Minutes 2nd June 2009

CRYSTAL PALACE & NORWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Minutes of Main Meeting, 2nd June 2009, Yak and Yeti Restaurant, 107 Church Road
Those present:

Ray Hall* (New Crystal Palace, Chair)
Andrew Parfitt* (Honorary Secretary)
Ramesh Appadoo (Grand Bay)
Matthew Ball (Electron Repro Ltd)
Hannah Bougen* (Full Spectrum Integration)
Sarah Dacre* (Amphlett Lissimore)
Peter George (GO Contaminated Land Solutions)
John Greatrex* (Sainsburys)
Charles Kejeh (De-Charles Resources)
Vienna Kelly (The Bigger Picture Gallery)
Don Madgwick (Abbazappa Records)
Kevin Monk (MangoSwiss)
Stan Morris* (Shine Bright)
Mike Mulvey (London Business Network)
Sue Nagle* (Bambinos)
Stuart Packer (voiceover artist)
Jonathan Rowlandson (Jonathan Rowlandson Design)
Tim Sharville (Mango Swiss)
Andy Stem (Bambino’s)
Emma Stewart (Women Like Us)
Jane Arte Watt (JAG Contemporary Design)

* Management Committee

Apologies

Kathryn Bonds (Phoenix Community Centre and Chutzpah – Vintage Jewellery and Modern Silver Jewellery)
Kevin Carleton-Reeves (transport consultant)
Cllr George Filbey* (LB Croydon)
Efisio Fronteddu (Mediterranea)
Jason Hadden (guest, Parliamentary Candidate for Croydon North)
Frank Lissimore* (Amphlett Lissimore)
Phil Kenny (Zabadoo Collecting)
Gavin Rookledge (Rook’s Books)
Silke Rudolph* (The Massage Practice)

1.0. Introduction

Ray welcomed all and thanked the Yak and Yeti for agreeing to host the meeting.

1.1. Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the 6th May meeting had been received by all members and were approved as a fair record, with the following amendments:
• Kathryn Bonds’ business should read “Phoenix Community Centre and Chutzpah – Vintage Jewellery and Modern Silver Jewellery);
• Under item 4, in “failings of area” add “lack of suitable function and conference facilities available, in close proximity to the Triangle.”

1.2. Management Committee

Sue Nagle proposed that Hannah Bougen should be elected to the Management Committee in view of her international experience with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and her background work for local businesses in Crystal Palace. Sarah Dacre seconded this proposal. A show of hands showed unanimous support for Hannah’s election. Ray warmly welcomed Hannah and looked forward greatly to her input.

1.3. Chamber Logo

Ray said that the Management Committee had received a lot of good feedback on the logo options and had unanimously decided that design 1a should be adopted, which Tim displayed to the Chamber. The Chamber’s logo will therefore be updated. Ray thanked everyone for their input, and all joined him in applauding Tim for his excellent work.

2.0. Five Minutes of Fame

2.1. Jonathan Rowlandson (Carberry Works, Carberry Road)
http://www.jonathanrowlandson.co.uk/

Jonathan said that he had studied metalwork and design at Middlesex. After a year working as a designer, he set up a studio in Clapham in 1995. Initially he made furniture, but over time has increasingly focussed on garden design and sculpture. He has done a lot of commissions for architects and private clients, locally and from further afield, including Vivienne Westwood. One of his pieces is on display in the 5th floor bar of Harvey Nicholls. He circulated sketchbooks and a magazine brochure he had produced showing a selection of his older and more recent projects.

Jonathan’s premises are just off Westow Hill. Sue noted how there was a threat from new residential development to the artisan cottages and workshops which provide premises for the Triangle’s artistic and craft businesses. Ray agreed that the Chamber should look to resist such pressures, for these activities are a special feature of Crystal Palace. All applauded Jonathan for his work.

2.2. Emma Stewart (Women Like Us)
http://www.womenlikeus.org.uk/home.aspx

Emma said that Women Like Us is a social enterprise, funded by government and employers, whose aim is to help women with children balance their careers and families. Beginning as a pilot in North London in 2005, it was formally launched in autumn 2007 by Harriet Harman. There are now 10,000 women registered with the organisation and 45 staff, almost all part-time.

Women Like Us has worked with about 2,000 employers across London, helping them to offer part-time and flexible work and providing them with advice on training and job design. Employers pay a fee to use their recruitment service, which gives them access to women with a full range of skills.

The approach is based on outreach. 160 schools across London are in partnership with Women Like Us. Women are helped, free of charge, to access the support they need, such as career coaching and advice on job applications. This helps mothers back to the labour market and reduces unemployment.

Emma gave evidence earlier in the day to the House of Commons Select Committee on the Equalities Bill. Her aim is to ensure that part-time work is audited within businesses. She is also keen to promote the benefits of part-time work and the closure of the gender pay gap. For currently in London there is a 45% pay gap between full-time men and part-time women.

Women Like Us are very keen on local jobs for local people. It has partnerships with many local schools and about 500 women from Croydon on its books. It can also support women wanting to set up their own businesses and signpost women to other services. All applauded Emma for this very laudable initiative.

2.3. John Greatrex

John displayed the Olympic torch used in the 1948 Games in London, noting that before then the Olympics had included arts as well as sports. On Saturday 6th June, at 12 noon, he will be launching this year’s June Festival at the Crystal Palace Corner on the top site. All congratulated John on his achievements.

3.0. Main Items

3.1. Mike Mulvey (London Business Network)

Ray introduced Mike Mulvey, the Chief Executive of the London Business Network, saying how impressed he is with the commitment of Mike and his colleagues to enabling a world class Olympics 2012 with strong local business involvement.

Mike said that the London Business Network is a private sector organisation owned by London First, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the London Chamber of Commerce, whose role is to lobby government for improvements to help business interests. It is also lobbying the Olympic authorities on behalf of the business community. Modelled on initiatives at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, it has established the Compete For website, which Mike demonstrated.

The Olympic authorities comprise:
• The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), a public sector organisation in charge of construction and infrastructure, which follows public sector procurement rules;
• The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), a private sector organisation in charge of running the Games, merchandise and marketing, which has more flexible procurement procedures.

There are about 50,000 contracts in the supply chain of the Olympics and an increasing number of these are on CompeteFor. Businesses need to register in order to get alerted to opportunities, both those related to the Olympics and more widely, such as for the London Development Agency (LDA) and Transport for London (TfL). Registration takes about 15 minutes and provides access to a “dating agency” for buyers and suppliers.

CompeteFor provides a transparent process, costing only registrants’ time but allowing businesses access to a wide range of potential contracts. A business needs to input basic information – such as its diversity policies – only once, but this can be used, with the firm’s agreement, many times in the future. Buyers see an anonymised long list of potential suppliers of a contract and their headline details. Only at shortlist stage do they see the names of the businesses.

There are plans in the future to expand CompeteFor to cover London Boroughs and other public sector organisations. All types of business activity are covered and local businesses are strongly encouraged to register at: http://www.competefor.com/ or www.London2012.com/business .

Kevin Monk of Mango Swiss noted that Mango Swiss has expanded its local business directory http://www.crystalpalacelocal.co.uk/ . Anyone local can contribute to the site, which includes events, newsletters, a media watch and a forum. Mike said that ultimately he too wants to have a free-to-use business website, where any business can put their details so that they can compete: for he sees this as genuinely increasing the opportunities for businesses.

In conclusion, Mike, who lives in LB Croydon, said that he is very keen for local businesses to take part in CompeteFor and to win contracts. He would be very happy to follow up with further advice.

Ray thanked him for his very helpful presentation and hoped he would remain in close touch with the Chamber over the coming months and especially as Mike’s thinking and work could be very relevant to the post-Olympic era as well.

4.0. Any Other Business

Vienna Kelly said that The Bigger Picture Gallery is opening next to the Alma at No.93 Church Road. All are invited to the opening drinks from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday 6th June, when there will be the opportunity to meet local artists. For further details of this exciting new venture, please see: info@biggerpicturegallery.co.uk



5.0. Date of Next Main Meeting

Tuesday 14th July, 6.30 for 6.45 p.m.: Patrick’s Wine bar, Westow Hill.