BUSINESS LIFE

news and information for and about business in Lewisham number 25 February/March 2003

Opportunity Community L
ewisham has more than 70 employment and recruitment agencies but there is only one in New Cross a specialist agency focusing on driver hire. The nearest Job Centre for New Cross Gate is in Deptford High Street. There is also a lack of readily accessible business advice services for local people. Now a local employment and enterprise agency, Opportunity Community, has been opened to ensure sustained employment and business opportunities in the area. The agency is a pilot funded by New Cross Gate New Deal for Communities and Equal the London Borough of Lewisham European Funding Partner. It will initially last until March 2003 and, if successful, will run for another two years. Opportunity Community will provide assistance, support and expert guidance on issues regarding training and commerce to both start-ups and existing businesses. It will register peoples interests in personal development and assist with opportunities for realising career aspirations. It will build on key partnerships with local and national

organisations and take advantage of a network of services to signpost individuals for training, employment and business needs. The agency will also give employment advice and ongoing one-to-one support to individuals by assessing employment options and targeting training and job opportunities. It will exploit current labour markets such as the NHS, Police, Fire Brigade, teaching assistants, and the labour and construction sector, etc. Opportunity Community is specically targeted at hard-to-reach groups and individuals who are often at the very rst stages of business development but have nowhere to take their ideas. It is targeting youths who are not in employment or training, school leavers, women, the longterm unemployed, ethnic minorities, those experiencing multiple deprivation, disabled people and ex-offenders. If you think you can benet from this service, contact the NDC Employment and Enterprise Agency at the Kender Housing Ofce, 287 Queens Road, London SE15 2PD or telephone Agency Manager Devi Sohunta on 0208 314 7980.

Lewisham businesses in top 100

Two Lewisham businesses are among the top 100 featured in the Inner City 100, an annual business index led by the New Economics Foundation that locates and celebrates the 100 fastest-growth inner city enterprises in the UK. Launched in 2001, the index aims to: 5 change the perception of the inner city from a no-go area to a vibrant place to do business; 5 advance UK inner city business growth; 5 launch a national movement of inner city entrepreneurs. Lewisham-based Sure Cars was a conventional taxi operator for twenty years until the late-eighties recession when the company reinvented itself as a transport service specialising in the transport of children and adults with special needs. The move was a good one and the company has grown strongly since then with a recent performance incorporating a 169 per cent increase in turnover between 1997 and 2001 to 1.3 million. Acre Lifts, based in Ladywell, which provides service and support for lifts, has grown impressively with turnover rising 290 per cent from 1997 to almost 3 million in the year ending 2001. It thrives on a policy of honesty with clients and staff there is an open and informal management approach and an active apprenticeship scheme. For more details, visit www.theinnercity100.org

Employ a graduate
More graduates want to work in small and medium-sized enterprises. They realise that smaller rms can provide a greater breadth of individual experience and prospects for rapid personal growth, together with earlier opportunities to contribute to the companys development and success than may be possible in larger concerns. Benets to the employer are also wide-ranging. Graduates offer value for money, commitment, enthusiasm, exibility and creativity. They are condent about their skills and are qualied to apply to SMEs, but job information is difcult to nd. If you are an SME employer thinking of recruiting a graduate, you can use Goldsmiths College Careers Service for advertising vacancies and establishing contact with undergraduates and graduates from the college. Goldsmiths is an active member of Lewisham Chamber of Commerce and is currently looking at the feasibility of holding an SME Recruitment and Information Fair later this year. For more information or to register your interest, contact Iain McLoughlin 020 7919 7137 or e-mail i.mcloughlin@gold.ac.uk.

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As Londons business centre spreads eastwards, Deptford just across the river from Canary Wharf is becoming home to a wealth of new enterprises. By Glenn Sebright

BUSINESS LIFE/3

IAN ENNESS

nternationally renowned local artist David Mach has compared Deptford to New York when the artists were moving into the lofts and bringing new life into urban areas. Local residents may have noticed the change, the Council is actively encouraging it, but what many people may not be aware of is just how successful the business community, particularly creative industry, is becoming in Deptford and the positive benets it has already introduced to the area. A cluster of new businesses and developing sites, referred to as the Creative Business Enterprise Zone, are having a strong impact on the success of Deptford a success underlined by festivals such as Deptford X and mixed residential and Akiko Kingsbur y, commercial developments knitwea r designer like Seager and Deals (Cockpit) Gateway. One of the most exciting areas of regeneration over the last few years is Creekside, home to the newly opened Laban centre (see page 11), but neighbouring businesses in SE8 are causing a stir too. The Princes Trust Enterprise Centre (PTEC), based within the Faircharm Trading Estate on Creekside, opened in June 2002 offering affordable premises with specialist support to young people wanting to start up new
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businesses in the area. The centre occupies 6,000 sq.ft. over two oors and by November last year housed 20 businesses, including glass workers, music and related businesses and graphic and web page design. With a training/conference room and a programme of business support events, the centre offers everything a new company needs when starting up. The most exciting thing, says Bob Austin, the general manager, is the amount of cross-selling and referrals that come out of having so many businesses in one place. Cleo Lewis, who lives in Sydenham, is the owner and designer of her own clothing

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Deptford

Spotlight on

Marie Rodgers & Maria Livings of Lush Designs (Cockpit)

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label, Sheajedeye, specialising in casual clothing for young people. Cleo says, Initially I tried to work from home, but it was impossible to work out of my mums kitchen, which is the busiest part of our house. Now I have a unit in the Princes Trust Enterprise Centre, I concentrate on the business and have the professional image I deserve. Its great being among other selfemployed young people and having a business adviser on site I can talk to. Creekside is also home to Cockpit Arts, a contemporary craft and applied arts studio space, for up to 80 designers. Already successfully established in Holborn, the group wanted to expand and with the support of the Council chose Deptford as their next location south of the river. There are not many true business incubator projects working for the creative sector in London, which is why the Council was so keen to support Cockpit Arts to purchase the building freehold. Cockpit offers designers affordable workspace and exhibition facilities along
Rupert Johnstone ceramics (Cockpit) (right)

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with round-the-clock marketing and business support. Studio space manager, Sarah Tibbatts says, The building was completely refurbished before we opened in September. It was important to create the right atmosphere for designers to have their own space, but feel part of everything else that goes on. All of the studios have good natural light with windows looking out into a shared corridor space. Marie Rodgers and Maria Livings of Lush Designs moved into Cockpit Arts in October having struggled to nd a suitable studio for applied arts in southeast London. Marie says, Cockpit Arts kept us local. If it hadnt been for this Richard Lawrence, APT studio space opening up we would have had to take our business out of Deptford after working here for twenty years. Lush specialises in making lampshades, cushions and bags, supplied all over the country to shops including Topaz, but Lewisham residents can buy the designs locally at Greenwich Market. The Art in Perpetuity Trust (APT) was rst to arrive on Creekside. The charity was formed in 1995 by a group of artists who wanted to develop a permanent home for visual art in Deptford. Operating from a 25,000 sq.ft.converted factory building, the APT has 37 studios for ne artists and a modern,

well-equipped gallery and an education suite. Victoria Rance, one of the artists based at the APT explains, Working next to the Creek gives me a different sense of time. It feels more like being in the countryside and that sense of being removed from the stresses of London gives me a space to be imaginative in. Deptford is a world of its own. Last year the APT opened a new gallery Lou Smith, APT space, recently used by Deptford-based modelThe LDA is also funding a Deptford Town making and special-effects company Complete Centre Manager, who will work closely with the Fabrications and there is more to come. The Deptford Traders Association and local next plan is to provide ten new studio spaces for businesses to increase trade and attract further ne artists living in Lewisham or Greenwich investment. Over the next three years a further who are just setting up in business. 260,000 has been The London Development identied to improve Agency (LDA) is keen to support Liz Harrison, APT the environment of the regeneration of Deptford. In the high street to October last year, funding was support local traders. agreed to support neighbourhood Yvonne Order renewal schemes, including manages Nolans, a 20,000 to develop a business fashion business plan to refurbish Deptford which this year Station with a commitment to a celebrates its ftieth further 230,000 over the next year on Deptford High three years. Street. She is also the Chair of the Deptford High Street Association. Yvonne welcomes the regeneration of Deptford and says, Things have changed for the better, but we still have work to do. I am delighted that Deptford train station is going to be improved, it is right in the middle of the high street and is the rst thing visitors see when coming into the town centre. Yvonne describes Deptford as a circle of art following the impact that creative industries have made on the area. As one of Deptford oldest businesses, Yvonne is certainly qualied to give an opinion. Alix MacSweeney, APT

Cleo Lewis, Sheajedeye (PTEC)

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ITS MY BUSINESS

Motion Systems Technology sends special-effects wizardry to Hollywood and the world from the heart of deepest Deptford.
strange object a computerised robot that can move a lm camera at precisely controlled speeds and directions moves to and fro along tracks in a workshop in Creekside SE8. Its the brainchild of Michael Geissler, managing director of Motion Systems Technology Ltd. We make motion-control and remotecontrol systems for the lm industry, says Michael. We have developed very advanced computer control systems that are much smaller and easier to use than previously existing products. Its created a revolution in the lm industry because it makes sophisticated tools accessible to the creatives. In the old days, you had specialist companies providing this service. Its as if Picasso were standing next to somebody else holding a brush and telling them to move it left or right the lm-makers werent in control. Now weve made a tool thats easy for them to use and that is very modern in its electronic concept. This type of technology used to be reserved for big Hollywood productions, but now

On the fast track

low-budget shoots are also using it. The company has systems in India, Japan, Lebanon and Denmark so its a worldwide market. They have recently sold two more systems to Hollywood as well, one to the makers of Crime Scene Investigation. Michaels background was in special effects for lms, but he also began to explore electronic software and set up the company in 1998. Lewishams Business Advisory Service suggested they should apply for a Smart Award (Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology) from the Department of Trade and Industry, which they won in 1999, allowing them to put together a full team. The company is nearly 80 per cent research and development. It designs the software, the electronics and the mechanics but subcontracts to other companies to do the manufacturing. The components then return for assembly, quality control and testing. There are very few rms of this type in the country that cover all aspects of design, electronics and software mechanics, says Michael. Only by having a close link between these elements can you provide new solutions. Turnover has increased enormously recently, and theres another lm coming out soon Jeckyll and Hyde which uses their system. Michael says, The camera had to shoot a scene in exactly the same way twice so that the same actor can be seen twice in the same shot with this system it can be done just by pressing a button.

BUSINESS FACTS
Business Motion Systems Technology Ltd Type Motion-control and remotecontrol systems for the lm industry Location Faircharm Trading Estate, Deptford SE8 Founders Michael Geissler & Mark Seaton Telephone 020 8694 2076

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