Lambeth. Creative and Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Contents

Home , BFI Southbank, In Lambeth (play), Lambeth College, South London Theatre

A creative way to grow.

Foreword 3

We are a partnership 4

Our vision. A creative partnership 6 for inclusive growth.

Our strategy 9

How we have built the strategy 10

The Digital and Creative Industries 13 are vital to Lambeth’s economy.

Forever radical. Always welcoming. 18 Constantly creative. That’s Lambeth.

We are at the forefront of artistic 24 excellence and creative innovation.

Our big challenges 33

Our objectives and actions 56

Delivering the strategy 69 Foreword

For the first time the council has taken a look at the current performance and future potential of Lambeth as a creative and digital hub. Our strategy identifies the opportunities and threats, the benefits of growth for our residents and places, and how we can encourage and support this dynamic sector. It is the result of truly co-productive work. Over many months we have brought together creative and digital businesses, education providers, trade bodies, young residents, thought leaders and social entrepreneurs. We have explored individual and collective ambitions. We have recognised the challenges and how we might achieve success. Now we have the foundation and commitment to make Lambeth the next destination and, in time, leader for London’s creative and digital economy. Lambeth has a pivotal role to play in growing the sector. It has a distinctiveness of opportunity. We welcome, encourage and work in partnership with businesses and we expect that collaboration to benefit our community. Lambeth has all the right elements to build thriving and sustainable creative and digital clusters. Our strategy is a clear commitment to achieve this aim. It fits within the borough’s Strategic Plan, Future Lambeth, which draws on Lambeth’s strengths, potential and values to transform its goals into reality. Future Lambeth has three priorities: to support inclusive growth, to reduce inequality and to build strong neighbourhoods — making Lambeth a place of ‘ambition and fairness for all’.

Cllr Lib Peck Cllr Matthew Bennett Leader, Lambeth Council Cabinet Member for Planning, Investment and New Homes

Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 3 We are a partnership

Our strategy has evolved by building strong relationships with organisations, businesses and residents across the borough. Already over 100 organisations, from grassroots bodies to international cultural institutions, have contributed to the development of the strategy. We acknowledge their vital contributions. It is only by working closely together that we can achieve our ambitions for the creative and digital sectors in Lambeth. We also acknowledge support by investment from the Mayor of London and sponsorship by South Bank BID. Our supporters and delivery partners for the strategy include those listed here.

4 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 5 We want Lambeth to be at the Our vision forefront of London’s dynamic creative A creative and digital economy. partnership By pioneering an integrated approach to industry partnerships, workspace, for inclusive skills, culture and lifestyle we will growth encourage and accelerate inclusive growth in our communities. Working with the grain of Lambeth’s distinctively radical and open creative spirit we aim to grow productive clusters of collaboration and innovation.

6 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 7 Our strategy The creative and digital economy is set for growth in Lambeth.

Our strategy celebrates the extraordinary contribution that these sectors make to the borough. It profiles the enduring and distinctive character of Lambeth — its creative DNA. Based on an evidence-led approach it sets clear objectives and details how Lambeth and its partners can work together to drive inclusive growth.

8Credit: ThisLambeth’s Ain't Rock Creative and Roll & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 9 How we have built the strategy

To make sure our strategy is well founded we have adopted a robust and comprehensive methodology. With support from the Greater London Authority and South Bank BID, the council conducted research, evidence gathering and engagement, primarily through the Lambeth Creative and Digital Industries Study 2017 and the production of our London Borough of Culture bid Radical Hearts Open Minds.

This has included: – In-depth interviews with 40 We are now in a better position stakeholders to understand these sectors – The formation of an Advisory – A review of the property market in greater detail, how they can Group with key creative and and planning framework relating grow, and what Lambeth and digital sector representatives to the creative and digital its partners can do to nurture from across the borough economy that growth. – Several events with over 100 – Workshops — with businesses, Whilst some of the key findings local stakeholders, exploring sector-focused business support of this research and analysis the cultural distinctiveness of bodies, property developers, and are highlighted in this strategy, Lambeth and future ambitions education providers a detailed account of the work for change – Site visits to key growth areas in underpinning the strategy is – A survey of local businesses, the borough with 160 responses provided in a separate document – A literature review, including An extensive research process available here. research already undertaken makes sure our plans are by organisations such as evidence-led. It has allowed us Creative Industries Federation to present the existing picture — and Tech UK giants and hidden gems, diversity and richness of Lambeth creative and digital DNA.

10 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 11 The Digital and Creative Industries are vital to Lambeth’s economy. Here’s why:

Credit: ERIC Festival Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 13 Fast growth and high value 22,000 JOBS GENERATED BY LAMBETH’S CREATIVE AND TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES industries. 22,000

The creative and digital industries are now widely 30 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR FUELLED recognised as important drivers of UK jobs, innovation BY LAMBETH’S INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS and growth. 30m visitors The creative industries are creating jobs four times as quickly as the wider economy. In recent years there has been huge growth in London’s digital 24 ARTS COUNCIL NATIONAL PORTFOLIO economy. There were over 7,500 digital start-ups in London in 2016. ORGANISATIONS IN THE BOROUGH — Some 20% of London’s tech companies are high growth. Technological THE SECOND HIGHEST IN LONDON developments like 5G connectivity, augmented reality and artificial 24 NPO’s intelligence help to sustain the growth and innovation taking place.

As highlighted by NESTA, the focus on creating something new and £1.8 BILLION GVA GENERATED LOCALLY BY unpredictable makes creative talent harder to replace with robots and LAMBETH’S CREATIVE AND TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES algorithms. As a result, creative jobs are more resilient to automation. £1.8bn GVA The creative and tech sectors are also increasingly credited with wider economic benefits: – Enhancing innovation and productivity in other sectors with the business Already making a significant benefits often taking place locally – Helping to make places distinctive, vibrant and enjoyable — for local contribution people, visitors, and workers – Engaging young people, many of whom are attracted to developing Lambeth’s creative and digital businesses provide careers in the creative and tech economy 22,000 jobs and generate £1.8bn GVA for the economy. They provide significant support and fuel growth in other parts of our economy — particularly the visitor and night time economy which are one of the borough’s key strengths. Within Lambeth, growth is taking place in a wide range of creative and digital sectors — particularly design and fashion, craft, creative tech SINCE 2010, THE GVA GENERATED BY THE CREATIVE (including games), publishing, film and TV, and advertising. INDUSTRIES HAS RISEN BY 45% TO £91.8 BILLION £91.8bn

IN 2016 LONDON HAD MORE 7,500 THAN 7,500 TECH START-UPS

A NUMBER OF LONDON'S TECH COMPANIES ARE 'HIGH GROWTH' 20%

14 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 15 Visual arts Information Technology

Architecture

Fashion Photography Museums, galleries & libraries

Health tech

Software and applications Games Crafts

Visual Effects Publishing Design Broadcasting Creative tech Creative

Film & TV Performing Arts

Music Animation

Advertising & media Our creative economy brings Forever radical. people together, provides life- Always welcoming. affirming moments and helps to make Lambeth’s places of authenticity Constantly creative. stand out. It provides employment That’s Lambeth. for local people and is fundamental to our ambition for inclusive growth. Here we set out what makes Lambeth distinctive — our creative DNA.

18 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 19 We are radical.

Lambeth’s has a rich and vibrant history of creative innovation and radical thought — from the writings and engravings of William Blake to the Chartist uprisings of the 19th century; the breaktaking ambition of the Festival of Britain in 1951; the inspirational cultural imprint of the Windrush Generation; to the surge of dance culture in the clubs of Vauxhall and Brixton. This spirit lives on today — through our grassroots cultural organisations; creative networks like the Brixton Design Trail and UK Black Tech; the WOW Festival celebration of the power and potential of girls and women, and the work of many other creative and technology organisations in the borough.

We are open.

We have a history of openness and diversity. For hundreds of years, we have welcomed new communities who have left a unique cultural imprint on our borough. At least 40 countries have 500 or more representatives (by birth) living in Lambeth. Including strong, multi-generational communities of Portuguese, Black Caribbean and Somali descent who’ve settled and formed distinctive and visible presences. These communities are hotbeds of culture.

Credit: Lambeth Archives

20 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 21 South Bank and Waterloo are We have home to a world class cultural cluster, with many of London’s distinctive, WATERLOO most important artistic venues creative places. and festivals. There is an emerging cluster of new business incubation spaces in the area. Across Lambeth, our Vauxhall remains the cultural places have their own KENNINGTON home to London’s LGBTQ+ identities, communities VAUXHALL community and has a strong visual and assets. Our creative arts scene. Local assets including OVAL RVT, Fire, Vauxhall Pleasure economy plays a huge Gardens, Gasworks, Garden role in defining these Museum and Newport St Gallery. places, and making them Stockwell once the home of Van STOCKWELL Gogh, is London’s Little Portugal, great places to live, work with thriving community centres and visit. and cafes, the Skate Park and Credit: Angelica Dass, Migration Museum Angelica Dass, Migration Credit: LOUGHBOROUGH Playhouse. JUNCTION

CLAPHAM Brixton has extraordinary COMMON character, heritage, community BRIXTON and now creative economy. The Academy, Black Cultural Archives, HERNE HILL Brixton Library and Ovalhouse Theatre give it constantly changing offers. Clapham supports a strong culture and education offer. As well as Clapham Common, the

Credit: Credit: area has Studio Voltaire, Clapham TULSE HILL Omnibus, London School of Sound,

STREATHAM Clapham Library and Academy of HILL Contemporary Music.

WEST NORWOOD Streatham has a diverse high street offer (Italian, African, Indian, Somali, Vietnamese, Lebanese, STREATHAM Japanese, Spanish). It’s home to arts, food and film festivals, the Hideaway and Streatham Space STREATHAM Project. COMMON

Credit: Benedict Johnson Credit: West Norwood and Tulse Hill has established the much loved Feast, Portico Gallery and South London Theatre.

22 23 We are at the forefront of artistic excellence and creative innovation. Lambeth’s creative and digital innovators have created work that © Rambert Performing Arts is celebrated and enjoyed across South Bank and Waterloo are home to the world’s most preeminent cultural cluster. Together, the Southbank Centre, National Theatre, BFI, Rambert, Old Vic and Young Vic draw over 30 million visitors a year, the world. Our strategy highlights and have consistently delivered outstanding creative experiences for generations. At Rambert, dancers are trained in Lambeth and tour the world. Relative newcomers Heritage Arts Ltd are behind The Vaults the diverse range of artforms, Festival. Created in 2012, it’s now London’s largest arts festival and earning comparisons with the Edinburgh fringe. In fact, fantastic support for new disciplines and activities that thrive theatre talent can be found all over the borough — at Ovalhouse Theatre; Streatham Space Project, Omnibus Theatre and South London Theatre 200 amongst others. in the borough. YEARS

SINCE THE FIRST PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AT THE OLD VIC IN 1818

24 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 25 © BBC & Dalton Maag

Architecture Design

Lambeth’s architecture practices include Marks Barfield, David Lambeth based designers produce work of beauty, purpose, and Chipperfield, DHDSA, Martha Schwartz, and new arrivals Squire & Partners. incredible reach. Working from his studio in West Norwood, ceramicist Architecture practises in the borough have designed buildings and public Edmund de Waal has received international acclaim for his work, recently spaces of world renown — the London Eye, the Neues Museum (Berlin), collaborating with choreographer Wayne McGregor on stage design for Christ’s College (Oxford), Place de la Republique (Paris). Of the last ten the Royal Opera House. The latest Sam Smith album cover was designed Stirling Prizes, two have gone to buildings in the borough and one to a by Studio Moross — led by Stockwell based designer Kate Moross. Google, Lambeth-based architect. LAMBETH BASED Amazon, Intel and Nokia have more than technology in common — they’ve all sought out type designers Dalton Maag in Brixton for finely crafted BUILDINGS AWARDED DESIGN HAS typefaces. STIRLING PRIZES BEEN ONE OF Every year, the Brixton Design Trail showcases Lambeth’s design talent in LAMBETH’S buildings and open spaces — such as the fantastic ‘Flash Crossings’ by BIGGEST Eley Kishimoto and Dolman Bowles. GROWTH 2 SECTORS IN OUT OF THE RECENT YEARS LAST TEN

LAMBETH CREATIVE & DIGITAL INDUSTRIES STUDY 2017

26 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 27 Credit: Fire

Music Film and TV

Music is part of our heritage and our future. From the classic club Lambeth is home to two of the UK’s most important film and TV scene of the Fridge; Punk to Rock against Racism, Reggae, Dance, Hip institutions — ITV and the BFI Southbank and IMAX. Both are committed Hop and Grime, Lambeth continues to provide a home for performers to growing their presence and creative output from Lambeth in the and venues at the forefront of the UK’s musical fame. Vauxhall is home ITV AND THE BRITISH coming years. Beneath Coldharbour Lane, animation and VFX gurus to London’s biggest LGBT+ club scene; Brixton boasts The Academy, FILM INSTITUTE CALL Jellyfish Pictures work on the next Star Wars movie. The Electric, Phonox and Club 414; and Streatham the award winning LAMBETH HOME Behind the scenes, Hilary Wili, Clapham resident and dressmaker to the Hideaway jazz club. The Southbank Centre is home to four resident stars, cuts and sews creations worn on the sets of Doctor Who and Oscar orchestras giving around 100 concerts a year, including The London winning film Gravity. B3 Media, a groundbreaking business running ‘Talent Philharmonic Orchestra. Music is heard in Lambeth’s streets and markets, Labs’, provides innovative support to BAME talent to become film directors outside its tube stations, and behind the doors of some of the world’s and script writers. Iconic Steps, a social enterprise hosted by the BFI, most important venues. provide cost effective training and routes to employment in film. 2 OF THE UK'S MOST IMPORTANT FILM & TV INSTITUTIONS

28 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 29 Technology Visual Arts

Companies in Lambeth have been at the forefront of technology in Underpinning our strong visual arts scene is a community of organisations the past and will be into the future. IBM have held a major presence in providing a fantastic platform for artists to flourish. Organisations Lambeth since 1951 continue to innovate, as demonstrated with the including Gasworks (Vauxhall), 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning Watson technology doing something something. As the largest CDI (Herne Hill), Artist Studio Company (Brixton) and ACME (Stockwell and growth sector in recent years, the borough is home to earlier stage West Norwood) provide studio space for artists at substantially below technology driven companies — including the outstanding Citymapper, market rents. Their support has launched the careers of many successful a public transit app and mapping service with global reach. local artists. UsTwo Games — a Stockwell based Games company behind Monument Bringing art outdoors is a local passion. Studio Voltaire recently brought Valley, were visited by fan Apple CEO Steve Cook in 2017. In fact Apple the hugely popular ‘Rainbow Aphorisms’ Art on the Underground to life. are due to take up a major office presence in neighbouring Battersea This year the annual Brixton Design Trail facilitated a striking 50 foot mural in 2019. Whilst Guy’s & St Thomas Charitable Trust have shown their 67 celebrating local …. by local street artist Delph. belief in the power of technology to drive healthier lives through the YEARS creation of The Health Foundry — London’s first workspace dedicated to health-tech startups.

IBM HAVE HELD A MAJOR PRESENCE IN LAMEBTH SINCE 1951

30 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 31 Mission Driven Creatives Creative Education

Lambeth’s mission driven creative practises put inclusive growth at The role of the education sector is sometimes underplayed in the the forefront of their work. The borough has 21 Arts Council National remarkable creative output of the UK. Lambeth has high-achieving primary Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) — charities making an outstanding social and secondary schools and several have long-standing track records of contribution to enabling cultural excellence and widening participation. collaborating with creative and technology employers. Organisations such Action Space are a sector leading NPO. Working with organisations such as Raw Material, the London Connected Learning Centre, and Lambeth as the Royal Academy and National Portrait Gallery, from Clapham, Action Music Service bring fantastic extra-curricular work to our young people. Space makes a professional career in the arts a realistic option for talented In the Further Education sector, Morley College is one of London’s artists with learning disabilities. longest established providers of creative education, and Lambeth College Livity have become one of the UK’s most respected agencies with local supports the development of hundreds of local students. A minute’s walk young people central to their growth. Above bustling market stalls from Clapham Common, the Academy of Contemporary Music stands and restaurants of Brixton Village, Photofusion — London’s largest as one of the most effective routes into the music industry. Lambeth’s independent photography resource centre do great engagement work creative and technology businesses are able to draw on the world class with socially excluded young people. Reprezent Radio, a talent incubator 21 higher education system across London. Locally, King’s College London, and the UK’s only youth-led FM radio station is now the ‘go to’ place for London South Bank University, and the London and London College of young talent for media companies to employ. Communications support thousands of people to gain a first rate creative higher education.

ARTS COUNCIL NPO'S RESIDING IN THE BOROUGH

32 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 33 Our big challenges Whilst Lambeth has world-class creative and digital businesses and major growth potential, the sector is currently smaller and less strongly clustered than in other central London boroughs.

This part of the strategy highlights the challenges we need meet in order to safeguard and grow more extraordinary creative and digital clusters in the borough and to achieve our aim of inclusive growth.

© James jones CHALLENGE 1 Creative and technology Lambeth has many of the key CASE STUDY INSIGHT ‘Lambeth is the businesses of all sizes like to attributes desirable to creative and Developing the innovation ecosystem for Creative ideal place for concentrate in clusters. The digital businesses. Local property health-tech and digital proximity and agglomeration agents, workspace providers, and HS to grow our benefits provide competitive the council’s inward investment accelerator Lambeth is home to some of the UK’s most important health providers businesses advantages — a critical mass service are experiencing high levels programme and the and teaching hospitals — Guy’s and St Thomas and King’s College London of talented workers of demand. This demand is coming start-ups we’re (KCL). These centres of expertise and innovation in Waterloo and Denmark need proximity and creators, access to from startups, growth companies, supporting. We want Hill have significant capacity for expansion. The council is working with the clients, opportunities for artists, as well as large scale SMEs to grow here’ Guy’s and St Thomas Charity and KCL on masterplan projects which will and work in collaboration, knowledge and creative institutions wishing to Dr. Alexander Young, guide the development of major new R&D and commercial health clusters. sharing and socialising. relocate or expand in the borough. Founder, HS clusters. Guy’s and St Thomas Charitable Trust recently invested in the creation In addition to good supply of key But despite this demand, the of a new health-tech business incubator — The Health Foundry. They workspace typologies (as described creative and digital sectors have have recently been joined by HS — a health-tech accelerator that builds below), strong creative clusters are not grown as fast as in many other and scales tech start-ups to tackle global health issues. Providing a also made up of other important London boroughs. combination of space, intensive business support, mentoring, and access programmes and institutions to capital, their first accelerator received hundreds of submissions from such as sector-focussed business entrepreneurs. networks and accelerators and With KCL... lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Mauris universities — providing knowledge ut lobortis elit. Integer ac nisl leo. Curabitur sit amet turpis odio. Nullam ‘BIDs, universities spillovers and innovation. A strong bibendum quam sed diam laoreet consectetur vitae eu mi. Integer and other sector place identity, cultural and night pulvinar pellentesque sem, at fringilla orci egestas at. In elementum, erat support bodies time economy offer has also been non eleifend laoreet, nunc arcu. can work with the a key factor in the development of major creative and digital clusters. council to build ‘Our university London’s largest creative and digital the strength of has recently won clusters — Soho and Tech City, have creative and several funding grown into world-class business technology business awards to provide destinations through a combination networks; compete business support of these factors. for business and innovation support funding, programmes for and attract creative and accelerator technology programmes to the businesses in borough’ Lambeth’ Lambeth CDI Study 2017 Head of Creative Economy Faculty, London South Bank University

THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES CURRENTLY MAKE UP THE DIGITAL INDUSTRIES AROUND 8% OF TOTAL MAKE UP 4% OF TOTAL EMPLOYMENT IN EMPLOYMENT, BELOW THE LAMBETH, BELOW THE LONDON AVERAGE LONDON AVERAGE OF 12%. OF 6%.

34 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 35 CHALLENGE 2 Low levels of commercial Whilst other areas in London have Our research tells us that Large scale workspace providers ‘The types of space are the critical seen an expansion in commercial local workspace providers are including The Office Group and A lack of factor limiting growth of floorspace, Lambeth has seen workspace required experiencing high levels of We Work have recently opened workspace the creative and digital major losses of space — 200,000 in Lambeth vary demand from CDI businesses of new large scale facilities for CDI economy in Lambeth. The sq m over the past 5 years, significantly– all sizes to locate in the borough business in the borough and have is limiting growth of Lambeth’s creative especially in north Lambeth, from new grade — particularly our growth areas. future expansion plans. Smaller and technology driven Brixton, Clapham and Streatham. A office space Increasingly, large creative and scale workspace projects recently Lambeth’s employment has been lower The Government’s relaxation of to co-working, digital companies want to co-locate established or in the pipeline are than many other central planning laws through Permitted incubators, in areas where there is a large and beginning to shape a stronger potential London boroughs. Development Rights has been a makerspaces and visible small business and start-up startup ecosystem in Lambeth. major driver of losing commercial business community. artist studios.’ Increasing commercial values for cluster space to residential use, accounting Lambeth Creative & In terms of new workspace presents positives and negatives for 60% of all losses. Lambeth has a Digital Industries development, there are positive for Lambeth’s CDI sector. development. lower stock of space than locations Study 2017, BOP signs of a shift in the right direction. Developers are more likely to bring within Central London including Consulting and GVA A new wave of development activity new commercial space to the Southwark, Camden and Islington. in Lambeth is starting to provide market increasing supply — an Vacancy rates are also significantly an opportunity to increase the essential factor for Lambeth. But lower than in other comparator supply of appropriate workspace as found all over London, higher boroughs. of all types. Our Commercial values put increasing cost pressure In response to the issue, Lambeth Development Pipeline Report on some important creative has introduced an ‘Article 4 identifies 24,000 sq m of (net) industry sub-sectors important Direction’ which came into force in space under construction, the to the fabric and supply chain of September 2017. This has removed first time there has been a positive Lambeth’s wider economy. the ‘Permitted Development Right’ net position for B1a space. in the whole of Brixton town centre, And construction starts for new a series of sites in Clapham and ten commercial space have recently industrial areas. been higher than comparator boroughs.

36 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 37 CASE STUDY ‘I’d never thought of Brixton as an Increasing demand from large scale creative office location until businesses to locate in the borough I looked around The Department Store, Squire & Partners with a different mind-set and Squire and Partners architectural practice recently moved their 250-strong thought - this is a team to Brixton from Kings Cross, marking the first large professional fantastic place to services organisation to relocate to the town centre. Purchasing a work’ dilapidated Edwardian department store, they have entirely reimagined Michael Squire, the space allowing the existing fabric and layers of history to inform the Senior Partner, new design for their head office. Squire and Partners The development also involved creating a new ground floor restaurant, Canova Hall, a refurbishment of the former Fire Station and Stables, providing a new location for Brixton Post Office and three units for small businesses. One of the small units has provided space for an independent Brixton record shop to relocate and expand. The Department Store provides new events and meetings spaces in the heart of Brixton, addressing a gap in network spaces for Lambeth’s creative economy. Squire and Partners are part of a growing trend of creative organisations large and small who are looking to locate in the borough. Image credit: Carver Haggard CASE STUDY Improving space for the creation of visual arts, industry skills training and the community 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, Herne Hill

198 Contemporary Arts and Learning (198 CAL) is a centre for visual arts, education and creative enterprise. Their mission is to nurture and support the career of emerging, under-represented artists and to advance public interest in the visual arts. Working in partnership with Raw Material Music and Media, Photofusion and Hatch Enterprises, 198 ‘Lorem ipsum CAL have successfully raised £475,000 from the Mayor of London’s Good dolor sit amet, Growth Fund, towards their £1.2m target to redevelop their current site consectetur in Herne Hill, tripling the current space available. adipiscing elit. Across three floors, the new building will provide dedicated exhibition Suspendisse and community space, a dedicated floor to creative skills, education and rutrum dignissim enterprise under the ‘Factory’ banner and new studio space for creative tempor. Morbi et industry start-ups and freelancers. dictum tortor, 198 CAL’s work is framed by local communities and the history of the non interdum Brixton uprisings. They were recently granted National Portfolio Status mi. Suspendisse by Arts Council England which guarantees the core artist programme condimentum ex non for at least the next four years, and are a key partner on the Next ornare efficitur.’ Generation initiative. Name, Position, Company Image credit: James Jones

38 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 39 CHALLENGE 3 Affordable and supportive Affordable workspace can take In London’s highly prized and – The Mayor’s draft London Plan is ‘Affordable workspaces (e.g. artist many forms. Artist Workspace dynamic property market, set to bring forward a stronger workspace projects Affordable studios, business incubator is typically run by charitable meanwhile space projects like Pop policy emphasis on affordable such Granby Space, workspace and accelerator spaces) are organisations, providing spaces for Brixton are also a highly effective workspace. The council has The Foundry, an integral part of London’s visual artists at rents of between way of maximizing opportunities to contributed to new policy Waterloo Works, must be strong ecosystem for creative £10-18 per sq. ft. The stock of support inclusive growth. development at a London level LJ Works, Studio affordable artistic workspace through the Mayor’s Workspace and technology innovation. There are several ways the council Voltaire and 198 has been dwindling (a London Advisory Group. The revision of our expanded and Research by the GLA and the and local stakeholders can act CAL are important wide trend) with Lambeth based Local Plan provides the opportunity Lambeth CDI Study 2017 highlights to safeguard and grow the stock in developing safeguarded workspace providers operating to develop locally-geared affordable that the borough currently lacks of affordable and supportive Lambeth’s creative huge waiting lists for space. These workspaces that positively respond the critical mass of affordable and workspace in the borough — for and technology in order to spaces are crucial for artistic to new London Plan policies. supportive workspace facilities example: ecosystem’ experimentation. – The Lambeth Creative and Digital required to support significant Lambeth CDI Study 2017 support cluster – Major local organisations can host Industries Study 2017 highlights cluster growth. Business incubation and creative organisations that need a set of property assets owned by development accelerator spaces (e.g. Health As witnessed in many parts of the affordable space on a short or long the council in strategic locations Foundry; Build Studios) are a very London property market, the cost term basis (e.g. the BFI host the that can be transformed to provide and inclusive important component of London’s of workspace has risen sharply early stage social enterprise Iconic both meanwhile and permanent burgeoning ecosystem for the for some businesses. The lack Steps). workspace facilities. growth. creative and tech sectors. These of supply exacerbates the issue. – Large businesses and cultural – The council is proactively seeking space cater to pre-start, start-up Whilst the cost of commercial institutions in the borough should out accelerators and affordable and early stage businesses, often LAMBETH’S PROGRAMME property remains lower in Lambeth consider the potential to join the workspace providers who could providing enhanced business OF SUPPORT FOR compared with major creative and growing movement of companies potentially locate in the borough support and below-market co- AFFORDABLE WORKSPACE digital clusters such as Soho and founding new accelerator and assisting their search for space. working space for companies WON THE 2017 Tech City, affordability is a major programmes to support innovation before they scale-up and move FEDERATION OF SMALL concern for many creative and in their sectors — following the onto to open market workspace. BUSINESS AND LONDON technology companies. lead provided by Disney; Google; Ordnance Survey; Cisco and others. COUNCIL’S AWARD FOR ‘BEST PROGRAMME OF SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS. WITHIN LAMBETH, ASKING RENTS HAVE INCREASED BY AROUND 45% OVER THE POP BRIXTON DELIVERS LAST FIVE YEARS. BUSINESS ‘The agglomeration AFFORDABLE SPACE TO 47 RATES HAVE INCREASED of business INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES BY AN AVERAGE OF 36% incubation and SUPPORTING 200 JOBS, SINCE THE GOVERNMENT’S affordable 5,800 VOLUNTEERING RECENT REVALUATION. workspaces is HOURS AND £9M PER THE LAMBETH CDI STUDY 51% OF BUSINESSES fundamental to ANNUM FOR THE LOCAL 2017 RECOMMENDS THE SURVEYED SAY FINDING a first-class ECONOMY. COUNCIL BRINGS FORWARD AFFORDABLE WORKSPACE IS environment for AND TESTS A NEW Economic Impact A CHALLENGE. business growth and AFFORDABLE WORKSPACE Assessment, Regeneris innovation’ Lambeth CDI Study 2017 2018. POLICY IN THE LOCAL PLAN John Spindler, CEO, Capital Enterprise

40 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 41 CASE STUDY INSIGHT Key opportunities to encourage CDI growth and clustering The Lambeth CDI Study 2017 highlights several buildings and sites in close proximity to each other, which can help to build the critical mass required for significant cluster growth. Across our main growth areas, some of the key new opportunities for supporting CDI growth include: Brixton — the council has three buildings in the town centre which can accomodate an exciting range of new CDI focussed spaces: the refurbished Town Hall basement contains a 500 sq. m. space being brought forward as a new creative and tech hub. The Brixton Rec has a 1000 sq. m. space used for storage, where the council is exploring feasibility to bring forward a cutting-edge maker space and deep tech lab. And International House, a 4000 sq. m. office building being vacated by the council, will be marketed to workspace operators and is capable of accommodating early stage businesses and larger more established SMEs in the CDI sectors. Beyond council owned assets, Lambeth will be working with key local landowners including Crown Properties and Squire & Partners to see how their buildings can increasingly become focal points for CDI related events and business networking activity.

Image credit: alma-nac

South Bank & Waterloo — Bourne Properties, a major local landowner have recently refurbished Capital Tower and Mercury House providing high quality space geared towards the CDI sectors. The council has granted planning permission to ITV who intend to significantly scale-up their presence on the South Bank. WeWork, already a major provider of space to CDI business are set to open their largest workspace in their global portfolio at South Bank Place. The council’s inward investment team have a role to play alongside South Bank BID in working with these key local property owners to generate awareness and the pipeline of new CDI occupiers to these spaces, and to build business networking opportunities amongst them. A cluster of business incubation spaces has formed over the past 18 months — found at Granby Place, Build Studios, and The Health Foundry. At 30 Wooten Street, the council has been working alongside London Southbank University and London College of Communications to develop a new workspace and business support space — ‘Waterloo Works’. With a funding commitment from the Mayor, Waterloo Works aims to launch in early 2019.

42 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 43 Vauxhall — already home to a thriving visual arts cluster, Vauxhall is CASE STUDY INSIGHT set for a much-needed boost in the volume of CDI geared workspaces. Support affordable workspace through the The Office Group, London’s most successful home-grown workspace planning system company, have recently opened their largest new building at Tintagel House. Workspace Group, the borough’s largest workspace provider have Planning policy, expressed in our Local Plan, is one also communicated their ambition to grow their presence in the area. of the council’s most important tools in protecting The council will continue to secure new commercial floorspace on major schemes in the pipeline — at Albert Embankment, the Island Site and and encouraging new affordable workspace. elsewhere. 303 Kennington Lane provides the setting for a new Archives In response to the Government’s relaxation of planning laws, Lambeth Centre for Lambeth, which can become a significant new cultural asset for has successfully introduced an Article 4 Direction for Brixton town centre, the area. parts of Clapham and all of our ‘Key Industrial Business Areas’ — an Elsewhere in the borough — the council is developing ‘LJ Works’, a important step in ensuring there are no future net losses of commercial new affordable workspace facility in Loughborough Junction for artists, space in these areas. The council has also used the planning system to makers, and independent food businesses. We are supporting creative secure affordable workspace. Build Studios — an affordable workspace organisations including Studio Voltaire in Clapham and 198 Contemporary for architecture and built environment companies established by Arts & Learning on fundraising efforts to expand their creative workspace WeAreWaterloo BID, was enabled through a planning agreement securing facilities. Research has also commenced to establish key opportunities for low cost space with the developer Urbanest. commercial growth and workspace development in Streatham and the Scaling up Lambeth’s ability to secure affordable workspace in new West Norwood Commercial Area. development would require a new policy within our Local Plan. Our Local Plan Issues and Options consultation (December 2017), included affordable workspace as a key topic, highlighting the potential need for new policy approaches to secure affordable workspace in some parts of the borough where need is greatest. The council now intends to draft wording for an affordable workspace policy and model development viability impact as we prepare to revise our Local Plan in 2019.

Image credit: Mickey Lee thebiglondon.com

44 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 45 CHALLENGE 4 Across the world, cities are are suffering from ‘not-spots’, CASE STUDY INSIGHT Lambeth’s engaged in building and ‘digital deserts’ and a lack of fibre Joint efforts to address the connectivity enabling fibre infrastructure connections. Across Europe, problem digital to provide city-wide, hyper- London also performs poorly, connected environments. ranking 26 out of 33 capital cities There is an increasingly active and coordinated lobbying effort at a connectivity These networks are required in 2014 for its average download London level to secure investment in better broadband infrastructure. to cope with the rapid growth broadband speed. At a borough level, there are also new examples of best practise (e.g. the Connected Westminster project) where councils and other stakeholders must improve in data consumption and Compared to other London are coming together to tackle the issue. connected devices including boroughs, Lambeth ranks through a utility assets, street lighting, among the lowest for broadband Lambeth has begun to engage with London wide initiatives, and recently traffic signals and CCTV. Cities concerted speeds, just above Southwark contributed to a major funding application led by Transport for London for such as New York, Hong and Westminster. At 13.2Mbps, £19m of Department for Culture, Media and Sport funding through the Kong and Stockholm have effort across Lambeth’s average download Local Full Fibre Network Challenge Fund. If successful this would provide leveraged their networks to speeds are significantly lower than funding for Gigabit connectivity to some of Lambeth’s key workspace the city. foster fibre-based services, the national average. initiatives and public buildings. either directly or, through partnerships with local The UK Digital Strategy aims to providers. They have used boost the UK’s world-leading digital these new services to support sectors and overcome barriers to economic development, growth and innovation, creating education, healthcare and more of the high-skilled, high- other community functions. paid jobs of the future. The need for better digital infrastructure is Access to faster, more consistent also a key priority for the Mayor broadband speeds will provide a of London, and business groups powerful platform for business including London First. growth and improved productivity. It enables businesses to take A part of the council’s CDI Strategy advantage of digital tools, use the is to play an increasingly active role internet to be more efficient and in funding proposals and lobbying effective, reach new customers and efforts to ensure Lambeth’s markets online. interests are best represented at a London and national level. London’s economic productivity There is also a benefit to greater and competitiveness faces a engagement with neighbouring significant threat from poor digital boroughs to learn from and share connectivity. Londoners and SMEs BROADBAND SPEEDS best practice. ARE A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR MANY BUSINESSES — AND AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR 86% OF BUSINESSES SURVEYED WHEN CHOOSING PREMISES.

Lambeth CDI Study 2017

46 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 47 CHALLENGE 5 Lambeth is not homogenous. securing below-market performing the south of the borough, secured Cultural programming should be Through our London Borough of We want to keep it that way. arts space. This comes in response through the planning process undertaken in partnership with Culture bid — Radical Hearts Open Lambeth’s Protecting and enhancing to the decline at a London (and – Our Business Rates Hardship Fund local people, and drawing on the Minds, communities helped to culturally rich the cultural infrastructure Lambeth) level of the number of live has provided relief to a growing lived experience and stories of bring forward many creative ideas underpinning our creative music venues, pubs and clubs — performing arts venue in Waterloo Lambeth’s communities, cultural for how cultural programming economy is a crucial part of the backbone of night culture. The programming can also help tackle in the borough could support and authentic We are working closely with the proportion of night-time economy inequality and enhance a sense of placemaking and inclusion. Whilst our strategy. GLA on the Cultural Infrastructure employment in Lambeth is around personal and community identity. the delivery of many of these ideas character must Lambeth’s cultural offer contributes Plan and when published, can use three times the national average. will require further fundraising to successful town centres, and this to support further analysis Within Lambeth, there is great be preserved efforts, the Radical Hearts Open helps create places where people The council is already active and development of potential potential for more collaboration Minds document provides a want to live, work and visit. Culture in supporting the evolution of responses to support cultural between local community groups, and developed. blueprint for exciting new projects is a key driver of tourism, a major Lambeth’s night cultural offer, for infrastructure in the borough. For small and large scale cultural to keep Lambeth culturally rich. earner of GVA. Exposure to culture example: example, by considering the need organisations. The strategy urges stimulates creativity in individuals for performing arts spaces to be our large cultural partners to take – The Old Vic’s Capital plans and workers — increasingly one of the range of spaces which world class content to new places include restoration and upgrade important in a knowledge-based could be brokered through an in the borough and to help enable of the historic theatre and a new economy. affordable workspace policy. local communities to help shape annex with dedicated education these experiences. Our Business The Greater London Authority is set and community space and a new There is also great potential for new Improvement Districts are also key to publish a Cultural Infrastructure cafe bar outdoor cultural programming to to this agenda, and are committed Plan during 2018 to provide further – Ovalhouse Theatre will get a support investment in the borough. to enhancing their investment data on the supply and demand new home within Brixton Town Local organisations such as Bureau in cultural programming in the for performing arts and other Centre through the council-led of SIlly Ideas are recognised coming years. cultural space types. The Cultural Somerleyton Road development nationally for their work injecting art Infrastructure Plan will also provide – The Streatham Space Project brings and surprise into everyday places. examples of best practice for a new performing arts venue to

LOCAL CULTURAL LIFE IS CRUCIAL TO CDI BUSINESSES SURVEYED, 61% IDENTIFYING THIS AS IMPORTANT IN THEIR LOCATION DECISION.

Lambeth CDI Study 2017

Credit: Benedict Johnson

48 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 49 CASE STUDY INSIGHT Celebrating creativity and place identity Brixton Design Trail (BDT)

An extensive network of multi-disciplinary talent based in and around Brixton. Founded in 2014, BDT hosts an annual week-long cultural take- over of central Brixton to showcase the best creative work south of the river during the London Design Festival. BDT’s mission is to put design into the everyday wherever possible, to open minds and offer a different perspective. Local surroundings are used as a canvas to celebrate local identity and inspire fresh creative thinking around powerful themes. In a strong collaboration with the business community, designers take up residence in shops, bars, restaurants for a series of pop-up exhibitions throughout the indoor markets and in neighbouring streets. Installations are produced in a diverse range of locations in the public realm from railway arches and bridges, to leading cultural organisations like the Black Cultural Archives. CASE STUDY INSIGHT The week drives footfall and spend in local shops, supports community engagement and learning, and beyond the week cements Brixton’s Using culture to support the wider business reputation as a creative business destination. community BDT is driven voluntarily by a collective of local businesses, and supported by Brixton BID and the council. Vauxhall Cultural Programme In 2017, a partnership between Vauxhall One BID and Lambeth Council brought a programme of cultural events to Vauxhall. The programme aimed to; change perceptions about events in the area and how people think of Vauxhall as a destination; provide more activity for the office community and encourage new visitors to the area in the early evening and at weekends. The programme involved increasing the range and diversity of cultural programming in the area by facilitating regular free, fun and inclusive activities; developed by a cultural programmer and delivered in partnership with professional arts organisations, local partners, businesses and cultural institutions. Activities included Salsa classes and Summer Film Screenings, Bearpit Karaoke, Christmas choirs and Brilliant Vauxhall; a two day atmospheric exploration of light through the use of fire, light guided story-telling, interactive installations and light projection by some of the UK’s most respected outdoor arts organisations. The target number of visitors for the pilot year was 3,000, this was exceeded with total audiences of over 5,600, with many events being attended by local residents, visitors and the office community. Bearpit Karaoke and Brilliant Vauxhall were also successful through social media and press channels, increasing the profile of the programme significantly. Vauxhall One BID and Lambeth Council are continuing to work together to build on the successes of the programme.

50 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 51 CHALLENGE 6 The lack of diversity and Whilst Lambeth’s economy CASE STUDY INSIGHT equality in the creative is growing, inequality is still Advocacy for a more diverse digital sector Inequality in industries is under the prevalent. The Lambeth Equalities the Creative spotlight. Recent reports Commission highlights: UK Black Tech from the Creative Industries – One in three children in Lambeth is Co-founded and led by Lambeth based Computer Science teacher, Federation, Arts Council born into poverty and Digital Mark Martin, UKBlack Tech is a new network dedicated to building a England, the Warwick – 18% of children are living in out of more inclusive tech economy. Its research reveals the schism between Industries Commission, the GLA, and work households the 60% of BAME students in London’s schools and the 5% BAME people the council all emphasise the – Four groups of residents of in the tech workforce. Activities are designed to accelerate change, to must be need for action. particular concern in relation to encourage BAME parents and young people to consider digital careers. inequality: Disabled people, Black addressed. Lambeth is a diverse borough. It advises London Tech Advocates and engages digital businesses on Caribbean, Portuguese nationals 32% who live here were born diversity. For example by hosting Round Tables with the major tech and Somali. abroad and 42% are from BAME companies in London to discuss race in the workplace and how to groups. 39% of pupils first With a wealth of local organisations nurture BAME talent. language is not English. But like committed to tackling inequality other high value sectors, the UK’s Within a year of starting up UKBlack Tech counts 700 subscribers and through the creative and creative and technology workforce runs monthly meetups focused on digital skills. Through its social media technology sectors, the council does not reflect this diversity: presences, BAME speakers and mentors and the release of copyright free can better connect young images it promotes better media representation of people of colour in people, education providers, and – 11.4% of creative job roles held tech. UKBlackTech has plans for a large scale careers fair in Lambeth employers. by BAME employees in 2018. – Women are underrepresented In order to tackle inequality, overall (making up only 17% of the interventions should be targeted technology sector workforce) and in at the most disadvantaged groups, senior roles informed by the Lambeth Equalities – Disabled people and those from Commission findings and Indices of lower-income backgrounds are Multiple Deprivation. We will work underrepresented overall, and less with local, grassroots organisations likely to be in senior roles who work with particular groups – People from more advantaged to engage those who are typically socio-economic groups account hardest to reach. for 92% of the workforce in the Creative Economy, compared to For residents with English as a 66% in the wider UK economy second language, programmes that bring together skills and training Research demonstrates that initiatives and higher education barriers to entering and building partners who deliver English a career within the CDIs typically language courses will be developed include: and encouraged. – Socio economic status Lack of We will work with business understanding of education and community to make significant career pathways change and bring about new – Lack of social networks practices and projects that tackle – Employer practises and biases the barriers preventing equal e.g. informal recruitment; unpaid opportunity. internships

Image credit: UKBlackTech

52 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 53 CASE STUDY INSIGHT An innovative approach to careers advice ERIC FEST is a show stopping new type of careers fair for young people.

Piloted successfully in 2017, ERIC events are now drawing an audience of up to 400 young people. Attendees benefit from interactive workshops, immersive exhibitors, live entertainment and importantly, a young, diverse range of speakers who have relevant career advice. With support from the council and the GLA, ERIC Festival is connecting with new organisations to help them scale-up their events. ERIC are set to collaborate with The OId Vic and The Office Group who have agreed to be a host-sponsor, enabling the festival to expand to support 2,000 young people over the next year. The council will be working closely with ERIC FEST to help shape direction and delivery of the Next Generation project — a borough wide campaign CASE STUDY INSIGHT to tackle underrepresentation of BAME groups within the creative and Technology based teaching and learning technology workforce. activities for schools London Connected Learning Centre

The London Connected Learning Centre (CLC) is an innovative education organisation supporting schools and others in using digital technologies in creative and imaginative ways. Based in Clapham Old Town, CLC fosters collaboration between teachers, students and parents working in partnership with businesses, community and cultural organisations. CLC runs a digital skills programme for Lambeth families; they work in partnership with IBM to provide opportunities and experiences for Lambeth children and teachers; and collaborate with local cultural organisations such as the Garden Museum, BFI and Tate Modern to provide creative and meaningful contexts for the use of technology. CLC was recently published EdTech50 highlighting the best of the edtech sector. ‘In our experience, the London CLC are a pretty much unique organisation in the formal education system in the UK. Their integration of technology and creativity; the robustness of their thinking about these areas; and the fact that their practice embraces families, young children, older students, and teachers makes them a leader in the field of creative education.’ Mark Reid, Head of Education, BFI Southbank ‘IBM has benefitted from the deep expertise that London CLC possesses to implement a programme of professional development for teachers that on our own we’d have been unable to do. The impacts have used to catalyse similar collaborations internationally.’ Mark Wakefield, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs Manager for IBM UK. Credit: ERIC Festival

54 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 55 Space: we will protect and grow Our 1 workspace across the borough. objectives and actions Business friendly services: we will join together service areas across the council To meet our challenges, and to 2 to support inclusive growth. catch up with and outperform other central London boroughs, we must support the development Networks and support: we will develop a of a sustainable ‘ecosystem’ for the creative and digital sector. Lambeth strong business ‘ecosystem’ for creative and and its partners will work together 3 digital businesses. to achieve our objectives.

Place: we will foster culturally vibrant places that showcase the borough’s creative 4 past and future.

Talent: we will lobby and innovate with employers to tackle inequality in the creative and digital industries 56 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 5 ACTION 1 ACTION 2 ACTION 3 The council’s Local We will develop an The council will continue Plan review will bring ‘Approved Providers’ its role participating in forward a stronger list and hold ‘meet the the Mayor’s Workspace policy framework for provider’ sessions, Providers Advisory affordable and supportive bringing together Group, and work with the workspace in response landowners, developers, Greater London Authority to the new London Plan and workspace providers on developing a best policy ED3. The review with a creative and practice guide to securing provides the opportunity technology specialism workspace through the to test an affordable with developers in the s106 process. workspace policy for key borough. growth areas supporting business incubator spaces and cultural workspace facilities. 1 We will also provide more supportive text to adopted Local Plan We will protect and policies to be more descriptive in terms grow workspace of the relationship to the creative and digital across the borough economy and the need to provide different spaces in different locations in Working with the Mayor of London, developers, the borough. property owners and workspace providers, ACTION 5 ACTION 6 ACTION 7 ACTION 8 we will bring forward a range of workspace Local workspace The next phase of The council’s inward in Streatham BID and typologies to support creative and digital providers, BIDs, and the the Lambeth Works investment team will Hideaway will seek to council will continue to programme will bring work with property launch the first co- businesses of different stages and sizes – from collaborate on funding forward four new creative owners with space major working space for creative business incubators, coworking, artist and ACTION 4 applications to relevant and digital industries’ existing opportunities businesses in Streatham. maker spaces, to larger scale offices in the We will seek to gain programmes to increase focused workspace using (e.g. Capital Tower borough. Government exemption workspace provision in our own assets, at: 30 and Mercury House; from Permitted the borough e.g. London Wooten Street (SE1); Your Keybridge House; Tintagel Lambeth will take a stronger advocacy role for Development Rights in Regeneration Fund; New Town Hall, Brixton House; 422 Brixton Road) the Central Activities Arts Council Capital Rec, and International to attract high quality workspace in new development. The council will Zone, and in other areas Programme. House (SW9). We will creative and technology use its planning powers to safeguard and grow where there have been also finalise research businesses, accelerators the volume of workspace in the borough. Using detrimental impacts exploring the potential for and workspace providers some of our own assets, we will bring forward on our local economy new workspace projects to take on existing space through office to within the West Norwood opportunities in the exemplary new workspace projects that help to residential conversion e.g. Commercial Area and borough. build local clusters. Streatham. Streatham.

58 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 59 ACTION 1 ACTION 2 ACTION 3 ACTION 4 ACTION 5 We will evolve the We will promote the Our Education team will We will continue to Our Licensing team and Lambeth CDI Advisory Lambeth’s Business work closely with industry be an event-friendly BIDs will work jointly Group into a Lambeth Rates Hardship Fund to to increase the number council, encouraging and to ensure night time CDI Board to monitor small CDI businesses of high quality work supporting the technical economy businesses delivery of the strategy; and workspace providers experience placements learning required to stage are a key guiding voice champion and advocate adversely affected by the provided by creative and events that bring vibrancy supporting the council’s Lambeth’s CDI economy. Government’s business technology businesses to Lambeth’s places. Licensing Policy Review This group will involve our rate rises. in the borough. The and the potential business communities, team will also make production of Night voluntary and community representations to the Time Economy visions sector, and different GLA for an extension to in response to the new service areas of the the successful Careers London Plan. council to help make Cluster project financed connections and identify through the European opportunities for Social Fund. 2 collaboration.

A creative and technology business friendly council ACTION 6 ACTION 7 ACTION 8 ACTION 9 Lambeth wants to clearly communicate at We will increase the We will expand the We will become the first Lambeth and BIDs will capacity of the Business & Lambeth Now platform to local authority member join together to add a London-level that the borough values the Inward Investment team publicise the CDI Strategy; of the Creative Industries voices to the growing distinct contribution to inclusive growth that to help drive delivery showcase Lambeth’s Federation, and remain central London lobby the creative and technology sectors can play of the strategy and be creative and digital an active member of for better broadband in the coming years. a first point of contact business communities; Capital Enterprise, helping infrastructure. for existing and new and communicate the the council to: build the In addition to the planning, business and creative and technology growth potential and pipeline of business businesses seeking to key site opportunities to interest in the borough; inward investment, and regeneration teams locate in the borough. investors and developers. identify new partners and within the council, there are several service funding opportunities; areas that can make a collective contribution understand the latest to becoming an increasingly business friendly issues affecting the sectors; and join relevant organisation for the creative and technology lobbying efforts and sectors. campaigns.

60 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 61 ACTION 1 ACTION 2 ACTION 3 ACTION 4 We will support our London South Bank Working with BIDs We will encourage BIDs to establish a University will deliver and local business major businesses and Lambeth Creative four new European communities, we’ll cultural institutions in the Network, bringing large Regional Development promote the opportunity borough to develop new and small business Fund business support to become involved accelerator programmes together to network and programmes, including…. in industry-led events to support innovation and foster opportunities for including London Tech growth in their sectors. collaboration. Week and London Design Festival. In 2018, we will work with: – London & Partners and South Bank Employers Group to explore establishing the South 3 Bank as a new core events zone for London Tech Week. – Brixton BID, Brixton Design Trail and the London Design Festival (LDF) to increase their impactduring LDF.

A stronger business support ecosystem for ACTION 5 ACTION 6 Our inward investment As part of our Community creative and technology team will proactively Infrastructure Levy seek-out accelerator investments, we will business and business support undertake R&D to providers requiring map out a strategy for Whilst the council can make an important space to locate in the tackling the broadband borough. Within the connectivity issue in the contribution, evolving a stronger business workspace initiatives we borough. ecosystem will require business communities drive forward, we will and enterprise support bodies to take the lead. ensure these provide spaces for business In many instances, our role will be to support events and encourage new ways to support sector growth, where possible provide tenancy opportunities make connections and encourage partnership for business support working. providers.

62 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 63 ACTION 1 ACTION 2 ACTION 3 ACTION 4 We will develop a Lambeth’s BIDs will Lambeth will explore With funding support fundraising strategy in continue and increase co-commissioning from the Mayor of partnership with large their investment in opportunities for new London, we will develop a scale and grassroots cultural programming, cultural programmes with detailed stage 2 Creative cultural organisations including: BIDs, local developers, Enterprise Zone action to take forward several landowners and other plan for Brixton. – Brixton BID’s investment project ideas contained sponsors. in Brixton Design Trail within our Radical Hearts – Clapham BID will continue Open Minds, London to evolve their public art Borough of Culture bid. programme – inStreatham BID will continue their support for Culturally vibrant places Streatham Festival and... – South Bank BIDs...Nic 4that showcase the Durston to advise... – Station to Station…. borough’s creative past something here on their ACTION 6 plans for local events... and future – Vauxhall BID will increase We will revise our their investment in Local Plan public art policy and develop a Our Radical Hearts Open Minds publication the Vauxhall Cultural Programme Culture ‘Supplementary surfaced and celebrated Lambeth’s – WeAreWaterloo BID’s Planning Guidance’ extraordinary cultural history and future investment in The Vaults document to guide aspirations. It also highlighted the potential Festival, cementing its the contribution made by new development for more cultural programming in the place as London’s largest performing arts festival schemes to the evolution borough which can draw on the radical of Lambeth’s cultural and open identity of our people and places. economy. For example, encouraging: high quality, ACTION 7 We will encourage partners making functional and animated public realm, shaped We will encourage investments in cultural programming to ACTION 5 with close engagement more public displays work with local communities (including In response to the new with local communities, of Lambeth-produced those identified as priority groups within the London Plan Lambeth businesses and creative and digital work Equalities Commission Report) to produce will consider the potential institutions; ‘performance (e.g. through street- for additional Creative readiness’ of public frontage and hoardings new work and events that support, celebrate Enterprise Zones realm and open spaces displays; installations) and reflect our diverse communities. We will (e.g. West Norwood for events; creative and building on the best encourage projects that help Lambeth to Commercial Area) and digital animation of practice developed in become a more visibly creative and cultural Cultural Cluster status outdoor and pop-up partnership with Brixton for different parts of the spaces; and space for Design Trail and Brixton borough outdoors, including animating places borough through the new cultural facilities in BID, and Clapham BID in the borough currently underserved. Local Plan review process. major schemes. and Studio Voltaire.

64 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 65 ACTION 1 ACTION 2 ACTION 3 ACTION 4 ACTION 5 With support from the We will work with BIDs The ERIC Festival will South Bank Partners Working with We Rise, Mayor of London, we to engage employers to work with the council, (Southbank Centre, BFI, we will pilot the Young will kick start the Next introduce new policies the Old Vic, and other National Theatre and Opportunity Lambeth Generation campaign and projects that change local employers to stage Rambert) will develop offer (YOLO) project for with a range of partners employer practises a series of innovative curriculum modules young people at risk of (including ITV; South to tackle inequality of careers fairs, providing for Lambeth primary not securing a positive Bank Cultural Partners; opportunity. guidance, social capital schools and a new post school destination B3 Media; Culture at and opportunities to Lambeth Cultural Trail (assessed at Year 9) in 2 Heart partnership and showcase the best young and learning tools. local schools (Elmgreen others) to provide skills, creative talent in the and Norwood). jobs and opportunities for borough. young people and those underrepresented in the 5 creative workforce. We will lobby and innovate with employers to tackle inequality in the creative and digital industries

We want to see creative and technology growth make an outstanding contribution to tackling inequality, and help forge a positive future for new generations.

With employer-led responses, and with support from education and mission driven creative and technology sector, we want to be at the ACTION 6 ACTION 7 ACTION 8 ACTION 9 ACTION 10 forefront of innovative approaches to tackling Working with the School Lambeth and local The Southbank Centre will Working with Raw The Old Vic is delivering inequality. The index of multiple deprivation, Improvement team workspace providers deliver a dedicated HQ in Material, Photofusion programmes Inspire Audience Agency and schools data, and and Lambeth Schools will work with advocacy an under-used undercroft and Hatch Enterprises, and Take the Lead which Partnership, we will groups including UK for a new education 198 Contemporary Arts target employability skills Equalities Commission findings will guide raise awareness of the Black Tech, Advocacy programme, alongside & Learning will seek to and address issues of interventions at those in most need. existing curriculum Academy and others expanded and improved redevelop their site in social mobility. These By working with local, grassroots organisations development support to promote affordable skate space, providing Herne Hill, tripling the programmes will engage who work with particular communities, we and extra-curricular workspace opportunities free-to-use community space by building a 3 more than 1,000 young creative education offer for BAME-led creative facilities for many young storey arts, education people in Lambeth. will aim to engage those who are typically the offer provided by cultural and technology Londoners. and creative enterprise hardest to reach. partners. entrepreneurs. centre.

66 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 67 Delivering the strategy It’s a collective effort.

Our strategy goals will be achieved by leveraging the unique assets and opportunities on our doorstep, by playing to our organisational strengths as a leader, convenor and enabler and by innovating and delivering outstanding value for money.

Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 69 Delivery of this strategy requires a collective effort

This strategy contains actions that the council will deliver itself — for example, changes to our policy frameworks, or workspace projects using our own assets. But in many instances, the council’s role is not to directly deliver. Our strategy goals will be achieved by leveraging the unique assets and opportunities on our doorstep, by playing to our organisational strengths as a leader, convenor and enabler and by innovating and delivering outstanding value for money. In order to achieve the goals set out in this strategy, the council will: – Provide leadership, identifying opportunities and challenges, setting direction and maintaining an eye on progress towards goals – Develop and catalyse new initiatives with the private and voluntary sectors, helping to get ideas off the ground and attracting input and investment from others – Work closely with a wide range of partners from businesses just starting out to big business, regional and national government, making connections across organisations and diverse areas of activity – Facilitate, co-ordinate and sign-post the work of others – Conduct research and evaluation providing a strong evidence base for what works, why and what impact is being achieved — to guide the work of others and to support external fundraising. We expect that this strategy may need to adapt and evolve in the future. We will therefore review our action plan on an annual basis.

70 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 71 Resourcing the strategy

The council will have to be measured in the way it invests its time and resources to support our creative and technology industry, working with limited funding resources and staff. At the outset of this strategy, the council has secured investment from the following sources to deliver a range of projects, including: – Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (for public arts and cultural facilities) – Greater London Authority ‘Good Growth Fund’ investment (for workspace and public realm initiatives) – Greater London Authority ‘Creative Enterprise Zone’ round 1 investment (for the Brixton Creative Enterprise Zone Action Plan) – Mayor of London ‘Cultural Impact Award’ (for the Next Generation campaign) Using the resources we secure, we will support a small number of high impact initiatives which have the potential to sustain themselves without the need for ongoing support. Where the council accesses additional funding to support new initiatives, it will be guided by the framework set by this strategy. Delivering many aspects of the strategy will not require direct funding by the council. Some of the actions contained within this strategy will be financed by Lambeth’s Business Improvement Districts. There are also actions within the strategy that will be undertaken voluntarily by organisations in the borough, or through existing investment secured (e.g. our education partners and National Portfolio Organisations in the borough).

Image credit: Morley von Sternberg

72 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 73 Measuring success

We are committed to measuring the impact of our work, learning from our efforts and those of others, and communicating our progress through the Lambeth Now platform. At a borough level, the strategy seeks to make a major contribution towards: – Attracting more large scale businesses into the borough from the creative and technology sectors – Increasing the overall volume of commercial space, and increasing the number of affordable workspaces, including business incubator and accelerator spaces – More creative and technology employers becoming involved in careers guidance, training and employment projects – The visibility and understanding of training and employment pathways into the creative and technology sectors from underrepresented groups. Working with partners in academia, business and elsewhere, we will continue to build a strong evidence base to underpin our work including identifying ‘best in class’ solutions and policies supporting creative and technology sector inclusive growth. Monitoring and measurement frameworks will be embedded within all major projects delivered by the council, enabling us to capture key lessons and progress towards goals. We will regularly communicate progress on delivery of the strategy to relevant stakeholders, whilst listening to others and building a bigger and better dialogue around supporting inclusive growth through the creative and technology economy.

Image credit: Morley von Sternberg

74 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 75 Get involved

We invite organisations to invest in Lambeth’s creative and digital economy, joining a growing effort to secure inclusive growth. As a result of reading this strategy, if you’re a developer, workspace provider, creative or technology focussed organisation and want to connect with the council, please get in touch with the Business & Inward Investment Team: [email protected] Lambethnow.co.uk

76 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Forever radical. Always welcoming. Constantly creative. That’s Lambeth.

Lambeth. Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth

Lambethnow.co.uk