Stories Magazine - Reset by Harlow Council

RESETTING, REALIGNING, RESTARTING AND REIGNITING IN THE NEW NORMAL – NOVEMBER 2020

o l

RESET

You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily

Stories IN ASSOCIATION WITH DISCOVER HARLOW

REAL STORIES ABOUT REAL PEOPLE

No ads. No clutter.

Harlow Stories Magazine is created by Magnificent Stuff www.magnificentstuff.net

Issue 10 *

Hello and welcome

Pivot refers to a significant business change. A pivot is usually intended to help a business recover from a tough period, or survive after experiencing factors that make the original business model unsustainable.

WOW! I truly didn’t think it would be this long since the last issue and certainly not for the reasons we’ve experienced! Firstly, it goes without saying that we wish all of our loyal supporters and readers well during this very challenging time. I think we are all taking away very different lessons as we live through the Covid-19 pandemic. Each time a new rule or regulation is set there are inevitably very different, and sometimes life-changing impacts made to peoples’ lives.

Produced with thanks to:

This issue is themed RESET I chose this as we have been continually amazed by the way people are adapting and resetting to live this ‘new normal’. From the smart, entrepreneurial businesses *pivoting their offer to meet the ever-changing environment we are living in. To the London office worker who has had to turn their kitchen table into a home office and call centre. To the teachers unnaturally hosting online lessons with no feedback or engagement from their pupils from their bedroom space. We salute you.

MW Studio Design & Layout www.mwstudio.uk

This is our 10th issue of Stories and we feel very lucky that we have only had to pivot very slightly sideways to continue to trade efficiently. We continue to publish in association with Discover Harlow who have helped curate some fabulous stories from in and around Harlow this issue. This issue we’ll hear from Redchurch Brewery, Diamond Office Furniture, we have a new regular piece from Harlow Police plus all of the usual content from local businesses and high-profile individuals. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Harlow Council for supporting this issue of the magazine.

Magnificent Stuff Content curation www.magnificentstuff.net

Datum Print Print & Paper www.datumcp.com Best Mailing Services Mailing & Fulfilment www.bestmailing.co.uk

THIS ISSUE OF STORIES MAGAZINE HAS KINDLY BEEN SUPPORTED BY

In the meantime, please do get in touch to share your stories, support the magazine and the help promote the Discover Harlow initiative. Enjoy the read…. Emma

CREATED BY

www.magnificentstuff.net

Story telling marketers

07834 760627

@harlowstories

Dear Reader Dr. John Keddie Chair of Harlow Place Board

Welcome to the November edition of Stories It’s great to be back introducing another edition of Stories magazine. We took a break from publishing during lockdown, but now we are back we want to celebrate the many fantastic businesses and organisations in Harlow, who are doing so much good work in the face of such challenging circumstances. From community focused policing to diversification in the brewing industry, I hope everyone finds something in these pages to inspire them. And, I’m happy to say, that Covid has not impeded the many big projects planned for Harlow; the new M11, Junction 7a, the largest infrastructure project in Essex for many years, got underway in September, and plans for a new hospital and the potential £50m investment through the Future High Street Fund and Towns Fund are still moving forward. In fact, as Harlow Ambassadors, now is the time that I would encourage you all to get involved and give your comments on the proposals for the Towns Fund, you can access information on all the proposed projects and provide feedback by visiting the Town’s Fund page of the Harlow Council website – harlowcouncil.gov.uk. Finally, I would like to thank our Harlow Ambassadors; Emma Knewstub from Magnificent Stuff, Mark Welby from MW Studio, and Lyn Reed from Best Mailing Services, for partnering with us to produce and distribute this publication. If you would like more information on joining Discover Harlow and becoming an Ambassador, or you are interested in sponsoring an edition of Stories please email discoverharlow@harlow.gov.uk. Best wishes Dr. John Keddie Chair of Harlow Place Board www.discoverharlow.co.uk

Crowdsourced access to the Government’s Kickstart scheme from Harlow Council

FREE EMPLOYEE WOULD be a welcome bonus at any time, but particularly in the difficult times we are currently experiencing. The kickstart scheme is a £2bn government fund launched to pay the wages, national insurance contributions and employer automatic enrolment contributions of a new employee for 6 months. This also comes with £1500 per employee to pay for set up costs, support and training.

In addition to the obvious business benefits of employing someone under the scheme there are huge benefits in terms of corporate social responsibility, something that is integral to every successful business. Harlow has been badly hit by the Covid-19 measures, with large numbers of local people furloughed and made redundant. Young people in Harlow have been particularly affected. As a result Harlow Council is taking proactive action and acting as an intermediary organisation for the Kickstart scheme which is supporting young people between the ages of 16 to 24 into work. Government Kickstart applications need to be made for 30 placements at a time, and this is too many for most small and medium size businesses,

so Harlow Council will be taking applications from businesses for single placements upwards and then collating them into one application which they will put forward to central government on the businesses behalf. If your business would like to take advantage of the kickstart scheme to tap into this pool of young talent at no extra cost whilst providing that crucial first step in someone’s career, then email the Regeneration Team regen.enquiries@harlow.gov.uk at Harlow Council to register your interest. Further details about how a young person can access a placement are available here: www.jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/ kickstart/ www.gov.uk/government/collections/ kickstart-scheme

Kickstart is an urgently needed and welcome initiative, launched by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, in September

M ORE THAN JU ST A N OT H ER PROSAIC E N T ERPR IS E PAR K With a cafe, collaborative workspace, laboratories and offices the future looks bright for this addition to Harlow’s landscape.

F YOU HAVE FOUND YOURSELF DRIVING through the neighbourhoods surrounding the London Road Section of the A414 in Harlow over the last few years, it would have been impossible to miss the impressive changes that have been taking place.

town wide aspirations was the successful establishment of the Enterprise Zone in 2011 which brought significant benefits to the North and South areas of London Road as well as the Templefields commercial area that runs parallel to Edinburgh Way.

Whether it be the new community developments at Newhall, the substantial building programme at Mark Hall Academy, or the beginnings of the major infrastructural work for the long awaited new M11 junction to name a few of the projects, it is clear that this section of the town is a significant beneficiary of the bold ambitions that are being realised across Harlow.

The impact of the Enterprise Zone has been seen in the notable redevelopment towards the South of the London Road at the Kao Park which was named after Nobel prizewinning scientist Charles Kao who invented the technology behind fibre optic cable on the site 50 years ago.

A key milestone within the roadmap of the

The next step in the evolution of the Enterprise Zone is the flagship development at the science and innovation park towards

the north of the London Road which has been brought forward by Harlow District Council, working in partnership with VINCI UK and Wrenbridge. The park provides a 24-acre development area which will provide more than 400,000 square feet of Grade ‘A’ collaborative work and amenity space (that is over 37,000 square meters in new money). Its’ location within The UK Innovation Corridor that links London and Cambridge via Stansted Airport offers a unique prospect to potential occupants. Organisations from across a variety of industries, from life science to advanced manufacturing via the digital arena and a whole host of supply

“By creating a flexible, cutting edge environment around centralised facilities connections will thrive.”

chain participants, will find themselves geographically centred to an area where businesses, universities and R&D centres converge. It is this opportunity that has helped inform both the development aspirations at the Harlow Science Park as well as the ‘people focused’ vision that is creating more than just another prosaic enterprise park offering. In the words of the park delivery team, it is ‘by creating a flexible, cutting edge environment around centralised facilities and support initiatives, connections between like-minded thinkers will thrive, employee wellbeing will flourish and businesses will succeed’. To that end, the first two buildings can now be seen as you make your way along the London road, with the 30,000 sq ft Nexus office building now entering fit-out and Anglia Ruskin’s Arise building completing the first phase of the construction. A 45,000 sq ft development will complete in spring 2021, delivering a collection of versatile units offering solutions to laboratory, R&D and advanced manufacturing operators. With a café and other facilities currently in design, the future looks bright for this new addition to the Harlow landscape, and the career opportunities that the park will create for people across the local area and beyond will no doubt prove it to be a very welcome arrival indeed.

With Lockdown 2.0 upon us, Katie Templeton-Knight at MW Studio assesses how businesses need to re-evaluate their marketing strategy to avoid being left behind.

RESET FLAT LINE OR ONLINE

O DESCRIBE 2020 AS CHALLENGING would be somewhat of an understatement. From education to business to leisure, we have been forced to adapt every aspect of our lives in an unprecedented way. In the grip of a global pandemic and with the UK economy having plunged into recession for the first time in 11 years you would be forgiven for finding the recent revival of BREXIT as a topic of discussion a light hearted distraction.

Despite the obvious difficulties of operating in these economic circumstances, our ever determined business population will use this autumn to assess the past 6 months, regroup and reset, so that they can address the demands of the current social and economic climate, re-engage with their customer base, mindful of the considerable constraints the so called “new-normal” has imposed on us all and ensure that they are as competitive as possible in this next quarter and beyond. With Lockdown 2.0 underway, followed by regional relaxation of restrictions, as a nation

we remain cautious and reluctant to embrace old habits. Whether this is because of latent fear that the pandemic is far from over or because many people found unexpected positives from being compelled to find new ways of educating, working and relaxing, the fact remains that 2020 has brought with it some lasting changes. Whatever the rationale, your business needs to anticipate and be responsive to these changes. It is important to remember that if you had a good business before the pandemic, with solid management and business agility, you should still have a great business in 12 months time. If, during lockdown, you were lucky enough to attract customers to your business through your online presence, it is essential during this next uncertain period to revitalise your business platform so that it stays relevant to your current clients and draws in new customers in a way which recognises these new types of engagement. If, on the other hand, your business stalled during this period, its time to ask what can be done to kick start a successful online future. Whatever your lockdown experience now is the time to update your website. The

world is evolving and in order to survive, your business must be flexible so that it can adapt to the needs of an increasingly tech savvy public as quickly and efficiently as possible. Investing in a state of the art website is the most important investment you will ever make. During lockdown we relied almost entirely on online shopping and this, as we have seen, has made the difference between businesses thriving or failing. Primark, which does not have an online store, lost £650 million in profits in only one month during lockdown, while Amazon, which conducts the entirety of its’ retail business online, doubled its profits making it their best quarter to date. In this commercial contest of survival of the fittest, it is clear that a brand’s website is paramount for success. In the current climate, it is not a shiny new shop front or an updated product line that will generate business, but instead a well-designed and user-friendly website. MW Studio believes: “online is part of our post-lockdown future. Working with our clients both locally, nationally and internationally is effective and

ACTIVITY

from home is rather sterile and leaves very little room for socialising within the workplace. Despite the fact that the majority of socialising was conducted online during lockdown, and still continues to be today given the ever changing social contact rules, one only needs to look at the pictures of beaches and city centres once lockdown was lifted to see that we missed human contact above all else. We are after all tribal.

Initial Response

Recover Renew

TIME Immediate actions required to keep staff/customers safe but keep the essential business functions operating

Restart activities: reopen, rehire, create a plan to restore scalable a recovery

productive… and delivering online solutions to solve client marketing and corporate communications is one part (currently a large part) of a 360 degree strategy…”. With vast and ever growing competition online from both national and international businesses, a website with effective and unique SEO terms are essential for driving traffic to your platform and once they have landed you have a very limited window of opportunity to engage. Without the traditional customer loyalty built through a physical interaction, consumers that find a website difficult to use or confusing can and will easily go elsewhere with just the click of a button. Your website is not only about attracting customers to your online business, but retaining them and converting their interest into a sale. Never before has a website been more important for creating and maintaining a thriving future facing business. But how many of the changes we attribute to the pandemic were actually just an acceleration of inevitable existing trends? The shift towards businesses being run almost entirely online is not a recent phenomenon. Video conferencing had already established itself in the business world and it was not uncommon for those whose positions facilitated it to work at least one day a week from home. In a statistic provided by the Independent, the use of Zoom increased from 10 million in December 2019, to 300 million in April 2020. Though a rapid increase, our not insignificant use of Zoom pre lockdown is perhaps indicative of how our working habits were already starting to evolve.

Review emerging market patterns, understand of customer/client changing requirements and how best to respond.

According to a study conducted in 2013 by Professor Nicholas Bloom, participants who worked at home were 13% more productive than those who worked in an office for the same period of time. Though those with young children and a busy household may refute these findings, many people working remotely would corroborate this due to there being less distractions. With less commute time and a reduced spend on office buildings, it certainly begs the question as to whether offices will be a thing of the past, with Blueface anticipating that as soon as 2025, “remote working will challenge fixed office spaces as a primary work method”. Who knows, in years to come the dreaded Office Christmas party may be celebrated over Zoom? It is a great time to accelerate plans to overhaul the IT and make sure your business and its technology are ready for the future. There are those for whom working from home is not possible and for whom others choosing to do so is a disaster. If your business involves servicing the needs of the office community, whether that be food or courier services, then the dismantling of the office will require a rapid re think. The ability to reset your offering and publicise it effectively is critical. Even when working from home, people have to eat and perhaps the temptation of a delicious pre-made sandwich will still win out over a rummage through the fridge for last night’s leftovers. Although eliminating the daily chat by the photocopier and the colleague, who would drop by your office to ask for advice, is beneficial for profit margins, this uber efficient, hyper productive style of working

Online, is not the whole story, and there have been some other key trends emerging in the last few months. We have all witnessed the national, and indeed international, outpouring of support for “Captain” now Colonel and Sir Tom, a very high profile example of the very many acts of human kindness that the pandemic inadvertently spawned. A renewed sense of localism and community spirit means there is hope for the small local vendor and a real place in the community for the high street. People

… and delivering online solutions to solve client marketing and corporate communications is one part (currently a large part) of a 360 degree strategy…” don’t want to spend their lives working from home, ordering Deliveroo and signing for Amazon packages. They have their place of course but this is not a sustainable way of living. Health, provenance and sustainability have become the buzz words of 2020 and interestingly they are concepts that will flourish despite economic stagnation. So at MW Studios we passionately believe that now is the time to get creative marketing messages out there that speak to the issues people are focussed on. The opportunity to reset extends to rebranding, revisiting your USP and getting back in touch in a more empathetic way with your clients as well as attracting new clients who share your core values. Marketing these messages is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. So when history records the events of 2020, we believe that it will not tell a sorry tale of economic destruction and recession but an uplifting account of agility, adaptation and resilience that led to a thriving, if transformed, business community. mwstudio.uk

TH E S CHOOL W IT H T H E A B ILITY TO M AKE A R E A L C H A NG E With a host of leading industry sponsors based locally BMAT STEM Academy offers students opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.

BUSINESS-FOCUSED SCHOOL HAS teamed up with another industry sponsor to offer students career opportunities in the world of renewable energy. BMAT STEM Academy, in Harlow, provides students from Year 10 onwards with a curriculum focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects. The school has a host of industry sponsors – including Princess Alexandra Hospital, Gratnells, GlaxoSmithKline, Raytheon and Pearson Education – which provide students with insider knowledge, work experience and career prospects. Common Sense Energy, in Harlow, is the latest company to partner with

the school to develop future employees. Allen Harris, director at Common Sense Energy, has not only enrolled his daughter at the school’s sixth form, but signed up as a professional partner – and donated solar panels to the site. He said: “We decided to work with BMAT STEM Academy because it is a young and developing centre of excellence with the flexibility to harness new technologies. I believe the school has the ability to make real change in this world. “The young people in education today are more aware of the planet and the problems facing it than any generation before them. They are the ones who will lead the change in our world.

“It is well documented that if we continue to use the earth’s resources at our current rate of growth, the human race will be extinct in about 100 years and we will suffer major consequences along the way. “Renewable energy is now recognised as part of the solution to sustain our planet as we know it and it will become an even bigger part of our lives. So, it is essential students not only learn about these technologies, but are also able to see, touch, experiment with and help to develop them, too. By the time these students leave education, renewable energy and its benefits should be second nature to them. There will also be lucrative and rewarding career options open in this area.” The school offers subjects such as engineering, computer science and 3D design, with a focus on preparing young

Royal Visit

ITIZENS ADVICE HARLOW had the privilege of hosting Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal on Friday 11th September 2020. The event shone a light on the incredible work of the charity within the Harlow community.

“The young people in education today are the ones who will lead the change in our world” people for the world of work. The new partnership will bring work experience, workshops, talks and opportunities to reach out into the industry for students. Dave Ramsey, assistant headteacher, said: “We are going to be getting access to industry standard equipment to ensure our students are prepared to design and install green energy solutions. That is incredibly important going forward. “Our students will learn how renewable energy works, how systems connect to the grid and how it is then used in a house.

That is what Common Sense Energy does on a day to day basis; science and engineering. “It is another string to our bow and continues to keep us at the forefront of modern technology. We are really excited to be able to work with our students on renewable green energy. We all need to start using it, so if we are able to teach our young people more than just the theory, we are offering something unique.” For more information visit: www.bmatstemacademy.org

Her Royal Highness who has been the Patron of Citizens Advice since 1990 was welcomed in the photograph here by HTS Managing Director, John Phillips and Robert Halfon MP. Last year HTS carried out a number of repair improvements at the Citizens Advice Bureau, including re-carpeting the reception area, replacing missing ceiling tiles and redecorating the entire ex-bank. Steve Ward HTS Operations Director coordinated these works and continues to liaise with the CAB to help with anything they may need support with. Steve told me “we assist as and when the CAB need us, whether it be for major repair work or with technical knowledge we are always happy to help” Some of the more recent work that HTS carried out was converting 4 of their rooms into 2 offices so that the CAB staff are now able to conduct covid safe face to face interviews, HTS also put the company in touch with a local cleaning company to get their offices deep cleaned so they could comply with covid standards and keep the organisation open following government guidance. HTS enjoy their working relationship with the CAB, as they do with many local organisations around the town. To find out more about HTS work in the community visit their blog www.htsgroupltd.co.uk/news/

H A R LOW’S D EEP H O US E DJ B O O KEEPER

MOVED TO HARLOW IN 2010 with my wife who is a proud “Harlow girl.” We had our son at Princess Alexandra and he goes to a local school. Despite being the only Londoner in my household (and the only Arsenal fan - both of them are Spurs!), I am always surprised by how many of us there are around. I love that the foundations of the new Harlow are built on the varieties of the capital. I quickly learned that the diverse and rich history of business and innovation in Harlow made it the perfect place to build my business. I spent a lot of time thinking about what made me different. What was my USP going to be? I was inspired by the friendliness of our town. People say “hello” when you walk past them in the street and, certainly in my neighbourhood, there is a

real sense of community spirit and togetherness. People care about each other. At Handle Accounts, we are proud to offer our clients a personal service, never losing sight of the importance of that personal touch, of getting to know my clients and tailoring what I can offer to the support their needs. It’s too important. I am the background cog handling the day-to-day bookkeeping allowing my clients to focus on their business wheel, freeing up their time and energy to focus on other areas. When I am not crunching numbers, I am a music producer and DJ. I specialise in Deep House and Afro House music. I often wonder

“Life is so full of so many resets. We recalibrate, start again, dust ourselves down, go again”

if I am the only DJing bookkeeper. The two don’t usually go together but that is part of what motivates me in life. Difference and diversity and being able to adapt to any situation. Marrying a Spurs fan has taught me that if nothing else! Life is full of so many resets. We recalibrate, start again, dust ourselves down, go again . Starting a business has been my restart. I love working for myself, setting my own values and balancing that with important family time. I am proud to now call myself a “Harlow boy” and I look forward to looking after the bookkeeping needs of local businesses. Handle Accounts provide a personal, high quality, fast reliable service at a competitive price. If your business needs a bookkeeper, let us handle it for you. Please get in touch at Info@handleaccounts.org

A big warm welcome to ‘Billy Brakes’ and friends. Harlow’s eCargo fleet

ARLOW & GILSTON GARDEN TOWN has received funding for a fleet of eCargo bikes that will enable local council services and Harlow College to move away from traditional van/car use and towards active and sustainable ways of travelling around.

Given Garden Town status by the Government in 2017, Harlow & Gilston Garden Town will see the creation of four new neighbourhoods by 2033 with investment being made in an accessible, frequent and sustainable transport network that connects people across the Garden Town.

All four eCargo bikes will have a container for transporting goods and an electric motor to assist with pedalling and local residents have already named the fleet via an online competition.

New and improved walking and cycling routes in the Garden Town will complement the new network, encouraging active travel which has health and happiness benefits for residents along with environmental benefits.

“The fleet of eCargo bikes will make an important contribution as the Garden Town develops, and a more innovative and sustainable town wide transport network is established. “We’re looking to inspire residents, local businesses and organisations to follow our lead and use active travel for day-to-day activities. “Having eCargo bikes on the ground so early in the Garden Town project will also influence current and future travel and transport infrastructure development.” The fleet of eCargo bikes will feature two and three wheel models from well-regarded Danish cargo bike makers Christiania and Larry vs Harry. The bikes will be used by Garden Town partner, Harlow Council, for mail and equipment deliveries, environmental crime enforcement, patrolling public spaces and community safety and engagement. Harlow College will use one for transporting goods between their two campuses. David added: “We’ve seen a rise in the number of people cycling during the pandemic and research shows positive links between cycling, mental and physical health, and wellbeing.

‘Billy Brakes’ received the most votes, earning Sarah Stock of Old Harlow £150 in cycling shop vouchers from the Garden Town. The other three bikes have been named: ‘Electric Storm’, ‘Funky Gibberd’ and ‘Peddly Weddly’. “The eCargo bikes are a great idea and I’m hoping to get myself a new bike as I only have an old second-hand one at the minute and I don’t like riding it much,” said Sarah who thought up the name ‘Billy Brakes’ with her seven-year-old daughter. “A new bike will get me out and riding more and it will encourage my daughter to do the same.”

Speaking about the eCargo bike funding, received from the Energy Saving Trust, the Garden Town’s Active Travel expert, David Burt, commented: “Harlow has an extensive network of walking and cycling routes so, with the right investment and support, there is exciting potential for more of us to use this network on our daily journeys.

“Harlow’s existing cycle and walking network largely runs through the town’s parks and playing fields and using these open spaces as part of your journey, even for a short time each day, have been shown to improve your happiness and wellbeing.”

“We’re looking to inspire residents, local businesses and organisations to follow our lead and use active travel for day-to-day activities.”

Resetting to realise dreams

ROM THE AGE OF 10, I WANTED TO study Law. My inspiration derived from the sharply-dressed lawyers on the 80’s American TV series LA Law.

During my GCSEs and selecting a college to attend; I realised my dream of becoming a lawyer was no longer the career path I wanted to pursue. I can recall flicking through different college prospectuses hoping to find an alternative.

I recall not receiving any guidance or knowing anyone who could relate to what I was going through. I felt pressured as most of my friends had their career paths mapped out and sensed they felt I should know which area of interest my future lies, but I didn’t… It really knocked my confidence.

As a mum of two, I didn’t want those feelings of dread to affect my children, which was one of the reasons I started ROOTS POD Academy C.I.C three years ago to empower teenagers and young adults to build confidence and raise aspirations which ultimately will aid in their self discovery and achievements, irrespective of which path they decide to pursue in the future. Our aim is to encourage them to pursue their goals. My business and profession are in Digital Project Management. As founder of Roots Pod Ltd, a management consultancy company, I work with organisations as a project consultant to help them realise their digital business ambitions. I have had the opportunity to work with young people over the years, and I’ve seen a pattern of

The majority of challenges we face are created by the brain, meaning our mind can be assisted to overcome those challenges

increased anxiety from students in school as well as those leaving school with few or no qualifications. In addition, those leaving university after successfully achieving a degree, yet unable to secure employment; ultimately, this has had a negative impact on their self-esteem and motivation. ROOTS POD Academy uses entrepreneurship as a vehicle to build confidence, focus and improve communication skills of 14-24 year olds through engaging workshops. With my determination to help young people achieve success in life, I endeavoured to connect and collaborate with business owners for their expertise in their own field, who have facilitated and shared practical activities and their own experiences through our interactive 45 minutes workshops, which are currently free for young people to attend. Participants attend through curiosity about starting a business or are uncertain about the type of business they would like and leave enthusiastically with more confidence than when they arrived. Althea Blake, Founder Roots Pod Academy

Maria Student, 15 “I found this workshop very useful as it taught me the basics to start my own business and what I need to be aware of before starting it. It was also extremely motivational as we were shown different groups of people who started a business. Overall, it was a really great experience and I would love to be able to attend another workshop.” CALLING BUSINESS OWNERS I am currently collating a database of business owners who think they could offer valuable support to these budding entrepreneurs. If you are interested in: • Having a one-off call to answer questions about your own career journey and your profession. • Offering 1-2 weeks of work experience, or • Facilitating a 45-minutes workshop. Please contact Althea Blake, ROOTS POD Academy C.I.C: althea@rootspod.co.uk rootspodacademy.co.uk

BIDDING!

T H E N E W H A R LOW G ROW T H B OA R D

T’S A BUSY TIME FOR HARLOW COUNCIL and our key partners, as we develop bids for Government funding to support the regeneration of Harlow. We have established the Harlow Growth Board to bring together partners to help shape these bids and co-ordinate regeneration activity across the town.

The Harlow Growth Board includes – Essex County Council, Harlow College, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow & District Chamber of Commerce, Public Health England, Anglia Ruskin University, the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, the Harlow & Gilston Garden Town, DWP, business stakeholders Raytheon and Arrow, and our local MP Robert Halfon. The Board is chaired by Dr John Keddie.

Future High Streets Fund Bid A Future High Streets Fund bid for almost £10.5m was submitted to Government by Harlow Council at the end of July. The bid includes 2 schemes; • Playhouse Quarter - to include a series of new buildings developed in Playhouse Square providing new spaces for arts, cultural and leisure uses, as well as public sector services. On the upper floors new homes are proposed for ‘key workers’ (such as nurses, doctors and teachers) at affordable rents. We have also included improvements to public spaces including re-siting the existing taxi rank to College Square, shared pedestrian and vehicles surfaces, creation of a cycle transport hub and new green landscaping. • Stone Cross Square - the scheme will see the redevelopment of the existing Market Square and adjacent 21 The Rows to provide

outdoor and indoor, year-round flexible, versatile and affordable space for a range of events and activities delivered by working partnership with the commercial, community and voluntary sectors. This will include: • Refurbishment of 21 The Rows to support arts, enterprise and events, • Re-siting and improved setting of public sculpture, • Refurbishment of old market store and office block to provide wash room and market traders facilities, • Major utility works to support and enable commercial pop-up and street traders, • Upgrading and reconfiguration of the public highway and creation of cycle and ebike hub, • New green landscaping and street furniture. Full details are available at: www.harlow.gov.uk/business/ regeneration/future-high-streets-fund We hope to have a decision from Government by Winter 2020.

Towns Fund Hard on the heels of the Future High Streets Fund bid submission, work has been progressing on the development of the Towns Fund bid to government for capital funding. We are aiming to submit this imminently. The aim of the Government Towns Fund programme is to support the economic regeneration of towns and help with recovery following the impact of Covid 19. Government expects this to be addressed through measures which deliver urban regeneration, skills and enterprise, and, connectivity (either local transport schemes or improved digital connectivity). At the time of writing we are working with the Harlow Growth Board to devise and prioritise projects that can support the local economy, which will then be subject to wider consultation. These projects then form our Town Investment Plan for submission to Government. Once submitted, Government will indicate which projects it would like to support and a further period of up to one year follows whilst these capital projects are developed into full business cases. Harlow Council is also bidding to the new ‘Getting Building Fund’ to accelerate our Harlow Science Park development to ensure we have the right buildings and environment to attract new science and tech companies looking to locate in the London Stansted Cambridge Corridor. These bids are only an initial step for the work of the Harlow Growth Board which will be seeking to pursue other opportunities and co-ordinating activity to deliver wider plans for the regeneration of Harlow.

TO M A KE SHAR E D S PAC E S SAFE R Business owners have been finding new ways of working since the outbreak of Covid-19 including Harlow-based Greenway Business Centre.

ome to almost 100 small and medium sized businesses, the centre had to adapt quickly to support and ensure the safety of its customers and five-strong centre management team. With many customers plunged into an economic crisis and facing cash-flow shortages until they received financial assistance from the Government, we offered them the option of making their monthly licence fee payments from their deposits to give them much-needed financial breathing space. Our centre management team kept in regular contact with customers by email, outlining available Government support and advice. For businesses unable to work remotely from home, we enabled them to continue to access their offices, workshops and studios via their security fob. Meanwhile, our cleaning teams focused on regularly disinfecting door handles, and cleaning kitchens and washrooms. As lockdown measures eased, Greenway – part of 9 business centres run by Capital Space Ltd – benefited from a £15,000

investment to make it Covid-19 secure. We introduced: • sensory devices to replace push buttons on entry and exit doors • signage on social distancing measures in reception and communal areas • additional electronic hold-open devices on corridor doors to reduce touch points and anti-bacterial door handle covers for communal door handles • added plastic screens to all reception desks. Many of our onsite businesses successfully adapted to a new way of working such as FBL Quilting and Crafts. With owner Becky Preen prevented from teaching her normal sewing classes, she decided to create scrubs, gowns and other equipment for NHS and care service workers instead. She ended up gaining support from 250 other sewers via Facebook, consequently launching a GoFundMe page to help buy the odds and ends needed to make the equipment. Inspired by her efforts, Greenway contributed £100 towards her fantastic cause. To date, Becky and her team has produced over 200 sets of scrubs for local health and care workers and distributed 2,039 headbands with buttons for mask elastic,

1,816 ear saver bands, 1,009 fabric face masks and 3,037 uniform washing bands – and much more. Becky said: “I’m lucky to have a lovely large unit, so I can lay out fabric and have lots of things on the go at once.” Becky has managed to adapt her operations throughout the lockdown, getting someone else to organise the transport of resources to and from her studio and individuals’ homes. “I am very grateful to the Greenway Business Centre management team for their support and guidance, especially in the early days. Their policy for registering us all separately for business rates meant I was able to get a SBRR grant quickly, giving my business the stability of being able to suspend normal operations for months without having to worry about how I was going to pay the rent with zero money coming in. Centre Manager: Lorraine Lee 01279 408100 Greenway@capitalspace.co.uk www.capitalspace.co.uk/Harlow/ Greenway-Business-Centre

Image: MW Studio

R E S ET T IN G

Adapting office furniture to suit new ways of working

HRIS NOLSON OF DIAMOND OFFICE Furniture, based at Greenway, has built his company on meeting customer demand. Throughout the Coronavirus crisis, the team have had to innovate and introduce new products to meet changing needs during the pandemic. Not only will they kit out offices to accommodate social distancing, they also adapt furniture to suit home working, allowing customers to reunite their teams safely or work comfortably from a remote location. “It’s the variety of work that keeps us on our toes – we have every sort of client, from multi-nationals like well-known fashion retailers to one-man bands, our work takes us all over the country. We either adapt existing pieces or create new ones to work in any size of office, to any height or colour – ideal if a company is going for a corporate look: we once did some desks for one firm in a bright green.” The pandemic has meant even more adaptation for Chris, introducing a range of protective screens and sneeze-guards to help ensure work is safe and Covid-secure.

“When I started, I decided it was better to be in Harlow because there was more opportunity for me here. Today, over half my customers are based in Harlow so it makes sense to be here. It also has very good access for London.” “We’ve also been helping our customers rearrange their offices to allow for social distancing, as well as creating home furniture so people can work efficiently from home,” comments Chris. Hand crafted… “When it comes to meeting a customer’s requirement for bespoke furniture, I make everything myself, it’s great fun helping a client create a specific look. I’ve done everything from desks with adjustable legs, so they’re the right height for the person sitting at them, to an enormous boardroom table which consisted of four separate pieces I had to line up perfectly!” Pivoting to meet the changing environment as was the case for many businesses, large and small, Covid-19 posed hardships for Chris’ team, and furniture sales were reduced to zero for over twelve weeks.

“Our saving grace was taking over a project we got by being willing to turn our hands to any work,” comments Chris, “It involved helping a customer move to their head office, this entailed closing and stripping out an old distribution centre. Over eight weeks’ we were able to do this safely due to the size of the offices we were working in. To be honest, it is sad working in now-empty buildings, where normally we’d have 300 to 500 people working around us.” Plans for the future After navigating his company through Brexit, and now through the midst of the pandemic, Chris is determined to make tactical decisions to see the business safely into the future and is considering moving into new markets. Chris made the decision to update his fleet of vehicles, “Our new electric cars take my fitting team in and out of London and the new van is more economical on the bigger installs,” says Chris, “Not only does this make our rates more competitive when we’re working in the city, it has also cut our diesel usage in half per month!” By updating and bringing out new ranges of furniture that are better designed to home-office usage, along with bringing on board new protection products for the office environment, Chris has embraced the changes Coronavirus has imposed on our working lives through his strategic thinking and ambitions for expansion.

Uniting in the new norm

EENS UNITE IS A SMALL, Broxbourne based, Charity team supporting young people aged 13-24, from across the UK, who are fighting cancer to live their best life, while others search for a cure. There are c2600 new cases of cancer in teenagers and young adults each year in the UK. Teens Unite inspires these young people to recognise their potential now and, in the future, empowering them to live every moment to the full. Cancer redefines a young person’s life, challenges their sense of identity, threatens their sense of belonging, when “fitting in” is everything to them, anxieties about their body image are heightened and all their relationships are challenged and impacted. Cancer is disruptive to a young person’s journey towards independence, achievement of their goals & aspirations. Teens Unite’s Positive Steps Program, formed of regular activities, is designed to help the

By embracing technology and delivering our program more frequently online demand has hit an all time high!

able to join the online platform, learn new skills, regain some confidence and most importantly, be united with other young people who genuinely understand. young people progress, learn new skills, and benefit from the support of others who genuinely know what it is like to face cancer in your teenage and young adult years. The activities are designed to address the long-term effects of cancer which impact confidence, self-esteem, and motivation as well as the anxiety, depression and loneliness that so often accompany cancer and its treatment. Teens Unite are here to help the young people recognise that there is life beyond cancer. During the Global Pandemic, face-to-face delivery of the Positive Steps program of activities for these young people, already isolated by their illness, further isolated by the need to shield, has moved to online delivery. And, now, rather than taking place three times each month, take place four times every week. Demand for the service has hit an all-time high, with an increase of almost 70% in registrations from the same time last year, at a time when income has been impacted by a negative 70% with the cancellation of fundraising events and activities. Embracing technology and delivering more frequently has meant that a wider audience is opened for Teens Unite. Young people from further afield are able to join the sessions, those too unwell to make a return journey in a day, and even those on the hospital wards receiving treatment are

As well as impacting delivery and income, the current global Pandemic has halted Teens Unite’s most ambitious plans to date. It has been the long-held ambition of Teens Unite’s founder to build The House of Teens Unite, a first in mainland UK, a retreat for 13-24year olds who are battling the long-term effects of a cancer diagnosis. Her vision is for a tranquil home with a heart, built on the values of the Charity, providing an escape from the daily stresses and strains that come with the “C” word, where the young people can spend time meeting and gaining strength from others. At the end of 2019, the Charity purchased a seven-acre plot of land in their home borough of Broxbourne, with the aim of building The House within the following three years. However, the costs associated with the build and the furloughing of staff not involved directly in the delivery of services to beneficiaries have put the project on hold temporarily while Teens Unite focusses on ensuring that beneficiary services continue to support the young people, bringing them together and creating an incredibly strong community where cancer is not the thing that separates these young people, but the thing that unites them. You can find out more about Teens Unite at www.teensunite.org or by calling the team on 01992 440091.

So what practical

R EG LOW LT D :

steps can we take?

Resetting emissions...

to ZERO Donna Tyrelli, Managing Director of ReGlow Ltd, specialists in zero carbon solutions talks about the challenges we face on the road to carbon zero.

EGLOW IS GROWING QUICKLY. Since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2016, when 197 countries agreed to limit climate change to an average of 2 degrees of warming, the renewable energy sector has gone from strength to strength. In recent years there has been a surge in public interest in climate change, especially since protests by Extinction Rebellion and Greta Thunberg, but it is still not always clear which technologies are best to invest in. The Paris Agreement will have a big impact on how we live, every aspect of our lives from energy, transport, agriculture, construction, to how we manufacture will need to change. By 2030 emissions will be halved to put us on track to zero carbon by 2050 in accordance with the Paris Agreement and UK Net Zero Emissions Law. Failure to achieve this is catastrophic, beyond 2 degrees of warming and we are likely to trigger feedback loops such as melting ice that can never be reversed and future warming could no longer be halted. The good news is that we can still act to ensure this doesn’t happen and with over 15 years of experience in the energy industry, ReGlow can help by putting

the challenge into a local context and identify meaningful solutions for households, businesses, organisations and policy makers to reduce emissions. If you can see how to make a house zero carbon, then you can see how to make a street zero carbon, and if a street, then a town. And if a business can go zero carbon then an industry sector can, and then you start to see how the UK Net Zero Emissions Law and Paris Agreement can be met. By 2035 all sales of petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the UK. One positive to come out of 2020 was the glimpse we saw of a world with minimal transport pollution, resulting in a renewed enthusiasm for electric cars. Fuel savings and the VAT tax breaks means they are a cost effective choice for many business fleets. ReGlow are always happy to provide cost analysis for switching to an electric fleet and determine a business carbon foot print. When setting up ReGlow I wanted to live and locate somewhere that gave the business work-life balance, somewhere with easy access to the city, good travel links, and, as an enthusiastic climber, a local indoor climbing wall and good links to outdoor climbing areas. I found the perfect home and business location in Harlow.

• Renewable electricity - switch to a 100% renewable energy contract, this is normally the cheapest option anyway. • Solar Panels - solar panels can provide big savings to both domestic and commercial customers. There are now financial schemes that require no upfront costs. • Government grants - home improvements may qualify for a Green Homes Grant. • New homes - these can now be built to use 90% less energy at no extra cost. • Heating alternatives - Infrared for example, a high tech form of heating is zero carbon when run using renewable energy. • Electric vehicles - this technology is improving all the time. ReGlow offer solar powered car ports with an electric vehicle charging point.

I then found Discover Harlow and an Ambassador network which has thrown me into a community of open minded, ambitious, friendly people, and as a result I am proud to say that ReGlow is now leading on projects including a micro turbine facility, an ecofriendly community hall, a no dig market garden and a infra-red heating trial. It turns out there is even more to Harlow than meets the eye and I am delighted to be a part of it!

www.reglow.co.uk Online Climate Discussions: www.reglow.co.uk/climatediscussion Email: donna.tyrelli@reglow.co.uk Twitter: @DonnaReGlow

PC Bradley Hall, Community Safety Engagement Officer based in Harlow for Essex Police talks about work to support employees of businesses locally.

S HARLOW COMMUNITY SAFETY Engagement Officer, I enjoy speaking with people across the community in Harlow, from residents, to community groups, charities and businesses, my role is to find out what matters to them, and work with them to ensure effective crime prevention. As a police force, we are proud to be Harlow Ambassadors and through joining Discover Harlow we are pleased to have already started helping other Ambassadors keep their businesses safe and prevent crime. We are really excited to be partnering with Harlow businesses to provide advice, including safeguarding training for employees who routinely engage with the public. These employees may spot possible signs of domestic abuse for example, and by understanding the signs and knowing where to signpost, they may help someone get the help they need quickly. If your employees are public facing and you would be interested in getting involved with this sort of work, please get in touch. Businesses are an essential part of any community, and so to ensure they stay protected, we want to work closely with them The Essex Business Crime Unit work specifically with businesses, and as part of their work they produce a monthly business bulletin which provides practical advice to help protect your business from crime, be that international cyber crime or more local

activity. In our most recent bulletin we give practical advice on how to protect your business premises from a national trend of burglary by gaining access through the roof of a business unit, and theft of catalytic converters. If you would like to receive a copy each month, or would like to talk more about how the Essex Business Crime Unit can help your business or organisation please get in touch. But its not just businesses we want to work with, we would like to partner with charities, public bodies and other community organisations too. As a police force we can offer both help and advice. During the recent lockdown our officers worked with Harlow based charity Community Embrace, helping to deliver food parcels to those in need, and by working with charities we also hope to chat with residents who are new to the country, about the role of the police in the UK. Our officers have also been involved with the reopening of Harlow town centre, helping to ensure that everyone can return to the centre safely to work and shop.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We offer help, advice and support to the entire community of businesses and residents of Harlowâ&#x20AC;?

If you would like to discuss how we could work more closely with your business, organisation or community please get in touch, we would love to hear from you! Bradley.Hall@essex.police.uk Please note these contact details are not for reporting crime, to do this please telephone 999 in an emergency or if non urgent, please email or call 101.

Image: MW Studio

PROUD TO B E AMBASSADO RS

R EDCH U RC H BR E W E RY:

Award winning Beer! and it’s local.

GOLD Medal for the second year running. Old Ford Export Stout also made it two in a row with SILVER Medal in the ‘Stout & Porter Award for imperial stout’ category. The World Beer Awards receives 1000’s of entries from over 36 countries, making this an incredible achievement.

INNER OF FIVE WORLD BEER Awards and brewing fantastic beer in Harlow since 2015, so how come so few people have heard of Redchurch. “I didn’t know you were here”, “I didn’t even know we had a brewery in Harlow” are the most common things we hear, says Tony Porter – Commercial Director. So, where did it all begin? Redchurch was founded in 2011 initially as a home brewing passion on Redchurch Street in Bethnal Green and then moved to a site under the arches creating a brewery and taproom.Having outgrown the East London space finding an affordable manufacturing site proved hard, and the business relocated to Mead Park on River Way in 2015. Today the business is independent and owned by brothers Trevor and Tony Porter who are both actively involved in the day to day running of the brewery. The Beers The identity of our beers pays homage to the brewery’s East London origins, with brands such as Shoreditch Blonde, Great Eastern IPA,

Hoxton Stout and award-winning Redchurch Lager. More recently, we launched Stort Valley with respect to our newly found local customer base. We have a core range of 6 beers and a frequently changing range of specials, all of which can be found on the shop website. There are two new beers in the tank at the moment for the colder months ahead “Bitter Luck!” a classic English bitter and “Out of the Dark” a 10% Imperial Stout. The most popular selling items are mixed cases where customers can select from a range of different beers. It really gives drinkers options for every occasion or for whatever the weather.

Lockdown Home Deliveries We recently started offering free home deliveries to Harlow every Tuesday and Friday as well as a click and collect service. It received unprecedented popularity and amazingly positive feedback. It even led to winning a CAMRA Craft Beer Heroes award. Online Shop & Brewery Shop Our shop website allows you to buy beer for delivery or to click and collect from Harlow. We also work with APC couriers and can deliver anywhere in the UK. We’re increasingly seeing fans sending cases to friends and family as gifts or thank you’s from businesses to their staff. Brewery Tours One of the things people are finding really interesting is to come to see behind the scenes with a brewery tour. We’re doing COVID safe small tours every Tuesday & Thursday at 6 PM and Saturday at 10.30 AM.

World Beer Awards This year we had two successes at the 2020 “WORLD BEER AWARDS” taking Redchurch’s haul of World Beer Awards to five! Last year Redchurch Lager was voted as an overall winner which was an incredible achievement.

We’re delighted to be growing our partnerships with a wide range of Harlow businesses including sports clubs, theatres, café’s, pubs, restaurants and retailers and would be very pleased to hear from anyone interested in collaborating.

Bethnal Pale Ale shone in the ‘American Style Pale Ale Award’ resulting in an excellent

www.redchurch.beer enquiries@redchurch.beer

CO MMU NI TY H U B

LOCAL HERO’S “Everyone can be very proud of the way Harlow has pulled together in response to Covid-19, with businesses, charities and the public sector forming new partnerships which will last for many years to come.”

ELL IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT 2020 has not been the year we were all expecting. So many aspects of what we take for granted as normal life have been put on hold.

“The work of charities, faith groups, Harlow Council and businesses to support those most in need across the town shows that we are a united community ready to do our bit to help those most in need.

People have had to flex and adapt quickly to circumstances in both personal and professional lives, often doing both simultaneously whilst coming to terms with the implications of this global crisis.

I am one of many volunteers in Harlow who are committed to keeping people safe and well. It’s a team effort, everyone is pulling together to halt the spread of COVID-19.”

Some people during this time have found themselves unlikely leaders and hero’s, stepping up and taking control of situations quickly with determination, ability and humility to help their community.

Joel

Back in March 2020 as the number of Covid cases began to accelerate and the government issued instructions for people to shield, it became apparent that if decisive action was not taken many people would find themselves isolated without the means to provide themselves with even basic provisions. Recognising this, two Harlow residents moved quickly and set up a Facebook group and within days offers of help were flooding in. A helpline was set up, and leaflets distributed offering help to those in need, be that purchasing food, picking up prescriptions or befriending someone who had become isolated. The group was so successful, a testament to the community in Harlow, that it became apparent extra help was needed. Harlow Council and the Harlow based charity Rainbow Services quickly joined as partners and the Harlow Community Hub was created. Calls from Harlow residents were taken by Harlow Council staff, triaged, and then passed through to Rainbow Services who matched each household in need with a local volunteer. All of the organisations involved quickly became overwhelmed with the volume and complexity of the needs of those calling. Many staff volunteered their time

“I’ve been doing a weekly shop for an older couple & a lady living on her own. Without Rainbow Services & their volunteers, people like this would be completely isolated and struggling to get their shopping safely during lockdown. It is my favourite day of the week doing their shopping for them and gives me a sense of purpose in very strange times.” Emma

“I have volunteered in a number of different ways for Rainbow to contribute to the Covid 19 response. I and other members of Freshwaters who volunteer for Rainbow in running one of the weekly clubs have been calling a few of the members regularly to keep in touch. I have also been supporting one of the members to provide reassurance and the occasional shop. I have also been involved in delivering medication, delivering emergency food parcels and in shopping for those shielding. It has been good to help and people have been so grateful. I am very appreciative of the work of Rainbow in responding quickly to the needs of the community and providing such an essential coordinating role.” Ron

and many others found hours in the day they didn’t know existed, everyone was pushed to their absolute limit. “The buck stopped with us - you knew that if you couldn’t help someone it would have a huge impact on their life” said one member of the team. Although a cliché, great adversity so often brings out the best in people and it was no different in this case, public services, charities, individuals and businesses all came together to provide a vital service for Harlow, and to see it happening was truly inspiring.

“I am a teacher from Canada who found my new home in Harlow in 2005. I am passionate about cultural and creative opportunities for the young people in Harlow and work with a large number of community and national organisations to continue to enrich the cultural offer for the families of Harlow.

Between March and August 2020 the Harlow Community Hub processed; • 3361 phone calls to the hub • 3250 phone calls were made by the hub to check in with vulnerable people • 1025 residents were supported with referrals to other partner agencies for assistance • 797 requests for help collecting essential food shopping

• 526 prescriptions collections • 588 general food enquiries The Community Hub team arranged for British Gas engineers to urgently attend the house of a patient with Covid to change an electric meter when they couldn’t top up their meter card in the usual way. British Waterways helped to get essential supplies to Covid patients living on house boats, and a local business provided essential household items within hours to a resident in distress. The hub was wound down at the end of the summer as restrictions lifted and the calls stopped coming in, but with cases rising again and another lockdown the team is ready to get up and running again within hours if they are needed. A huge thank you to every single person involved in the project, there are far too many to mention here, but it’s great to know that you are there for everyone in Harlow, thank you - it is truly appreciated.

Though busy providing virtual learning and feedback, writing curriculum/ policy, research and attending training this “new normal” is unsettling territory for a busy teacher who thrives on interaction and providing creative outlets. The opportunity to support the community was the obvious next move. Shopping and befriending provide support for others in need but also gives a boost of wellbeing for me. Physical distancing will continue to be a huge challenge in our future, but that doesn’t have to stop us from being our normal, social selves.”

“Working with Rainbow Services during the outbreak has given those in need a lot of support and assistance. Whether it was from delivering food parcels or being a listening ear over the phone. I enjoyed every moment of this and we all continue to take great pride in our work.”

Cristin

Sam

“I have been volunteering for just under a month now for Rainbow Services. I call the evening before the food drops to get the orders and on the day I leave around 6am I go to my local supermarket to get the shopping and deliver the groceries to make sure I’m back in time for my day job emails and zoom calls.

“It’s been a really worthwhile experience helping out the community by shopping and picking up food for those people who are vulnerable and shielding. I’ve enjoyed chatting to residents over the phone and they’ve all been so friendly and appreciative of what we do.”

After I have completed my work I sometimes call in on some of the ladies for a chat to make sure they’re ok. I love seeing the expression on their faces when I arrive at their door knowing they want a good chat which I love doing so. It gives me great pleasure doing this through these hard times and I know I have made new friends.”

Chris

Sean

Stories

“I’VE GOT SOME BAD NEWS AND I’VE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS. NOTHING LASTS FOREVER.” K AT E M C G A H A N

IN ASSOCIATION WITH DISCOVER HARLOW

REAL STORIES ABOUT REAL PEOPLE