Local Businesses
Supporting local businesses, driving investment, and building a thriving, sustainable local economy in Peckham.
MISSION
ELEVATING EVERY RESIDENT'S STORY
To build a thriving and sustainable local economy in Peckham that showcases the best of our community, strengthens high streets, and ensures local businesses have a strong collective voice in shaping the future of the area.
The Plan
I will work with Peckham Business Forum and British BIDs to explore and establish a Business Improvement District for Peckham. Alongside this, I will run a monthly Small Business of the Month award to celebrate local enterprise, increase visibility, and drive footfall, as well as working with local partners including Peckham Festival, Southwark Council and traders to support thriving markets and coordinated seasonal events.
PRIORITY 01
PECKHAM BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)
Deliver a BID for Peckham through feasibility work, business engagement and preparation for a future ballot.
PRIORITY 02
CELEBRATE LOCAL BUSINESSES
Showcase independent businesses through monthly awards and targeted promotion
PRIORITY 03
HIGH-STREET CO-ORDINATION
Strengthen collaboration between traders, council and partners.
PRIORITY 04
TRADER ENGAGEMENT
Maintain regular walkabouts and forums to understand trader needs.
PRIORITY 05
CLEANER, SAFER, VIBRANT BUSINESSES
Amplify the voice of local businesses to improve street environment, safety and the day-to-day trading.
CURRENT FOCUS
"Amplifying the voice of local businesses through direct engagement, business walkabouts and early work to establish a Peckham Business Improvement District."
What we’ve achieved so far
SUPPORTING RYE LN TRADERS
Rye Lane is at the heart of Peckham’s local economy, supporting hundreds of businesses, traders and the wider community.
We have made supporting Rye Lane’s businesses a key priority, creating opportunities for traders to come together, raise concerns and have their voices heard.
We have held multiple traders’ roundtables, bringing local businesses together to listen directly to their experiences, understand the challenges they face and identify the issues that matter most to them. These conversations have helped ensure that the concerns of Rye Lane traders are not only heard, but raised directly with those responsible for making decisions that affect the area.
Following concerns raised by traders, including around recent closures and disruption on Rye Lane, we have called for better communication between the Council and local businesses.
Our focus is on ensuring that traders are properly informed, consulted and given a clear channel through which they can raise concerns when decisions affect their businesses.
This work is not about party politics or point-scoring. It is about making sure Rye Lane’s traders have a voice and are properly represented.
We will continue to bring traders together, work across party lines and stand up for Rye Lane’s businesses - because a thriving Rye Lane is vital to the future of Peckham.
We have made supporting Rye Lane’s businesses a key priority, creating opportunities for traders to come together, raise concerns and have their voices heard.
We have held multiple traders’ roundtables, bringing local businesses together to listen directly to their experiences, understand the challenges they face and identify the issues that matter most to them. These conversations have helped ensure that the concerns of Rye Lane traders are not only heard, but raised directly with those responsible for making decisions that affect the area.
Following concerns raised by traders, including around recent closures and disruption on Rye Lane, we have called for better communication between the Council and local businesses.
Our focus is on ensuring that traders are properly informed, consulted and given a clear channel through which they can raise concerns when decisions affect their businesses.
This work is not about party politics or point-scoring. It is about making sure Rye Lane’s traders have a voice and are properly represented.
We will continue to bring traders together, work across party lines and stand up for Rye Lane’s businesses - because a thriving Rye Lane is vital to the future of Peckham.
CELEBRATING LOCAL ENTERPRISE
Through our Business Spotlight series, residents are invited to nominate local businesses for us to visit, interview and film, showcasing the people and stories behind Peckham’s high streets. So far, we have visited businesses including Guacamoles, Pure Cane, Persepolis and Khan’s Bargains, each of which plays an important role in serving and strengthening our local community.
Building on this success, we have now launched a Small Business of the Month programme, where nominated businesses are given a dedicated spotlight visit and video feature to help increase visibility and celebrate their contribution to the local economy. We continue to welcome nominations from residents across the constituency.
Building on this success, we have now launched a Small Business of the Month programme, where nominated businesses are given a dedicated spotlight visit and video feature to help increase visibility and celebrate their contribution to the local economy. We continue to welcome nominations from residents across the constituency.
BUSINESS WALKABOUTS
Listening and Acting on Trader Concerns
We hold fortnightly business walkabouts across each ward in the constituency, meeting traders directly to understand their priorities and respond to issues affecting day-to-day trading. Our most recent visits took place on Choumert Road and Nunhead High Street, where we spoke to a range of local businesses about the challenges they are facing.
Common themes raised included the need for more bins and improved litter collection, as well as stronger council support in maintaining clean shopfronts and pavements outside businesses. I am working with Southwark Council to take forward these issues and ensure traders see clear and timely action in response to what they are raising.
We hold fortnightly business walkabouts across each ward in the constituency, meeting traders directly to understand their priorities and respond to issues affecting day-to-day trading. Our most recent visits took place on Choumert Road and Nunhead High Street, where we spoke to a range of local businesses about the challenges they are facing.
Common themes raised included the need for more bins and improved litter collection, as well as stronger council support in maintaining clean shopfronts and pavements outside businesses. I am working with Southwark Council to take forward these issues and ensure traders see clear and timely action in response to what they are raising.
pECKHAM BID ENGAGEMENT
Building the Foundations for Future Investment
We have worked with Peckham Business Forum, British BIDs and Tree Shepherd to begin exploring the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) for Peckham, bringing together early feasibility work, business engagement and initial brand development towards a potential ballot in 2027.
As part of this work, we have engaged directly with local businesses through Tree Shepherd-led sessions and attended their business mixers on Rye Lane, helping to bring small traders together to share ideas and shape the direction of the BID proposal. These conversations have helped build stronger relationships across the business community and ensure early plans reflect the needs of local traders.
We have worked with Peckham Business Forum, British BIDs and Tree Shepherd to begin exploring the creation of a Business Improvement District (BID) for Peckham, bringing together early feasibility work, business engagement and initial brand development towards a potential ballot in 2027.
As part of this work, we have engaged directly with local businesses through Tree Shepherd-led sessions and attended their business mixers on Rye Lane, helping to bring small traders together to share ideas and shape the direction of the BID proposal. These conversations have helped build stronger relationships across the business community and ensure early plans reflect the needs of local traders.