Lambeth's Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth

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Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Contents

Foreword 3

Our vision 4

Our strategy 7

Building on our strengths 19

Meeting the challenges 31

Making it happen 56

Working in partnership 69

ActionSpace Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 1 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 our residents, businesses 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 Council has a pivotal role to play in growing the sector. It has a unique 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

Reprezent Radio Reprezent Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 3 We want Lambeth to be at the cutting edge of London’s dynamic creative and Our digital economy. By pioneering an integrated approach to industry partnerships, workspace, vision skills, culture and lifestyle, we will encourage and accelerate inclusive growth in our communities. Inspired by Lambeth’s distinctively radical and open creative spirit we aim to grow productive clusters of collaboration and innovation. Our strategy

Based on evidence-led analysis, our strategy starts by recognising Lambeth’s enduring and distinctive character. We celebrate the extraordinary contribution that the creative and digital sectors already make to our borough. We then identify the challenges ahead and set out clear objectives and actions. Finally, we detail how Lambeth and its partners can work together to drive inclusive growth.

Brixton Pound © This Ain't Rock and Roll Brixton Pound © This Ain't Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 7 Lambeth’s creative Our creative economy brings people together, provides life-affirming moments and helps to make Lambeth’s places DNA of authenticity stand out. It provides employment for local people and is fundamental to our ambition for inclusive growth. Here we set out what makes Lambeth distinctive — our creative DNA. We are radical

Lambeth 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 breathtaking ambition of the Festival of Britain in 1951, to the inspirational cultural imprint of the Windrush Generation and to the surge of dance culture in the clubs of Vauxhall and Brixton — radical ideas have been a continuous thread. This spirit lives on today — through our grassroots cultural organisations, creative networks like the Brixton Design Trail and UK Black Tech, the WOW Festival celebrating 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 mark on our borough. At least 40 countries have 500 or more representatives (by birth) living in Lambeth. These include strong, multi-generational communities of Portuguese, Black Caribbean and Somali descent who have settled and formed distinctive and visible presences. These communities are hotbeds of cultural activity. © Lambeth Archives

10 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 11 South Bank and Waterloo We have are home to a world class cultural cluster, with many of London’s distinctive, most important artistic venues WATERLOO and festivals. There is an emerging creative places network of new business incubation spaces in the area. Across Lambeth, our places have their own identities, Vauxhall is the cultural centre communities and assets. of London’s LGBTQ+ community KENNINGTON and has a strong visual arts scene. Our creative economy plays a huge Local assets including The Royal role in defining these places, and VAUXHALL Vauxhall Tavern, Fire, Vauxhall making them great places to live, Pleasure Gardens, Gasworks, work and visit. OVAL Garden Museum and Newport Community centres and halls on Street Gallery. our estates provide the spaces to Stockwell, once the home of engage, enable and create cultural Van Gogh, is London’s Little programmes with our communities STOCKWELL Portugal, with thriving community that are brimming with remarkable centres and cafés, the Skate Park stories and creative potential. © Angelica Dass, Migration Museum and Playhouse.

LOUGHBOROUGH Brixton has extraordinary JUNCTION character, heritage, sense of CLAPHAM community, and now a buzzing COMMON creative economy. The Academy, BRIXTON Black Cultural Archives, Brixton Library and Ovalhouse Theatre HERNE HILL provide an ever-changing repetoire. Clapham supports a strong culture, night time and education offer, including Studio Voltaire, Lambeth Country Show Clapham Omnibus, the Bread and Roses, Two Brewers, School of Sound, Clapham Library and Academy of Contemporary Music. TULSE HILL Streatham’s high street scene

STREATHAM includes Italian, African, Indian, HILL Somali, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Japanese and Spanish shops and WEST NORWOOD restaurants. It has arts, film and food festivals, the Hideaway and Streatham Space Project. STREATHAM West Norwood and Tulse Hill © Benedict Johnson have established the much loved Feast, Portico Gallery and South

STREATHAM London Theatre. COMMON

12 13 Fast growth and high value industries...

The creative and digital industries are now widely recognised as important drivers of UK jobs, innovation and growth. SINCE 2010, THE GVA GENERATED BY THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES HAS RISEN BY 45% TO £91.8 BILLION The creative industries are creating ...already making £91.8bn jobs four times as quickly as the wider economy. In recent years a significant IN 2016 LONDON HAD MORE there has been huge growth in THAN 7,500 TECH START-UPS London’s digital economy. There contribution 7,500 were over 7,500 digital start-ups Lambeth’s creative and digital in London in 2016. Some 20% businesses provide 22,000 jobs of London’s tech companies A NUMBER OF LONDON’S TECH and generate £1.8bn Gross are high growth. Technological COMPANIES ARE ‘HIGH GROWTH’ Value Added (GVA) for the 20% developments like 5G connectivity, economy. augmented reality and artificial 22,000 JOBS GENERATED BY LAMBETH’S intelligence help to sustain the They provide significant support CREATIVE AND TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES growth and innovation taking place. and fuel growth in other parts of 22,000 our economy — particularly the As highlighted by NESTA, the focus visitor and night time economy on creating something new and which are one of the borough’s 30 MILLION VISITORS PER YEAR TO THE unpredictable makes creative talent key strengths. SOUTH BANK — HOME TO INTERNATIONALLY harder to replace with robots and RENOWNED CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS 30m visitors algorithms. As a result, creative jobs Within Lambeth, growth is taking are more resilient to automation. place in a wide range of creative and digital sectors — particularly The creative and tech sectors are design, fashion, craft, creative tech also increasingly credited with 21 ARTS COUNCIL NATIONAL PORTFOLIO (including games), film and TV, wider economic benefits: ORGANISATIONS IN THE BOROUGH publishing, and advertising. 21 NPOs • Enhancing innovation and productivity in other sectors with the business benefits often taking £1.8 BILLION GVA GENERATED LOCALLY BY place locally LAMBETH’S CREATIVE AND TECHNOLOGY BUSINESSES • Helping to make places distinctive, £1.8bn GVA vibrant and enjoyable — for local people, visitors, and workers • Engaging young people, many of whom are attracted to careers in the creative and tech economy

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 and libraries

Health tech

Software and applications Games Crafts

Visual effects Publishing Design Broadcasting Creative tech Creative

Film and TV Performing arts

Music Animation

Advertising and media Building on our strengths

We are at the forefront of artistic excellence and creative innovation. Lambeth’s creative and digital innovators have created work that is celebrated and enjoyed across the globe.

Performing Arts South Bank and Waterloo are home to the world’s most pre-eminent cultural cluster. Together, the Southbank Centre, National Theatre, BFI, Rambert, The Old Vic and Young Vic draw over 30 million visitors a year, and have consistently delivered outstanding creative experiences for generations. At Rambert, dancers are trained in Lambeth and tour the world. The Vaults is London’s home for immersive theatre and alternative arts, set in a maze of tunnels underneath Waterloo Station. The Vaults Festival, ran by Heritage Arts, is now London’s largest arts festival and is earning comparisons with the Edinburgh Fringe. In fact, fantastic support for new theatre talent can be found all over the borough — at Ovalhouse, Streatham Space Project, Omnibus Theatre and South London Theatre amongst others.

20 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 21 © Marks Barfield Architects © BBC & Dalton Maag

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

LAMBETH-BASED BUILDINGS AWARDED STIRLING PRIZES

22 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 23 © Fire UsTwo Games

Music Technology From the classic club scene of the Fridge, to Rock Companies in Lambeth have been at the forefront against Racism; encompassing everything from Reggae of technology in the past and will be into the future. and Dance to Hip Hop and Grime, Lambeth continues IBM has held a major presence in Lambeth since 1951 and to provide a home for performers and venues at the continues to innovate, as demonstrated with the Watson forefront of the UK’s musical fame. technology which uses machine learning to enhance business Vauxhall is home to London’s biggest LGBT+ club scene; Brixton processes. As the largest CDI growth sector in recent years, the boasts The Academy, The Electric, Phonox and Club 414; and borough is home to earlier stage technology-driven companies Streatham the award-winning Hideaway jazz club. The Southbank — including the outstanding Citymapper, a public transit app Centre has four resident orchestras, including the London and mapping service with global reach. Philharmonic Orchestra, performing around 100 concerts a year. UsTwo Games — the Stockwell-based studio behind Monument Music is heard in Lambeth’s streets and markets, outside its Valley, were visited by fan Apple CEO Steve Cook in 2017. Apple tube stations, and behind the doors of some of the world’s most is due to take up a major office presence in neighbouring important venues. Music is part of our heritage and our future. Battersea in 2019. Whilst Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charitable Trust has shown its belief in the power of technology to drive healthier lives through the creation of The Health Foundry — London’s first workspace dedicated to health-tech start-ups.

24 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 25 © Beano Studios / CBBC / Jellyfish Pictures Hayward Gallery

Film and TV Visual Arts The film and TV industries have significant potential Underpinning our strong visual arts scene is a for growth in Lambeth. community of organisations providing a platform for artists to flourish. Anchored by the British Film Institute (BFI) on the South Bank, the borough is seeing increased demand from film and TV Organisations including Gasworks (Vauxhall), 198 Contemporary companies. Beneath Coldharbour Lane, animation and VFX Arts & Learning (Herne Hill), Artist Studio Company (Brixton) gurus Jellyfish Pictures work on the next Star Wars movie, and and ACME (Stockwell and West Norwood) provide studio space now have 3 studios within the borough. for artists at substantially below market rents. Their support has launched the careers of many successful local artists. Behind the scenes, Hilary Wili, Clapham resident and dressmaker to the stars, cuts and sews creations worn on the sets of Doctor Bringing art outdoors is a local passion. Studio Voltaire Who and Oscar winning film Gravity. B3 Media, a groundbreaking recently brought the hugely popular ‘Rainbow Aphorisms’ business running ‘Talent Labs’, provides innovative support to for Art on the Underground project to life, estimated to have BAME talent to become film directors and script writers. Iconic reached 36 million people across the underground network. Steps, a social enterprise hosted by the BFI, provides cost- The council and Brixton Design Trail collectively ran a design effective training and routes to employment in film. competition to develop detailed proposals for signage and a gateway feature at the Brixton Road Rail Bridge. The winning designers are now working with key stakeholders to create a new, highly visible, welcoming and creative feature on both sides of the gateway bridge.

26 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 27 ActionSpace © Lambeth Music Service

Mission-driven Creatives Creative Education Lambeth’s mission-driven creative practices put The role of the education sector is sometimes inclusive growth at the forefront of their work. underplayed in the remarkable creative output of the UK. The borough has 21 Arts Council National Portfolio Lambeth has high-achieving primary and secondary schools and Organisations (NPOs) — charities making an outstanding several have long-standing track records of collaborating with social contribution to enabling cultural excellence and widening creative and technology employers. Organisations such as Raw participation. ActionSpace is a sector-leading NPO. Working in Material, the London Connected Learning Centre, and Lambeth conjunction with organisations such as the Royal Academy and Music Service provide extra-curricular work for young people. National Portrait Gallery, Clapham-based ActionSpace makes In the Further Education sector, Morley College is one of a professional career in the arts a realistic option for talented London’s longest established providers of creative education, artists with learning disabilities. and Lambeth College supports the development of hundreds Livity has become one of the UK’s most respected agencies of local students. South Bank Engineering UTC focuses on with local young people central to its growth. Champion Agency allowing students to apply their own creativity, imagination and is a social enterprise which exists to champion those who make ideas in an engineering context. A minute's walk from Clapham a positive impact. Above the bustling market stalls and Common, the Academy of Contemporary Music stands as one restaurants of Brixton Village, Photofusion — London’s largest of the most effective routes into the music industry. independent photography resource centre, works with socially Lambeth’s creative and technology businesses are able to draw excluded young people. Reprezent Radio, a talent incubator and on the world class higher education system across London. the UK’s only youth-led FM radio station is now the ‘go to’ place Locally, King’s College London, London South Bank University, for media companies looking for young talent. and London College of Communication support thousands of people to gain a first-rate creative Higher Education.

28 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 29 Meeting the challenges

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

Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 31 The Department Store © James Jones The Department Store CHALLENGE 1 Creative and technology Lambeth has many of the key INSIGHT businesses of all sizes like to attributes desirable to creative Creative concentrate in clusters. The and digital businesses. Local Developing the innovation proximity and agglomeration property agents, workspace and digital benefits provide competitive providers, and the council’s inward ecosystem for health-tech advantages — a critical mass investment service are experiencing Lambeth is home to some of the UK’s most important health providers of talented workers and high levels of demand. This businesses need and teaching hospitals — Guy’s & St Thomas’ and King’s College London creators, access to clients, demand is coming from start-ups, (KCL). These centres of expertise and innovation in Waterloo and Denmark opportunities for collaboration, growth companies, artists, as well proximity and Hill have significant capacity for expansion. The council is working with knowledge sharing and as large scale SMEs and creative the Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity and KCL on masterplan projects which will socialising. institutions wishing to relocate or work in clusters guide the development of major new R&D and commercial health clusters. expand in the borough. In addition to a good supply of key Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charitable Trust recently invested in the creation workspace typologies (as described But despite this demand, the of a new health-tech business incubator — The Health Foundry. They below), strong creative clusters are creative and digital sectors have have recently been joined by HS — a health-tech accelerator that builds also made up of other important not grown as fast as in many other and scales tech start-ups to tackle global health issues. Providing a programmes and institutions London boroughs. combination of space, intensive business support, mentoring and access such as sector-focused business to capital, their first accelerator received hundreds of submissions from networks and accelerators and entrepreneurs. universities — providing knowledge spillovers and innovation. ‘BIDs, universities A strong place identity, with a and other sector cultural and night-time economy ‘Our university support bodies offer, has also been a key factor in has recently won can work with the the development of major creative several funding council to build and digital clusters. London’s awards to provide the strength of largest creative and digital clusters business support creative and — Soho and Tech City, have and innovation technology business grown into world-class business destinations through a combination programmes for networks; compete of these factors. creative and for business technology support funding, businesses and attract in Lambeth’

accelerator © Health Foundry Janet Jones, programmes to Dean of the School the borough’ of Arts and Creative Lambeth CDI Study 2017 Industries, 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 IN LAMBETH, BELOW THE LAMBETH, BELOW THE LONDON AVERAGE OF 12%. LONDON AVERAGE OF 6%.

32 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 33 CHALLENGE 2 Low levels of commercial space Lambeth has a lower stock of Our research tells us that Large scale workspace providers are the critical factor limiting space than locations within Central ‘The types of local workspace providers are including The Office Group and A lack of growth of the creative and London including Southwark, workspace required experiencing high levels of WeWork have recently opened digital economy in Lambeth. Camden and Islington. Vacancy in Lambeth vary demand from CDI businesses of new large scale facilities for CDI workspace The growth of Lambeth’s rates are also significantly significantly– all sizes to locate in the borough business in the borough and have creative and technology driven lower than in other comparator from new grade — particularly our growth areas. future expansion plans. Smaller is limiting employment has been lower boroughs. A office space Increasingly, large creative and scale workspace projects recently than many other central to co-working, digital companies want to co-locate established or in the pipeline are In response to the issue, Lambeth London boroughs. in areas where there is a large and beginning to shape a stronger Lambeth’s has introduced an ‘Article 4 incubators, visible small business and start-up start-up ecosystem in Lambeth. Whilst other areas in London have Direction’ which came into force in makerspaces and business community. potential seen an expansion in commercial September 2017. This has removed artist studios.’ Increasing commercial values floorspace, Lambeth has seen the ‘Permitted Development Right’ Lambeth Creative & In terms of new workspace present positives and negatives for cluster major losses of space — 200,000 in the whole of Brixton town centre, Digital Industries development, there are positive for Lambeth’s CDI sector. sq m over the past 5 years, a series of sites in Clapham and ten Study 2017, BOP signs of a shift in the right direction. Developers are more likely to Consulting and GVA development especially in north Lambeth, industrial areas. A new wave of development activity bring new commercial space Brixton, Clapham and Streatham. in Lambeth is starting to provide to the market, increasing supply The Government’s relaxation of an opportunity to increase the — an essential factor for Lambeth. planning laws through Permitted supply of appropriate workspace But, as found all over London, Development Rights has been a LARGE SCALE WORKSPACE of all types. Our Commercial higher values put increasing major driver of losing commercial PROVIDERS THE OFFICE Development Pipeline Report cost pressure on some important space to residential use, accounting GROUP AND WEWORK identifies 24,000 sq m of (net) creative industry sub-sectors for 60% of all losses. ARE LAUNCHING THEIR space under construction, the important to the fabric and supply LARGEST UK SPACES IN first time there has been a chain of Lambeth’s wider economy. THE BOROUGH positive net position for B1a space. In addition to this, construction starts for new commercial space have recently been higher than comparator boroughs.

Tintagel House, The Office Group Southbank Place, during construction

34 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 35 INSIGHT ‘I’d never thought of Brixton as an Increasing demand from large office location until I looked scale creative businesses to around with a different mind-set locate in the borough and thought — this The Department Store and Squire & Partners is a fantastic place to work’ Architectural practice Squire & Partners recently moved its 250-strong Michael Squire, team to Brixton from King’s Cross, marking the first large professional Senior Partner, services organisation to relocate to the town centre. Purchasing a Squire & Partners dilapidated Edwardian department store, it has entirely reimagined the space, allowing the existing fabric and layers of history to inform the new design for their head office. 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 meeting spaces in the heart of Brixton, © Carver Haggard addressing a gap in network spaces for Lambeth’s creative economy. INSIGHT Squire & Partners is part of a growing trend of creative organisations, Improving space for the creation large and small, who are looking to locate in the borough. of visual arts, industry skills training and the community

198 Contemporary Arts and Learning (198 CAL) A centre for visual arts, education and creative enterprise, 198 CAL’s mission is to nurture and support the career of emerging, underrepresented artists and to advance public interest in the visual arts. Working in partnership with Raw Material Music and Media, Photofusion and Hatch Enterprises, 198 CAL has successfully raised £475,000 from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund, towards their £1.1m target to redevelop their current site in Herne Hill, tripling the current space available. Across three floors, the new building will provide exhibition and community space, a floor dedicated to creative skills, education and enterprise under the ‘Factory’ banner and new studio space for creative industry start-ups and freelancers. 198 CAL’s work is framed by local communities and the history of the Brixton uprisings. It was recently granted National Portfolio Status by Arts Council England which guarantees the core artist programme for at least the next four years, and is a key partner on the Next © James Jones Generation initiative.

36 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 37 CHALLENGE 3 Affordable and supportive Affordable workspaces can take In London’s highly prized and • The Mayor’s draft London Plan is workspaces (e.g. artist studios, many forms. Artist workspaces dynamic property market, set to bring forward a stronger ‘Affordable Affordable business incubator and are typically run by charitable temporary space projects like Pop policy emphasis on affordable workspace projects accelerator spaces) are an organisations, providing spaces Brixton are also a highly effective workspace. The council has such Granby Space, workspace must integral part of London’s strong for visual artists at rents of between way of maximizing opportunities contributed to new policy The Foundry, ecosystem for creative and £10–18 per sq. ft. The stock of to support inclusive growth. development at a London level Waterloo Works, technology innovation. affordable artistic workspace through the Mayor’s Workspace be expanded There are several ways the council LJ Works, Studio has been dwindling (a London Advisory Group. The revision of our Research by the GLA and the and local stakeholders can act Voltaire and 198 wide trend) with Lambeth-based Local Plan provides the opportunity and safeguarded Lambeth CDI Study 2017 highlights to safeguard and grow the stock CAL are important workspace providers operating to develop locally-geared affordable that the borough currently lacks of affordable and supportive in developing huge waiting lists for space. workspaces that positively respond in order to the critical mass of affordable and workspace in the borough — for Lambeth’s creative These spaces are crucial for to new London Plan policies. supportive workspace facilities example: and technology artistic experimentation. • The Lambeth Creative and Digital support cluster required to support significant ecosystem’ • Major local organisations can host Industries Study 2017 highlights cluster growth. Business incubation and Lambeth CDI Study 2017 creative organisations that need a set of property assets owned by development accelerator spaces (e.g. Health As witnessed in many parts of affordable space on a short or long the council in strategic locations Foundry, Build Studios) are a very London, the cost of workspace has term basis (e.g. the BFI hosts the that can be transformed to provide and inclusive important component of London’s risen sharply for some businesses. early stage social enterprise Iconic both temporary and permanent burgeoning ecosystem for the The lack of supply exacerbates the Steps). workspace facilities. growth creative and tech sectors. These issue. Whilst the cost of commercial • Large businesses and cultural • The council is proactively seeking spaces cater to pre-start, start-up property remains lower in Lambeth institutions in the borough should out accelerators and affordable and early stage businesses, often compared with major creative and consider the potential to join the workspace providers who could providing enhanced business LAMBETH’S PROGRAMME digital clusters such as Soho and growing movement of companies potentially locate in the borough support and below-market OF SUPPORT FOR Tech City, affordability is a major founding new accelerator and assisting their search for space. co-working space for companies concern for many creative and programmes to support innovation AFFORDABLE WORKSPACE before they scale up and move technology companies. in their sectors — following the WON THE FEDERATION on to open-market workspace. lead provided by Disney, Google, OF SMALL BUSINESS Telefónica, Ordnance Survey, Cisco AND LONDON COUNCIL’S and others. AWARD FOR ‘BEST PROGRAMME OF SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESS’. WITHIN LAMBETH, ASKING RENTS HAVE INCREASED BY AROUND 45% OVER THE POP BRIXTON DELIVERS ‘The agglomeration LAST FIVE YEARS. BUSINESS AFFORDABLE SPACE TO 47 of business RATES HAVE INCREASED INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES incubation BY AN AVERAGE OF 36% SUPPORTING 200 JOBS, and affordable SINCE THE GOVERNMENT’S 5,800 VOLUNTEERING RECENT REVALUATION. workspaces is THE LAMBETH CDI STUDY HOURS AND £9M PER 51% OF BUSINESSES fundamental to 2017 RECOMMENDS ANNUM FOR THE LOCAL SURVEYED SAY FINDING a first-class THE COUNCIL BRINGS ECONOMY. AFFORDABLE WORKSPACE IS environment for FORWARD AND TESTS A NEW Economic Impact A CHALLENGE. business growth AFFORDABLE WORKSPACE and innovation’ Assessment, Regeneris 2018 Lambeth CDI Study 2017 POLICY IN THE LOCAL PLAN John Spindler, CEO, Capital Enterprise Pop Brixton

38 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 39 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 is using its own buildings in the town centre to provide much needed space to bring forward an exciting range of CDI focused spaces. The refurbished Town Hall basement is home to Tripod, a 500 sq. m. workspace for creative and tech organisations. International House, a 4,000 sq.m. office building recently vacated by the council, has been leased to 3Space for the next 5 years to operate as one of London's largest affordable workspaces - providing space for both early stage and larger, more established SME's in the CDI sectors. The Brixton Rec has a 1000 sq. m. space used for storage, where the council is exploring feasibility to create a cutting-edge maker space and deep tech lab. Beyond Emerging designs of Waterloo Works, subject to council-owned assets, Lambeth will be working with key local landowners planning approval © alma-nac (www.alma-nac.com) including Crown Properties and Squire & Partners to see how their South Bank & Waterloo buildings can increasingly become focal points for CDI related events Bourne Properties, a major local landowner, has recently refurbished and business networking activity. Capital Tower and Mercury House providing high quality space geared towards the CDI sectors. WeWork, already a major provider of space to CDI business, is set to open their largest workspace in their global portfolio at Southbank Place. The council’s inward investment team has 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 at Granby Place, Build Studios and The Health Foundry. At 30 Wootten Street, the council has been working alongside London South Bank University and London College of Communication to develop a new workspace and business support space concept — Waterloo Works. With a funding commitment from the Mayor, Waterloo Works aims to launch in early 2019. The Department Store © James Jones The Department Store

40 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 41 Vauxhall INSIGHT Already home to a thriving visual arts cluster, Vauxhall is set for a much- needed boost in the volume of CDI geared workspaces. The Office Group, Support for affordable workspace London’s most successful home-grown workspace company, has recently through the planning system opened its largest new building at Tintagel House. Workspace Group, the borough’s largest workspace provider, has also communicated its Planning policy, expressed in our Local Plan, is one of the ambition to grow its presence in the area. The council will continue to council’s most important tools in protecting and encouraging secure new commercial floorspace on major schemes in the pipeline — at new affordable workspace. Albert Embankment, the Island Site and elsewhere. 303 Kennington Lane In response to the Government’s relaxation of planning laws, Lambeth provides the setting for a new Archives Centre for Lambeth, which can has successfully introduced an Article 4 Direction for Brixton town centre, become a significant new cultural asset for the area. parts of Clapham and all of our ‘Key Industrial Business Areas’ — an important step in ensuring there are no future net losses of commercial Elsewhere in the borough space in these areas. The council has also used the planning system to secure affordable workspace, such as Build Studios — an affordable The council is developing ‘LJ Works’, a new affordable workspace facility workspace for architecture and built environment companies established in Loughborough Junction for artists, makers, and independent food by WeAreWaterloo BID. This was enabled through a planning agreement businesses. We are supporting creative organisations including Studio securing low-cost space with the developer Urbanest. Voltaire in Clapham and 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning on fundraising efforts to expand their creative workspace facilities. Research has also Scaling up Lambeth’s ability to safeguard affordable workspace in new commenced to establish key opportunities for commercial growth development would require a new policy within our Local Plan. Our and workspace development in Streatham and the West Norwood Local Plan Issues and Options consultation (December 2017), included Commercial Area. 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 has drafted wording for an affordable workspace policy and has tested development viability impact as we prepare to revise our Local Plan in 2019. Build Studios © Mickey Lee thebiglondon.com Build Studios © Mickey

42 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 43 CHALLENGE 4 Across the world, cities are London also performs poorly, INSIGHT engaged in building and ranking 26 out of 33 capital cities Lambeth’s enabling fibre infrastructure in 2014 for its average download Joint efforts to address the to provide city-wide, hyper- broadband speed. connected environments. connectivity problem digital Compared to other London These networks are required to boroughs, Lambeth ranks There is an increasingly active and coordinated lobbying connectivity cope with the rapid growth in among the lowest for broadband effort at a London level to secure investment in better data consumption and connected speeds, just above Southwark broadband infrastructure. must improve devices including utility assets, and Westminster. At 13.2Mbps, At a borough level, there are also new examples of best practice street lighting, traffic signals and Lambeth’s average download (e.g. the Connected Westminster project) where councils and other through a CCTV. Cities such as New York, speeds are significantly lower than stakeholders are coming together to tackle the issue. Hong Kong and Stockholm have the national average. concerted effort leveraged their networks to foster Lambeth has begun to engage with London-wide initiatives, and recently The UK Digital Strategy aims to fibre-based services, either directly, contributed to a major funding application led by Transport for London boost the UK’s world-leading digital across the city or through partnerships with local for £19m of Department for Culture, Media and Sport funding for sectors and overcome barriers to providers. They have used these Gigabit connectivity to some of Lambeth’s key workspace initiatives growth and innovation, creating new services to support economic and public buildings. more of the highly-skilled, highly development, education, healthcare paid jobs of the future. The need and other community functions. 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. A part of the council’s CDI Strategy It enables businesses to take is to play an increasingly active role advantage of digital tools, use the in funding proposals and lobbying internet to be more efficient and efforts to ensure Lambeth’s effective, and reach new customers interests are best represented and markets online. 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 best practice. are suffering from ‘not-spots’, ‘digital deserts’ and a lack of fibre BROADBAND SPEEDS connections. Across Europe, ARE A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR MANY BUSINESSES — AND AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR 86% OF BUSINESSES SURVEYED WHEN CHOOSING PREMISES.

Lambeth CDI Study 2017

44 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 45 CHALLENGE 5 Lambeth is not homogeneous. securing below-market performing We want to keep it that way. arts space. This comes in response Lambeth’s Protecting and enhancing to the decline at a London (and the cultural infrastructure Lambeth) level of the number of culturally rich underpinning our creative live music venues, pubs and clubs economy is a crucial part of — the backbone of night-time and authentic our strategy. culture. The proportion of night- time economy employment in Lambeth’s cultural offer contributes Lambeth is around three times character must to successful town centres, and the national average. helps create places where people be must be want to live, work and visit. Culture The council is already active is a key driver of tourism, a major in supporting the evolution of protected and earner of GVA. Exposure to culture Lambeth’s night cultural offer, for stimulates creativity in individuals example: enhanced and workers — increasingly • The Old Vic’s capital plans important in a knowledge-based include restoration and upgrade © Benedict Johnson economy. of the historic theatre and a new The Greater London Authority is set annex with dedicated education to publish a Cultural Infrastructure and community space and a new Plan during 2018 to provide further café bar a new performing arts venue to dedicated Outdoor Arts spaces in Through our London Borough of data on the supply and demand • Ovalhouse Theatre will get a the south of the borough, secured London through their workshop Culture bid — Radical Hearts, Open for performing arts and other new home within Brixton Town through the planning process and studios they are integral to the Minds, communities helped to cultural space types. The Cultural Centre through the council-led • Our Business Rates Hardship Fund development of this growing sector. bring forward many creative ideas Infrastructure Plan will also provide Somerleyton Road development has provided relief to a growing Cultural programming should be for how cultural programming examples of best practice for • The Streatham Space Project brings performing arts venue in Waterloo. undertaken in partnership with in the borough could support local people. Drawing on the placemaking and inclusion. Whilst We are working closely with the lived experience and stories of the delivery of many of these ideas GLA on the Cultural Infrastructure Lambeth’s communities, cultural will require further fundraising Plan and, when published, can use programming can also help tackle efforts, the Radical Hearts, Open this to support further analysis inequality and enhance a sense of Minds document provides a and development of potential personal and community identity. blueprint for exciting new projects responses to support cultural to keep Lambeth culturally rich. infrastructure in the borough. For Within Lambeth there is great example, by considering the need potential for more collaboration for performing arts spaces to be between local community groups, one of the range of spaces which and both small and large scale could be brokered through an cultural organisations. The strategy affordable workspace policy. urges our large cultural partners LOCAL CULTURAL LIFE to take world class content to There is also great potential for new IS CRUCIAL TO CDI new places in the borough and to outdoor cultural programming to BUSINESSES SURVEYED, enable local communities to help support investment in the borough. 61% IDENTIFYING THIS shape these experiences. Our Local organisations such as Business Improvement Districts AS IMPORTANT IN THEIR Bureau of Silly Ideas is recognised are also key to this agenda, and LOCATION DECISION. nationally for its work, injecting are committed to enhancing their art and surprise into everyday Lambeth CDI Study 2017 investment in cultural programming spaces, housing one of the largest Lambeth Country Show in the coming years.

46 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 47 INSIGHT Celebrating creativity and place identity

Brixton Design Trail (BDT) Founded in 2014, BDT is an extensive network of multi-disciplinary talent based in and around Brixton. It 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 (LDF). 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 and restaurants for a series of pop-up exhibitions throughout the indoor markets and in INSIGHT neighbouring streets. Installations are produced in a diverse range of locations in the public realm, from railway arches and bridges, to leading Using culture to support the wider cultural organisations like the Black Cultural Archives. The week drives footfall and spend in local shops, supports community business community engagement and learning, and beyond the week cements Brixton’s Vauxhall Cultural Programme reputation as a creative business destination. In 2017, a partnership between Vauxhall One BID and Lambeth Council BDT is driven voluntarily by a collective of local businesses, and supported brought a programme of cultural events to Vauxhall. The programme by Brixton BID and the council. 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. These were 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

48 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 49 CHALLENGE 6 The lack of diversity and Whilst Lambeth’s economy INSIGHT equality in the creative is growing, inequality is still Inequality in and digital industries is prevalent. The Lambeth Equalities Advocacy for a more diverse under the spotlight. Recent Commission highlights: reports from the Creative digital sector the creative • One in three children in Lambeth Industries Federation, Arts is born into poverty UK Black Tech Council England, the Warwick and digital • 18% of children are living in Commission, the GLA, and Co-founded and led by Lambeth-based Computer Science teacher, out-of-work households the council all emphasise Mark Martin, UK Black Tech is a network dedicated to building a more industries must • Four groups of residents of the need for action. inclusive tech economy. Its research reveals the schism between the particular concern in relation to 60% of BAME students in London’s schools and the 5% BAME people in be addressed Lambeth is a diverse borough. inequality: Disabled people, Black the tech workforce. Activities are designed to accelerate change and to 32% who live here were born Caribbean, Portuguese and Somali encourage BAME parents and young people to consider digital careers. abroad and 42% are from BAME nationals. It advises London Tech Advocates and engages digital businesses on groups. 39% of pupils’ first With a wealth of local organisations diversity, for example by hosting Round Tables with the major tech language is not English. But like committed to tackling inequality companies in London to discuss race in the workplace and how to other high value sectors, the UK’s through the creative and nurture BAME talent. creative and technology workforce technology sectors, the council does not reflect this diversity: Within a year of starting up UK Black Tech counts 700 subscribers and can better connect young people, runs monthly meet-ups focused on digital skills. Through its social media • 11.4% of creative job roles are education providers and employers. presence, BAME speakers and mentors, and the release of copyright free held by BAME employees In order to tackle inequality, images, it promotes better media representation of people of colour in • Women are underrepresented interventions should be targeted tech. UK Black Tech has plans for a large scale careers fair in Lambeth. overall (making up only 17% of the at the most disadvantaged groups, technology sector workforce) and informed by the Lambeth Equalities in senior roles Commission findings and Indices • Disabled people and those from of Multiple Deprivation. We will lower-income backgrounds are collaborate with local, grassroots underrepresented overall, and organisations who work with less likely to be in senior roles particular groups to engage those • People from more advantaged who are typically hardest to reach. socio-economic groups account for 92% of the workforce in the For residents with English as a creative economy, compared to second language, programmes 66% in the wider UK economy. that bring together skills and training initiatives, and Higher Research demonstrates that Education partners who deliver barriers to entering and building English language courses, will be a career within the CDIs typically developed and encouraged. include: We will work with the business • Socio-economic status community to tackle the barriers • Lack of understanding of education preventing equal opportunity. and career pathways • Lack of social networks • Employer practices and biases e.g. informal recruitment; unpaid internships © UKBlackTech

50 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 51 INSIGHT An innovative approach to careers advice for young people

ERIC FEST careers fair Piloted successfully in 2017, ERIC events are now drawing an audience in excess of 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 is set to collaborate with The OId Vic and The Office Group, which has 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 to tackle underrepresentation of BAME groups within the creative and technology workforce. Proposed Public Entrance, Street-facing cafe and Courtyard Courtyard and cafe Street-facing Entrance, Public Proposed Architects Courtesy of Mattheson Whiteley Garden,

INSIGHT Championing and supporting emerging and under-represented artists

Studio Voltaire A leading visual arts organisation that currently provides affordable workspace to 54 artists, a programme of exhibitions, events and commissions and localised community activities. Established in 1994, Studio Voltaire is home to ActionSpace, an NPO that has supported artists with learning disabilities for over 30 years. Building on over 20 years of championing and supporting emerging and

© ERIC Festival under-represented artists, Studio Voltaire is currently progressing plans and securing funding to undertake a programme of capital development that will transform and expand the offer to artists, audiences and local people. Its proposed scheme will provide 42% more affordable artist space, improve the existing gallery and workspaces, create new spaces for community use, and improve access.

52 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 53 Lambeth has world-class creative and digital businesses

INSIGHT Technology-based teaching and potential, but the sector learning activities for schools The London Connected Learning Centre (CLC) is currently smaller and 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 less clustered than other and parents working in partnership with businesses, community and cultural organisations. CLC runs a digital skills programme for Lambeth families. It works in central London boroughs. partnership with IBM to provide opportunities and experiences for Lambeth children and teachers; and collaborates with local cultural organisations such as The Garden Museum, BFI and Tate Modern to provide creative and meaningful contexts for the use of technology. We need to change this CLC has recently published EdTech50 highlighting the best of the ed-tech sector. ‘In our experience, the London CLC is a pretty much unique organisation in the formal education system in the UK. Their integration of technology by taking action. 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 would have been unable to do. The impacts have been used to catalyse similar collaborations internationally.’ Mark Wakefield, Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs Manager for IBM UK.

54 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 55 Making Space We will protect and grow workspace across the borough it happen 1

The final part of the Business friendly services We will strategy is about the join together service areas across the actions we will take to 2 council to support inclusive growth build on our strengths and meet our challenges. Lambeth and its partners Networks and support We will develop a strong business ‘ecosystem’ for creative will work together to and digital businesses achieve our objectives. 3

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

Talent We will work with employers and innovate to to tackle inequality in the creative and digital industries 56 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 5 1 58 workspace projects thathelptobuildlocalclusters. our own assets,wewillbringforward exemplary new volume ofworkspaceintheborough. Usingsomeof use itsplanningpowers tosafeguard andgrow the workspace innew development. Thecouncil will Lambeth willtakeastronger advocacyrole for to larger scale officesintheborough. incubators, co-working,artistandmakerspaces, of different stagesandsizes—from business options tosupportcreative anddigitalbusinesses will bringforward arange ofrange ofworkspace property owners andworkspaceproviders, we Working withtheMayorofLondon,developers, workspace across theborough We willprotect andgrow Lambeth’s Creative &Digital Industries Strategy for Growth technology specialisms. with creative and and workspaceproviders landowners, developers, bringing together provider’ sessions, list andhold‘meet the ‘Approved Providers’ We willdevelop an ACTION 2 the borough. in different locationsin provide different spaces economy andtheneedto the creative anddigital of therelationship to descriptive interms policies tobemore to adoptedLocalPlan supportive content We willalsoprovide workspace facilities. spaces andcultural business incubator areas supporting policy forkey growth affordable workspace opportunity totestan The review provides the London PlanpolicyED3. in response tothenew supportive workspace for affordable and stronger policyframework review willintroduce a The council’s LocalPlan ACTION 1 Programme. Fund, ArtsCouncilCapital London Regeneration in theborough, e.g. workspace provision programmes toincrease applications torelevant collaborate onfunding council willcontinueto providers, BIDs,andthe Local workspace ACTION 5 s106 process. workspace through the practice guidetosecuring on developing abest Greater LondonAuthority Group, andworkwiththe Providers Advisory Workspacethe Mayor’s its role participatingin The councilwillcontinue ACTION 3 e.g. Streatham. residential conversion, through officeto on ourlocaleconomy detrimental impacts where there havebeen Zone, andinotherareas the Central Activities Development Rightsin from Permitted Government exemption We willseektogain ACTION 4 Streatham. Commercial Area and within theWest Norwood workspace projects the potentialfornew research exploring (SW9). We willalsofinalise International House Hall, BrixtonRec,and (SE1), Your New Town at: 30Wootten Street using ourown assets, focused workspaces and digitalindustries forward fournew creative programme willbring the LambethWorks The next phaseof ACTION 6 borough. opportunities inthe to takeonexisting space and workspaceproviders businesses, accelerators creative andtechnology to attract highquality House, 422BrixtonRoad) Keybridge House,Tintagel and Mercury House, owners (e.g.CapitalTower We willworkwithproperty ACTION 7 Lambeth’s Creative &Digital Industries Strategy for Growth

Southbank Place in Streatham. creative businesses co-working spacefor to launchthefirst Hideaway willseek Streatham BIDand ACTION 8 59 ACTION 1 ACTION 2 ACTION 3 ACTION 4 ACTION 5 We will evolve the We will promote Our Education team will We will continue to Our Licensing team Lambeth CDI Advisory Lambeth’s Business work closely with industry be an event-friendly and 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 use the production of night- voluntary and community Careers Cluster project time economy visions sector, and different to broker new work in response to the new service areas of the experience opportunities London Plan. council to help make in the creative and digital connections and identify economy, financed We will be a creative and technology opportunities for through the GLA and 2 collaboration. European Social Fund. business-friendly council

Lambeth wants to clearly communicate at a London-level that the borough values the distinct contribution to inclusive growth that the creative and technology sectors can play in the coming years. Vauxhall Summer Screenings Summer Vauxhall In addition to the planning, business, culture and investment, and regeneration teams within the ACTION 6 ACTION 7 ACTION 8 ACTION 9 council, there are several service areas that can We will increase the We will expand the We will become the first Lambeth and BIDs will make a collective contribution to becoming an capacity of the Business, Lambeth Now platform to local authority member join together to add increasingly business-friendly organisation for Culture & Investment publicise the CDI Strategy; of the Creative Industries voices to the growing the creative and technology sectors. team to help drive showcase Lambeth’s Federation, and remain central London lobby delivery of the strategy creative and digital an active member of for better broadband and be a first point of business communities; Capital Enterprise, helping infrastructure. contact for existing and expand the website the council to build the and new creative and to include town centres pipeline of business technology businesses currently not featured interest in the borough, seeking to locate or — communicating the identify new partners and expand in the borough. growth potential and funding opportunities; key site opportunities to understand the latest investors and developers. issues affecting the sectors, and join relevant lobbying efforts and 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 work with BIDs London South Bank Working with BIDs We will encourage and local networks to University will deliver and local business major businesses and establish a Lambeth four new European communities, we will cultural institutions in the Creative Network, Regional Development promote the opportunity borough to develop new bringing large and Fund business support to become involved accelerator programmes small business together programmes, including a in industry-led events to support innovation to network and foster new initiative to support including London Tech and growth in their opportunities for business innovation in the Week and LDF. We will sectors. This will include collaboration. immersive tech sector. work with: the encouragement • London & Partners and of accelerators that South Bank Employers are committed to Group to explore targeting founders establishing the South from underrepresented Bank as a new core backgrounds. We will build a stronger business events zone for London 3 Tech Week. support ecosystem for creative • Brixton BID, Brixton Design Trail and the and technology business London Design Festival (LDF) to increase their impact during LDF. Whilst the council can make an important contribution, evolving a stronger business ecosystem will require business communities and enterprise support bodies to take the lead. ACTION 5 ACTION 6 In many instances, our role will be to encourage new We will proactively As part of our Community ways to support sector growth, make connections and seek out accelerator Infrastructure Levy encourage partnership working. and business support investments, we will providers requiring undertake R&D to space to locate in the map out a strategy for borough. Within the tackling the broadband workspace initiatives connectivity issue in the we drive forward, we borough. will ensure these provide spaces for business support events and where possible provide tenancy opportunities for business support 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 ACTION 5 We will develop a Lambeth’s BIDs will Lambeth will explore Following the submission In response to the new fundraising strategy in continue and increase co-commissioning of our Brixton Creative London Plan Lambeth partnership with large their investment in opportunities for new Enterprise Zone (CEZ) will consider the potential scale and grassroots cultural programming, cultural programmes with application in July 2018, for additional Creative cultural organisations including: BIDs, local developers, we will continue to seek Enterprise Zones to take forward several • Brixton BID’s investment landowners, TFL's Art on CEZ status and funding. (e.g. West Norwood project ideas contained in Brixton Design Trail the Underground and Commercial Area) and within our Radical Hearts, • This is Clapham BID will other sponsors. Cultural Cluster status Open Minds London publish the ‘Clapham for different parts of the Borough of Culture bid. Public Realm Programme’ borough through the and will invest in new Local Plan review process. public art installations in Clapham. It will continue to support cultural events We will encourage culturally vibrant in the areas such as the 4 Clapham Old Town Fair, places that showcase the borough’s the Summer Bandstand Concerts programme and ACTION 6 ACTION 7 creative past, present and future the Clapham Oxjam music We will revise our We will encourage festival Local Plan public art more public displays • InStreatham BID will policy and develop a of Lambeth-produced continue to support the Culture ‘Supplementary creative and digital work Our Radical Hearts, Open Minds publication surfaced Streatham Festival Season Planning Guidance’ (e.g. through street- and celebrated Lambeth’s extraordinary cultural and annual cultural document to guide frontage and hoardings, history and future aspirations. It also highlighted events programme the contribution made displays and installations) the potential for more cultural programming in the • As the cultural heart of by new development building on the best London, South Bank BID schemes to the evolution practice developed in borough which can draw on the radical and open will continue to prioritise of Lambeth’s cultural partnership with Brixton identity of our people and places. and invest in the area’s economy. For example, Design Trail and Brixton cultural and creative offer encouraging high quality, BID, and Clapham BID We will encourage partners making investments in • Station to Station BID functional and vibrant and Studio Voltaire. cultural programming to work with local communities will continue to support public realm, shaped cultural programming in (including those identified as priority groups within by close engagement West Norwood and Tulse with local communities, the Equalities Commission Report) to produce new Hill and explore creative businesses and work and events that support, celebrate and reflect workspace development institutions; ‘performance our diverse communities. We will encourage projects opportunities readiness’ of public • Vauxhall BID will realm and open spaces that help Lambeth to become a more visibly creative increase its investment for events, creative and and cultural borough outdoors, including bringing in the Vauxhall Cultural digital animation of to life places in the borough which are currently Programme outdoor and pop-up underserved. • WeAreWaterloo BID’s spaces, and space for investment in The Vaults new cultural facilities Festival, cementing its in major schemes. Streatham Carnival place as London’s largest performing arts festival.

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 and support work with the council, (Southbank Centre, BFI, we will pilot the Young will kick-start the Next employers to introduce The Old Vic, and other National Theatre and Opportunity Lambeth Generation campaign new policies and projects local employers to stage Rambert) will develop Offer (YOLO) project for with a range of partners that change employer a series of innovative curriculum modules young people at risk of (including South Bank practices to tackle careers fairs, providing for Lambeth primary not securing a positive Cultural Partners, B3 inequality of opportunity. guidance, social capital schools, as well as a new post-school destination Media, Culture at Heart and opportunities to Lambeth Cultural Trail (assessed at Year 9) in partnership and others) showcase the best young and learning tools. two local schools to provide skills, jobs creative talent in the (Elmgreen and Norwood). and opportunities for borough. young people and those underrepresented in the creative workforce. 5We will work with employers and innovate 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 the mission-driven creative and Media B3 © technology sector, we want to be at the forefront of © White Bear Theatre innovative approaches to tackling inequality. The Index of Multiple Deprivation, data from Lambeth schools ACTION 6 ACTION 7 ACTION 8 ACTION 9 and The Audience Agency, and Equalities Commission Working with the School Lambeth and local Working with Raw The Old Vic is delivering findings will guide interventions at those in most Improvement team workspace providers Material, Photofusion programmes Inspire need. By working with local, grassroots organisations and Lambeth Schools will work with advocacy and Hatch Enterprises, and Take the Lead which who work with particular communities, we will aim to Partnership, we will groups including UK 198 Contemporary Arts target employability skills raise awareness of the Black Tech, Advocacy & Learning will seek to and address issues of engage those who are typically the hardest to reach. existing curriculum Academy and others redevelop its site in Herne social mobility. These development support and to promote affordable Hill, tripling the space by programmes will engage extra-curricular creative workspace opportunities building a 3 storey arts, more than 1,000 young education offer provided for BAME-led creative education and creative people in Lambeth. by cultural partners. and technology enterprise centre. entrepreneurs.

66 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 67 Working in partnership

While the council will deliver many of these actions, such as making changes to policy frameworks and initiating workspace projects, we will continue to work in close collaboration with our partners to achieve all of our objectives.

Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 69 How we will deliver the strategy

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 • Work closely with a wide range out in this strategy, the council will: of partners from start-ups to • Provide leadership, identifying established businesses, regional opportunities and challenges, and national government, making setting direction and closely connections across organisations monitoring progress towards goals and diverse areas of activity • Develop and catalyse new initiatives • Facilitate, co-ordinate and sign-post with the private and voluntary the work of others sectors, helping to get ideas off the • Conduct research and evaluation ground and attracting input and providing a strong evidence base investment from others for what works, why and what • Lead by example, following the impact is being achieved — to recommendations of Future guide the work of others and to Lambeth and the Equality support external fundraising. Commission Report to improve our We expect that this strategy may own performance in leadership, need to adapt and evolve in the innovation, efficiency and future. We will therefore review the inclusiveness action plan on an annual basis.

70 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 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: • A review of the property market We are now in a better position and planning framework relating to understand these sectors • The formation of an Advisory to the creative and digital in greater detail, how they can Group with key creative and economy grow, and what Lambeth and digital sector representatives • Workshops — with businesses, its partners can do to nurture from across the borough sector-focused business support that growth. • Several events with over 100 bodies, property developers, and local stakeholders, exploring education providers the cultural distinctiveness of • Site visits to key growth areas in Lambeth and its future ambitions the borough for change • A survey of local businesses, An extensive research process with 160 responses ensures that our plans are • A literature review, including evidence-led. It has allowed us research already undertaken to present the existing picture — by organisations such as giants and hidden gems, diversity Creative Industries Federation and richness of Lambeth creative and Tech UK and digital DNA. • In-depth interviews with 40 stakeholders

72 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 73 How we will How we will resource the measure success

strategy We are committed to measuring the impact of our The council will have to work, learning from our efforts be measured in the way it and those of others, and invests its time and resources communicating our progress to support our creative and through the Lambeth Now technology industry, working platform. with limited funding resources At a borough level, the strategy and staff. seeks to make a major contribution At the outset of this strategy, the towards: council has secured investment • Attracting more large scale from the following sources businesses into the borough from to deliver a range of projects, Using the resources we secure, the creative and technology sectors Working with partners in academia, including: we will support a small number • Increasing the overall volume of business and elsewhere, we will • Section 106 and Community of high impact initiatives which commercial space, and increasing continue to build a strong evidence Infrastructure Levy (for public have the potential to sustain the number of affordable base to underpin our work, arts and cultural facilities) themselves without the need workspaces, including business including identifying ‘best in class’ • Greater London Authority ‘Good for ongoing support. Where the incubator and accelerator spaces solutions and policies supporting Growth Fund’ investment (for council accesses additional funding • More creative and technology creative and technology sector workspace and public realm to support new initiatives, it will employers becoming involved in inclusive growth. Monitoring and initiatives) be guided by the framework set careers guidance, training and measurement frameworks will be • Greater London Authority by this strategy. employment projects embedded within all major projects ‘Creative Enterprise Zone’ round 1 • The visibility and understanding of delivered by the council, enabling Delivering many aspects of the investment (for the Brixton Creative training and employment pathways us to capture key lessons and strategy will not require direct Enterprise Zone Action Plan) into the creative and technology progress towards goals. funding by the council. Some of • Mayor of London ‘Cultural Impact sectors from underrepresented the actions will be supported and We will regularly communicate Award’ (for the Next Generation groups. financed by Lambeth’s Business progress on delivery of the strategy. campaign) Improvement Districts. There are We will also continue to listen London's Strategic Investment Pot also actions within the strategy to others, encouraging greater (SIP) provides another important that will be undertaken voluntarily dialogue around supporting funding opportunity, and the by organisations in the borough, inclusive growth through the council will seek to lead and or through existing investment creative and technology economy. collaborate on cross borough secured (e.g. our education funding applications to SIP & other partners and National Portfolio relevant funding sources. Organisations in the borough).

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

76 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 78 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth 79 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 are a creative, technology, skills or young people-focused organisation, a developer or workspace provider and want to connect with the council, please get in touch with the Business, Culture and Investment team: Matt Blades Head of Business, Culture and Investment [email protected] Nathan Vasey Senior Business and Inward Investment Officer [email protected] Dawn Bunce Cultural Development Officer [email protected] [email protected] lambethnow.co.uk The creative and digital industries are vital to Lambeth’s future

80 Lambeth’s Creative & Digital Industries Strategy for Growth October 2018 Forever radical. Always welcoming. Constantly creative. That’s Lambeth.

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