Southwark Business Today Sept 2015

Southwark

Business Today Issue 5: October 2015

Dulwich Picture Gallery looks to the future p18 Spotlight on Camberwell p10

Property Focus p26

Technology Update p31

Welcome

Welcome to

Contents

Southwark Business Today

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he Southwark Chamber of Commerce and Industry magazine for all Business in Southwark

Wow it’s busy out there!!!

As Southwark Chamber’s core objective is increasing prosperity of our members, and hence the locality, I am fortunate to be chairman at this time, when business and development activity in Southwark is continuing at a phenomenal rate and according to Mark Williams, director of Regeneration at Southwark Council there is a further 20 year in the pipeline.

Local initiatives currently include a 1.5 acre major new retail and leisure centre by Borough Market of Vinopolis. The “Low Line” proposal to convert railway arches from Waterloo to London Bridge into a hive of buzzing activity, and the ‘Coal Line’ in Peckham again a proposal to convert 900 metres of high level railway sidings, between Queens Road and Rye Lane, in a similar style. Major developments include the massive regeneration around the Elephant and Castle by Lend Lease and perhaps the largest inner London redevelopment site, of around 46 acres, in Canada Water

by British Land.

Disclaimer

Southwark Business Today is published for Southwark Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members businesses in the Borough.

The Chamber is delighted that Ian Wingfield, the deputy leader and cabinet member for Business at Southwark Council, has offered to sit on our executive board as an exofficio member. This helps to cement the positive relationship between the Council and the Chamber and our mutual desire to increase and spread prosperity throughout the Borough. Internally we are pleased to have recruited Monsur Abdul, who is actively promoting membership to the 18,000 businesses that are registered in the Borough. In the first two weeks he has already identified numerous companies that wish to join.

The key areas we are promoting: Tourism, IT, Speciality foods and the Arts are progressing well through forming forums, with a chairman/lady already agreed for each group. We are especially pleased that Abdul Mohamed, the former Mayor of Southwark, has agreed to chair the tourist group.

Support has also been forthcoming from Southbank University, BIDs and the Council.

We are growing our international perspective through exchanges with Southwark’s twin towns: Langenhagen near Hanover and Clichy near Paris.

Our networking meetings are carrying on a pace including a very successful and fortunately sunny boat trip at which 135 people attended and a meeting to see some state of the art serviced offices courtesy of Regis at the News International Building (the baby Shard) by London Bridge.

Further events planned include a local Gin tasting, a tour of the House of Commons, a talk on crowd funding and many more.

I hope those companies that are not already members will join and reap the benefits of a very active chamber in a very active area.

Richard Kalmar Chairman Southwark Chamber of Commerce & Industry All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Southwark Chamber of Commerce.

Views expressed in publication are notnecessarily those of Southwark Chamber of Commerce.

Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission of the Editor. © 2015.

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Cage Rattlers Up Front Up Front Education Matters Remembering when...

Spotlight on Camberwell Women in Business Culture Trading with Russia Dulwich Picture Gallery Voice from Westminster Arts Up Close Property Business News Hospitality Technology Business News Last Word Chamber Membership

Southwark Chamber of Commerce Southbank Technopark 90 London Road, London SE1 6LN 020 7403 9922 Email: admin@southwarkcommerce.com www.SouthwarkCommerce.com

Enquiries

John Dean Email: deangriss@btinternet.com

Editor

Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited 3tc House, 16 Crosby Road North, Crosby, Liverpool L22 0NY Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com

Publisher

October 2015 © Benham Publishing

Published

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

Advertising and Features

Mark Etherington Email: mark@benhampublishing.com Media No.1446

Studio

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and itsagents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions inadvertising or editorial content.

Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

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Cage Rattlers

The Chambers Cage Rattlers he Chamber examines some of the big issues facing our businesses - and demands action!

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Southwark makes the News in the context of the Greek Crisis In the Evening Standard 13th July there was an article by Dag Detter (At the height of the Greek Crisis) on “ Why battered Greece is actually sitting on a financial Goldmine.”

Basically saying that the Greek Government owns land and other assets that it is not using to its best economic advantage.

It pointed out that all countries and worldwide cities are in the same position and actually in this Global article it picked out lowly little Old Southwark.

“London Boroughs own a quarter to a third of their land within their boundaries.

In Southwark the local Council owns 43% of the land including 10,000 Garages “ It occurred to me that 25 such Garages near where I live in Long Lane area of the Borough, could certainly

be made a profitable asset to the council.

I doubt that there are any cars in these garages but that’s another matter - 5 x three bedroomed maisonettes could easily be built above these garages.

Now if all of these 10,000 garages are in a similar situation that is another 2,000 homes that could be built for Southwark residents at no land cost.

This would provide needed homes for 8,000 people, £26,000,000 per year in council rents and £4,000,000 in council rates.

The buildings themselves will be an accumulating asset

Road Works

Why do Transport for London who are supposed to have ‘world class’ transport controllers and planners in their employment, not coordinate their road works with the local authorities road works and the works the utility and telecom companies carry out.

This would prevent the traffic jams and grid lock situations that we have seen at the Elephant and Castle/ Blackfriars Road in recent weeks caused by on the North South Cycle Superhighway and the Northern Roundabout at the Elephant, causing businesses and the travelling public great inconvenience and extra costs.

and the land would now be earning income for the council.

I found these figures staggering and wonder why Council have not realised this asset in the past.

Before Southwark gets itself in a Greek situation perhaps Council should look at its Goldmine in Unused land and building assets.

Come on Southwark lets show Greece and the European Union how to do it.

(Name and address supplied)

The hours of work are between 08.00 and 17.00 hours during both rush hours Monday to Friday.

Other large cities, e.g. New York, carry out major road works outside rush hours and cover the holes in the carriage way with heavy metal plates so the traffic can flow freely.

Some small independent businesses in this area have lost up to 40% of their local trade as a result of this chaos.

Finally when are we going to make our cycling fraternity register their cycles and take out insurance as happens in other countries in Europe. If a pedestrian is knocked down and injured by a cyclist, some of whom ignore red traffic lights, they will be lucky to get any compensation.

(Name and address supplied)

Southwark’s Land Assets include 10,000 garages. Seldom used for cars but for household goods surplus to requirements. ... and how much EBay Value is there in these articles?

The Borough of Southwark is a great place to live and work.

Good Restaurants, Historical Pubs, Museums,Theatres, Art Galleries and a History.

Plus where better to start from when you have meetings in other parts of London with excellent transport facilities by Underground, Rail and River Transport.

Southwark connects to the City, West End and Canary Wharf in 10 minutes.

So naturally when my overseas customers and suppliers come over I want to encourage them to stay and play in Southwark.

But we have no directory of hotels and visitor facilities and it takes several visits to the internet to gain all the necessary contacts.

Southwark is hiding its attributes and is too shy in promoting itself.

We need a minimum of the Visitors Map and Directory.

(Name and address supplied)

What’s rattling your cage? Write and let us know Email at admin@southwarkcommerce.com

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Southwark Business Today

Up Front

And the winners are… he winners of the Elephant & Castle Community Fund, created by Lendlease in partnership with Southwark Council, have been announced.

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This year, the Fund focused on health and wellbeing and applicants had to show how they are helping local people feel happier, healthier and more involved in the community.

Nine local groups have been awarded a total of £50,000 for community projects, which is double the amount awarded in previous years and brings the total amount of money awarded since the Fund’s inception to over £125,000.

The nine winning groups are: • CoolTan Arts will create a book celebrating 25 years of CoolTan and the creative achievements of people with mental distress • English For Action will continue an existing English class to help migrants improve their quality of life • Futures Theatre Company are working with four local schools on a participatory drama tour called ‘Sugar & Spice’, which looks at gang mentality and peer pressure • Hotel Elephant will provide a two-year afterschool art club to young people aged 15-16, to raise aspirations through harnessing their passion for art • Latin American Women’s Rights Service are delivering a programme of support to improve the wellbeing of older women from the Latin American community

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ayor of London Boris Johnson has launched a new £20 million fund that will help re-energise the Capital’s high streets.

• Mouth That Roars are embarking on a three-month filmmaking project for marginalised young people that explores Elephant & Castle’s past, present and future • Paxton Green Time Bank will establish timebanking – the reciprocal exchange of skills, services or resources – in the Elephant & Castle area • Silverfit Ltd will set-up an older people’s physical and mental wellbeing programme, in partnership with London South Bank University • South London Cares will use the funding to continue two existing social clubs that mobilise young people to spend time with and assist older neighbours

One of the winners, Alex Smith from South London Cares, said: "We’re so chuffed to have the support of Elephant & Castle Community Fund to develop those vital relationships in Elephant & Castle and to continue and expand our various social clubs in the neighbourhood."

Rob Heasman, Lendlease’s Project Director for Elephant & Castle, said: "We are looking forward to to seeing the positive impact these projects will have on the Elephant & Castle area, following in the footsteps of some notable success stories over the last few years."

Students learn valuable lessons he News Academy - News UK’s programme for aspiring T journalists – hosted its second annual Summer School, providing a free week-long training programme for students aged 16 to 18.

Twenty students from across the UK and Ireland, selected from hundreds of applicants, were given the opportunity to spend a week at the London headquarters of The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun.

Scheme backs innovation on London’s high streets

Director of Communications for News UK, Guto Harri, said:

“We passionately believe in the future of Britain’s famously robust and engaging journalism.

The News Academy Summer

School is our way of ensuring that our brightest young people get the encouragement and inspiration they need to become the next generation of indefatigable newsmakers.”

The London Regeneration Fund will give local authorities, traders’ associations, workspace providers, and community groups the chance to finance proposals ranging from giving customers the opportunity to pay with contactless credit cards at a market stall to providing customised discounts and services for local shops straight to customers’ mobile phones.

It may also include smart technology that could lead to more intelligent parking systems in town centres or street bollards that retract when less mobile people approach.

The Mayor is particularly keen to see proposals that create new open workspaces such as incubators, co-working spaces, maker-spaces and artists’ studios, or secure their long term affordability.

The London Regeneration Fund was launched by the Mayor through the London Enterprise Panel following a successful bid to Government in January 2015 as part of the LEP’s Growth Deal. The Fund forms part of the LEP’s work to champion small and medium sized enterprises.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “Our dynamic high streets are teeming with economic activity and bristling with creative minds but we need to make sure they are equipped to meet the demands of our ever-changing city.

“This fund will take everything that is so good about our local town centres and fuse it with ground-breaking technology and innovation to create high streets that will power our economy for years to come.”

The deadline for applications is October and successful applicants will be notified by January.

For more information and to download the prospectus visit www.london.gov.uk/ londonregenerationfund

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Up Front

Mayor issues apprenticeships call s thousands of Londoners received their A-Level results, the Mayor of London reminded them that an apprenticeship could be an important first step in their career.

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More and more specialised and highly skilled apprenticeships are being offered each year in areas such as legal services, banking and engineering.

Degree-level apprenticeships are already available in the Automotive and Digital industries and the Government is committed to rolling out many more degree apprenticeships.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “I would like to see as many young Londoners as possible getting onto the first rung of the career ladder by signing up for an apprenticeship programme.”

Mayor’s Ambassador for Training and Enterprise Tim Campbell said: “Apprenticeships should be seen as an investment by employers. Where that investment is nurtured, the returns to the businesses are tremendous.”

About 200,000 Londoners have started apprenticeships since 2010. The number of young people not in education, employment or training in the Capital is at its lowest since records began and is the lowest of all English regions.

Students celebrate strong performance

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outhwark schools celebrated excellent A Level results over the Summer. Results showed an improvement in the number of entries achieving the highest grades (A* - C), with 78.2 per cent achieving these, compared to 76.2 per cent last year.

For the fourth year running, the overall pass rate of pupils achieving A* to E grades was above the national average with results this year rising to 99.5 per cent.

Provisional results from Southwark’s secondary schools showed that this year 68 per cent of Southwark GCSE pupils achieved five or more A* to C including English and maths. Despite the recent shake up in GCSEs, the improvement was 5.5 percentage points (from 62.5 per cent of all schools in 2014).

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Many organisations are playing their part. Since April 2009, Transport for London and its supply chain have created almost 5,500 apprenticeship roles.

Crossrail and its contractors pledged to offer 400 apprenticeship roles over the lifetime of the major construction project and reached this target with three years to go. The apprentices are working on some of the biggest transport projects in the world, including the Tube modernisation programme as well as the £4bn Road Modernisation Plan.

New library planned for regeneration site outhwark Council has announced plans for a new library and community hub on the Aylesbury estate in Southwark.

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The library will be built on the old Amersham Site, now referred to as Plot 18, along Thurlow Street, next to the Aylesbury Medical Centre and where the temporary huts are based.

The development will also contain more homes, a new GP and health centre, early years’ facilities, a stay and play service, retail space including a new pharmacy, and a public square.

Cllr Mark Williams, cabinet member for regeneration and new homes, said: "The regeneration of the Aylesbury is about more than new homes, it is also about improving the lives of the people who live on the estate, with better open spaces and community facilities and I am very pleased to see proposals coming forward for this site at the heart of the estate that will really start to deliver these and

Southwark Business Today

become a central hub for the local community."

The new library will replace the older and much smaller facility on East Street that doesn’t have the space or facilities to offer the full range of services that most modern libraries have.

Notting Hill Housing Trust is working towards submitting a planning application for the site in November.

It is anticipated that the new library will be open to the public in early 2019 and East Street will remain open until then.

Education Matters

New space opened up for business

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he Office Group (TOG),the flexible work space provider, has opened its latest project on levels 24 and 25 of The Shard.

The 33,600 sq ft space provides a mix of individual offices, as well as drop-in working areas, lounges and meeting/conference facilities, available to any business.

Architects Archer Humphreys, who were responsible for The Standard Hotel in New York and the Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone, worked to create space that highlights the extraordinary views wherever possible.

Charlie Green, Co-CEO of TOG, said: “This is an incredible building and we wanted to create a work space that

lives up to the building that houses it," Whilst the views are going to be a huge attraction, we’ve worked really hard on the design to create a space that’s quite different to anything we’ve done before and a little bit unexpected. We hope everyone enjoys the space as much as we do."

To book a meeting room or if you want to come and have a look around please call Front of House on 0203 457 0160 or simply visit www.theofficegroup.co.uk

It’s not what they do, it’s the way that they do it: building resilience A

s a new school year starts, Dr Elyse Waites urges parents to praise effort rather than outcome as the recipe for success.

The eminent psychologist Prof Carol Dweck has just published her findings from a seven-year study into the impact of praise on children.

She found that mothers who praised the effort their children put into a task – the process rather than the results of that task, raised individuals who were not only more resilient but who also had higher test scores in maths and languages and were more willing to attempt problem solving exercises.

The theory is that by praising a child’s efforts, strategies or approach to a problem, rather than their innate intelligence, you demonstrating that success isn’t ‘fixed’ and rewards come from hard work and practice.

This results in children who are aware that they can change and develop their intelligence as they grow and will therefore be more open to challenges in the future as well as better equipped to cope with setbacks.

A child who lacks resilience is one who is either too scared to put their hand up in case they look

stupid or one who gets an answer wrong in class in September and is then convinced they are ‘rubbish’ at that subject for the rest of the year, never putting their hand up again.

Praising innate intelligence fosters children who become overly concerned with doing well and continually proving their intelligence. They end up avoiding challenging tasks in case they are shown to not be quite as intelligent as everyone thought.

This undermines achievement and motivation, allowing children to give up or opt out when things get hard.

Praising effort, in contrast, gives children motivation and encourages them to keep learning.

If they know they are rewarded for hard work, thinking and questioning then they will continue doing this. The more they do, the more resilient they will become and the more they will succeed. They won’t mind if they get something wrong in class because they know it is the questioning that is important.

So, try to reserve praise for when your child makes progress with something that they struggle with.

If they always do well in English and writing essays is second nature but they find French vocabulary tough to remember, praise them when they improve by a mark in a French test rather than another A in English. This is not to say that their English essay doesn’t deserve praise but make it constructive and in response to some improvement in a particular area (planning or spelling perhaps).

We all want our children to believe that their success is in their own hands. Making this simple but effective switch in your attitude to praise will give your children the confidence and resilience to face challenges and the motivation to face up to setbacks.

Dr Elyse Waites is Head of Biology at Sydenham High School GDST and runs the student professional skills programme

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Up Front

Surrey Quays Leisure Park Site Scheme promotes job opportunities in the cultural sector

ollowing the acquisition of the Surrey Quays Leisure Park Site, F British Land is working with Southwark Council and the local community to bring forward the Canada Water Masterplan to create a new town centre for the area.

he Old Vic Theatre has teamed T up with Southwark Council to give young people in the borough an insight into the world of arts and culture.

The project called Stage Business will give local young people an opportunity to explore the practical side of theatre, focusing on improving their communication, confidence and leadership abilities.

The project is unlike anything delivered in The Old Vic’s 200-year history and will focus on readying participants for a successful professional life and improving their employability.

Director of Stage Business, Alex Ferris said: “It’s fantastic to be able to give young people an insight into the working life of our dynamic theatre and to use the powerful and transformative techniques of theatre to develop their confidence, leadership and communication skills.

"In the current educational climate we are proud to support committed teachers in providing creative, imaginative opportunities to support young people’s development and growth. In a challenging and competitive job market being able to stand out by communicating your ideas effectively and presenting creative solutions is essential to securing employment, and we’re really pleased that support from Southwark Council will enable us to make a positive impact on the lives of so many young people."

Cllr Victoria Mills, cabinet member for children and schools, said: "We know it can be hard deciding which career path to take when leaving education and there is no replacement for experiencing an industry for yourself. This partnership between the council and The Old Vic acknowledges just how big a part culture plays in London and how important it is to equip young people for the future.

"Stage Business will give young people aged 16 to 18 years old an exciting and unique opportunity to build their confidence and resilience, as well as giving a fantastic boost to their future employment prospects."

The cultural sector in Southwark employs seven per cent of local people and is the registered trade of 10 per cent of the borough’s businesses.

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The masterplan area covers 46 acres and includes the existing Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, Surrey Quays Leisure Park and the former Daily Mail printworks site (Harmsworth Quays).

Allies and Morrisons has been appointed to advise as masterplanners on the scheme that will include a mix of retail, office, leisure, culture and residential alongside potential higher educational and community uses. British Land is continuing to work with the

Council and the community on the development of proposals, and intend to submit planning in 2016.

For more information please visit www.canadawatermast erplan.com

Chamber announces exciting link-up ondon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) is delighted that Southwark Chamber of Commerce (SCC) has become the latest Affiliate Member of LCCI.

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When setting up this new category of membership which is open to London’s local Chambers of Commerce, LCCI set out to: • develop greater communication between the Chambers located and representing businesses in the London region • strengthen London’s business voice with

Southwark Business Today

Local and National Government • strengthen the British and London network of Chambers by virtue of a formal Chamberto-Chamber link Although the member-only services of LCCI are not available to the members of an Affiliate Chamber, LCCI is confident that this new dialogue between LCCI

and its Affiliate Chambers, such as Southwark, can only be good for London businesses and the Chamber of Commerce brand.

Other Affiliate Members of LCCI include Kingston, Merton, and South East London Chambers and there are a number of other Chambers currently considering joining the scheme.

Remembering when ...

The London Nautical School founded September 1915

By Ken Hayes, Honorary Secretary he White Star liner SS ‘Titanic’ sank on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on 14th April 1912, 2 hours and 20 minutes after it hit an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland.

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Of the 1,316 passengers and 885 crew, a total of 2,201, only 711 were saved, 32.3% of the total number on board.

The Enquiry into why there was such a great loss of life in this disaster, commissioned by the British Board of Trade, made 24 recommendations, two of which led to the setting up of nautical training schools in the ship building areas of the United Kingdom.

Recommendation No 13 stated: “That In cases where the deck hands are not sufficient to man the boats, enough other members of the crew should be men trained in boat work to make up the deficiency.

These men should be required to pass a test in boat work”.

No 14 stated: “That in view of the necessity of having men trained in boat work, steps should be taken to encourage the training of boys for the Merchant Service”.

After much deliberation the London County Council decided to carry out these recommendations by setting up a Nautical Training Department at the Rotherhithe New Road ‘Higher Grade’ School, as a three year experiment with 72 pupils at the start of the school year in September 1915.

The choice of Rotherhithe for the location of this new nautical training school was entirely appropriate.

For many centuries Rotherhithe has been connected with shipping, where ship building, ship repairing, and ship breaking were traditional waterfront industries. Part of Rotherhithe Street was once called Shipwright Street. About 12 Commercial ship building yards built ships for the Royal Navy and the Honourable East India Company and for the general Merchant service.

Due to World War l and the great loss of merchant ships sunk by German U-boats the three year experiment was extended in 1918 for a further three years. In 1921 it was extended for a further three years.

In 1924, by which time pupil numbers had risen to 120, the school was made a permanent institution.

In 1937 the school had outgrown its premises and moved to its own premises in Silwood Street and was named the London Nautical School.

When World War l l started and the resulting bombing of London began the whole school was briefly evacuated to Hailsham in Sussex and then to Newquay in Cardiganshire on the coast of Wales for the duration of the war.

In 1945 the school returned to London and was relocated to Comber Grove, Camberwell, as both their previous premises had been bombed during the war and 6 months later to Broadwall, off Hatfields, SE1

to the former John Rennie School on a ‘temporary’ basis but remained there until 1965 when the school moved next door to the 61 Stamford Street, vacated by the London College of Print who moved to the Elephant and Castle.

The school’s new premises had been built in 1820 as residential trade schools by the Benevolent Society of St Patrick whose objects included educating, clothing and trade apprenticing of children, born of Irish parents in or near London.The building was designed by James Montague and is a Grade 2 listed building.

The London Nautical has survived two world wars and 100 years later is still teaching nautical skills at secondary level to students to ‘A Level’ examination. It is the only

one of those nautical training schools set up at the same time that has survived with a nautical and maritime ethos. In 1999 the school became a Foundation School and in 2003 was granted Sports College status and a new Sports Hall was built with Sixth Form premises above it.

The school recently had a good bordering on outstanding Ofsted inspection report.

History has a habit of repeating itself and the lack of nautical training schools in the UK has again become a cause for concern 100 years later.

The London Nautical School is leading the way in helping to set up more nautical training institutions The London Nautical School, 61 Stamford Street, London SE1 PNA www.lns.org.uk

Southwark Business Today

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Camberwell

- long history, modern economy C

amberwell is a community with a long history. Appearing in the Domesday Book as Cambrewelle, it is the classic example of a place that found itself transformed by the railways revolution in the 19th Century.

Up to the middle of the century, Camberwell tended to be visited by Londoners largely because they appreciated its rural tranquillity and the reputed healing properties of its mineral springs.

Like much of inner South London, Camberwell was transformed by the arrival of the railways in the 1860s, which attracted a wider range of visitors and allowed its economy to grow and diversify.

Today’s important sectors include retail, arts and culture and health.

The High Street Challenge provides grants to support pioneering projects that will diversifying the offer of Southwark’s town centres and high streets

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Southwark Business Today

Spotlight

Like much of inner South London, Camberwell was transformed by the arrival of the railways in the 1860s, which attracted a wider range of visitors and allowed its economy to grow and diversify.Today’s important sectors include retail, arts and culture and health.

Supporting businesses in the area are a variety of Southwark Council schemes, including:

The High Street Challenge

The High Street Challenge provides grants to support pioneering projects that will diversifying the offer of Southwark’s town centres and high streets, transforming spaces

to attract new customers to the high street or improving connections between businesses, residents and community groups in ways that build local capacity to help our centres to thrive.

The fund is open to a wide variety of individuals and organisations and we welcome partnerships that bring together diverse skills and expertise.

Camberwell projects supported to date:

Applicants can include: • Business networks • Groups from the arts, or creative sectors • Educational establishments such as a schools, colleges, or a university • Voluntary sector, community or resident groups

• Individual businesses (if representative and supported by other local businesses)

In the first two rounds since launching last year the programme has supported 21 projects with a total of £330,000 across the borough.

HSC Round & Organisation

Project Summary

R1: SE5 Forum (£15,000)

To market, promote and test the feasibility of BID in Camberwell.

R2: Wormfood Music Ltd and Continental Drifts (£25,000)

A one day market and festival on Camberwell Green which will support local businesses by linking ticket sales to spend in high street shops and providing creative marketing support for pop-up stalls at the festival.

R3: Camberwell Arts (£8,000)

The project will form a strand of the Camberwell Arts Fair 2016, linking artists with local businesses to create artwork for shop fronts and diversify the offer from Camberwell businesses Project delivery from November 2015 – August 2016.

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Spotlight One of the area’s important economic sectors is arts and culture, which is based on a long historical tradition.

In 1896, for example, the Dan Leno company opened the Oriental Palace of Varieties on Denmark Hill. This was replaced with a new theatre, the Camberwell Palace, designed

by Ernest A.E. Woodrow and with a capacity of 1,553.

In 1932, the theatre became The Palace Cinema, which reopened as a variety theatre in 1943, but closed in 1956. The 1957 film, The Smallest Show on Earth, which tells the tale of a struggling family-run cinema, is thought to have been based on the Palace.

SEEDS

The Southwark Employment and Enterprise Development Scheme (SEEDS) is a project to increase youth employment and help Southwark businesses grow.

SEEDS support local businesses to give a young Southwark resident a new job opportunity. Contracts should last for 12 months and employers will receive a subsidy of up to 50% to pay the young person at the London Living Wage.

At the end of the year SMEs will be supported to either take on their fully trained employee or to support the young person to find alternative employment with their new skills.

Southwark Apprenticeship Standard

Launched in 2015, The Southwark Apprenticeship Standard is a new standard for quality apprenticeships. The Standard is based on ten years of experience delivering a highly successful scheme in partnership with some of our major contractors, and addresses key areas that we have learnt are central to the success of any apprenticeship.

The council will soon be launching support, advice and guidance for businesses who are considering taking on an apprentice.

SEEDS support local businesses to give a young Southwark resident a new job opportunity.

Contracts should last for 12 months and employers will receive a subsidy of up to 50% to pay the young person at the London Living Wage.

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Southwark Business Today

Nearby, was the Metropole Theatre and Opera House, which was demolished to build an Odeon cinema in 1939. A second ABC cinema, known originally as the Regal Cinema and later as the ABC Camberwell, opened in 1940. With only one screen but 2,470 seats, the cinema was one of the largest suburban cinemas in London and continued to operate until 1973.

Today, the theatrical tradition in Camberwell is kept alive by The Blue Elephant Theatre on Bethwin Road, which was opened in 1999 and gives opportunities to many of theatre’s most important up-and-coming names as they make their way in the business.

Supporting the artistic theme, Camberwell also has several art galleries including Camberwell College of Arts, the South London Gallery and numerous smaller commercial art spaces. In addition, the annual Camberwell Arts Festival is well supported.

Health is also a key part of the area’s economy, attracting a lot of investment and highly skilled workers.

For instance, Camberwell is home to one of London’s largest teaching hospitals, King's College Hospital with associated medical school the Guy’s King’s and St Thomas’ (GKT) School of Medicine.

The Maudsley Hospital, an internationally significant psychiatric hospital, is located in Camberwell as well.

An artistic centre of excellence

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amberwell College of Arts is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London and is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost art and design institutions

It is one of London's smaller art colleges, with about 1,600 Foundation, Undergraduate and Postgraduate students on its Fine Art, Design and Conservation courses.

The courses help students develop their own ideas, through making work and encouraging open dialogue with the College's expert staff and wealth of connections in the creative industries.

Camberwell's south east London location is also home to a thriving art scene that hosts a variety of galleries, project spaces and studios that our students, staff and graduates work and exhibit in.

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Women in Business

Women show their mettle in the tough world of business ore and more women are succeeding in business, breaking through the glass ceiling to challenge male domination and register truly impressive achievements. But what does it take to achieve in what is still in many ways a man’s world. What drives successful businesswomen? We asked some successful Southwark businesswomen

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Suzanne James Director Suzanne James Catering

“We really care about our clients, and always do our best to make their party, their wedding, their dinner the very best it can be - we treat it as if it’s our own event.”

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Southwark Business Today

Doing it the right way

Suzanne James is the classic example of a businesswomen who wanted to do things her way and whose determined philosophy has made her an outstanding success.

Today, Suzanne James Catering employs twelve people from its Southwark base and runs events for groups of up to 500 at venues ranging from the Cutty Sark to some of London’s biggest museums.

Southwark born-and-bred, Suzanne studied as a chef for three years at Westminster College then, before setting up her own business, worked for a number of catering companies.This was a very enlightening experience and played a crucial role in shaping her business philosophy.

She said: “Working in this industry in the 80s you worked long hours, there were no formal lunch breaks and it could be difficult to find time to eat. It felt as if you did not matter.

I knew that if I ran my own business I would do things differently" “I had started to think about going out on my own and eventually set up my own catering business in 1998. I try to treat my staff in the right way, welcoming them when they arrive, making sure they have time for a meal during the shift and thanking them when it is finished.

“Some are on full-time contracts and others on zero-hours contracts, not because it saves me money but because it suits them. They are local people, some with young children at local schools and they need the freedom to choose their own working hours.They may have to help look after an elderly relative or go to the school nativity play and zero hours contracts make this possible.

“I am 45 now and well established so being a woman in business does not present many challenges but earlier on, when I had just started up, I did find myself competing with a number of major companies which tended, at the time, to be male-led.”

She went on to say: “I think that one of the keys to my success is having the most amazing team and we are all very honest, and 'real' with our clients. If they don't have the budget for what they want we will tell them, but we will also help them to understand what they can have - the very best they can have realistically.

“We really care about our clients, and always do our best to make their party, their wedding, their dinner the very best it can be - we treat it as if it’s our own event. We find that people respond to this.

“I believe it is possible to run a business effectively whilst still giving those that work with you, and hopefully myself, too, the space to take time for important personal moments when they need it. I am a mother of two and I make no secret of that. I am not just Suzanne James the Businesswoman, I am someone’s mother, someone’s wife, and sometimes I have to do things with my family.

I think everyone - both clients and staff appreciate feeling they connect with you as another human being, and not just someone they work with.”

Women in Business

Veronica Cunningham Publican

Born into the trade

Veronica Cunningham was born into the pub trade and trained as a shorthand secretary.

It was inevitable that she would make her mark in the publicans’ industry.Veronica's parents previously ran the popular Southwark Tavern in London Bridge from 1968 before they moved to the White Hart in Great Suffolk Street in 1985.

Veronica became a joint licensee of the pub in 1991 and has worked hard to build up the trade, making it a hugely popular traditional hostelry.

Next Spring, her lease expires and she will move full-time to the King’s Arms, in Newcomen Street, which she is currently running in tandem with the White Hart.

For Veronica, business success has always been about creating the kind of atmosphere where customers feel comfortable.

Veronica said: “There are a number of components you have to get right to be a successful publican. Of primary importance is the appearance of the establishment. Our objective is to make sure that the décor inside as well as outside are smart and welcoming.

“You want to have customers that want to come and drink in your establishment and, more importantly, to return.

“The other thing you have to do is provide a friendly atmosphere.We are a family-run pub and we brought a lot of customers over from

the Southwark Tavern when we moved but you have to keep working to retain them and also to attract new people.

“As a publican, you always have to have a smile on your face. People do not come out to see someone who is miserable. My mother always says that whatever you are feeling, it stays out of sight.”

Also crucial is knowing how to adapt to change, according to Veronica. She said: “The pub trade has changed to drink and food and we now serve food according to the local requirements.

We serve a dinner menu at The King’s Arms, and a lunch menu at The White Hart.

“We feel that there is still a place for a traditional drinker’s pub and there really would not be the interest in food if we put it on in an evening at The White Hart.

“We pride ourselves on buying local when it comes to ingredients so we buy our fresh produce from Borough Market, our meat from Smithfield.”

Veronica’s new challenge is of, course, The Kings Arms.Veronica aims to revitalise the pub with the aim of bringing in a new generation of customers and welcoming back the old ones. She said: “It’s work in progress but we are getting there.”

Keeping the community informed

Angela Burgess is a businesswoman whose energy has made her a well-known figure in Southwark.

Originally from Stockport, the founder of SE Magazines moved to South-East London in her early twenties. After brief stints in Denmark Hill, Peckham and Nunhead, Angela finally settled in East Dulwich in 2000.

Realising that there was a gap in the market for a magazine dedicated entirely to promoting the local community, she launched SE22 in March 2005.

Following the publication’s success, it was not long before she went on to introduce SE21 and SE23 magazines, covering Dulwich Village, West Dulwich, Forest Hill and Honor Oak. She has worked with many local businesses to promote events in the area and is responsible for the organisation and running of the annual Dulwich Festival Fair, part of the Dulwich Festival.

Angela, who did not have magazine experience and whose background was finance, said: “The idea for the magazine came from something my partner said. He said ‘you do seem to know a lot of people and know where to go to get things done.’

“It started me thinking. East Dulwich has a lot of people who work from home but there was

not really a publication that told them what was happening in their community and the newspapers are more interested in breaking news.You will not see reports of road accidents in our magazines but you will find details of events.

“I had plenty of spare time so started teaching myself how to run a magazine.Things were hard at the beginning - it can be difficult to sell advertising when you do not have a magazine to show advertisers - but it was a success pretty much straight away, I think because no one had seen anything like it.

“I think the key to success is getting things done. I know people who talk a lot about getting things done but spend more time planning instead. It sounds obvious but just get on with it!

“I think the other important thing to do is keep learning. I go to courses and conferences and, although what I learn may not be directly useful to what I do, it is good to know what is happening.” * SE Magazines has just been nominated for two awards by the Association of Independent Magazine Publishers. The website Around Dulwich has been shortlisted for Best Website and they have also been shortlisted for best Social Media.

Angela Burgess Founder SE Magazines

Southwark Business Today

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Culture

Double-takes at the Horniman lenty of people have done a double-take on meeting the Horniman’s famously over-stuffed walrus for the first time. But now there’s even more reason to look twice at the Forest Hill attractions’ exhibits.

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A new display by renowned photographer Jim Naughten features two almost-identical images of each of 11 natural history specimens.The images – beautiful in their own right – are taken from a left- and right-eye perspective and, when viewed through a stereoscopic viewer, appear transformed into 3D. Animal Kingdom (Stereoscopic Images of Natural History) explores Victorian and Edwardian Natural History specimens held in various museum collections, including the Horniman’s – and features a Great Indian Hornbill, an Atlantic White Spotted Octopus, a Red Faced Spider Monkey and a Transparent Chameleon.

Jim Naughten says: ‘Ever since I remember I have always been fascinated by Natural History. More recently I discovered the exquisite and rarely-seen art of stereoscopic

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Southwark Business Today

photography and have been looking for the perfect project to marry the two. Animal Kingdom fits perfectly, and for me the images are not only beautiful studies of shape and form which function as art works in their own right, but are then elevated to another level with the illusion of three dimensions.

Animal Kingdom (Stereoscopic Images of Natural History)

by Jim Naughten can be seen at the Horniman Museum and Gardens from Saturday 26 September 2015 to Sunday 6 March 2016. Admission to the display is free.

Trading with Russia

Economic Sanctions Against Russia re they working? Are they fit for purpose? Is the loss of Business too high a price A to pay to ‘punish’ Russia for something that the West actually started with political intrusions into the Ukraine which is recognised as within the Russian sphere of influence and not the west’s to meddle with.

Why are the so called Diplomats using Business sanctions to rectify their Political mess ups – Diplomats are supposed to use diplomacy and leave Business to the business world to get on with the important job of International Trade.

Over the past 10 years Russia being one of the BRIC economies has given UK Ltd a good market for our Services and Goods. The Uk was foremost in the countries suppling technical assistance, construction and consumer goods for the build-up for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in 2014.

The City of London has provided Financial, Banking and Consultancy services for the huge Russian Companies that have come to the London Stock Markets. The Russian population has an insatiable appetite for British Consumer Goods, Clothes and Fashion Items.

Up to the year 2014, record trade figures were logged for trade between Russia and the UK. Since Sanctions were imposed Trade has plummeted 61%.

Let’s step back and see how it happened.

First of all we must appreciate that Ukraine is a split country with half looking west for its future and the other half looking to Russia as its mentor.

Various Governments in Kiev could not cope with this split being, too right wing, or too far Russia looking and all seemingly corrupt and despotic.

This was all stirred up by the West in flirting the Ukraine with NATO membership and European Union status.

Now how could Russia have Nato on its front door when in the Crimea they have their largest Naval Base at Sevastopol. Not only that but we should take the Crimea out of the equation. Crimea was always Russian, the people consider themselves Russian since 1723 when Catherine the Great defeated the Ottomans and added Crimea to the Russian Empire.

It stayed that way until 1924 and as part of Russia became a Republic in the Soviet Union. Nikita Khrushchev a Ukrainian Premier of the Soviet Union in 1954 took the Crimea out of Russia and gave it as a thank you to his cronies in Kiev (a bit like Gordon Brown a Scottish Prime Minister of the UK thanking his mates in Edinburgh by giving them the Isle of Man to administer.) Last year Crimea took a referendum to leave the Ukraine which had an 82% yes vote and then the next day the Crimean Government asked to become, again a republic within the Russian Federation. A will of the people not an annexation.

Russia is no doubt helping the separatists in the Eastern Ukraine and so now we seem to be in an impasse.

So the West imposed economic sanctions on Russian Trade which was quickly followed by tit for tat sanctions from Russia. Scottish fish products and fruit and vegetables from Poland cannot be exported now.

Oh where are the diplomats of old - a word here, a suggestion there and a compromise or two would have soon had this sorted.

Sanctions are nothing but economic bullying and do we really think we can win in a bullying match with Vladimir Putin and Russia?

Basically Hawks in the Whitehouse, Bureaucrats in Brussels and Mandarins in Whitehall cannot play with their gunboats anymore so they use this economic bullying with the business weapon (They haven’t a clue on how business works) without any respect for peoples jobs and company’s livelihoods, investments and business.

These civil servants will still have their overpaid jobs, perks, early retirement, pension and a gong or two – will the equivalent people in Trade with Russia still have their jobs and businesses at the end of it all?

It is not only the 61% loss of business but the UK has built up a particular expertise in acting as service industries and worldwide middlemen in Trade with Russia – Japanese, American and others steer their trade with Russia through the UK and our financial expertise in this Trade is the Envy of Europe and the banking centres of Asia. This will all be lost with these sanctions.

The Sanctions are making Russia look inward to replace work done by the UK with their own internal expertise, manufacturing and productions. They are also nurturing relations with China and others to supplant their reliance on the UK. Work will be lost for ever.

Sanctions are ruining good relations that have been built up over many years through business.

It is politically and economically downright stupid to sever these good relations. Business always keeps a line of communication open, it builds up trust and a reliance on each other – there is no better diplomacy than a joint business atmosphere with each side showing hospitality, visits to each other’s country and lifelong friendships formed.

Years of investment in money, time and people has been made in this market by UK. Companies.

The UKTI has also put a lot of effort, time and funds in promoting trade with Russia over the last ten years, building up a substantial, knowledgeable team in situ in Moscow - all now wasting away and being lost. By the way that’s our money as well.

Between USA, Europe and Russia we have destroyed the Country, ruined the Economy and worse, thousands of Ukrainian Citizens have died. Others are living in basements of bombed out buildings- just existing. It is shameful in this day and age in a civilised Europe.

Sanctions are not making the situation any better at all politically and there is a huge cost in lost business and relationships.

If only business were allowed to sort it out - It would have been back to normal in days.

Southwark Business Today

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Cover Feature

First public art gallery looks to the future n an art world where the talk is usually of major venues like the Tate and Tate Modern, it is worth pausing for a moment or two to consider the unique place in history, and continuing relevance, of Dulwich Picture Gallery.

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Ian Dejardin. Photo Š Megan Taylor

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Southwark Business Today

Cover Feature

“One of the big challenges with the Dulwich Picture Gallery is persuading people to come here and the main issue is location. Dulwich is a beautiful place but people do not pass by and drop in as they do with some of the bigger galleries in London.

We tend not to be on the itinerary of tourists.”

Founded in the early years of the 19th Century, Dulwich Picture Gallery was the first purposebuilt public art gallery in the world and remains as important today as it ever was, not least in showcasing artists who may not be known to many people.

Entrusted with guiding it into the future is Ian Dejardin, an art historian and Director of the Dulwich Picture Gallery for the past ten years.

Ian, who holds an MA in the History of Art from the University of Edinburgh, started a doctorate in art history at the University of Warwick then spent seven years developing a designer knitwear business in Cumbria.

Subsequently, he completed a postgraduate diploma in art gallery and museum studies at Manchester University, followed by curatorial appointments at the Royal Academy of Arts, London and with English Heritage (London Region).

In 1998, he was appointed as curator at the Dulwich Picture Gallery and became Director in 2005, programming several major exhibitions a year.

He said: “One of the big challenges with the Dulwich Picture Gallery is persuading people to come here and the main issue is location.

“Dulwich is a beautiful place but people do not pass by and drop in as they do with some of the bigger galleries in London.

We tend not to be on the itinerary of tourists.

“That means that we have to give them a reason to come to Dulwich but I do not hold with just having big name artists on display.

“I do not want Van Gogh on every big banner outside every exhibition and, although I do not want an exhibition to be a failure, I am nevertheless prepared to take risks.

”There are many ways to judge the success of an exhibition but, as a charity that does not receive any regular government support, we do have always to be conscious that we have to raise all of our income ourselves.”

One of the major attractions for visitors is the building itself.

Dulwich Picture Gallery was founded in 1811 when Sir Francis Bourgeois RA bequeathed his collection of Old Masters ‘for the inspection of the public’. The building to house them was designed by renowned Regency architect Sir John Soane.

Ian said: “The history of the gallery is one of our unique points of interest - being the first and the oldest is something for which we are known.

“I think we are perhaps best known, certainly overseas, for the connection with Sir John Soane, who was a very influential architect. We do get people, including architects, who come to see the building and be inspired by it.”

Another major attraction is the permanent collection and Dulwich Picture Gallery houses one of the finest displays of Old Masters in the country, especially rich in French, Italian and Spanish Baroque paintings and British portraits from the Tudor period to the 19th Century.

In addition, for more than 30 years the Gallery’s awardwinning learning and community engagement programmes have reached beyond the Gallery’s exhibition programme to bring art to the South London community and beyond through outreach initiatives including ‘The Creatives’, its youth engagement programme and ‘Good Times: Art for Older People’ which led to their innovative ‘Prescription for Art’ programme with patients prescribed art sessions by local GPs. Underpinning the Gallery’s activities is a determination to showcase through its programme of temporary exhibitions, artists whose work is important but have been critically neglected.

An example is the major exhibition starting on October 14 and running through to January 17. The Amazing World of M C Escher features the work of Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898–1972) whose work was characterised by mathematic precision and which is transferring from Edinburgh.

This is the first major UK show of pieces by the great Dutch master draughtsman, bringing together works which made him one of the most famous artists of the 20th Century. The exhibition will include woodcuts, lithographs, drawings, watercolours and mezzotints, as well as exclusive archive material.

Escher set out on a career as an architect in 1918, studying at the School of Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem, Holland. It was here that a teacher spotted his talent as a draughtsman and printmaker, and he was advised to move into the Graphic Arts department. Escher continued his career in to the 1960s, when demand for copies of his prints reached fever pitch.

The exhibition has been organised by the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, and showcases nearly 100 works from the collection of the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag in the Netherlands.

Southwark Business Today

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Cover Feature

Ian said: “As often happens with exhibitions, this one happened by chance. We were talking to the curator of the exhibition and he asked if we would like to host it.

“Escher was a fine draughtsman and mathematician and had a very distinctive and precise mind.

“We are certainly seeing visitor numbers increasing. We now average 115,000 visitors to

our exhibitions alone. When I became Director it was 98,000.

We also welcome over 35,000 through our schools and outreach programmes.

“I think that with Dulwich Picture Gallery, you have to play the long game and build up our numbers gradually as more and more people learn about us.”

Clockwise from top:

M.C. Escher, Bond of Union, April 1956, Lithograph, 25.3 x 33.9 cm, Collection Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands.

M.C. Escher, Hand with Reflecting Sphere (Self-Portait in Spherical Mirror), January 1935, Lithograph, 31.8 x 21.34 cm, Collection Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands.

M.C. Escher, Belvedere, May 1958, Lithograph, 58.9 x 41.2 cm, Collection Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, The Hague, The Netherlands.

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Cover Feature

“We are certainly seeing visitor numbers increasing.

We now average 115,000 visitors to our exhibitions alone.When I became Director it was 98,000.

We also welcome over 35,000 through our schools and outreach programmes. I think that with Dulwich Picture Gallery, you have to play the long game and build up our numbers gradually as more and more people learn about us.”

Ian Dejardin. Photo © Megan Taylor

Southwark Business Today

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Voice from Westminster

Supporting the work of the Chamber Neil Coyle

S

ince my last article I have taken on an honorary role with the Southwark Chambers of Commerce and I’m happy to serve and support local businesses in all ways practicable.

If you think there are issues I can help with or if you have concerns then please drop me a line at: Neil.Coyle.MP@parliame nt.uk or call my office on 020 7219 8733. I’m here to help!

I’m also now on the committee scrutinising the Welfare Reform and Work Bill committee.

The headlines about this Bill usually only cover the affect it will have on benefits.

The impact of some of the Bill’s measures on disabled people and carers in Southwark concerns me deeply. But the Bill also covers apprenticeships and the Government’s plans to create millions more in the next five years.

One of the organisations providing evidence to the committee was the British

Chambers of Commerce and I also requested a specific briefing on the issue from the Federation of Small Businesses.

I have been pressing business concerns with Ministers.

The main reservations businesses have with the Government plans seem to focus on the sheer volume of new starts: 400,000 per year by some estimates. The associated concern is with the quality of the scheme. With such large numbers potentially entering the programme it will be harder to ensure every scheme is genuinely going to be effective.

Businesses also need to know that the apprenticeship scheme contributes effectively to local skill’s needs and meets workforce demands for the future.

The scheme must not be another low paid, low quality tick-box system for the government to use to claim jobseeker numbers are falling but not address the long-term skills or productivity shortage.

A further business concern I raised with Ministers related to an issue raised by Chambers and the FSB on where to get information and support.

The fear is that businesses can’t engage effectively due to the lack of decent information and support to take an apprentice on and ensure they get the support needed too.

The Government seem reluctant to improve the current system – but watch that space as the legislation progresses further.

Southwark council also runs an apprenticeship scheme aiming to support 2,000 local people

by 2018. The Labour-run council wants to ensure no 18 year old in Southwark is out of work, training or education in particular and it is pleasing to see the engagement of local businesses in this project. Info on the council scheme is available online at: www.southwark.gov.uk/info/20 0543/employ_an_apprentice

Nationally, Labour also has a new leader. Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t exactly get a fair press when it comes to business issues, but has written specifically on his primary concerns for small businesses especially. His focus has been on skills, rates, transport infrastructure, rents and energy.

More info on his main business priorities is online at: www.corbynforbusiness.com

Southwark Business Today

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Arts

Strong line up for festival stellar line-up of bestselling authors, creative workshops and readings has been announced for the Dulwich Literary Festival, which takes place from Friday 16th October to Sunday 18th October 2015 at Dulwich College, Dulwich Common.

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Curated and sponsored by Dulwich Books of West Dulwich, the three-day programme promises to be a celebration of stories from the adventurous to the historical; from the comic to the political; from the religious to the humorous with a host of highprofile names.

Sheila O’Reilly of Dulwich Books said: “We’re very excited to be bringing an amazing line up of authors to the book lovers of South London. It’s fitting that Dulwich has its own book festival and that Dulwich Books is making this happen. The Enterprise team at Dulwich College have been extremely supportive and I know the weekend is going to be great fun and a huge success.”

The Festival opens on Friday 16th October at 7pm with the former Business Secretary Vince Cable discussing After the Storm and offering his unique perspective on the state of

the global financial markets and his vision for the UK’s economic future.

On Saturday, The Phoenix, the magazine the Guardian call “the best kids’ comic”, opens up its pages for a series of creative workshops led by comic creators, Gary Northfield and Jamie Littler. Expect lots of Monster Mayhem and Garden Critters before bringing the children back for a special dusk Secrets of the Wild Wood storytelling session led by Vanessa Woolf celebrating publication of the classic children’s adventures, The Letter for the King and The Secrets of the Wild Wood by Tonke Dragt.

On Saturday afternoon, polar expert and award-winning journalist Michael Smith talks about one of history’s greatest explorers, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his latest book Shackleton – By Endurance We Conquer, the first major biography of Shackleton for 30 years, before thoughts turn to Afternoon Tea and conversation with Prue Leith about

A new chapter for local author Shaida Mehrban's sixth book, Eyes of Osama, tells the tale of a troubled young woman who marries the late Al Qaeda chief.

This is the This is the remarkable journey of a young girl with mental distress who remembers nothing of her past or how the twisted road forced her to flee.

She is taken in by a family, but knows she is a burden as she cannot find her own identity.

Her only memory is of gunfire and raging bullets, surrounded by the vulnerable and feeble.

She is tormented by life until she comes face-to-face with Osama Bin Laden. In search of normality, she weds Osama but lives in his shadow, and finds herself in grave danger, manipulation and her own loss of dignity.

Shaida B. Mehrban born in Azad Kashmir in Pakistan during the time of remote dwellings of small villages scattered on top of massive mountains in rural lush green motherland where animals and humans lived happily together. The breadwinners had already smelt the American Dream and so had her father who was living and working in England, whilst Shaida and her sister were left to live with their mother and grandmother, a female dominated household so they were all very close.

In 2006 Shaida started exploring her pain into words with the 1st book, Tears of Silence followed by Tears Behind the Veil in 2008 and Tears Behind Closed Doors, Blossom and I in 2010 all with Athena Press. in 2013 Remembering the Night Train was published followed by Mothers

Veil in 2014, both by New Generation Publishing.

She has taken part on Radio 4's Women’s Hour talking about her mother tongue and lost in translation, Home away from home featured her life in transition from Pakistan to the UK a project run by a local secondary school.

Shaida also does talks for charities, women’s groups to name a few on women, literature and life experiences and as an Asian has featured in Black History Month, Author Of The Month, featured author for Book Week run in local secondary schools and last year was part of the Asian Story Telling Festival in her borough. She has recently been recognised for her contribution in Asian literature and awarded the half silver award by Nawaijang newspaper in West Drayton.

Contact Shaida Mehrban on tibby32000@yahoo.co.uk Books available on Amazon, and local book shops and libraries.

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Southwark Business Today

her latest novel, The Food of Love.

Sunday brings talks from broadcaster and author Huw Edwards on the BBC and religion and his new book, City Mission followed by an In Conversation with bestseller Kate Mosse and discussion about her latest novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter.

On Sunday evening, the Festival sees critically acclaimed author and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg discuss his latest novel Now is the Time, a compelling tale set in the heart of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 before the Festival closes in style with a glass of wine or two with comedienne, actress and bestselling author, Helen Lederer and a mix of chat and stand-up based around her new book, Losing It.

For information on events and tickets, including special Patron tickets, please visit www.dulwichliteraryfestival.co.uk

Dulwich Literary Festival 2015 - Authors & Events Vince Cable

Vince Cable will be speaking about his memoir After The Storm.

Tickets are £18.99 for entry + signed hardback copy of After The Storm, or £8.00 entry only (plus booking fee) Friday 16th October 7pm at the Old Library in Dulwich College

Phoenix Comic Workshops

Saturday 17th October 9.30 - 10.30 1 x Monster Making Mayhem with Jamie Litter 7 - 9 year olds 1 x Garden Critters and Crazy Jitters with Gary Northfield 9 - 12 year olds Saturday 17th October 11 - Noon 1 x Monster Making Mayhem with Jamie Litter 9 – 12 year olds 1 x Garden Critters and Crazy Jitters with Gary Northfield 7 - 9 year olds Each workshop costs £10.00 and takes place in the Old Library in Dulwich College

Michael Smith: Shackleton - Endurance We Conquer

Michael Smith will be discussing the life and journey of Sir Ernest Shackleton Tickets are £9.99 for entry and a paperback copy of Shackleton or £6.00 for entry only (plus booking fee) Saturday 17th October 1.30pm - 3pm at the Old Library in Dulwich College

Afternoon Tea with Prue Leith

Prue Leith will be discussing her novel The Food of Love.

Tickets are £15.00 for entry +

signed hardback copy of The Food of Love + afternoon tea, or £8.00 for entry and afternoon tea only (plus booking fee).

Saturday 17th October 4pm - 6pm at the Old Library in Dulwich College

The Man Who Couldn’t Stop: David Adam on life and OCD

David Adam will be in conversation with Adam Rutherford on The Man Who Couldn’t Stop - his memoir of life with OCD. Tickets are £10.00 and include a paperback copy of The Man Who Couldn’t Stop (plus booking fee) Saturday 17th October 7 - 8.30pm at the Old Library in Dulwich College

Into The Woods - A Storytelling Adventure

Join Pushkin Children’s Books and storyteller Vanessa Woolf, as they invite us into the world of Tonke Dragt - author of the international bestselling children’s classic The Letter for the King, and sequel The Secrets of the Wild Wood Tickets cost £5.00 Saturday 17th October 6.30 - 7.30pm at Dulwich College

Huw Edwards

Huw Edwards will be discussing the BBC, Religion and his latest book City Mission.

Tickets are £15 for entry and a signed paperback copy of City Mission or entry only for £8.00 (plus booking fee) Sunday 18th October 10.30am - Noon at the Old Library in Dulwich College.

Brexit: Should Britain Leave or Stay?

Denis MacShane will be discussing the potential ‘Brexit’ and his latest book Brexit: How Will Britain Leave Europe?

Tickets are £10.00 and include a copy of Brexit (plus booking fee) Sunday 18th October 1.00pm at the Old Library at Dulwich College

Kate Mosse

In conversation with Emma Darwin about her latest novel The Taxidermist’s Daughter Tickets are £12.00 for entry + a paperback copy of The Taxidermist’s Daughter (plus booking fee) Sunday 18th October 3.30pm at the Old Library at Dulwich College

Melvyn Bragg

Melvyn Bragg will be speaking about his new historical novel Now is The Time.

Tickets are £18.99 for entry + a signed hardback copy of Now Is The Time or entry only for £10.00 (plus booking fee) Sunday 18th October 6pm at the Old Library at Dulwich College

Helen Lederer

Helen Lederer will be discussing her debut novel Losing It. Tickets are £12.00 and include a signed paperback copy of Losing It and a glass of wine (plus booking fee) Sunday 18th October 8.30pm at the Old Library at Dulwich College

Up Close

Championing the independent bookshop I

n an age when so many independent book shops are battling for survival, it is a joy to see one faring well.

Responsible for running the business is Sheila O’Reilly, who has been the owner for 12 years and who before that was the owner for six years of the Beckenham Bookshop.

A passionate independent bookseller, she has steered Dulwich Books through its 30th anniversary, seen the shop named London’s Best Independent Bookshop three times and be voted the Best Independent Bookshop in the UK & Ireland in 2014.

Sheila O’Reilly The Dulwich Book Shop

The Dulwich Book Shop in West Dulwich is a remarkable place, bustling with customers, noted for the expertise of its staff and often graced by the presence of big name authors as part of its programme of well-attended events.

At the moment her working day begins when she arrives at the shop at 8am because she is organising the Dulwich Literary Festival, due to take place between Friday 16th October Sunday 18th October in The Old Library at Dulwich College, and there is a lot to arrange as opening day approaches.

It’s the second festival following the success of last year’s inaugural event and Sheila said: “I try to get as much festival work out of the way before the shop opens at 9.30 so I spend the first hour of the working day answering emails, monitoring social media, dealing with marketing and handling requests for information.

“I will still react to requests about the festival during the day but when the shop opens, the shop floor takes priority and I will spend most of my time talking to customers and checking that we have the right books in stock.

“One of the things that makes us different is that, although we stock the bestsellers, we will also promote books that we like but which may not be bestsellers.

If one of our team likes a book we will back their instinct and promote it.

“Often during the day we will be rearranging displays. We rearrange our displays on a regular basis so that regular customers come in and see something different. We are not on the high street so we work hard to make sure that there is a reason for people to keep visiting us.

“Another important part of the job is talking to publishers and I try to do that on a regular basis to find out what they have coming up over the next few months.

I like to do that face to face so that we can build up a good relationship with them. They are happy to do it as we are all in the same business, we all want to sell books.”

In theory, Sheila’s day ends when the shop closes at 5.30pm but that is often not the case because the business runs a successful series of evening events attended by some big name authors; a recent event with novelist Sebastian Faulks was typical of the successes, attracting a large audience.

Sheila said: “I think that we are able to attract big names because we have built up a good reputation.

“Authors, publishers and publicists know that our events are well run and well attended and that books will be sold.

Once you have that reputation, authors will be happy to come to the shop.”

The theme of this year’s literary festival is “Time & Place”. Already a strong line-up has been secured with some big names, including Sir Vince Cable, Prue Leith, Huw Edwards, Kate Mosse, Melvyn Bragg and Helen Lederer.

Full details of all the events can be found at www.dulwichliteraryfestival.co.uk

“One of the things that makes us different is that, although we stock the bestsellers, we will also promote books that we like but which may not be bestsellers. If one of our team likes a book we will back their instinct and promote it.”

Southwark Business Today

25

Property

Commercial market remains vibrant commercial property market in Southwark remains exceptionally strong as is by the data and accompanying graphs featured.

Thedemonstrated

This data covers all areas of commercial property i.e. offices, shops and industrial property.

The strong market has resulted in the following:• A dramatic fall in vacancy, currently being half of the five year average.

VACANCY RATE

• A dramatic rise in rents, approximately up by 1/3 of the 5 year average.

• After a big increase in supply in 2013 a much lower supply, and an ongoing increase in net absorption (i.e. availability vs. uptake of space) and the probability of leasing greatly increased.

NET ABSORPTION

Availability Rent Per SF Vacancy Rate Vacant SF Availability Rate Available SF Sublet SF Month on Market

Demand 12 Mo. Absorption SF 12 Mo. Leasing SF

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In the SE1 area construction starts, at approximately 930,000 sq ft, are roughly half the five year average, and just 40% of quarter three 2013 supply, when approximately 2.28 million square feet was under construction.

Given the above statistics we predict increase in rents which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future ie until at least 2017.

ASKING RENT PER SF

However this figure covers the whole borough and all spectrums of property, it is particularly dominated by the large majority of commercial space being within big office complexes in the north of the borough For a more detailed analysis and how it affects your property KALMARs team of specialist property consultants would be pleased to hear from you.

PROBABILITY OF LEASING

Survey £38.62 3.3% 1,298,213 5.3% 2,121,394 269,702 6.3

Survey 873,408 1,782,092

Southwark Business Today

5-Year Avg £28.29 4.2% 2,120,238 5.7% 3,043,430 216,845 9.3 5-Year Avg 976,976 1,559,723

Inventory Existing Buildings Existing SF 12 Mo. Const. Starts Under Construction 12 Mo. Deliveries

Sales Sale Price Per SF Asking Price Per SF Sales Volume (Mil.) Yield

Survey 5,058 50,482,900 443,070 4,003,071 62,205

Past Year £548 £593 £236 5.5%

5-Year Avg 5,043 50,640,313 1,018,360 2,847,323 1,047,462 5-Year Avg £324 £458 £568 6%

Business News

Business is booming in South London! of small to medium sized businesses in South London expect growth in 2015/16.

82%

“There’s a thriving independent business community who intend to invest in training and recruitment into successful small and medium businesses.”

A major survey of South London businesses has found that a staggering 82% are forecasting growth within the next 12months.

As part of a survey that was conducted by law firm Anthony Gold, it found that more are choosing the area as a place to do business.

The findings show that;

• Vast infrastructure projects to the transport system are making the area one of the most easily accessible in the whole of the capital

• Investment in town centres is creating confidence amongst the local business community

• South London is currently one of the most cost effective area within London to do business

The survey was conducted with the support of Business Improvement District teams and local Chambers of Commerce, including Southwark Chamber of Commerce.

The results paint a great picture for living and working in South London. There’s a thriving independent business community who intend to invest in training and recruitment into successful small and medium businesses.

60% of businesses see their staff levels increasing which will be a tremendous boost for jobs in the local area. Given the survey was conducted over a range of different sectors this is promising for job seekers.

Richard Kalmar, Chairman of Southwark Chamber of Commerce said “It is encouraging to see such positivity coming from South London business owners, not only in the borough of Southwark but within the whole area. I am feeling optimistic coming into this financial year and hope to see growth across the area in years to come. This is a combination of five factors, increased business optimism, readily available finance, pent up demand and in Southwark what I call the Shard factor basically a lot of prestigious new development transforming how people feel about the area and the facilities in the area greatly improving making it an attractive place to live and work.”

Anthony Gold have been based in South London for over fifty years and certainly understand the benefits of being based south of the river.

David Marshall, Managing Partner at Anthony Gold was delighted with the positivity amongst business owners: “Anthony Gold are delighted to see such positive results for the local area.

Being based at London Bridge, Streatham and Elephant & Castle it is encouraging to read such optimistic views from other local businesses right across South London.”

To view the published survey results, please go to www.anthonygold.co.uk alternatively if you have any questions about the survey or would like to be involved next year email Eileen Donaghey on eileen.donaghey@ anthonygold.co.uk

Southwark Business Today

27

Hospitality

Restaurant Reviews

By Margaret Rowse Executive Committee

Arments Traditional Pie and Mash Shop 5 Green Dragon Court, Borough Market, London SE1 9AW

Hidden away under the railway arch that leads from the new railway bridge into Borough Market is the new Arments pie and mash shop.

Blink and you could miss it!

It is small with barely room for 4 customers.Take away or eat in, there is seating upstairs, this is a traditional pie, mash and liquor restaurant.

The pies and liquor are supplied direct from Arments in Westmoreland Road Walworth, which has long been a favourite of locals and from further afield, this small shop is in a perfect location.

Prices are reasonable with single pie and mash at just £5.50, with free gravy or liquor. They are also offering a 10% discount for

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New Low Pric er es

licensed black cab drivers, including a free tea or coffee.

The portions of mash are generous and the liquor flows freely, pies have the traditional crispy top pastry, filled with the unique mix of meat and gravy inside. Chilli vinegar is also provided. Eels are not on the menu - yet.

You can’t mess with tradition and they haven’t, if you like genuine pie and mash you have to give it a try, with friendly staff who are eager to please, let’s hope they do well because there is nothing nicer on a cold day than a steaming plate of pie, mash and liquor and a mug of tea.

Southwark Business Today

The Cut Olivelli

The Cut is now full of restaurants and walking along one evening looking for somewhere to eat it was difficult to decide what to choose, they all offered different cuisines and looked inviting and all were busy.

But as usual the thought of a good Italian beckoned me into Olivelli’s.

Small inside with as many tables as they could possible squeeze in it looked a typical traditional Italian.

Stepping inside we were immediately given a warm welcome and shown to a small table for two at the back of the bustling room. Even though the restaurant is small and was extremely busy it seemed intimate at the same time.

The staff were very attentive and immediately brought us menus and went through all of the specials on offer that evening being very knowledgeable on ingredients and cooking methods. There was a good choice with quite an

61 The Cut, London SE1 8LL (also at 127 Lordship Lane, London SE22 8HU)

extensive menu, I was totally spoilt for choice being a big fan of Italian food.

No starters for me, I went straight for the main course and it’s a good job I did. I opted for a homemade lasagne and it was more than enough. Roasting hot in a ceramic dish straight from the oven, cheese oozing and thick tomato sauce bubbling, my only disappointment was it was so hot I couldn’t tuck in with gusto like I wanted to.

My dinner partner had large hot glistening prawns, butterflied and fried in butter, a very generous portion too. The staff were extremely busy but all friendly and ready to swap banter with the diners. We enjoyed a glass or two of good Italian white wine to compliment the food. I was sorry when we had finished and it was time to leave. Friendly, comfortable, good authentic dishes with plenty of choice and a cosy welcoming interior. I’m going back as soon as I can for some more delicious comfort eating.

Hospitality

Champor Champor 62-64 Weston St, London SE1 3QJ

Champor Champor - so good they named it twice, as the song goes.

This is another hidden gem in the backstreets of Southwark, this restaurant is inconspicuous along a terraced street just a stone’s throw from the now famous Bermondsey Street.

On first glance at the outside you could be forgiven for thinking that this isn't a restaurant at all but a ‘closed to the public’ private establishment.

Our description, Quirky!

Once inside you are transported to a unique Malaysian / Thai restaurant, the interior is filled with Thai, Indian and Malayan artefacts, screens, sculptures and mythological effigy. The tables are close together in a haphazard way, but this only adds to the intimate atmosphere of the restaurant, you cannot help but smile at the lovers ‘private balcony’, where a table for two is almost hidden from view and you can discretely enjoy a glance over the exotic dining room.

Telephone:020 7403 4600

Southwark Tea Terry’s Café, 158 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1.

Telephone: 020 7407 9358 www.terryscafe.co.uk info@terryscafe.co.uk

Anyone who has passed down Great Suffolk Street in the Borough area of Southwark will knowTerry’s Café.

It is the best known Café in the Borough area, a regular haunt of Taxi Drivers, local residents and passing tourists, who have strayed past looking for the Tate Modern Art Gallery.

Candles burn all around, giving a warm glow that adds to the surreal atmosphere.

The food is simply delicious, the menu offers just the right amount of choices to cover all tastes. My starter was the shredded duck with Hoisin sauce, wrapped in Rotti, this was followed by a sizzling sirloin plate with onions, peppers, wild ginger and fresh green peppercorns. I was boring with dessert, or so I thought, I chose the granita which came beautifully served

on a plate with berries, sliced fruit, cream and a filo basket filled with a fruity granita.

Great care is taken over the presentation of the food, which really makes you want to tuck in, cutlery is provided as too are chopsticks and the staff are all Thai and Malaysian making the whole experience authentic and special.

They have a fully stocked bar, bottled beers, a large range of wines and tap water was given without us having to ask.

You must go there, but sssshhh, please keep it a secret!

The Mayflower

117 Rotherhithe Street, Bermondsey, London SE16 4NF Telephone: 020 7237 4088

The Mayflower - a very historic pub and restaurant based not far from Rotherhithe Tunnel.

It has a rich history and for that reason alone is worth a visit. It is not easily accessible by public transport, but just a short walk from Jamaica Road and local bus routes and Rotherhithe station.

It looks tiny from the outside and is squashed between other larger buildings, you have to look hard to find the entrance.

The interior has 2 small bar areas and a restaurant on the first floor. They have a good reputation for their food and they have an extensive menu and specialise in fish indicating where it was sourced/caught.

The small bar area is cosy and intimate and you really feel as if

you have gone back in time.

There is a very small seated area out the back overlooking the Thames where you can sit and watch the boats go by.

The management and staff are very welcoming. They serve Greene King, IPA and Greene King Abbot Ale amongst other beers, wines and spirits.

This is where in 1620 the Pilgrims set sail for America, the rest as they say is history!

Not far from the Mayflower is the Museum of Brunel, just a stone’s throw away,

and other places of interest, so make an afternoon of it and take in the atmospheric wharfs and warehouses that have been turned into apartments or walk a little further and visit the Angel pub, also alongside the River Thames and boasting a good restaurant and bar.

Terry’s Café is located at 158 Great Suffolk Street SE1 and is renowned for the best value and quality traditional English Breakfasts in the Borough area of Southwark, where you will often times struggle to find a space to sit. Terry’s Café pride themselves in only using quality locally sourced products and home cooking at its best. Recently Austin Yardley, who inherited the business from his late father Terry who set up the business in 1982. He was a butcher by trade and worked most of his life in Smithfield Meat Market before opening the Café, so that he could spend more time with his young family. His son Austin, who has worked in the business since he started as a 14 year old Saturday boy in the Café. He has recently started to sell a select selection of unblended, fully traceable traditional Ceylon Teas, sourced from the tea growing areas of Sri Lanka, (formerly known as Ceylon), direct from the low region to the high region of Kandy. He went out to Sri Lanka to meet the owners and pickers of the historic tea growing estates and witnessing the tea bags being strung on their production lines.

Terry’s Teas are packed in their own branded boxes and have flavours, loved by those of who grew up in the post war era when tea was the drink of choice in most households, and before there were Coffee shops on every street corner, as there are nowadays.

It is refreshing to find these select teas in Southwark bringing back the traditional non blended teas to the High Street, that you can buy in Terry’s Café or on line and 5p of every packet sold goes into a tea packers Trust Fund to help those at the very bottom of the production line.

There are currently four different Terry’s Teas on sale, English Breakfast Tea, Earl Grey Tea, Green Tea with Jasmine and Chamomile Tea.

Who knows if Tea will become the ‘new coffee’ in the near future?

Southwark Business Today

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Hospitality

The Swan at Shakespeare’s Globe 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT Telephone: 0203 811 2284

www.swanlondon.co.uk reservations@swanlondon.co.uk Located on the banks of the river at the site of the iconic Globe Theatre, Swan Bar and Restaurant offers highend dining in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Up the stairs on the corner of Bankside and New Globe Walk you’re greeted with the stylish Swan Bar, complete with comfortable sofas, armchairs and intimate booth seating.

Ideally situated a stone’s throw from the city, the Swan Bar is the perfect spot for an early morning breakfast meeting or as an initial fuelling point for your day out in London. The Bar serves wholesome British

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classics throughout the day, and comes alive with the buzz of the theatre crowd before and after each performance in the Globe Theatre.

Up a further flight of stairs you’ll find yourself in the elegant Swan Restaurant, tastefully styled with exposed wooden tables and bespoke furnishings. A full stretch of delicate lead-framed windows flood the Restaurant with daylight as diners overlook the Thames, and St Paul’s Cathedral and the London city skyline provide the backdrop to lunch, afternoon tea and evening dinner service.

Southwark Business Today

The Swan Bar and Restaurant serve contemporary, British dishes and showcase the best in locally sourced, seasonal produce. The Restaurant is available for a relaxed a la carte service at lunch and dinner as well as theatre dining before and after each performance.

There are two private dining rooms at either end of the Restaurant, closed off with elegant glass and copper

screens. The smaller private room, the Bull Room, seats up to 14 guests on one oval table and overlooks the river as well as the Globe Theatre, while the larger room, the River Room, seats up to 40 and benefits from doubleaspect windows over-looking the river and St Paul’s.

Experience the best in British dining in an unforgettable location. Book a table today.

Technology

Windows 10: What do we know one month in? ver a month has passed since Microsoft launched the highly anticipated Operating System,Windows 10.

O

But what do we know one month in?

Has Microsoft delivered on their promises and exceeded the expectations of their audience?

Was the release of Windows 10 just a big marketing exercise from Microsoft? And has Zenzero’s advice to businesses looking to upgrade user workstations changed during this time?

There was 8 months of media exposure and frequent press releases from Microsoft, while with the support of participants of the Windows Insider Program, who were using the Technical Preview they built and refined the new Operating System. This all led up to Windows 10 finally being released on 29th July to an audience of expectant users.

In the run up to the release, it appeared that Microsoft had the winning formula for success by listening to the voice of their customers and acting on their feedback, but did it work?

Looking at some early statistics, it certainly appears to be the case…

• In the first 24 hours Windows 10 had been on the market, Microsoft said downloads of the new OS hit 14 million • Statcounter claims that in the UK to date, Windows 10 already accounts for 6.09 per cent of the operating system market since its launch • The figures claim that the new OS is already more popular than Windows XP, which now has only a 3.57 per cent market share Despite these impressive statistics, the launch of Windows 10 was not the smooth, seamless transition that was promised as some early adopters experienced issues concerning; Product Activation, Frequent Crashes, Wireless Connectivity and compatibility issues with the new Edge browser.

While these types of issues are frustrating for users it is not unusual for the first full release of a software product to encounter some issues. While extensive testing in the background had tried to identify any issues there is never any substitute for releasing software to the masses.

Despite the initial teething problems there are many positives with Windows 10. Early users are benefiting from great new features such as; Improved Start Button, Multi Desktop View and the Microsoft Edge Browser which have all proved to offer productivity benefits and enhance the user experience. Not only do users of Windows 10 get new features, they also benefit from a cleaner and more modern user interface which is intuitive.

So one month after the launch has Zenzero’s advice to customers changed? The simple answer is “No it hasn’t.”

In the weeks leading up to (and following) the release of Windows 10, Zenzero’s

recommendation to Businesses showing a keen interest to upgrade business workstations was to take time to consider how this impacts their current systems. By delaying your adoption of Windows 10 by a couple of months, allows time for planning. Although it may appear to be a straightforward process, there are many factors that need to be considered in advance, such as compatibility of Business Applications, Server Polices and external integrations such as CRM systems, in order to avoid any disruption.

Users and businesses should get excited about adopting the new Operating System but must balance potential issues and a level of disruption with the advantages of the benefits of

enhanced experience and functionality. Windows 10 should be in your plans but delaying your adoption of it should be seen as the sensible choice. An added benefit of allowing time to consider the impact and challenges to your business, is that it gives Microsoft an opportunity to address and fix many of the bugs and faults that have been identified by the frustrated users who arguably upgraded to quickly.

If you would like to find out more about Windows 10 or discuss your business requirements, please do not hesitate to contact our experienced team on 0333 3209 900 or visit http://www.zenzero.co.uk /windows10/

Southwark Business Today

31

Business News

Southbank Towers L

ondon’s South Bank has undergone significant development and economic regeneration over the last decade.

Now recognised as one of the most diverse central London districts that offers premier leisure, employment and residential opportunities, South Bank Tower is the latest development by independent real estate firm CIT, to contribute to this ongoing world-class destination.

South Bank Tower is a mixed-use development and will incorporate 191 apartments, 220,000 sq. ft. of office space and 36,000 sq ft. of retail space, including the South Bank’s first branch of Waitrose. In addition to amenities and commercial spaces, there will be a new public realm and walkways which will create better connections between the south bank of the Thames and greater Southwark as well as benefit the evolving community.

A landmark building since the 1970’s, the transformation of the original 32-storey structure formerly “King’s Reach Tower” designed by renowned architect Sir Richard Seifert was, until 2007, the headquarters of publishing giant, IPC Media. The building was then acquired by CIT in 2010 as part of its joint venture with Jadwa Investment, the Riyadh based investment bank. South Bank Tower has been designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF), one of the world’s leading architecture firms responsible for influential buildings including The Pinnacle and The Heron Tower in London, and the Shanghai World Financial Centre.

Thanks to the area’s reputation as one of London’s cultural hubs, its artistic heritage has provided inspiration for CIT which has commissioned a series of innovative

collaborations at South Bank Tower, including a photography exhibition in 2014 with internationally-renowned contemporary photographer Steve McCurry.The next project due to be unveiled later this month is with an industry-leading artist,Tobias Putrih, who has designed an impressive sculpture which will be showcased in the triple height residents’ lobby.

The installation will be visible from the street and will belong as much to the local community as to the building.

With a thriving business community on South Bank Tower’s doorstep and ideally located to some of Southwark’s newest openings including Mondrian London at Sea Containers, residents will instantly feel a part of the capital’s most

exciting and important boroughs of London.

Residents will also benefit from spectacular views across London’s skyline as well as extensive facilities, including a 20-metre natural stone pool with sauna and steam room, stateof-the-art gymnasium, cinema room, lounge area, 24-hour lifestyle concierge, as well as one of London’s largest roof gardens.

Next month will see the arrival of the first residents of South Bank Tower, with final completions scheduled for next year.

For more information please visit www.southbanktower.com or call the marketing suite on 0203 267 1048.

Businesses have deciding vote in the future of London Bridge

T

he third London Bridge BID ballot will take place 24 September to 29 October 2015.

Following successful ballots in 2005 and 2010, local businesses can again choose to continue having a Business Improvement District (BID) in London Bridge and contribute to hyper-localised projects via the BID levy.

Each of the 300+ businesses within the extended BID area between Tower Bridge and London Bridge will make a decision based on whether they support the proposed projects and services outlined in a five year Business Plan for the area.

The London Bridge BID is apolitical, privately funded and run by the business community. It's totally transparent and has budgets clearly

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defined for five year periods, enabling investment into long term projects without being bogged down by political, financial or organisational distractions.

Each eligible business within the boundary will receive their ballot papers by post just after 24th September. These are being issued independently by Southwark Council and in most instances this will be addressed directly to the most appropriate person. However, in some cases it will be addressed to the same person who receives business rates bills so please be aware of the papers arriving around 28th September.

The nominated person must then mark the ballot paper YES or NO

Southwark Business Today

in response to being asked if they want to be part of the London Bridge BID for another five years, then return it in the pre-paid envelope supplied. And that's it, simple! Papers can be returned until 29th October but we are encouraging everyone to send them as early as possible.

If you have any questions about the ballot process please go to teamlondonbridge.co.uk or contact Henry Johnstone on 020 7407 4701 / henry@teamlondonbridge. co.uk

Last Word

Barry Albin-Dyer, undertaker - obituary evered Bermondsey undertaker whose family firm Rrepatriated Armed Forces personnel killed overseas Barry Albin-Dyer, who has died of cancer aged 64, was for 30 years the chairman of F A Albin & Sons, a venerable firm of funeral directors in Bermondsey, south London, which was tasked by the MoD with organising the repatriation and funerals of members of the Armed Forces who had died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Clad in immaculate top hat and undertaker’s frock-coat and brandishing a cane, Albin-Dyer was a familiar sight at Bermondsey funerals, as well as at Wootton Bassett (and later Brize Norton), leading the cortege in the tradition known as “paging”.

It was Albin-Dyer who walked ahead of the flower-draped vintage Rolls-Royce containing the coffin of Jade Goody, the reality television star, in 2009. When the procession arrived at the market in Bermondsey where Jade Goody’s grandfather had kept a stall, Albin-Dyer released a white dove from a cage.

His pall-bearers also officiated at the funeral of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor in 2001.

The son of an undertaker, Barry George Dyer (he adopted the name Albin when he started running Albin and Sons) was born in south London on February 2 1951. Life revolved around the work; the family lived above the shop and Barry’s mother helped with the administration. At seven, Barry was given the job of polishing the brass plaque on the door and cleaning the fire grate.

“I grew up with coffins in the corner,” he recalled later. “My dad was very clever. He never closed any doors so I could go anywhere.

I wasn’t afraid of it.”

He remembered children knocking on the door and shouting “Got any boxes?” before running off.

He was educated at Bacon’s College in Rotherhithe, becoming head boy. When he was 17 his mother died of cancer and he credited this early loss with helping him to understand grief.

She was looked after in her final months by the local nuns, the

Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy.

Their example of self-sacrificing kindness profoundly affected Barry, leading eventually to his converting to Roman Catholicism.

Having gone straight into the business, by his mid-thirties he had taken over FA Albin & Sons from his father and his uncle, Fred Albin.

He transformed the firm, which was nearly 200 years old, into a bigger operation employing some 50 people, compared with a third of that number when he started.

He was not afraid to move into novel territory, offering customers the option, for example, of having their bodies cryogenically frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored in a facility in Michigan, until such time as medical technology might be able to revive them. Albin-Dyer arranged roughly one “perfusion” - cooling down – a year, although, as he once observed, “as a Catholic I don’t believe they’ll come back”.

Bermondsey was becoming increasingly multicultural during this period, and Albin-Dyer was adept at cementing alliances with people of varied faiths, such as the Iranians, who grew to value his professionalism as well as the sense of solemnity without mawkishness with which obsequies were conducted.

As a community-minded figure, Albin-Dyer would help local people whenever he could.

In 1998 the Southwark News was at risk of going under, and he stepped in to secure the finances of the paper and back the young journalists who were struggling to keep it afloat.

He wrote three volumes of memoirs - Don’t Drop the Coffin!, Bury My Heart in Bermondsey and Strong Shoulders – and appeared in a television documentary, also called Don’t Drop the Coffin.

Barry Albin-Dyer’s public roles including the presidency of the International Funeral Directors’ Association. He was appointed OBE in 2010 for his work repatriating British troops. He was a revered figure in Bermondsey and in 2012 was made a deputy lieutenant for Greater London; that year he was also honoured for Lifetime Achievement at the Good Funeral Awards.

He married Janet (née Burnett) and they had two sons, both of whom went into the business; the marriage was dissolved in 1998.

He is survived by his partner of 15 years, Jackie Costin, and his sons.

Barry Albin-Dyer, born February 2 1951, died June 6 2015

Name: Sam Luck Company: Davy’s of London Job title: General Manager at Heeltap Bar

Hailing originally from Cornwall via Bristol, my first taste of hospitality came working at Edgbaston Cricket Ground whilst a drama student at University of Birmingham.

After finishing my course, I stayed on at Edgbaston and ran the members bar there for a year, before heading for the bright lights of London and joining Davy’s of London’s acclaimed trainee management scheme.

Nine years later and I’m still with Davy’s, currently running the Heeltap in London Bridge.

Q1

Q2

Q3

Q4 Q5

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

On the tills in Sainsbury’s for £3.42/hour.

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

Create a new bank holiday in the Autumn as it’s a long, miserable stretch from August to Christmas.

What is the biggest challenge in your business?

Attracting and retaining great staff on minimum wage.

If you could do another job, what would it be?

Teacher

What's your favourite London building?

Shakespeare’s Globe

Southwark Business Today

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Join Us

Chairman Richard Kalmar - Kalmars

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Vice Chairman Les Johnson - LJPM Ltd

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Executive Members - 2015/16 Richard Kalmar - Chair Les Johnson - Events Roger Beckett Duncan Field - Education Dan Harder - Business Group Liaison William Harwood - Local Employment Ken Hayes - New Members Peter Mantell - Legal Publicity & Barry Martin - Southwark Business Margaret Rowse Today Magazine Yoko de Souza - Equalities Diana Stevenson - Website John Steward - Finances Sonia Sutton - Administrator Alex Webb - Fundraising Cait Wilkinson - Committee Welfare

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Hon. Solicitor

Join Us he Chamber is made up of active and successful T business people from a wide range of sectors, who are based in Southwark, believe in Southwark and wish Southwark to prosper.

We are run by an annually elected Executive Committee who meets ten times a year and there are a number of active sub-committees who work on behalf of the membership.

Their work includes developing business networking opportunities and events, organising conferences and workshops, offering business support and advice surgeries and lobbying local decision-makers on the big issues of the day.

Membership Application Membership is £150 per annum plus one-off £25.00 administration fee.

Company: Address:

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HSBC - SOUTHWARK C OF C 40-06-21 21357646

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•••

Vice Presidents Harriet Harman MP Lord Roy Kennedy DameTessa Jowell

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By working together we can help create the conditions for business to thrive in the area.

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Southwark Business Today

To join, please send your details to: Southwark Chamber of Commerce & Industry Southbank Techno Park, 90 London Road London. SE1 6LN Tel: 07477 581977 Email. admin@southwarkcommerce.com

Considering a construction project?

If the answer is Yes! Then we may be able to help.

How?

We can discuss your requirements and expectations and assist with project management.

With our expertise we can save you time and help avoid the pitfalls.

This could range from a simple chat to advice on how best to plan.

We can outline the legal requirements; for e.g. planning permission and building regulations as well as party wall matters, CDM regulations, Equality Act provisions, rights of light, thus eliminating risk early on. We are also able to assist by carrying out the above for you.

Make that free, no obligation call and mention 'Southwark Business Today' for a free initial one - one consultation. It may make a difference!

Contact Les Johnson on 07931 231 898 Or email: les.johnson@ljpm.co.uk www.ljpm.co.uk

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Project Management Contract Administration Building Surveying Services CDM Coordination and Design Risk Management • Client Advisor / Compliance Report • Independent Assessor / Certifier on PFI & PPI Projects

‘Les Johnson of LJPM has been working with me for the past 8 months. It has been a pleasure to have Les on board for a number of reasons.

Les is very knowledgeable in all areas within the building industry, he has been a great problem solver and sound board during the development of my new venture Cafè1809.

I have also enjoyed working with Les as he is very polite and considerate.’

'I have no hesitation in recommending Les Johnson and will definitely being working with him on my future projects.'

Dame Kelly Holmes

LJPM Ltd Construction Consultants

3 More London Riverside SE1 2RE. Tel. 020 313 79808