding. And the bacalao a la llauna, cod in a traditional Catalan sauce with sautéed baby spinach, was delicious. For dessert you just have to try natillas de azafrán con peras. Saffron custard, pear confit and crumble. Once you have tasted the food, there is no question you will want to come back. This is authentic Spanish food that is unforgettable.

Arts & Culture

VITRINE in Bermondsey Square, Southwark

Window on the World of Art By Susan Isaacs Arts and Culture Correspondent

Tarek Lakhrissi’s seminal short film ‘Out of the Blue’ (2019), shown within the delightful independent cinema Kino, facing VITRINE across Bermondsey Square. Alys is tall and strikingly beautiful, and started life as an installation artist, combined with curation within art institutions. She has helped launch many new artists internationally, nurtures and promotes them with fierce pride, and advises clients around the world. She and William make a team to be reckoned with, putting art in Southwark firmly on the international map.

ay and night, winter or summer, come rain or shine, the sensational sixteen metre panoramic glass windows of VITRINE, highlight of Bermondsey Square, allow everyone the view of a tremendous range of contemporary artwork. This transparent architecture allows all exhibitions to be viewable 24/7 from the surrounding public squares. The name VITRINE is taken from the French word for shop window, and that is exactly how it works. No queuing for tickets or rushing to get there before it closes. The wonderful exhibits are permanently on view. This remarkable concept is the brainchild of Alys Williams, the phenomenal founder and owner who has also set up a twin gallery in Basel. I first met her and co-director William at their screening event for French artist

What is remarkable, when you first meet her, is not only the way she has set up this original space, from overseeing the architecture to sourcing new talent, but just how incredibly articulate she is. You would think of her as a writer and poet, as well as an artist. Here is an excerpt from the description on VITRINE’s website of the current exhibition by Sophie Jung which is called ‘The Hindsighters’ Children’ and runs until the 9th January 2022.

“The artist’s 10-metre-long drawing, on one roll of paper, depicts a number of othershaped gnarly figures with a soft jittery line connecting and continuing them to the horizon and to each other, ambiguous in their poses, dancing, hunching, accusing, cradling and searching for something in the sand underneath their feet.” Her partner in running VITRINE is William Noel Clarke who brings tremendous charm and energy to this demanding role. He studied curating at Goldsmiths, University of London, has written for arts magazines such as Frontrunner Magazine and Corridor 8, and like Alys has been a visiting lecturer at universities internationally. This dynamic duo continue to bring striking exhibits to Bermondsey Square. You cannot visit Southwark without heading straight for the remarkable display in Bermondsey Square, there for your delight, 24 hours a day.

‘

The artist’s 10-metre-long drawing, on one roll of paper, depicts a number of other-shaped gnarly figures with a soft jittery line connecting and continuing them to the horizon and to each other, ambiguous in their poses, dancing, hunching, accusing, cradling, and searching for something in the sand underneath their feet.

’

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 25

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Voice from Westminster

VOICE from WESTMINSTER NEIL COYLE MP

K business leaders recently held the Confederation for British Industry’s annual conference and were addressed by both leaders of the two major political parties.

I am proud to have a new Labour leader in Sir Keir Starmer who provided a serious plan to address Britain’s productivity puzzle and support business and industry through the twin challenges of Brexit and Covid. Boris Johnson appeared to give a Trip Adviser review for Peppa Pig World, and delivered that badly. Johnson’s disrespectful and ill-prepared performance was a shambles and a reminder of his famous ‘f*ck business’ reference before his Brexit deal did that to many Southwark firms which had previously traded freely in Northern Ireland and with other European neighbours. Keir Starmer showed grasp and leadership, using his speech to set out how Labour is the business friendliest party and what we would do in power to improve the country for employers and employees alike. I know from businesses in Southwark that the Prime Minister’s half-baked Brexit deal has made it more difficult to operate. Johnson had no plan beyond exiting and now blames others for his irresponsible downgrade deal. Labour is offering to

find an agreement with the EU on mutual recognition of products, meaning producers no longer have to complete two sets of tests for both the UK and the EU. Crucially for London, Labour would also seek regulatory equivalence for financial services - a sector wholly overlooked by Johnson’s dire team. Labour’s promised overhaul of business rates and use of public sector commissioning and procurement to advantage local SMEs in the ‘buy British’ plans, and our commitments benefitting UK business are building up nicely. London has also been let down in the Chancellor’s budget. London’s economy represents 23% of the country’s GDP and we were contributing £39 billion NET to the Treasury before the pandemic. For every £1 invested in London Underground, 55p is paid to workforces outside the capital, yet the budget announced no new investment. Levelling up is meaningless waffle if London is ignored, but when the capital does well the whole country benefits.

There are just days left for the Government to agree a long-term support plan for TfL. Every major capital across the globe has central Government funding except London and Ministers should stop playing political games with our recovery. Without an intervention we will see lengthy delays for the Bakerloo Line extension; escalators at Elephant and Castle station held back; and the possible closure of the Rotherhithe Tunnel on top of cuts to tube and bus services across London. Labour in Southwark is mitigating some of the harm and neglect London faces from Johnson. Southwark Council has announced the launch of a new ‘Business Resilience Support Service’ to offer access to fully funded support, including one-to-one advice with experienced business advisers, and grants up to £5,000. Please check for updates on this service at: www.southwark.gov.uk/business/ business-rates/covid-19-businesssupport-and-information

“

London has also been let down in the Chancellor’s budget. London’s economy represents 23% of the country’s GDP and we were contributing £39 billion NET to the Treasury before the pandemic.

”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 27

Remembering when...

Remembering when... 24 Libraries were built with funding by the Victorian Philanthropist, John Passmore Edwards By Ken Hayes - Honorary Membership Secretary

28 Southwark BUSINESS TODAY

Remembering when...

In 1850 aged twenty-seven he bought The Public Good, a monthly publication which unfortunately failed in 1855 and he went back to being a free-lance journalist. The next ten years were difficult, but he built up his finances and bought two more publications, Building News and Mechanics Magazine both of which were successful. In 1876 he bought the Echo, a half-penny Evening Newspaper which proved to be a very shrewd investment. He funded the building of seventy public buildings, Libraries, Educational buildings, Hospital Wards and a Children’s Holiday Home in Clacton-onSea. He was a pacifist and attended many peace conferences during his life. The build was well planned and built to a high standard and have remained in use up to the present day and are English Heritage listed. He also funded public drinking fountains, one of which remains in Christ Church Gardens on Blackfriars Road Southwark.

‘He funded the building of seventy public buildings, Libraries, Educational buildings, Hospital Wards and a Children’s Holiday Home in Clactonon-Sea. He was a pacifist and attended many peace conferences during his life.’

ive of these were in South London, one was in Southwark on Borough Road, one in Dulwich, one in Nunhead, and one in Wells Way, which included a public Wash House, and one at the rear of the South London Art Gallery. This included a Lecture Hall, built with his donation of £3,000. In 1898 the Art Institute opened next to the Art Gallery, (now the Camberwell College of Art), funded by his donation of £5,000. The Public Libraries Act of Parliament, passed in 1850, which allowed local authorities to put an old penny on the business rates to fund the provision of these Free Public Libraries. In practice

local authorities were slow to implement it. The Library in Borough Road, which is now part of the Business School of London South Bank University, was built by the Parish Council of St George the Martyr, with funding of £5,000 by Passmore Edwards and opened in 1898. John Passmore Edwards was born in Blackwater, (a village near Truro in Cornwall), in 1823. His father was a carpenter, his mother was from Devon and her maiden name was Passmore. As a young man he moved to Manchester and worked as a journalist for the Manchester Sentinel Newspaper. He subsequently moved to London and lived in Camberwell working as a free-lance journalist.

John Passmore Edwards was passionate about social reform, his moto being, ”Do the Best for the Many.” He stood for Parliament in 1880, as a Liberal Party candidate and was elected as MP for Salisbury. However, he became disillusioned with politics and the lack of social reform for the working classes. He instead concentrated on providing better opportunities for the general public in education and health care, thus improving their life chances. He also campaigned for the abolition of slavery. He was twice offered a Knighthood, first by Queen Victoria and then by King Edward VII which were both rejected by him. John Passmore Edwards died in 1911 and the obituary in the Times said: “He did more good in his lifetime than most of his contemporaries”

Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 29

Technology

Mayor launches initiative to improve diversity in the technology sector The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched an initiative to help tackle the under-representation of young black men in London’s thriving technology sector.

he intervention is the latest part of his Workforce Integration Network programme which is focused on increasing the number of young black men in the capital’s key industries. Statistics show young black men make up just five per cent of London’s growing, 589,730 strong technology workforce in a sector that is worth £56 billion to the economy. Across the capital, black men aged 16-24 are among the most likely to be out of work – with almost one in three unemployed compared to just 15 per cent of young white men. Rather than just focusing on ‘skilling up’ young black men to apply for jobs in the tech sector, the mayor’s Design Lab3 creates a space for businesses to come together, critique existing practices and explore the causes of under-representation in their workforces and the sector as a whole. Large businesses are then are supported as part of a 12-month programme to build an action plan to recruit, retain and progress more young black men in their businesses. This action will focus on areas around recruitment, supply chains, workplace culture, data and progression. It also includes a programme of workshops, one-to-one sessions, data collection, supply chain assessments, introductions to suppliers and networking and recruitment opportunities delivered by the Equal Group in partnership with City Hall.

“It’s simply not right that young, talented and ambitious young black Londoners are not being given the opportunity to prosper in the capital’s thriving tech sector.” At the end of the year-long programme, the businesses involved will have built a bespoke action plan to address the lack of diversity in their organisations, and ensure that young black Londoners who face additional barriers to employment now have the right opportunities and support to join and thrive in the tech sector. The eight technology companies selected to take part in the programme are: Dell Technologies, Informa Tech, Cloudreach, Ford Motor Company, Profusion, Cognizant, Panaseer, and Telent Technology Services. Sadiq Khan said: “It’s simply not right that young, talented and ambitious young black Londoners are not being given the opportunity to prosper in the capital’s thriving tech sector.

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“The impact of the pandemic has reinforced why the work of the Workforce Integration Network is so important. We have already successfully supported 20 large businesses in the construction and infrastructure sectors, representing a combined workforce of over 100,000, to remove barriers holding young Black Londoners back. I’m pleased that we are now building on this work with more action. “I’m determined to ensure no Londoner is left behind as we recover from the pandemic. Someone’s life chances should never be limited by their family’s background or the colour of their skin. This new initiative will give tech and digital businesses better insight into the role they can play to address inequalities, improve diversity and create industry-wide change.” CEO of The Equal Group, Mac Alonge said: “We are delighted to be working with the GLA once again to deliver our successful WIN Design Lab programme. To date we have taken 20 organisations through the programme who are collectively responsible for directly employing over 100,000 staff in the construction and infrastructure sector. It’s great to have the opportunity to expand the reach and impact of the programme as a result of the ambition and intention shown by the Mayor of London and the wider team. With a group of forward thinking and progressive tech companies signed up, we hope to massively improve the prospects of young black men in one of the fastest growing sectors in the world.”

Chamber network “deeply disappointed” at rail u-turn The eastern leg of HS2 has been scrapped and plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) have been downgraded, the government has confirmed.

nveiling the new plan in the Commons, transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed that the eastern leg of HS2 will no longer go all the way to Leeds. Instead, it will stop in the East Midlands near Nottingham. The announcement rows back on previous pledges that the high-speed route to Leeds would be built. Under the original plans, HS2 was meant to connect London to Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester. There is also a scaling back of a new trans-Pennine rail route between Manchester and Leeds as part of the NPR project, which is designed to improve links between major northern cities. A combination of new track and enhancements to existing infrastructure will be made along this route instead. Reacting to the news that the eastern leg of HS2 and NPR will no longer proceed as planned, Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “This will be a huge disappointment to the thousands of businesses that were relying on HS2 and NPR to fire up economic regeneration through the improved capacity and connectivity of our rail network. “While some places will benefit from these revised proposals, many companies have built their plans for the future around what

they believed was a firm commitment from government to see these projects through in full. “The economic benefits that they would have brought to areas across the Midlands and the north would have improved the lives of countless generations and created growth opportunities for businesses across the country. “There is also grave concern that without more capacity on our railways, any significant progress on shifting more freight transportation off our roads and onto the rail network will be stymied, making it much more difficult to achieve our net zero ambitions.” Richard Burge, chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), said: “This watered-down proposal is not just a blow to the north, it’s a betrayal of the much-hyped levelling up agenda. It’s hugely disappointing that

after the positive announcement of a new export strategy, the government’s commitment to invest in productivity gains for the future has been compromised. “Coming right off the heels of COP26, the announcement moves the country away from infrastructure projects that deliver a more sustainable future for British transport; this is especially disconcerting. “It’s difficult to understand how the government expects the UK to compete globally with the most advanced economies when we cannot deliver decent connectivity between our own cities. Delivering a high-wage economy, which the Prime Minister has made a stated aim, will require significant investments. The recently published Integrated Rail Plan falls well short of what’s needed to deliver the infrastructure necessary to secure Britain’s economic future.”

“This will be a huge disappointment to the thousands of businesses that were relying on HS2 and NPR to fire up economic regeneration through the improved capacity and connectivity of our rail network.” Southwark BUSINESS TODAY 31

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