The docks may have closed 40 years ago but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely defunct as a part of the import and export sector.
The Isle Of Man is currently on a mission to boost its foodie exports, including seafood, alcoholic beverages, salt and cheese, as it attempts to shift the balance of its economy and bring greater prosperity to its inhabitants.
These included the likes of shellfish from its sustainably managed King Scallop Fishery – available at a selection of top London restaurants, dairy produce from the Isle Of Man Creamery and hand-harvested sea salt from the Isle Of Man Salt Co.
Rick Dacey of Outlier
It’s especially apt that a space in a listed former sugar warehouse on the edge of a dock that was once a major receiver of imports should be used in this way– better still that one of the products on show should be a rum.
It buys-in cane molasses, but otherwise uses exclusively local ingredients to create its products.
Available in Harrods or to buy online, it is at present still a small concern.
“Hoolie is our 41% white rum and it’s the first one made in the British Isles to be sold at the department store,” said co-founder Rick Dacey.
“That’s not bad going for a couple of guys working in a shed on a farm.
“We’re called Outlier because we are that, both philosophically and geographically.
“We’re doing our own thing – we’re not interested in producing millions of bottles.
“We want to have fun with it and we’re happy to be quite polarising.
“Some people don’t like our bottles and I’m happy about that because at least they have an opinion.
All milk produced on the Isle Of Man is processed by a cooperative
“The way we produce it is laborious – two middle-aged men in a Rocky montage chopping wood and throwing it in the still – so it’s a proper craft product.
“We make it from scratch. The Isle Of Man has very clean air and water which is good for the booze and it’s going down well with the rum crowd so why deviate from that?
“The Isle is a small place, but it has some great producers so it’s great that it’s getting some government support.”
“We’re a cooperative of 28 dairy farmers on the island,” said Findlay Macleod, its managing director.
“We bring in all of the milk that’s produced there and process it into cheese.
“On the Isle Of Man, our cows are out eating grass for a minimum of 200 days every year, which means they’re enjoying a natural diet.
“That makes for a healthier milk and provides a better base for our award-winning cheese that regularly wins national and international recognition.
“We export to Canada, the USA, Australia and the UK as well. We’re hopeful to find further distribution in London in independent stores and in top restaurants.
“My favourite is our Vintage Red Leicester – it goes with anything and it’s a beautiful cheese. A really wonderful product.”
Isle Of Man Creamery’s Grass Fed Vintage Red Leicester
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
With rents in the capital continuing to soar, shared ownership schemes are having a bit of a moment.
Typically purchasing a percentage of a property while paying rent on the remainder, even when a service charge is included, is generally cheaper than renting a comparable property nearby.
The advantages for prospective buyers are many.
Chief among these perhaps are the relative security in comparison to the precarious situation of being a tenant, autonomy over the space and its decoration and crucially the ability to access the sales market with a considerably lower deposit than would be necessary to buy outright.
Canning Town is also having a moment.
The area near the station has been undergoing extensive regeneration for years with plenty of new amenities arriving and much more still to come.
Highly connected, it’s a mere two stops on the Jubilee line from Canary Wharf and enjoys direct connections to London City Airport, Excel, Woolwich, Stratford and the City.
SO Resi is about to bring these two things together.
The shared ownership brand of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing – the fifth largest housing association in the UK – is set to unveil a collection of 37 apartments in May.
The immediate area boasts a multitude of attractions, including craft beer at Husk, modern Italian food at Pepenero, a bouldering facility at Rise Climbing and outdoorsy activities at Bow Ecology Park and environmental community project Cody Dock.
Residents will be within walking distance of City Hall at Royal Docks, the home of the English National Ballet at London City Island and the art and heritage of Trinity Buoy Wharf.
It’s a compelling offering, even before you factor in the bustle of Stratford, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Westfield Stratford City, Canary Wharf, The O2 and Greenwich Peninsula – all within two Tube stops or less.
Canning Town station is also a major bus interchange, meaning residents can easily access areas such as Bethnal Green, Aldgate, Walthamstow and even Romford.
This is all evidence that, with a great deal more development in the pipeline, prices in E16 are likely to rise as demand for well-connected, regenerated parts of the capital increases.
SO Resi sales and marketing director Kevin Sims
SO Resi sales and marketing director, Kevin Sims, said: “It is no secret that London has become a place where a range of buyers are being priced out – especially first-time buyers.
“As such, the new SO Resi Canning Town scheme could be the perfect option for 2024.
“The scheme will allow purchasers to buy a percentage share that they will pay a mortgage on, with the remainder being paid on below-market rent and then service charges too.
“A lot of people are looking to avoid the rental trap who would never be able to afford to buy on the open market – with rents rising the fastest in London.
The Canning Town apartments will feature open-plan living areas
“One of the biggest benefits of shared ownership at SO Resi Canning Town is that deposits are often considerably lower than buying on the open market.
“This is because you put a deposit down on the share that you’re buying – 25%, for example – rather than the value of the whole property.
“As an example, at our recent SO Resi Hendon Waterside development, a 5% deposit on a 25% share of a one-bedroom apartment could be as low as £4,129.
“If London is a place you aim to stay in for the long term too, staircasing is a brilliant way to continue along the journey to full home ownership.
“It’s possible to buy shares at any time – but we offer the SO Resi Plus scheme, which was pioneered by us, and has now been rolled out nationally.
The apartments are located close to Canning Town station
“The scheme allows buyers to staircase at a gradual pace by purchasing an additional 1% share each year, which can be done at the touch of a button with no solicitors needed, making the ultimate goal of home ownership that little bit more achievable.
“Knowing this benefit is available to you throughout your journey should give you peace of mind – a purchase as little as 1% can make a world of difference in the long term.”
Shared ownership buyers purchase between 10% and 75% of a home and pay a capped rent on the remainder.
Typically schemes offer 25% or more, however.
SO Resi Canning Town’s apartments are set to go on sale next month with a show home expected to open in June, 2024.
The apartments are set to go on sale in May, 2024
key details
SO Resi Canning Town is a collection of 37 apartments ranging in size from one-beds to three-beds.
The properties are set to come on the market in May, 2024, with prices yet to be announced.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
The organisations have come together to create a pop-up trail of 25 sculptures, celebrating and raising awareness of the charity’s work.
Inspired by a London-based guide dog called Theia, each of the canine statues has been decorated by a different artist, forming a route that takes visitors across Canary Wharf as well as to West India Quay and Canary Garden.
“The Paws On The Wharf trail features sculptures scattered all over this area with a total distance of about 5km,” said Guide Dogs CEO, Andrew Lennox, at the launch event.
“We’ve only just launched and we’re already seeing such great engagement and involvement with the public.
“People who see these sculptures are appreciating the art, but also learning more about the impact Guide Dogs has on people’s lives every single day and the artists behind the creations.
The sculptures can be found at West India Quay as well as in Canary Wharf and Canary Garden on South Quay
“We had Theia at the launch, who is a dog sponsored by one of our amazing partners Citi, which is also supporting the trail.”
Jackson Mendosa, chief of staff to Citi’s UK CEO, added: “Two things that make this trail stand out are accessibility and inclusivity, which are also concepts we believe we embrace as a firm through our staff and our business.
“Guide Dogs was our charity partner between 2020 and 2022, with Theia the result of that relationship – but it was also the start of this initiative.
“Paws On The Wharf’s first sculpture is just outside Citi’s offices and I’d like to thank everyone involved in the trail – it’s really something phenomenal.”
Key among those involved are, of course, the artists.
Sian Healey and Uri
Sian Healey created Guide Dog Adventures for the trail, which can be found near the eastern exit from Canary Wharf’s Crossrail Station.
She said: “I’m from Cardiff and I’ve been visually impaired since I was a child, due to a form of albinism that affects my eyes, hair and skin.
“I lose melanin slowly over time.
“I’ve always needed extra support and help throughout my life, whether that was with education or mobility and, eventually I applied for a guide dog, which now gives me independence.
“I had my first guide dog 15 years ago when my children were young and that opened up my world considerably.
“I had been pretty independent before when I was on my own – using my cane and hiding my disability as much as possible.
“But with young children you can no longer do that because you could be putting them in danger.
Sian’s postcard of London
“Once I had children, I had to accept how poor my vision was – how potentially dangerous simple tasks like walking across a road could be – and I had to reach out and accept help, because it was affecting my mental health too.”
Having donated artwork to Guide Dogs as a way of giving something back to the charity, Sian was invited to contribute a piece to the trail.
She said: “I submitted a few ideas which were developed and eventually accepted.
“Then, one day, Wild In Art delivered a big statue of a guide dog to my home and I was left with the paints.
“Uri – my current guide dog – didn’t like him at all.
“We had to cover the sculpture with a duvet most of the time. Uri wouldn’t go near him, even while I was working.
“I wanted my piece to be about being a guide dog owner and, of the 25, mine is probably the most realistic-looking.
“He’s in a traditional harness and has a nose that’s the same colour as Uri’s.
“Then I thought about what these dogs do for us and how I could depict that.
Sian’s postcard from Northern Ireland
“The main thing is to do with travel – getting out and about and doing things.
“So I thought of postcards of different places people had been with their guide dogs.
“The organisers wanted it to reflect all parts of the UK, so I have views from Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales.
“I also wanted it to reflect the diversity of what the charity offers, so there are different dogs on there – labradors, retrievers and a shepherd – with a variety of owners.
“I’ve always painted and drawn, although I did stop for a while.
“It started picking up again when I had my first guide dog, who helped me to get to art classes and build my confidence up.
“It’s something I’ve always loved doing, and my artwork is different from other people’s because of the way I see – it’s very blurry and abstract at times, because that’s the way my world is.
“I have no depth vision, so that’s why my paintings are a bit flat but very bright.
“I have to wear dark glasses and hats all the time because the light burns my eyes and I have no colouring in the back of them.
Sian’s postcard from Wales
“In certain lights I can’t see anything at all, but in other lights I can see quite well up to my nose.
“My sight is constantly changing and it’s not something I can depend on.
“It’s quite a buzz to have a piece included in the trail.
“I hope Paws On The Wharf helps people understand that visual impairment is a spectrum, not just one thing and that this trail helps raise awareness.”
Following the trail, the sculptures are set to be auctioned off to raise money for Guide Dogs.
Prices will start at £2,000. Those interested in attending should in the first instance email pawsonthewharf@guidedogs.org.uk for more information.
Guide Dog Adventures by Sian Healey can be found outside the east exit of the Elizabeth Line station at Canary Wharf
key details
The Paws On The Wharf trail starts in Jubilee Park and is available to follow from now until May 17, 2024.
Visitors can tour the sculptures at their leisure using either a digital or printed map.
A limited number of free, bookable, 90-minute multi-sensory tours – with priority spaces for people with sight loss and the option to request a sighted guide – will also be held on various dates during the trail’s run.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
“The title is a tribute to former SpaceWorks member Albert Lechley – a born and bred East Ender and stand-up performer who is sadly no longer with us,” said Steven Shawcroft.
“One of his things that he believed was that they’d never close the docks – and it was a real shock when it actually happened.
“It was something he wanted to explore in a show, but never got the chance to talk about properly.
“Knowing his style of performance, the SpaceWorks group and its performers’ capabilities, I thought we should try and see what we could come up with.”
SpaceWorks is the in-house participatory theatre company at The Space on the Isle Of Dogs, which offers anyone interested in developing performance skills or gaining backstage experience a safe and supportive environment to try new things, meet new people and get creative.
It runs workshops and regular Monday evening sessions as well as staging a number of productions over the year.
Written by Steven, under the pen name George Leyland, it’s directed by The Space’s artistic director Adam Hemming and promises audiences tales drawn from a 200-year period.
“The basic premise of the play is a rough history of the docks, their opening and growth in the 1800s and their eventual closure in the 1980s, with the recurring theme being the locals’ belief that the industry would always be there,” said Steven, a former pupil at George Green’s School on the Island.
“To do that I’ve written a select number of scenes – there’s no way we could squeeze all of that history into an hour, so we’ve been quite specific, making sure they are relevant to the docks.
“I’ve always been fascinated by East End history, having been born and grown up in Poplar and going to school on the Isle Of Dogs.
“I’m just about old enough to remember Canary Wharf going up, but not old enough to remember anything before that.
“My hope is that people enjoy watching the play and that there’s enough of a message in it for people to take away something of what was here before.
“This area is such a melting pot so there will be people with varying degrees of knowledge of it and its history.
“It’s intended as a reminder for people who have lived through some of it and a bit of an education for others who aren’t so familiar with the area.
“There are some heavier moments, but it’s still quite a light piece.
“We’re trying to get a bit of a sense that things do change.”
Steven has been an on-off member of SpaceWorks for about 14 years, performing in multiple productions as well as writing works for the venue and other theatres.
“The company was in its infancy when I joined in 2010, having been going a couple of years,” he said.
“It was just putting on its first proper production, a play by Shakespeare, which was a big undertaking with a lot of people – but we managed to get through it.
“That’s really the spirit of the group – no matter what we are given, we all come together and push through to the other side.”
This common drive reflects, perhaps, the strength of community captured in Steven’s work, which will be brought to life by a largely local cast and creative team.
Michelle Sansom is set to appear in the production
“Not all of them are originally from east London, but a lot of them work in Canary Wharf, so they’re interested in the history as well, which is good,” said Michelle Sansom, one of the actors who will appear in the production and who has also been with SpaceWorks for more than a decade.
“One of the things that strikes me about the play, which Steven has been able to capture, is that, although there have been changes, some things are still the same.
“It talks about the dockers going on strike for more pay, but the people in charge failing to understand their demands – that was back in the 1800s, so some things never change.
“The spirit of the people comes through really well in the play, and that’s always been the case for places like the docks, where people work together.
“I’m in the first scene as a docker, playing opposite Emma Fayter.
“My character has earned enough money to not work for a couple of days, which is unusual, but he’s feeling quite agitated.
“It shows general dock life in 1820 – he’s been working on the docks all his life and will never be able to do anything else – but the expectation is he won’t need to.
“The scene portrays the uncertainty of the time – back then, coins were tossed out and, if you got one, you had a job for that day.
“My character likes his mates and he likes his rum.
“Personally, I grew up in Cable Street and I now live in Newham – I’m proud to come from the East End and I’ve seen a lot of changes over the years.
“I find the history fascinating.”
Emma Fayter will also perform in They’ll Never Close The Docks
Emma joined SpaceWorks just before Steven and Michelle, coming along initially to keep a friend company who was connected with the venue.
She said: “I am really grateful that I did because it transformed my life. I hadn’t done any acting before, except for one play in school, and I messed that up.
“But it’s been brilliant and I’ve stuck with it ever since – I think I’ve missed only a couple of performances over the years.
“I love the sense of community, it’s really inclusive – there’s a great mix of ages and cultures.
“I moved to the Island in the 1980s before Canary Wharf and the DLR were here.
“I didn’t know much about the history of the island when I came here, and it had a quite derelict feel about it.
“We bought our first house on the island – they had a scheme to hold down the prices because we were council tenants in Stepney, so we got a good deal.
“I have a couple of roles in They’ll Never Close The Docks.
“I’m playing opposite Michelle in the first scene and we have a blokey kind of relationship.
“We do care about each other but there’s a bit of a rift because I haven’t been into work.
“There are a lot of layers to the play and people can see the unspoken side of their relationship.
“Then I’m in a later scene as a strong woman with an old-school husband who just wants to watch football and not do anything else.
“There’s also a young girl, who she babysits in the scene, and they support each other in standing up to the men.
“It’s at the time of the Brixton Riots and my character is talking about how we ought to do something to support them.”
Steven added: “Going over all the history it was really about picking out moments.
“Certain events do blend into each other – the docks were finally closed just before the riots, for example.
“Then there was the time the Port Of London Authority brought all the docks together, which was happening at the same time as the Suffragette movement, so there are references to that as well.
“There’s also a post-Blitz scene in an Isle Of Dogs pub with songs to lighten things up.
“I was concerned it might be too corny, but the Queenie Watts documentary confirms this was basically what people were doing.
“I’ve written the show as a reflection of the area and I hope that comes across in the show itself.”
diary dates
They’ll Never Close The Docksis at The Space on April 5 and 6, 2024, with shows at 7.30pm on both days and also at 3pm on the Saturday.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
Trained at Vidal Sassoon, she comes from a family of hairdressers and has spent more than a decade honing her skills.
When Jon Hala opened his salon in Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place, she was a natural choice for his team and currently works for the business as a senior art director.
“Initially I fell into the industry,” she said.
“I originally thought I didn’t want to follow everyone else in my family into it, but as soon as I tried it, that was me done.
“I’m a hairdresser and I absolutely love it.
“My nan had a salon in east London and I’ve got aunts and uncles who all followed in the family tradition.”
Ellie specialises in cutting hair, which makes her the ideal person to talk about shorter styles, which are becoming increasingly popular among her female clients, just as men experiment with slightly longer locks.
“To do my job, you need good fundamental training, lots of practice and to have a passion for it,” said Ellie.
“It’s as much about dealing with people as it is their hair, having that confidence to know what will suit the shape of someone’s face.
“Men, especially, look for guidance – they like someone to tell them what complements their face shape, the texture of their hair and their lifestyle.
“At Jon Hala London I cut a lot of men’s hair and I’m happy to be direct if that’s what the client wants – I can tell them what is going to work and why.
“It’s why I’ve built up a lot of loyal clients who come back again and again.
“One thing is you don’t necessarily want to follow the trends – do a short back and sides or get the clippers out and shave everything off.
Jon Hala London is located in Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place
“Men often want something that’s easy to care for and style, that suits them and doesn’t need a lot doing to it.
“At the salon, customers will find great people who have been in the industry for a long time, so they know how to cut hair to suit an individual.
“We go deeper than simply looking at clients, we explore their lifestyle, job and how that relates to their hair.
“It’s tailored haircuts for individuals.
“Everyone is different and everyone has different hair. Our training actually starts with bone structure so you can understand why a person’s hair does what it does.”
Ellie said the effect of the various lockdowns had left men open to experimenting with different styles, having (in some cases) seen their hair grow out for the first time in years.
“Some of them discovered they had looks they’d never really seen before, like amazing curls,” she said.
“Many more of my clients are trying longer hair or mid-length styles rather than opting for that close-clipped look.
“Lockdown did good things for male hair, it allowed people to see what they had naturally.
“Some might be a bit daunted to walk into somewhere like Jon Hala, but I’d encourage them to just come and have a chat.
“If you don’t know what you want or you’re looking for a change, book a consultation and we can give you that advice.”
The technical expertise that Ellie has accrued over the years is equally applicable to women’s hair, an area that post-pandemic has seen an almost reciprocal effect.
With many having gone long over the previous couple of years, a fashion for shorter styles is emerging.
“For a while no-one was really cutting their hair,” said Ellie.
“So now people have become bored with that and have decided to try new things. There are lots of bobs and pixie cuts already this year.
“It’s the same with men and women. The important thing about these styles is they have to suit the individual’s face.
Men are currently experimenting with longer styles
“Men tend to have squarer faces so the hair needs to reflect those shapes.
“Women are often more rounded, so you want a style that’s softer or more feminine.
“The one thing I would say when it comes to short hair is the better the haircut, the longer it will last.
“At Jon Hala, we cut the hair so that it will keep its shape as it grows out.
“That means it can last three, four or even five months.
“It’s about knowing the tricks and techniques.
“For example, with male clients I might take a little more off the back and sides because I know they will grow out more quickly than the hair on top.
“That’s the difference when you come to a salon like this – you’re getting a tailored, high quality, technical cut.”
In addition to the cut, appointments at Jon Hala include advice and tips on caring for and styling a client’s hair.
“We have a wide variety of products and I’ll always go through what I’m using with a client and why,” said Ellie.
“We can always suggest what will work well for people and offer advice on what they’re already using.
“Everyone at the salon is trained, so when someone comes here they can tap into all of that expertise.
Women are exploring shorter, more technical styles
“When a client comes to see me, I want them to feel comfortable, special and like they’re the only person in the salon.
“It’s both that experience and the quality of the haircut that we focus on.
“We want people to leave thinking that they will tell their friends and relatives about their visit so they can come and see us too.
“I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by Canary Wharf.
“From an outsider’s point of view, I think people associate it with business and offices.
“While I grew up in east London as a kid and then moved out, I’d had no experience of working here before Jon, who I’ve known forever, asked me to join his team.
“It’s not what I expected at all. I’ve worked all over London including salons in Mayfair, but this really is people-wise the nicest area I’ve ever experienced.
“I have the loveliest clients, really interesting people, and it’s a very mixed area.
“We have clients of all ages coming to the salon and you end up befriending lots of people.”
need to know
Jon Hala London is located in Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place. Ladies cut and blow-dry starts at £75, while men’s start at £50.
The salon offers a comprehensive range of hair and beauty treatments and is open for appointments from Monday to Saturday.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
On a dark day, it might be tempting to look at the state of the planet and be discouraged.
Globally we’ve had the warmest February on record, yet ministers seem content to water down green policies.
Populist politicians and commentators bewail what they see as the madness of abandoning coal and gas.
Others argue that the UK’s emissions are so small in comparison to other parts of the world that there’s no point in making any changes at the supposed expense to our quality of life.
Early withdrawal symptoms for a culture hopelessly hooked on fossil fuels?
Perhaps. But nevertheless the voices have become a potent lobby.
The eastern extension to ULEZ hardly raised a peep when it came to Docklands.
But west London was a different story, with opportunistic politicians hijacking a poorly articulated campaign to target the Mayor Of London and, arguably, scrape a by-election win in Uxbridge.
There’s danger here. People like the status quo and yet, ULEZ has seen some pollutants fall by as much as 46% in its first year in central London.
That’s cleaner, fresher air – with around 290,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions prevented from fouling the atmosphere and contributing to the heating of the planet.
Will this single measure save us? No. Not on its own.
But it’s a measure taken in a major capital city, that’s delivering myriad benefits.
This is a strong recipe for inspiring others.
The RDCS is based at UEL’s Royal Docks campus
It matters what we do here because the ideas and technology necessary to address the massive problems we face, need both places of generation and implementation.
Part-funded by the Mayor and Newham Council though their Royal Docks Team initiative, the facility provides space for projects, will be open to the community and will soon boast a “vibrant cafe”.
But beyond the, doubtless, sustainable coffee, it has another role.
Its task is to bring people and organisations together to improve sustainability in an area that’s undergoing billions of pounds of regeneration in a borough fighting deprivation.
“If I could have one wish, it would be that this centre has a driving influence on the Royal Docks, that the innovation created here really plays out and makes sure that this community and London itself become exemplars,” said Robert De Jong, RDCS director and the man whose job it is to steer the facility as it evolves and develops.
“We have a regeneration scheme in the docks that is forecast to grow significantly over the coming years and it should be sustainable.
“The centre’s role is as a convener, both for our schools at UEL, our research centres, the local community and industry.
“Our aim is to bring them all together through effective programming and setting themes for ourselves.
“I would like to see ambitious goals set for the Royal Docks such as the establishment of a clean-tech cluster so the businesses that come through here are really innovative and set up for the future.
“Also that the plan for urban design – the way the buildings are made and how transport and urban connectivity flow through the docks – is really low carbon.
“There’s a lot of talk about this but, when it comes down to reality, there can be stark differences in what’s delivered to what was mooted. We have a real opportunity here to unleash these ideas and ask what we can do differently.
“How can we engage with the waterways, the transport system and boost biodiversity as well?”
To address some of these questions, RDCS comes fully equipped with some powerful tools and facilities, namely a Sustainability Research Institute, a Sustainable Enterprise Centre, an Augmented + Virtual Reality Centre, a Renewable Energy Lab and a Maker Space.
The Mayor Of London, Sadiq Khan officially opened the centre earlier this year
Then there’s a Data Centre, a Living Lab, a Living Library, a Careers Office, a Hackathon space, Business + Community Tax And Law Clinics and more besides.
It stands as both a physical connection to UEL’s schools as well as a conceptual one, aimed at spotlighting the work the university does and mixing it with ideas and influences from other organisations and groups.
“We take a holistic view,” said Robert.
“Sustainability means that we’re governing with an ethical outcome for society and the environment, that we’re thinking outside of our own jurisdictions and that we’re also really understanding the stewardship of products and striving to improve how we use resources.
“We can’t just keep creating pollution and heating the globe.
“We need to think about how to manage the whole balance of our ecology.
“At the moment we’re at a certain rate of growth, so we need to ask if that is sustainable.
“The centre is based on a number of things – firstly collaboration and creation in the holistic sense of sustainability, driving it across east London, around Newham and in Royal Docks in particular.
“In a couple of years’ time, I would like to see this centre established at the forefront of pushing the sustainability agenda – that we’re able to make a measurable impact in terms of social outcomes.
“At UEL we already have great diversity in the student body, among staff and in our policies, but how far can we go?
“That’s not just looking at employment, it’s in the supply chain and it’s driving that wider agenda and our goal of a healthier planet.
“I’d like to see this centre become a catalyst for enabling these things and also to act as a demonstrator.”
Part of the three-storey centre’s mission then, will be to constantly shine spotlights on the work being done in UEL’s schools, while simultaneously supporting and showcasing the work of businesses.
“There is sustainability in each of our schools but it’s hidden away and we’re not always good at shouting about it,” said Robert.
“For example, the Sustainability Research Institute is doing amazing work on bio-based building materials such as Sugarcrete, made from waste products when sugar cane is refined.
“But equally there are fantastic projects in engineering and fashion too.
“Then there’s the wider ethos around our campuses themselves, with a opportunity to embed sustainability in the governance of UEL itself and to ask how we involve every member of staff in that process.
Visitors examine blocks of Sugarcrete, a new material made with waste products from the sugar refining industry
“We’re also about to launch an accelerator programme, starting with a small number of organisations with combined interests.
“We have a focus on fintech and how to develop financial technology and also on entrepreneurship with a faculty looking at how we organise training around creating a business and skills development.
“We can all come up with business ideas but in reality growing a company and overcoming the hurdles of finance and development can take many years.
“However, with the right support and education, firms can really grow successfully.
“We want to create cohorts through these programmes, but we also want to talk with external partners to run some of them, so it’s not just UEL.
“Key to the whole project is that the centre is a place where we can bring in local stakeholders such as Excel, London City Airport and Siemens, which is leading on UEL’s work to achieve net zero.
“Before, we were promoting the story of how exciting the centre will be, but since it’s opened, the dialogue has changed.
“People understand its principles and how we’re really striving for local impact, employment and engagement as well as picking up new ideas.
“Those from the community, wider industry and UEL itself who have seen the centre, seem really pleased with the space and understand how it is relevant.
“There will be entrepreneurs and scaleups based here, but people can also come for advice with clinics that can be used free of charge by locals from the community.
“We also want to bring in more international organisations – we need the whole mix to be right – to ensure that what we’re creating here is a framework of approach so people will feel this centre is a new space of inspiration.”
There you have it, a beacon of innovation in the Royal Docks, that people across the world can look to.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
“We are seriously under-represented in London,” said Paul Devin, Kiko Milano’s managing director for the UK and Ireland.
“Before we opened in Canary Wharf, we had branches in Regent Street, Covent Garden and in the two Westfield shopping centres.
“But a brand with our potential customer base should have significantly more sites in the capital and at key locations around the UK and Ireland.
“Canary Wharf is very interesting for us – the demographic of the consumer here is very aligned to Kiko Milano and what’s fascinating is the consumer profile has evolved while the area continues to go through a really exciting evolution.
“It’s not the Wharf of old with Monday-Friday city workers.
“Now it’s a vibrant place seven days a week and we want to be where those customers are.”
The Jubilee Place opening this month was the first in Kiko’s ambitious plan to go from 27 stores in the UK to 100 over the next four years.
It’s also an opportunity for the brand to trial a more compact store with a smaller footprint and see consumers’ reactions to that.
“When visiting our store, people will find quite a disruptive take on the beauty industry,” said Paul.
“If you’re a customer in that market, you’re often sent down one of two paths.
“The first is a self-select environment where there might be great brands but there’s no service.
“You might take a product to the till and try it on, there might be some testers or there might not.
“Alternatively there’s the prestige environment.
Kiko Milano’s Canary Wharf store is located in Cabot Place mall
“There you have that counter element which, for some consumers, is fantastic, but for others is a little bit formal – it can be a bit of a barrier as it’s not so relaxed.
“What Kiko Milano offers in all of its branches is a bright, relaxed atmosphere with music in the background and beauty advisers who are trained to help customers.
“There are product areas where you can test and play too, so you get the best of both worlds.
“You get prestige quality products at an accessible price point, with unbelievable quality.
“If you want a five or 10-minute makeover, you can have one free of charge, and we’ll talk about the products used.
“Then you can choose to buy or come back another time – or not – it makes no difference to the way we treat people. Nobody else is doing beauty in this way.
“Approximately 98% of our products are made in Italy, which is important because that’s where the best in the world are manufactured.
“In that region, we have access to the same creative minds and the same factories that are used by prestige quality brands.
“We put our own spin and innovation into the mix and offer our products to consumers at a far more affordable price.
“It’s a sweet spot for us, because we’re both the brand and the retailer so you don’t have that margin on the price – the customer doesn’t have to pay a mark-up and we can offer amazing quality for less.”
Founded in Milan, Kiko has been trading for 26 years with a mission to “surprise and delight consumers” with its stores.
Paul said it had been a pioneer, introducing attractions such as video walls and in-store music as it aimed to bring the feel of clothes shopping to the beauty and skincare market.
“Today we have 1,100 stores globally in 65 countries, including market-leading positions in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the Middle East,” he said.
“Then we’ve got opportunities where we are looking to seriously accelerate the brand in the UK and Ireland, Germany, the US and Asia.
“It’s our ambition to reach more than 2,000. The momentum is there.”
The growth in bricks and mortar stores reflects Kiko’s approach to expanding its brand online both for exposure and sales.
“We have a strategy of unified commerce,” said Paul.
“I don’t think there’s a consumer today, whether they’re in the automotive industry, fashion, beauty or footwear, who is not using digital devices for research and to purchase products.
“But our stores are an integral part of that.
“If someone in Canary Wharf comes into Kiko Milano and has a great experience then I’m delighted.
“If they go on to purchase a product online, via click-and-collect or from the shop, then that’s great.
“What we’re obsessed with is a customer-centric approach – if we’re able to combine online and offline, then that helps us climb further up the hierarchy. It’s a complementary approach.
“When customers go into our stores they will meet one of our fantastic beauty advisers, who wear what we call a brush belt ready to demonstrate key products and applications.
“They are all qualified beauticians, are ready to offer makeovers and are equipped with bespoke iPhones that can be used for all transactions or even to order products to stores or to other locations.
“Our heritage is in physical stores and that will always be at the forefront of what we do – we want to invest in that experience, whether it’s in a compact branch like Canary Wharf or our new flagship in Covent Garden.”
The store carries an extensive range of products
With beauty and skincare firmly at the core of Kiko’s offer – best sellers include its Skin Trainer Opitcal Corrector and 3D Hydra Lipgloss – big plans are afoot to extend the brand’s range.
Paul said: “We’re currently working to articulate our new position, which is: ‘Art, beauty, joy’.
“We’ll be doing so many things to get that message out there over the coming months and it’s the first time the UK will have a heavyweight media campaign from us.
“We’ll open 13 stores in the next eight months and refurbish another three, so that’s key.
“Then we’re also working on a lot of product categories and we’ll be launching a haircare range followed by sun care and then fragrances in the fourth quarter.
“With Kiko there’s a new collection every four weeks and we have some great collaborations coming up including one with Bridgerton, which captures the essence of the new series.”
Clearly one to watch…
THREE WHARF LIFE PICKS
Jess Maddison has scoured the store to find a trio of products for shoppers to look out for…
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
Integrated ovens with air fryer functionality, an Imax Enhanced cinema, a boxing ring, a botanical garden – Bow Green is not exactly short on stand-out resident amenities.
There’s a sense that developer St James – part of the Berkeley Group – has pulled out all the stops for its east London scheme.
However – while the underfloor heating, the indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a restaurant, with exterior tables shaded by living trees, are all significant pulls for buyers – there’s a deeper attraction too.
Berkeley isn’t new to this part of London, of course.
Its schemes include South Quay Plaza beside Canary Wharf, London Dock in Wapping, Poplar Riverside overlooking the River Lea and TwelveTrees Park next to West Ham station.
But Bow Green’s location – roughly in the middle of the triangle formed by the Wharf, Stratford and the City – sets it apart.
The site is at the centre of a wealth of green spaces, which have clearly been an inspiration for its architects and planners.
In the coming years, St James’ scheme will see up to 1,450 homes built on a patch of land off Bow Common Lane.
A new public park will be created at the heart of Bow Green
At its heart, a new public park will be created, with residential buildings arranged around the site’s perimeter.
Pathways and green corridors between them will allow easy access for pedestrians, cyclists and, doubtless, wildlife.
Travel a little further and Bow Common and Bartlett Park lie to the south, while Victoria Park, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Hackney Marshes beckon to the north.
“One of the key things that we wanted to establish early on at Bow Green is this connection to the those spaces,” said Katie Thompson, sales and marketing director at St James.
“We’ve got the 27 acres of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park right opposite the site and, when you look at a map, you see this part of London has an unusually high number of these open spaces.
“Our development is hugged by green and what we’re doing is plugging into that by creating our own sculpted park at Bow Green.”
Bow Green’s first phase is now under construction
Berkeley has serious history in creating such spaces.
There’s Maribor Park at Royal Arsenal Riverside with its delta-style water feature and the playful Cator Park at Kidbrooke Village, which won both the Sir David Attenborough Award for enhancing biodiversity and The President’s Award at The Landscape Institute Awards in 2020.
For Bow Green, environmental artist Chris Drury has come up with a curvaceous green amphitheatre that will feature a stepped fountain. It sits amid a network of tree-lined pathways and wildflower beds.
“We wanted to give the development something that had a pull both for people living here but also for the wider community,” said Katie.
“There’s a responsibility as a developer for how we activate that space – do we host fairs or performances, for example? What we can do with that space is create moments.
“The other lovely thing is that the park will look and feel completely different whether you’re in it or looking down from one of the apartments.”
Habitation is, naturally, at the core of St James’ design, with Bow Green pitched as a tranquil space for residents to live, which is nevertheless well connected via the Tube from Mile End or Bow Road or the DLR from Devons Road.
Delivered in five phases, the first will see an extensive array of residents facilities built alongside the initial complement of apartments.
The development will have an outdoor pool for residents to use
So what’s it going to be like living at Bow Green?
“When you think of east London, it’s often the towers of Canary Wharf or the older housing estates with high-rise blocks, but Bow Green is completely different,” said Jess Chapple, head of sales at St James.
“Here the development is very much intertwined with nature – it’s 50% green space – and the design is also sympathetic to the area and its heritage.
“Here people are buying into a place where the city and nature blend together.
“I imagine someone working in Canary Wharf, Stratford or the City who wants to come home and feel like they’ve got everything on their doorstep, with green space and residents’ facilities brought to them through careful design.
“While they’re surrounded by that golden triangle, when they come here they’ll be taking a step back from the hustle and bustle, while still being in a Zone 2 location.
“The apartments themselves range from studios to three-bedroom homes with specifications that are the result of everything St James has learnt about design, including during 10 years of its scheme in White City.
“That means every apartment has things like coat storage, while studios have separate sleeping areas – we’ve really thought about how people will live in these spaces.
“For us, it’s about constantly evaluating what we’re offering right up until launch, to make sure we’re keeping up with trends in the market and that, ultimately, people will be happy in their homes.”
The Canopy restaurant will feature plenty of greenery and outdoor tables shaded by foliage
With extensive planting, landscaping and a wealth of amenities, life at Bow Green promises to be filled with diversions.
The spa at the development will feature both indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, connected visually through large, full-height windows.
Residents will also have access to a fully-equipped gym, which includes a boxing ring alongside treadmills, weights and heavy bags.
The Garden Room will act as a games space, complete with foosball and pool tables, while The Reading Corner promises a place for residents to work, take in a good book or simply watch people pass by.
“When you look at the detail of our plans, there are lots of little nooks and seats for people to use,” said Katie.
“The way life is now, people will pause and take a laptop out anywhere and we’re thinking about those moments.”
On a more leisurely note, Bow Green will also be the first development in the UK to feature an Imax Enhanced cinema for residents to use – a significant boost in quality and picture definition for those who enjoy a good movie.
Then there’s Bow Yard, a public, cobbled outdoor space that will be home to markets and The Canopy restaurant and cafe.
This will feature plentiful greenery, foliage-shaded outdoor seating and dishes made with some ingredients grown in the residents’ botanical garden – a raised space which will be used to cultivate fruit trees and herbs.
The indoor pool will be visually connected to the outdoor pool and the scheme’s green spaces via full height windows
As if that wasn’t enough, there will also be a convenience store on site and a 24-hour concierge service that links residents up to the various amenities.
Transport-wise, the development offers Tube and DLR connections within walking distance and multiple bus stops nearby.
“There are also lots of cycling routes nearby including on the canal to Victoria Park and one that’s less than 10 minutes to Canary Wharf said Jess.
“You can walk there in 25 minutes and there are also places to hire bikes and cars locally if residents need them.
As well as being better value than many Zone 2 developments, we’re also offering a different kind of lifestyle – this place is tranquil and the facilities are outstanding.”
St James is currently marketing homes off-plan in the first phase of Bow Green.
key details
Prices at Bow Green start at £395,000 for a studio, £465,000 for a one-bed and £650,000 for a two-bed.
Three-bedroom homes will also be available as further properties are released.
Service charges are estimated at £4.85 per sq ft.
First completions are expected in 2026. Interested parties can call St James on 020 3814 8110 or find out more here.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
It wasn’t all that long ago, in the grand scheme of things, that Canary Wharf was a two-storey warehouse built in the 1930s handling bananas brought to the UK from the Caribbean.
The brick-built structure at what was then West India Docks’ Import Dock, managed to survive the bombing during the Second World War, but not the demise of the docks themselves.
It was bought for £25million in 1988 by Olympia And York – the company that kicked off the regeneration project that would become the Canary Wharf of today – and was demolished without much ceremony a year later.
I mention this not because of some rose-tinted hankering for nostalgia – although the idea of dockers slipping on endless banana skins carries some slapstick appeal.
Instead it’s a reminder of just how far this part of London has come in 35 years.
There’s been much short-termist nonsense published recently about the idea that this part of the city might be in peril. It’s true – some companies based here have decided to move for various reasons.
But before launching into a cascade of gloomy thoughts about home working’s effect on the economy and the merits of office clusters, consider a different perspective.
Three-and-a-half decades ago, there was nothing much at Canary Wharf but derelict warehouses.
A group of people had to imagine what it might be, who might want to be there and what – if any – companies would come over. In the end, their creativity and bravery yielded success, with the arrival of the Jubilee line extension proving pivotal in that story.
Towers rose and were filled. They largely still are.
MadeFor customers enjoy self-contained spaces with modern facilities
Current media commentary cries out that Canary Wharf will have to reinvent itself if it is to continue to flourish.
But such pieces entirely miss the point. Canary Wharf has done nothing but endlessly reinvent itself since that old warehouse crumbled.
The idea that a few financial institutions moved over here from the City in pursuit of cheaper rent and larger spaces in the 2000s and that nothing much has changed since, is simply perception lagging reality.
The estate and the surrounding area is on a constant path of change, renewal and development – its priorities shifting to meet and satisfy demand.
That’s the case with its shops, bars, restaurants and open spaces as much as it was in the decision to build housing on Wood Wharf.
Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has demonstrated an increasingly open and agile approach to the land it manages – whether that’s embracing competitive socialising with Fairgame and Electric Shuffle or deciding to host a vast padel tennis complex – as it works tirelessly to broaden the appeal of the estate.
But what of the office space itself?
Well there’s been diversification there too amid a long track-record of flexibility to serve the market.
While tech community Level39 provides small startups with a home and space to grow, funkier spaces have been created at Wood Wharf.
North Quay will see significant lab space created as the estate continues to attract organisations from sectors beyond financial services.
Eggs, baskets and all that.
That hasn’t, of course, stopped the likes of Barclays and Citi recommitting to the area – doubtless convinced by an environment that now draws significant crowds at weekends in virtue of what’s on offer to visitors as well as residents.
Canary Wharf Group associate for office leasing Luke Thurlow
“In short, it’s our fully-fitted, furnished and managed workspaces,” said Luke Thurlow, CWG associate for office leasing and one of the team tasked with helping firms land on the Wharf or move into bigger premises.
“Traditionally, a tenant would take an empty shell and build it themselves, creating meeting rooms, break-out spaces and filling it with furniture.
“MadeFor takes away all of that hassle for the end-user, who can pretty much move in immediately if they like.
“Office space has always been a strong part of the business and this is part of diversifying our portfolio.
“It means Canary Wharf offers single desks and co-working at Level39, self-contained units under MadeFor and shell space if a client prefers that.
“MadeFor can cater for businesses with 10 desks in 1,000sq ft of space, right up to our biggest letting where Citi took 10 floors as part of a short-term solution to house staff while its tower is being refurbished.
“The message is that many people think Canary Wharf is only for larger businesses – big multinational companies, which we do have here – but even if you’re a small startup or scaleup, we can accommodate your needs.”
It’s an offer that’s clearly gaining traction, with recent signings, including business power supplier, Pozitive Energy, electric vehicle charging firm, Hypervolt, and Taiwanese energy trader, WelHunt, all opting for MadeFor offices at One Canada Square.
Global trading organisation FIA and manufacturing firm Rittal also recently announced they would be renewing their MadeFor leases in the building.
“These recent deals show that companies continue to see Canary Wharf as an international icon,” said Luke.
“Buildings like One Canada Square are seen as part of a company’s strategy to build its business, find new clients and retain top talent – there’s real appeal there.
“MadeFor appeals to both a variety of sectors and businesses of different sizes. Often, smaller firms don’t want the headache of fitting out a space.
“These are self-contained workspaces so tenants are not sharing meeting rooms, break out spaces or kitchens with other occupiers.
“That’s especially important so companies know who is coming in and out of their space – vital if you’re regulated by the FCA, for example.”
Layouts include break-out spaces and open-plan design
Essentially, MadeFor is a crucial piece in the puzzle.
One of the key ideas behind the creation of Level39 more than a decade ago was that it had the potential to bring fast-growing startups onto the estate.
With a vast portfolio, it could then flexibly serve the needs of those businesses as they grew.
MadeFor both provides space for companies that are expanding, but it also allows the estate to pitch more effectively to firms and organisations of varying size that aren’t home grown, but like the idea of a move to east London.
“Now it is based in an 80,000sq ft space at the Columbus Building off Westferry Circus.
“Because CWG has been running the estate for more than 30 years we are able to take a long-term vision for our customers and as a custodian of this part of London.
“If a business is half way through its lease and bursting at the seams or looking to downsize due to an increase in hybrid working, we can have those conversations.
“Other landlords use more conventional models where they buy a single building, develop it, lease it and sell it.
“This can make those situations more difficult. What we offer is stability.”
Don’t confuse stability with traditionalism, however.
Luke was keen to stress that MadeFor’s spaces were fitted out to reflect the needs of businesses today.
“Our design philosophy dispenses with reception desks and guest waiting areas,” he said.
“The idea is that visitors come directly into a break-out space where they can get a feel for how the business is working as soon as they arrive.
“We can, of course, design to a customer’s brief and we’re always working based on feedback from previous projects.
“Perhaps if we’d done this three years ago we’d have had flashy boardrooms off reception areas – people didn’t think you should have staff mingling with visitors.
“But people aren’t working like that any more.
“Visitors want to get a flavour of the company – to be in your world rather than in a holding zone.
“Hybrid working presents great opportunities for businesses – if you look at their spaces and how they’re fitting them out, things are a lot more considered now.
“You’re seeing a lot more meeting rooms, collaboration spaces, fewer conventional rows of desks.
“Suppose you have a project team that’s coming in three days a week – what do they need?
“Some customers have asked for more break-out space, while others want desks because people are also coming into the office to do more focused work and to make the most of sitting with colleagues to do that.”
CWG will even look after plants in its MadeFor spaces
Beyond the spaces themselves, the estate’s constant evolution is perhaps the most potent weapon in Luke’s arsenal when talking to potential clients.
But then there’s the added value of engaging with a landlord which is completely invested in fostering a thriving, vibrant local economy.
Luke said: “The quality of our office space and workspaces is generally well understood in the market.
“We produce top quality, best-in-class office developments.
“But what we’re also trying to show people who come to Canary Wharf are the lifestyle amenities – the shops, bars and restaurants, the green open spaces and the transport links.
“With the Elizabeth line, you’re 45 minutes from Heathrow. It’s about trying to excite people by getting them to picture themselves and their business here.
“There are the technical details like the air conditioning and the Wi-fi, but most people who come to look at office space will think more about the coffee downstairs and dinner at Hawksmoor or Dishoom.
“We deliver high quality workspace, but it’s also about our tenant services team and the maintenance operation.
“We’ve also launched an app for the estate so people know what’s here and about all the events that are going on.
“We’re not just a landlord collecting rent – will it be a Yoga session before work or finding out about Wharf Connect, our network for early career professionals?
“It’s all about what you can do here and, if we’re not doing something already, then talking to us about delivering it.
“It’s a very exciting time and, over the next 10 years people will see so much change here, whether that’s the landscaping of Middle Dock in partnership with the Eden Project or any of the other plans in the pipeline.”
Suffice to say evolution is a certainty at Canary Wharf as it brings life sciences and schools into the mix alongside residential, higher education, governmental bodies and much more.
That, however, will doubtless be easier for Luke and his colleagues to articulate to potential clients than it was for teams 35 years ago, when the whole process of convincing firms to give E14 offices a chance began.
key details
MadeFor spaces are available in Canary Wharf at One Canada Square, 40 Bank Street, 20 Water Street and the Columbus Building.
Offices are cleaned and managed including repairs, maintenance, waste management and refreshment options.
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
Alice Scutchey founded The Canary Wharf PA Club (CWPAC) in 2019 while working as a senior EA to Citi’s UK chief financial officer and things took off.
Tapping into a desire among personal assistants, executive assistants and office managers to meet and network, a packed schedule of events saw the organisation swell to a database of thousands.
The club ended up becoming like a business with Alice running things alongside her full-time career, offering premium paid memberships to help sustain and monetise its operation.
“I probably could have quit my job and made it into a business, but I didn’t want that,” she said.
“I was increasingly finding it hard to get to know people personally – they knew me but I didn’t know them because I was busy running the events.”
Something of a victim of its own popularity, Alice decided to put the club on pause.
Having worked as an EA at American Express and Quintet Private Bank, she is now director of EMEA business administration at global printing and communications firm Toppan Merrill and has turned her attention back to her creation.
This time, however, she’s got some help.
“It came about because I was chatting with my friend, Lucia Sudlow, about the network,” said Alice.
“It had become unmanageable and I didn’t have time for it.
“Both of us have a background as assistants, so we discussed whether we should give relaunching it a shot together.
“That way we could halve the workload.
“There’s clearly a need for people to meet and – being a PA can be a lonely role. You don’t necessarily have a team or an internal network.
“It’s about bringing people together and helping them in any way we can.”
To that end, Alice and Lucia officially relaunched the club with an event at Doubletree By Hilton London Docklands Riverside, with a plan to commit to a sustainable 12 events per year.
“There are lots of businesses that offer training and courses to help people be better PAs,” said Alice.
“But we want to focus on the person, not on the role.
“The club isn’t about companies selling things to our members either.
“It’s meeting once a month with no pressure or expectations – just a desire to bring something to the table.
Ask The Imossible’s Lucia Sudlow has joined the operation
“PAs often have something extra going on in their lives – a passion, a hobby or a side business.
“We want our events to be about bringing those things out and showcasing them.
“To anyone new to the club I would say: ‘Bring your whole self to a monthly meet-up and connect with other like-minded people to support each other’.”
That message of connection and friendship rings true for Lucia and Alice too.
“I originally trained as an architectural technician but I wasn’t very good at it,” said Lucia, who today runs creative and production agency Ask The Impossible, with her husband.
“I was made redundant in 2008, and I went to get a temp job as an assistant admin person. I realised that I was really good at it, enjoyed it and got a lot from it.
“When I first came to London, I was in a role for about 18 months and then I was offered a new job, so I needed to hire someone. Alice came in.
“We only spent two weeks working together and 14 years later, we’re still friends.
“I went on to work for a tech startup and became the head of people and talent after doing pretty much every job there apart from IT development.
“Now I run the operations side of our agency – my husband has the crazy ideas and I make sure they happen.
“As long as whatever a brand wants to do is legal and moral, we’ll do it.
“I’m still very much interested in the PA world and I like to be involved with good people – that’s why I wanted to help with the club.
“We’re going to focus on one good quality event a month – there are lots of clubs that offer paid membership and venue finding services and so on.
“But we just want to support people, not sell them something.
“Things don’t always need to be about growing your skills or your professional career.
“Sometimes you just want to meet people, have a drink, socialise and make connections.”
And that’s really what success looks like for the CWPAC reborn – a vehicle that’s for members to enjoy themselves and benefit from friendships forged.
“It might be that, through the club, someone has found a new job or bought a product from another PA’s side business,” said Alice.
“To me seeing these things is success. It might be that someone gains the confidence to present in front of an audience.
“Many PAs who run their own businesses don’t have thid and our events will be a non-judgmental space that will help people do that.
“If someone has something they want to present to the group then we’ll book them in.
“Of course, being a PA is a career in itself, but moving on to another a role is also a natural path for an assistant to take.
“It’s important to us to support that transition, if people want to make it, as it’s something we’ve both done.”
Lucia added: “PA skills are so transferable – you have to be a jack of all trades in the role. That’s so often a phrase people use negatively, but actually it’s not.
“Having a little bit of knowledge about a lot of things is really useful.
“PAs can get typecast in the assistant role, but actually they’re so capable when they get to a certain part of their career because they have gained so much knowledge.
“Both me and Alice are good examples of what people can go on and do – we want to tell people not to be afraid of their ambitions.”
- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
