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As a micro business owner based in Southwark since 2017, I’m very excited to be stepping in as acting Chair for the Southwark Chamber of Commerce and to represent the diverse business community in the borough. I am joined on the committee by an enthusiastic team of business owners based in Southwark or that have strong business links to the area eager to see the Chamber grow its relevance and its connection to the local community.
The committee has a busy time ahead leading to the Southwark Chamber’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in July 2023 when a Chair and board of executive members will be selected. Leading up to then, the committee looks forward to connecting with our current members and hearing their thoughts about how the Chamber can better serve them and the needs of local businesses in general as we rebuild and look to the future. Having listened to what our members have to say, we will present our plan for the next 12 months at the AGM.
If you are a local business in Southwark, I hope you will take this time as the opportunity to connect with us and shape what the Southwark Chamber of Commerce can do for you.
Best wishes to you all.
BA(Hons) DipArch(UCL) RIBA
FRSA
Acting Chair
Southwark Chamber of Commerce Limited Director, Deft.Space
Editor Sarah Dale Email: Sarahdale@benhampublishing.com
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Published
June 2023 © Benham Publishing
Advertising and Features
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Chris Millett
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Media No.1971
Many employees see their pay rises as part and parcel of the annual progression of their career, whether it is a reflection of moving up the ranks or just an annual
by Inbar Rabinovitz - Senior Associate
Pay rises have become all the more important to employees that are on PAYE because higher salaries go a long way to support individuals with the increasing costs of living and indeed the crisis that we are currently facing in that regard. In short, as everything else becomes more expensive, should employees not become more expensive too?
While many do take pay rises for granted, the question of whether they are a legal entitlement has come to the forefront as a result of the case of Ian Clifford against IBM. Mr Clifford claimed that he has been on sick leave since 2008, when he was last able to work, and that throughout the 15 years that he has been off sick, he has not received any pay increases. He alleged that the
fact that he has not received a pay rise in all of those years amounted to unfavourable treatment of him because of his disability and thus amounted to discrimination arising from his disability (initially mental ill-health and later diagnosed with stage 4 leukaemia, both of which could qualify as disabilities under the Equality Act 2010).
Interestingly, the Tribunal held that Mr Clifford was not discriminated against as he did not suffer a detriment – he was receiving payments under the company’s disability plans which is why he remained employed during this period (we presume) but the Plan’s payments did not increase in a number of years and that appears to have been the real issue. Mr Clifford was not placed at a detriment because actually,
only those that are disabled could have received the benefit of the disability plan in any event.
So the main question remainsshould Mr Clifford have received pay increases as a legal right?
The short answer is no. The Employment Rights Act 1996, or indeed any other relevant legislation, does not give an employee a legal right to receive a pay increase. We have legislation that require an employee to be paid above minimum wage (e.g. the National Minimum Wage Act 1998) which continues to update annually and increase the minimum an employee can be paid, but that is the extent of the available legislation on the matter. It means that an employee is not automatically entitled to a pay rise, as much as it would be an ideal to get one.
increase in line with the longevity of service within the business.
Southwark Stars celebrates the strength of the voluntary sector in Southwark with categories including Community Group of the Year, Charity of the Year and individual awards like Older Volunteer of the Year and Disabled Volunteer of the Year.
Community Health Ambassadors Network Southwark with the Tate Modern hosting.
The winners of Southwark Stars 2023 are on the Community Southwark’s website www.communitysouthwark.org
The annual Southwark Stars Awards were held on May 26th, 2023, celebrating remarkable volunteers, charities and community groups working to make Southwark a better place for all. Community Southwark, the umbrella body for community organisations in Southwark, will host the award ceremony at Tate Modern with music, food and celebration!
Southwark is home to hundreds of grassroots community groups, from large charities to one person efforts. Community Southwark describes how ‘the last few years have been immensely difficult for these groups and they rarely have the chance to recognise the incredible difference they are making.’
CASTLE SQUARE JOBS FAIR
SQUARE JOBS FAIR
JOBS FAIR
It also recognises the volunteers who form the threads in the fabric of these groups, with over 100 Volunteer Champion and Health Ambassador Certificates presented to individuals. The Ambassadors Network, coordinated by Healthwatch Southwark and Southwark Council, was established during Covid-19 and has grown into a dynamic network of individuals assisting underrepresented communities in accessing relevant healthcare and having their voices heard.
The ceremony recognises the joint work of community organisations and Southwark’s thriving businesses sector. Best Corporate Partnership award, presented this year by ZS Associates, builds on Community Southwark’s ongoing program of corporate and community collaboration which seeks to strengthen the links between the sectors through skill sharing and team days.
The ceremony can only take place thanks to a number of amazing sponsors: Meridian West, NEC, Southwark Charities, Peckham Settlement,
The Elephant and Castle Town Centre Team will be hosting a career fair on 22 June between 14:00 PM – 18:00 PM . The fair will give young people a chance to kick-start their careers or pursue further education to explore a variety of opportunities.
The day is free to attend and will host a range of local, London-wide and national employers. Their teams will be on hand to support individuals looking for new roles or apprenticeship opportunities in a range of sectors.
The fair is being organised by the Elephant and Castle Town Centre Team as part of its commitment to creating real opportunities for the local community to thrive and grow, with support from Southwark Councillor Naima Ali.
If you’re looking for a new role, or to kick-start your career, head down to Castle Square on 22 June to find out more!
CAREERS FAIR
COME JOIN US
COME JOIN US
Thursday 22nd June 2023
2PM - 6PM
VENUE Castle Square
Thursday 22nd June 2023 2PM - 6PM
VENUE Castle Square
A range of local, London-wide and national employers will be exhibiting on the day and will be on hand to support individuals looking for new roles or apprenticeship opportunities in a range of sectors, including:
•Construction
A range of local, London-wide and national employers will be exhibiting on the day and will be on hand to support individuals looking for new roles or apprenticeship opportunities in a range of sectors, including:
•Construction
•Legal services
•Legal services
•Administration
•Administration
•Planning
•Planning
•Public services
•IT
•Public services
•IT
•Performance arts
•Performance arts
•Education
•Education
If you’re interested in dropping by to hear more about the roles on offer in the local area, please get in touch at info@elephantandcastletowncentre.co.uk
If you’re interested in dropping by to hear more about the roles on offer in the local area, please get in touch at info@elephantandcastletowncentre.co.uk
@castlesquarelondoncastlesquarelondon.com
@castlesquarelondoncastlesquarelondon.com
ONE Picture My Story is a photographic display and oral history project sharing stories from Southwark’s Black heritage communities.
Held at Canada Water Library on Surrey Quays Road, the free exhibition by Southwark Archives started with a simple idea: bring along your favourite photograph of Southwark to a reminiscence group and tell the group the story behind it so these personal accounts could be shared.
ONE Picture My Story is part of the Southwark Today exhibition showing until 27 June 2023 at Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library. An accompanying booklet containing photographs and descriptions for each of the contributors is available to view at Southwark Archives and selected Southwark Council libraries.
Opening hours for Canada Water Library are: Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, and Sunday 12pm to 4pm.
Building works have reached the roof level and continue at pace at two sites providing 40 new council homes, play spaces and communal gardens at St Saviours Estate in West Bermondsey.
Southwark Council is building 24 new council homes in a five-storey building
at the Maltby Street site, including four wheelchair adapted duplex flats. The council is also providing disabled car parking spaces, bike storage, communal gardens and a playground as part of the development.
The council is building another 16 new council homes in a five-storey building at the Fendall Street site. This development also includes a wheelchair adapted flat, bike storage, a new ball court, a play area and a communal garden.
Both sites replace old garages and pram sheds that were part of the St Saviours Estate.
Cllr Darren Merrill, cabinet member for council homes and homelessness, said: “These 40 new council homes across both sites will be a real asset for the local community, helping to tackle the housing crisis locally and enhancing the local area.”
Paul Hunt, operations director for ARJ Construction Ltd, said: “Affordable housing is a critical need in our society. ARJ Construction Ltd are proud to be working with Southwark Council to deliver these high-quality new council homes for many individuals and families who need affordable housing.”
The Maltby Street development is expected to complete in December 2023 and the Fendall Street development is expected to complete in early 2024.
Local and affordable, the London Bridge Hive venue is ready for your booking.
Set just moments from London Bridge Station, the London Bridge Hive is a versatile space for you to create your ideal event environment.
Located in a warehouse on Holyrood Street, The Hive provides an affordable venue for local businesses and organisations who need a convenient and comfortable space for meetings, events, workshops, rehearsals and much more. Managed by Team London Bridge, the room can be set up in three different standard layouts, or we can work with you to facilitate a bespoke arrangement for a maximum of 60 people.
Currently available 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, the facilities include a small kitchenette, WiFi, AV equipment, and a breakout/reception area. Team London Bridge can help you arrange catering from a hand-picked selection of local suppliers and are ready to assist all the way with arrangements leading up to your booking.
These 40 new council homes across both sites will be a real asset for the local community, helping to tackle the housing crisis locally and enhancing the local area.
Creatives across Southwark can look forward to a new artist development hub as Theatre Peckham is announced as the new operator of the Canada Water Theatre from 1 April 2023.
Following a competitive process, Southwark Council has appointed Theatre Peckham to transform the way the performance space is used during 2023-24, refreshing its purpose as a designated platform for emerging artists to develop their creative ideas, practice and strengthen community connections.
Southwark-based Theatre Peckham follows in the footsteps of The Albany who successfully managed and programmed the theatre space for 11 years, delivering a broad range of plays, music gigs, poetry nights, and familyfriendly events.
Theatre Peckham’s new outpost provides the opportunity for creatives of all kinds to upskill themselves and attract paid opportunities – a key tenet for a thriving cultural sector. Independent creatives will benefit from artist mentorship programmes, support with funding applications, production and marketing.
Over the next year, Theatre Peckham will bring forward a creative vision that comprises:
• Incubate – free research and development opportunities for Southwark-based creatives
• Gifted Weeks – free rehearsal space for artists performing in Peckham Fringe and Young, Gifted & Black
• London Calling – affordable rehearsal space hire for non-Southwark based companies
• Community Hub – local community group hires.
Theatre Peckham is an active member of the Southwark Stands Together pledge, a borough wide commitment to tackling racial inequality. The theatre champions the voices of those from ethnically diverse backgrounds as creatives and audience members and recognises the critical role that creativity and culture have in shaping society and building stronger, fairer, richer communities and places.
Alongside its dedicated support for creatives, the theatre will also host community events, with the programme to be announced in the coming months.
Cllr Catherine Rose, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks, Streets and Clean Air, said: “While we’re sad to see The Albany go, we’re excited to welcome Theatre Peckham to the Canada Water Theatre.
“The new direction of the space reflects our ambition not just to platform local artists and theatre-makers, but to cultivate their talents and provide them with the resources to hone their practice and make a living. Rehearsal space is at a premium across the capital so we’re glad to be offering opportunities to use the space for free or at affordable rates, all underpinned by the expertise of an organisation dedicated to unlocking the potential of grassroots talent.”
Artistic Director and CEO of Theatre Peckham Suzann McLean, said: “This is an incredible opportunity for Theatre Peckham to continue its mission of building an equitable sector by providing a platform for diverse talent in the arts. The venue will provide a much-needed space for Southwark artists to come together and collaborate on projects, be a resource for sector wide theatre companies seeking a performance space and continue as a community hub for local groups. This opportunity will allow us to further our commitment to artistic excellence, social change, and community connections.”
perspective on what is needed for young people in Southwark and work out how best to achieve this.
Cllr Jasmine Ali, deputy leader and cabinet member for children, young people education and refugees, said: “Two years’ ago we promised Southwark’s children and young people a deal where they were supported and encouraged to fulfil their full potential. We forged some fantastic relationships with youth groups and community organisations towards this ambition. Our new youth forum gives these partnerships a chance to truly flourish, crucially with young people’s voices at the centre of everything.”
In line with Southwark Council’s local lettings policy, at least 50% of the new council homes here will be offered to local tenants in housing need already living in the immediate area. The remaining homes will be allocated
Southwark Council is strengthening how they work with the youth voluntary sector through a new youth forum.
Cllr Jasmine Ali recently welcomed youth groups, charities and young people to a hybrid meeting at Tooley Street to kick off a renewed joint effort to build on their partnership working under Southwark’s Youth New Deal. This was launched two years ago in response to the challenges facing young people as we recover from the pandemic.
Now the council is bringing key players together in a structured way to ensure the needs of young people continue to be acted upon. The forum will be made up of young people and local, regional and national groups who work with or campaign on behalf of young people. They will each bring their unique
Southwark Council has finished a new development on Ivy Church Lane, just off the Old Kent Road which will provide 21 new council homes for local people.
The new development, which sits on an old garages site, provides 17 flats and four three-bedroom houses, as well as a new community hall and a commercial space. Two of the flats are suitable for wheelchair users and there are disabled parking spaces outside the development.
The development is called Wouldham Court, named after a village in Kent in line with the rest of the estate.
Cllr Darren Merrill, Cabinet Member for Council Homes and Homelessness, said: “I’m delighted to see this development completed and ready for residents to move in. These properties are spacious and thoughtfully designed, and will make wonderful homes for our residents who are in housing need. We have already built over 1,000 new council homes across the borough and we will continue to build more to tackle the housing crisis locally. I am excited to see residents move in to Wouldham Court shortly and start enjoying their wonderful new homes.”
I’m delighted to see this development completed and ready for residents to move in. These properties are spacious and thoughtfully designed, and will make wonderful homes for our residents who are in housing need.Tim Mossholder on Unsplash Matheus Bertelli pexels
As the first new buildings begin to reach full height, people living and working in Canada Water are seeing the development take shape.
But establishing London’s first new town centre in 50 years isn’t just about the construction: British Land wants existing and new local, independent businesses to benefit from the opportunities being created by the Canada Water Masterplan. The developer is creating a place where businesses of all types and sizes, with jobs available at all levels, sit side by side and help a vibrant local and wider economy flourish.
In 2017 business enterprise charity Tree Shepherd and British Land partnered to set up Thrive, an affordable workspace that offers local startups a place to grow while paying significantly cheaper rents, as well as access to free expert training and mentoring. Thrive currently supports and provides networking and other services for 31 member businesses, ranging from filmmakers to beauty therapists to counsellors, with many having already moved into their own premises.
After six years, Thrive has now moved into a new, larger space next to Tesco in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre which 12 of its member businesses use as their base. This prime location, in the heart of the local area, gives Thrive the platform it needs to continue its work in supporting traders from the area.
We’re excited to have moved to a busier space frequented by more people. This puts the independent businesses we support right in the heart of the action at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre. The new location offers them a base where they can develop and grow to make sure they remain vital parts of the local economy and community.
As Thrive starts life in its new space, one of the businesses it has nurtured over the last few years is making the most of its new home.
Innovative drinks company Strongman’s Tipple is masterminded by Tomas Lenko and his business partner Lukas Etus. With 20+ years of experience in the beverages industry between them, the award-winning duo advise bars and restaurants and run cocktail events for luxury brands across the UK. They also produce their own line of pre-mixed bottled cocktails in their ‘lab’ at Thrive. Thrive has been an “absolute godsend” in helping the business grow, says Tomas, with the access to professional advice and support making it “a wonderful incubator space”.
Strongman’s Tipple is now set up in spacious new premises at Thrive’s new location, in the former Carphone Warehouse in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre. This provides the opportunity for greater product development and warehousing that Tomas and Lukas need to expand their business.
SPACE TO THRIVE
SPACE TO THRIVE
NEWLY REFURBISHED
NEWLY REFURBISHED
SPACES
SPACES
SUITABLE FOR A RANGE OF USES
SUITABLE FOR A RANGE OF USES
When Peter Mantell sat on the front row of his first Chamber event so he could follow the proceedings better, he hadn’t expected to be asked to join the committee.
Now 20 years later, Peter has retired from his roles as director, vice chair and honorary solicitor, having also served a term as chairman of Southwark Chamber of Commerce.
Peter has worked for Anthony Gold solicitors’ firm since 2003, when his previous company merged with Anthony Gold. When the Chamber asked for a representative of the firm to attend the AGM, Peter’s head of department asked him if he would like to go. He was asked at the event if he would become the Chamber’s honorary legal advisor, a post he has held ever since, alongside his other key roles within the Chamber. He is very proud of his roles with the
Chamber and is keen to support other businesses.
“We do anything we can to help businesses,” said Peter, who is a Consultant at Anthony Gold, specialising in the commercial and conveyancing department.
“It’s networking events, education and networking outside the Chamber too. It’s good to see how other Chambers do things and we can all share ideas. It’s good to share business ideas and best practice.
“When I went to my first Chamber event, it was the AGM and I was sitting on the front row as I used to wear glasses and have a bit of a hearing impediment so I always try to sit in the front row.
“The old chairman was there and the new chairman and MP Simon Hughes and they were electing members of the new committee. They needed a honorary legal
adviser and Simon Hughes looked down to me so I said ‘Am I the only qualified solicitor in the room?’ and they said yes, so I volunteered to do the role – and it stuck. So, the very first Chamber meeting I went to, I joined the executive.”
Peter was the chairman of the Chamber in 2018-19, and stayed on as vice-chairman following his year’s stint as chairman, and by that time the Chamber had changed its constitution.
“I did the legal work and incorporated us as a limited company and created three director posts: the chairman and two vice-chairs,” he added.
There have been highlights and challenges along the 20 years, with the Chamber’s members facing increasing challenges in the last couple of years – including Brexit, the Covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis – which Peter has endeavoured to help others weather through.
“The first Southwark Business Awards were really important to us,” he said.
We do anything we can to help businesses,” said Peter, who is a Consultant at Anthony Gold, specialising in commercial and residential property here in Southwark.
“ “
“We launched in The Shard and held a black-tie dinner at London Hilton to expand our reach.
“We did the Southwark Business Awards online in 2020 because it was really important to keep the momentum going. It’s one thing getting dressed up and attending an event and another thing doing it via Zoom but you do what you can in those sorts of environments.
“The pandemic was a big issue for us, all of us.”
Peter qualified as a notary public in 2012 and has worked in this profession ever since. His work includes certifying and witnessing documents for use in all foreign jurisdictions as well as some specialist professional witness work in England and Wales.
As a notary public, Peter is separately qualified and regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury; his notarial work is separate from his work as a Consultant at Anthony Gold.
Peter didn’t start his career as a solicitor in London. Born near Toronto, Peter moved to the UK in 1981 and lived across the country before he settled in London in 2001 where he jokes he has to live thanks to his Londoner wife.
He held a range of roles for 10 years prior to becoming a solicitor including a stint working in circulation at The Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mail.
“You can imagine the editor meetings,” he said. “I used to be the numbers man so would just have to remember all the circulation figures.”
A chance meeting at a party with someone who worked for a law school sowed the seed of Peter becoming a solicitor. He studied law at Nottingham Trent University, where he met his wife Debbie, and the couple moved to London after graduation.
And, although Peter has decided to slow down by stepping down from his instrumental roles with the Chamber, he intends to continue working for another four to five years.
Peter has worked at the Elephant & Castle branch for the past 20 years but this is all changing as the branch moves en masse to better premises at London Bridge with more facilities for clients.
Although he lives north of the river, Southwark holds a special place in his heart.
“Southwark is a wonderful place,” he said. “People think they have to be based in Westminster or in the City but in Southwark, you are only 20 minutes away. Southwark is in the middle of everything. I look north into the City, west to the Houses of Parliament; it’s much more central than you think.
“It’s a historical part of London and has a rich history. It was a Roman settlement, a church has been on the site of Southwark Cathedral for centuries, the Canterbury Tales started here [the pilgrims gather at the Tabard Inn in Southwark at the beginning of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales].
“Anthony Gold and other big solicitor firms and accountants are based here; there is the Borough Market, which has been here almost 1,000 years; there are all sorts of hidden gems here.
“Plus, it’s a familiar place to me now. I know the politicians, I know the places, and it’s somewhere that continues to surprise us.”
The Blue Bermondsey BID began its operations after a resounding yes from its local businesses, at its first ballot in 2014 and was re-elected in 2019 for a second five year term.
hub at its heart that is the foundation for implementing the BID’s vision for the wider area in the coming years that is geared to inspiring more economic prosperity and opportunity.
Throughout this time the BID has instigated a sequence of positive change and raised the area profile to attract immense investment and interest and its work has been a key factor in putting the Blue on a stable and optimistic footing.
Importantly it is the support and levy contribution from its member businesses aligned with strong partnerships with local community stakeholders that has underpinned all that has been achieved to date.
From the beginning the BID board, acknowledged that the historic Blue Market was a significant asset, and its rejuvenation could act as an economic driver for South Bermondsey as a whole, and in 2019 the BID led a community campaign with support from Southwark Council, to gain £2m funding from the Mayor of London’s good growth fund.
The subsequent improvements to the Market Place have provided the Blue with a unique and inviting community
At the core of the vision is the desire for a vibrant market that is a true representation of the demographic and diversity of the area in the present day and the BID supported local charity Big Local Works to develop and submit a successful proposal to Southwark Council to take over the management and operation of the market.
As well as hosting the weekly stalls the Market Place also hosts regular events celebrating different cultures with wide ranging programme of family activities that have drawn thousands of people to the area and brought extra spend to the high streets as well as boosting customer retention and proving a catalyst for bringing people of all backgrounds together to boost community cohesion and unity.
In addition to the works to Market Place, a new cut through pedestrian route to the Biscuit Factory and better physical connections from surrounding areas were created, including the pedestrianisation of Blue Anchor Lane with new planting area and trees, to create an attractive connection to the Low Line alongside new way-finding signage and community murals located on routes from key local business hubs.
What has been achieved over the past few years at the Blue has been monumental and it has been done through hard work and solid and trusted community connections with genuine consideration to establishing a long term strategy that will bring more prosperity to its business members. It is also creating an exemplar model of locally led regeneration by fostering deep connections and facilitating a robust network of resources with the emphasis on community engagement to help build an authentic, modern, cosmopolitan, multicultural, neighbourhood that is resilient and empowered for the benefit of all.
Come down the blue , as we say locally, to see what’s on offer,do shopping and enjoy a munch or coffee in one of the many eateries or just chill out. Thank you for supporting our local business community and we hope to see you soon here in The Blue.
We highly recommended having a wander through the familiar streets of Southwark and going off the beaten track too to find a new favourite place to eat or shop or something different to do at the weekend.
With such a rich history and a burgeoning hotspot for culture, Southwark has it all.
A walk along th e Thames takes you to a wide range of Southwark gems. There are so many things to see and do. Starting at St Paul’s Cathedral, you can wander over the Millennium Bridge to visit the Tate Modern, past the famous Globe Theatre, stock up on some fresh produce and tempting treats at the internationally renowned Borough Market, explore The Clink
Prison Museum’s history, take a look at the Golden Hinde, stop off at Southwark Cathedral for a look around and afternoon tea in the courtyard, past London Bridge, take a look inside The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret, visit the top of The Shard, walk over the glass floors at the top of Tower Bridge and past Butler’s Wharf.
Situated on the south bank of the River Thames, Southwark is the oldest part of south London. Engineers of the Roman Empire constructed the first bridge in the
area around 43AD. It is believed to have become a “burh” in 886 and the area appears in the Domesday Book of 1086.
The Borough has seen massive regeneration in the last decade or so with declining wharfage trade, light industry and factories leading to residential development, shops, restaurants, bars, galleries and offices. Because of its proximity to the City, it has become a centre of business with many national and international businesses locating to the area.
In December 1992, the Tate Trustees announced their intention to create a separate gallery for international modern and contemporary art in London. The former Bankside Power Station was selected as the new gallery site in 1994. The following year, Swiss architects Herzog & De Meuron were appointed to convert the building into a gallery, keeping as much of the original character of the building as possible.
The iconic power station, built in two phases between 1947 and 1963, was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who also designed Battersea Power Station. It consisted of a turbine hall, 35 metres high and 152 metres long, with the boiler house alongside it and a single central chimney. However, apart
from a remaining operational London Electricity sub-station, the site had been redundant since 1981.
In 1996, the design plans were unveiled and, following a £12 million grant from the English Partnerships regeneration agency, the site was purchased and work began. The huge machinery was removed and the building was stripped back to its original steel structure and brickwork. The turbine hall became a dramatic entrance and display area and the boiler house became the galleries. Now it houses a range of permanent and temporary art exhibitions.
From posing for a photo outside to spending an evening watching a Shakespeare play, the Globe is an iconic landmark along the Thames, situated close to the Tate Modern. The original Globe Theatre stood at the site from 1599 to 1642 and was revived in 1997.
Visitors can enjoy a unique experience at Shakespeare’s Globe Story & Tour, a new walk-through exhibition space, which brings 400 years of exciting history to life, and a guided tour of the Globe Theatre. The exhibition and tour experience, which started on 10 May, runs until 31 October 2023.
The world-renowned market started at the foot of London Bridge 1,000 years ago. Since 1756, the market has been in its current location at Southwark Street. Open daily except Mondays, the market, which is a charity run by a board of volunteers, has three main areas: Three Crown Square (larger producers and merchants), Green Market (small, specialist produce traders) and Borough Market Kitchen (street food traders).
You can find out more about the market by taking an official, licensed tour led by an expert guide or reading Borough Market: Edible Histories by Mark Riddaway or by trying out recipes from traders in Borough Market: The Knowledge by award-winning food writer, Angela Clutton or have a listen to The Knowledge podcast.
Dating back to 1144, The Clink was the most notorious medieval prison in London
and is today the oldest prison in Britain, although it no longer keeps any prisoners. Now The Clink Prison Museum sits on the original site of the prison and tells its grisly history. The name “Clink” is argued to be derived from the sound of the blacksmith’s hammer closing the irons around the wrists or ankles of the prisoners, although the Flemish word “klink” meaning “latch” could also have influenced the name.
The full-sized sea-worthy replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship is at St Mary Overie Dock, close to London Bridge and Borough Market. The famous Elizabethan galleon was the first English ship to circumnavigate the globe.
Close to London Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, has been a place of worship for more than 1,000 years, but a cathedral
only since the creation of the diocese of Southwark in 1905. It stands in an area heavily damaged by German bombing during the Second World War – between 7 October 1940 and 6 June 1941, 1,651 high explosive bombs and 20 parachute mines were dropped on Southwark. Shrapnel damage is still visible on the outside of the building.
The cathedral is also renowned for having a resident cat. The first one, Doorkins Magnificat (named as a joke reference to atheist author Richard Dawkins) began visiting the cathedral in 2008 as a stray looking for food and shelter. She became a local celebrity and met the late Queen Elizabeth II on formal visits and has her own children’s book featuring her, Doorkins the Cathedral Cat. In 2018, she was immortalised with a stone gargoyle inside the cathedral. She died in October 2020 and a memorial service was held for her later the same month at the cathedral. If you visit the cathedral now, you may see Hodge, the new resident black and white cat.
Housed in the attic of the early 18th century church of the old St Thomas’ Hospital, this atmospheric museum offers a unique insight into the history of medicine and surgery. The original timber framed Herb Garret was once used to dry and store herbs for patients’ medicines and in 1822 an operating theatre was included. Predating anaesthetics and antiseptics, it is the oldest surviving surgical theatre in Europe.
Irvine Sellar, The Shard’s developer and owner, had an ambitious vision to create an architecturally striking vertical city incorporating retail, offices, hotel, apartments, restaurants and a public viewing gallery. Architect Renzo Piano designed The Shard – London’s tallest skyscraper – as a spire-like sculpture emerging from the River Thames, taking inspiration from the spires of London churches and the masts of tall ships depicted by the 18th century Venetian painter Canaletto. It has taken its place on the London skyline since 2012, when it was completed and officially opened. The viewing gallery is almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in the capital and offers visitors 360-degree views for up to 40 miles.
Tower Bridge is one of London’s best known and most loved landmarks and you have probably walked, cycled or driven across it numerous times. But have you ever taken a tour inside and walked across the top and visited the museum below? You can find out more about the history of the bridge, how it was built and who designed and built it, as well as walking across solid glass floors to look down on the river and road below – not for the fainthearted!
Another eye-catching building along the Thames is Butler’s Wharf, a Grade II listed building just east of Tower Bridge, now housing luxury apartments, restaurants and shops. Completed in 1873, it was designed by James Tolley and Daniel Dale as a shipping wharf and warehouse complex, accommodating goods unloaded from ships using the port of London. Interesting fact: Butler’s Wharf has been used as a filming location for two Doctor Who serials in 1964 and 1984.
Southwark Today shares the voices and perspectives of the people who live in Southwark now.
The free exhibition can be seen at Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library on Walworth Road until 30 June 2023, having opened last June. It was created with a range of community groups to creatively draw out and document their stories.
Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 12pm to 4pm.
Historic buildings play a pivotal role in Britain’s cultural heritage and economy.
They can also play a role in the fight against climate change if five core issues are addressed: policy, guidance, cost, supply chain skills and capacity of local government.
Grosvenor, Peabody, Historic England, The National Trust and The Crown Estate have joined forces to highlight the skills and training challenges that will need to be overcome to ensure the UK’s historic buildings contribute to a net zero future.
Together, they have commissioned research and have shared their findings.
Their research identified a need for 205,000 workers to focus solely on retrofitting historic buildings every year from now until 2050 to meet the UK’s net zero targets. This is more than double the number of workers the team estimates currently have the necessary skills.
Whilst the significant challenge of enlisting and training so many people to address the skills shortage is concerning, the group’s research has also highlighted the great opportunities this could bring – generating £35bn of economic output annually, 290,000 jobs, more efficient homes that are less expensive to heat, in the process reducing fuel poverty and future proofing our built heritage.
The report also calls for industry and Government collaboration to build a workforce capable of meeting the UK’s
climate goals and safeguarding the UK’s historic buildings, whilst also creating new construction jobs.
Improving the energy efficiency of historic properties could reduce carbon emissions from the UK’s buildings by an estimated 5% each year, while making homes warmer and cheaper to run, according to the report.
The report revealed that more than 105,000 new workers including 14,300 plumbers, 14,500 electricians, as well as thousands of carpenters and scaffolders, will be needed to work solely on decarbonising the UK’s historic buildings every year for the next 30 years for the UK to meet its 2050 net zero target.
Buildings in the UK are responsible for around a fifth of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, with historic buildings accounting for a significant proportion. Around one in five – 6.2m UK homes – and a third of all commercial buildings – around 600,000 –were built before 1919.
Retrofitting measures, such as ensuring windows and heating systems are more energy efficient, lowers emissions and can also prolong the life of older buildings. Retrofitting also avoids the carbon emissions resulting from demolishing older buildings and building new ones.
However, retrofitting historic buildings requires more specialist skills, for example, plumbers would need to be able to work with heat pumps and hydrogen boilers, which is where the specialist skills training comes in. The industry has suffered from skills shortages due to a combination of factors including an ageing workforce, the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.
The organisations behind the research are calling on the Government to make the apprenticeship levy more flexible, allowing unspent funds to be channelled into training more people in the heritage retrofit field. About £3.3bn in unused funds from the levy was returned to the Treasury between May 2019 and July 2022.
“Conserving, protecting, and adapting our historic buildings brings multiple benefits to the local communities in which they stand. The revival of Boston Manor House has seen specialist craftspeople employed to sensitively conserve its historic fabric for years to come, providing learning and engagement opportunities for visitors within the historic house. The creation of new facilities such as a visitor café, maker spaces, offices, and meeting rooms for use by the local communities helps to bring the house into the 21st century, ensuring the building has a financially sustainable future, directly feeding back into the local economy.”
the UK’s historic buildings could generate £35bn
output a year, create almost 300,000 jobs and lead the fight
change, according to a new report.Boston Manor House retrofitted by Purcell © Historic England Harriet Pillman, Purcell Senior Architect, BArch(Hons) MArch PGDip RIBA AABC
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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.
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.
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 in decisionmaking, 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.
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.
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.
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 fast-tracked 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.
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
To learn more about how you can fast-track your career with LSBU’s accelerated degrees, visit www.lsbu.ac.uk/croydon
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.
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 classroombased 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.
I became a member of the Chamber of Commerce in 1995. I found that Southwark had a diverse and friendly population who were welcoming to new residents.
Ken Hayes, Life member
The London Borough of Southwark is the most historic of London’s Boroughs dating back to Roman and Viking times, it is a cultural Borough and one to conduct business in.
Authors like Chaucher, Shakespeare, Dickens and Keats lived here, and many national businesses had a manufacturing plant in the Borough.
It had two Teaching Hospitals, St Thomas’ and Guys and the Evelina Childrens Hospital, all still in use today.
Southwark has three Universities, London Southbank University, the London College of Communications and the University College of Osteopathy, plus the Camberwell College of Art.
Museums and Art Galleries in Southwark: The Tate Gallery of Modern Art, Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Brunel
Tunnel Museum, Cumming Museum, the Cinema Museum and the Imperial War Museum and the Science Museum at Guys Hospital. The Borough Market is over 1.000 years old, originally a Wholesale food market, now a retail market.
Southwark has three Cathedrals, Southwark Cathedral, (Anglican)/ ST. Georges Cathedral, (Roman Catholic) and St Mary’s Cathedral Camberwell (Orthodox).
There has been a large amount of redevelopment in Southwark at London Bridge, Blackfriars and the Elephant and castle in recent years, the Shard being the most prominent of these.
Southwark was a hub for manufacturing since the Industrial revolution and its proximity to the Port of London, which was at the time one of the largest in the world.
Southwark has a long history of being a successful place to conduct business and can continue to do so into the future.
Southwark has a long history of being a successful place to conduct business and can continue to do so into the future.
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Technology can be complicated and daunting. Experts are hard to find and expensive. We know a growing business needs expertise, but on a budget. Our consultants will understand your business need and develop an implementation plan that meets your budget and exceeds your needs. We have experts on everything from cloud, to virtual infrastructure, to design and development. And we never exceed budget.
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NEIL COYLE MP
The country has been celebrating King Charles III’s Coronation and a month of bank holidays. It has been a chance to take stock of where we are at and look to the future. I want the UK to thrive and for people to feel confident about our shared prospects but, sadly, Southwark employers and local people report their concerns to me about the state of services, the tough environment in which businesses are trying to operate, and the more limited opportunities facing our country after thirteen years of Tory rule.
I hear first-hand how Southwark businesses experience Government failures. Hospitality and retail firms struggling to recruit. Businesses paying the Apprenticeship Levy but seeing no qualified applicants for jobs advertised. Employers struggling with soaring bills and customers unable to spend in a cost-of-living crisis exacerbated by the Tory ‘mini-Budget’ which caused inflation and mortgages to rocket. The UK economy has failed to catch up to pre-covid levels and is growing lower than any other major economy (except sanction-hit Russia). Last month we also saw the number of employees listed on UK payrolls fall for the first time in two years, a negative step as the country continues to falter post-covid.
Southwark-based business, MPE, told me recently they were recruiting specialist engineers requiring visas on the Government’s priority ‘occupational shortage list’. Applications for the visas
and associated surcharges cost MPE £15,000 but after two months they had heard nothing from the Home Office and came to me for help. I raised the issue in Parliament, highlighting that MPE’s German office accessed equivalent visas at no cost to the company and in a fraction of the time. I hope things are now progressing but Government policies are sadly routinely making the UK less competitive in 2023.
Job vacancies are 282,000 higher than before the pandemic, but remain unfilled as the Government continues to ignore severe skills shortages across the country exacerbated by Brexit. The Government needs to make the UK more attractive as a workplace, yet the Tories fail to train and focus on future jobs and Ministers continue to ramp-up right-wing rhetoric and an anti-migrant narrative despite net migration in the UK now being higher than pre-Brexit. Their detachment from reality is
quite astonishing but equally worrying given the need to ensure our country is better equipped for the future. Universities help meet and create future business demand but rely on international students and watch in horror as the Government now attacks visas for students despite our economic and academic needs.
There are complex challenges facing Southwark businesses, but the Labourrun council is helping to support and encourage aspiring entrepreneurs through the ‘Southwark Pioneers Fund’. The scheme is seeking applications supports anyone starting out with a business idea with grants up to £5,000 and a further ‘Grow Your Enterprise’ scheme offering up to £10,000 to scale-up established businesses. You can find more information online, via the council or drop me a line and I’ll try to help. I encourage anyone thinking of starting or growing a local business to apply!
I hear first-hand how Southwark businesses experience Government failures. Hospitality and retail firms struggling to recruit. Businesses paying the Apprenticeship Levy but seeing no qualified applicants for jobs advertised.
Richard Burge shares his thoughts on boosting trade with Africa, Levelling Up London, and the importance of working collaboratively with other Chambers.
Nurturing strong, positive links between London and Africa is on the agenda for the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Africa is a continent of wonderful countries and we are flying the flag for Africa here, in the best city in the world,” said Richard Burge.
“We are establishing an African Hub in the City to support businesses across London who want to engage with Africa. We need businesses to pursue the adventure of trade. It can be difficult but no more difficult than trading with America.
“We are hoping that the Hub will inspire a lot of businesses that not only that it will be a good market, but it will also be a lot of fun. That’s what I’m keen to show businesses.”
Information on where the Hub will be located will be released soon.
International trade
Free trade agreements (FTAs) between the UK and Australia and New Zealand are due to come into force on 31 May 2023, which has been welcomed by the British Chambers of Commerce.
“FTAs are proceeding, but let’s not get too excited,” he said.
“It’s just replicated what we had before; not much has changed, but they imply trust and are a helpful step forward. Can we do this with other countries? It shows it can be done.
“We are no closer to a trade deal with America. What can we do to make trade easier? With America, it’s about trade facilitation and individual states. We often make the mistake of thinking of America as one country but a lot of it is dealing with individual states. Individual states are keen to do that because they are competing with other states.”
A big issue for the business community is obtaining business visas.
“As a country and in London, one of the biggest problems we are facing is business visas and how difficult the Home Office makes it to obtain one,” he added.
“There are delays with visas, and that’s got to change. Business visas should be dealt with by the Business and Trade Department not the Home Office, the same as student visas should be dealt with by the Department for Education not the Home Office. They don’t need the Home Office getting in the middle of it. The Home Office should only deal with immigration not business visas.”
Levelling Up London is “here to stay”.
“The focus is always on particular places, but it would be better to focus on people rather than places to hit its target,” he said.
“I wonder if in London we need to articulate Levelling Up much more in terms of what London needs, instead of saying that we are hard done by. We need to put a positive case forward for London.”
Recruitment in London is “still a big issue”, especially in the hospitality industry.
“There are four major hotels opening up in London and this will inevitably take good staff from other hotels,” said Richard.
“Generally, there is relatively low unemployment in London. We do have a problem with over-50s leaving the workplace since Covid. As employers, how do we bring back these experienced middle managers who are the glue of workforces? The incentive for them to return to work isn’t there; we haven’t got the pull to draw them back right yet. Financial incentives aren’t enough.”
London is “proving to be as resilient as always”.
“It’s a complex time,” he said. “We have a skills shortage, but we also have a pocket of people who can’t get a job.
“Overall, our international work is expanding and we’re getting a lot of
interest from overseas, but Britain’s influence has diminished.
“People are still investing and still want to talk to London, but the UK is seen as a declining brand and I don’t think that this is going to be solved by a flash campaign, it needs to be through policy change.”
Having a local Chamber’s support is important for networking, recruitment, growth and sharing ideas.
“Businesses have access to their local Chambers,” he said.
“The Chambers across London are active; things are going well and will continue to go well. We have 19 Chambers affiliated to us [LCCI] and it is a genuine network.
“Other Chambers are a great place for support too, whether it’s here or overseas. Every problem you face, someone else has faced it so I always say that I talk to people and steal their solutions!”
A key part of Richard’s role is engaging with other Chambers internationally. In June, he will be attending the Geneva World Chambers Congress and at the end of July, he will visit the US to meet other chief executives of Chambers.
His recent visit to the Ukraine has forged good links with the Chambers there.
“We have got a major role in the Ukraine Congress,” he said.
“We’re forming business ventures with the Ukraine Chambers.
“The focus of the G7 Summit this year is how we can all continue to support the Ukraine.”
The LCCI is hosting a joint float with Kyiv at the Lord Mayor’s Show in November.
“Our Chamber offices will be turned into Ukraine – decorations, food such as dumplings – for the day. It’s all about keeping Ukraine as a focus. This is going to go on and on, so we need to keep reminding people that they need our support.”
by Reeta Minhas-Judd
For some men, even in the current times we live in still have a phobia/hesitation when it comes to therapy.
This is normally inherent from childhood, as they may have had family who did not talk openly about emotions or saw therapy as a sign of weakness or it could even be a cultural thing, where emotions were not seen or heard.
I am proud to say that I currently have more male clients than females and this is so good to see, however there are those who still do not believe that therapy can help them or that they don’t need it. This could be because of fear, lack of awareness, they may even see it as a sign of weakness. For if they have been told their whole lives that you must “just get on with it`’ or “be a man”, this is enough to keep males from entering
the world of therapy. I think on the contrary, that for a man to come to therapy is a sign of courage and it shows such strength to come and open up to somebody and share your inner most thoughts and allow yourself to be vulnerable. With me, you will never be judged and you will hopefully leave the session feeling less burdened that you arrived.
I recently presented a Men & Mental Health presentation to the first team at Eastbourne Borough Football Club and I was blown away by how engaged and attentive the guys were throughout my presentation. I left feeling hopeful that even if they learnt just one thing from my presentation, I have done what I aimed to do and they were more
aware of the importance of men and mental health.
One of the main reasons why I always offer a FREE 90 Minute therapy session is to give those who are more sceptical the opportunity to come and discover about themselves and to understand why they behave the way they do. It also costs nothing, no commitment as there is no contract to sign and no hidden agenda, purely 90 minutes of your time and the possibilities of what you may discover is immeasurable. I therefore urge those guys who feel that they don’t need therapy to at least dip their toe in the water and as I have just said you lose nothing, but could gain the chance of living your best life!
Reeta Minhas-Judd is a life therapist and has run her wellbeing company, RMJ Wellbeing, for the past three years. Her focus is primarily on the positive health and wellbeing of her clients, with the ultimate goal of helping them to enjoy a happy existence.For more information visit www.rmjwellbeing.com
I recently presented a Men & Mental Health presentation to the first team at Eastbourne Borough Football Club and I was blown away by how engaged and attentive the guys were throughout my presentation.Nik Shuiliahin on Pixabay
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
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
3 Affiliate benefits from London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)
• Access to selected LCCI events as advertised by SCC
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.
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
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-timer.
Our events cover a variety of topics, often hosted by key speakers. Examples include:
4 Meet your councillors - Council initiatives for business
4 Discussions on Business Rates
4 Marketing and social media presentations
4 Apprenticeship and meet the buyer sessions
Non Members are welcome to attend two FREE networking events before joining.
Joining the Chamber is a great way of growing your network. Examples of some of our social events:
4 The Annual River Cruise
4 Lunch in the Houses of Parliament
4 Southwark Business Excellence Awards
4 Private tours of Southwark’s most iconic buildings
4 Christmas drinks at Southwark Cathedral
For further details on all forthcoming events
Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com
www.southwarkcommerce.com
Oz Izzet
The Scissors of Oz and The Sisters of OZ CIC, CEO and Hair Wizard
I’m Oz the heartbeat and founder of The Scissors of Oz, empowering people through hair and Leader of The Sisters of Oz creative hair and healing hub. I am a single parent, born and bred in Peckham and a proud business owner here too!
Q1 What was your first job and what was the pay packet?
My first job was in a salon where I lived in Peckham. What started off as escapism eventually brought me in a decent amount of pocket money! I cant remember how much it was as i was around 15 years old when I started getting paid!
Q2 If you were prime minister, what would be your first decision?
This is tough but it would be the climate crisis and scrapping the patriarchy. Equality is a human right and looking after our planet is a collective responsibility!
Q3 What is the biggest challenge in your business?
I’ve had many challenges face me since I started my own business but the biggest would be getting through COVID and balancing grief whilst trying to hold everything together.
Because I wear so many hats and am currently the main earner of the business the responsibility and stakes are high, whilst being a working class woman of colour is incredibly difficult.
Q4 If you could do another job what would it be?
Easy! Interior design! I designed and made my salons from upcycled materials with my loving friends and community.
Q5 What is your favourite London building?
Obviously the one I run my business in - Peckham Levels! What was once a car park my father drove in to get our shopping is now a multi storey building full of creatives and independent businesses!
Successfully helping Southwark Businesses for almost 100 Years
Our Committee Chair (Temporary)
Shade Abdul BA(Hons) DipArch(UCL)
RIBA FRSA
Director, Deft.Space 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)
Chair/Equalities/ Shade Abdul
Diversity and Inclusion
Procurement
Membership Secretary Lyn Hamblin
Honorary Treasurer Agata Wiak
Council Representative Councillor
Martin Seaton
Employment William Harwood
Publicity
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.
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.
• Sole trader £100 per annum
• Small/Medium sized companies 2 to 50 employees £150 per annum
• Large companies - 51 employees plus £300 per annum
• Corporate/PLC’s by agreement.
• All new members pay a one off administration fee of £25
Company:
Address:
Post Code:
Telephone: Email:
Number of Employees:
Full Name: Position:
Susan Isaacs
Small Business Parminder Kanda
Welfare Cait Wilkinson
Social Enterprise Support Jacy Stewart
Administrator TBA
Marketing Julie Leggatt
Social Media Maia Hazell
Ex Officio Sonia Sutton
Executive Member Ken Hayes
Executive Member Cedric Whilby
Executive Member Roderick Lynch
Executive Member Amadin Ryan
Executive Member Mark Purboo
Executive Member Teekall
Mair-Macfarlane
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BANK DETAILS: Handelsbanken
SORT CODE: 40-51-62
ACCOUNT NO: 76489843
To join, please send your details to:
Southwark Chamber of Commerce
Email : admin@southwarkcommerce.com
www.SouthwarkCommerce.com
Twitter: @southwarkcomm Facebook: southwarkcommerce
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/southwark-chamber-of-commerce/
