20/21 Report Impact Different makes the difference

Who’s Here

The Gantry TG

The Trampery on the Gantry

Atrium A A

Loughborough University London Press Centre PC

Institute of Digital Engineering Plexal VA

LC2

Atrium B B Scope

BT Sport Quadient

BT Studio Barratt London

MATCHESFASHION Studio APL Logistics VA

Studio Wayne McGregor Here East Management Suite D

LMA Sports Interactive FiiT C Atrium C C Plykea D-Ford Ford: Freedom Ford: Movement B Canalside CS PC CS MATCHESFASHION Studio TG Hobs 3D MOTHER F45 Stratford A Atrium D D The Breakfast Club

Ford: Progress Randy’s Wing Bar

Staffordshire University London Gotto Trattoria

Saint Espresso Evolve Four Quarters

V&A VA Bucks Barbers Aura Organics Spa The V&A Research and Collections Centre The Lock Inn through sport Chapters Here East Disability inclusion Impact impact 48 28 06 generation The next retailers Plexal 54 32 14 Our The creative Humans of Here East industries Looking ahead 60 42 20

02-03 Here East Impact Report 20/21

Alongside this, we have continued to develop Their continued commitment to making an a wide range of programmes and opportunities impact has been extraordinary, from Hobs 3D to promote employment and build relationships and MATCHESFASHION Studio sewing scrubs with local boroughs. We are very proud to have for NHS staff, to our universities adapting with received national recognition for this work, winning online open days and new mentoring programmes, the Grand Final of the commercial category at the to the work of Plexal members Badu Sports and National RICS Social Impact Awards 2020. Here One Family providing food donations and an East was praised by the judges for its social and emergency care fund respectively. environmental impact and was recognised for its benefits to the local community, fulfilling an economic and social need in the area. Looking ahead Together, we have created a strong foundation on which East London – and the city and country Impacting East London as a whole – can build in the coming years. With education disrupted, communities isolated Foreword and the employment landscape transformed across Beyond our walls and into the wider Queen Elizabeth the country over the past year, our resolve to be a Olympic Park, the London Stadium itself has the Gavin Poole, CEO, Here East leader in East London has only been strengthened. potential to generate millions in income once fans It is more important than ever that we deliver on are allowed back into stadiums. our goals and, where possible, accelerate activity to provide even greater support for our community. The emerging cultural quarter of East Bank will bring Different makes the difference Delivering on our vision Our tenants have done the same, remaining Making a difference is built into the DNA of Here While the landscape has changed beyond resilient, adaptable and community-focused. Sadler’s Wells East, London East. To deliver on the Olympic legacy, we are recognition, even in this most challenging of years, Even while experiencing their own challenges, College of Fashion and committed to playing our part in the regeneration our ability to work with, and support, communities they have been seen to come together in more of East London through job creation, access to has not diminished. innovative ways to support our community. BBC Music to East London, education and inclusive community initiatives. alongside the V&A East Over the past 12 months, Here East has continued From the moment the proposal for Here East was to expand. Not only in terms of the growth of the Project – which will house a first put forward to the London Legacy Development businesses based on our campus – from some of new collection and research Corporation (LLDC) in 2012, through to our doors this country’s leading universities, to the fast-growth first opening in 2016 and right up until the present startups delivering the innovations of the future centre at Here East – making day – a time when businesses and communities from Plexal, to those making us the largest esports this part of the city a global have experienced extraordinary disruption – we cluster in the UK – but also by continuing to widen cultural hub. have strived to do things differently. We have strived the impact we make on East London and beyond. to deliver for East London’s people and its economy. But the work does not stop here. The impact of the The pandemic has put significant pressure on pandemic will be long-lasting and much more needs And we are succeeding. The International jobs, training and mental health, highlighting the to be done to support our businesses and to rebuild Olympic Committee has described Queen Elizabeth challenges we must all face together. And so, we communities. We need to continue to listen and act. Olympic Park as ‘transformational’, responsible for understand the need for businesses across all Of course, this is not a solo project; we continue breathing new economic life and opportunities industries to collaborate with education providers to work with the London Legacy Development into this community. and engage closely with their local communities Corporation and through collaboration and joint to make a tangible, long-lasting difference. With Here East and Plexal at its core, Queen endeavours we can both achieve so much more. Elizabeth Olympic Park is one of the largest and In January 2021 we launched a scholarship To recover, London has to put its best foot most successful regeneration projects in London, programme, to support local people through forward, and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is and a model for cities around the world to replicate. higher education courses at the world-class a place I believe East London’s residents and While a small minority have criticised its legacy, in institutions based on our campus, including businesses are incredibly proud of. In this report, leading Here East since we started the project over LMA and Staffordshire University London. I believe, you will see why. nine years ago I have seen first-hand the positive impact we are making. Conversations around such an initiative have been ongoing as the educational offering on our campus has grown. The socio-economic impact of the pandemic only hardened our resolve and we are delighted to be launching the scheme this year. Image: Ciaran McCrickard 7 Here East Impact Report 20/21

We have launched Here For the post-pandemic recovery to work, start-ups and fast-growth companies need business-ready East’s first podcast series, talent. We need to be able to harness existing Listen Here, continued to talent pools in the next generation and help to deliver activities and events develop them. In this report, you will read about the educational opportunities provided by our Continuing online for families and local universities and the brilliant community-minded young people through the organisations dedicated to creating a space for young people to thrive. LLDC’s EAST Education to deliver for programme, supported Badu You will also read about our retailers, who have remained resilient and community-focused in the Sports’ mentoring group, and face of disruption to their day-to-day business, developed an exciting new and get an insight into the innovative startups committed to disability inclusion and accessibility, East London partnership with a local social to name just a few. enterprise Beyond the Box. Jasel Nandha, Head of Community As we emerge from lockdown and return to in- and Partnerships, Here East This project will see London’s first community person convening on a wider scale, I am incredibly space designed entirely by young people – a bold excited about what is to come – from the first intake new project aimed at inspiring the next generation of our scholarship programme, to the many exciting of budding engineers, architects, designers and initiatives coming from the impressive work that our tenants are doing. Whether they have been working In 2019, we decided that we wanted to capture and had, but we are under no illusion that the lifting curators from across East London. The People’s from home, or enjoying the space of our campus, spotlight the work done with and by our tenants of lockdown will see an end to many of these Pavilion is a co-design project that seeks to flip you will see here just how much incredible work for the first time, as an essential part of our impact challenges without hard work, vision and creativity. the script on who gets a say in the design of public our partners and friends have continued to deliver. measurement. Communicating the work that is space, and we are pleased to have so many Here Many young people still face barriers in attending East partners collaborating on it, including: Hawkins happening on campus is crucial in demonstrating In the year ahead, I am hopeful that we will continue university due to socio-economic circumstances and Brown, Hobs 3D, the Bartlett School of Architecture, our value to the region, for sharing best practice to grow with our tenants and foster even greater it is right that we work to remove these to ensure V&A East, Studio Wayne McGregor, REMI.C.T and with others and promoting a culture of learning, community collaboration. We can only do this with students can live up to their full potential. This year many more. opportunity and transparency. the support of our community members and warmly we launched our brand-new scholarship programme, welcome your engagement in the coming months. Our first two impact reports allowed us to which will directly support young people entering present what we have done well, reflect on higher education. areas for improvement and set out how we as an organisation are looking to grow and The scholarship programme will cover the full tuition develop. In the context of the past year, and fees for up to three people each year living in local all the challenges that it has brought, we felt boroughs. We welcome applications from students it was more important than ever to reflect. who are the first in their family to go to university and where the cost may be prohibitive. In what has been a difficult 12 months, our tenants have been faced with the same concerns While these scholarships will also offer students as so many others. The pandemic has had a work opportunities through our tenants, this is about significant impact on us all, both personally and far more than maintaining a pipeline of talent for our in our businesses, with many having to furlough own partners. We believe we have a responsibility to staff or even restructure their operations for a look after the prospects of the incoming workforce digital world. While furlough in particular was a generation, to continue developing opportunities in lifeline for many, we cannot underestimate the our local area and beyond. impact it had on teams and individuals. Listening to community needs, being adaptable and In wider society, access to education and youth empathetic, is at the forefront of our community unemployment have understandably been at the work. Like many, we have had to adapt to new ways forefront of the discussion over the past year. The of working, making the best of our new virtual world pandemic highlighted and exacerbated inequalities and reaching new audiences. that are long-standing and deep-rooted. It is important that these conversations are being 9 HereEast Impact Report 20/21

Going above and beyond We laid out our vision and roadmap to position Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park as the country’s leading esports cluster

The challenges of 2020 impacted everyone – will read about much of this work throughout this from our tenants to the communities around us. report, we wanted to share with you the initiatives But throughout this time, Here East and the that kept our communities going in the early stages Our commitment to the next generation Supporting the future of talent in these ways businesses based here have continued to go of the pandemic, and those that will look to build remains steadfast with the launch of our scholarship allows us to build on our further ambition to drive above and beyond to make a difference. While you foundations for them to thrive further into the future. programme, and further collaborations with both future industries, In February we launched our new our tenants and external partners. We have been podcast ‘Listen Here’ that looks at the businesses working with Beyond the Box Consultants and the and trends defining a range of sectors. And with our Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) over Esports Feasibility Report, we laid out our vision and the past year to launch the People’s Pavilion – a roadmap to position Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park competition to create London’s first community as the country’s leading esports cluster. space designed entirely by young people. The project provides young people with a full We have continued to welcome new tenants to the programme of free skills workshops led by industry campus. Evolve Skateboards – one of the world’s Here East Here East was professionals and creatives from across London. leading electric skateboard brands – chose our praised by Canalside as its new home, joining our thriving For National Careers Week in March 2021, we community of companies working on the future As part of our rapid response to the pandemic, the judges for partnered with the London Legacy Development of mobility. We also welcomed Plykea, a company we offered free parking on-site for key workers its social and Corporation’s education team and Staffordshire challenging the status quo of kitchen design – who needing to access Homerton Hospital. We arranged University London to deliver a series of workshops chose Here East as the home for their new London the delivery of up to 1400 food parcels to local environmental for local young people, as part of East Education flagship design studio, workshop and kitchen vulnerable people through HMG Foodbank, and impact, as Careers Week. The online sessions include behind- showroom space. significant equipment support to aid food bank the-scenes virtual tours, getting insider information logistics. We also worked closely with schools to well as for the on how to perfect your portfolio and learning all provide fortnightly grocery boxes to families in need collaboration about the different jobs involved in engineering. of critical support, as well as care packs to frontline workers at hospitals, including St Thomas’, Chelsea and innovation & Westminster and the Nightingale. themes

Our community impact was recognised as best in the commercial category at the Grand Final of the National RICS Social Impact Awards 2020, recognising the built environment’s positive and transformational contribution to society. Here East was praised by the judges for its social and environmental impact, as well as for the collaboration and innovation themes which are firmly rooted within the campus’ core vision. We were recognised for our benefits to the local community, for fulfilling an economic and social need in the area through our mentorships, community and educational programmes. 11 Here East Impact Report 20/21

Our tenants: rapid response Badu Sports Randy’s Wing Bar From the beginning of the pandemic, Badu Having been based at Here East for nearly six years, Sports recognised that its community would Randy’s Wing Bar felt a responsibility to support the be among the hardest hit, immediately getting community in Hackney Wick, providing free school to work providing food delivery support for the meals during school holidays. The response to this local area, from the Press Centre at Here East. will see Randy’s extend its support for the long-term, This ended up stretching to Tower Hamlets, continuing to work with charities to fund this Islington and even Westminster. It also set up a kind of service moving forward. range of services including a helpline for parents, Global Disability LMA as well as an online chat function for its young people. For those without access to a computer, Innovation Hub Building and opening a brand-new state-of-the-art a laptop loaning scheme was implemented to campus during the height of the pandemic was a During the first lockdown, GDI Hub worked ensure anyone could contact Badu Sports when challenge for LMA, but it successfully adapted in its alongside our international partners and UCL they needed to. Plexal also provided a quiet study teaching and engagement – pivoting some of the to explore solutions for PPE and ventilation space for those whose home environment was One Family course content and how this was delivered. devices, focused around the challenges of a lack not conducive to remote learning. of affordable, quality products, trained personnel, Plexal member One Family has been working manufacturing, production and global suppliers. with hospitals, schools and care groups, who are on the frontline of providing support to those most vulnerable, to provide care packages, food and grants for doctors, nurses, teachers and families who have been directly affected by the pandemic. FiiT

ELIEZ While many have struggled with the pressures ELIEZ co-created a series of virtual workshops and impact of lockdown, others have felt more for members with its partner network, digital productive from cutting out the stresses agency Bravand and the Institute of Chartered associated with going to work. This has led to Accountants (ICAEW). Sessions showcased 40% of people reporting that they exercised MATCHESFASHION Studio inclusive ways of working, implementing best more in 2020 than they had previously. FiiT’s home MATCHESFASHION Studio joined and assisted practice initiatives for online meetings. workouts enabled this for many. It also provided a 25% discounted membership to all NHS workers. with logistics for the Emergency Designer Network, a volunteer-based network of design companies brought together to provide scrubs and personal protective equipment for key workers in hospitals.

Studio Wayne McGregor MOTHER The pandemic posed significant challenges for the creative industries, with the closure MOTHER provided good, nutritious food to of theatres and studios, and the cancellation people during the pandemic – offering juice, Hobs 3D of tours. In response to this, Studio Wayne cakes and sausage rolls to the three local McGregor launched RESET – a professional hospitals. The team there also ran initiatives 3D printing studio Hobs 3D used its development programme for dancers – in with local community food kitchen Made in technology to produce perspex visors August 2020 with Here East providing a Hackney, providing plant-based meals to for the NHS distribution network. space for the programme as in-kind support. vulnerable members of our community. 13 Here East Impact Report 20/21

Read about Plexal’s continued Plexal: Co-working commitment to building a more and collaboration accessible space for all of its members and how LORCA is at the heart of accelerating the UK’s most exciting cyber startups Here East 15 Here East Impact Report 20/21

Plexal case study Supporting startups Dom Hyams, Founder, Tiny Man Digital and investing in

Tiny Man Digital is a digital marketing agency accessibility that enables companies of all shapes and sizes to shine online. From branding to strategy and content creation, we help companies adapt to the digital-first world in their marketing Kate Pearman, Chief Operating Officer, Plexal and communications.

I was born with Osteogenesis imperfecta, commonly known as Brittle Bones, and through This work led to Purple Goat Agency my experience of disability and disability-related approaching me to join their Influencer and The past year has crystallised for us what for members that have led to them winning organisations, I found a natural connection with Digital Marketing agency on a full-time basis. Plexal’s mission is, and the role we play in contracts and investment, we have a deeper those looking to create more accessible and We had very aligned values which made the journeys of our members. understanding of what our community needs inclusive content. working together a pleasure - after all, and we’re actively helping them grow. It has been an immensely challenging period collaboration is king! This is a new venture for me. I was on furlough for many of our members, especially the When I look at our community now, it’s over the summer and took on several freelance Plexal and Here East have been brilliant at smaller, early-stage companies whose revenue stronger than ever and there are so many digital marketing jobs. When I was set to be connecting me with like-minded organisations streams have been affected by the pandemic. collaborations happening. Our members have made redundant, I was pushed to start Tiny and people. Together, we are in the process We had to pivot very quickly, putting the right also adapted and risen to the challenges faced Man Digital, which quickly grew to the point of helping a number of organisations in the health and safety measures in place to make by society and our economy. MOONHUB where I was taking on additional resource to community with their digital marketing needs. sure that members who needed to come has enabled organisations to deliver remote meet demand. into our workspace could continue to do so training, FiiT delivers online fitness classes, safely. We have also taken on a campaigning SureCert has developed a platform for role through our Startup Tracker, which NHSX to connect people with volunteering highlighted the fact that early-stage startups opportunities, and our entire community were struggling to attract venture capital rallied behind Badu Sports over Christmas as investors became more risk-averse. to help them support families in East London Accessibility Meanwhile, our cyber ecosystem has found ways to our main hot-desking zone and many more subtle with food and hampers. James Kong, who is come together online through events like LORCA but impactful changes. Being part of an inclusive More than that, we’ve become partners and inclusion the founder of Alp Technologies, is helping Live as well as our roundtables and masterclasses innovation ecosystem at Here East has meant that with our community. fellow members source grant funding by have been for startups. In addition, we’ve strengthened links we’ve made these changes collectively, sharing Our virtual events programme and social sharing his expertise. priorities for between the UK and Oman’s startup ecosystems insights, ideas and expertise. It’s so important to us activities – which have included meetups through the Rapid Innovation Accelerator: the that Plexal is a place that all innovators can access. This was always the vision for Plexal, and Plexal in the for founders, women in business and our cross-border, virtual-first accelerator we delivered it is fantastic to see it come to fruition. LGBTQ+ members – bring our last year for the UK Oman Digital Hub. Innovation takes an ecosystem community together. As we begin to recover from the pandemic, the Putting accessibility first members of our workspace and our programmes We’ve also introduced more office hours, Accessibility and inclusion have been priorities have one thing in common: they value coming which enable us to provide tailored support. for Plexal in the last year. As a delivery partner for together as a community and solving problems Whether it is helping founders tap into the East London Inclusive Enterprise Zone (ELIEZ), together. And whether they do that using hybrid government support or making introductions we’ve worked with partners in our community to working models, by collaborating with members champion the inclusive innovation sector through on-site or by engaging with us virtually, Plexal’s our accelerator for 30 cohort members. mission is to bring these communities together and enable meaningful collaboration to happen. On top of this, we have made Plexal more accessible for people with a range of seen and unseen disabilities by introducing height- adjustable desks, improving the acoustics of 17 Here East Impact Report 20/21

LORCA case study Growing the UK’s most Jonathan Slater, Co-founder, CAPSLOCK connected cyber

CAPSLOCK’s intensive training boot-camp innovation ecosystem re-skills adults into cybersecurity professionals within six months. Designed in collaboration with industry leaders including Lloyds Banking Group, BT and Dell, we equip students with Saj Huq, Director of Innovation, Plexal However, we’re fortunate to have developed the skills to pursue competitive careers in our product around online education delivery, cyber-security. so we were not negatively impacted by Being a part of Plexal is an important collaboration remote working. for us given we’re still at pre-seed stage. We’re The past year has shone a light on just how We’ve now delivered five accelerators that Despite the challenges, we have been able able to collaborate with industry leaders and the mission-critical cybersecurity is to every part have supported 72 cyber startups from the to raise £540,000 in funding, which allows a wider Plexal team, who offer crucial innovation of society and our economy. From enabling UK and abroad. Our members have raised over full-time team of eight to operate on a 12-month support. It’s helped us to hire better talent, raise people to work remotely and defending critical £177m in investment, generated over £37m in runway. We’ve enrolled 85 learners onto our equity funding and secure grant funding. national infrastructure, to maintaining trust revenue and won more than 1,200 contracts career-changing cyber course and we’re likely to and protecting healthcare organisations when and counting. They have created over 600 jobs For a company looking to raise pre-seed funding, enrol another 100 by the end of 2021. We have they’re at their most vulnerable, cyber startups and delivered over 900 proofs of concept since the pandemic has been a difficult period. Angel 32% women on our course – above industry have risen to the challenge. And Plexal’s role joining LORCA. investors and funds decreased their appetite to standard – and are proud to be taking active steps has been to help those startups scale and make early-stage investments. to increase diversity within the sector. Meanwhile, our member VIVIDA, which delivers address the challenges of both industry and cyber training in a story-led, immersive way, has the public sector. recently won a contract through LORCA with a Our London Office for Rapid Cybersecurity major UK bank. This is an example of how, with Advancement (LORCA) programme has been the right conditions and methodologies, we can the cornerstone of this work. Over the past few direct innovation happening within the startup years, we have built the UK’s most connected community towards solving a specific challenge Our members Lockdown and remote working hasn’t been a barrier As for the way we engage with the Here East cybersecurity ecosystem, which brings together or addressing an opportunity for businesses have raised – we quickly pivoted to make sure all our workshops, campus, we have strong relationships with all of the mentoring, networking events, trade missions and academic institutions that are located here. This startups, industry, technology leaders, academic and society. over £177m experts, security experts, policymakers and roundtables could be delivered wholly online. And offers a potential talent pipeline for our members. I’m also extremely proud of the way our investors into a collaborative community. This in investment, while we’re all extremely keen to get together at the We’re keen to increase our engagement with cyber members have stepped up during the now spans the length and breadth of the generated soonest opportunity, working remotely hasn’t been a students across the campus as we work to make pandemic. To name just a few examples, country, connecting London with cyber hubs barrier when it comes to achieving the ecosystem- cyber more diverse, and we want to encourage a CAPSLOCK is making the sector more diverse over £37m in like Manchester and Cheltenham, and link-ups wide collaboration we aim to engineer. two-way flow of insights and ideas between Plexal by enabling people to retrain and pick up the with global hubs in Israel, Singapore, the revenue and and our neighbours on campus. cyber skills industry needs, while Threat Status One highlight that was a big moment for Plexal US and more. won more offered its data breach monitoring services free was when Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for As the UK’s economic recovery begins, We have applied Plexal’s open innovation of charge to health organisations worldwide. than 1,200 Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, visited us during cybersecurity will continue to play a central role approach to LORCA, to galvanise startups contracts London Tech Week for a socially distanced meeting. when it comes to creating jobs, keeping people He wanted to learn more about the ecosystem we safe online and unlocking the opportunities around specific challenge areas and also and counting use insights from buyers and investors to had built, and we were able to introduce him to our created by technology. Investment into cyber shape the growth of those startups. The fast-growth members such as Privitar and Heimdal startups is at record levels, demand from industry proof is in the numbers and the amazing Security, who he was immensely impressed by. for security innovation is growing and we have a hyper-connected ecosystem that’s been built success stories we have to show. And we have only just begun. In June 2021, we’ll over the last few years. We’re primed and ready be turbocharging the growth of six graduates of to build on these strong foundations. our accelerator on our Ignite programme, and we’ll continue to work closely with industry on specific challenge areas that cut across sectors. 19 Here East Impact Report 20/21

Meet just a few of the inspiring Humans of people on our campus working Here East to make an impact, with the support of Plexal and The Trampery on the Gantry 21 Humans of Here East Here East Impact Report 20/21

Nana Badu Cllr Mete Coban MBE Founder, Badu Sports CEO, My Life My Say

Badu Sports focuses on educational and We knew as soon as the pandemic began that I am the founder of My Life My Say - a We published a report including the community development, using sports as our the families and schools we work with were youth-led, non-partisan charity on a mission experiences of young people throughout the initial tool of engagement to achieve our aims. going to be hit the hardest. There is a poverty of to empower young people to participate pandemic, which we are using as an advocacy We aim to offer positive role models, advice and knowledge that means many in our community in democracy. Young people have been tool to challenge the government to do more guidance, so that from an early age our young do not know where to go to access the support disproportionately impacted by the effects of the for young people. It is so important that we people form the positive habit of goal setting. they need. We aimed to bridge that gap, by pandemic, so it’s incredibly important that this make sure the lessons of the pandemic are not being a place that supported them through all generation has a voice in shaping their future. forgotten, because there is so much good that While we provide a high standard in physical their needs – from food distribution, to mental can be taken from this challenge. education to develop a healthier body, we As we have not been able to travel around the health support, to a space to work. also provide mentoring to develop a healthier country or bring people together face-to-face, At Here East, you are surrounded by so many mind. In addition to this, we maintain high Here East and Plexal were pivotal in providing the past year forced us to rethink our digital inspiring organisations. Being part of such a of expectations for all our members staff to us with the space and resources we needed strategy and increase our online presence. This diverse community has meant we have formed ensure that all children we engage develop to deliver for our community. All of the led to a huge increase in digital engagement some amazing partnerships that would have to the best of their abilities. organisations here get it and want to help. and a social media reach of over three million been much harder to access otherwise. It is a campus full of genuinely good people. people, which has been hugely beneficial for This has massively contributed to the scale our growth and impact. of our growth. 23 Humans of Here East Here East Impact Report 20/21

Andrew Vargerson Lydia Thornley Founder, DesignEast Founder, Studio Lydia Thornley

We are a design consultancy that specialises We have been lucky enough to have had a I’m a designer, creative director, reportage During the pandemic I have broadened my in surface design, large format print and signage sufficient workload throughout the pandemic – sketcher and workshop presenter. I work with creative practice. I have begun to present online production. We are bridging the gap between in large part due to increased demand for social clients as a design partner, with collaborators workshops and adapted the design work I do on design agency and sign-maker to tackle what I distancing signage. I would like to think that and on my own projects. My work is done to communications, as clients have pivoted their see as an understanding gap between design we have made a difference in keeping people shape brands, tell stories, help people to see own activities online. and production. Thinking this way helps us to aware of the risks. the world differently and build connections. As a Trampery member in a co-working space create well-thought-out designs that not only The sheer scale of some of the projects we At the Trampery on the Gantry I’m in a who could work from home, I elected to do so work, but look good. produced at a time when many companies were community of fellow creators. This has to make more, safer space for my studio-mates, Being part of the Trampery on the Gantry struggling has given me the confidence to take enormous value as an inspiring working staying connected virtually. It has been isolating has been fantastic for collaboration, giving us on the next stage of our business growth. environment and a “hive mind” to ask questions at times, but we have a Slack channel and an opportunity to work with most of the studios We are in the process of moving to a bigger of. It’s also exciting to be a part of the innovative WhatsApp group, the Trampery has provided based here on the branding of their own studio space on-site and are looking at growing the spirit of the wider Here East community, and the online resources and workshops for members spaces, as well as with the wider Here East team further. cultural and creative communities of Hackney and I’m making a phased return to co-working. and Plexal community. Wick and East Bank.

25 Humans of Here East Here East Impact Report 20/21

Teoman Ayas and Gerhild Ayas Dami Hastrup Founders, MIMStudios Founder and CEO, MOONHUB

We are a multidisciplinary design studio an exchange of ideas and experiences with MOONHUB takes the existing Learning and were interviewed on BBC Breakfast and specialising in architecture. We are a young other creatives. Development (L&D) in corporate companies 5Live, and were winners of the East London practice, passionate about developing design- and converts them into virtual reality interactive Innovators award. None of this would have The pandemic led us to embrace the digital led projects. Our backgrounds are in advanced training scenarios to allow for higher return on been possible had we not been a part of tools we use more than ever. We were able to 3D design using various digital tools. These investment and engagement from L&D spend. Plexal and Here East. Having a community develop design ideas regardless of time and tools enable us to approach design at various around us to support us has been priceless. place, and adapted stricter organisation of the Our patent-pending spot and jot scoring scales, from jewellery to furniture, interiors information within our digital files. Doing so technology helps companies capture vital data As you can imagine, being a start-up in the to stand-alone buildings. enabled more efficient communication with from their L&D content that they’re not fully midst of a global pandemic that is toppling We have been living in East London for a our collaborators. utilising. Our platform is easy to scale and is the biggest of companies isn’t a walk in the long time. As internationals ourselves, we’ve geared towards enterprise companies with park. However, owing to the nature of work However, during the pandemic our natural always identified with its creative and diverse many users. and as an innovative team, we were not only means of networking and community activities community. So, when we moved our practice able to survive but thrive, with more clients, stalled for obvious reasons. So, we looked for We joined Plexal in 2018 and since then our into the Trampery on the Gantry it only made an investment round that’s kicked off strongly alternative local organisations which offered growth has been exponential. We received sense for us. The creative community within and a larger team. scheduled meetings online, increasing our investment from Sports Interactive studio Here East captures the essence of East exposure. This gave us the opportunity to director Miles Jacobson, we were featured London. Our collaborations have been mingle again, albeit from behind a screen. in the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000, 27 Here East Impact Report 20/21

The Global Disability Innovation A home for Hub and the East London Inclusive Enterprise Zone are addressing the pressing need disability for inclusive innovation inclusion 29 Here East Impact Report 20/21

New ways of The inclusive thinking about enterprise movement

Bhavna Malkani, Programme Lead, ELIEZ and Anike Mlemchukwu, disability innovation Founder, Lapapo Special Needs

Louise Gebbett, Public Engagement Lead, Global Disability Innovation Hub The East London Inclusive Enterprise Zone for wheelchair users,” says Bhavna. “We (ELIEZ) is a community of entrepreneurs, also collaborated with Disability Rights UK to business leaders and design thinkers who share our members’ experiences, so students The Global Disability Innovation (GDI) Hub Paralympic coverage for free to over 150 are disabled or whose work focuses on could learn about innovation in the adaptive was launched following the London 2012 million people in 30 countries in sub-Saharan disabled people. fashion space.” Olympic and Paralympic Games, which stood Africa. Wrapping around a research and The ELIEZ consortium is formed of 13 Looking to improve accessibility in all aspects out as the most accessible Olympics and schools programme, linked to the IPC’s partners, led by UCL. This includes Here East, of business, ELIEZ co-produced an accessible Paralympics ever. “I’m Possible” programme, we will Plexal, LLDC, GDI Hub, Disability Rights UK, communications guide alongside Bravand, to tackle stigma through para sport and GDI Hub evolved from a desire to uphold this Loughborough University London, London help companies create accessible content. community engagement. legacy and maintain focus on driving disability College of Fashion and Barclays Eagle ELIEZ also released a podcast – Inclusive innovation. Operational in 35 countries, we Recently we were announced as the world’s Labs. Together, the network delivers ground- Innovators, hosted by Matt Pierri, founder of work with 70 partners, delivering projects first World Health Organisation Collaborating breaking programmes and projects in disability SociAbility – which shares under-recognised across a portfolio of £50m. To date we have Centre on Assistive Technology. Never has innovation, and has given unlimited support to and inspiring stories of inclusive innovation. reached 12 million people by developing there been a more important time to address 30 entrepreneurs. The inaugural ELIEZ cohort included Lapapo bold approaches, building innovative the needs of disabled and older people, as Bhavna Malkani, programme lead at ELIEZ, Special Needs, a community platform to share partnerships and creating ecosystems to globally we look to build back fairer from says: “A large part of the programme knowledge about disabilities, and for parents accelerate change. the COVID-19 pandemic. The Collaborating delved into how workspaces can be more of children with special needs to find products Centre status recognises the value and impact Through Here East, we have been able to accessible. With a panel led by Disability and information. Founder Anike Mlemchukwu

of assistive technology on the lives of Image: Ciaran McCrickard amplify that message and work with like- Rights UK, ELIEZ’s partners found a deeper says: “We combine a product marketplace people globally. minded organisations, pioneering new ideas, understanding of the practical challenges with an information hub that shares parents’ technologies and learning. In the early stages We have also expanded our digital reach to that people with a range of seen and unseen stories and information from professionals. of the first lockdown, we worked alongside a global audience. Our webinar series attracts disabilities face. We are trying to become a one-stop-shop our international partners and UCL to explore audiences across 60 different countries, if you have a child with special needs. Recently “This helped Plexal to become a place solutions for PPE and ventilation devices, helping to amplify our message further. where disabled and non-disabled innovators “One of the benefits of being part of ELIEZ focused around the challenges of a lack of we were The focus on accessibility across Here East collaborate, co-create solutions and shape was getting a mentor, whose expertise has affordable, quality products, trained announced as is vital for us, both with regard to our own the future of inclusive innovation.” been incredibly valuable. He challenged me personnel, manufacturing, production accessibility and the campus’ ability to attract the world first to re-evaluate preconceptions about Lapapo and global suppliers. ELIEZ co-created a series of virtual a number of other disability-based through market research.” World Health workshops for members with its partner Our MSc programme in Disability Design and organisations. Being here means being part Organisation network, digital agency Bravand, and the The ELIEZ network continues to pioneer Innovation is delivered across three different of the innovation community and it is a real Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW). for change in the disability innovation space. academic institutions – UCL, Loughborough privilege to be able to contribute to this, as Collaborating Sessions showcased inclusive ways of By accelerating the development of products University London (both founding partners of well as benefit from the work of others. Centre on working, implementing best practice and services that address unmet needs, it GDI Hub) and London College of Fashion. Here East puts organisations in a unique Assistive initiatives for online meetings. creates inclusive spaces where innovators position to amplify each other’s voices and As part of our UK Aid funded AT2030 can flourish and grow. make a bigger impact overall. Technology “We ran an adaptive fashion hack with programme, we also work with Loughborough students at London College of Fashion, and University London on the Sport Against Barclays Eagle Labs showed students how Stigma programme, where we will air 3D printers can be used for adaptive fashion 31 Here East Impact Report 20/21

Here East and our tenants Supporting are dedicated to creating opportunities for East London’s the next next generation to thrive generation 33 Here East Impact Report 20/21

Training the future of Sports Interactive

Matt Carroll, Chief Operating Officer, Sports Interactive, Aaron Hesse-Owusu, Abdullah Patel, Luke Hume, Trainees, Sports Interactive

We have been exploring the idea of offering Abdullah Patel: Like Aaron, my story starts a traineeship at Sports Interactive for some with Badu Sports, without whom I wouldn’t time now, to find a pathway for people who have found out about this opportunity. I live close to the studio to work with us. was already looking at apprenticeships and when I saw there was the opportunity for With a successful internship programme three placements on this scheme, and that already established, we felt that we had the I could get such a range of experience, I groundwork to do this. And so, we created a gave it a shot. two-year fixed-term placement, bringing in brilliant in giving us all a budget for our mental The aim will Tell us about each of your current three trainees on the London Living Wage. Luke Hume: One of my friends already health and logistical spending, as well as the be for three placements and how you’re finding it. They will take on three placements of worked here as a quality assurance tester. occasional takeaway! They’re only small things AHO: eight months throughout the scheme, He told me about the scheme and it came new trainees I’m in the communications team at the but they make a massive difference. handing over to one another at the end at a time when I wasn’t really enjoying what to come moment, dealing with everything from advertising LH: It was strange at first. I quite enjoyed not of each secondment. I was doing. It was the right opportunity at opportunities to removing pirate copies of the game onto the having a commute but it is strange to think the right time. from the internet. I don’t think I’ve ever had a day We welcomed three brilliant trainees into programme that’s the same. There are always new challenges. I’ve made really good friends with some of the our first intake back in September, from Had you been interested in each year, with people I work with, but have never met them! around 90 applicants – Aaron Hesse-Owusu, LH: My first placement has been in customer going into the gaming industry Luke Hume and Abdullah Patel. The aim six in total on support. When you help someone and save their previously? As you look ahead to the second will be for three new trainees to come onto game, it feels fantastic. But if people aren’t happy, year of your traineeship, what is AHO: If you’d asked to me before this the scheme at the programme each year, with six in total they will let you know about it! I’ve learnt not to take the one thing each of you wants opportunity did I want to go into gaming, I any one time on the scheme at any one time, who can any of that to heart though. People are passionate to gain from the scheme? would have just thought that the only options about the game and we want to make it the best support each other and create a network AHO: I want to stay at Sports Interactive, but were creating the game, or posting videos experience possible for them. for themselves. if that can’t happen then I want to ensure I at playing the game! I didn’t know how many least take the fundamental and key skills that roles there could be. AP: I’m working as a QA tester right now – logging How did you each come to hear bugs and processing them so they can be fixed. can get me into a great position for the future. about the trainee scheme? AP: I had actually been looking at accounting I love gaining new skills, and so I have learnt to LH: I will continue to work hard, and hopefully Aaron Hesse-Owusu: I first heard about apprenticeships and knew that I wanted to navigate the game, to spot bugs just by trying do good work that will get me recognised. I’d it through Badu Sports. Mr [Nana] Badu do something where I could apply my maths things and looking around the page to see what love to stay on after the two years or move into and the other staff members had always skills. And so, the opportunities in QA testing works and what doesn’t. a similar area at least. been incredibly supportive of me and could and business analytics particularly appealed, see I wanted something better for myself. because I could use those while also You’ve not actually been into the AP: I’d definitely like to pick up some more And it was while I was applying for university trying new things. studio since starting the traineeship. skills and I can’t wait to learn more new things. that they told me about the traineeship. I What’s been your experience of I don’t know much about the customer support immediately thought that it sounded like working from home? or communications areas and so it will be really something I needed to grasp with both hands. AHO: At first, I thought it would stop me from interesting to find out more. showing my ability. But I’ve now got used to this environment, and Sports Interactive were 35 Here East Impact Report 20/21

We were impacted by the pandemic, but we outreach ambassadors are current Bartlett made sure we found a way to give students students who work with young people The power the full experience of the programme. The first and widening participation students, two sessions were pre-recorded and sent to and these ambassadors will have a key participants, and the latest sessions were held role to play in our partnership with the of widening via Zoom. We are now working towards the People’s Pavilion, working closely on the build project which will take place this summer workshops and supporting the project. and will be displayed in the school library. At The Bartlett, we want a more diverse range With a desire to delve into the Here East of people to see studying with us as an option. participation community, we are looking to expand our In the past year, we have really been able to presence through more partnerships, including put our mission into practice and, despite the with the People’s Pavilion – a competition- pandemic, we have had success, reaching a Kemi Hassan, Senior Outreach Officer, based design project for young people in lot of young people. We aspire to develop our The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, UCL East London that provides collaborative outreach activities further, to ensure UCL and opportunities with top designers. Our Bartlett The Bartlett is open to everyone.

The Bartlett is UCL’s Faculty of the Built to provide mentorship opportunities as well as Environment. From architecture and planning financial support for students from under- to energy and development, we tackle some represented backgrounds, and build a pipeline of the world’s greatest challenges with a of future graduates to tackle the lack of mission to build a better future for everyone. diversity in the built environment professions.

As part of this mission, we focus on We also launched our Design Unlimited outreach to encourage young people from programme in collaboration with MATT + By targeting younger age groups, we ensure that under-represented backgrounds to consider FIONA, a London organisation working a future career in the built environment. Our with young people to open up career students are equipped with the necessary skills long outreach programmes help students develop paths in the built environment. The Design before they apply for university. We are currently the skills and confidence to apply to university, Unlimited programme works with non- working with a Year 7 group, for example, and so and build greater representation of socio- selective state schools with a high intake university is not really on their radar, but we think economically disadvantaged students in elite of ethnic minority students and pupils on universities. Through widening participation free school meals. We equip these students Images: Ciaran McCrickard it is important to plant the seeds for the future scholarships, skill-building programmes with design skills to study architecture at and summer schools, we work to open undergraduate level, and provide them with up new opportunities for students. opportunities and knowledge of higher education and the built environment. The data is clear: students that meet the widening participation criteria have This programme works with state schools, the highest university drop-out rates, teachers and communities to offer support We were and those who do complete a degree to students, to help them discover what impacted by achieve lower grades. they enjoy in areas they may never have the pandemic, thought about, and encourage diversity This is not because these students are less and inclusion in higher education. but we made talented, but because they do not have the sure we found same foundation as students from grammar By targeting younger age groups, we ensure or private school backgrounds, or students that students are equipped with the necessary a way to give whose parents may have attended university. skills long before they apply for university. We students the are currently working with a Year 7 group, for To tackle this issue, we’ve recently launched full experience example, and so university is not really on their The Bartlett Promise scholarship, open to radar, but we think it is important to plant the of the undergraduate, Master’s and PhD students at seeds for the future. programme The Bartlett. The Promise scheme is designed 37 Here East Impact Report 20/21

In our efforts to put students first, we joined The opportunity to study in East London, forces with seven other universities based in a hotspot for the technology and digital Staffordshire East London to host an event called “Student sector, was also incredibly exciting and Wellbeing & Success”. This was aimed at seemed to fit my ambitions. The Here East parents and teachers, to ensure they were campus is a fantastic location and, while University London equipped to support the young people in their it is a different university experience than care preparing to enter higher education. studying somewhere with its own campus, being surrounded by other universities and We believe that with all of these initiatives businesses is really enjoyable. and collaborations, as well as the strong 2022 in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science Matt Brindley-Sadler, Director links we have formed with local schools and Over the past year, the university has been & Informatics and Financial Technologies. colleges we are creating a real alternative incredibly supportive, offering bumper While the pandemic was unexpected and We will also be launching a new suite of option for young people in the area, to enable sessions for us to book and attend on-site disrupted our day-to-day as a university, it professional technology courses, starting them to study courses they are passionate when restrictions have allowed, and pivoting afforded us the opportunity to revisit our with the FinTech course and to be followed about with great job prospects. the course well when not. strategic plans and look ahead to the future. later by programmes for Education, Human We have put together an expanded portfolio Resources and Insurance. Beyond my studies, I help the university of courses that align to industry growth in as a communications ambassador. key sectors. Ryan Chapman, This involves the creation of video and digital Sammy Engele, Head of Student Ambassador This new offering includes a Cyber Security content, often aimed at current or prospective Recruitment & Outreach Esports is a sector I have felt very degree, which contributed to a significant passionate about for a long time, ever students, sharing my thoughts on university Alongside the evolution of our core curriculum, increase in our student intake in September since I was introduced to early iterations life and offering advice on issues from our community engagement work included 2020. Despite the pandemic, more than of Counter-Strike. At around 13 to organisation to maintaining positive our participation in the inaugural Yop Esports 100 new undergraduates joined our campus. 14-years-old, I discovered the tournament mental health. Championships event, run by local esports We were one of the first universities nationally and competitive sphere surrounding the team LDN United, with the support of the I would probably say that my biggest to launch a virtual open day platform and our game and was hooked. Mayor of London and The Rio Ferdinand responsibility, though, is my role as captain of “Community Voices” series provided key advice Foundation. The event combined a week- the campus’ Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to students about their career progression. Since then, I watched the event sector long series of workshops that highlighted grow and decided that this was the sector team! We just had our most successful Barriers to higher education are career paths available in the sector, with a I wanted to work in. I felt that being able to campaign in varsity competition and I hope oftentimes both perceived and real, and tournament at the end of the week. learn about the inner workings, while still we can maintain this form for the next year. we are committed to widening access getting a university experience at my age, It feels like my gaming experience has come We developed a masterclass series for and participation opportunities. One key was important. And so, the Staffordshire full circle from first enjoying those games as a each of our courses, giving young people a development is our contribution to the new University London esports degree came teenager to captaining the team today. glimpse into the sector they are interested Here East scholarship programme, which at the perfect time for me. in and, as part of National Careers Week, we we wholly support, and we are excited for co-presented with Here East at East Careers our first scholarship recipients to join their Week, in a session aimed at helping local courses in September. young people to choose the right career Campus collaboration has remained at the pathway for them. We also contributed to the forefront of our agenda. While we have LLDC and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park been unable to deliver physical events, we Summer School, delivering three workshops We developed have continued to work closely with our to help local 12 to 17-year-olds develop a masterclass neighbours, including Sports Interactive, invaluable skills for their future. series for BT Sport, Bidstack and Neurgears. We are Perhaps most importantly, we engaged in also working on new exclusive educational each of our strategic collaborations for our outreach work partner opportunities with local businesses courses, to help tap into new audiences and share and organisations within the larger Stratford resources to maximise impact for attendees. giving young and Hackney areas. This involved partnerships both with well- people a All of this new activity leaves us in a strong known established companies such as Sports glimpse into position for further growth in the years to Interactive and smaller startups like local come. We are currently planning for the esports organisation LionsCreed. the sector launch of three new subject areas from they are interested in 39 Here East Impact Report 20/21

Vanessa Brown, Inspiring Benjamin Ndubuisi, Loughborough Success awardee and Entrepreneur and Dean’s prospective PhD student Award for Enterprise alumnus I joined Loughborough University London in I was raised in Nigeria and, following my first 2019 as a Master’s student, after seeing they degree, I went into entrepreneurship – starting University London offered a degree in entrepreneurship and an “aquaculture” (fish agriculture) business. innovation management. The campus and Although we raised some early-stage funds its programmes had only launched in 2015 and I felt we had potential, I was encouraged and so it was really up to date, relevant and to further my studies. Ben Cole, Head of Strategic Maria Tudor, Master’s would give me great practical experience This happened to be in 2015, the year Projects and Future Space student and Monday and a theoretical underpinning for my own that the Loughborough University London I was part of the original team that helped Mentoring participant entrepreneurial ambitions. campus had opened. By sheer grace, I found to set up Loughborough University London. One of the reasons I came to this campus I had my own business at the time and out about a 90% scholarship called the We wanted to make sure we were creating was because of the business focused I wasn’t sure how I would be able to Dean’s Award for Enterprise. This gave me an a new, better, multi-disciplinary community approach and career opportunities that it afford the degree. After searching for opportunity to focus on my entrepreneurship in a place of great growth and opportunity. enables. Despite all the limitations of the past funding options, I found the Inspiring and innovation management studies, without year, the entire team at the London campus For me personally, this vison and its Success scholarship, which supported having to work simultaneously. have really gone out of their way to create location are so special. My children were me through the application process. opportunities for us to network and connect While I perhaps had raw entrepreneurial talent born in Homerton Hospital, about half a mile to those in the sectors we want to join. It’s really important to have these opportunities and ambition, I had a knowledge gap. Through from Here East, and I’ve always worked in available in the local community, especially in the degree I was able to consolidate what I education serving the communities around When I first started the Master’s, it was a an East London context, because if you look thought I knew, correct what I did not know, us here. Through this I’ve seen the incredible really isolating time for me – as it was for so at the average income of people in Hackney and learn new skills. But what I found most talent there is in our local boroughs. When many – unable to see or speak to my friends and the surrounding boroughs, there remain important was that the university itself was that talent is connected to networks, as often, and not being able to meet with high levels of deprivation. And so, I think it is entrepreneurial in its approach. The innovative education and opportunities incredible people in person owing to the pandemic. So, crucial to be able to provide opportunities for culture made me think, “I can do this”. things can happen. I joined the mentorship scheme to find a bit people to upskill themselves. more guidance and advice as well as meet After graduating, I founded VING.AI – a The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic with other students and network with local Through the degree I gained many skills, secure currency exchange platform for Games and its legacy was a real opportunity industry professionals. particularly around business strategy. But the Africans living in the UK. Since launching, to build a fairer, more inclusive, East London. biggest impact thisand Inspiring Success had we have been recognised with Innovate With Loughborough University London Our mentor was Sam Murphy from BT Sport, was solidifying my ambition to take up a PhD, UK’s Young Innovators Awards – a fantastic we wanted to ensure that, as much as who helped us to set goals at the outset and which I will start in September. honour that gives me the opportunity to build possible, we created the opportunity for offered constant support. It was real, in-depth on my idea further. local and global talent to come here to mentoring and very different from a formal Statistics show in times of crisis, like we are learn and grow. careers meeting. in now, businesses owned by black people People have ideas, dreams. And the fact are disproportionately likely to face economic that there is a university who will create an Our investment in scholarships has seen some I have always wanted to work in sport Sam and the difficulties. My PhD will look at businesses opportunity and enable young people to, amazing people do some amazing things. It is and from before I even began my Master’s I that are not in decline: those that are surviving at the very least, explore these, is a way great for three of those people to be featured had my sights set on securing a role in sports rest of or even growing in this time, what key of democratising success. It allows people here in the Here East Impact Report. marketing. Sam and the rest of my mentor my mentor characteristics these organisations have and access to skills and knowledge that they group fully supported me in chasing my group fully how, even with odds stacked against them, could perhaps not have gained otherwise. ambitions, and offered me advice about how they are managing to thrive. best to go about finding my dream job. He supported me was also incredibly helpful, taking time outside in chasing my of our usual mentorship sessions for me to ambitions, and practice my pitch presentation with him and offering really helpful feedback. offered me advice about

how best Loughborough University London continues to offer scholarship to go about programmes to inspire high-achieving students from all finding my backgrounds to benefit from outstanding teaching and cutting- edge research facilities. For more information, please visit the dream job Loughborough University website. 41 Here East Impact Report 20/21

Here East is a home for makers. Powering Read about Studio Wayne McGregor’s pandemic pivot and LMA’s new home on the campus, the creative as both look to create a pipeline industries to the creative industries 43 Here East Impact Report 20/21

A network The world’s your of creatives stage, so get creative

Jasmine Wilson, Director of Learning and Engagement, Richard Wallace, Co-founder, LMA, Jenni Tyler-Maher, Studio Wayne McGregor, Jordan Bridge and Eileih Muir, Principal, LMA London, Graham Sarath, National Commercial Dancers, Studio Wayne McGregor and Partnerships Director, LMA

Studio Wayne McGregor opened a world The pandemic posed significant challenges LMA, the institute for creative media professional tutors or visits to our site to class creative arts space at Here East in for the creative industries, with the closure and performing arts, branched out from open students’ eyes to the potential of a 2017, comprised of three dance studios. of theatres and studios, and the cancellation its Liverpool foundations and joined the career in creative media and performing arts.” The studio is a nexus of partners who explore of tours. In response to this, Studio Wayne Here East campus in 2020. With Here movement and artistry through a collaborative McGregor launched RESET – a professional Building and opening a brand-new state- East known as a hub for creative network of dancers, writers, composers, visual development programme for dancers – in of-the-art campus during the height of innovation, there was no better place artists and more. August 2020, with Here East providing a the pandemic was always going to be a for LMA to broaden its horizons. space for the programme as in-kind support. challenge, but LMA adapted in its teaching Being a part of the creative innovation hub Co-founder Richard Wallace explains: and engagement. Graham Sarath, LMA’s at Here East has enabled Studio Wayne Jordan Bridge, a dancer at Studio Wayne “LMA has always had growth plans to National Commercial and Partnerships McGregor to collaborate with partners across McGregor, explains: “We offered free training open a campus in the capital and, as soon Director explains: “We were always committed the campus. Jasmine Wilson, its Director to freelance dancers who are desperately as we visited Here East, it just felt right. to continue teaching face-to-face on of Learning and Engagement, explains: “In in need of something, because the work is The whole area is a hotbed of creatively campus as much as possible, in a safe and February last year we delivered a youth dance scarce at the moment,” he says. “Included minded people and organisations, which controlled fashion. When restrictions forced leadership programme – in partnership with in the programme are classes for a morning we wanted to be part of.” us to go remote we continued with a full Badu Sports – to train up young women and group and an afternoon group, with evening timetable online. Tutors delivered mostly from inspire them. We are also close with UCL’s workshops and talks.” Just under 70% of LMA’s students are the our studios and it was amazing to see the innovation and enterprise department, and first in their family to attend higher education. Topics for these workshops include managing students adapt and take it in their stride – some of our associate artists are working Working alongside Hackney Council on the finances, fundraising, psychology, mental having acting, dance, music lessons and more with its academics.” Kickstart Scheme, LMA will be recruiting health, cooking and nutrition. The focus in their kitchens, lounges or bedrooms!” 10 apprentices across various areas of the Studio Wayne McGregor has also developed at Studio Wayne McGregor is to create a campus in a move to support graduates in LMA is passionate about students from an unparalleled reputation for transformative community bound by a shared love of the the creative sectors from the local area. all departments working together and the approaches to dance teaching. creative arts: “This was all a way of bringing a Being a part increase in online communications actually community together who were really suffering LMA has also partnered with accelerated the integration and relationships The studio’s learning and and just giving them a support network, as of the creative Here East on its scholarship between the Liverpool and London campuses engagement projects have well as practical training,” says Jasmine. innovation hub programme, to offer a fully for both students and staff. provided high-quality lessons Dancer Eileih Muir reflects on the past year at Here East And despite challenges to the creative and is appreciative that she has had the time paid scholarship to three to over 100,000 people of has enabled industries, Richard says the future remains to explore her own creative ideas. For her, local young people each year. all ages and backgrounds, Studio Wayne bright: “To future students worried about the prospect of returning offers a sense of Jenni Tyler-Maher, Principal of LMA opportunities in the creative sector, the with innovative content refreshment and rejuvenation: “It is exciting McGregor to London, outlines the importance of pandemic has highlighted that there has never designed to maximise that the industry is starting to open up again. collaborate engagement with local networks: “We been a stronger thirst for high-quality, creative Because we have had this time off, we could the self-expression and with many have developed links with local performing content. From sheer volume of demand for research and develop ideas of our own, and arts institutions such as Artistry Youth Dance streaming services, to innovative live online creativity of participants. put some time into our own creative voice. partners and X7. We hope to collaborate with both music performances and events, the appetite It will be fantastic to put these ideas across the of these companies, whether it is through for consuming content is great. into practice.” campus workshops that are led by our industry 45 Here East Impact Report 20/21 Of young people, by young people, Fostering the next for young people generation of broadcasters The People’s Pavilion, Beyond the Box

Jamie Hindhaugh, Chief Operating Officer, BT Sport

young people with urban spaces: “Co-design Neil Onions, Founder & CEO, makes architectural design more accessible. Beyond The Box Consultants The People’s Pavilion is a great connector Ever since BT Sport set up operations at Alongside Takeover, we work with School Neil believes in co-designing with young with large-scale developments like Here Here East, we have committed to the local 21 in Stratford on a business-skills-focused people, to build more equitable spaces: “Youth East, which can feel intimidating. It will enable community. It was something we pledged to programme, which engages young children clubs are not fit for purpose and are rapidly young people to make a mark on the urban do in our lease, believing it was important that over the course of the academic year to learn closing. They would be more successful if fabric and reclaim that space.” everyone who worked for or with us was not project management and commercial skills. young people had agency in designing them.” just passing through the community, but was This includes a practical project that asks Here East offered Neil the opportunity to Muhsin Mahmud, Deputy an integral part of it. them how they would run BT Sport. build a temporary creative space for young Young Mayor, Tower Hamlets BT Sport Takeover is our community outreach BT Sport is also a headline sponsor for Rise people on the campus, the People’s Pavilion: & Content Creator programme working with NewVic Sixth Form Up, a wider initiative with fellow broadcasters “As a Hackney resident, I knew that Here Muhsin is involved in curating content college in Newham. This is an eight-week that involves working with children choosing East would be the perfect fit, particularly for the People’s Pavilion, gathering film-making course, with 12 students entering their GCSEs. Volunteers from each considering the redevelopments happening insights from young people in neighbouring our second cohort, in 2020 – with the ultimate broadcaster go into the schools with all the on East Bank. It felt right to be a part of that.” boroughs: “There are young people in the area output of a 30-minute programme broadcast kit they need to build their own TV studio and who want to get involved in extracurricular live on BT Sport, created, written and make a programme over the course of a day. As he prepares for launch this summer, Neil activities. But for programmes to be reflects on the project’s ambitions: “We want produced by them. successful, they have to be built for them.” Even closer to home, we want to work with our institutions to look at how they approach co- Takeover is about passing on skills to partners on the Here East campus to support design. At the moment, they create something He launched a podcast, looking at social passionate young people. For the students, the community here and find opportunities and invite young people to take part without expectations placed upon young Asian their participation goes towards their final to collaborate. We have worked closely with their input. We want to flip the script on that.” people that prevent them from taking part marks in their college media studies, and Loughborough University London, supporting in creative fields: “This can be a space allows them to build a network and gain its Monday Mentoring programme and with Bareera Borhan, Volunteer for young people from ethnic minority The People’s tangible skills that could create opportunities one of its students currently taking part in Architecture graduate Bareera is one backgrounds to get involved and see Pavilion for them to enter the television industry in an internal communications placement. young person involved in the People’s Pavilion, representation in front of them.” is a great the future. Beyond this, we continue to look at how helping to shape a workshop programme in He adds that Here East is in a unique position connector COVID-19 restrictions certainly made running we can work more closely with the likes collaboration with Urban Symbiotics to foster creative ventures like this: “There’s the programme more of a challenge – even of UCL and Badu Sports, while of course and Here East. nothing like this that existed before young with large- our own staff were not allowed into the studio continuing to support Plexal and Here “I’m keen on incorporating aspects of my people in East London. I hope this shows the scale unless fully necessary to ensure safety was East themselves as they roll-out their own degree into the programming, so that it mirrors true demand for spaces for young people.” developments not compromised. But we were aware that community programmes. the process of a designer,” Bareera explains. like Here East, many of these students did not have the right “I know I’d have benefitted from a programme broadband speed or kit at home. And so, we like this when I was in my teens.” which can feel worked with Plexal, using its space to ensure intimidating She adds that projects like the People’s they had a place on campus to come and Pavilion have a role to play in connecting access the studio facilities when required. 47 Here East Impact Report 20/21

With very different Making impact approaches, Badu Sports and FiiT are keeping bodies and minds healthy, and through sport making an impact 49 Image: Ciaran McCrickard Here East Impact Report 20/21

“This should be moment because they were signposted to it channel them into successful roles. by their own peers, who could see they were Two examples are Aaron Hesse-Owusu struggling and let them know we offered and Abdullah Patel, who came through this,” says Joshua. Badu Sports and have gone on to Sports the legacy that Interactive’s trainee scheme. “We were never quiet throughout the pandemic because we lead by example “When the 2012 Games was and we were not going to let anyone announced I was worried everyone talks feel isolated.” a certain group of people While direct support in the pandemic has been the urgent action of the past would miss out. That they about” year, there are longer-term ambitions – wouldn’t be invited to the firstly, to build bridges from Here East party,” says Nana. “Here and the businesses based there to the East addresses that by Nana Badu, Founder and Joshua Warburton, local community. giving organisations like Chief Operating Officer, Badu Sports One way in which this is done is through Here East’s sponsorship of Badu Sports’ ours a platform to get local football teams. This provides a dual benefit, people into jobs and our A social enterprise dedicated to supporting Badu Sports’ primary funding channels come Joshua explains: “When kids go into school mentoring programme is in their training kit, or when they’re playing in and facilitating children to broaden their through its work with schools and, with built specifically to do that. experiences and advance their opportunities, these closed, its entire business model was front of families and other teams, people ask Badu Sports uses physical activity as its initial impacted: “While we took up the furlough about the Here East sponsorship –making “Our message is dream big. For our kids tool of engagement, but its offering stretches scheme to ensure we didn’t lose core team us a walking billboard. We can then vouch to say that they work for Sports Interactive much further. members, it was a challenging time with no for Here East and how amazing all of the or BT Sports. To say that they got out, so surplus of funds to keep us afloat.” people here are.” In its 10-year history, founder Nana Badu and their peers see they can have a different his team have provided any and all support its Ultimately, the company was able to pivot Nana adds: “The sponsorship means that outcome too. community needs. The challenges of a lack of remotely, so that it could continue to work with we don’t need to charge kids for their kit. “This should be the legacy of the Olympic funding and people power have never stood the most vulnerable children still in schools. It’s already paid for. Some of our parents Park. This should be the legacy of Here East. in its way: “We are blessed to have a team Chief Operating Officer Joshua Warburton live in poverty, but that doesn’t mean their This should be the legacy that everyone talks who understand that we work in a way that says this required them to get tech savvy. But, children don’t have the right to belong. about. That young people who grew up here stretches everyone to their limits,” says Nana. even with Zoom sessions running, there was There should be no financial circumstance were mentored in this space and now work “Many in our community literally rely on us and a further challenge in preventing many in the that will restrict them from participating.” for organisations right here.” so, if something is needed, we never say no.” community from slipping through the cracks The ultimate ambition for Badu Sports while face-to-face activity was off the cards. This challenge has never been more evident is to give its community aspirations and than during the past year. From the beginning In response, Badu set up a range of services, of the pandemic, Nana recognised that Badu’s including a helpline for parents, as well as an community would be among the hardest hit online chat function for its young people. For Here East and so, without even thinking about his own those without access to a computer, a laptop offered us a organisation’s survival, his team got to work. loaning scheme was implemented to ensure “Here East offered us a unit so that we could anyone could contact Badu Sports when they unit so that provide food delivery support for the local area. needed to. Plexal also provided a quiet study we could This ended up stretching to Tower Hamlets, space for those whose home environment was provide food Islington and even Westminster. not conducive to remote learning. delivery “We didn’t once think about ourselves, only Mental health support was also increased, support for about our community. And it was only when with regular check-in calls from coaches, one of our corporate partners asked us how weekly mentoring groups and peer-to-peer the local area we were doing in terms of our own survival support with volunteers from the community: that we realised the pandemic “We run a therapy service and there are four was impacting us, too.” or five young people going through this at the 51 Here East Impact Report 20/21

We will also be looking to launch and make it comes to interacting and significant headway in the US in the second engaging with the wider FiiT: Home half of the year, which will be followed by looking at how we best drive interaction ecosystem on campus, we through a number of different fitness have felt very well supported. offerings. As the world re-opens we have workouts, global Having our base here also allows us to interact plenty of exciting things in the pipeline, including new partnerships with gyms with the wider East London community. We and fitness studios. have a partnership with Hackney Council, where we advise people on how to access expansion and Our focus is also local, as well as global. careers in tech. We are also working with the We want to be right at the forefront of council’s Kickstarter campaign to provide the agenda when it comes to diversity, opportunities for young people from the local impact inclusion and anti-racism in the Hackney local area, who may be from disadvantaged area, and have put a large focus on educating backgrounds that could limit them from finding the company internally to make sure we are these opportunities. COVID permitting, we are Ben Wharfe, Chief People Officer, FiiT doing this. Unfortunately, what we know from also set to run workshops for school children, the data is that people from ethnic minorities where they come onto campus and learn and underprivileged backgrounds have been about what we do here. In what has been an incredibly challenging We expected that home disproportionately impacted by both the health and socio-economic effects of COVID-19, so As a company it is vital to do this kind of year for people’s mental and physical health, fitness would ultimately the ambition for FiiT as a digital fitness there is definitely a role for us to play when it community outreach, and engage with children experience was to provide that outlet for become the predominant comes to providing opportunities for people and adults who might not be traditional FiiT people who wanted to keep fit and stay way for people to work from these backgrounds. customers. Our mission is to make exercise a habit for everybody and we believe that we motivated. Our business model put us in a out. But the pandemic has strong position for growth with everyone at We have been based at Here can be the driving engine behind this. We are home, but the most important thing has been massively accelerated this East for over three years breaking down barriers to fitness that exist in traditional approaches, making it accessible helping people to stay healthy physically trend by five years. now. And while the pandemic and mentally. and affordable for all. It also looks like this acceleration will be a has posed challenges when We have been able to expand our lasting one, with over a third of people saying customer base and found new channels that they will not be returning to the gym. for growth. This materialised in the form of partnerships with companies like Sky, In the immediate wake of the first lockdown, Amazon and Samsung, as well as an our employee engagement massively shot increase in corporate customers, who have up, which we attributed to the novelty of been buying FiiT for their employees as a working from home and people not having corporate wellness benefit. their daily commutes. This engagement has We have been remained at higher levels than prior to the able to expand Although we know many people have pandemic and, more than a year since that struggled with the pressures and impact of first lockdown, we continue to grow. As a our customer lockdown, others have felt more productive result, we are exploring expansion, having base and from cutting out the stresses associated with almost doubled our staff numbers from 42 found new going into work. The impact of this is that to 82 employees in the last year. 40% of people reported that they exercised channels more in 2020 than they had previously. Home The pandemic has undoubtedly created new for growth workouts were already on the rise prior to the opportunities for us. Our growth targets are pandemic, with examples such as FiiT and more aggressive, the corporate wellbeing Peloton, as well as fitness wearables. space is now also a big focus for us, as well as continuing to expand onto a variety of different TV platformsand internationally. 53 Here East Impact Report 20/21

It has been a challenging Our year for everyone, but perhaps none more so than our retailers, who have retailers found their business models completely disrupted 55 Here East Impact Report 20/21

A café with During the periods that we have been unable This year we are supporting different great causes to offer outdoor seating, they have allowed us each quarter, including Sistah Space, who support access to a storage container that enabled us to African & Caribbean heritage women and girls keep our café clear, which was vital to our day-to- affected by domestic and sexual abuse. a conscience day operations. What are your plans for the year Their continued support with rent reductions and ahead as we move into recovery? regular meetings to ensure that we can meet our Charlie Hill, Co-creator, MOTHER Over the past year, we have worked on our needs has been welcome to us as an independent organisational structure to ensure we can family business, and has been invaluable to us continue with our great work post-pandemic. staying open andfeeding our community. We created the MOTHER Hive, so we now have and products to meet the demands of growing a teams dedicated to all key areas of the business. business. While we understand the importance of How have you continued to Each team is empowered to make decisions to making money, we also understand the long-term support the local community? reach their targets and make a positive impact. importance of creating an environment that We decided early on as a team that we wanted feels good. to provide good, nutritious food to people during These permanent teams include those making the this challenging time – providing juice, cakes and best innovative plant-based food, another tracking When you have these as driving factors, you begin sausage rolls to the three local hospitals. our local impact and a content team to make sure to look much more closely at the impact you have on we are shouting about all the great things that the people, the places and the products you serve. We have also run initiatives with local community are happening around us. food kitchen Made in Hackney, providing This has been an incredibly challenging plant-based meals to vulnerable members Before the pandemic, it was a case of working on year for retail and hospitality. What of our community. We have donated revenue areas outside our usual café operations only when challenges have you faced? from certain menu items and have offered our we had time and resources available. Now we We have had to constantly adapt our offering to customers the opportunity to “pay it forward”, have made sure that these teams are as important meet the latest government guidance – moving so they can buy a meal for a person or a family as anything we do. This makes us very proud. to a takeaway model during lockdown periods through Made in Hackney. and training our staff to do table service when Last year we also raised awareness and money restrictions have allowed. each month for local charities doing amazing Perhaps the biggest challenge has been keeping work. We ran a coffee morning and raffle for the What’s the story behind MOTHER ourselves and our team motivated in an environment Women’s Environmental Network, and bake and why did you set up the business? where at times it has felt difficult to be happy and sales for the likes of Runnymede Trust and We created MOTHER to provide a space that feels positive, which we know is a vital part of life, our Gendered Intelligence. good for people – the workers, the community wellbeing and business. and our customers. For us this started with making Staying open and providing great coffee and cakes great food, with the best organic ingredients at has been received very well by our local community an affordable price. as they visit us on their daily exercise route. This Our vision is to help everyone to live happy and healthy interaction for some people has been the only time lives, in harmony with our planet. We believe in the they see others in the day, so we try to speak with our impact of food on our minds and bodies, and its role customers as much as possible to show that we are in helping us to transition to a more caring society. here for them. A simple smile goes a long way. But this mission doesn’t come without its challenges. And so, we are here to make that easier by shining a How has Here East supported spotlight on the importance of good local produce – you over the past year? for our health and that of the planet. Over the last 12 months we have had a huge amount of support from Here East, who have Why do you believe it is important to helped us to secure permits so that we can have operate with a social conscience? extra seating on the grass in front of the café, If you are solely looking for a bottom-line profit, increasing our outdoor offering. it is likely you will compromise on your offering 57 Here East Impact Report 20/21

about the school meals crisis, we felt that we which has been closed since March, to a new needed to get on board and help to provide shellfish pop-up called Claw & Hammer. We Overcoming free school meals. also have plans to open an oyster cart outside of Hackney and we are developing a range of The response was amazing and subsequently sauces and rubs that we will be selling online. we are looking to extend our support after pandemic lockdown by working with charities to fund this This will all be alongside more charitable work, kind of service moving forward. It was great to including a further collaboration with Boston see that small changes can actually make a Celtics, where we will be donating one pound big difference. from every cook-at-home kit we sell over the challenges by next three months to their chosen charity. For the last two years we have also sponsored We will also run a similar initiative with a local Boston Celtics, a local Sunday league football children’s charity. team based in Hackney. They do a lot of never staying still fundraising for Blood Cancer UK, which we One thing that I have learnt from this year is have helped with by organising some really that the local community is really powerful Andrew Watts, Randy’s Wing Bar successful charity events at the restaurant, when we get together and collaborate. I raising more than £2,000. think that a lot of business models are now looking to become more involved with the As a business we have found it an absolute communities that they are surrounded by and, You can imagine how challenging it was as a been incredibly supportive, halting our rent privilege to give back in this small way and to in doing so, they will feel the benefit. It is so hospitality business, when the first lockdown for a period of time, which – after losing half be able to work with such a great group of important that businesses give a little back, was announced. It was a scary time and hard our revenue overnight – was so important. people. The team is such an instrumental part even if it is only a small amount. It all makes to digest, with so much uncertainty around of the community in Hackney, and what we’ve They have also been instrumental in a difference in the end. how long that lockdown would last, or whether taken away from the partnership with them is approaching the council on our behalf to we could even keep our business alive the conviction that, if all businesses had these extend the outdoor seating area to ensure throughout this period. But our first priority kinds of relationships with their communities, maximum business for us as restrictions was always to look into what steps we had to the world would be a much better place. lift, as well as generally keeping us updated take to make sure we kept our staff safe. with government advice. Despite how busy the last year has been, One thing we did know was that we had to we need to think a few steps ahead as we When we joined Here East over five years kick into action and start looking at ways approach the end of lockdown and be as ago, we were one of the first traders to move we could pivot the business, deciding that reactive as possible. We are currently working in. It was a very big risk for two young guys to ecommerce was the best option for us. And on plans to flip the second restaurant we own, open a restaurant in this relatively new space so we started to draw up plans of how we and, although it was a very slow start for us, could implement this. as time has gone on it has become a real local We felt it was important that we did not hotspot, with more locals and the younger stay still, and tried to think outside the box generation coming in. – considering the risks we needed to take Our first It has been really interesting to see the in order to innovate in ways that would help priority was development of the site throughout this time, the business, not only in the short-term but how Hackney has changed as a result, and always to in the long-term as well. With this in mind, we how the relationship between the campus and followed other businesses and launched our look into what community has evolved. We feel very blessed cook-at-home kits during the first lockdown steps we had to have it on our doorstep. and, in order to keep us alive at the restaurant, to take to we ran a very slick team doing takeaways. But, while our own survival has been at the make sure forefront of our thinking, being a part of Here We feel very fortunate that Here East has East means that we have to do our bit for the we kept our been our landlord throughout the pandemic. community as well. After being in Hackney The team here has been with us since the staff safe Wick for nearly six years, as soon as we heard very beginning of our journey and have always 59 Here East Impact Report 20/21

After a turbulent year Looking in which our tenants and community have shown extraordinary ahead resilience, here’s hoping for a brighter future 61 Here East Impact Report 20/21

driving further job creation and bringing a as an industry of the future and the Olympic Here for $180 billion global industry to East London. Park as London’s home for that industry. We also hope it will be an opportunity in a post- Our Esports Feasibility Report, published pandemic-restrictions world to bring people in March, laid out our vision and roadmap together and have stakeholders from across – identifying the unique characteristics the industry meet face-to-face. whatever that make the Olympic Park the natural home for esports in the UK: from state-of-the-art Looking to the industries of the future has sporting venues, to proximity to esports been at the heart of Here East since our teams and close engagement with academic launch, and our new podcast, Listen Here, 2021 throws institutions like Staffordshire University does exactly that. Through topics such as London, which specialises in esports. the Future of Sport with football legend and BT Sport pundit Rio Ferdinand, the Future It is a message to the world that says London of Work with Global Strategic Propositions has the talent, venues and expertise to Leader at Dell Technologies Margarete at us become a global capital for esports. McGrath, and the Future of Dance with Wayne McGregor CBE, we are finding our In September, we will continue delivering Mike Magan, Chief Operating Officer, creative voice, speaking to our community against this promise with Stack Fest, an and addressing issues big, small and different. Here East inaugural event taking place at Here East, which will feature well-known esports and We truly believe that different makes the games brands, leading professional teams and difference. That is the guiding principle players, higher education agents, and the fan We emblazoned these words across our just a home for businesses, but a destination. that inspires us and it will continue to do community, all coming together for a unique theatre as we entered the new year, after Our campus is an accessible space, open to so for years to come. It is too early to say what three-day epic gathering. rallying in what was undoubtedly the most all, and we now see so many people coming the future will bring, but Here East and our community will be at the heart of shaping it – challenging year our community and many down here for a walk, a coffee or to meet Stack Fest will be a truly unique and exciting like we always have done – with a difference. of our tenants have faced since opening friends in a socially distanced setting. event, demonstrating the value of esports our doors. This has been a massive help to our retailers Even in January, when it felt like there was no on Canalside, which have remained open even end in sight to this pandemic, we felt confident when unable to welcome customers through that we could remain resilient. That we could their doors. overcome whatever this year threw at us. We have continued to let space to interesting And, as I write, we may not be fully out of the organisations old and new. Businesses have Sports woods but the overwhelming feeling is that faced such hardship and we have done Interactive, brighter days are coming. Debates about what whatever we can to support them through for example, the future holds, about how the economy this. And in the face of adversity, many have recovers and what the “new normal” looks like found new ways to innovate, adapt and has doubled will continue. While they do, our people – from ultimately grow. in size and will the incredible universities, to the innovative startups, to the inspiring East London Sports Interactive, for example, has doubled be taking up community – will continue to shape that future. in size and has taken up a new, larger space a new, larger on our campus to reflect its growth. Of course, What we knew before, but have come to this is incredibly exciting for both Here East space on understand to an even greater extent over the and Sports Interactive, but most importantly, our campus last year or more, is that community is central it is a positive investment in talent as well as to our way of life. People want and crave space. It is a move that will benefit the local to reflect interaction and, while so much of this year community and young people, especially its growth has been spent physically separated, we have through job creation, as demonstrated by found everyone in and around our campus to the trainee scheme you can read about in be more engaged than ever. this report.

We demonstrated that we are here for East This year has also marked a milestone for London and, from speaking to our tenants and Here East and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, people in the local boroughs, this year has positioning ourselves and taking steps to Image: Ciaran McCrickard been a chance for more of our neighbours become the country’s leading esports cluster, to discover Here East. To realise this is not 63 Here East would like to thank all of our community partners and tenants. It has been a challenging year for the campus and we could not have done it without you.

Photography credits and thanks to Ciaran McCrickard, Ollie Hammick, Albert Palen and Gary Morrisroe.

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