Focus on Greenwich
Focus on Greenwich London’s Night Czar joins Woolwich Lates festivities
Discover the Business Awards shortlist! The shortlist for the Best of Royal Greenwich Business Awards, run in association with LandsecU+I and South East London Chamber of Commerce, has been announced. Competition was particularly stiff this year, with the Awards receiving a record of 324 applications. Of those, 72 businesses are in the running to win their categories. The winners of three of the categories will be determined by public vote, which means you!
We welcomed London’s Night Czar Amy Lamé back to Woolwich on Friday 22 September, marking almost a year since the area was chosen as one of the Mayor of London’s Night Time Enterprise Zones The Council has been working in partnership with local organisations to deliver ‘Woolwich Lates’, a varied programme of arts, fitness, retail and family events, that go on into the evening. Data captured from the events has shown, on average, a 23% increase in people flocking to the town centre in the evening. The evening walkabout was an opportunity for London’s Night Czar to find out more about the impact the programme has had. The group visited Woolwich Works and Tramshed, two leading evening destinations, as well community space the Woolwich Front
Room. They talked to residents, night workers, volunteers and business owners at AT VR, Coffee Lounge, Square Bubbles, Hitachi Sushi and Duck Duck Pork. Cllr Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Business and Skills, said: “One of our missions is supporting a thriving night-time economy to ensure our high streets are prosperous, safe and vibrant for local people and to support businesses. Cultural events like the ones hosted for Woolwich Lates and the Heritage Action Zone are a proven way to attract people into town centres and experience the wider offer while there.” We are currently undertaking the final evaluation of the programme, which will inform the Council’s borough-wide vision for a vibrant, inclusive, and safe night-time economy.
Read more about the visit: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/night-czar-visit
Celebrating Living Wage Week The biggest celebration of the real Living Wage is upon us! We're excited to have more accredited Living Wage Employers than ever before to celebrate in Royal Greenwich, who are going the extra mile to provide stability and certainty to all their employees, like Peter’s Panas, pictured. Championing the real Living Wage is central to our work to tackle in-work poverty and creating a more inclusive local economy. This is why we are offering grants to cover the cost of three years of accreditation to help more businesses to join us. We are also working with the Living Wage Foundation, employers, and institutions across the borough to radically increase the number of real Living Wage accredited businesses in the city. United, we can make Royal Greenwich a Living Wage Place. This is a recognition by the Living Wage Foundation that celebrates the geographical areas that are doing more to expand the uptake of the living wage.
Do you know any of the brilliant local businesses on the shortlist? You can vote for the ones that you think deserve to win the: •
Best Food and Drinks Venue
•
Market or Mobile Trader
•
High Street Business
The other categories will be selected by our panel of judges.
• Head Judge Cllr Mariam Lolavar
Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Business and Skills, Royal Borough of Greenwich
• Michael Bullion
CEO and Founder, Tribe Urban Entertainment
• Rachel Brown
Head of Enterprise and Innovation, University of Greenwich
• Cllr Majid Rahman
Economy Champion, Our Greenwich Plan, Royal Borough of Greenwich
• Tracey Sage
Associate, Emergency Exit Arts
• Steve Sayer
Vice President and General Manager, The O2
Our Living Wage campaign is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Find out more: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/become-a-living-wage-employer
For the latest business news, sign up to receive our newsletter: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/businessnewsletter
• Max Skomorowski
Director, Greenwich Enterprise Board
Find out more: royalgreenwich.gov.uk/businessawards With thanks to our sponsors, without whom the Business Awards would not be possible.
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