Agenda item

The council has invited 5 expert witnesses to discuss and give evidence on how they envisage Brexit will affect business and employment in Southwark:

Expert witnesses:

Lorna Gavin – Chair, Southwark Business Forum

Nadia Broccardo – Team London Bridge

Laura Griffiths – BIDS London

Richard Kalmar – Chamber of Commerce

Richard Brown – Centre for London

(Detail on the organisations they represent are contained on page 6 - 7 of the agenda).

The panel received evidence from the following expert witnesses representing business:

Richard Kalmar – Southwark Chamber of Commerce

Michael Spooner – Federation of Small Business

Nadia Broccardo – Team London Bridge

NicDurston – South Bank BID

Laura Griffiths – South Bank Employers Group

Richard Brown – Centre for London

Below is a summary of the points made:

-  The business community are very concerned and feel there is a lot of uncertainty in the process

-  Access to markets needs to be clearer in the White paper – service exports integral to London’s economy

-  This will affect the hospitality and building sectors which have a large percentage of EU workers.

-  In the wake of Brexit business deals have been delayed which has caused a delay in jobs.

-  66% of SME’s would like to reverse Brexit

-  Chamber of Commerce had a debate pre-Brexit and 72% of businesses they spoke to wanted to remain in the EU

-  There is a lack of information particularly around the replacement of EU funding streams

-  Apprenticeship levy has seen a slow uptake but is now being seen as an opportunity

-  There is no office space available in London bridge

-  The London Bridge Station redevelopment has been good for businesses

-  Southwark has remained resilient in the face of high street declines

-  The hospitality industry are increasingly using agency staff

-  There are issues for recruiting around people who have been long term unemployed particularly in the hospitality sector as the work tends to be physically demanding.

-  There is investment going on behind the scenes to avoid a slow drain of labour

-  International companies with offices here are not relocating but are investing in their other EU offices

-  This presents an opportunity with employment and skills for local people. There tends to be a disconnect between local economy/jobs v local people the contributions do not always overlap

-  Destination marketing and collaboratively working with BID’s increases tourism.

-  Security is a concern post-Brexit with regards to information sharing and police resourcing

-  The borough is diverse culturally and economically with a range of businesses and a variety of working styles, as a result this borough is in a better position than others to prepare for Brexit

-  There should be a regional approach/city maker visas to ensure that London does not have a labour drain

-  A system similar to the Australian system where under 30’s have the opportunity to work and stay for 2 years

-  Post study work visas should be granted to retain talent

-  Unemployment is at a historic low but low paid jobs and precarious contracts have increased along with an increase in in-work poverty.

What can the Council do to support businesses?

-  London remains number one in the world for culture and hospitality training and product development.

-  The government should be looking at freedom of labour and people – the Council should lobby for this

-  A scheme to encourage U.K. people to work in the hospitality sector

-  Social media means there is more access than ever to a potential workforce and client base, we need to use this

-  To work with London and Partners around tourism and promote Southwark as a top destination

-  Do not add to the burden on the business community

-  Make sure the public realm is maintained

-  Increase skills and training

-  Information/data sharing

-  One simple interface with the council for businesses

-  Clearer information regarding the Brexit process for businesses and residents

-  BID’s are small teams but champion security and have managed to find extra policing. The Council should look at social regeneration which is culture led

-  To continue to focus on government policy and monitor announcements that will affect residents.

-  Further collaboration with  BIDs and businesses

-  More innovation and skills

-  Use s.106 to support cultural provision in regeneration projects

-  There should be a move away from projects and contracts in culture and creative industries, it is a growing sector so it needs to be made sustainable and locals should be matched up with industry opportunities

-  To encourage businesses to come to Southwark and to co-ordinate existing activity particularly within the creative industries.

How are we making Southwark an attractive place to live and play and work?

-  More London Living Wage employers

-  To tackle the lack of Affordable Housing

-  Knife Crime Strategy/VAWG strategy to improve safety

-  The borough’s culture and tourism

-  Robust responses against Hate Crime

-  Tech, TV production and video skills are the main areas that the Council should be focused on.