newsletter 1-1 extra newsletter no 1 - blue bermondsey · celebrated chef raymond blanc. the...

BlueBermondsey

N E W S L E T T E RN E W S L E T T E RJan 2016

BERMONDSEY COMMUNITY KITCHEN Blue Bermondsey are proud to have supported thefoundation of the Bermondsey Community Kitchen,which was officially opened in September 2015 bycelebrated chef Raymond Blanc. The com-munity kitchen is training young people fora career in the catering sector to the higheststandard.

LARDER OF LONDONRecipes, ideas and stories about food have beengathered from the community and its businessesto help create a mural in the John Bull Arch withfurther iterations in other locations in the area.Sponsored by Southwark Council’s High St Chal-lenge this project will be the first in a series of pub-lic arts initiatives to promote the area’s industrialheritage as London’s larder.

THE SOUTHWARK SAFE SCHEMEcompromises of a radio and Intranet system allowing businesses to interactwith each other and share informationon any Crime and ASB taking place inand around their premises. Southwark Safe is managed by SaferLondon Business Partnership to workclosely with local business communi-ties, Councils and BIDs to reduce theimpact and cost of crime against busi-nesses, their staff and the communitiesthey trade in. If you would like to bepart of this initiative please contact ourBID manager.

MAPECT has been exclu-sively developed for BIDmembers to enable businessto business networking.When there has been suffi-cient uptake Mapect will be

launched as a business directory for use bythe public via an interactive map.Go tothebluebermondsey.mapect.co.uk and enteryour BID reference number to register.

A FREE RECRUITING SERVICELooking for new staff or taking on apprentice? The BIDhas teamed up with Southwark Works to assist your busi-ness and save you valuable time and costs by offering areliable recruitment service that is FREE. For more details contact: Mel: 020 7740 8204mel@southwarkworks.org.uk or Molly: 020 77408206 molly@southwarkworks.org.uk

So What Is The BID?We realise most of you are familiar with the BID already, but for the benefit ofthe newer businesses in thearea, here’s a brief overview. BID stands for Business Improvement District, a not-for-profit company tomake the area a better placeto be in business. After a suc-cessful ballot the BID became operational in Octo-ber 2014 for a 5 year termand is managed by a boardfrom a cross-section of localbusinesses, working to fulfilproposed aims and objectivesand many other projects.BIDs are recognised as thebest option to help local busi-ness fight back against the increasing competition fromneighbouring areas.

Would you like to be part of an organisation striving to change thingsfor the better?If so we would love to hearfrom you.Our aim is to create a strongbusiness network which willhelp make meaningful decisions to improve the environment in which localbusiness operates by findinginnovative ways to enhancethe profitability of businesses.Setting up a theme or sub-group will give you input tothe work of the BID by proposing initiatives andprojects for consideration.

If you are interested, orwould like to know more,

please contact our BID manager on 07904

020773.

THE BIDWELCOME TO OUR BUSINESS NEWSLETTER

bringing you up to date with the work of Blue Bermondsey

BE PART OF IT

PROJECTS

BLUE BERMONDSEY BID HAS ATTRACTED OVER £50,000.00 IN

ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND INVEST-MENT INTO THE AREA FOR EVENTSAND PROJECTS IN OUR FIRST YEAR

OF OPERATION

The Blue Bermondsey BIDis committed to improvingthe area for all businessesand promote the area’sunique identity by encouraging visitors and residents to explore andspend here.

We want to help local businesses to meet and tradewith each other, and keep upto date with major changesthat will affect the areaWe have also been workingwith Southwark Council andother relevant bodies to help instigate more investment for improvements to streets andpublic spaces We have attended a meeting with allmajor stakeholders to giveinput into the area plan andco-ordinated letting strategyfor the area.

The Blue is an historic area ofBermondsey that, despitegreat transformations overthe past half century, haskept its identity as a focus forthe local community.While the scale of commercialactivity in the area has declined and its nature haschanged, the Blue remains anarea of enterprise with awealth of small independenttraders and a growing busi-ness community.

BLUE CHRISTMAS 2015 Sunday 6th December saw the 2nd instalment of a BlueChristmas event to promote the area andherald in the festive period. Featuring Christmas market and over 20 attractions, including the hugely popular Ice Rink

CHRISTMASTREE ANDLIGHTS This year also saw afantastic tree andlights that com-bined to provide aspectacle that sawthe market placelook at its festivebest and the equalof any, promptingpositive comments from all in the community. Big thanks go to local property ownersGrosvenor for sponsoring and also partnering with the BID to support many of ourinitiatives and events. Find out more about Grosvenor’s plans for the area at: www.belonginbermondsey.com.

Your BID Board members:Chair- Michael Donovan – Duns DeliManager-Russell Dryden – Blue FishJack Shah – Blu 1Leslie Hutchins – Robert Guy LtdKevin Quinn – Southwark NewsKatherine Rodgers – GrosvenorCllr Leo Pollak – Local Councillor

To find out more about the BIDYou can contact our BID managerrussell@thebluebermondsey.co.ukMobile: 07904 020 773

FESTIVAL The Folk Festival was a greatsuccess for the area and attracted visitorsfrom all over London to the local pubs andwill be back for more in 2016.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGTo achieve its aims, Blue Bermondseyneeds your valuable input to improve its services.

Our Annual General Meeting is anopportunity for all BID members to comealong and find out more about futureplans and help develop future initiativesto gain long-term benefits for your business.

PROMOTIONIn todays digitally charged worldBlue Bermondsey has establishedhighly active facebook pages andtwitter accounts to promote localbusinesses and all that is good inthe area. L ike the page a t :www.facebook.com/theblueber-mondseyFollow on Twitter @bluebermond-sey. Or visit the websitewww.thebluebermondsey.co.ukWe run regular advertisements inthe press promoting and spotlight-ing the area’s businesses and events.

COMMONPLACEIs an online survey to simply ask all who live, workor visit the area what they love, like or even dislike.The ideas and input will help us in shapingour plans for the future.Add your comments at: www.bluebermondsey.commonplace.is

SUMMER FETETHE BLUE BERMONDSEY ANDGROSVENOR – the new ownersof the historic Biscuit Factory –joined up to stage a highly success-ful Summer Fete. It attracted over1,000 visitors who came and en-joyed an old fashioned Helter Skel-ter ride, petting farm, coconut shyand swing boats, live music acts andmuch more.

BUSINESS WASTEFor reduced costs on your business wasteremoval Blue Bermondsey has partneredwith locally based AJ Pain. Give them a callon 020 7732 0044 or email them atajandwaste@aol.com

Jan 2016

BID EVENTS

“A company does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of its local community and I believe it has aresponsibility to contribute in some way to making that community a better place to live in.”Barry Albin-Dyer 1951-2015