Working together to create a destination of choice for business FREE Diamond Jubilee 2012 Prepare for a weekend of pomp and pageantry in SW1 P8 Portas Review Mary Portas leads the charge to support local, independent shops P11 Sharp Eye Capturing the spirit of SW1 – the results of our competition P13 Invest in the whole journey SW1 businesses rewarded for customer service excellence P17 Purple Flag Victoria awarded flag status for its safe nightlife P20 www.inSW1.com Issue-6 | Spring- 2012
Transcript
Working together to create a destination of choice for business
FREE
DiamondJubilee 2012Prepare for a weekend of pomp and pageantry in SW1 P8
Portas ReviewMary Portas leads the charge to support local, independent shops P11
Sharp EyeCapturing the spirit of SW1 – the results of our competition P13
Invest in the whole journeySW1 businesses rewarded for customer service excellence P17
Purple FlagVictoria awarded flag status for its safe nightlife P20
www.inSW1.com Issue-6 | Spring-2012
Victoria BID is on the starting blocks to ensure businesses benefit from the year ahead. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will increase footfall and visitor dwell time and we hope businesses will take full advantage of the measures the BID has put in place – installing better street signage, developing the new 100% Victoria pocket guides and our new iPhone App.
We are acutely aware that businesses in the retail sector are experiencing mixed fortunes at the moment and will be doing our utmost to ensure a positive trend, against the current economic predictions of low to no growth for the UK. Some Victoria-based businesses such as John Lewis Partnership reported gains in sales of 9%, while others experienced growth in sales just above the national average increase of 1.4% on the November and December period in the previous year.
The recent publication of the 28-point plan central to the “Portas Review” has aired some of the initiatives that Victoria BID and our partners (Westminster City Council, Grosvenor and Land Securities) have already started to implement: such as supporting local street markets and creating a safer, more managed, shopping experience on the high street. The BID has also already started to improve the visitor entertainment and hospitality experience during the evening within the Victoria area, having attained Purple Flag status. Thereby boosting consumer confidence in bars and restaurants and increasing customer spend outside of office hours.
This year will be all about consolidating on the gains made during the past 18 months, and I would like to welcome Tom Foulkes as the Victoria BID’s new Chairman. Appointed in December 2011, he was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honour’s List. Tom brings a wealth of business experience and insight to the role, gained during a distinguished career in the armed services, engineering, technology and national defence.
“This year ,The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will provide a fantastic opportunity to promote Victoria as a key destination,” says Tom. “I will work tirelessly to win support for the BID’s vision for SW1 and ensure the area is rightfully recognised for its major contribution towards the capital’s prosperity.”
Tom succeeds Optimum Chairman Mike Noakes, Victoria BID Chairman for 2010-11, following three years as Chairman of the Victoria Partnership, which helped establish the BID. I would like to thank Mike for his exceptional contribution.
Ruth Duston, Chief Executive of Victoria Business Improvement District (BID)
The BoardTom Foulkes, OBE, FICE (Chairman), Tom Foulkes
brings a wealth of business experience and insight to the role of Chairman, gained from years at the top of the engineering and technology industry, following a successful career in the defence sector. His is currently the Group Director
General of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and Deputy Chair of Thomas Telford Ltd. The ICE acts as a qualifying body, a specialist knowledge centre and a resource bank for civil engineers, with Thomas Telford Ltd as its commercial arm.
Ruth Duston (Chief Executive), Victoria BID Mantej Notay, Boots UK Martin Kelly, Capita Lovejoy Claudia Binkert, EDF Trading David Morgan-Hewitt, The Goring Hotel Nigel Hughes, Grosvenor Antony Smith, House of Fraser Gary Merrick, John Lewis Colette O’Shea, Land Securities Matt Broom, Marks & Spencer Andrew Williams, Network Rail Paul Green, Sainsbury’s Andrew Mills, Victoria Palace Theatre Ramesh Costa, Victoria Park Plaza Nic Harper, Wetherspoons
OBSERVERS Alistair Lawson, British Transport Police Craig Haslam, Metropolitan Police Service Mick Clarke, The Passage John McNultey, TfL Canon Tuckwell, Westminster Cathedral Mike Fairmaner, Westminster City Council
ContributorsKate Simon, Travel Correspondent of The Independent and Independent on Sunday. Kate is a top UK travel journalist, with 25 years experience on national newspapers and magazines.
Simone Kane, Freelance travel writer During her 20-year career, Simone has worked for many national consumer titles.
Chris Kilvington, Freelance writer Chris has written on topics from solar panelling to sheds for a variety of organisations, including the NHS, Energy Saving Trust, universities and councils.
The opinions expressed in magazine are not necessarily those of the Victoria BID. All rights reserved and reproduction without written permission from Victoria BID is strictly prohibited. Although every care is
taken of manuscripts, photographs and artwork submitted, neither Sugarfree nor Victoria BID can be held responsible for any loss or damage, however caused.
Victoria’s moment in the sun
Washington DC Twinning Richard H Bradley, Executive Director of the DowntownDC BID since 1997, recently visited London to meet members of the BID board and staff.
Richard guides a $10 million annual budget, which funds a multi-faceted programme of special services and catalytic planning to make remarkable things happen in DC’s first and largest BID. The city’s urban core has been transformed from dull, dirty and dangerous into a bustling, 24/7 environment anchored by new housing, retail outlets, cinemas, theatres, destination restaurants, private and public museums and a thriving commercial district with more than 60 million sq ft of commercial space.
A delegation of BID Board members and staff are due in the US capital this April to visit some key projects and meet with some of its business partners and other stakeholders .
Cherry Blossom Festival in DCThis is the Downtown's premier springtime event – a fresh, delight-filled, spring celebration of the arts, natural beauty and community. The festival takes place from March 20 through to April 27. We are looking at ways in which we can join in with the spirit of this festival on this side of the Atlantic. For more on the Cherry Blossom Festival, visit www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.
Green Infrastructure UpdateThe designs for green roofs, rain gardens and living walls are all due
to be approved early in the year, with a current build date of spring 2012, in time for The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June. For more information, visit www.inSW1.com/Clean-Green-5632.html.
100% VictoriainSW1 worked with Halcyon Films to produce a new promotional film called 100% Victoria. Presented by stage and TV actor Nimmy March, this film is available for businesses to use in promoting themselves and their neighbourhoods – Victoria, Pimlico and Belgravia. Aimed at people both working in and visiting these areas, copies of the film will be distributed to media arriving for the London 2012 Games, especially those based at the London Media Centre at 1 Great George Street. To view http://www.inSW1.com/Visitors-5140.html
News in Brief
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London districts are being encouraged to dress up their high streets, squares
and public spaces in official colours during London 2012. The aim is to create a stunning backdrop for the Games, connect communities to the celebratory atmosphere, enhance the customer experience of London and to guide visitors, spectators and residents to key events.
In July last year, the Greater London Authority (GLA) launched a ‘look book’ of street-dressing options, which included plant and flower colour schemes, bunting, banners, flags and a selection of bespoke-look items. A London 2012 Look website also went live in the autumn, with ideas and guidance on how areas could be involved in the celebrations, and giving local authorities and other area representatives the opportunity to purchase products from official supplier, Icon.
VBID has invested more than £19,000 in street-dressing for the Games: lamppost banners for Victoria Street (to hang from Bressenden Place to Great Smith Street), Buckingham Palace Road (from the Grosvenor Hotel to Belgrave Road) and Lower Grosvenor Gardens, which will also be adorned with bunting. Westminster City Council has ordered plants and hanging baskets for Lower Grosvenor Gardens, Cathedral Plaza, Victoria Street and Buckingham Palace Road. And Land Securities has purchased bespoke products for Cardinal Place and the roof garden.
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are responsible for dressing sports
venues such as Horse Guards Parade and Hyde Park, as well as areas where road races will take place in SW1. The GLA, on the other hand, will cover ‘last mile’ dressing – the final parts of routes leading up to events or live sites. In Victoria this includes areas around Horse Guards Parade, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Victoria Street, Victoria Station, Bressenden Place, Buckingham Palace Road and parts of Buckingham Gate. All London 2012 products will carry neighbourhood branding, which means the ‘Victoria’ name will feature on all the materials to be used in the district.
“This summer I want every corner of London to demonstrate its pride in
hosting the world's greatest sporting event,” said Mayor Boris Johnson. “That means decorating not just our iconic landmarks and public spaces with the 2012 look, but ensuring every inch of the capital dazzles its visitors and the millions watching around the world. I’m delighted Victoria BID is grasping the opportunity to showcase this key area of the capital and provide a unique experience for the thousands of visitors who will pass through the streets of SW1 in just over six months' time.”
One of the aims of the consistent London look is to create cohesion across key 2012 touch points in the capital, including central tourism destinations and transport hubs.
During London 2012, Victoria will be decked out in the bright blue, green, orange and pink of this year’s Olympic and Paralympic palette. CHRIS KILVINGTON finds out more about the decorative flags, banners, bunting and planting planned for the area.
SW1 prepares to look the part for London 2012
4 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
Victoria Station will host a London 2012 information centre during the Games and will have dedicated ambassadors on hand.
There will be some temporary restrictions on advertising and trading in open public places near competition venues during London 2012. Although ‘business as usual’ advertising such as shop signs and in-store advertisements will not be affected, some other forms will only be permitted with authorisation from LOCOG, while trading in open places might need permission from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).
How many trucks does it take to change an iconic tourist attraction into an Olympic volleyball venue? The answer
is 120 trucks and 2,274 tonnes of high-quality Redhill 28 sand from Surrey. At least, that was the order for the female Visa FIVB Beach Volleyball International at Horse Guards Parade in August 2011, which was part of the ‘London Prepares’ series, the official London 2012 sports testing programme.
If you think Horse Guards seems a quirky venue for the London 2012 beach volleyball event, then you might be surprised to hear that it has played host to a surprising range of events during its lifetime, including a year-long European jousting contest in the 16th Century.
OPPOSITE PAGE
Proposed London 2012 Olympic Games street bunting that will dress the city of London.
THIS PAGE
(above) Players in action at the VISA FIVB Beach Volleyball International and Test Event for the London 2012 Olympic Games and part of the London Prepares series.
(left) Horse Guards Parade receives a special delivery as the first trucks of sand arrive ahead of the London Prepares series Visa FIVB Beach Volleyball International test event.
For more information about the Look, visit the ‘Making it happen’ section of www.london2012.com
Key timings for dressing-up London for the 2012 Games
MARCH ONWARDS: "Look' items are delivered
MID-JuNE TO EARLy-JuLy: Dressing materials are installed
JuLy 27: Olympic Games opening ceremony
AuGuST 12: Olympic Games closing ceremony
AuGuST 29: Paralympic Games opening ceremony
SEPTEMBER 9: Paralympic Games closing ceremony
SEPTEMBER 30: 'Look' items start to be removed
DECEMBER 31: All branded items must be removed, unless agreement has been granted by the International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee.
Where do you live and how do you get to work?I live in Sussex and if I’m doing a day shift I leave home at 4.30am to catch the train into London. I get into work at about 6.30am, get changed and start at around 7am.
What’s the first thing you do when you get to your desk?At the start of the shift we have a parade, then we do our intelligence briefings and discuss what’s happened over the past 24 hours.
The guys might have things they need to do – I might task them with different enquiries or, if we have an operation on the go, we’ll focus on that.
Where else have you worked?I started as a police officer in Merton 13 years ago and moved up to Westminster about seven years ago. I’ve worked in a few stations around Westminster, so I feel like I have a pretty good sense of the area, and I’ve now been with this team for about a month and a half.
What we do is business-oriented and that will always be on a far greater scale here than somewhere like Merton. The footfall is much higher, too, and people are far more transient. That can make
it more challenging to identify people, but we have a good level of interaction with people from the homeless community… and they have some interesting stories to tell.
What are the things you like most about your job?I like the people part the most – meeting them. Most people appreciate what we do, so the job can be rewarding in that sense. As part of a community team, you also get to see things through from start to finish, which you don’t get to see in nine out of 10 cases in other uniformed roles.
Do you have a typical day, or is there no such thing?The usual day is working through the information we have, deciding what to focus on and carrying out the patrols. The guys come back with issues, which I hope I can answer, and at the end of the day we always have a debrief.
The team knows a lot of people around Victoria, plus we work with different agencies such as The Passage, Westminster City Council and City Hall to bring in different views on problem-solving.
Local shops and businesses can be the eyes and ears of the Metropolitan Police Service, says its newly appointed Sergeant, CHRIS SadLeR. He speaks to CHRIS KILVINGTON about a typical day heading up the Victoria Safer Business Policing Team.
A business-focused approach to policing
Sgt Chris Sadler helps a passerby with directions using the newly installed Legible London sigange on Buckingham Palace Road.
Most people appreciate what we do, so the job can be rewarding in that sense. As part of a community team, you also get to see things through from start to finish, which you don’t get to see in nine out of ten cases in other uniformed roles.
6 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
Richard Lewisohn
Bought-in or packed lunch?It depends on the day and whether I can face making sandwiches at 4.30am in the morning. We have a good canteen here, though – where I had ham, egg and chips today. It’s might not be that healthy, but it was good.
Where do you think the Safer Business Policing Team is making particular headway?We’ve done lots of work on rough-sleeping issues and have spent time working with relevant agencies to reduce its impact. We had a lot of positive feedback from local residents on a recent two-month, joint initiative around the piazza – a collaboration with the Vincent Square Safer Neighbourhood Team.
Another focus has been driving down theft… and, actually, if you look at the figures across Covent Garden, Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street, Victoria comes out well on top now.
Then there are the initiatives put in place by Karl Rogers when he headed the team, such as the Radio Link to retailers and businesses. These are just some of the initatives that are funded by VBID and make a significant contribution to the low levels of crime in the area.
Is there any way in which local shops and businesses can help you to help them?Supporting the Radio Link system as much as possible, I think. Local shops and businesses can really be our eyes and ears. It’s helpful when they report what they see, however trivial it might seem, because that small piece of information might fit into a bigger puzzle.
Do you have a motto for the way you work, or the way you would like others to work?I like to work with enthusiasm and expect it from others. Hand in hand with professionalism, the two go a long way.
Sgt Chris Sadler
To find out more about the Safer Business Policing team or Radio Link for local retailers & businesses please contact [email protected]
7www.inSW1.com
A DAy IN THE LIFE – METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE
Richard Lewisohn
With just a few months to go until The Queen officially marks her
60th year on the throne, preparations are well underway for 2012’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The coming year will see a packed programme of royal events at home and abroad, with The Queen and her family due to visit all 15 countries where she is head of state, as well as other nations in the Commonwealth.
Back in Britain, a variety of commemorative festivities will take place across the country throughout the year. But the main long weekend of events will run from Saturday 2 to Tuesday 5 June and the SW1 area, home to The Queen’s London residence, Buckingham Palace, will be at the heart of the action.
The BBC Concert at the Palace on Monday 4 June is just one of the highlights of the celebrations. The world-class performances by musicians from Britain
and the Commonwealth – the programme is yet to be announced, though you can keep up with the latest developments at http://faq.external.bbc.co.uk/questions/television/diamond_jubilee – will be broadcast on television. But everyone living in the UK will also have the chance to enter a ballot for tickets to attend this one-off concert in its unique setting.
One of the biggest spectacles of this historic occasion will be The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant (www.thamesdiamondjubileepageant.org),
which is expected to draw up to one million people to the banks of London’s famous river. The largest flotilla ever assembled on the Thames in modern times will see approximately 1,000 vessels turn out in all their finery at high water on Sunday 3 June, having travelled to the Thames from Britain’s port cities and around the world.
Row boats, wooden launches, steam vessels and pleasure crafts will be led by The Queen in the royal barge – The Spirit of Chartwell. The barge will be dressed with red drapes and festooned with red, gold and
The Big Lunch – an initiative, now in its fourth year, aimed at encouraging “community, friendship and fun” – will coincide with the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, so that everyone can get together to mark this historic moment with picnics & street parties.
The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations are just a few months away. KaTe SImON reports on how this very special occasion will be marked and how the SW1 area will be central to events.
Prepare for a weekend of pomp and pageantry
Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
purple flowers from The Queen’s garden, with her cypher and a crown displayed on the bow of the vessel. The Queen and Prince Philip will travel in suitably opulent style, sitting on ornate chairs beneath a golden canopy. The seven-mile journey between Putney and Tower Bridge, will pass by the southern border of the SW1 area. From Tower Bridge, the boats will continue to Greenwich along an Avenue of Sail, where the banks will be lined by tall ships. Barges hosting musicians and acting as launch pads for pyrotechnic displays will add to the fun along the way.
Further afield, nationwide events include The Big Jubilee Lunch (www.thebiglunch.com) on Sunday 3 June. The
Big Lunch – an initiative, now in its fourth year, aimed at encouraging “community, friendship and fun” – will coincide with the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, so that friends and neighbours can get together to mark this historic moment with picnics and street parties. And The Queen will light the National Beacon in London at 10.30pm on Monday 4 June, the final link in a chain of 2012 beacons being planned across the UK and international locations including the Falkland Islands (www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk).
The long weekend of celebrations will conclude with a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday 5 June, including a formal Carriage
Procession led by The Queen. As well as participating in the main
national festivities for the Diamond Jubilee, the SW1 area is slowly unveiling a local programme of special events, too. Buckingham Palace will be one of the venues for a series of exhibitions mounted by the Royal Collection. “Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration”, to be held during the Summer Opening of the Palace in August and September, will reveal how this precious stone has been used by British monarchs over the past 200 years, featuring a display of The Queen’s personal jewellery. And the largest ever exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s studies of the human body – “Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomist” – can be seen in The Queen’s Gallery from 4 May to 7 October.
But these local celebrations won’t be confined to royal circles. Venues across Victoria are putting the final touches to their Diamond Jubilee plans. From Westminster Abbey (www.westminster-abbey.org) to the nightclub Pacha (www.pachalondon.com), everyone will be able to mark the occasion in their own special way in SW1.
(left) The proposed Royal Barge for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Thames River Pageant
(below) Regional launch of The Big Lunch event 2011
For more events in 2012 please see the 'Events' section of our website or event listings on the inSW1 iPhone App.
Bringing out the best china is a British tradition observed on all occasions,
large and small. So it’s only fitting that the advent of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee should prompt the creation of a very special selection of bone china.
Every royal occasion is marked in some way by Britain’s great ceramics heritage and, for The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, The Royal Collection has called again on the craftspeople of Stoke-on-Trent, the home of Britain’s pottery industry, to provide a covetable selection of bone china pieces.
The inspiration for the range was the Rockingham Service, which was first used at the 1838 Coronation banquet of Queen Victoria – the only other monarch to have celebrated this anniversary. “But we don’t call it a service, we do a range of items to display on a sideboard or dresser,” Nuala
McGourty, Retail Director for The Royal Collection explained. “For example, one of the items is a Loving Cup, a special piece that has been made in Stoke for many years.”
The original Rockingham Service, which was commissioned in 1830 by William IV, took eight years to complete, but today’s selection of 10 pieces, chosen to suit all wallets, has been brought to market in just over a year. The choice of items – which will be expanded in the coming year – and the design was overseen by The Royal Collection and had to be finally approved by The Queen herself before the range went into production.
The china has all been made and decorated by hand using techniques that date back 250 years at a variety of different potteries across Stoke-on-Trent, including gilding in 22-carat
gold. “Some items are limited to 500 or 1,000 pieces – they’ll be numbered on the back and come with a certificate. We will keep producing the range until the end of 2012,” said McGourty.
A commemorative collection of bone china has been crafted by hand in Stoke-on-Trent to mark The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, writes KaTe SImON.
Tea with The Queen
Official range of English fine bone china to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, commissioned by the Royal Collection.
The official Diamond Jubilee commemorative range is now available at www.royalcollection.org.uk/shop, by phone order on 0845 330 2898 and from the shops at The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, as well as other selected retailers.
Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District10
Retail consultant Mary Portas’s review was commissioned by the Coalition
Government last year and came to light in December. Over seven months, the study took her around the country to meet retailers, consumers, council teams and trade bodies, seeking out initiatives that have kept high streets alive.
The review argues that high streets were able to look after themselves in the past, bringing immense social and economic benefits, but that today so many of us leave our communities to do our shopping and socialising. Indeed, the number of stores in British town and city centres dropped by almost 15,000 between 2000 and 2009; and it is estimated that a further 10,000 outlets have been lost since then. Today, almost one in six town-centre shops stands vacant.
General figures show that high-street footfall has dropped by about 10% over the past three years, many independent retailers have shut up shop and new ones are not entering the market at all. The figures are particularly telling in the grocery sector. The Competition Commission found that of the 565 large grocery stores that opened between 2001 and 2006, an incredible 99.5% of them
were launched by large multiple retailers. Mary argues convincingly that the
high street has slipped behind other players. As well as the meteoric rise of the supermarkets, which have expanded their ranges way beyond grocery-selling, the shopping-mall experience has also changed beyond recognition. Australian developer Westfield, for instance, which has built on both sides of London, has created “highly successful, immersive, 21st-century urban entertainment centres”, according to Mary.
Away from bricks and mortar altogether, the internet is another major runner in the retail race. Although it might currently account for less than 10% of all retail sales, some estimates suggest e-commerce accounted for nearly half of all retail sales growth in the UK between 2003 and 2010.
“New benchmarks have been forged against which our high streets are now being judged,” says Mary. “We are in a new age of consumerism and the high street needs to adapt to that. They must be ready to experiment, try new things, take risks and become destinations again. High streets of the future must be a hub of the community that local people are proud of and want to protect.”
Britain has more than 5,400 stretches called ‘High Street’ – and many others in everything but name – but the review stresses that there can be no generic solution. Twenty-eight recommendations are presented under five headings: ‘getting town centres running like businesses’; ‘getting the basics right to allow businesses to flourish’; ‘levelling the playing field between large and small retailers’; ‘defining landlords’ roles and responsibilities’;
Mary Portas puts business improvement districts at the heart of her plans to revitalise town centres. inSW1 takes a look at the PORTaS ReVIeW into the condition and future of Britain’s high streets.
Think local!
11www.inSW1.com
PORTAS REVIEW
and ‘giving communities a greater say’. Looking across the SW1 area there is a
diverse mix of high street and independent businesses that are finding innovative ways to attract new business opportunities. The BID will be looking to engage with more of these businesses throughout the 2012/13 period to build up a robust local economy ready to face the challenges ahead.
Under the first heading, Mary suggests the creation of ‘town teams’: landlords, large and small shopkeepers, council and political representatives, local businesses, service providers and residents who would work collaboratively on vision, strategy and operational management. She also recommends giving more powers to successful business improvement districts.
“The one – perhaps the only – thing everyone I have spoken to is agreed on is that for a high street to survive and grow it must have a very clear vision of where it wants to get to, and co-ordinated planning to get there,” she says. “If high streets were in single ownership, like a department store, they would have a vision, a high-level strategy and direction. The best results will come from maximum collaboration at local level, creating high streets that people want to use, enjoy and return to.” This can be seen to work in Belgravia, where Grosvenor Estates works closely with its stakeholders and partners to create a clear vision for the area.
Mary says town and city centres should be
re-imagined as “destinations for socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning – places that will develop and sustain new and existing markets and businesses… The new high streets won’t just be about selling goods,” she says. “The mix will include shops, but could also include housing, offices, sport, schools or other social, commercial and cultural enterprises, and meeting places. They should become places where we go to engage with other people in our communities, where shopping is just one small part of a rich mix of activities.”
Other recommendations in the review include considering how business rates can better support small commercial concerns and independent retailers; encouraging market trading; making high streets more accessible, attractive and safe; and exploring the argument for free parking.
The response from stakeholders seems to have been positive. The Federation of Small Businesses welcomed the review’s focus on planning, parking, business rates and removing regulations to make it easier for people to trade. In The Guardian, Chief
Executive of the Association of Convenience Stores, James Lowman, pointed to “town centre first” planning policies as the most important way to secure future success, endorsing Mary’s call for planning tools and business rate reviews to achieve better high street diversity.
And, describing business improvement districts as “the embodiment of the big society” Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, said: “We are delighted to see Mary recommending greater landlord involvement in BIDs, as well as suggestions on how they can be enhanced with new powers, such as on planning.”
“High streets have been the heart of towns and communities for centuries,” says Mary. “They may have different views on what’s wrong and what’s right, but I don’t believe anyone can put their hand on their heart and say they don’t care. If my review is the catalyst for change, encouraging shopkeepers, landlords, local councils and consumers to engage with an alternative, more optimistic vision of tomorrow – where everyone benefits – then it will have been worthwhile.”
“We are delighted to see Mary recommending greater landlord involvement in BIDs, as well as suggestions on how they can be enhanced with new powers, such as on planning.”
1. Put in place a ‘Town Team’: a visionary, strategic and strong operational management team for high streets
2. Empower successful Business Improvement Districts to take on more responsibilities and powers and become ‘Super-BIDs’
3. Legislate to allow landlords to become high-street investors by contributing to their Business Improvement District
4. Establish a new ‘National Market Day’, where budding shopkeepers can try their hands at operating a low-cost retail business
5. Make it easier for people to become market traders by removing unnecessary regulations so that anyone can trade on the high street unless there is a valid reason why not
6. Government should consider whether business rates can better support small businesses and independent retailers 7. Local authorities should use their new discretionary powers to give business rate concessions to new local businesses
8. Make business rates work for business by reviewing the use of the RPI with a view to changing the calculation to CPI
9. Local areas should implement free controlled parking schemes that work for their town centres
10. Town Teams should focus on making high streets accessible, attractive and safe
11. Government should include high-street deregulation as part of their ongoing work on freeing up red tape
12. Address the restrictive aspects of the ‘Use Class’ system to make it easier to change the use of key properties on the high street
13. Put betting shops into a separate ‘Use Class’ of their own
14. Make explicit a presumption in favour of town-centre development in the wording of the National Planning Policy Framework
15. Introduce Secretary of State “exceptional sign off” for all new out-of-town developments and require all large new developments to have an “affordable shops” quota
16. Large retailers should support and mentor local businesses and independent retailers
17. Retailers should report on their support of local high streets
in their annual reports
18. Encourage a contract of care between landlords and their commercial tenants with the use of lease structures other than upward-only rent reviews, especially for small businesses
19. Explore further disincentives to prevent landlords from leaving units vacant
20. Banks that own empty property on the high street should either administer these assets well or be required to sell them
21. Local authorities should make more proactive use of Compulsory Purchase Order powers to encourage the redevelopment of key high street retail space
22. Empower local authorities to step in when landlords are
negligent with new “Empty Shop Management Orders”
23. Introduce a public register of high street landlords
24. Run a high-profile campaign to get people involved in Neighbourhood Plans
25. Promote the inclusion of the High Street in Neighbourhood Plans
26. Developers should make a financial contribution to ensure that the local community has a strong voice in the planning system
27. Support imaginative community use of empty properties through Community Right to Buy, Meanwhile Use and a new “Community Right to Try”
28. Run a number of High Street Pilots to test proof of concept
PORTAS REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS
To download a copy of the Portas Review with its full list of recommendations visit our website
12 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
PORTAS REVIEW
More than 160 entries were received from a mix of amateur and
professional photographers who each submitted their work for consideration in the Victoria BID’s Sharp Eye competition. "The competition ran from September to November 2011 and we had people from local businesses, colleges and some residents taking part" explains Paul Vater. "The competition finalists were so striking that we were able to get a selection of entires mounted onto the outside of Kingsgate House, with the kind permission of the Department of Business Innovation and Skills".
The competition was judged by Beth Cinamon, Director of Westminster Arts; Jacqui Wald, Editorial Director, Camera Press Agency; Owen Ward, of SW1 Gallery and Paul Vater, editor of inSW1 Magazine and Creative Director of Sugarfree Design.
An exhbition of finalists was held at Westminster Reference Library from 15 December 2011 to 3 January 2012. A capsule exhibition has also been installed in the Main Reception of Westminster City Hall. Over the 2 week period is has been in Westminster Reference Library that there were over 2,500 people who viewed the exhibition. We recorded many great comments including "Lovely exhibition. Great to see such inspiring local work" (Ben); "Good to see my photo in such a prestigious place" (Sally) "Brilliant images – a small book of SW1 photos would be nice!" (PK); and "Boudet is a worthy winner, good humour and as grand as New York City. Battersea Power station is ace and Lewisohn's condiments are FAB too!" (C J Tyler). Thanks to Rossella Black at Westminster Reference Library for making this such a success. We hope to repeat its success this year.
PaUL VaTeR conceived and organised this popular competition, which attacted entries from people who work, study or live in Victoria, Pimlico and Belgravia.
Sharp Eye focuses on life in SW1
(above) Katharyn Boudet, competition winner, in front of Kingsgate House which featured a selection of finalists work.
(right) Winning photograph by Katharyn Boudet.
“ I have only recently moved back into London, which has renewed my love for the city. I walk or cycle around SW London and most of the time this is when I spot the best pictures – like the gentleman going to work on his skis, or the workmen taking a break. ”Katharyn Boudet
“ I am an amateur photographer interested in music photography, fight photography and portraiture. As everyone probably has a photo of this London landmark [London Eye], I wanted to achieve something a little more original. So… I went down after sunset and had a play around with the zoom on long-exposure shots. ”Hannah Mercieca
People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
PRIZES
£500+ worth of photographic equipment for the overall winner.
Exhibition Top entries will be featured in an exhibition space in central Victoria for 3 months (November/December 2011/January 2012.
inSW1 Magazine A selection of highly commended entries will be featured in a special edition of inSW1 Magazine in celebration of the New Year, 2012.
+ runner up prizes
SUBMISSIONS
from Monday 19 Sept
CLOSING DATE
17 Oct 2011
SEND US YOUR BEST PHOTO Please send pictures (as high a resolution as possible)
of the category you are entering. Images submitted
and accepted for consideration will be uploaded
onto the Victoria BID’s Sharp Eye Flickr page:
www.flickr.com/photos/sharp_eye_����
CATEGORY 1 – PICTURING SW1Using neighbourhoods of Westminster – Victoria, Pimlico and Belgravia as a backdrop to capture portraits of the unexpected or extraordinary individuals in the area or a detail of the urban landscape. Images should capture the spirit of the area as you see it. The judges will be looking for visual originality, local character and an intelligent personal viewpoint.
CATEGORY 2 – BRIGHT SPARKSWe are looking for either figurative or abstract subjects that take light as the main subject of the picture. Your pictures could be about using the contrast between light and dark to say something about your subject, the picture quality could be made unique by using an unusual light source, or how light can transform a subject to give the viewer a new perspective on it.
Victoria BID 8a Lower Belgrave Street London SW1W 0LJ Tel: 0203 004 0786
Design by Sugarfree 020 7619 7430
Enter your photograph(s) into our competition for a chance to win one of our top
prizes. You needn’t be a professional photographer, but entrants need to live, study
or work within the Victoria, Pimlico or Belgravia areas of SW�. Please send digital
entries (no phone pictures please!) More details on www.inSW1.com
PANEL OF JUDGESBeth Cinamon, Westminster Arts Director. Paul Vater, Creative Director at Sugarfree, and Editor of inSW1 Magazine, Victoria BID. Jacqui Wald, Editorial Director, Camera Press Agency. Owen Ward, Curator at SW1 Gallery and Artist
A5 Sharp Eye.indd 213/9/11 15:40:55
A5 Sharp Eye.indd 1
13/9/11 15:40:54
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GALLERy
Alexandra Conil-Lacoste
Hannah Mercieca
Duncan Raban
Christina Gestra
Ben Cowburn Duncan Raban
Sally Gethin
Richard Lewisohn
Richard Lewisohn
Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District14
GALLERy
Duncan Raban
Paula Willis
Katharyn Boudet
Ben Cowburn
Paul Miller
Michael Lilley
Dominick Tyler
Christina Gestra
Sally Gethin
Dominick Tyler
Dominick Tyler
15www.inSW1.com
Julian Wakeling
Alexandra Conil-Lacoste
A big thank you to Kevin Caruth at Urban Gentry who worked on this project. www.urbangentry.com/www.flickr.com/photos/sharp_eye_2011
16 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
GALLERy
A spiring to customer service excellence, for us, is about two things,” says Michael
Parker, General Manager of one of SW1’s landmark hotels, The Grosvenor, which forms part of the Victoria Station complex. “It’s about the whole customer journey – from reservation right through to departure. And it’s about anticipation – thinking ahead about what clients might want rather than waiting for them to ask.”
The iconic railway hotel, which welcomes about 130,000 staying guests and a further 100,000 non-residential customers through its doors every year, was part of the Thistle Hotel Group, which in September received the prestigious Hotel Group of the Year accolade at the AA Hospitality Awards for 2011-12.
“This recognition for the group is particularly relevant at this time,” says Mr Parker, “because this month sees the completion of a major refurbishment of the hotel, which will take it from a four-star into the luxury five-star bracket. And this means we need to achieve a level of customer service to match that rating.”
On 16 January, The Grosvenor was
unveiled as the fifth Guoman Hotel, coinciding with the property’s 150th anniversary. “This is a big year for us,” says Mr Parker, “and we’ve been working hard to make sure our dedicated, six-strong guest relations team lives up to – in fact, exceeds – guest expectations.”
But customer service encapsulates much more than the range of facilities a hospitality business offers. “So, if we know in advance that it’s a guest’s birthday,” says Mr Parker, “we might leave a voucher in the room for a couple of glasses of Champagne in our bar. Or, if we find out afterwards – perhaps because a relative has asked us to decorate the room with balloons – we’ll put a cake and a card in there.”
And, now that the hotel has unveiled its facelift and relaunched under the Guoman brand, it is already starting to think about how to prepare for the two major events of this year – The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London 2012.
“We have a number of groups of delegates and politicians that we’re talking to about long-term bookings for the whole period of the Olympics,” says Mr Parker. “These people
will be working away from home for a long time, so they have to feel at home here. For a potential group from China, for example, we’re trying to come up with innovative, culturally sensitive ideas such as offering Chinese food at breakfast and serving it in our Chinese restaurant.”
Refining their service to the consumer is all very well for big operations with dedicated, creative teams to look after the client experience, but how do smaller, independent businesses keep the customers satisfied?
Jackie Clarke (pictured overleaf), owner of café Pimlico Fresh, on Wilton Road, says it’s all about flexibility and having an intimate relationship with your regulars. “We know many of our customers by name and that’s partly because we have a very low staff turnover – five of my team have been with me since the day I opened two years ago.”
Ms Clarke must be doing something right because she now sees 2,000 happy customers passing through the café every week. And despite a number of cafés opening nearby, Pimlico Fresh has held its own.
“We have a very loyal and regular following here,” she says. “There are a number
There’s more to customer service than employing polite staff and offering lavish services – it’s really about continually striving to improve the whole consumer journey. SImONe KaNe talks to local businesses that are doing just that.
Invest in the entire experience
Michael Parker, General Manager of The Grosvenor.
“
17www.inSW1.com
CuSTOMER SERVICE
“Ensuring a guest is smiling when they arrive and still smiling when they leave – that’s outstanding customer service,” says David Burner (pictured right), Head of Concierge at 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites and Residences. And his approach was vindicated when he picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Society of the Golden Keys Concierge Awards in November 2011.
The awards ceremony, which is sponsored by Morris Visitor Publications, saw a surprised Mr Burner rewarded for his career-long dedication to improving the guest experience. The Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given every five or six years at the discretion of the society’s president and committee, is prestigious recognition of the highest level of customer service – not just for Mr Burner but for 51 Buckingham Gate, too.
“Fifty per cent of our guests are returning customers,” explains Mr Burner, “so I get to know many of them very well. I know which paper Mr Smith prefers and that he likes a double espresso – it’s my business to communicate this to the waiting and reception staff. That way, he gets what he wants without having to ask. In turn, Mr Smith might bring a colleague or friend to the hotel, who will notice this attention to detail and may book with us next time.
“Many of our regular guests actually book through me, not reservations,” says Mr Burner, 68, who has been with the hotel on this site – in all its previous incarnations – since 1972, having worked his way up from page boy to head the department.
“We are brand ambassadors – the first and last people the guests see. So our job is to deliver service to the highest standard.”
Wise words from a winning concierge.
For more information on the Society of the Golden Keys, or Les Clefs d’Or, visit www.goldenkeysconcierge.co.uk
David Burner,Head of Concierge51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites and Residences
Fifty per cent of our guests are returning customers, so I get to know many of them very well. I know which paper Mr Smith prefers and that he likes a double espresso… In turn, Mr Smith might bring a colleague or friend to the hotel, who will notice this attention to detail and may book with us next time.
18 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
CuSTOMER SERVICE CHAMPION
CONTINuED FROM PAGE 17
of local workers who come here for lunch on a daily basis. And I think that’s because we are flexible and happy to customise our menu items to meet their needs.
“But they also keep coming because they trust the provenance of our food – we stay away from big operators, who just can’t be good at everything. Instead, we only use specialist or local suppliers, such as our soup-maker and an artisan bakery in East Dulwich. I think our clientele like that – they trust us.”
Like other businesses, Ms Clarke
constantly has to innovate to keep her offering fresh and tries to think creatively around upcoming events and how she can tap into themes. Last summer, she came up with the idea of putting together picnic boxes to appeal to people attending the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This year, she will be looking at how she can serve the huge influx of visitors around the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics, which will see a swelling in local hotel occupancy.
“I’ll be talking to hotels about the numbers and types of guests they’re expecting and take it from there,” she says,
“but I’m already thinking about possible themes such as selling royal cupcakes.”More lately, though, Ms Clarke has been wooing customers with seasonal products such as Christmas iced gingerbread biscuits and a warming non-alcoholic mulled apple and cider juice. It’s on the menu until the end of the month, so if you hurry, you might be able to swing a sample.
It’s no mean feat ensuring that the safety and security operations of a huge transport interchange such as Victoria Coach Station run smoothly on a daily basis. But the team there is currently celebrating the recent renewal of its Customer Service Excellence Award (previously the Charter Mark), which was announced in December.
“While we’ve held the Charter Mark, and then the Excellence Award, for a number of consecutive years, it is renewed annually after a detailed independent assessment, so there has to be continual improvement to regain it,” says Andy Gibbs, who has been Operations Manager at the coach station for seven years.
“This year, the report highlighted strengths such as understanding the needs of travellers,” says Gibbs.
“We were also noted as being proactive in improving our customer service year-on-year and commended for the ease of finding information, staff helpfulness and site cleanliness.”
Recent improvements, such as new departure screens, ticket hall and a dedicated mobility lounge, will have helped seal the award, along with the introduction of escorts
to guide passengers who need help between departures and arrivals, and offering a priority boarding service.
“The assessor was also impressed by our involvement with the Victoria BID,” says Mr Gibbs’ colleague, James McKinnon, Operations Site Manager, “and how this fosters a culture of sharing information with local businesses, residents’ associations and the council, as well as with the different police forces.”
“This is our first year participating in BID schemes such as Facewatch and Radiolink,” says Gibbs, “yet we were commended for that. This award is a team achievement and there’s no resting on our laurels. We have the logistical challenge of the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics coming up and we want to be part of a positive travelling experience, while minimising impact on our neighbours. The important thing is that the Victoria BID gets all the interested parties in a room, building relationships between the different communities.”
For more information, visit www.customerserviceexcellence.uk.com
Visit our website for more
Andy GibbsOperations Manager, Victoria Coach Station
(from left) Jackie Clarke, owner of Pimlico Fresh; newly refurbished cocktail bar at Grosvenor Hotel.
19www.inSW1.com
CuSTOMER SERVICE CHAMPION
Each year, the Purple Flag is awarded to town and city centres that demonstrate
they meet the highest standards in showing people an entertaining and safe night out. They are recognised for being appealing after dark, having a good handle on crime, welcoming a wide range of visitors, providing a good mix of venues and offering safe ways for people to travel home.
“Just as Blue Flag is an indicator of a good beach,” says the website, “Purple Flag is set to be the indicator of where to go for a good night out and will bring positive publicity for successful town and city centres.”
Victoria was one of nine urban areas recognised in 2011, but it becomes the first ever Business Improvement District to be presented with the award.
Purple Flag was developed by the Association of Town Centre Management following a study that shows more people would use centres at night if they were safer, more accessible and offered greater choice. The study states that “a good mix of clientele can lessen intimidation and improve perceptions” and that “a wider range of attractions and consumers leads to longer-term economic viability”.
Purple Flag is a potential boost for hotels, cafés, bars, theatres and other parts of the night-time economy in SW1. “It’s part of an important mental change for Victoria, too,” says Nic Harper. “Purple Flag is an essential part of the transition between Victoria as a major transport hub and Victoria as a major London destination.”
According to Nic, a lot of behind-the-scenes activity went into achieving the honour. It is a culmination of work that was two years in the making, in which time
Victoria has become the first Business Improvement District to achieve Purple Flag status, which rates it a welcoming, safe area in which to go out in the evening. inSW1 talks to NIC HaRPeR, Chair of VBID’s Safe & Secure Sub-Committee.
Proud to wave a Purple Flag
Nic Harper, Chair of Victoria BID's Safe & Secure Sub-Committee.
“We still have crime in the area, but we’re bucking all trends after just two years. We’ve actually seen a 30% downward trend across a wide selection of crime, while other districts are seeing increases.”
SAFE & SECuRE
20 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
there was an independent assessment and two onsite assessments, and many hours to ensure the district was initially credible.
“When VBID came to fruition,” she says, “we worked hard at driving a cohesive working party to make our district safe. We have been able to create a unique set-up in Victoria, with links between police forces, the council, businesses, community groups, homeless charities and many other stakeholders. I don’t know any other area where police teams pass information between each other in the same way, and that kind of co-operation has been so important in achieving the Purple Flag.”
“We still have crime in the area, but we’re bucking all trends after just two years. We’ve actually seen a 30% downward trend across a wide selection of crime, while other districts are seeing increases.”
The Purple Flag ‘badge’ has already been used on materials promoting WICKED! at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, as producers Michael McCabe say it assures visitors that they will not only have a good night at the
theatre, but they can also enjoy eating, drinking and sleeping nearby.
Nic says the Safe & Secure Team now has a responsibility to let the wider community know what Purple Flag stands for. “At the moment, we’re looking at its application and how to promote it. We’re also looking at how we can award businesses that fall in line with Purple Flag, and that will take some thinking about the criteria.”
One consideration for awarding businesses in the district is to take on an inspection-based scheme like the Safer Socialising Award, which was developed by the Association of Business Crime Partnerships. The purpose of this scheme is to encourage licensed premises to become part of a local partnership that contributes towards improving local community safety and reducing crime, disorder and antisocial behaviour.
Back to the Safe & Secure strategy for VBID, Nic says the committee’s approach will evolve over the next couple of years. “There has been a lot of tangible change over the
past 12 months, but we’re now looking to concentrate on longer-term strategies.
“Take the issue of homelessness in Victoria: the tangible work has helped, but it doesn’t solve the problem. One of our strategic aims will be to work with local partners to lobby government regulation relating to people on the street. It’s one of a few intangible, behind-the-scenes strategies and it will take time.”
Clockwise from right: Front-of-house staff with theatre manager Frazer Hoyle
(front row, first left), Apollo Victoria Theatre, with the Purple Flag; Oliveto
restaurant; Wilton Road, Pimlico; visitors enjoying a night out in Browns Bar
and Brasserie Victoria..
Purple Flag launched offically on 25 January in SW1 at Victoria Palace Theatre. For more information contact Karl.Rogers@inSW1com
21www.inSW1.com
Going batty
Our city parks may close at night, but that doesn’t mean they are short of night-time activity. When the sun goes down, bats come out to drink, eat insects and revel in the evening skies.
It’s true, there are bats in London. In fact, of the 18 bat species in the UK, 10 can be found in our capital. The question is, do they just stay in these isolated pockets of greenery, or do they venture out into the urban wilderness of our streets and high rises? And, if our urban areas were greener, would we attract more?
Kelly Gunnell, Built Environment Officer for the Bat Conservation Trust (BCT), says that introducing infrastructure such as green roofs and living walls seems like the ideal means to entice beneficial wildlife into our urban landscape. “The vegetation softens and cools our cities,” she says, “but it also provides habitats for bats and attracts the insects they feed on. Bio-diverse green roofs, in particular, should provide increased foraging potential and possibly act as stepping stones that link up green spaces and create commuting corridors.”
Kelly works with architects, builders and developers to create opportunities for bat conservation. She believes there is a possible link between bats and green roofs, but says they need clear evidence to support the claim. This is one reason the BCT and Natural England has teamed up with VBID and freelance ecologist Huma Pearce, who has been investigating bat activity over green roofs in London for the past two years. With plans for green roofs, rain gardens and living walls in the pipeline for Victoria, the district proves a good study ground for ‘before’ and ‘after’ data.
Natural England, the BCT and Huma installed four static bat detectors on roofs around Victoria in 2011, including the roofs of the Transport for London building, John Lewis Head Office and the SW1 Gallery. The detectors record bat echolocation calls in the vicinity, and data is being analysed to determine the species and if the bats are foraging or just using the roofs to commute.
“The study links into our green roofs mission,” says VBID’s Scott Nixon. “Attracting small animals such as bats is a key indicator of a healthy local environment. The green roofs infrastructure isn’t there at the moment, but we think it will make a big difference when installed, this kind of study gives us more of an idea of the impact.”
Huma Pearce is hoping to carry out a full season of monitoring from late-April to October. She is looking for about 40 roofs to take part, so if you are happy to donate yours to the study – whether it’s a conventional or green roof – email Huma Pearce at [email protected].
Victoria goes batty for bees
FIVE FACTS ABOuT BATS
Bats can live for up to 30 years and are more closely related to people than mice.5
1Bats account for more than a quarter of mammal species in the uK, so they are a vital part of our native wildlife.
Bats indicate a healthy, diverse ecosystem and are the top predators of nocturnal insects. Our smallest bat, the Pipistrelle, can eat over 3,000 insects in a single night.
2uK bat species have declined in numbers over recent years as a result of development and changes in land usage.3Manmade roosts provide stable microclimates for bats and are becoming essential for many bat species survial. 4
(from left) London's common Pipistrelle bat; Green roof at 55 Broadway, London.
The ability to attract small animals and insects can be key indicators of a healthy local environment. inSW1 discovers the benefits of encouraging urban wildlife.
Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District22
CLEAN & GREEN
Hear the buzz
Urban beekeeping is becoming increasingly popular as more people become aware of the benefits of keeping bees – from harvesting local honey to pollination and its links with food production.
You might be surprised to hear that big cities such as London have the potential to provide a good supply of pesticide-free food for bees. The diversity of plants and flowers, and the heat generated in city centres, actually means there is a constant variety of foraging options for urban bees and almost always something in bloom.
In October, VBID invited Brian McCallum – co-founder of Urban Bees and co-writer of Bees in the City – to deliver a free workshop on beekeeping at Portland House. The team is hoping to establish four new apiaries in Victoria over the next few months, and the taster session was designed to help local organisations decide whether bee husbandry might be for them.
As a result, 26 budding apiarists joined VBID’s first 10-week introductory training course, which began in November.
VBID is funding the apiaries, which will each have three or four hives, and is also covering the cost of beekeeping equipment and training. Following the introductory course and a follow-up hive management programme, the plan is to allocate seven students to each hive so they can build up enough capacity to be able to manage their own in the future. There are also plans to establish a beekeeper’s network in SW1, including email news bulletins, social events and guest speakers.
As part of the programme, the Victoria BID is also supporting The Bee Collective, a social enterprise that will process the honey from Victoria’s hives and return it to the various smallholders.
* ‘The Natural Choice: Securing the value of nature’, Defra, June 2011
St Ermin's Hotel: a hive of activity St Ermin’s Hotel is now home to 75,000 Buckfast bees, a good-tempered honey bee, which now live in three custom-built hives on the roof. Capable of travelling three miles or more, these ‘lucky bees’ will be collecting their pollen and nectar from some of the UK’s most exclusive green spaces – including the gardens of Buckingham Palace, no less.
St Ermin’s is planning its own brand of honey, as well as honey-inspired restaurant dishes and signature cocktails in the Caxton Bar. Their first full harvest will be in July.
FIVE FACTS ABOuT BEES
5Keeping bees is actually not that labour-intensive.
184% of European crops and 80% of wildflowers rely on insect pollination.*
2The value of pollination to uK agriculture is £440m per year (13% of its total value).*
3Over the last 20 years there has been a 54% drop in honey bee colonies in England.*
4Honey from urban bees is particularly tasty because they have such a variety of plants, flowers and trees to choose from.
(left and above) Beekeeping on the roof of the St Ermin's hotel as part of the Urban Bees project.
For more info about the beekeeping workshop starting in February 2012 contact [email protected].
Where do you live and how do you get to work?I live in Seaview on the Isle of Wight. I leave home at 5am and run to the fast ferry, which sails to Portsmouth. From there I take the train into Waterloo and then run to our offices by Victoria Railway Station. The journey takes three hours and gives me my daily fix of running.
What’s the first thing you do when you get to the office?I begin my shift by speaking to my team sergeants, who give me an overview of what’s occurred overnight and the team’s allocated responsibilities. I then log onto the computer system to review the last 24 hours, look at the incidents and emerging trends. At 9.30am every day, I have a teleconference with the senior management team, where we discuss individual and area-wide policing responses and performance, focusing on our priorities for the next 24 hours.
Where else have you worked? I left the Army in 1988 and joined the MET
in 1989. I have served primarily around West London and have been a Uniformed Officer, Public Order Officer, in the CID and a Traffic Officer, before transferring to the British Transport Police in 2007. Actually, I think my varied background helps because I can see things from both sides: from the viewpoint of the BTP, as well as the MET.
What are the things you like most about your job?What matters to me is ensuring the service we provide meets expectations and that my team makes a visible difference. I like that we can identify local issues and potential trends and deal with them robustly, setting tangible measurements of success.
Do you have a typical day, or is there no such thing?Most of my work is office-based and in meetings. I try to get out and about on foot patrol as often as I can. There are always days when I have clear intentions, but I can’t always stick to what’s diarised because
inSW1 talks to SImON TROTTeR of the British Transport Police about how the force’s objectives and the issues it targets affect the quality of life of residents, workers and travellers in and around Victoria.
First a ferry... a train... and then a run!
Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District24
A DAy IN THE LIFE – BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE
Insp Simon Trotter.
something might come in unexpectedly.We have daily briefings and run regular
joint operations with the local MET teams, targeting local issues and offenders as one. It’s seamless policing at its best. And, at the end of each shift, officers submit ‘tasking returns’ so we can evaluate the team effort towards achieving objectives.
Bought-in lunch or packed lunch?Generally it’s a sandwich at my desk. I’m always eating on the go.
Where do you think your team is making particular headway?Since the Hub Team was brought in in May 2010, we’ve made great headway in
achieving seamless policing and increasing confidence through a visible presence. While I’ve been on the team, I’ve put certain parameters in place that focus specifically on visibility, presence and reassurance. Our remit covers the whole footprint in and around Victoria mainline and Underground stations. Currently all crime is down 26% on our footprint compared with this time last year.
Is there any way local shops and businesses can help you to help them?A lot of the things we do are part of a push towards prevention and reassurance. 300,000 people go through Victoria every day and our focus is on people remaining
safe and secure through the whole journey experience – that includes the bite to eat in the cafés before travelling.
We’ve carried out a number of surgeries with local businesses through VBID and those have allowed for some fantastic, quality-time interaction. It would be fantastic if others wanted to host surgeries through the BID.
Do you have a motto for the way you work, or like others to work?Productivity and visibility equals success and reassurance. Our focus is clear: working with partners, stakeholders and the MET Policing teams to reduce crime, arrest offenders and make people feel secure.
For more information about the British Transport Police and their involvement with the Victoria BID please visit our website or contact [email protected]
25www.inSW1.com
Insp Simon Trotter on the concourse of Victoria Station.
What matters to me is ensuring the service we provide meets expectations and my team make a visible difference. I like that we can identify local issues and potential trends and deal with them robustly, setting tangible measures of success.
PV: Why have you decided to run for Whizz-Kidz in this year’s London Marathon?
Kerry May Conway: I think Whizz-Kidz is a brilliant charity because it doesn’t just provide the mobility equipment (which is jolly expensive) but goes much further with its training, which enables the children to learn important life skills and, most importantly, to have fun. This not only helps the children but is also a massive help to their families and the people who care for them. Dave Chewter: There are so many great causes that people run for, but I wanted to support a children’s charity and Whizz-Kidz makes a real difference to so many children’s lives in the UK. With the tangible nature of the equipment they supply, you can also envisage what the funds raised could go towards, which is a clear motivator. Whizz-Kidz’ aim is to ensure that every disabled child has an opportunity to be something special – a kid. And I think this is a fantastic cause.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------PV: Where do you work in Victoria and how are your work colleagues supporting you?
KMC: I work for a Fund Manager in Victoria and my colleagues have been extremely generous with their donations and support. There are a number of marathon “gurus” in the office that are on hand to give me advice and training tips and many of them have volunteered to join me on training runs.
DC: I work for Network Rail as the Station Manager of Victoria Railway Station. I shall be asking my work colleagues both on the station and across the organisation to give generously and will be undertaking some charity collecting on the concourse to raise as much money as I can for Whizz-Kidz.
I am arranging a ‘Runathon’ to take place on the station on 21 February, where I will be running on a treadmill on the concourse – hopefully with the support of my work colleagues and anyone who works on the station, so that we can raise as much money and awareness as possible.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------PV: Have you run any marathons before now? Do you have a target time you want to finish by and what is your personal goal for the race?
KMC: The only races I have done before are a few 5km “Race for Life”
On track to raise cash for Whizz-kidsOn 22 April KeRRy may CONWay and daVe CHeWTeR will be taking part in the Virgin London Marathon in support of the Victoria-based charity Whizz-Kidz. PaUL VaTeR talks to them about their motivation and ambitions for the race.
SPONSOR KERRy TODAy AT www.justgiving.com/kerrymayconway
26 Published by the Victoria Business Improvement District
LONDON MARATHON
events, which were a few years ago. The marathon will be the biggest thing I have ever done and, if I complete it, an enormous achievement. I wanted to do it before I turned 30 (in 2013!) and also to get really fit. I gave up smoking 18 months ago and wanted a challenge to boost my new healthy way of life.
It is a little early in my training to work out what time I think I might finish in. I will, of course, try my best, but I am not that competitive and for me the marathon is more about the experience and enjoying it than trying to achieve an impressive time. If I do it in less than six hours then that will be a bonus and I’ll be pleased.
I was born and raised in South Africa, but I’m in my 10th year in the UK and I find it amazing how generous the British public are when it comes to charitable causes. I would be thrilled to be able to help raise as much money as possible for Whizz-Kidz and will continue to do this even after the marathon.
DC: I ran my first marathon in Edinburgh in 2006 and then ran London in 2007 and 2008, when I also wore fancy dress. My best time was in Edinburgh, where I made a time of four hours and 35 minutes. I would love get under the four-hour mark this year. I have enjoyed every marathon I have run and it’s a fantastic experience to cross the finish line after meeting so many interesting people en route. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------PV: How often are you training and how are you preparing for the big day?
KMC: I started a 16-week training programme at the beginning of January. I am trying to stick to it as much as possible, although this cold/dark winter training is quite a task. I will be running three to four times a week – except for a three-week holiday in Africa I have coming up, where it may be hard to go for a run in a Game Reserve…
I have given up my beloved wine and Chinese takeaways in favour of Ryvita, celery and beetroot juice.
DC: I am following a 16-week training programme, which started on 2 January. This is great timing to shift some of the Christmas pudding and the plan is to run five days a week, with the longest run on a Saturday. In training, the longest run will be 22 miles to take me over ‘the wall’ and in total I will run almost 600 miles in preparation.
My previous experience has taught me that there really is no substitute for miles on the pavement when it comes to be being prepared for the big day and I will try as hard as I can to make sure I stick to this schedule.
ABOUT WHIZZ-KIDZAll money raised will be donated to Whizz-Kidz, a Victoria based charity that is all about giving disabled children and young people the independence to enjoy an active childhood – at home, at school and at play.
By providing them with mobility equipment, training, advice and life skills, they actually give them something much more important
– the independence to be themselves. Whizz-Kidz makes an immediate and life changing difference to the lives of the children and young people they work with.
Each runner is aiming to raise a minimum of £1,600 each and any help our readers can give in achieving this target would be greatly appreciated.
Dave is also planning a ‘runathon’ on Victoria Station on the 21st February where he and others will be seen running on the concourse on a treadmill for the duration of the day to raise money for Whizz-Kidz.
SPONSOR DAVE TODAy AT www.justgiving.com/dave-chewter
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