What We’re Doing To Support Our Businesses And Community

The sole purpose of the BakerStreetQ team is to support our businesses and our community. We are always here for you and will continue to support and champion you through these difficult times. We are working to ensure government, the council and police understand your current challenges as well as providing direct support for your business and your employees.

We have been actively lobbying central and local government on your behalf regarding access to finance and securing our streets. Our lobbying is being directed by you, so do let us know the issues you would like us to raise on your behalf.

We have adapted our security services to focus on the teams and businesses still operating in the area as well as monitoring empty and vulnerable sites. We are monitoring crime trends and in regular contact with the police. Many of you will be familiar with our Street Safety Team (Terry, Svenn, Sam, Barry and Ram), and you’ll be comforted to know that they remain on the ground looking after our streets. They continue to work with the dedicated security teams still in place in the Quarter – linked up via our radio network. For regular security updates contact us to be added to our Incident Alert System.

Whilst some of the Quarter’s retailers have quickly adapted to running delivery and takeaway services to the workers and residents still onsite in the Quarter, some are moving their content online so people can still enjoy their favourite restaurants and retailers from home. You can find out more here. Do support these businesses if you can during this difficult time as they contribute so much to the Quarter’s vibrancy and we want to see them on everyone’s return. We are planning significant campaigns to promote them once we all return to the Quarter.

We are constantly gathering the best business advice and methods of support to share with you, you can find the relevant links in the Business Advice and Support Hub we are developing on our website. Some of our members are actively putting together advice and information that they are sharing with the wider business community including Knight Frank providing information on businesses rates and Seddons on employment matters.

As many of the Quarter’s workers are working from home we are moving our social and wellbeing programmes on line for everyone to access. This will be a combination of top tips on how to work from home, content from our businesses and useful webinars, classes, seminars and more. As part of this programme we will also be setting up a number of opportunities for different groups to talk to one another remotely about some of the challenges they are facing but also sharing success (we’ve already had some great stories about how people are engaging with each other remotely). We are organising teams meetings for those in facilities, HR, Marketing and Communications and any more you would like to suggest. If you would like join a Teams meeting please let us know.

We know that many of you want to help the vulnerable in our community and the key workers on the front line. Our web page has details of how you can help and we are updating this regularly as we maintain contact with the charities and groups operating locally. Funds are urgently needed for the charities and groups providing food and support to the homeless, the elderly and to those in food poverty. Practical support needed includes parking spaces for key workers and PPE for front line support workers as well as volunteers to speak with the lonely and isolated.

We know that the road ahead will be challenging but we will be with you every step of the way to listen, lobby, support and inform. We are looking forward to seeing you all soon whether that be virtually or in person.

Best wishes

Penny Alexander
Baker Street Quarter Partnership – Chief Executive

Our team are here to help:

Racheal Brasier – Interim Head of Marketing and Communications
Helen Burridge – Senior Manager Operations
Kate Heslegrave – Smarter Giving Manager
Dina Patel – Events and Member Communications Manager
Deborah Cameron – Communications Executive
Kate Rayner – Executive Assistant

And of course our Street Team: Terry, Svenn, Sam, Barry, Ram and Dan

Email: info@bakerstreetq.co.uk
Telephone: 0203 056 5910