CamdenAbility Launch

1st March 2017 / Posted by CRP Team

February saw the official launch of CamdenAbility, our new collaborative project that aims to improve disability confidence free-of-charge across businesses throughout the London Borough of Camden.

Delivered by Cross River Partnership in partnership with Business Disability Forum, CamdenAbility aims to significantly increase the number of Camden residents with disabilities who are in full-time employment.

The launch, hosted by CamdenAbility member University College London (UCL), was an opportunity for the project’s network to meet, share best practice and discuss their many initiatives promoting inclusiveness and opportunities for disabled Camden residents.

Guest speakers included Helen Isles (Employment Strategy and Development Manager at Camden Council), Helen Macfarlane (Principle Consultant at Business Disability forum), Mike Higgins (Equality and Diversity Lead from UCL), Tom Adams (Branch Manager at Waitrose), Brian Watts (Vice Principle at City Lit), CRP’s Director Susannah Wilks and our Specialist Workplace Co-ordinator delivering the project, Parma Sira (pictured).

The event also introduced the CamdenAbility Events Programme, a series of training events throughout 2017 for the project’s network of employers to meet and disclose updates, be trained on disability best practice, discuss challenges and access expert support from both CRP and BDF teams.

For information about the CamdenAbility project, email Parma Sira or call on 020 7641 2696

Recruit London meets Westminster’s Deputy Leader

28th February 2017 / Posted by CRP Team

In early February Recruit London were invited to meet Councillor Robert Davis, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Heritage, to tell him about the work we do with businesses to secure opportunities for Westminster residents.

After hearing from CRP Director Susannah Wilks, Councillor Davis heard more about our achievements and the Workplace Coordinator model from Recruit London Programme Manager Anna Elliott.

Next, we were joined by Kate Williams, People’s (Store) Manager from New Look. Recruit London has worked with New Look since 2015 and through our partnership work we have placed over 100 Recruit London candidates into a variety of roles at the Oxford Street flagship store and the Marble Arch branch.

One of our Workplace Coordinators, Isabelle Benard, explained how she has worked closely with Kate to develop insight into the culture of New Look. Kate explained to Councillor Davies how much she values Recruit London and trusts us to find talented local residents to work for New Look.

For further information on Recruit London please contact CRP’s Programme Manager Anna Elliott: aelliott@Westminster.gov.uk

London Finance Commission

28th February 2017 / Posted by CRP Team

The London Finance Commission, which helps the Mayor and London’s Local Authorities to improve the tax and public spending arrangements for the city, recently published a report named ‘Devolution: a Capital Idea’. CRP supported a group of Inner London BIDs with a response to the initial devolution proposals, which has been quoted in the final report:

“[in] an increasingly complex economy, facing major challenges not only from Brexit but also from the UK’s chronic low productivity and other issues, London (and all other regions) needs the discretion, flexibility, “fleetness of foot” and ability to take decisions rapidly, while at the same time consulting properly on them first”.

CRP looks forward to continuing to work with the Mayor of London, London Local Authorities and London BIDs to help influence and deliver the best possible outcomes for ongoing financial arrangements.

For further information please contact CRP Director Susannah Wilks.

West End Buyers Club Launch

28th February 2017 / Posted by CRP Team

Cross River Partnership are proud to announce the launch of the West End Buyers Club, a website developed as part of the New West End Company Air Quality Strategy. The website details preferred suppliers of goods and services operating across London’s West End to save businesses money and improve London’s air. Having preferred suppliers reduces the number of vehicles entering central London, improving congestion, reducing emissions and making the West End a more attractive place for all.

To find out more information please contact CRP’s Charlotte Healy.

Funding Secured to Support SME Emission Reduction

27th February 2017 / Posted by CRP Team

CRP is pleased to have been awarded funding from DEFRA’s 2017 Air Quality Grant Scheme to support small and medium enterprises in Camden and Westminster to reduce emissions from deliveries associated with their operations.

Business support will utilise the deliverBEST tool and engagement process being developed through CRP’s URBACT-funded FreightTAILS and Mayor’s Air Quality Fund-supported Clean Air Better Business programmes.

We are also working with other CRP partners to secure additional resource to support yet more businesses to take action.

Contact CRP’s Air Quality Project Manager, Brendon Harper, for more information.

 

Redirecting Personal Deliveries

27th February 2017 / Posted by CRP Team

Over a dozen of CRP’s BID partners are now using www.clickcollect.london to encourage member businesses and their employees to choose to ‘click and collect’ when shopping online.

Click and collect services such as Amazon Lockers and Doddle consolidate parcels and divert unnecessary deliveries from congested and polluted central London streets.

CRP is using the website to support a number of public and private sector employers to deliver behaviour change campaigns with their staff.

The website and promotional materials were developed through CRP’s Mayor’s Air Quality Fund-supported Clean Air Better Business Programme.

Contact CRP’s Air Quality Project Manager, Brendon Harper, for more information.

Mayor’s LEAP

27th January 2017 / Posted by CRP Team
SimonPitkeathley
Cross River Partnership is proud to announce that, Simon Pitkeathley, Co-Chair of CRP, has been chosen as one of only eight business members, for the new pan-London Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) called the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP). 
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced the LEAP members which brings together the Mayor, London Councils and business leaders across all the city’s main sectors. “London is open for business and I look forward to working with the members of LEAP to take forward my new economic development strategy for the capital, generating the jobs and growth we need to keep London prosperous.”
Simon Pitkeathley, CEO of Euston Town and Camden Town Business Improvement Districts and Camden Collective workspace, said: “I am delighted to be appointed to LEAP as we enter an exciting period for Local Enterprise Partnerships. Amongst all the initiatives LEAP oversees, its role in coordinating business support in London through the Growth Hub provides a huge opportunity to scale up London’s thriving start-up community”.
LEAP aims to be a more representative, streamlined and business-led body which will work to boost jobs and support economic growth in London.
To find out more information on the LEAP, please see the following press release. 

CLSRTP Forges Ahead

24th January 2017 / Posted by CRP Team

The Central London Sub Regional Transport Partnership (CLSRTP) is forging ahead in 2017/18! Cross River Partnership is excited to chair CLSRTP for another year with on-going funding from Transport for London (TfL) just confirmed.

The CLSRTP is a valuable opportunity for all central London borough transport officers, policy makers, and place shapers to collaborate on the key challenges facing central London. The partnership has been instrumental in testing new approaches to freight, encouraging walking and improving air quality, which are of relevance to all partner organisations and are now becoming mainstream approaches to transforming central London into a healthy place to work, visit and conduct business.” – Dan Johnson, Borough Projects and Programmes, Transport for London

CRP looks forward to delivering upon the Mayor’s latest transport strategy and developing next year’s program of centrally led projects by:

•  Promoting the feet-first approach to transport, short journeys made on foot
•  Delivering centrally led projects to deliver safe and accessible streets promoting place making
•  Working together to reduce deliveries at busy road times
•  Encouraging onward travel by foot or bike

For more information please contact CLSRTP Chair Jane Overington at joverington@westminster.gov.uk

BEST London yet to come…

23rd January 2017 / Posted by CRP Team

Cross River Partnership is developing a new approach to engaging businesses.  Our Business Efficiency and Savings Tool will start conversations with local businesses and identify actions to help reduce the impacts of delivery and servicing activities.  We will then work with businesses to help those actions be implemented and deliver the BEST impacts for London.

This work is being co-funded by CRP’s Mayors Air Quality Fund Clean Air Better Business programme, and CRP’s URBACT III programme Freight TAILS project.

For more information please contact CRP’s Brendon Harper (bharper@westminster.gov.uk) or Charlotte Knell (cknell1@westminster.gov.uk).

working together illustration

Popular on Social Media

23rd January 2017 / Posted by CRP Team

Some of the most popular tweets from CRP’s Twitter accounts this month include @FREVUE_project’s news on £20m of new government funding for low carbon freight projects, @freight_tails asking whether cities are ready for more delivery vehicles and @CRP_CABB’s interesting stats about online shopping deliveries.

Are you following CRP on Twitter and LinkedIn?