Talks Business Hounslow Chamber of Commerce February 2020

talksbusiness hounslow

the official business magazine of hounslow chamber of commerce

ISSUE 1: February 2020

Justin Urquhart Stewart champions Festival of Business

INSIDE: Festival of Business | Big Interview with Vinay Tanna, Garner & Hancock | Feltham carves its niche in business | How Heathrow is delivering for Hounslow | Patron Focus -Shopping Centre with a difference

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Contents & welcome

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38 2019 was our 110th anniversary and reminded all of our amalgamation with the Feltham Chamber of Commerce and Chiswick Chamber of Commerce.

Today our business is spread across the entire London Borough of Hounslow, from Chiswick in the east to Heathrow in the west, and beyond, as we all know business does not do boundaries.

2020 will be a huge year of change for the UK. Our EU future is clear after 4 years of disagreement, which brings complications and opportunities. We must work hard to build on the monthly international trade workshops delivered last year. We also, at the request of Hounslow Council, organised a Enquiries Hounslow Chamber of Commerce Spring Grove House, West Thames College Campus, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS Tel: 020 8326 6416 Email: sallysmith@hounslowchamber.org.uk Web: www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

second very successful Regen 2.0 event, showcasing the £4 billion worth of investment to redevelop the borough.

To roll this forward into 2020 on February 27 we will be undertaking our annual Festival of Business, to celebrate the hard work, innovative products, services and ideas that businesses in our part of west London bring together. This is attended by hundreds of people with specific workshops during the day. One of the workshops will concentrate on procurement, helping businesses to engage as suppliers with Heathrow Airport and Hounslow Council. Their total spend is only approx £2 billion pa, so please join us to see how Publisher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Web: www.benhampublishing.com Media No. 1770 Published February 2020

you can be part of this. In the summer we will be undertaking our Regen 3.0 event, which will now become an annual event and one of the major cornerstone events of our Chamber, where we will also announce the opening of the Hounslow Business Awards in October.

Wishing all our businesses a successful 2020, please use your Chamber to help maximise your success.

Kindest Alan Rides MIEx (Grad) Managing Director Hounslow Chamber of Commerce The Voice of Business across the Borough

4-6 Festival of Business 8-9 The Big Interview 11 News – Business Awards 13-15 Skills 16-18 Spotlight Focus 20-21 Patron Focus 22-23 Economy 24-31 Invest in Hounslow 33 Technology 34 News – Legal 35 Ask the Expert – Finance 36-37 Chamber Events 38-39 International Trade 40 News 41 Environment 43 Health & Wellbeing 44-45 New Members 46 5 Minutes with…

Editor

Advertising Sales

Features

Production

Jez Davison Email: Jez@benhampublishing.com Tel: 0151 236 4141 Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email:karen@benhampublishing.com

Michele Keeler Tel: 07715 641999 Email: michele@benhampublishing.com

Peter Wilkinson Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: peter@benhampublishing.com

Disclaimer: Thinking Business is published for Hounslow Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at Hounslow Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in Thinking Business are not necessarily those of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2020. Please note that submitting an article does not guarantee publication. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

hounslow talksbusiness

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festival of

business

Festival celebrates business success The Festival of Business 2020 is being held later this month to showcase all that’s good about doing business in Hounslow borough…

The borough of Hounslow is where business thrives. The economy there is strong and resilient, made up of nearly a third of a million people and more than 18,000 businesses. It’s an economy worth almost £20bn – we are the third largest economy in London..

These are good reasons to celebrate the achievements of local entrepreneurs and innovators, which is why Hounslow hosts its annual Festival of Business to do just that. Now in its fourth year, the festival is the ideal opportunity to celebrate and

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showcase the borough’s diverse business community.

The event this year will be held on Thursday, February 27 at the Holiday Inn on Commerce Road in Brentford. The day starts at 8.00am with a stakeholder’s

breakfast hosted by keynote speaker, Justin Urquhart Stewart, the well-known, red-braced commentator on all things finance and investment.

The exhibition itself opens, at 9.30am. More than 40 stands

are available and offer exciting new networking opportunities for businesses of all sizes. There are a number of expert business advice clinics during the day, ranging from the promotion of fully subsidized business advice, funded by Hounslow Council, to legal advice from Isleworth-based solicitors, Garner & Hancock.

Prior to the event, stand holders will be given the opportunity to attend a marketing workshop as part of their stand package.

Led by Marketing by Minal, which specialises in marketing advice for small businesses, the workshop is designed to help

projects that are transforming the borough for local communities.

“Interest in this year’s Festival is high but for those who have not yet signed up to take part, I would strongly recommend that they do so. It’s a not-tobe-missed chance to put their company firmly in the spotlight.”

Hounslow Chamber is already looking further ahead to next year’s festival, which will take place on Thursday, February 25, 2021. We also hope to see you at this must attend event!

John Coles launched his business Travel PA at last year’s Festival of Business, and one year on we’re delighted to see him take a stand at this year’s event.

With more than 30 years of globe-trotting experience, John is now keen to provide exciting tailor-made holidays for intrepid explorers.

For further information, come along to Travel PA’s stand at the Festival of Business or visit www.travel-pa.com/Johnc

Our Sponsors:

firms maximise the promotional opportunities of taking a stand.

Participants can learn what promotional activities they can do before the event, how to run the stand during the event itself, and the importance of following up on business contacts and connections made at the event.

Chris Durkin, chairman of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the fourth Festival of Business later this month, which is designed to promote the thriving business community in the borough as well as other companies across west London. It also gives exhibitors and visitors an opportunity to further their credentials by meeting potential new customers, exploring new partnerships and innovations,

and finding new markets for products and services.

“Essentially, the point of the festival is to support businesses in the borough and give them a platform to grow and prosper. They are the beating heart of our communities, creating jobs and wealth and oiling the wheels of the local economy.

If they are thriving and doing well, then so is the borough.

“Our Festival of Business is becoming a very important date in the annual corporate calendar. It’s a great opportunity for businesses to extract maximum benefit from attending the festival, showcasing their fantastic products and services and attracting new customers. It’s also a chance to celebrate their achievements with their peers and to discuss key regeneration

Here at the Holiday Inn London – Brentford Lock, we are delighted to be working closely with the Hounslow Chamber once again, specifically on the Festival of Business event in February. The chamber is a great support for our hotel and we enjoy the fantastic working relationship we have in place.

We are keen to work with local businesses throughout 2020 and beyond and would like to take this opportunity to showcase some of the space we can offer in our Waterfront Suite.

We are the perfect choice for your meetings, events, functions, awards ceremonies, parties and exhibitions. Our team are always on hand to help and can be contacted via the following details:

0208 232 2005 | meetings@hibrentfordlock.co.uk events@hibrentfordlock.co.uk Aside from meetings, we have a fantastic Open Lobby whereby you can come and work for the day casually and enjoy our new menu items, along with our everpopular Starbucks.

Wishing you all a fantastic 2020.

hounslow talksbusiness

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festival of

business

Keynote speaker: Justin Urquhart Stewart Famous for appearing on television wearing red braces, Justin Urquhart Stewart spent many years in the corporate finance world after initially training to be a barrister.

After an early career that spanned the vineyards of Europe, the docks of Southampton and finance in Asia, he went on to launch Broker Services, which eventually became Barclays Stockbrokers. He remained at the firm, which provides brokerage services relating to investments in bonds, funds, warrants and equities, as corporate development director until 2002.

In 2002 Urquhart Stewart co-founded Seven Investment Management (7IM), which now

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employs more than 300 staff and manages in excess of ÂŁ14 billion of assets on behalf of private clients, professional financial wealth managers and intermediaries. One of seven original founders who set up the firm, he was head of corporate development there until recently relinquishing fulltime responsibilities within the business. He still, however, holds an ambassadorial role at the firm.

Urquhart Stewart is a champion

As an enthusiast of financial education and service,

encourages share ownership and

of providing clients the very best, clearly expressed market news and views. He has a keen interest in developing the investment market to break down as many of the traditional barriers as possible for private investors and smaller companies. In doing so, he was instrumental in the development of the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) and Proshare, an organisation that promotes investor education.

He writes regularly for national magazines and newspapers and is a frequent commentator on television and radio, both in the UK and abroad.

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With thirty years’ experience travelling the world for business and leisure, I understand the needs and frustrations of travellers.

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the big

interview

The ethical lawyer A brush with the Beatles kickstarted a successful career for a solicitor who’s keen to do good in the local community…

Vinay Tanna recalls with clarity a landmark legal case from more than two decades ago.

“I started my career as a media lawyer and got involved in a case against Apple Corps Ltd, which was founded by The Beatles – one of the most famous music bands of all time,” he says. “My client had taken a recording of one of their songs and had been told by one band member that he was fine to do so. Other members, though, were not so pleased! After a bit of wrangling we negotiated an out of court settlement.”

That was in the mid-1990s, when the legal landscape was somewhat different. Today Vinay finds himself heading up Garner & Hancock Solicitors, a respected law firm with more than 130 years of history in picturesque Isleworth.

It’s little surprise that a firm with such a long tradition in the area

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is keen to embrace initiatives that benefit the local community.

Vinay, who has been managing partner of the firm since 2010, says: “The ethos of Garner &

Hancock is that we work better when we give something back. We raise money for charities through a wide variety of events, from feeding the homeless in Kings Cross to giving donations to animal welfare charities. Giving back should be at the heart of any business and this attitude reflects how we approach our service to clients.”

Vinay leads from the front in this respect. He’s a pro bono legal advisor to several charities and organisations including the Lotus Trust, an international charity that aims to alleviate poverty and distress, and Food for Life, which educates people on the benefits of a good diet and healthy lifestyle. His aim is to make his expertise accessible to people and organisations who might otherwise struggle to obtain quality legal advice. Several businesses have benefited from free myth-busting sessions he and his staff host in partnership with Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, for example.

“Our seminars give these businesses knowledge,” he says. “We want to help and educate them.”

The ethos of Garner & Hancock better when we give someth

is that we work hing back.

Vinay is also determined to give something back to his loyal workforce. Unusually for a company, all of the staff eat lunch together and the Christmas party involves traditional carol-singing with the Salvation Army. It all helps to boost morale and create a culture that motivates staff to do their day jobs well – and they do. Garner & Hancock offers services in most legal fields including probate, litigation, wills, property, family, employment and dispute resolution, and some clients have been on the books for several years. The firm prides itself on exemplary customer service and a significant portion of its revenues comes from repeat business from happy clients.

With 17 staff, five partners and two offices on the same street in Isleworth, the company is well positioned for further expansion – although exponential growth isn’t on the agenda.

“We don’t believe this would be in the best interests of our clients,” says Vinay. “I’ve seen some law firms try to grow too quickly and the quality of service to clients has suffered. This is something I’m keen to avoid.”

There are other challenges to negotiate, not least the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit, sluggish economic growth and cuts to Legal Aid funding.

Tighter data protection laws have also forced companies to re-evaluate their processes for using and storing information.

Vinay Tanna Garner & Hancock Solicitors

Vinay, though, is bullish about the future and will look to use the knowledge and experience he has gleaned through a 25-year career to keep Garner & Hancock headed in the right direction.

After initially working in media law, he became an associate solicitor for a practice in Knightsbridge and stayed there for more than two years before meeting Julian Hutson, an experienced property lawyer who became a senior partner at Garner & Hancock in 1996. Vinay joined him at the firm in 1999 and worked his way up the ranks, taking up his current position nine years ago.

Typically, while he’s happy with his own career trajectory, he gets even greater satisfaction from helping others.

“I’ve had 6 trainees in my career and all of them have gone on to have successful careers, he says. One of them has become a Criminal barrister and another is now the dispute resolution partner here at Garner & Hancock You have to have many skills to work in this industry. You need to be a good speaker, have a great memory and excellent analytical and personal skills. I wouldn’t swap it for the world.”

Vinay Tanna: at a glance Location: London/Hertfordshire Family: Married to Parul. They have a ten-year-old son, Rohan Downtime: writes poetry, cycles and runs after his young son.

Strengths: Has an uncanny knack of spotting potential problems before they arise

Limitations: Leaves the finer details to others Management style: Collegiate – tends to bring the best out of others

Claim to fame: Was once involved in a media law suit against the Beatles

Did you know? Has the honour of being Her Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire

You have to have many skills to work in this industry. You need to be a good speaker, have a great memory and excellent analytical and personal skills.

I wouldn’t swap it for the world. hounslow talksbusiness

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Sponsor of Hounslow Festival of Business 2020

London Solicitors in Isleworth Garner & Hancock is West London’s longest established and most reputable law firm. We have the expertise to provide a full range of legal services for you and your business.

What our clients say about us:

“was happy to place my full faith in Garner and Hancock and having legal partners that I could fully rely on made a huge difference.” “from the beginning they have been fantastically professional in their approach and were always on hand to take my calls and give advice.”

Our Services include: • Family Law

• Wealth Protection

• Residential Property

• Landlords Services

• Commercial/Business Services

• Redundancy/Employment Advice

• Dispute Resolution

• Tax, Trusts and Inheritance Planning

• Wills and Probate

• Oaths & Certifications

Tel: 020 3962 0148 | www.garner-hancock.co.uk

Garner & Hancock Solicitors: 4 Church Street, Old Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 6BH

business

news

Is your business the best in Hounslow?

Companies are being invited to take part in this year’s business awards hosted by Hounslow Chamber of Commerce.

Now in their 7th year, the Hounslow Business Awards recognise and celebrate the success of companies of all sizes across a wide range of industry sectors.

Winners will be announced at a glittering gala business awards dinner at Clayton Hotel 626 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5RY on 15th October.

Sally Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, said: “We have a vast wealth of entrepreneurial talent in our borough and it’s only right that this should be acknowledged and rewarded. Our awards scheme gives companies the ideal opportunity to showcase past successes and achievements, reflect on their future business goals and celebrate doing business in one of the most vibrant trading areas of the UK.

“Whatever the size of your business, small or large, there is a category for you where you can shine a light on your company.”

Awards will be presented in multiple categories, including Best SME, Employer of the Year and Best Green Business. All category winners will be put forward for the coveted title of overall Business of the Year.

The Awards are open to all businesses trading in the borough of Hounslow or who are members of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce.

It’s free to enter and very easy to do; for more details just visit www. hounslowchamber.org.uk.

Award categories to include: • Business of the Year • Best Business for Marketing and Social Media • Best SME • Best business for Customer Service • Best Charity/ Social Enterprise • Best New Business • Employer of the Year • Best Green Business • Best Exporter of the Year • Best Cargo and Logistics Company of the Year • Best Security • Best Business Support and Advice (Service Company)

You’ve Outgrown Your Home Office. Where Next?

In today’s work-anywhere business culture, a home-based office is part of the modern entrepreneur’s toolkit. But it doesn’t have to be your only place of work.

Even if your budget is limited or you’re regularly out on the road, there are alternative options to help you connect with local professionals, identify new business opportunities and work more productively. They include: Coworking: Hounslow is a hive of business activity. Using a coworking space will enable you to tap into an existing business community and make new connections, gain ideas or support, and enjoy likeminded company. Coworking spaces are equipped with workstations, meeting rooms, and printing facilities, so you’ll have access to full office amenities too.

Virtual Office: If you need the appearance of a professional office without the physical space, a Virtual Office is a handy solution. You’ll get a business address, a local phone number, mail services, and receptionist support. You can even use onsite meeting rooms and day offices by the hour.

Serviced Office: For growing businesses, serviced offices are the next step up from a home-based workplace or coworking space. Serviced offices come in many different sizes, from single private offices right up to team offices for 60+ people. Every serviced workspace comes fully furnished, cabled, and ready to go. It’s a flexible alternative to traditional lease models and typically works on a rolling monthly contract with all bills, cleaning and maintenance included.

About UBC: We operate a flexible serviced office and coworking centre at The Mille in Brentford, along with 6 other centres around the UK. We provide fully furnished office space, coworking with your own dedicated desk, virtual offices, and free monthly coworking trial days (next one Friday 21st February!) Why not come and take a look around? Find us at 1000 Great West Road or ubcuk.com

Contact Edwin Rukyalekere Email: brentford@ubcuk.com Tel: 0800 169 9822 www.ubcuk.com/locations/brentford hounslow talksbusiness

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New London Educational Trust provides a range of workforce development interventions for businesses across west London.

Apprenticeships Working with Levy and non-Levy employers our apprenticeship offer is varied and includes: Leadership & Management, Customer Service, Health & Social Care and Early Years Educator among many others.

Workforce Training Our exciting new workforce training offer (up to level 3) is completely free to employers in the Retail, Hospitality and Health & Social Care sectors. It is particularly helpful in raising the skills level of staff undertaking elementary roles.

Impact West London

New London Educational Trust (nlet)

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NLET’s flagship CSR programme, Impact West London, can help connect businesses and raise their profile with the residents and communities of west London. Improve brand image and social impact by getting involved in this new initiative.

For more information and details of how we can support your training, apprenticeship or CSR requirements please contact one of our advisors at info@nletrust.org or 020 8570 7766.

skills

Help your business grow with an apprenticeship at the University of West London See how your small business or emerging start-up can benefit from an apprenticeship with the University of West London (UWL) as it uses its expertise to continue to upskill staff and help companies grow this year.

The University offers a range of industry-focused degree apprenticeships in everything from healthcare to business management - and is keen to show how the scheme can help local businesses and SMEs ahead of National Apprenticeship Week this month.

As well as taking advantage of government funding, the University can help you discover the right training for your company, assist with recruitment, and support your apprenticeships throughout their training.

Janet Rowson, Head of Degree Apprenticeships at UWL has shared five of the biggest advantages to taking on a degree apprentice in your firm.

Motivate your employees

Build a high-calibre team “Up-skilling existing staff is a great way to ensure your organisation has the personnel you need without continued new hiring to bring in key skills,” explains Janet.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to ensure you have well-trained, highly skilled staff to add value to your team, both directly and through their ability to coach, mentor and train other employees.”

Improve your service “All degree apprenticeships have been designed in partnership with industry to ensure they plug specific skills gaps, which means you can find something that fits your need,” says Janet. “We offer courses in everything from healthcare to business management and the offer is expanding nationally all the time, so even if you think what you need is not already on offer, get in touch and see what we can do to change that.”

Find out about all the degree apprenticeship courses offered at UWL here. https://www. uwl.ac.uk/business-services/ degree-apprenticeships/degreeapprenticeship-courses

“One significant benefit of apprenticeships is their ability to keep employees motivated by helping them develop their skills over several years,” continues Janet. “Your apprentices will be working knowing that at the end of this period they will have a qualification that is valuable, to them individually and to you as an employer. Once they are on a scheme, all apprentices are assigned a link tutor for academic and pastoral support, as well as access to the University’s facilities and library so they feel supported in all areas.”

Secure the best new talent “Offering a degree apprenticeship provides a fantastic incentive to potential job applicants,” explains Janet. “This means you will be choosing from the brightest and most dedicated jobseekers and by partnering with us we list your openings on both our apprenticeship vacancies webpages and through the National Apprenticeship Service.

We help you select and recruit the best candidates based on their eligibility, qualifications and work history. We will also meet regularly with you to monitor progress and to plan for the future to help ensure the skills and knowledge your apprentice is developing is of direct relevance to their role.”

Make the most of government funding “The Government offers funds to help you prepare for taking on an apprentice in your business with tailored training and internationally recognised qualifications. If your business has a payroll bill of more than £3m then you are a levy-paying employer and can use these funds to pay for apprenticeship training and assessments. Even if you’re a smaller business, you can still benefit by sharing the cost with the government.”

The University works with large employers on their apprenticeship offer, working with businesses including Sega, Pladis and the West London NHS Trust with teaching from its Ealing and Brentford sites. It also works with small businesses and start-ups across West London to help local people build and develop their workforce.

Find out more about how you can join UWL to deliver an apprenticeship programme here: https://www.uwl.ac.uk/businessservices/degree-apprenticeships

“Up-skilling existing staff is a great way to ensure your organisation has the personnel you need without continued new hiring to bring in key skills” hounslow talksbusiness

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T LEVELS WILL TAKE YOU TO THE NEXT LEVEL T Levels are exciting new twoyear courses, designed and backed by industry, to ensure we are giving young people the skills and knowledge the need to get ahead.

Industry placements are already helping employers and businesses like yours go further.

Cranford Community College are the only provider in Hounslow to have been chosen by government to launch the first T levels in Digital Production, Design and Development and Education and Childcare in September 2020.

We are still recruiting businesses to join our expanding team of partners such as Heathrow Ltd, Amazon, DHL and provide industry placements for our innovative and inspirational young people.

Young Cranford digital entrepreneurs in a recent project with Amazon

Get involved and find out how T levels can support your organisation and work with a local outstanding school. Contact Rob Ind at rin-cc@cranford.hounslow.sch.uk.

ARE YOU SELFEMPLOYED OR RUNNING A BUSINESS WITH FEWER THAN 10 EMPLOYEES? Work Hounslow want to offer you FREE one-to-one business support and a suite of fantastic workshops.

Just starting out or well established; we want all local businesses to thrive here in the London Borough of Hounslow. With our expert help you can increase your productivity and grow, market your business to reach its maximum potential and manage your finances in the most efficient way.

One to one expert support and workshops in the following topics; • Developing Your Growth Plan • Women in Business • Turbocharge your Sales • Grow your Business Online • Understanding Tax and VAT • Cash Flow and Planning for

the Future

For more information on how WorkHounslow can help you contact us: Tel: 020 8583 6174, email: work@hounslow.gov.uk www.workhounslow.eventbrite.co.uk

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skills

WorkHounslow from London Borough of Hounslow is launching a Micro Business Programme!

WorkHounslow, part of London Borough of Hounslow, is launching a brand new programme aimed at supporting the boroughs micro businesses (all businesses from 1-10 members of staff) to achieve and grow.

Working in partnership with three local organisations for delivery as well as Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, WorkHounslow will be supporting 100 small businesses in the borough to survive and thrive.

We collectively have the experience and expertise to understand the challenges faced by small businesses here in West London and have put together a fantastic programme of workshops together

with one-to-one support to ensure our local businesses increase their productivity and meet their business goals.

6 3-hour workshops will be run in three separate series; March - April, June - July and September – October; • Developing Your Growth Plan • Women in Business

• Turbocharge your Sales • Grow your Business Online • Understanding Tax and VAT • Cash Flow & Planning for the

Future Resident micro businesses may choose to come to one or to come to all. The programme endeavours to identify the needs of each business registered with us and work over the next year with each one to support them to achieve their goals – whatever they may be.

To find out more about what we have to offer, meet the business experts running the programme and sign up which can also be done by visiting our booking page; https://workhounslow. eventbrite.co.uk Further information is also available by contacting one of our friendly advisors on 020 8583 6174 or emailing; work@hounslow.gov.uk www.workhounslow.eventbrite.co.uk We look forward to helping you make 2020 the best year ever for you and your business…

Officially launching on March 3rd @ 11:30am, 6th Floor of Hounslow House, we will be inviting local businesses to come along for coffee, cake and networking.

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spotlight

area focus

Famous Feltham carves its niche in business The West London town of Feltham is building business success stories on the back of a strong skills base and good education provision…

We’re happy to be based in Feltham; we believe there’s a lot more we can do here.

Ed Vainker, co-founder, The Reach Academy Trust

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A visit to the iconic Hampton and Kempton Waterworks Railway or a fitness binge at the historic Hanworth Air Park Leisure Centre are listed on TripAdvisor as mustdo activities in Feltham. The latter used to be a military airfield with its own runway where the Graf Zeppelin, the famous German aircraft carrier, landed in 1931.

More recently, 1990s Britpop sensation Oasis filmed their “Stand

by Me” music video at the old Feltham shopping centre in 1997, six years before UK hip-hop band So Solid Crew filmed their “Broken Silence” video in the town.

the USA, Belgium, India and China, as well as a far-reaching network of experienced agents and distributors across the world.

Perhaps the most famous name to be associated with this proud town is iconic musician Freddie Mercury, who grew up in 22 Gladstone Avenue -his first home after moving to England from Zanzibar. The Queen frontman was living in the house when he met two other members of the band, Brian May and Roger Taylor, and the former unveiled a memorial plaque at the property in 2016 witnessed by representatives from Hounslow Chamber.

In addition to these notable facts, Feltham is also a place that’s quietly making a name for itself as a thriving business and education hub. The town plays host to a wide range of entrepreneurial small firms as well as larger companies including Russell Finex, a global sieving and filtration specialist that has enjoyed 85 steady years of successful growth. The company has now mushroomed into a major international group, employing more than 300 direct staff with annual sales exceeding £40 million.

As a worldwide leader in fine mesh separation technology, designing and making vibratory sieves, separators, ultrasonic mesh de-blinding systems and liquid filters for use throughout the processing industries, the firm’s equipment is engineered for a global market and is supplied to more than 140 countries. With its headquarters in Feltham, the company also has subsidiaries in

“Because the area is such a popular place there are lots of other companies located here,” said Ray, a winner of a CEO Today Europe Award last year. “As a result, in a way we’re a victim of the success of the area; we’re landlocked and opportunities for physical expansion are somewhat limited. Nearby there are not many sites we could expand into.

One positive of this is that it has forced us to look more closely at the way we run our business.

We’ve had to consider how we use our space to the best possible advantage. How do we make the lay-out of our manufacturing facility more practical and introduce processes that enable us to run the business more efficiently? Since putting these ideas into practice, we’ve seen a 250% increase in our output.

“Overall, Feltham is good for us. It has a strong skills base and education providers that seem to understand the needs of businesses. We’ve also forged a good relationship with the local Hounslow Chamber and if we do have any challenges that we need to discuss, we know we can just pick up the phone to them.”

Ray Singh, managing director of Russell Finex, said: “We used to have various UK sites around London back in the early 1960s, but it was felt that we needed to move everything under one roof.

Feltham seems to be the ideal location for us; it is close to London and has good links to Heathrow airport, which is only a few miles’ drive away. This is really important for us as 80% of our products are exported overseas.”

While Feltham appears to be a great place to do business for Ray and his team, it is not without its challenges.

While business is booming for Russell Finex and other firms in Feltham, to remain competitive they still need a continual pipeline of talent coming through the ranks.

It’s therefore crucial that education providers work with employers to ensure they have they skills they need, both now and in the future.

Since it opened its doors in 2012, The Reach Academy Trust in Feltham has developed a strong reputation for equipping young people aged 2-18 with the skills, aptitudes and confidence to succeed in their careers and in later life generally. In 2014, the academy became the first all-through free school to be judged outstanding by Ofsted, and its sterling work has grabbed the attention of some highprofile individuals. David Cameron visited Reach on his last day as CONTINUED...

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Prime Minister in 2016, while the Duchess of Cambridge also dropped by to learn how the school supports pupils and parents from nursery all the way through to sixth form.

The academy is keen to prepare pupils thoroughly for the world of work and has developed a comprehensive careers programme in accordance with the Gatsby Benchmarks of excellence, which were introduced to help schools improve the quality of their careers advice.

Ed Vainker, co-founder of The Reach Academy Trust, said: “Our strategy is centred around frequent employer engagements, whether that’s through our Year 11 and 12 work experience weeks, visit days to employers for targeted students or by providing mock interviews from a relevant professional on our Bright Futures Ahead day. Professionals from BP and other high-profile companies have visited our school to make pupils aware of the range of career opportunities on offer and to pass on their knowledge of what it takes to succeed in business.

“We’re happy to be based in Feltham; we believe there’s a lot more we can do here. We want to do more in terms of developing and strengthening links with employers. Some schools don’t

necessarily know how to engage effectively with businesses; this is something that needs to change.

Education providers need to learn how employers are adopting new technologies and innovations within their business models, and what skills they require to do this successfully. It’s crucial that the school curriculum and further and higher education programmes don’t lag behind the curve by equipping students with skills that employers no longer need.”

Providing fit-for-purpose training is also a strong ethos running through Feltham-based Logic Studio School, which delivers a range of innovative learning programmes in partnership with employers. Through these programmes, students can learn technical and digital skills as well as creativity, imagination, problemsolving, teamwork, empathy and entrepreneurship – key attributes to be successful in any job.

Recent activities include a decoding day for year 12 students at digital innovation specialist Accenture, where they had to work with pupils from other schools to investigate clues, solve an investigation and present their conclusions.

A separate activity saw a group of year 12 and 13 students from Logic spend the day at Richmond

Theatre, participating in several workshops designed to give them a fascinating insight into careers in the theatre industry.

Jay Lockwood, principal of Logic Studio School, said: “My time

Jay Lockwood principal of Logic Studio School

working in Feltham has been the happiest of my life. I love working with students in the area, and watching as they drive, at times, to overcome huge obstacles to aspire and achieve great things.

This is why Logic Studio School is more than exciting.

“I am continually saddened when young people, who have done well in their exams, don’t know where to turn for their next step. University isn’t for everyone, and even for those who have been, it is getting harder to enter competitive careers due to a lack of experience. Logic is here to help them overcome this with a rigorous but relevant curriculum, connections with our industry partners and a small school approach.”

My time working in Feltham has been the happiest of my life.

I love working with students in the area, and watching as they drive, at times, to overcome huge obstacles to aspire and achieve great things.

Russell Finex site at Feltham 18

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WELCOME HOME. OOPS, WE MEANT WELCOME TO WORK. An inspiring, high-end work environment where ideas develop, businesses build, and relationships evolve. A place where you can get down to business, check emails and hold meetings, all this while you can enjoy a great cup of coffee and a healthy lunch.

Why not stop by and visit us?

Give us call on 0800 756 2509 or book a tour via spacesworks.com/heathrow-airport

Offices, Coworking, Meeting Rooms.

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focus

Shopping centre with a difference The Treaty Shopping Centre is on a mission to create a thriving, environmentally friendly community where people feel safe…

Based in the heart of Hounslow, the Treaty Centre is so much more than your average shopping arcade. While it attracts more than ten million visitors each year and boasts an impressive range of top high street brands, it is hell bent on going the extra mile to create a community that the town can be proud of.

The centre is waging a war on crime with Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, the police and other enforcement agencies through Safer Business Hounslow, a not-for-profit scheme that aims to make the borough a safer place in which to work, shop, live and invest. Essentially, it’s a mechanism designed not only to tackle

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criminal activity, but to prevent it from happening in the first place.

At the heart of the scheme is a radio link to the town’s CCTV system which allows retailers to flag up any suspicious activity or instances of anti-social behaviour. The CCTV system then monitors the situation in real time and relays information to the police.

Janet Leatherland, Treaty Centre manager and chair of Safer Business Hounslow, said: “This initiative has proven very successful in tackling antisocial behaviour and preventing people from engaging in criminal activity. On occasions, just the sight of a radio has been a strong enough deterrent.

Images of Treaty Shopping Centre Hounslow

Based in the heart of Hounslow, the Treaty Centre is so much more than your average shopping arcade.

“We’re working in partnership with the Chamber and other organisations to reduce the effect of crime on local businesses and encourage shoppers to come into the town and feel safe. If we can achieve this, footfall will increase and people will spend money in our stores, boosting trade and the local economy.

“It costs only £350 a year to sign up – that’s less than £1 a day – so it’s affordable even for small businesses. More than 60 members are already involved in the scheme and we hope to roll it out in other places such as Feltham, Brentford, Chiswick and Isleworth.”

Safer Business Hounslow is a major cornerstone of plans to launch a Business Improvement District (BID) in the area.

Primarily led and funded by businesses, BIDs are public-private partnerships that deliver projects to improve the quality of local services and amenities. So far, feedback on the Hounslow BID has been encouraging.

“We’ve seen a coming together of individuals and organisations to deliver benefits for the area,” says Janet. “The Chamber has been great to work with and I sit on their advisory board. We’re delighted to be a Chamber patron and together we’ll continue to look at ways to improve our community.”

As well as cracking down on crime, the Treaty Centre is also involved in initiatives to green up the local environment and make it more sustainable. Under development within the centre is a new Community Space, Treaty and You, with recycling points and a Compost Café, which will provide coffee grounds (the dregs remaining after the coffee is brewed) for conversion into compost.

Also, on the agenda is a ‘green initiative’ on the shopping centre car park, planters will be strategically placed around the edge of the car park, which will provide a vital source of pollen and nectar for bees. Once the project is completed, the plan is to invite schoolchildren to visit and educate them on the importance of bees in our society, from a biodiversity, food production and economic growth perspective.

The shopping centre continues to build partnerships with local charities that help the disadvantaged and underprivileged, and on the last Sunday of each month opens its doors for a quiet hour when lights are lowered and the music switched off. This initiative, Sensory Sundays, allows stressed-out shoppers to relax and could have a major benefit for people with autism and other conditions.

With all of these activities going on, it’s clear that Treaty is far more than just a shopping centre.

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BCC upgrades growth forecast for 2020 British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has revised upwards its GDP growth projections for 2020 and 2021.

In its latest economic forecast, BCC predicts that GDP growth will slow from 1.3% in 2019 to 1.0% this year – a slight upgrade on the organisation’s previous 2020 forecast of 0.8%. This indicates that by the end of 2020 the UK economy will have experienced its second weakest decade of average annual GDP growth on record.

The BCC has also upgraded its growth forecast for 2021 from 1.2% to 1.3%.

Both upward revisions are driven largely by stronger than expected levels of government spending – both observed in the 2019 Spending Round and the anticipated uplift in expenditure by the government.

However, with tax revenue expected to weaken amid a slowing economy, stronger government spending is expected to come at the cost of higher borrowing. UK public sector net borrowing is forecast to be £83.4 billion higher over the next three years than predicted by the Office for Budget Responsibility at the 2019 Spring Statement.

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According to the BCC forecast, weaker outlook for business investment, net trade and consumer spending are expected to weigh on the UK growth prospects over the forecast period: • Business investment is forecast to contract by 1.0% in 2019 and by a further 0.7% in 2020. Uncertainty, particularly over Brexit, and the upfront costs associated with doing business in the UK, are expected to continue to weigh on investment decisions.

• The UK’s net trade position is forecast to be weaker over the forecast period than in the previous BCC forecast. A deteriorating outlook for the global economy, growing global trade tensions and continued uncertainty on the UK’s future relationship with the EU are likely to stifle export sales.

• While average earnings growth in real terms is set to remain in positive territory amid weakening inflation, household spending is expected to be limited by a slowing labour market.

Suren Thiru, head of economics at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Our forecast points to several years of anaemic activity in the UK economy unless decisive action is taken.

“An expansion in government spending is likely to give a nudge to the UK economy. However, a slowing global economy and unrelenting political uncertainty are expected to

weaken business investment, trade and consumer spending, limiting the UK’s growth trajectory.

“Increased public spending where the objective is to strengthen growth and productivity can help support the UK economy in the near term.

However, a sluggish economy could restrict the UK’s capacity to collect enough tax revenue to deliver a marked boost in public spending.

Under such conditions, significant and sustained government borrowing could leave the UK more exposed to economic shocks.

“The downside risks to the UK’s economic outlook remain concerningly high. Worsening global trends and uncertainty over the course of Brexit present real dangers for the UK economy. More uncertainty in the aftermath of the General Election and a persistent lack of clarity on the UK’s future trading relationships could also result in more muted growth.”

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, added: “The needs of business were glossed over in the General Election campaign and our latest forecast shows the danger of allowing this to continue.

“Economic growth must be put front and centre again in Westminster. No government can deliver its promises to the electorate without healthy and thriving business communities – or without a clear and detailed plan for the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

“As long as businesses are held back by Brexit uncertainty, high up-front costs, skills gaps, and poor infrastructure, we can expect growth to be mediocre at best. At this critical moment, details matter.

The government needs to get both the signals and the substance right – and give companies the confidence to invest.”

Key points in the forecast: • UK GDP growth forecast for 2020 is upgraded from 0.8% to 1.0% in 2020 and from 1.2% to 1.3% in 2021. This still represents the second weakest decade of average annual GDP growth on record • Government spending growth been upgraded to 3.0% for 2020 (from 2.4%), before growth of 3.0% in 2021 (from 2.2%) • UK public sector net borrowing over the next three years is forecast to be £83.4 billion higher than predicted by the Office for Budget Responsibility at the 2019 Spring Statement • Forecast for business investment growth been downgraded to -0.7% for 2020 (from -0.1%), before growth of 0.8% in 2021 (unchanged from the previous forecast) • BCC expects export growth of 1.1% in 2020 and 1.4% in 2021, weaker compared to our previous forecast of 1.3% and 1.5% • The forecast for household consumption growth has been downgraded to 1.3% for 2020 (from 1.4%), before growth of 1.5% in 2021 (unchanged from the previous forecast) • Average earnings growth is expected to outstrip inflation in 2020 and 2021, with growth of 2.8% and 2.9% respectively, compared with inflation of 1.6% and 1.7% • UK official interest rates are expected to remain at 0.75% throughout 2020, before rising to 1.0% in 2021

News in brief Increased public spending where the objective is to strengthen growth and productivity can help support the UK economy

Trump seals US-China trade deal Economies around the world could be boosted by a long-awaited trade agreement between the US and China.

The recently announced a “phase one” deal is expected to reduce tensions and increase trade between the two economic giants. US president Donald Trump has also indicated that he is keen to progress talks on phase two of the deal.

Uncertainty surrounding the trade war has hurt businesses in many countries and weighed on the world economy.

It is hoped that the phase one deal will lift some of the gloom and help to stimulate growth in other countries across the globe.

NB – the above assumes that the phase one deal will be signed on Jan 15

Business rate boost for retailers High street retailers could benefit from business rate discounts set to come into force in April.

The government has outlined plans to reduce the rates burden by £320m in the 2020-21 financial year, by extending a retail discount from 33% to 50% for businesses with a rateable value below £51,000.

Consumer confidence hits three-year high Public optimism about the economy’s prospects next year has risen at the sharpest rate since the summer of 2016.

Market research firm GfK’s latest consumer confidence index remains deep in negative territory but is up three points to minus 11.

Expectations for the general economic situation rose seven points to minus 27 and confidence in personal finances increased by two points to plus three.

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It’s happening in Hounslow The London borough of Hounslow is undergoing a £4 billion transformation that’s creating jobs, generating investment and providing lucrative work for businesses…

When it comes to doing business, the borough of Hounslow is a hive of activity. Home to thousands of entrepreneurs, start-ups and some of the world’s biggest multinationals including GSK, JC Decaux and Sky, it is one of the largest and fastest-growing economies of all London boroughs, with more than 18,000 businesses providing jobs for around 160,000 people. A key gateway to the UK, Hounslow also offers access to the City of London and to international markets via Heathrow, and is widely recognised as one of the most culturally diverse, entrepreneurial communities in the country.

As if this isn’t positive enough, Hounslow is now the focus for a regeneration programme worth £4 billion of private investment, consisting of a series of projects that will transform key strategic sites across the borough. One of these projects is the development of the Hounslow High Street Quarter, a vibrant, mixed-use scheme that will include a ten-

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High Street Quarter Hounslow

businesses once every couple of months to sit down and discuss the impact the scheme has had on their operations or logistics to date, whether they have any concerns or queries to raise, and to discuss pending construction logistics and programme matters.

screen cinema, restaurants, shops and 528 quality new homes. The developer behind the scheme is Barratt London, which won Housebuilder of the Year at the WhatHouse? Awards 2019.

Danny Farenden, who is overseeing the scheme as projects director for Barratt London, said: “The intention is to create a vibrant new town square where the community can come together to enjoy the various new amenities that are being delivered at High Street Quarter. There’ll be a brand new public realm, seasonal market offerings and a volleyball/kabaddi/ leisure amenity area for all year round use. London Help to Buy is currently available on all homes, whilst our scheme also delivers over 40% affordable housing, split equally between affordable rent and shared ownership, so will benefit Hounslow residents from across the tenure spectrum.

“My team has established a core working group of local businesses in the area consisting of representatives from the adjacent Asda, the Blenheim Centre, the Treaty Centre and the local GP’s practice. We meet with these

“Overall, businesses are overwhelmingly in support of our scheme which will increase footfall and revenue to their own commercial enterprises. We have worked closely together with local businesses to manage things like temporary road closures, diversions and utility works, and how best to advertise these so that their own operations can continue without any negative impact. Local businesses are very keen to see Barratt London complete High Street Quarter in 2021/22 to tap into the windfall that the scheme will bring to Hounslow town centre.”

While construction work on Hounslow High Street Quarter gathers pace, a separate project to create a new stadium for Brentford Football Club is also underway. The 17,250-capacity stadium, which is being built by developer EcoWorld London, will be ready for the Championship club to move into in time for the start of the 2020-21 season. It will also provide a new home for London Irish, which has been one of the capital’s leading rugby clubs for well over a century.

This development will include a mix of sports and leisure, education and residential facilities as part of a larger urban quarter in the area. It will also provide dedicated facilities for the Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust, which has deep roots in the local community and uses the power of sport to educate, motivate and inspire people from all backgrounds.

Jon Varney, chief executive of Brentford FC, said: “We’re really looking forward to moving into our state-of-the-art new stadium this year. It will enable us to continue to grow our loyal supporter base and offer a brilliant matchday experience for the fans. Also, our old home was a bit of a handbrake in that it prevented us from ramping up commercial revenues to the level we need them to be at. We’re addressing this by developing really productive partnerships with businesses of all sizes, inviting them to access our club so that they can promote their brands, products and services and engage with their customers. “This part of the UK is brilliant for business, with multi-national companies based in the Golden Mile, lots of entrepreneurial small firms that are growing and doing well, and a local Chamber of Commerce that is really pro-business.”

“We’re also really keen to maintain and strengthen our connections with the local community. The spaces around the stadium and the connections to the area surrounding the site will provide opportunities for further development of Brentford FC Community Sports Trust activities, enabling the stadium and public realm to become the focal point of the community.”

While things are progressing well off the pitch, the team is also achieving great results on it.

Brentford FC is currently competing at the top end of the Championship table, with lofty ambitions to be promoted to the Premier League.

The club’s upward mobility seems to symbolise all that’s positive about the borough of Hounslow, which will also benefit from the development of Brentford South Side. The Brentford Project, as it is called, will see the creation of a new riverside town centre in the heart of west London.

Brentford FC new stadium

Jon Varney

chief executive of Brentford FC

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It has a huge amount to offer its residents, with excellent schools, transport links into central London and riverside location – and its status as a business hub means it has a strong local economy too 26

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The Brentford Project: the new waterfront

The new waterside site will combine residential, retail, employment, community and leisure uses as part of the development’s wider vision for the town. The scheme will include an eclectic range of restaurants, cafés and pubs, stylish apartments, 14,000 square metres of retail space and a host of new community spaces including the transformation of the deconsecrated Grade II* Listed St. Lawrence Church – a forgotten masterpiece originally designed by renowned Brentford architect, Thomas Hardwick. Extensions to the Thames path will open up new walking routes along the water’s edge, while a series of characterful yards and lanes will seamlessly reconnect the high street with the waterfront.

Ballymore is the developer behind the scheme, which is on track to be completed by 2027.

John Mulryan, group managing director at Ballymore, said: “Historically, Brentford has been overlooked compared to some of its neighbours but the place has huge potential. We saw a great opportunity to realise this, revitalising the town centre and high street, and adding significantly to the commercial and retail mix.

“With great support from Hounslow Chamber, we want to bring out the best of Brentford.

With a new town centre and high street, new public spaces, Thames path, and a hub for food and drink on the waterfront, it’s about creating places for people to live and for local workers and neighbouring residents to spend time and enjoy. The high street and the waterfront have long felt disconnected, so this is a great opportunity to reconnect the two and encourage people to spend more time by the water.”

Ballymore cites Hounslow borough’s bustling business scene, strong rail links and handy position on the A4/M4 corridor as good reasons to invest in the area.

John Mulryan said: “It has a huge amount to offer its residents, with excellent schools, transport links into central London and riverside location – and its status as a business hub means it has a strong local economy too.

“Brentford has an incredibly rich industrial and waterways heritage, something we know is important in its local identity and community. We of course need to preserve and celebrate this heritage, but the town also needs investment – and we need to strike the right balance in delivering what’s needed, like new homes, shops and leisure facilities, yet in a way which captures the character and the history of the place.”

All of these regeneration projects have to be seen in the context of Hounslow Council’s wider plan to deliver a significant number of new homes and new jobs in the next 15 years. The aim is to provide at least 7,500 new homes and 17,600 new jobs in the Great West Corridor and at least 10,300 new homes and 13,000 new jobs in the west of the borough.

Also on the agenda are ambitious plans for infrastructure growth, including the West London Orbital Overground rail extension to Hounslow with a new station at Lionel Road in the Great West Corridor; a new Golden Mile station that would provide a passenger shuttle service from Great West Corridor to the Crossrail line at Southall; and a new Southern Rail Access station with bus interchange at Bedfont in the west of the borough.

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Sarah Scannell, chief planning officer at Hounslow Council, said: “The key business challenge for Hounslow in the current economic environment is to provide the best opportunities for businesses to thrive. We work hard through the evidence base of the local plan to identify the needs of our local businesses, and opportunities for new sectors in the borough, and this evidence helps inform policies on the way the business spaces proposed should be provided.”

up by the council as Community Initiative Partnerships (CIP) in 1997 to help disadvantaged young people succeed and live a more fulfilling life. The organisation provides funding for cultural activities and various youth organisations within the borough, and delivers training projects that give young people the skills and confidence to get a job.

Other people who aren’t necessarily deemed to be disadvantaged can also access funds for worthy causes in the community.

Offering opportunities for businesses to thrive and finding ways of improving the quality of life for local residents are key goals for Hounslow Council, as they are for other organisations in the borough.

Inspire Hounslow was first set

Ed Locke, a trustee of Inspire Hounslow, a local grant-giving charity, said: “Our only constraint is that the funding is for people who live, work or study in Hounslow borough. We have a two-tier grant giving process:

above £500 for the benefit of disadvantaged young people in the borough; £500 and below for anyone. Over the years we have helped a wide range of organisations, from local scout groups to Hounslow Toy Library, and from Feltham Arts Association to the Polish Association Klan.

We’ve funded projects with the local organisation Spark! which links young people with business.

Their Kickstart project gives school children the opportunity to spend time with local businesses, and their Connect project links up girls with women in business for a series of mentoring sessions.

“Our focus is primarily, although not exclusively, on helping disadvantaged people. We identify

people who’ve fallen in between the cracks, so to speak – such as those who’ve left school early and have struggled to find work. It’s great that we can provide opportunities for people to help themselves.”

Another current challenge facing the charity is to add to its sixstrong team of trustees.

“The aim is to increase that number to 11,” said Ed Locke.

“We want to become more visible and bring fresh blood and ideas on board. Ultimately, we want to build potential partnerships that will enable us to become a fully self-sustaining charity. If we can achieve this, we can help more people in our community and that can only be a good thing.”

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The Brentford Project:

aerial view of the waterfront

Generating opportunity for the next generation

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in hounslow

A legacy in the making: How Heathrow is delivering for Hounslow As the UK’s only hub airport, Heathrow is a gateway to the world, linking local businesses and families to opportunities for work, travel and trade across the globe.

In summer 2018, with an overwhelming majority, Parliament voted to approve the Airports National Policy Statement which provides support for a new runway at Heathrow. We have been working collaboratively to develop our plans for expansion, having undertaken two consultations in the last year, and are looking at how we can maximise benefits and build a long-term, sustainable legacy for Heathrow’s local area.

Hounslow is right on Heathrow’s doorstep. It stands to reap the benefits of improved airport and public transport connectivity, new destinations for leisure and business, and new employment and skills opportunities.

At Heathrow, we are committed to maximising business potential. In 2018, Heathrow spent £3.9 million directly with SMEs in Hounslow.

Our annual World of Opportunity Programme, in partnership with the Department for Transport, awards grants to SMEs to help with their trade missions, research global markets and help grow their exports. Among the winners this year is Goler, a steel and construction consultancy

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based in Chiswick which provides manufacturing and construction services to UK and global clients.

For over 20 years, our annual Heathrow Business Summit has taken place with the support of local authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and local Chambers of Commerce, including Hounslow’s own Chamber. The summit allows local SMEs the chance to connect and trade face to face with other businesses as well as Heathrow’s supply chain, often yielding valuable results. Last year’s summit attracted more than 270 SMEs and aims to attract an even greater number to the 2020 event.

Alongside the Heathrow Business Summit, Heathrow has supported Hounslow’s Chamber of Commerce throughout the years, sponsoring events such as the Hounslow Business Awards and upcoming Hounslow Festival of Business.

Expansion will add up to 40 new long-haul routes and double cargo capacity, bringing huge opportunities for local businesses to reach out and trade with the world.

Access to the airport itself will also become much smoother, with new roads and public transport

improvements. New potential initiatives include new express bus routes, a ‘hub and spoke’ cycle network connecting Hatton Cross to Hounslow, and the opportunity of new rail links which could support Hounslow’s West of Borough plan.

Heathrow expansion also means thousands of new jobs and apprenticeships for local residents.

Tens of thousands of people will be needed to build, run and maintain the expanded airport, so we see expansion as an opportunity to create a legacy of skills and a pipeline of talent for businesses in Hounslow and beyond. Over 76,000 people currently work at Heathrow in hundreds of different types of roles, of which 11,000 are Hounslow residents.

The Heathrow Employment and Skills Academy, which helps local job seekers find employment opportunities across the airport and our suppliers, has opened the door to the world of work for 1,000 residents from Hounslow since 2015 alone. With expansion, there will be significantly more on offer - whether that’s as one of our expansion apprentices or engineers, or best-in-class Customer service managers

and hospitality colleagues in our terminals, or in the thousands of local businesses in our supply chain that enable us to keep our airport running.

We take our responsibilities as an employer very seriously. The first airport to be accredited as a Living Wage Employer, we also require all of our new suppliers to pay the Living Wage and not use zero-hour contracts at the airport. Around 500 employees from Hounslow will personally benefit from the increase in wages by the end of 2020, the most from any single borough around Heathrow.

We have a long-standing history of working with our communities to bring about the improvements local people need. We want to continue this partnership and ensure an expanded airport delivers for Hounslow. This is a once in a generation opportunity that will benefit communities and businesses across the UK, and in Hounslow alike, through increased access to global markets, Stronger connectivity; improved local transport links and the creation of thousands of jobs.

Conference Event Hire Spring Grove House Spring Grove House is a spacious and elegant grade II listed building located within the campus of West Thames College in Isleworth, West London.

email conferencehire@west-thames.ac.uk or talk to a member of our team on 020 8326 2268.

Rooms The house is available to hire per room/per day and is popular for business meetings, conferences and training events. Catering can be provided as required.

The College’s Endeavour Theatre and sports hall are also available to hire for larger functions, shows, exhibitions, conferences and sports activities.

Parking We offer free parking, but there is limited availability at peak times.

Are you interested in providing student Work Placements?

You can also get involved in our West Thames College Aspire Careers Fair or Employer Advisory Board.

Contact our team on: wex@west-thames.ac.uk

technology

Cyber Security Awareness UK Businesses endured a Cyber Security attack every minute of 2019 and on average each business was attacked over half a million times. (https://www.infosecuritymagazine.com/news/ cyberattacks-uk-firms-once-per/)

Cyber Security Awareness Month, usually every October, reminds us of a category of crime that continues to inflict companies with damages amounting to billions annually. Staying updated on the latest attack types and prevention techniques is the only way to future-proof your organisation.

Here are some fraud trends that you won’t want to miss:

Dark Web Security researchers estimate that In the first half of 2019, 23M+ credit and debit card details were being sold in underground forums. Nearly two out of every three originated in the United States (64%), followed by the UK (7%) and India (4%). Once such data dumps hit the Dark Web, cybercriminals will exchange stolen information and credentials in order to orchestrate damaging fraud schemes.

Ransomware The “R word” can send chills down the spine of any business owner and for good reason. Last autumn an exposed database belonging to British American Tobacco was seized by hackers who encrypted 352GB of company data and demanded a Bitcoin ransom payment to release the information. Large enterprises are not alone, and a quick glance at data breach news headlines on any given week will reveal SME attacks as well.

Ultimately, ransomware boils down to the economic concept of incentives, and it will require a concerted effort by organisations to shift the paradigm.

Account Takeover (ATO) Understanding how criminals are targeting your business is a fundamental component to any sound cyber security strategy.

Nevertheless, “the nature of work for a CISO is often reactive”, tasked with establishing a Security Operations Centre filled with analysts who are looking to spot a needle in a haystack. On the other hand, the commoditisation of crimeware and “spray-and-pray” techniques have led to a higher frequency in breaches, many of which are executed by non-sophisticated hackers. Solving ATO fraud at the small business and medium enterprise level in today’s world requires purpose-driven teams and technologies that can protect your business smarter and more efficiently.

Hounslow Chamber Patron Timeless IMS believe every month is Cyber Security Awareness month not just October so every month we’re offering Hounslow Chamber members a complimentary dark web scan report*. We’re also providing you with a handy tip sheet to make sure that both you and your employees are implementing simple methods to keep your information secure.

Get in touch with us and we will happily provide you free advice on ways to help your organisation with its Cyber Security.

Timeless IMS - Your outsourced IT Director We help teams and individuals work more productively with technology by providing tailored intelligent managed solutions in four key areas of technology: Cloud, Security, People and Intelligence.

*One complimentary dark web scan per HCC member.

Get your complimentary dark web scan and tip sheet here: http://bit. ly/TimelessIMSDarkWebScan

Talk to Timeless IMS today: Visit: www.timelessims.co.uk or Email: sales@timelessims.co.uk

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33

news

LEGAL

Sarah Austin

Austins Solicitors

With the property market being in the doldrums recently a lease extension is an effective way to increase the value of your home.

Q. Do I have an automatic right to extend my lease?

A. Yes after two years of ownership. Although a landlord may agree before then but they are not obliged to do so. Wherever possible it is best to discuss an extension with your landlord. If terms and price cannot be agreed, you will still have an option to go to court, but only as a last resort because of the expense and delay.

Q. When is the best time to extend my lease?

A. The cheapest time is when you have at least 80 years left on your lease. It becomes more expensive as the term decreases. Once it reaches 70 years many lenders will not mortgage or remortgage the property. The value of your current lease compared to new one will also be a factor in the valuation.

Q. If I have a long lease on a house can I convert it to freehold?

A. Yes the procedure is different but it is possible.

Q. Can I obtain an extension before I buy a property A. Yes by agreement with the current owner and their landlord.

All the above responses have been simplified and shortened for expediency. If you have any comments or queries, contact Austins Solicitors. As an accredited firm we can advise you in detail to your specific situation.

Building 3 Chiswick Business Park 566 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London W4 5YA Tel: 0800 3777716 (+44203 858 0041) Fax 08456 583635 | www.austinsandco.co.uk

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We change lives Spark! is an education charity based in Hounslow, working with schools to build capacity for the new T Level qualification.

We find inspiring opportunities for young people to gain work experience, understand the labour market and develop confident enterprise and employability skills.

BACK TO THE COMMUNITY? Have you ever thought about sharing YOUR CAREER INSIGHTS WITH A YOUNG PERSON?

We are looking for office-based placements.

These 45-day placements are for Year 12 students and unpaid. We are also looking for employers interested in helping the next generation by offering 5-day work placements.

Both options provide the knowledge and experience needed to support young people, improving employability and work ready skills.

Collaborating with Spark! is a great opportunity to engage with West London schools and raise the profile of your business.

ARE YOU A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS IN HOUNSLOW THAT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE

To find out more about visit www.sparklondon.org

A place for business Splendid Hospitality Group recently hosted the launch party and ribbon cutting for the new ibis Styles London Heathrow Airport East hotel. The event was attended by over 100 guests consisting of Splendid Hospitality Group and Accor stakeholders, along with local businesses. Complementing the glamorous Art Deco style interiors of the hotel, guests enjoyed a 1920s inspired event. complete Splendid Hospitality MD, Andrew Kendrick and Vice Chairman, Nadeem Boghani, gave welcome speeches, followed by MP Seema Malhotra and Thomas Dubaere, COO of Accor Northern Europe. Thomas Dubaere said, “I am proud of how the ibis Styles brand has developed in the last few years - it truly is a great example of how people, passion and great design can come together to tell a story. Our partnership with Splendid Hospitality has created an

excellent flagship hotel combining passionate people, great customer service and stunning design”. MP Seema Malhotra added, “I want to thank the Boghani family for their genuine commitment to improving our local area, and the way in which you’ve designed the hotel to make it a place for business and leisure travellers.

“Thank you for the vision which has gone into this. I know the jobs you will offer to the area will be very well received because they are jobs where employees are treated to be part of the family, and part of a growing and thriving company”.

Kate Eastwood joins Fuller’s as Operations Director - City Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC, the premium pubs and hotels business, announces the appointment of Kate Eastwood to the role of Operations Director for the City division.

Kate has a background in food, retail marketing and most recently sales in

the hospitality sector. She joins from Revolution Bars where she held the post of Sales & Marketing Director.

Fuller’s Retail Director Fred Turner said: “Kate has an impressive track record and I am delighted to be adding her to my senior team. I know that she will bring fresh impetus to a team operating in an ultracompetitive marketplace.”

ask the

expert

What’s Your Number ?

Alex Smith - Chartered Financial Planner based at Chiswick Business Park

Like you, I’m a business owner. Here’s my story.

1 2 3 4 5

After years employed in finance, I realised this was no fun. I wanted to enjoy work and control my own destiny. I wanted flexibility, balance and to really build something (sound familiar?).

Fast forward a few years and I got so busy looking after “the business” I didn’t look after “my business” (sound familiar?). I was 48 and the children were growing up fast, with 2 at University.

What did I really want from life and how could the business help me achieve my personal goals?

What was my plan? How much would this cost? £1 million? £10 million?

So, I crunched the numbers using cashflow planning. Now I know how much ENOUGH is. I know MY NUMBER. I have A PLAN. The mortgage will be repaid when I’m 55, using 100% tax relievable pension contributions from the business. Then it’s more holidays and travel; cricket in the Caribbean and British Lions rugby, more skiing. My lifestyle will be funded by tax efficient pension and ISA withdrawals, tax-free investments and property income. I use my wife’s tax allowances as a Director of my business.

I invest in the companies of tomorrow. They should grow faster. I also invest in the fastest growing parts of the world and sectors. We measure this monthly.

ACTION – CONTACT ME TO FIND YOUR “NUMBER” AND A PLAN FOR “YOU” NOT JUST YOUR BUSINESS Contact details: Tel: 07961 622797 | Direct: 01708 250624 | Email: alex@watsonmooreifa.com Building 3, Chiswick Park, 566 Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London W4 5YA | www.watsonmooreifa.com hounslow talksbusiness

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hounslow chamber

26 27 04 10 11 25 01 th

February

events

Ealing Business Breakfast Royal Harvester, Boston Manor Road, London W7 2AX (Large car park!)

£9 for a full breakfast plus tea and coffee

Joint event with Branduin Business Support, Brenford Chamber of Commerce and Contactus Ealing.

9:00am-10:30am

th

February

8:00pm-4:00pm

th

March

Hounslow Festival of Business Holiday Inn London, Brentford Lock, Commerce Road, London TW8 8GA

Book your stand at a starting price of £195+VAT The Stakeholder’s Breakfast is £20+VAT for members and £30+VAT for non-members.

The Hounslow Festival of Business is part of that celebration, showcasing and promoting our diverse business community. The day starts with a stakeholder breakfast and keynote speaker. The business exhibition will open at 9:30am, with up to 40 stands and is free to attend.

Chiswick Park Business Breakfast Moot bar, Chiswick Park, Building 3, 566 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5YA

£8 for networking, coffee and croissant.

8:30am-10:30am

th

March

Green Energy/Sustainability Osterley Park and House, Jersey Road, Isleworth TW7 4RB

Fully subsidised for members and £20+VAT for non-members.

9:00am-10:30am

th

March

Business Breakfast at the Bulldog 566 London Road, Ashford TW15 3AF

£10 for full breakfast plus limitless tea and coffee

Joint event with Spelthorne Business Forum & Surrey Chambers.

9:00am-10:30am

th

March

9:00am-10:30am

st

April

Ealing Business Breakfast Royal Harvester, Boston Manor Road, London W7 2AX (Large car park!)

£9 for a full breakfast plus tea and coffee

Joint event with Branduin Business Support, Brenford Chamber of Commerce and Contactus Ealing.

Chiswick Park Business Breakfast Moot bar, Chiswick Park, Building 3, 566 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5YA

£8 for networking, coffee and croissant.

8:30am-10:30am

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08 22 23 06 13 th

Business Breakfast at the Bulldog 566 London Road, Ashford TW15 3AF

£10 for full breakfast plus limitless tea and coffee

April

Joint event with Spelthorne Business Forum & Surrey Chambers.

9:00am-10:30am

Ealing Business Breakfast Royal Harvester, Boston Manor Road, London W7 2AX (Large car park!)

nd

£9 for a full breakfast plus tea and coffee

Joint event with Branduin Business Support, Brenford Chamber of Commerce and Contactus Ealing.

Tech Thursday

April

9:00am-10:30am

rd

Building 7, Chiswick Park, 566 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5YG

April

Fully subsidised for members and £20+VAT for non-members

4:00pm-8:00pm

Chiswick Park Business Breakfast

th

Moot bar, Chiswick Park, Building 3, 566 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5YA

May

£8 for networking, coffee and croissant.

8:30am-10:30am

Business Breakfast at the Bulldog 566 London Road, Ashford TW15 3AF

th

£10 for full breakfast plus limitless tea and coffee

May

Joint event with Spelthorne Business Forum & Surrey Chambers.

9:00am-10:30am

SAVE THE

DATE

Regeneration Conference

Thursday 2 July 2020 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

The Brentford Project, Catherine Wheel Road, Brentford TW8 8BD followed by informal dinner at Duke of London

Presentations and exhibitors last year were from all the major construction companies active in the borough.

Come along to learn more about progress on the exciting developments/projects across the borough and to meet the planning department from Hounslow Council.

Entrance is free of charge for pre-registered companies/ attendees and again this year we are expecting hundreds of visitors for the day event.

Events are being added and changed all the time so please check our website for more details Please contact Sally Smith on sallysmith@hounslowchamber.org.uk or 020 8326 6416 or www.hounslowchamber.org.uk for more information. hounslow talksbusiness

37

international

trade

Commonwealth calls for Hounslow exporters Why the 53 countries that make up the Commonwealth could be a lucrative export market for local firms…

Alan Rides,

managing director of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce

With the fall-out from Britain’s decision to leave the EU still unclear, many Hounslow firms will be seeking alternative overseas markets for their products and services.

The vast, sprawling area covered by 53 Commonwealth countries just might provide the answer.

These trading partners, which include the UK and economic powerhouses such as Australia, Canada and India, had a combined estimated GDP (gross domestic product) of around £9 trillion last year – an eyecatching figure which suggests there are plenty of commercial opportunities to be had.

Alan Rides, managing director of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, said: “This year is a good time to grow exports and enter overseas markets. Britain generates around 3% of the world’s GDP but what about the other 97%?

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“It is well known that the UK is leaving the EU and needs to establish new trade deals, not only with the EU but also with the rest of the world. Outside of Europe, some South American economies are struggling, parts of the Middle East are a war zone, and some African countries rely on state aid-funded projects to keep their economy chugging along – but there are fantastic opportunities in countries that are part of the Commonwealth.”

The Commonwealth is home to around one third of the world’s population, which equates to 2.4 billion consumers across 53 nations. The economies of some of these countries are growing at a rate of 5-8% a year – which is far in excess of the anaemic growth seen in Europe. India, for example, is a potentially lucrative trading partner; it has the eighth largest annual GDP in the world and is expected to climb to third in this league table in the next few years.

With 53 countries to choose from, though, how do companies decide which markets are the most suitable for their products and services? A good starting point would be to contact Hounslow Chamber which, in partnership with Surrey Chambers of

Commerce, provides professional advice and assistance to help businesses trade internationally.

Whether a company is new to importing/ exporting or an experienced exporter looking to expand into new overseas markets, there are often many regulations and trade barriers to consider.

The Chambers’ expert advisors can assist these firms on their journey, whether that’s in the Commonwealth or other overseas markets, helping them to develop a comprehensive export plan.

Hounslow Chamber has an Export Trade Planner software platform https://hounslowchamber.akonihub. com/home/export to help exporters Alan said: “Our E-zCert service allows companies to apply for export documents online, making the process quicker and more efficient for them. Use of and training on the software is free and the electronic version costs no more than a paper document. We also provide expert training at highly competitive rates and can help companies familiarise themselves with linguistic and cultural norms in their target market.

“Working with our partners, we act as a signposting organisation

that can help firms get all the advice they need in today’s competitive global market.”

For those that want to dabble in the Commonwealth market, there are some obvious advantages. In many of these countries there’s a common working language, legal procedures and commercial practices, a shared history and similar cultural values. There’s also a strong trading history to capitalise on; the UK is Australia’s fifth largest two-way trade partner in goods and services, while it is also Canada’s most important commercial partner in Europe and fifth largest globally, with two-way trade reaching US$ 25.5 billion in 2018.

Alan, who has a successful holiday rentals business in Florida and has been exporting for more than 30 years, said: “Australia, Canada and other Commonwealth countries see the value in UK goods; With the FTSE at a record high and the pound relatively low against the US dollar, the world is coming to the UK to buy British!

That’s why now is the ideal time for companies to take their British products to the world and export.”

For more information and advice on how to succeed in international markets, visit: https://hounslowchamber.org. uk/international-trade

This year is a good time to grow exports and enter overseas markets. Britain generates around 3% of the world’s GDP but what about the other 97%?

UK trade with the Commonwealth

KEY STATISTICS • UK exports to the Commonwealth were worth £59.8 billion; British imports from the Commonwealth were £55.4 billion

• The UK had a £4.4 billion trade surplus with the Commonwealth – a deficit in goods was more than offset by a surplus in services

• The Commonwealth accounted for 9.3% of UK exports – roughly the same as UK exports to Germany • The Commonwealth accounted 8.1% of UK imports – roughly the same as UK imports from the Netherlands • The Commonwealth accounted for 8.7% of the UK’s total trade in 2018

(i.e. the combined value of exports and imports) • UK trade with the Commonwealth was heavily focused on five countries – Australia, Canada, India, Singapore and South Africa. Combined, these countries accounted for 73% of UK exports to the Commonwealth and 66% of UK imports from the Commonwealth *The above statistics from 2018 are the latest

available from the UK government

hounslow talksbusiness

39

news

Lightopia Lightopia makes its London debut at the stunning Chiswick House and Gardens until 1 March, inviting visitors to become Lightopians and explore the interactive and immersive city of light and stories.

The event features acrobats, musicians, 3D projection busting from the walls of Chiswick House and 47 groups of handmade, silk light installations, including the Tree of Light centrepiece, a stunning, 18m peacock which synchronises with music, as light pulses through its wings in time with the beat. And a breathtaking field of 70,000 individual roses, flickering and blazing across an expanse of land, among many more.

The handmade, silk installations combine ancient techniques of Chinese lantern making with modern technology to create a magical new world, for guests to explore. They were made by hand by people from the Chinese village of Zigong.

The event celebrates Chinese New Year with giant Chinese lanterns including a rat lantern, a ring of Zodiac signs and traditional Chinese acrobats and musicians.

To book tickets visit Website: lightopiafestival.com

Hounslow in running to be next London Borough of Culture Hounslow has been invited to City Hall to present its bid to be the next London Borough of Culture.

Hounslow will compete with Croydon, Royal Greenwich, Lewisham, Haringey, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Sutton to become the London Borough of Culture for 2021 and 2023.

The two winning boroughs will each be awarded £1.35 million to deliver an

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ambitious programme, placing culture at the heart of their communities and celebrating the unique character of local people and places.

Boroughs can also win Cultural Impact Awards, each receiving up to £200,000 to deliver cultural projects. The successful bids will be announced in February.

The London Borough of Culture is a major initiative launched by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, inspired by the UK City and European Capital of Culture programmes. The competition has fulfilled one of the mayor’s key manifesto pledges by

strengthening London’s reputation as an international powerhouse for culture.

The inaugural winner in 2019 was Waltham Forest, while Brent will be the London Borough of Culture for 2020.

Sadiq Khan said: “We created the London Borough of Culture to give Londoners a chance to create and enjoy world-class culture on their doorstep. We look forward to hearing more about boroughs’ bold plans for 2021 and 2023.”

Justine Simons OBE, deputy mayor for culture and creative

industries, said: “In every corner

of the capital there is creativity and culture, there are hidden gems and unexpected stories.

The London Borough of Culture shines a light on the unique character of our boroughs, it inspires powerful civic pride and celebrates world-class culture.

The first winner, Waltham Forest, has set the bar really high with a fantastic programme, every single school in the borough involved and 1,000 local people inspired to volunteer. I can’t wait to see who’s next.”

environment

Hounslow GOES GREEN

Hounslow borough is leading the way on several trailblazing initiatives designed to reduce carbon emissions and green up the environment…

While Hounslow is a great place to do business, local organisations and residents are also hell-bent on doing their bit to improve the environment.

The borough is a firm supporter of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s ambitious target for the UK capital to become zero-carbon by 2050 – and several schemes are underway to ensure that this goal is made more achievable.

Hounslow Council has taken steps to ensure its premises on Bath Road in the town centre are as environmentally friendly as possible. The move has paid dividends, with BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) awarding the premises an ‘Excellent’ rating for sustainability.

Environmental sustainability is also a core component of many of

the exciting regeneration projects currently underway across the borough, but it doesn’t just stop at the bricks and mortar. It also extends to the vital transport and travel infrastructure that connects these buildings, shapes communities and improves the experience for people moving around, into and out of the borough.

Electric vehicle (EV) charge points are becoming an increasingly important cog in this infrastructure.

Hounslow was one of the first boroughs in the country to trial electric chargers in lampposts in 2016 and now boasts the highest number of EV charge points in London, after Westminster.

the general supply, by offering residents who don’t have access to off-street parking the opportunity to charge their cars locally. The scheme could also appeal to people who up until now have been deterred from purchasing an electric or hybrid vehicle because they don’t live near a charger.

The key drive behind the EV movement is to persuade more people to ditch their petrol and diesel-powered vehicles for a greener alternative – a move that would help to drive down CO2 emissions and make the world a cleaner place in which to live.

This end goal is the reason why Hounslow, along with other UK cities and towns, is considering new workplace parking levies (WPL) to tackle quality and emissions targets and raise money to invest in sustainable transport projects. It would also put further emphasis on companies to manage their vehicle fleets more effectively and encourage employees in city centre offices to consider using alternative transport to get to and from work.

A consultation on WPLs is currently being carried out in Hounslow and a decision is expected sometime this year.

These charge points offer a novel solution to the difficulty of installing dedicated EV parking bays in congested areas and removing parking spaces from

Hounslow based Consultants in Partnership with leading providers to ensure the best pricing and service Telecoms: Provide all Telecom services including VoIP Cloud Based systems from £10 per month and free handsets Mobiles: All the latest handsets and best tariff options from EE and o2 with 24 month warranty

and next day replacement on all phones including iPhones Green Business Energy: Most competitive pricing which can be secured 2 to 3 years in advance of renewal from one of the leading UK Brokers.

Electric Vehicle Charging Points: Get ahead of the curve and provide EV Charging points for your company or to sell on to customers with heavily subsidised installation from Government Grants.

Tel: 020 8 894 94 94 | email info@akcoms.com | www. akcoms.com hounslow talksbusiness

41

The Brentford Sports FEST Save the Date – Sunday 5 April 2020

In partnership with Brentford Lock West, our biggest community event – the Brentford Sports FEST – encourages local residents to lace up their running shoes and take part in a range of running activities. Held at the iconic Syon Park in Brentford, runners have the unique opportunity to run in the private grounds of the park, which are usually closed to the public. The main events include: • 10k run • 5k run • 5K Walk & Talk, a Primary School Challenge including a 1k run, • 5k Walk & Talk, in partnership with West London NHS Mental Health Trust • an introduction to stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking and a

host of other sports, which can be sampled in our exciting Sports Village.

If you would like to know more about the Brentford Sports FEST please contact our events team on 0844 247 1889 or at events@brentfordfccst.com

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health and

wellbeing

Holistic approach is best To get the most out of their workforce, employers should think about employee welfare holistically, a recent study has shown…

Creating a workplace culture that recognises and supports employees holistically can bring out the best in them. That’s the stand-out conclusion of a recent study by life insurance specialist MetLife, which said employees are increasingly favouring health and wellness benefits that fit around their needs both in and outside of the workplace.

The report revealed several key insights: When employees are supported as individuals, they are more engaged. Staff now expect their employer to recognise their ‘whole selves’ — from their unique values, backgrounds and talents to their perspectives on the workplace.

Finding purpose at work is multifaceted. Employees’ definition of what purpose means to them is broad and

varied: 72% said creating value for their employer contributes to the sense of purpose they felt at work; 71% said doing work they were passionate about was the key motivator, while regularly accomplishing work tasks gave 79% a sense of purpose.

The study found that 88% of employees who feel a strong sense of purpose when working are significantly more satisfied with their job. Eight-three per cent felt more engaged, 89% more productive and 82% more successful. By taking a holistic approach, employers can do several things to make employees feel valued and appreciated, such as offering a comprehensive benefits programme, recognising achievements and providing training opportunities and incentives that fit around their lifestyles.

Technology is driving a new mandate for training. From social media to artificial intelligence (AI), new and evolving technologies are revolutionising job roles and industries. To adapt, employers must prepare and equip their workforce with new skillsets — often in short supply — and reskill employees who will be most affected. Through the right planning and training, employers will not only get more appropriately skilled employees, but also happier, more

engaged employees. Indeed, 68% of staff said work skills made them a better person in their personal life. The study said training helps reinforce companies’ commitment to their staff, building a holistic culture of caring that drives employees’ trust in their employers.

Flexible careers are reshaping the workplace. Not only do employees expect employers to offer flexible work policies, they also want more longer-term flexibility that can help them achieve a better work-life balance.

Offering structured programs such as paid sabbaticals can not only help employees take the time to follow passions or recharge, but also give them a sense of purpose and pride. Sixty-eight per cent of employees surveyed in the study said they would be interested in a paid sabbatical program.

The gig economy can be a challenge and an opportunity for employers. The same

technologies and evolving expectations that have driven flexibility and the need for new skills have also blurred the distinction between work and life. The evolution of mobile infrastructure, for example, has made part-time work accessible at the tap of a finger.

These technologies are fasttracking the revolution of the gig economy, an increasingly popular way of working often based on a fixed-term contract or projects paid via a third party or online marketplace. This poses a challenge for employers; 47% of IT workers surveyed said they were planning on leaving employment for contract or freelance work in the next five years. To counter this, employers could create benefits packages that gig opportunities can’t compete with or introduce policies and experiences within the workplace that replicate the flexibility offered by gig working.

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43

new

members

Welcome to our New Members Daniel Goldsmith

Fitzroy Services Limited 07760 287021 daniel.goldsmith@fitzroy-services.co.uk www.fitzroy-services.co.uk Technology

Natasha Meechan Natasha Meechan Interior Design Ltd 07563 171455 office@natashameechaninteriordesign.com www.natashameechaninteriordesign.com Architects & Interior Design

Dinesh Bist Chiswick College 07939 415677 dbist@chiswickcollege.co.uk www.chiswickcollege.co.uk Education/Training

Mrinal Madina 2k Tiger Ltd 07918 150722 mrinal@2ktiger.com www.2ktiger.com Business Services

Andrew Martin Ajar Tec Limited 07870 155573 andrew@ajatechnology.com https://ajatechnology.com/ Technology

Jonah Chitolie Glue 4 Glass (T/as GeoTechniques Research Ltd) 07526 758861 jonahgtr@gmail.com www.glue4glass.com Wholesale

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hounslow talksbusiness

Alan Fraser Cranford Community College 07952 744446 afr@cranford.hounslow.sch.uk Education/Training Harjit Singh Sidhu Prime Health - UK Ltd 07868 939765 primehealthuk@aol.com www.primehealth-uk.com Health & Wellbeing Sarah Austin Austins Solicitors 0800 377 7716 property@austinsandco.co.uk www.austinsandco.co.uk Raza Shahid Syed TaxAssist Southall 07772 974383 razasyed@taxassist.co.uk www.taxassist.co.uk/southall Accountancy & Financial Services

Timothy Davies Dilasser Private Clients - London 07960 823684 tim.dpc@sjpp.co.uk www.dilasserprivateclients.co.uk Accountancy & Financial Services

Cumhur Kizilari Morten Consultancy & Training Services Limited 07831 295965 ckizilari@mortenict.co.uk www.mortenict.co.uk Education/Training

5 Reasons to Join

The Hounslow Chamber is made up of active and successful business people from a wide range of sectors, who are based in Hounslow, believe in Hounslow and wish Hounslow to prosper.

1 2 3 4 5

Regular networking events / conferences

Signposting & introductions

International trade missions & export documents

Lobbying

Annual Business Awards / Festival of Business

Find out how to join and learn how others are benefiting from their membership.

For more information telephone: 020 8326 6416 Email: sallysmith@hounslowchamber.org.uk or go to our Website: www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

hounslow talksbusiness

45

5 minutes

with....

Alan Fraser director of community partnerships and income generation, Cranford Community College Who are you?

Biggest achievement?

I build partnerships at a local,

Setting up One World Marathon, a global project involving more than 7,000 people in 63 countries and yet another student getting a place at Oxbridge.

national and international level for the benefit of staff and students at Cranford Community College – an outstanding secondary school.

What’s your business all about?

Leading and supporting young people to have successful lives.

Three words to describe yourself?

Your inspiration Learning from young people’s great ideas.

Philosophy in business?

Take every opportunity.

Ideal customer?

Sporting hero?

Partners who are willing to

Dave Fortier, survivor of the Boston marathon bombing.

young people such as work

hounslow talksbusiness

People who start sentences with I/ we can’t.

Passionate, optimistic, creative.

provide opportunities for

46

Biggest gripe

placements for the new T Level

Biggest tip for success

qualification.

Get out there.

Degree Apprenticeships A leading degree apprenticeship provider for forward-thinking businesses uwl.ac.uk/apprenticeships

Reserve your apprenticeship now: Janet Rowson - Head of Degree Apprenticeships janet.rowson@uwl.ac.uk

WORKING HARD TODAY, PREPARING FOR TOMORROW Expanding Heathrow will create tens of thousands of job opportunities in local communities and double apprenticeships to 10,000 at the airport and across our supply chain by 2030.

We’re working in partnership with local and national education providers to deliver a legacy of jobs, skills and new apprenticeships for the future.

For more information please visit: www.heathrowexpansion.com/community-information/local-benefits/