Let’s Talk Business, Hounslow Chamber of Commerce

ISSUE 3: August 2020

talkbusiness let’s

the official business magazine of hounslow chamber of commerce and west london local chambers: ealing and hammersmith & fulham

Hounslow and surrounding areas proving a magnet for investment Chamber campaign helps firms reopen safely

The Big Interview Carol Massay EasyBuild

INSIDE: Regeneration 3.0 brings together key players in the industry | Patron Focus West Thames College building skills for a brighter future | International Trade New export documentation needed for trade with the EU | Invest in the region Hounslow and surrounding area a magnet for investment | 5 Minutes with Georgina Wald

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Contents & welcome

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8 24 Welcome to a new post lockdown world!

In this edition of Let’s Talk Business, we are showing how your Chamber of Commerce is working closely with the Local Authority to deliver the ShopSafeShopLocal campaign message, to help businesses, shops, bars, restaurants and gyms understand how to open and operate in a COVID-19 secure way.

The aim is to help reassure people to feel confident to return to our loved places of enjoyment with confidence. In this edition we are focusing on Chiswick.

We all share, perhaps for the first time a common message from Downing Street, from your local authority and from your local Chamber via SBH https:// saferbusinesshounslow.co.uk Enquiries The Chamber of Commerce Spring Grove House, West Thames College Campus, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS Tel: 020 8326 6416 Email: sallysmith@westlondonlocalchambers.org.uk Web: www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

We also feature articles about preparing our young for employment and apprenticeships, so linking opportunities in all our core local economy sectors.

Another central element of our local economy is our Construction Sector ahead of our showcase Regeneration 3.0 event in October where developers update us on the many projects across the boroughs.

Tourism and International Trade are also featured as the other key pillars of our economy.

In summary, apprenticeships, employment opportunities, retail and hospitality recovery, construction, tourism and international trade are the cornerstones of our local economy and it is with each and every one’s Publisher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Web: www.benhampublishing.com Media No. 1772 Published August 2020

help that we can recover and rebuild our economy, working together, so we would like to thank the record level of 28 new businesses, who have joined our Chamber. All detailed on p45.

Making the most out of your award winning Chamber of Commerce will help you get the most out of your business and so help deliver stronger growth. Sally, Lisa, Gerry and I, together with our Board, look forward to working closely with you to move your business in the right direction again. In the meantime we hope you enjoy reading our Chamber’s magazine Kindest Alan Rides MIEx (Grad) Managing Director

4-5 Regeneration 3.0 8-9 The Big Interview 11 News 12-15 Skills 16-18 Spotlight Area Focus Chiswick Park 19 Business Awards 20-21 Patron Focus 22-23 Economy 24-25 International Trade 26 Finance 27 Environment 28 Legal 31 News 33 Technology 34-35 News 36 Membership 37 Chamber Events 38-39 Invest in Hounslow 43 Health & Wellbeing 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: let’s talk business is published for the Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at the Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in let’s talk business are not necessarily those of the 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.

Cover Image: The Brentford Project by Ballymore

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regeneration 3.0

Conference to celebrate local regeneration Following the success of last year’s Regeneration 2.0, a follow-up event is being held on Tuesday, October 6 (2:00pm-8:00pm) to mark the exciting developments that are happening across the borough.

To be held at Holiday Inn London, Brentford Lock on Commerce Road in Brentford, Regeneration 3.0 will bring together key players in the industry to celebrate the fantastic work that’s going on in the area.

Hounslow is currently the focus for a £4bn transformation programme, which is helping to revitalise major sites across the borough. Projects such as the mixed-use Hounslow High Street Quarter, the development of Brentford Football Club’s new stadium and the creation of a new riverside town centre in the heart of west London are reshaping and revitalising the local landscape, creating jobs and wealth in the

more than 2,100 homes, over 4,000

We are attending as we are bringing forward planning applications for the regeneration of Homebase Brentford and Tesco Osterley, which will deliver for Hounslow more than 2,100 homes, over 4,000 construction jobs and over 600 permanent jobs plus a brand new Tesco store, all in a nature and community-led masterplan design.

construction jobs and over 600 permanent jobs plus a brand new Tesco store, all in a nature and community-led masterplan design.

“We are hoping to meet and make important links to other Hounslow businesses and groups to understand how we can work together.

“We are interested in the regeneration of the Golden Mile and, with development and investment, this area can lead the way once again for the revitalisation of the Hounslow economy in these very challenging times for the benefit of everyone in the communities around there.”

Berkeley and other firms involved

process.

in local regeneration projects are These and many other projects will be the topic of debate at Regeneration 3.0, which will

• Bugler

feature keynote speeches from

• Fairview New Homes

several major companies:

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• Berkeley Group

• West Thames College

• Ballymore

• Hounslow Highways

• Barratts London

• EasyBuild

let’s talkbusiness

Duncan Matthews, land & development director at Berkeley St Edward, said: “We are attending as we are bringing forward planning applications for the regeneration of Homebase Brentford and Tesco Osterley, which will deliver for Hounslow

being supported by the Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the event.

Sally Smith, Chief Operating Officer at the Chamber, said:

“We are working with businesses across the borough and beyond

to transform the area into a place where people want to live and work.

This conference is a great opportunity for businesses to come along to learn more about the exciting projects that are transforming our skyline.”

The afternoon will start at 2.00 pm and end with a drinks/canapé reception, with a top-ranking sports personality courtesy of event management company 2kTiger (watch this space)!

The exhibition and presentations in the afternoon are fully subsidised. If you would like to attend the star-studded drinks reception at 6:30pm, the cost is £20 + VAT and booking fee for members and £30 + VAT and booking fee for nonmembers. To book your stand visit: www.hounslowchamber.org.uk or email: sallysmith@westlondonlocalchambers.org.uk

Regeneration Conference is back!

The purpose of this event is to mark the many developments in Hounslow, as we know without sustainable development we cannot achieve long term growth and stability. Working together in partnership we are transforming Hounslow into a place that our residents wish to live, our businesses thrive, and is a leisure and cultural destination.

At the event you will hear the latest update from myself, Niall Bolger, Chief Executive of London Borough of Hounslow and Peter Matthew, Executive Director of Housing, Planning & Communities.

Councillor Steve Curran Leader of the Council

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BUILDING COMMUNITIES Berkeley Group builds homes and neighbourhoods. We create welcoming places, where people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy a great quality of life.

St Edward Homes are very excited to be working in partnership with the London Borough of Hounslow and local community to deliver a transformation of the Homebase and Tesco sites on Syon Lane, Osterley.

www.berkeleygroup.co.uk Proud to be members of the Berkeley Group of companies

ProudProud to beProud to a member beProud to a member beProud to of a member the beProud of to a membe the be to of am th b Berkeley Berkeley Group Berkeley Group of Berkeley Companies Group ofBerkeley Companies Group of Berkeley Compani Group of Com G

Architectural services in West London “You want the space where you live, work and play to adapt to your needs. Together, we can help you create your future.

Collaborating closely with you, with local builders, with local suppliers and with local consultants, we design and develop your new building project to ensure your dream lifestyle becomes a reality.

Taking you through each stage we make sure your finished project is tailor made to you when we hand you the keys.

Our design decisions are led by minimising impact on the environment and includes re-purposing existing materials; reducing valuable energy and water use to save you money; sourcing eco materials and finishes such as non-toxic, organic paint.

Your dream lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with maximising your budget. We take great pride in providing value for money through giving detailed care and attention to your small, medium or large project.

See design with a different perspective.”

07947 634411 enyi@architecture-e.co.uk http://architecture-e.co.uk

Delivering New Housing in the London Borough of

Hounslow

Award-winning, family owned, residential property developer and contractor, providing high-quality homes throughout London and the South East.

www.bugler.co.uk

London Road, Isleworth 155 homes for affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale

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the big

interview

Breaking down barriers to success Carol Massay has spent much of her 30-year career changing perceptions.

As a woman working in a traditionally male-dominated construction industry, she has had to fight harder than her male counterparts to be recognised and respected to achieve her aspirations.

But recognised and respected she is, having worked her way up the career ladder and transformed a construction software specialist into a thriving, award-winning company. Since Carol took over the reins at Borehamwood-based EasyBuild UK, the company has doubled staff numbers, increased revenues and become a much slicker, more efficient operation. New systems have been put in place, marketing campaigns have attracted new customers, and people with the right skills have been recruited into key positions.

Carol has built up a strong reputation in the industry as a construction software leader who “listens and cares about her client’s technology needs”. She also spends time speaking with other industry leaders to ensure that she is kept informed on the challenges faced managing a construction company and projects.

With this information, she ensures that the range of EasyBuild solutions are kept up to date.

This year, seven new well-known UK contractors came on board before the coronavirus hit UK shores, and although there was an understandable lull in business during March and April, activity has picked up once again. The plan now is to grow the company’s presence across London and the South East – particularly in the borough of Hounslow and surrounding areas – as well as further field in the North of England and Scotland.

It’s an ambitious target in what undoubtedly will be a volatile post-COVID, post-Brexit trading environment, but taking on tough challenges seems to be in Carol’s DNA.

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As a woman, I enjoyed the challenge of trying to make my way in the construction industry.

more SMEs are realising the value that this type of software can bring to their business. It helps the industry to identify and manage risk on construction projects and track spend against the whole lifecycle of the project on a day-to-day basis.”

Carol and her team are currently transitioning many of EasyBuild’s existing and new clients to a cloud offering. The company’s cloud software gives clients access to business-critical applications at any time from any location and reduces the cost of servers and day-to-day IT management.

She says: “As a woman, I enjoyed the challenge of trying to make my way in the construction software industry. I have always remained focused on the job and challenge in hand, and never get distracted on the negative comments, or people’s opinions on me. Even when I took on the job at EasyBuild, I read one or two negative comments on social media basically suggesting that I might fail. All that did was to make me more determined to succeed.”

She has done just that. EasyBuild is now one of the most recognised providers of ERP (enterprise resource planning) software to the construction industry.

The three year award-winning software addresses all the operational needs of a modern construction business, covering finance, commercial, project management and compliance. It is customisable with easy-to-use applications providing all trades within the industry – including main contractors, civil engineers, demolition, interior fit-out, roofing and cladding, joinery, rail and utilities – with the tools needed to manage projects in a timely and efficient manner.

Carol says: “Time and efficiency are important factors when trying to manage the day-to-day running of a business and knowing you have a secure dedicated platform for hosting your ERP construction software is a vital component.

EasyBuild Cloud provides access to our applications for each customer using secured logins.

This service is inclusive of the day-to-day management of the hosted environment, as well as daily backups, security updates, operating system upgrades and patch releases.

“Moving to the cloud could therefore also help companies to save money by reducing IT costs.

The cloud can help eliminate the need for costly hardware, upgrade and maintenance costs but also gives the benefit of easily scaling up a business as it expands and grows.”

time, she has gleaned a wealth of experience building strong relationships with customers, understanding their needs and unearthing opportunities to upsell to clients.

Businesses of all sizes can now benefit from using EasyBuild’s Cloud platform, which ensures compliance and management of all projects simultaneously on any device and in real time.

One of the core applications is the widespread use of mobile technology, providing everyone on site with familiar and powerful technology and information.

In 2015, the opportunity to apply for the CEO position at EasyBuild arose and she took it with both hands.

EasyBuild Mobile allows operatives to use their smart phone remotely to record essential information and upload it back to head office immediately. This application enables the capture of labour cost via a timesheet app, requesting material and plant deliveries via the requisition app and recording the delivery of materials via the goods received app. Data is automatically synced back into EasyBuild’s ERP solution, which in turn saves time, removes paper and increases efficiency.

It is undoubtedly a busy time for Carol, who has enjoyed a 30-year career in the industry. During that

She says: “The role of CEO was new for me; however, having worked for a larger software house previously, I understood construction software delivery and the art of managing people. I thought, I can do this.”

Five years on, she’s glad she did. She’s keen to encourage other aspiring females into the industry and has set a goal of touring schools and colleges to talk to girls about the benefits of a career in construction.

“If I can share my journey to help bring more young women into the sector, then this is my ultimate goal,” she says with conviction. “It’s great to see companies offering opportunities to young women through apprenticeships and work placements. The industry would benefit from more diversity and I think that companies are starting to recognise this.”

Carol says: “Previously, it was mainly the larger construction firms that had adopted the software, whereas smaller players tended to stick with tried and trusted methods. This is now changing;

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Financial & Project Accounting Software 'Built for Construction by Construction' EasyBuild is an end to end bespoke construction software solution. Built to address the operational, financial and commercial management of all types of construction pro ects. It provides real-time data and information to enable key business decisions and mitigate risks.

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Provide you with financial snapshots across your business through our Dashboard to see in real-time the financial position of your pro ects through our CVR module IntegrateThe siteability and the back office through our mobile Requisition, Good Received Notes and you with snapshots across your business through our Dashboard IntegrateProvide site and thefinancial back office through our mobile Requisition, Good Received Notes and Timesheet application Integrate site and the back office through our mobile Requisition, Good Received Notes and Timesheet application Timesheet application working through EasyBuild Cloud WHO WE HELP Secure, anytime, anywhere Secure, anytime, anywhere working through EasyBuild Secure, anytime, anywhere working through EasyBuild Cloud Cloud An integrated platform managing Financials, Procurement, Commercial and much more An integrated platform managing Financials, Procurement, Commercial and much moreand much more An integrated platform managing Financials, Procurement, Commercial All within aAlluser friendly solution, built within a user friendly solution, builtfor forConstruction.

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WD. 1JD. WD. 1JD. Elstree Gate, Way, Borehamwood. +44 333 1+3 3+/0 - enquiries@easybuilduk.com - www.easybuilduk.com

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news

Entrepreneur launches innovative sanitising stations

A provider of contactless hand sanitisation stations has been launched in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Woodnet Lifestyles, seller of SaniPro Stations, has been established by Ash Sanjenbam who already runs a successful security business, Kingfisher SEC. When his good friend from Slovenia contacted him with the idea of a sanitising station, they worked on it together, developed it, and the result are two products that have been designed, produced and despatched to the UK in less than a month.

SaniPro and SaniBasic are two stations that allow contactless hand sanitation, with SaniPro offering additional compartments for disposable gloves, masks and/or tissues as well as a waste bin.

SaniPro Station is offered in five options: white, cream, anthracite grey, trendy and a completely customised station with the colours of a firm’s corporate identity, logo and business tagline on

orders of seven units or more. SaniBasic Station comes in a combination of white and anthracite grey.

Ash said: “Our first products were purchased by a fellow member of the Chamber of Commerce, Venture X Chiswick Park, and the reactions of Andrew Ross and Tom Foster, CEOs of Venture X, have been nothing but positive.”

Andrew Ross said: “The products look great, do a fantastic job and fit in well with our office décor as well as being great value for money. More importantly, the order itself was seamless and it took less than a week from the order to placing the stations in our workplace in Chiswick Park.”

Woodnet Lifestyles is now taking orders for both products. Find out more by visiting sanistationuk.com.

Key workers - Save at least 25% off at the Holiday Inn London - Brentford Lock and enjoy spending some time with your loved ones.

You supported us, now it’s our turn to support you.

• Save a minimum of 25% off Best Flex Rate • Book & stay by: 30 September 2020 • One-night refundable deposit • Cancel a minimum of 1 day prior to arrival without penalty • Key worker identification required

To book, please contact us directly on

reservations@hibrentfordlock.co.uk and quote “From The Heart”

Is Working from Home Still Working for You? The past few months have shown us the pros and cons of working from home. We can do it, but is it the right solution going forward?

Short-term, working from home saves time and money. Longterm however, it can have a negative impact on productivity and wellbeing. It’s distracting when family members and children are at home or worse, for those who live alone, it’s extremely isolating.

Home should be your haven - a place where you can leave work aside and relax. When work and home collide it becomes difficult to switch off from your business, which easily leads to stress, exhaustion and burnout.

At UBC uk, many of our clients are working around these challenges by working part-time from home and the rest of the time in a flexible office.

This time-share approach allows each employee to balance their working week, which gives everyone the chance to spend much-needed time in a collaborative environment without compromising on safety. All of our offices have been modified for physical distancing and are currently operating on reduced capacity, which means people can get to work in a professional environment that prioritises health and wellbeing.

We recognise the pressures that small businesses are facing and we have implemented these measures to help Hounslow entrepreneurs navigate the ‘new normal’ in an inspiring, productive and safe environment.

To help small businesses through the current situation, we have also launched a ‘Revive & Thrive’ programme to support local startups. Small businesses under 2 years old can receive subsidised workspace in a professional environment along with onsite services and free business support from local specialists.

Ready to focus on the future of your business? Visit ubcuk.com and let’s work together to help your business thrive.

Contact Andrew Billson Email: brentford@ubcuk.com Tel: 0800 169 9822 www.ubcuk.com/locations/brentford let’s talkbusiness

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skills JAL specialise and delight in diversity and inclusion, training many different cultures and ages simultaneously.

NLET lear New skills programme to benefit employers and employees

JAL’S Entertainment & Knowledge Mix - New Training Opportunity.

Modern Public Relations and Communication Training Programmes. ©

Communication excellence is at the core of Chamber member, Jasper Alliance London (JAL), programmes including a new Entertainment and Knowledge Mix, thought to be the first programme using movies to build a learning structure. The award-winning Richmond-based company delivers concentrated, entertaining adult training that improves confidence, and creates a lasting positive energy. JAL’s curricula are designed for between 1-8 training days.

JAL’s Modern Public Relations Communication and Mass Media Programme was peer reviewed, and is taught by a university teacher, Jay Purcell who is known for knowledge transmission, entertaining discussions, and enjoyable case studies. She explains: ‘We cover key elements of public relations and communication. JAL offers two training options for this programme’.

1. Traditional Practical and Theory Learning: 100% faceto-face training for 8 days.

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2. Entertainment and Knowledge Mix: watch a curated collection of great DVD movies and documentaries at home. Answer assessment questionnaires. This option gives a new entertaining ‘online digital’ aspect with 80% done from home, in your own time, and a 20% face-to-face, or online discussion to conclude.

Other options include: 30 accredited, and certified programmes: Public Relations, Leadership and Motivating Teams, Presentation, Personal Branding, Public Speaking, Stakeholder Management and Training the Trainer. Popular Human Communication Skills features the exploration of rules for one to one communication styles, rules for speaking to a small group, and culminates in speaking to large groups.

If you have difficulties with communication, personally or professionally, then this is the programme that transforms through knowledge and

understanding, what we mean by communicating for success.

Solving communication problems within your workplace inspires business and strengthens communities. Focusing on human communication training with theory and practical aspects develops confidence and good relationships.

JAL training programmes receive 97% excellent ratings with delegates stating that the training was transformative. ‘I learned more in one day about communication than in the previous 40 years!’

JAL certificates are international, signed by our chairman, Allan Spink M.A.(Cambridge). He concludes: ‘These programmes are guaranteed to improve knowledge, inspire business, entertain, and strengthen communities.’

Contact: purcell@jasperalliancelondon.com www.jasperalliancelondon.com

The Chamber has teamed up with the New London Educational Trust (NLET) to launch a new workforce development programme.

Called London Learning, the programme aims to boost the skills of employees working in three key sectors: retail, health and social care, and hospitality and catering. The idea is to help employees in seven west London boroughs (Barnet, Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Ealing and Hammersmith) get bite-size qualifications, approved by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), that enable them to gain the confidence, skills and knowledge to progress their careers. In turn, this will help employers get the skills they need to boost their productivity and remain competitive.

Initially the project, which is partfunded by the European Social Fund (ESF), will run until 2022 but there may be scope to extend it further.

The target is to help at least 800 employees over the next two years.

David McLoughlin, who is leading the project on behalf of NLET, says: “It has never been more important to have the necessary skills to progress careers and help businesses as they recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Working with West London Local Chambers, we’ve been able to identify businesses and employees that require additional skills.

ning programme in customer service. Some of the qualifications are applicable to workers in all industries. We have courses in mental health awareness, emergency first aid and – particularly relevant at the moment – personal protective equipment (PPE) awareness.

“Employees will get one-to-one, tailored support and training can take place via our careers hub in Hounslow or online. The key benefit of this project is its flexibility. The training is free and is specifically designed around the needs of the employees and businesses that get involved.

“If you’re a chef, for example, you might need additional training in food hygiene. If you’re starting your career in retail, you might require extra skills

“Essentially, the project provides participants with a menu of interventions that bring together formal qualifications, in-work skills, personal development and pastoral support. Interventions are available singularly or in any combination and revolve around a series of employerled activities designed to progressively develop the skills and in-work capabilities demanded by participating employers and the sectors in which they are employed. These sector-based camps bring participants together to jointly discuss and work on solutions to realworld business scenarios presented by participating employers.”

The project has five key aims which are designed to help low-skilled, disadvantaged employees – particularly disabled employees, BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) employees, older employees, female employees and employees living in a single adult household with dependent children – to progress within their employment. These aims can be seen in the panel box below.

London Learning: key aims 1. To safeguard the employed status of disadvantaged employed people through the acquisition of basic skills.

2. To underpin the capacity for growth among SMEs and micro-businesses through developmental support provided to their disadvantaged employees.

3. To raise the skills level of disadvantaged employees so they may exploit in-work progression opportunities.

4. To support the growth of participating SMEs and micro-businesses by improving the productivity of disadvantaged employees through raising skills levels up to level three.

5. To provide disadvantaged employees with updated skills, knowledge and confidence to plan sustainable employment pathways.

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LEARNING & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2020 | LIMITED TO 12 PLACES (per cohort) Call us to Discuss and Design your Corporate or Organisational Training Curricula – Training can be delivered at your Office

Modern Public Relations & Mass Media Management

Accredited, certified and peer reviewed | You will have fun learning about Modern Public Relations & Mass Media Management.

NEW INNOVATION ADULT LEARNING CURRICULUM

Are you looking for a career change, upskilling, or just starting out in your career?

Do you agree that we live and move in a Public Relations and Mass Media World?

There is now no person, company or organisation that can do without understanding public relations, presentation and communications. Learning these secrets will benefit you both personally and professionally.

In 8 days you will have all the knowledge you need to understand public relations in both theory and practical.You can gain an International Accredited Certificate in Modern Public Relations & Mass Media Management.This programme scores 97% completion and reviews from delegates and learners.

In a world where everything has changed, learn how to succeed!

Call our Richmond Offices: +44 (0)7884413305 to discuss your needs (please text if we are not immediately reachable due to high volume of calls) Or email: purcell@jasperalliancelondon.com

Two Fully Assessed Options: 1. Learn face-to-face: (Training & Assessments)

Based in Richmond, London with a multi-award winning international practitioner, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, a qualified university teacher and researcher who actively works with world leaders on world projects.

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8-days (or weekend/evening options)

2. Virtual Learning: (80% online. Assessments 1to1)

As above and use of curated International DVD case studies, documentaries and movies to watch at home and then answer the assessment questions. With limited face to face teaching or online discussions. 8-days working at your own speed.

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8-days working at your own speed

Delegates say: “A ‘transformative’ professional programme”. “I was able to begin a new profession with an understanding of how that world works”. “Great case studies and storytelling that sticks”.

Jasper Alliance London Registered in England and Wales. Company Number 8405520 – Head office in Richmond –

LEARN & THEN EARN | KNOWLEDGE IS POWER | GET AHEAD

ARE YOU A RESIDENT OF HOUNSLOW, IN EMPLOYMENT AND CLAIMING BENEFITS ARE YOU A RESIDENT OF HOUNSLOW, IN OR HAVE YOU RECENTLY LOSTBENEFITS YOUR EMPLOYMENT AND CLAIMING EMPLOYMENT DUE TO THELOST CORONA OR HAVE YOU RECENTLY YOURVIRUS? EMPLOYMENT DUE TO THE CORONA VIRUS? DO YOU WANT TO UPSKILL AND IMPROVE DO YOUEMPLOYMENT WANT TO UPSKILL AND IMPROVE YOUR PROSPECTS? YOUR EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS? If you answer yes to these questions, skills is here If youescalator answer yes to these questions, to support you! skills escalator is here to support you!

WORK WORK To find out more please email skillsescalator@hounslow.gov.uk To find out more please email or call 07790359392. skillsescalator@hounslow.gov.uk or call 07790359392.

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* Concessions available *

www.jasperalliancelondon.com

The Skills Escalator programme offers one-to-one advice and support tooffers help you The Skills Escalator programme build your career and realise your full potential. one-to-one advice and support to help you build your career realise your full potential.

In most cases we and can help you with the cost of training.

In most cases we can help you with the cost of training.

skills

The Skills Escalator Project.

The Skills Escalator is a project that supports residents of Hounslow who are in work and claiming a means tested welfare benefit upskill in order to improve their employment status. The project can also support any resident who has been newly unemployed as a result of the corona virus.

The project can help fund training or courses if demonstrated taking such training/course will better employment prospects. For newly unemployed residents the project can look to fund training or short courses that will help get them back into employment.

The project has already helped lots of Hounslow residents gain skills to move forward and increase income prospects.

Applicants must be a resident of Hounslow borough, in work or newly unemployed and in receipt of a means tested benefits.

We are hosting a Skills Escalator Event on the 17.8.20 to register for this event please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/skills-escalator-tickets113619035594?aff=ebdssbeac To enquire please contact Elizabeth Whenu on 07790359392 or via email at Elizabeth.Whenu@Hounslow.gov.uk or Skillsescalator@hounslow.gov.uk

let’s talkbusiness

15

spotlight

area focus

The local community with a global reach

Venture X

Chiswick Park

Chiswick is a leafy, affluent west London district that’s popular with residents, tourists and business professionals alike. Bordering the river which offers recreational facilities such as rowing and sailing as well as some quaint watering holes, it also has several green open spaces including those surrounding Chiswick House, a lavish baroque villa built in 1729. On Chiswick High Road, media and creative professionals mingle in trendy shops, wine bars and high-end restaurants, which give the area a truly continental feel.

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Chiswick Park is home to some of the world’s leading companies, including Discovery, Paramount Pictures, IMG, Starbucks and Pernod Ricard, as well as more than 10,000 workers in sectors as diverse as media, food and drink, oil and gas, technology Described by one commentator as “the leafy edge of the Big Smoke”, it is also a bustling commercial hub. Chamber Member Chiswick Park is home to some of the world’s leading companies, including Discovery, Paramount Pictures, IMG, Starbucks and Pernod Ricard, as well as more than 10,000 workers in sectors as diverse as media, food and drink, oil and gas, technology, and health and beauty. It has 1.8 million sq ft of award-winning accommodation, arranged as a necklace of 12 office buildings, with each one facing the Park’s “inner garden” which features a two-tier lake, waterfall, decked boardwalk, pathways, events space and landscaping. Also on the site is more than 45,000 sq ft of retail space including a Virgin Active gym, restaurants, convenience stores and an ever-changing array of pop-up traders and street-food vendors.

The park management’s strategy is built around the premise that if people enjoy work, they do better work, and if they do better work, companies have a better business – hence the park’s strapline, #Enjoy-Work.

Matt Coulson, CEO of Chiswick Park Enjoy-Work, says: “Our ‘Enjoy-Work philosophy’ is the main advantage of being based on our campus. We aim at providing an environment where people take pleasure in working and are therefore more productive in their work. In addition to building management, landscaping and maintenance, we propose a programme of regular activities

Over the last few months there has been some “bonding” amongst the local businesses, including many complimentary webinars and advice from local bodies including the Chamber of Commerce.

and concierge services dedicated to our guests. We create a community of engaged employees that connect with each other, work harder and have better ideas.

“In the current climate, we see our campus as a huge advantage.

We have plenty of external space, the size of our buildings allows social distancing requirements, we provide parking and cycling facilities, and the majority of our guests can commute safely without having to travel through the city centre.”

A relatively new arrival to the park is Chamber Member Venture X, a provider of office space and virtual office solutions. The company opened its first workspace in Chiswick Park in December last year and has hailed the strength of the venue’s close-knit business community.

“It goes without saying that, right now, commuting can be a challenge. While where we are in Chiswick is well served by multiple overground and underground lines (and we sit above the bus terminal), it’s still a long ride from other parts of London. But it’s a lovely place to come – so much so that my wife would like to move here!”

Chamber Member Airivo is also a major player on the Chiswick business scene. A provider of flexible office space, the company operates seven business centres across London and Birmingham. It bought its business centre in Chiswick in 2013 and offers a complete office solution for local firms, allowing them to customise their space and benefit from the business community they’ll be joining.

Mary-Anne Lipnicki-Collard, centre manager at Airivo, believes it was a natural step to open the centre in Chiswick. She says: “Chiswick has excellent transport links into Central London so it’s perfect for businesses that don’t want the daily rush-hour commute but have the option of easy access links into the City.

Chiswick also has a village feel to it and has a great selection of shops, bars and restaurants.

“Whilst Chiswick is a great location for our business centre, the wide range of consumer choice presents challenges so we ensure we are always at the top of our game. Also, there’s limited car parking in the area as well as the fact there are no NCPs [National Car Parks] nearby.”

Despite these slight drawbacks, most businesses see more positives about being based in Chiswick than negatives.

Chamber Member and winner of Best Business of the Year in the Hounslow Business Awards of 2018, Clayton Hotel Chiswick

Andrew Ross of Venture X says: “Chiswick has this strong local community but a real global reach, and within Chiswick Park itself there’s a strong events programme covering everything from professional advice to virtual seminars and wellbeing.

let’s talkbusiness

17

spotlight

area focus Karen says: “Chiswick is a great place to spend a Sunday. We think it will be easy to sell the idea of coming here to people who aren’t necessarily familiar with the area.

Not only do we have great shops and restaurants, but people can make a day of it and go and visit Chiswick House and the riverside as well.

opened in 2015 and since then has undergone a major transformation, with a £21m investment enabling it to become a 227-bedroom hotel with exceptional conference and event spaces.

Deborah Barnes, director of sales and marketing at Clayton Hotel Chiswick, says: “We have found everyone to be appreciative of the hotel and our team. The feedback has been amazing and customers say we’re easy to do business with. Word of mouth spreads fast if you have something great to offer!

“Chiswick is an area with great transport links, so it’s convenient for traders to bring in their produce from the M3/M4 North/ South Circular. Market traders see it as a great opportunity because there’s nothing like what we’re setting up anywhere near us in west London. We’ve had a great response from people saying they’re looking forward to the opening and excited about it and there has already been quite a buzz about it in the media.”

“Chiswick and the surrounding area have a great business community and the hotel is ideally placed, with excellent transport links into Central London and a close proximity to London Heathrow and Chiswick Park.

The Chiswick W4 area is such a bustling, vibrant corporate area.

We need to ensure our marketing is targeted to both domestic and international tourists to consider it a location for the weekends, with its easy access to the West End and attractions.” worked on several successful projects with local councils. Fellow director Bridget Osborne is also well known locally; she runs The Chiswick Calendar, which is a Chamber Member and a useful source of information about what’s happening in the area, and has also organised several local events.

Her website and weekly newsletter reach a wide catchment of people in Chiswick, informing them about the flower market and other new developments.

While Chiswick has a long and distinguished history, it is not averse to change. Plans are in place to launch a new flower market on the first Sunday of each month to help revitalise the Chiswick High Road economy.

The market will first open on Sunday, September 6 and is aimed predominantly at the general public so they can buy flowers as gifts for family and friends. Small businesses such as florists may also see this as an opportunity to source produce for their shops.

Karen Liebreich, director of Chiswick Flower Market, says: “We were looking for a way to create a focus which would draw people to the High Road, something that would provide an experience rather than just retail products which people could choose to buy online. Ollie Saunders, whose idea it was, loves flowers and before the outbreak of COVID-19 would go regularly

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to Columbia Road market, so he thought he’d try to create the West London equivalent of Columbia Road – somewhere beautiful and joyful where people can come and shop and meet their friends and spend time in Chiswick.”

Karen is widely respected for the many community projects she has carried out on behalf of the notfor-profit organisation, Abundance London, and has previously

The imminent opening of a new medicinal cannabis store on Chiswick High Road is also creating a positive vibe. Beleaf is launching its second store in W4 in the former Phase Eight premises at number 288 following the opening of its Soho flagship branch in November 2019. The shop’s main products will be cannabidiol oil (CBD)-based.

CBD is a natural remedy, extracted from the cannabis plant. It is claimed that it offers benefits for many common ailments. CBD use has increased in recent years, and Beleaf says that scientific studies suggest it may ease symptoms of ailments such as chronic pain, anxiety, depression, poor skin quality, diabetes and heart conditions.

Chiswick is a great place to spend a Sunday. We think it will be easy to sell the idea of coming here to people who aren’t necessarily familiar with the area

business

awards

Is your business the best in the borough?

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

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

2020 continues to be a challenging year and some may question

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

Please be assured that we will be

• Best Charity/ Social Enterprise

adhering to Government guidelines

• Best New Business

to ensure we are all safe.

The Business Awards are open to ALL businesses in the London

Sally Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce and west London local Chambers, said: “We have a vast wealth of entrepreneurial talent in our borough and it’s only right that this should be acknowledged and

Boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith

rewarded. Our awards scheme gives

visit www.hounslowchamber.

companies the ideal opportunity

org.uk. or email: sallysmith@

to showcase past successes and

westlondonlocalchambers.org.uk

achievements, reflect on their future

are based.

• Best Security

It’s free to enter and very easy

• Best Business Support and Advice (Service Company)

to do; for more details just

business in one of the most vibrant trading areas of the UK.

• Business of the Year

“Whatever the size of your

much reflection we feel there are

business, small or large, there is

reasons to be optimistic. Please

a category for you where you can

• Best SME

enter the Awards, based on your

shine a light on your company.”

activity in 2019, using it as a means to celebrate the past, to mark the

Awards will be presented in multiple

end of 2020, and to give you and

categories, including Best SME,

your team a wonderful night out on

Employer of the Year and Best Green

15th October 2020, to move into the

Business. All category winners will

Christmas season and to start 2021

be put forward for the coveted title of

in an upbeat frame of mind.

overall Business of the Year.

• Best Exporter of the Year

Chamber members, wherever you

• Best Business for Marketing and Social Media

Business Awards going ahead. After

• Best Green Business

• Best Cargo and Logistics Company of the Year

& Fulham, Hounslow and ALL our

Award categories to include:

business goals and celebrate doing

• Employer of the Year

• Best business for Customer Service

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19

patron

focus

Building skills for a brighter future West Thames College and the Chamber of Commerce have a strong relationship that stretches back several years. With a base at the college’s Isleworth campus, the Chamber has helped the college to forge, build and nurture key relationships with employers, while the college has provided a steady pipeline of work-ready students for Chamber members and other local organisations.

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It made perfect sense, then, when the college cemented this relationship by becoming a patron of the Chamber – a move that is still reaping dividends today.

Tracy Aust, who became principal of West Thames College in 2016, says: “We have always prided ourselves on facilitating strong links with local employers and our association with the Chamber has made this so much easier to do. With the business community struggling in the COVID pandemic, it has never been more important that compaines get access to the right skills – and that’s where we can help. We have deep roots in the local community and a good track record of providing a pipeline of enthusiastic, talented workers who have made a positive difference to local employers. Our vocational courses are taught by industry professionals so our students not only get industry-recognised qualifications, they also get transferable skills and experience that will help them develop as individuals.”

The college’s main Isleworth campus has state-of-theart workshops and facilities including professional hair, beauty and makeup salons, a 140-seat theatre, dance studios, music recording and TV studios, Mac computer suites, a learning and resources centre and sports and leisure facilities. Meanwhile, the skills and logistics centre in Feltham has a motor vehicle workshop, state-of-the-art engineering workshops, a logistics training facility and specialist construction workshops for plumbing, painting and decorating, electrical installation and carpentry.

Around 6,000 students, from the age of 14 to adults, pass through the college’s doors each year, gaining qualifications from entry level to degreelevel. The main aim is to either prepare the students for the world of work, or give them the skills and confidence to progress in their career or onwards to further study.

Tracy is integral to the college’s ability to forge productive relationships with key stakeholders.

She sits on the Hounslow Recovery Programme Board, an initiative set up by the local council to help businesses through the COVID pandemic, and is chair of the West London Principals Group of college heads who work in partnership to build relationships with the business community. She’s also a key member of the West London Alliance, a public sector partnership between seven local authorities, which forms partnerships to develop, drive and deliver improvements for everyone that lives, works, learns, visits and invests in West London.

Tracy says: “We need to make sure that people who have been made redundant in the COVID pandemic have the skills and confidence to bounce back into another job. Digital skills will become even more important in the future and, locally, demand for people who teach English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) will rise.

“West Thames College is well positioned to support businesses and students as we move through the current pandemic into a new normal.”

My name is Christophe and I am a freelance web designer and developer based in Brentford. I entered the web “sphere” with a first hands-on experience 10 years ago working for an online magazine and loved it.

A few years working in other areas happy but definitely missing my computer - I took the decision to rethink my career and become a full time web designer and developer. Each project starts with a new world to discover and understand in order to translate as accurately as possible the business identity into a successful digital product. So far I have worked with clients in the public and private sector, from artists and artisans, small businesses and charities, to larger commercial operations.

While I can work alongside customers to build tailored websites, another option I offer is the purchase of templates as a ‘readymade’ and cheaper solution for the businesses that will then just need to upload their content and make the chosen design their own with minimum effort. Whether I work for a business’s website from scratch or via the building of templates, I use marketing tools that will make your digital presence as powerful as possible.

Here are a few key points to remember if you want to go live: 1. Look professional. Your website is your business card and reflects your identity and work ethos.

2. Know your audience. Whereas some cutting-edge designs might be a great idea for creative businesses they might not suit your customers expectations if you are a more traditional company 3. Take control. This is a great time to rethink your identity and what you want to communicate, so make sure that you actively contribute to your digital adventure.

+44 7435 296 807 christofcamara@gmail.com www.christophecamara.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophe-camara/ let’s talkbusiness

21

economy

Lockdown showed that UK GDP was -20.4% but with opening up in June we achieved an initial 8.7% rise.

The office of National Statistics reported, that during lockdown, our GDP was down by 20.4%. Now with shops opening and buyers returning, it has helped GDP recover by 8.7% but more retail therapy from shoppers has been diagnosed to help recovery.

GDP began to recover in May and in June it rose by a healthy looking 8.7% as the economy started to reopen.

A sustained recovery depends to a large extent on people supporting local businesses by getting back into shops, bars and restaurants.

To encourage this, the government urged people to participate in Shop Local Week (August 10-16), an initiative designed to support jobs, generate a sense of community spirit and revitalise towns that have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

The initiative is part of the government’s Enjoy Summer Safely campaign to encourage people to get back to the way of life they have missed while following safety guidelines. It also follows the

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launch of the Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme, which enables diners to save up to £10 per head on eat-in meals on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in one of 73,000 participating businesses.

The idea behind these measures is quite simple: by spending their money, people can do their bit to revitalise the high street, save jobs and get some great deals in the process.

The question is: have the measures worked? It appears that, locally, they have had a positive effect.

At the time of writing this article, footfall at the Treaty Shopping Centre in Hounslow has recovered to 63% of the level it was before the lockdown. Occupancy at the centre is a healthy 85%-90% – evidence that the local high street

Treaty Shopping Centre Hounslow

The Centre Feltham

It’s a challenging environment but we’re seeing more people return to the centre. The message we’re trying to promote is that we’re very much open for business. is very much alive and fighting back from COVID. Centre manager Janet Leatherland says: “People are feeling more confident about coming back into shops now. Clearly the virus has not gone away but we have put in place several measures at the centre to ensure that it’s as COVIDsafe as possible. These include hand sanitisers, signage and a queuing system for the toilets which ensures social distancing can take place. We’ve also updated our website to encourage people to wear face coverings in shops in line with government guidance.”

The centre is home to a host of retailers including River Island, Next, New Look, Pandora and H&M. It also has a range of eateries in the Treaty Kitchen, which has now reopened with communal seating for dine-in between the hours of 10am and 4pm. Takeaway services continue to be available until 6pm.

Janet says: “It’s a challenging environment but we’re seeing more people return to the centre.

The message we’re trying to promote is that we’re very much open for business.”

What about the long-term prospects for the high street?

While there will be some who prefer to do their shopping online, will there still be a core of loyal high street shoppers after COVID has been brought under control and hopefully eliminated?

Janet says: “I think that people will keep coming to the stores but the high street is evolving; it may look different in a few years’ time. There’s a lot of residential development in Hounslow at the moment so this will generate a need for more businesses such as dry cleaners, doctor’s surgeries, and education and leisure facilities.

The high street has to adapt to the specific needs of particular localities. We may well find that much of the current retail space is repurposed for different uses.

“There will be winners and losers.

Some businesses will be forced to close, either due to COVID or their inability to adapt. That said, I still think that the high street does have a future. Agile, adaptable businesses can still thrive.”

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23

international

trade

New export documentation needed for trade with the EU Europe is the UK’s biggest trading partner. Currently, around 60% of UK exports go to the European Union (EU). From January 1, 2021, the day after the Brexit transition period ends, UK companies that trade with EU countries will need to complete export/ import documentation for the first time for over 30 years. Your goods cannot be despatched without these documents, we have experts who can assist. This and many other points are all explained in our EU Exit Hub https://www.westlondonlocalchambers.org.uk/eu-exit-hub

Alan Rides,

Managing Director

Alan Rides, Managing Director of the Chamber of Commerce, says: “Currently no customs documentation is required when sending products from Britain to an EU country, and vice-versa.

From January 1, this will change.

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“Products will have to be subject to increased safety, security, environmental and health checks at both borders: the country from which the goods are departing and the destination country. UK companies will need to get a tariff number for their goods – the first time they will have needed this when exporting/ importing to and from the EU. The tariff number and other relevant documentation will need to be provided to the authorities on behalf of the

exporter/importer by a freight forwarder – a third party paid by the exporter/importer to handle paperwork and transport the goods.

“The good news is that there are several excellent freight forwarders in Hounslow and surrounding areas; they can help exporters prepare the documentation and comply with legislation – but with less than five months to go until the end of the year, companies need to act now.”

Junaid Ahmed of Globetrotters GB, a freight forwarding service in Hounslow, believes that a lack of clarity over how the new changes will be implemented is creating an uncertain trading environment for exporters and importers hoping to do business with the EU next year.

He says: “At the moment we don’t know how things are going to pan out. We may end up with a system similar to the one

Junaid Ahmed,

Globetrotters (GB) Ltd

currently used for trading with countries outside the EU. “For exporters, the customs documentation at the UK border is not too onerous. The amount of documentation needed at the border of the destination country depends on that country – and this will vary from country to country. Import customs clearance in some countries could prove onerous and costly.”

Brexit will create an unlevel playing field for UK firms when it comes to the cost of importing and exporting goods. Currently, there are no customs duties to be paid when buying goods coming from within the EU. For companies in the UK, this will change next year.

Junaid Ahmed says: “Goods that have been produced in the EU, or that have been imported into an EU country with duty paid, are in free circulation within the EU. Customs duty is not payable on acquisitions – imports or purchases – of goods that are in free circulation. Clearly, this will change for the UK after the end of this year unless the UK government can agree a duty structure with the EU. The best option would be zero per cent duty across the board; this would encourage the movement of free trade. If this cannot be achieved, and the duties are too prohibitive, UK firms might decide to trade with companies further afield.

“Cost is not the only consideration, however. You might be able to import a product from China cheaper than importing it from Germany, but shipment may take longer. If you need the product quickly to satisfy customer demand, you might decide to import from Germany and take on the extra cost.”

It’s clear that companies will need to get their house in order when the UK Global Tariff (UKGT) replaces the EU’s Common External Tariff at the end of this year. Exporters will need to

secure a tariff number for their goods which, if they have only exported to the EU, will be a new requirement for them. A tariff number, or commodity code, is a sequence of numbers made up of six, eight or ten digits and determines the customs duties and other charges levied on the goods. The amount of duty paid will depend on the HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code assigned to the product.

An HTS code is used to classify goods for import and export to make sure they’re moved safely and in compliance with customs, tax and duty regulations.

company managed to classify it as a brush, the duty reduced to 0%. This resulted in decreased costs for the end customer.”

This company was one of the fortunate ones. Others may not legitimately be able to reclassify their product – which could trigger a major change in their international trade strategy.

Sandra says: “We could see more UK companies exporting to countries outside of the EU. Some might decide it’s more cost-effective to set up a manufacturing base in the EU,

We could see more UK companies exporting to countries outside of the EU. Some might decide it’s more cost-effective to set up a manufacturing base in the EU, which would make trading in this region less costly and onerous.

Ensuring that the product is classified correctly and picking the right tariff number is key to minimising export/ import costs, according to Sandra Strong of international trade specialist Strong & Herd.

She says: “Companies need to be aware of this otherwise they could face additional costs that may mean exporting/importing isn’t feasible for them. The classification of the product could have a huge bearing on the amount of duty paid. One company, which makes innovative products to protect footwear, was paying 7% duty on one of its products when it was classified as plastic. However, when the

which would make trading in this region less costly and onerous.

“The key message to companies is: get your ducks lined up now – otherwise you could face unwanted administrative and financial burdens from next year.”

Another consideration when exporting is the foreign exchange market (FOREX), the global market for the trading of currencies. The nature of this exchange rate is that it fluctuates; a company can send an invoice for a certain amount of money but have to settle at a different rate depending on the fluctuation in that particular currency over time.

Michael Brown, senior market analyst at Caxton FX, says: “Trading on FOREX can be risky if not managed correctly. A lot of companies have an agreement in place where they can lock in the exchange rate; this gives them more certainty and the ability to keep better control over their finances. Others use financial derivatives to hedge risk.

“If you don’t manage your currency rate in some shape or form, you are effectively gambling on the foreign exchange market. Emerging markets, such as those in Brazil and Argentina, tend to be much more volatile than developed markets such as the US and Canada.

“Markets generally are on a knife-edge at the moment due to COVID. The world is entering a deep recession so managing risk has never been more important. The main priority for exporters is to protect their bottom line and strengthen their balance sheets.” mtxpress are uniquely placed to advise and offer Forex solutions.

Our “No fee” international currency account, has lower rates than the High Street Banks and no transaction fees.

Your international currency account will provide stability and the opportunity to maximise margins allowing you to continue to grow your business and prosper, post Brexit. mtxpress is ideally placed to help businesses manage FOREX risks.

The company has been carefully planning for business post-Brexit for the last three years.

David Billingsby, international trade advisor at Mtxpress, said: “All of our international currency account holders have total control and transparency over all FOREX matters. Additionally, we have trade financing available if needed, allowing you to maximise cashflow and grow your business.” www.mtxpress.co.uk

let’s talkbusiness

25

finance

Good Credit Management: 2020 a catalyst for change The global economy, according to the IMF is likely to take a $12tn hit from coronavirus.

That cumulative macro effect is being felt on a micro level too. Small businesses in the UK are under unprecedented pressure due to the impact of COVID-19. Cashflow, in particular, has been significantly impacted and as the old adage goes – cashflow is king.

“83% of small businesses have to deal with payments that are made after the agreed date.” FSB So how do you navigate the uncertainty and doomsayers? The reality for some is that they won’t survive the unique circumstances currently being faced. For others, discipline is going to be key in as many facets of the business as are possible.

Credit management is a system where credit terms are extended to buyers. These entities are deemed to be solid enough to take the initial risk and are expected to be able to repay within terms. There are a lot of associated benefits for businesses that provide credit terms, such as maintaining competitive advantage, building customer loyalty and as a result, often boosting sales.

There are downside risks too though, such as the impact on cashflow when terms are

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exceeded and the risk of nonpayment. Most businesses don’t fully appreciate how many parts of the business good credit management incorporates. So, taking a wholistic view is the first step in proactive credit control procedures. From marketing and sales through to accounts receivable and in larger business, shipping and treasury too. Here are some simple, yet highly effective key areas to cover off: 1. Assess risk up front Firstly, sales will deal with new and existing clients. Do they have the resources or support to assess risk? At a minimum, they should be running a credit check on new clients and monitoring existing clients too.

In larger businesses, this credit assessment will typically take place in a finance / accounting department. Company policy will then dictate if credit should be extended or not.

2. Invoice on time, with clear terms of trade Once credit is approved and an order is placed, make sure to get invoices out on time and with clear terms attached and agreed up front.

3. Chase payments effectively Timing is everything. Make sure you have a clear reminder and chase procedure in place for payments due / overdue. Many online tools allow you to automate this process and synchronise with your accounting system too.

You can also outsource overdue payments to a debt collection agency that will often work on a no win, no fee basis.

4. Insure against downside risk Invoice Insurance, traditionally referred to as Trade Credit Insurance is a lesser known way of insuring against the risk of bad debt or insolvency of business debtors. It covers a percentage (typically 90%) of your receivables

and often takes over chasing the debtor after a certain period has lapsed.

Content provided by Credifolio Credifolio provides credit management in your pocket.

Download the free credit scoring app for UK SMEs to get their own credit scores and those of their key buyers. We’ll be incorporating more free tools like collections too.

Learn more at www.credifolio.com Nicolas Gidaracos, InvoiceInsure Ltd is a new member of the Chamber of Commerce,

“We were referred to the Chamber due to the quality of their events and reach across West London through sister Chambers. The team has been very attentive and helpful since we’ve joined.”

environment delicate surgical sutures to special effects applications for the film industry.

While the company has been hit by the COVID crisis along with most other manufacturers, it still has a healthy order book and its sustainability procedures have enabled it to save money at a time when every penny counts.

“I looked at our recent monthly gas bill and it was only £5 – not bad for a 10,000 sq ft site,” says Mark. “We also saved around £20,000 on our packaging in twelve months and we generate £1,200 each year by selling electricity from our solar panels to the National Grid.”

However, Ormiston Wire’s environmental agenda is no longer based solely on cutting costs or generating revenue.

Sustainability has become a big buzzword in business. With environmental concerns high on the political agenda and amid society’s growing appreciation of the need to make the planet a greener place to live, companies have been forced to change their ways and put environmental policies at the heart of their business practices.

Isleworth-based manufacturer Ormiston Wire has been leading the way on sustainability for more than three decades – although the company hadn’t initially made a conscious effort to green up its act, as MD Mark Ormiston explains.

“Manufacturing had been hit particularly hard by the 1989 recession so I was searching for ways to cut costs without getting rid of highly skilled staff who’d been with us for many years,” he says. “We switched off lights in offices that weren’t being used, started recycling our packaging and avoided landfill tax by purchasing a skip which is only emptied once every year.

“After moving into new, modern premises in 1991, we really began to see the benefits of adopting sustainable practices. We improved our energy efficiency by installing fluorescent and then LED lighting, a high-efficiency gas boiler and push taps in all bathrooms to reduce water usage, and plastic skylights to reduce our dependence on artificial lighting. We also started sourcing power from a renewable energy supplier, recycling and selling our scrap metal and plastic, and in 2003 we became the first UK-based SME to generate our own power with solar panels and a wind turbine.

“None of these measures were hard to accomplish, but they have helped to build an ethical ethos amongst our workforce that’s had a significant impact on our environmental footprint.”

Established in 1793 by an enterprising young Scotsman, James Ormiston, the company began life in London making spring-wire for corsets and wigs.

Six generations later, under the leadership of Mark, Ormiston Wire is still an independent, family-run business and makes almost any type of wire for a variety of applications, from

Mark says: “Companies have to be seen to be sustainable now, both to attract and retain customers and to enhance and protect the reputation of the business. Customers, particularly the younger generation, are environmentally conscious and are quick to boycott products and companies that don’t meet fair, ethical and sustainability standards.

“This is an important consideration in this age of social media. It takes years to build up a reputation but seconds for someone to destroy it by uploading a few critical posts on Twitter. Companies that look to make the planet a greener place while doing business are more likely to do well as the world tries to recover from the pandemic.”

Ormiston a supportive member of the Chamber for many years, has been recognised for its long-standing commitment to sustainability and good environmental practices.

Previously a winner of the Best Green Business Award in the Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, the company also scooped a Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development in 2003.

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legal Gurdev Singh Mann, Partner and Head of Property at Garner & Hancock Solicitors talks about your most important ‘Asset’ Do I or should I undertake a survey?

What areas of law do you cover?

As a department, all aspects of Buying and Selling a property and Property Law and advice associated also with and including, Re-Mortgage (and Bridging Finance), Transfer of Equity, New Builds, Lease Extensions, Equity Release. As a firm we give advice on Commercial and Company Law, Wills, Trusts, Inheritance Tax, Lasting Powers of Attorney for Finance and Health, Court of Protection work and advice over Mental Capacity and Dementia, Employment, Family, Litigation and Dispute Resolution.

Can I still buy/sell/re-mortgage undertake lease extension during the current Covid-19?

Yes. So, it is business as normal except, for the short term at least, until a vaccine is discovered, hopefully within the next 6 to 12 months, things will revert back to some sort of normality as before and until then any move will need to be in compliance with Government Guidelines to move safely in accordance with Government Public Health Guidelines and social distancing. Since around mid-May you are increasingly seeing estate agents opening their doors, return of viewings in person, surveys and valuations and removal companies.

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Yes. I always say to clients who ask me about Surveys; Would you buy a car without looking under the bonnet? (most of us do), Would you buy a Property without undertaking a proper survey? (most of us do).

Under the General Law principle – “Let the buyer beware” the condition of Property and Surveys are ‘your responsibility’. So, whilst a survey will be an added cost, however, it’s always important to instruct your own surveyor to inspect and report to you on the fabric/ condition of the property including any hidden and not so obvious defects. Survey also important ascertain there is nothing revealed that would conflict with the purpose and reasons for which you are purchasing the property or its future value, saleability and marketability.

When deciding on a survey, there are three types: Basic valuation survey; Homebuyers survey (medium) (Most opt for) and full structural survey (more advanced then homebuyers) Of course, there are many advantages including, insight (buying with ‘open eyes’ so to speak), revealing ‘hidden’ (latent) defects, allows you to budget for any remedial works including any price re-negotiations and above all to make an informed choice What about Stamp Duty?

For England and Northern Ireland, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak’s announcement to ‘kick start’ the property market and to introduce the new Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) ‘SDLT Holiday’ that will have an impact on transactions completing between 8 July 2020 - 31 March 2021 inclusive whereby the threshold at which stamp duty becomes payable was increased from £125,000 to £500,000.00. This saving in stamp duty will of course be a welcome opportunity for all those planning

and saving to purchase a property to do so within this window frame to take advantage whether on their first purchase, to those moving house to those making an additional purchase, although in the latter category the 3% higher rate up lift for second plus home owners will continue to apply.

The threshold at which Land Transaction Tax (LTT) for properties in Wales becomes payable was increased from £180,000 to £250,000 to take effect on the 27th July 2020 until the 31st March 2021 What is the property landscape likely to look like over the next 12-18 months? And effects of the Covd-19 pandemic Well, what can be said with a degree of some certainty, that since world war two (WWII) despite various rescissions, financial crises and with the impact of Technology and regardless of Covid 19 pandemic, the ‘Property Sector’ will ‘continue to evolve’ as it ‘always’ has through every decade. Further there will always be a need for people to ‘move’, buy and sell, re-mortgage, Lease Extensions (for flats) still need to happen, move for reasons of lifestyle, relocation, schooling, work, retirement and generally want and need for any number of other of reasons to move. The experience of the Covid 19 Pandemic has made people appreciate and factor the importance and ‘value’ of ‘outside space’ (Garden/Patio/Balcony), no matter how small, when particularly buying a property with there being a surge in interest for Property with outside space including countryside property. Government policy, since around mid-May to ‘kick start’ the economy began relaxing regulations for both the ‘Construction Sector’ & ‘Property Market’ and with the new hash tag ‘Build, Build, Build’.

Are all conveyancing, property Solicitors the same?

Short answer no. As not all firms are CQS accredited by the Law Society (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) which provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices and membership establishes a level of credibility for firms. Nor are all firms on most lenders panels or have the same level of expertise and/ or practical and legal experience in Property Law. Here at Garner and Hancock, not only are we CQS accredited by the Law Society but also on most Lenders panel, being a 5-partner firm, with our transparent charging structure. We deal with all aspects of Property Law including dispute resolution, giving practical commercial contextual advice.

We will give you at the outset and periodically thereafter time scales/ updates at relevant milestone stages in managing expectations and to all parties in the transaction. We take pride in always having a good working relationship with all estate agents. We do offer a bespoke direct personal (one-to-one) client care service and you will be dealing directly with your nominated Solicitor throughout the process who may be assisted by one assistant. The offices are situated within charming and delightful surroundings of Old Isleworth bordering St Margret’s and Richmond which are both within easy reach. Above all, we look forward to being of ‘service to you’ and in assisting you in your Property matter and in dealing with your most important ‘Asset’.

To contact Gurdev Singh Mann Switchboard: 0208 232 9560 DD: 0208 104 9565 gmann@garner-hancock.co.uk www.garner-hancock.co.uk

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: +44 20 3879 4259 | www.garner-hancock.co.uk Garner & Hancock Solicitors: 4 Church Street, Old Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 6BH

RETAIL

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let’s talkbusiness

news

Opening the door to New Business Investing in virtual networking events can help local firms build connections and boost their profile. New Chamber member 2k Tiger explains…

There is no doubt that this has been, and continues to be, a tough time for businesses. Lockdown has tested us all. Some businesses may not survive, while others have better prospects. So, what can you do to give your business the best chance of survival?

Mrinal Madina is the founder of 2k Tiger, a full-service business development agency based in Chiswick Business Park. He says there are things any of us can do to strengthen our businesses and improve resilience. Firstly, you need to be ready to adapt: do you have products or services that could be presented differently?

Being able to pivot your business, using its core attributes and processes and offering them in alternative formats may well open doors you had not considered or even been aware of previously.

Mrinal cites his own business as a case in point. As a start-up last year, 2k Tiger didn’t have the advantages of mature businesses – the business had to grow from a low base. But a year later, 2k Tiger has both a healthy client list and strategic partnerships across different sectors. How has the company achieved this? As Mrinal says, it’s about reaching out, making connections and finding ways you can help others. But understand yourself first: what do you want to be known for? Why would others ask for your help?

What are your goals? Get these clear and then set about building your profile and your connections.

One simple yet effective way of doing this is through organising events. In the age of lockdown, many previously live events have

business leaders and elite sports figures.

Business development is something many businesses find hard to do, yet it has never been more necessary than now. In running events, you connect with others and raise your profile simultaneously, attracting potential clients. But, says Mrinal, it’s vital to follow up in the right way after making a connection, otherwise the effort will have been wasted.

Mrinal offers this guidance for businesses that want to survive: • Develop a mindset focused on growth and continuous learning • Be open to new ways of doing things and have an optimistic outlook • Understand where you are now and believe you can achieve your goals • Build a solid team around you so that you deliver on all fronts • Take on challenges and accept calculated risks or you will not grow • Always follow up but remember: building relationships takes time become virtual. 2k Tiger has developed a formula for creating successful virtual networking events. These have been held in sectors such as finance, law, technology, cricket, rugby and golf, with more coming in other sectors.

Strong links have also been formed with various groups, including business organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce.

2k Tiger is working with the Chamber on the forthcoming regeneration 3.0 conference and business awards – great events for establishing connections and entertaining clients. A virtual event has also been held in conjunction with the Chamber, bringing in experts from the worlds of sport and business to help members learn from

If you’re interested in developing new avenues to strengthen your business, visit https://2ktiger.com/ for more information.

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During these challenging times, the team at Holiday Inn London – Brentford Lock sends their best wishes to the whole Hounslow community and beyond. We are looking forward to welcoming our guests back to the hotel in the hopefully not too distant future.

As always, for any meeting/event enquiries please reach out to our Sales Manager, Matthew Merrick: salesmanager@hibrentfordlock.co.uk and he would be delighted to assist.

Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors We are friendly firm of Chartered Accountants who pride ourselves on delivering quality services no matter how small or large your business may be. Our firm provides more than what is expected from a firm of Chartered Accountants.

We review our clients process, and where possible we refine the process to achieve an efficient way of working for both ourselves and the clients. We have our in-house IT team that allows us to achieve the efficiency we require.

Below are the services we provide: • Bookkeeping • Vat Returns • Payroll • Year-End Accounts • Corporation Tax Return • Self-Assessment • Landlords • Advisory • IT Solutions • COVID-19 advise - see our article on page 7

Let us be your partners in business. Contact us to discuss your unique requirements.

West London (Head Office) Q West Great West Road Brentford TW8 0GP Dockland Knowledge Dock 4-6 University Way London, E16 2RD

Tel: 0333 880 2460 | Email: info@agp.uk.com | www.agp.uk.com Silver certified advisor

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let’s talkbusiness

Pro-Advisor Platinum

technology

SMEs under attack: how Timeless IMS can implement the technology to protect your business and secure cyber insurance Last year, a cybercriminal attacked a British business every second — that’s over 31.5m attacks every year in the UK alone.

Huge names such as Uber, Tesco, Yahoo, Marriott International and British Airways have all hit the headlines in recent times. These organisations have collectively amassed more than £608m in fines for leaving themselves open to cyberattacks. Yet it’s the small-tomedium enterprises (SMEs) that are more vulnerable.

In 2019, each SME was hit with an average of over half a million attacks — that’s 66 per hour.

SMEs are simply easier to penetrate. They are the most likely targets of hackers — all while SME owners are incorrectly assuming that they have nothing worth taking. Cybercriminals recognise

that many SME owners who believe that they are not worthy of an attack will not have invested in cybersecurity. Hackers will know that most SMEs don’t have an inhouse IT department.

SMEs often only have the resources for one in-house or one external IT professional to call upon — with the likelihood being that they aren’t specialised in cybersecurity. They may also have a whole host of other clients with other problems — with their focus not solely on your business.

Cybercriminals are taking data, which they will lock down with a crypto locker that requires a sophisticated algorithm to break.

Businesses have even been held to ransom: bitcoin for your data.

place, plus other factors, before a cyber insurance policy is granted.

Another ploy popular with cybercriminals has been coined as ‘social engineering’. By using spyware, criminals will sit in your network and watch you for as long as it takes. They will study how you talk, pay run dates, and timings and routines.

We’ve been talking to our insurance industry clients. They’ve helped us compile a list of the requirements insurance companies will need evidence of to secure a policy* — and we will get you there.

Then, hacking into your email account and sending an invoice from your email address becomes easy. Bank details will be changed and go unnoticed by accounts teams that will seldom check details if paying a regular customer.

All of your hard-earned money goes straight to a hacker’s account.

More and more companies are now seeking cyber insurance to help protect themselves. While insurance companies are beginning to offer this type of cover, there is a requirement for the correct cybersecurity technology to be in

Timeless IMS is a managed security service provider (MSSP) and IT industry expert. We can implement our cybersecurity technology stack to ensure your business will meet the requirements to: • secure cyber insurance • deliver protection that will offer the same level of security to your business and its users, who are working on-site and remotely — 24/7/365 • constantly trawl the dark web — a hotbed for cybercriminals — to anticipate and repel the newest attacks, while also searching for the sale of your data

Timeless IMS is a long standing patron of the Chamber of Commerce.

Visit Timeless IMS to download our list of cyber insurance requirements: https://www.timelessims.co.uk/smes-under-attack-howtimeless-ims-can-implement-the-technology-to-protect-your-business-and-secure-cyber-insurance/ *insurance companies’ requirements may differ

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news

LEGAL

Businesses and clients have seemingly adjusted their perspective after the initial shock of Covid19. Confidence is returning, albeit cautiously. So now is a good time to prepare for the future. By embracing new opportunities we can assist our clients to adapt to the new way of investing in property.

It is projected by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (April 2020) that both commercial investors and occupiers expect a sharp fall in values and interest for at least the next 12 months. Realistically it maybe longer depending on several factors, including the government’s guidelines, the increase in flexible working and technology. Historically the increase in conversions to residential was prompted by increasing numbers of smaller businesses finding commercial rents and rates no longer viable.

In 2013 and again in 2017, legislation made it easier to convert a commercial premises to residential. This led to a 40% increase in commercial to residential conversions. With an estimated 10% of all new homes being former offices since 2016.

The latest Permitted Development Rights expire on 30 September 2020 but are expected to be replaced by extensive polices first announced in June 2020.

The new regulations that would revolutionise planning and better use our vacant commercial buildings, shops and land. So as to revitalise the construction industry, make better use of our available buildings and meet increasing demand for homes.

The changes are expected to be in force by 1st October 2020. It is intended to support the high street revival by allowing empty commercial properties to be quickly repurposed and reduce the pressure on green field land. The building standards remain the same but the planning process will be simplified.

Q. Can a business apply at any time to change the use of a commercial building to residential?

A. Yes, you don’t need to wait for the new regulations. The application still needs to be made but some requests have a better chance to succeed. It needs to be submitted before any other application for planning (if required) can be considered. Currently a change of use application for premises already located in a residential area is more likely to succeed. Similarly where residences are replacing shops of less than 150 square metres in size.

Q. Can I convert any smaller shop or premises to a residential dwelling?

A. No. Some local authorities want to support their high streets and place restrictions on the number or type of premises that can be converted. Usually to support the local area or to preserve its ascetics. Villages and areas of historical interest will not necessarily have to adhere to the proposed changes. Or indeed premises which continue to serve the community.

Q. Will I need a specialist mortgage?

A. Yes. As the usual residential mortgage products won’t be available and a specialist broker is recommended.

Q. Do I pay Stamp Duty Land Tax? A. Yes but only if the property is worth more than £150,000. The temporary exemption on residential properties under £500,000 doesn’t apply to commercial or mixed use transactions, (e.g. a building consisting of residential flat above a shop). Stamp Duty is simpler as it is paid on values between £150,000 and £250,000 at a rate of 2% and 5% for any balance.

All the above responses have been simplified and shortened for expediency and are correct at July 2020. 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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let’s talkbusiness

Stuck in the same ocean but not in the same boat?

A lot has been said about how we’re all in this together, in the same boat, but that’s not strictly true. As we navigate the pandemic storm some of us are in small plastic dinghies alongside others in massive yachts yet all of us doing our best to steer towards calmer waters.

We’re all feeling the strain with challenging emotions and feelings - fear, anxiety, sadness, frustration, anger, stress, shame, guilt, oppression, helplessness, grief, and more. Some feelings have been triggered by furlough, redundancy, pay cuts, taking on extra work to make ends meet, reduced child-care support and losing loved ones. Some feelings are triggered by the effect of isolation and uncertainty that summons up old ghosts from the past.

Relationships are changing, some for better, some for worse. Life has changed irrevocably for many.

So what can you do? The old saying – a problem shared is a problem halved – is so true. Counselling offers a safe, judgement free space to unburden and make sense of difficult emotions and feelings, rebuild your life and relationships and start to feel better.

Anchor Counselling has served the people of Hounslow since 2005. We work in partnership with the NHS providing free counselling by accredited and experienced therapists.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Take your first step now towards feeling better and self-refer at our website www. anchorcounselling.org or speak to your Hounslow NHS GP for a referral to Anchor Counselling.

Chamber campaign helps firms reopen safely Hounslow Chamber of Commerce under the umbrella of Safer Business Hounslow (SBH) (https://saferbusinesshounslow.co.uk) has launched a #ShopSafeShopLocal campaign, working with Hounslow Council and funded by the ERDF, to help businesses reopen safely and remain COVID-19 secure.

The idea behind the campaign is to encourage people to return to local shops and help businesses take important steps to reduce the risk of infection within their premises. Various toolkits have been prepared with practical advice to assist businesses as they look to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. #ShopSafeShopLocal is part of the Safer Business Hounslow (SBH) initiative, which is run by Hounslow Chamber in partnership with Hounslow Council. The aim of the initiative is to prevent and reduce crime and other anti-social behaviour, creating a safer community to attract more shoppers to the area.

The Chamber recently recruited three business support advisors and a manager, who have been trained by Mel Bruneau, Health and Safety Director at the Chamber. They are visiting businesses across the borough to help them become COVID-19 secure, conform to local and national government guidance and prevent the spread of the virus in their workplaces.

Our team have been making the following visits across the borough including Feltham, Hounslow, Brentford and Chiswick. Members of the team include Alan Rides, MD of the Chamber; Janet Leatherland, Chair of SBH; Jamie Catling,

Board Member of SBH; Mel Bruneau and Sally Smith also of the Chamber, and Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council. It is a team effort; please welcome them when they visit you!

Sally Smith, Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber, while in Chiswick, said: “It has never been more important for businesses to receive advice and support to reopen safely as they try to kick-start the economy again. Hounslow Chamber with Hounslow Council has launched the #ShopSafeShopLocal campaign to do just that.

Throughout the pandemic we’ve been there for businesses, offering them assistance via webinars and other means of communication, and we’ll continue to do that over the coming months.”

The #ShopSafeShopLocal campaign has received backing from several local firms, including Urban Pantry in Chiswick.

Kate Frobisher of Urban Pantry said: “ShopSafeShopLocal has been really helpful. Monday was my busiest weekday in the history of Urban Pantry. It’s good to bring life back to the independent businesses of Chiswick. We are so grateful for the initiative.”

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, cabinet member for finance and corporate services at Hounslow

Council, said: “Our aim is to help business owners, their staff and customers feel confident to return to our town centres while following public health and safety precautions. We know you may still feel nervous about going out but with appropriate measures in place we can support our local economy safely and confidently.”

Businesses can visit the following web page where they can download the toolkit for reopening their business: https://saferbusinesshounslow. co.uk/about-us/covid-19/ This toolkit includes guidance • For business • For customers

• For staff • For deliveries and services • Plus lots of useful resource connections It is also designed to help businesses operate correctly in the current environment, where they will need to carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment. For more information visit https://www.hse.gov.uk/simplehealth-safety/risk/index.htm Businesses have a duty to protect staff, customers and others affected by work activities from the risk of coronavirus infection.

Please read and action the guidance available to make your business COVID-19 secure.

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membership

5 Reasons to Join

Joining once gives you membership of two Chambers (Hounslow Chamber and West London Local Chambers) for three boroughs; Hounslow, Ealing, plus Hammersmith & Fulham. We are made up of active and successful business people from a wide range of sectors, who are based in the three boroughs who believe in our part of west London and wish us all to prosper

1 2 3 4 5

Regular networking events/webinars/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@westlondonlocalchambers.org.uk or go to our Website: www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

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let’s talkbusiness

hounslow chamber

27 10 th

August

10:00am-11:00am

th

September

events

Re-boot, Recover & Grow - for Ealing businesses https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_A5heOzrgRFmWWi0_ONmcAw Branduin Business Support – Nauzar Manekshaw | Contactus Ealing – Carlene Bender | Ealing Council | John Martin Estates - John Martin | Metro Bank - Sanjeev Panesar, Area Director – West London | West London Local Chambers – Alan Rides

HR Webinar with Peninsula Group Limited 10.00 am for 60 minutes.

10:00am-11:00am

Regeneration 3.0 SAVE THE

Holiday Inn London - Brentford Lock Commerce Road, Brentford, TW8 8GA

Tuesday 6th October 2020 2.00pm -8.00pm

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

DATE CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS

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

Entrance is free of charge for pre-registered companies/attendees. The afternoon will end with a drinks reception for which there is charge.

Thursday October 15th

Clayton Hotel, 626 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5RY

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

Award categories to include: • Business of the Year

• Employer of the Year

• Best Business for Marketing and Social Media

• Best Green Business

• Best SME

• Best Cargo and Logistics Company of the Year

• Best business for Customer Service • Best Charity/ Social Enterprise • Best New Business

• Best Exporter of the Year

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

• Best Security • Best Business Support and Advice (Service Company)

Hounslow Regeneration 2.0 Conference – September 2019

Events are being added and changed all the time so please check our website for more details Please contact Sally Smith on sallysmith@westlondonlocalchambers.org.uk or 020 8326 6416 | 07879 813817 or www.hounslowchamber.org.uk for more information. let’s talkbusiness

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invest in

hounslow

The Brentford Project: the new waterfront

Magnet for investment The brough of Hounslow and surrounding areas, including Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, are proving to be a magnet for investment. Here are just a few examples of the exciting projects that are happening in these areas – projects that are creating wealth and jobs and improving the quality of life for local residents…

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Brentford FC new stadium

High Street Quarter Hounslow

Hounslow Town Centre: A total of £2.5m from the first two rounds of the Mayor of London’s Outer London Fund along with £1.2m from Hounslow Council has been allocated to help Hounslow town centre attract more visitors and increase trade, capitalising on its proximity to Heathrow and future growth in west London.

Rundown streets and a lack of well-defined public space has contributed to a reduction in visitors to the high street, but the new plans will make the most of Hounslow’s vibrant, culturally diverse town centre and excellent links to the rest of London. The first round of investment was put into a series of schemes to animate, light up and boost businesses in the town centre, preparing Hounslow for a comprehensive programme of physical improvements made in round two with further support from Transport for London (TfL).

High Street Quarter: Led by developer Barratt London, High Street Quarter is an exciting residential development coming to the centre of Hounslow, designed to spark the regeneration of the surrounding areas.

One, two and three-bedroom homes will be built around a new public square with shops, restaurants and a Cineworld. Hounslow East and Central tube stations are both a few minutes’ walk away, with

quick links to central London via the Piccadilly Line.

Brentford South Side: Ballymore is the developer behind Brentford South Side, which will see the creation of a new riverside town centre in the heart of West London. Containing a mix of residential, retail, employment, leisure and community uses, the scheme will include restaurants, cafes, pubs, stylish apartments and 14,000 sq ft of retail space, as well as a range of community spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Brentford FC stadium development: The football club’s 17,250-capacity stadium is being built by EcoWorld London and will also provide a new home for rugby club London Irish. The scheme will incorporate a mix of sports, leisure, education and residential facilities as part of a larger urban quarter in the area.

High Lane Estate: A £116m regeneration of the High Lane Estate in Hanwell, West Ealing, is underway. Residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of developer Rydon’s proposal to rebuild their neighbourhood, with a 91% backing – the first time a mandatory ballot has been used by a London council to determine public support for a development of this type.

The major project forms part of Ealing’s development programme and will replace poorly designed housing blocks comprising 264 existing homes, with 504 new mixed-tenure, energy-efficient family homes over three phases.

Hammersmith regeneration: Several areas have been earmarked for redevelopment, including White City, Hammersmith Town Centre (where there is a target for 2,800 homes up to 2035), Earls Court and West Kensington, South Fulham Riverside (with a target of 4,000 homes by 2035) and Old Oak Common.

The White City Regeneration Area sits within Hammersmith and Fulham and covers 110 hectares, including Shepherds Bush Town Centre, the BBC and Queens Park Rangers Football Club.

The targets for new development are sites to the east of Wood Lane and north of the existing Westfield London shopping centre, but including BBC Television Centre.

The aim is to attract new homes and jobs, with a focus on creative industries and innovation in biomedical research. The plans also include new areas of open space, improved facilities for local people and better pedestrian and cycling connections to create a mixed and balanced community.

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DELIVERING BETTER STREETS Ringway Hounslow Highways In Hounslow, the Council secured the services of Ringway Hounslow Highways and embarked on the large task of recovering the borough’s highway infrastructure to a fit for purpose standard, and to a condition that supports the London Borough of Hounslow’s vision of economic development and social regeneration.

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Ringway Hounslow Highways has been working with the Council to improve and manage all of the borough’s highway infrastructure. Our teams combine asset management, network management, design, build and maintenance expertise - all within one organisation located at the heart of Hounslow. We are proud to be working with the London Borough of Hounslow to deliver their vision for economic development, social regeneration and environmental enhancement in this great community.

• Exceptional health and safety record

• Ringway Hounslow Highways provides innovative and sustainable solutions for your engineering and construction requirements

• Provide expert project management services from project inception to close

• Ringway Hounslow Highways offers best practice maintenance services through local solutions • Flexible approach to support our clients • Supported by close community of trusted supply-chain partners • Part of an internationally recognised specialist highways services Group

• Locally based workforce

Martin Clack, the Divisional Director of Hounslow Highways says, “as a local partner, we develop, design and build to maintain the transport infrastructure through operational excellence, putting our main focus on performance and safety.”

Our client at London Borough of Hounslow said: “Ringway Hounslow Highways have been a valued partner of the London Borough of Hounslow for over seven years since the beginning of the Highways Maintenance Project in January 2013.

Over the years, in collaboration with the Authority, their achievements include not only making Hounslow’s road network one of the best in London (*State of the City 2019 report from LoHEG*) but they have delivered major construction projects including the regeneration of Hounslow Town Centre, jointly constructing the boroughs dedicated Waste and Recycling Materials Handling Facility, and more recently a large regeneration of Feltham Town Centre.

By sharing ideas and being flexible in their approach, Ringway Hounslow Highway have been able to perform to a high standard and consistently meet expectations.”

So, what’s your next move?

Contact us on 020 8538 5755 or email businessmanagement@ hounslowhighways.org for a discussion on how to take your next project to the next level.

Visit our website at www.hounslowhighways.org for more information on the services we provide.

Follow us on Twitter: @HounslowHways

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BACK TO SCHOOL ESSENTIALS “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.”

So says Ophelia in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet.

And she was on to something. Study after study, show that essential oils increase alertness, memory, accuracy, and mental clarity.

A 2017 study by Dr Mark Moss of Northumbria University found that pupils working in a room scented with rosemary essential oil achieved 5–7% better results in memory tests. Researchers in Japan found that those working with computers made 54% fewer typing errors when the air was scented with lemon. And according to WebMD, linalool, a substance found in lemons, helps reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Smell is possibly the most underrated of our five senses. It has a powerful effect on the brain’s many functions including the limbic system – which governs emotional processing, motivation, fear, and pleasure – the hippocampus and the amygdala, all three of which impact learning and memory.

We all want our children to excel. Studying hard is one thing, studying effectively is the difference between just getting it done and actually absorbing and comprehending the material.

There is a reason why ancient Greek students wore garlands of rosemary in exams – it works!

doTERRA Top 5 Oils for Back to School • For impactful studying try Rosemary • Reduce stress and anxiety with Lemon • Build hope and comfort with Console • Counteract negativity with Forgive • To boost happiness and positivity try Cheer

I am offering a Free 30 minute Consultation, on how Essential Oils can be used to support your memory and emotional health. To book an appointment please email me on alex@readysteadydo.com

Before the use of any pure essential oils you must speak to an expert.

For more information or to book a consultation contact Alex Willis – 07957312237 www.readysteadydo.com www.facebook.com/UKAlexWillis/ www.instagram.com/readysteadydo

Anchor Counselling provides free counselling therapy to people who live in Hounslow.

We work in partnership with the NHS and West London Health Trust.

We are seeking to appoint new trustees to Anchor’s Board to support the organisation as it continues to: n Pursue its purpose, goals and targets n Comply with governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations n Safeguard its good name, values and sustainability We would particularly like to hear from applicants interested in the mental health and wellbeing sector with experience in the following areas: n Strategy and business development n Financial expertise n Marketing - raising market awareness The position is not remunerated. There are four evening Board meetings per year (currently

by Zoom) and a one-day annual strategy and planning event.

For an informal discussion with the Board Chair, Andrew Holt, please send your CV to: info@anchorcounselling.org.

www.anchorcounselling.org 42

let’s talkbusiness

health and

wellbeing

Business communications in the time of COVID-19 At the moment most businesses are facing a significant challenge coming from the need for change in relationships with employees, customers and suppliers whilst also having to use differing methods of communication.

Conflicts can arise when competing needs cannot be resolved and/or when communications do not go well. However attention to skilful communications can minimise distress and unwanted consequences.

In this article UKCP Psychotherapists Nicholas Rose and Martin Weaver share thoughts and advice on how to think through, plan and undertake your communications when deciding on and implementing change.

Says Nicholas “our experience of ourselves in our work has been challenged by change and uncertainty, at the same time we need to understand how others have been affected whilst ensuring communication options and practices are collaborative and inclusive.”

With lockdown easing, the Governments’ setting out of financial support packages and when they will change means many people are starting to see some shape to their business moving forward. For some, things will be fundamentally altered whilst for others it’s about returning to pre COVID “normality”. What is certain is that there is a level of uncertainty that places huge demands on our communication skills and expertise, many difficult conversations are

uncertainty and anxiety, and this might involve you having to share more or different information than you have done in the past”

having to take place about either redundancies or changed terms and conditions at a time when communication tools and practices are already putting significant pressure on our interpersonal relationships.

So what does this mean in practice? Nicholas offers:

“Change and speed of change creates uncertainty and anxiety and at a time when there is a sense of pressure and urgency good communications often rely on being able to slow interactions down and collaborate” says Nicholas.

1. Take time to understand your own situation so that you can be clear about your needs, this includes revisiting any agreements, policies, legislation etc that might be relevant so you can check how your needs fit with your obligations.

Martin adds “I suggest thinking about how to approach communications from a humane starting point, so remembering that changes are likely to generate a whole range of difficult emotions. So thinking about what and how you communicate to minimise

2. Be open with others about the subject you need to address to ensure you find an approach that works for you both, remember that how you would usually communicate might not be available and so it is important to agree a method rather than assume.

3. Remember that how the other person responds will depend upon their own situation and that may well have changed significantly, so it will be important to allow time to understand where they are with things 4. If conversations get stuck then it can be good to think about what is not being understood and then make that explicit 5. Finally, allow extra time for decisions to be reached, discuss building in reviews and also mechanisms for if things do not go as planned.

If you wish to get in touch just drop us an email at info@nicholas-rose.co.uk or call us on 020 8996 9551 or visit www.nicolas-rose.co.uk

The Chamber of Commerce has been actively supporting businesses across the borough with regular webinars, including Health & Wellbeing.

Nicholas Rose was part of the expert panel on 12th May and 2nd June.

let’s talkbusiness

43

new

members Welcome to our New Members

Patrycja Kaczmarska

Mohammed Yavari

Tim Snowball

Robert White

Patico Ltd 240 Heston Road Heston TW5 0RH 07590 529163 info@paticoltd.co.uk

MFZ International Limited ASM House 103a keymer road Hassocks West Sussex BN6 8QL 07827 925216 m.yavari@grow-faster.co.uk

Bridgefellows International Limited 123 Aldersgate St, Barbican London EC1A 4JQ 07971 588380 tim.snowball@bridgefellows. international

SPSC (UK) LTD Adjutor House 3A Dixon Way Lincoln LN6 7XN 0845 862 0040 07768 041868 rob@spscuk.com

Christophe Camara Christophe Camara 45 Moorings House Tallow road Brentford TW8 8EL 07435 296807 christofcamara@gmail.com

Daniel Rice Yowly Creative Unit 1, Manor Farm Cambridge CB23 2SH 01954 713996 hello@yowly.co.uk

Nav Gill Cameron Green Ltd 286B Chase Road London N4 6HF 07497 324897 nvsgill1@gmail.com Sudeep Kalle AIOE Ltd Vista Centre 50 Salisbury Road Hounslow TW4 6JQ 07411 776509 junaid@aioetrade.co.uk Mark Francis Uspire Ltd Fetcham Park House Lower Road Fetcham Surrey KT22 9HD 01372 371 100 mark@uspire.co.uk

Rukshan Warnacula Serendipity Int LTD 9 Fishers Lane Chiswick W4 1RX 02079 988 830 07786 516233 rukshan@serendipity-int.co.uk

Navjeet Grewal Upvisors Ltd Gable End Curls Lane Maidenhead SL6 2QF 01628 627 656 navjeet@mindreorg.com

Simon Bond Richbrook Ltd 9 Beverly Lodge Richmond Surrey TW9 1LL 07879 428979 simon.bond@mail.co.uk

Matilda Goes Spa de Sal 5 London Road Brentford TW8 8JB 020 8582 8971 07858 827945 enquiries@spadesal.com

Theo Ruby Theo Ruby Marketing 43 Southdown Avenue Boston Manor W7 2AG 07709 852364 theo@theoruby.com

Wendy Richmond

By This River LTD 147, Building 14 Shepperton Studios Studios Road Shepperton TW17 0QD 01932 593 352 07866 263242 wendy@bythisriver.co.uk

Dermot Jordan Handelsbanken Handelsbanken 2 Chiswick High Road London W4 1TH 020 8994 4136 dejo01@handelsbanken.co.uk

Nicolas Gidaracos InvoiceInsure Ltd 10 Finsbury Square London EC2A 1AF 07908 031117 nic@invoiceinsure.co.uk

Laura Degiovanni TiiQu Ltd 1-2 Charterhouse Mews London EC1M 6BB 07585 162734 laura.dg@tiiqu.com

Shamsa Lakhani Safe Vetting Ltd 192 Kingsley Road Hounslow TW3 4AD 07425 379162 shamsahlakhani@safevetting.com Nim Dadwal Utility Synergy Ltd 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden WC2H 9JQ nim@utilitysynergy.com

Tejas Kotecha 5 Garrison Close Hounslow TW4 5EZ 0203 016 3375 07786 513686 t.kotecha@gmail.com

Trevor Miller London Borough of Hounslow Swimming Club Isleworth Leisure Centre Twickenham Road Isleworth TW7 7EU 07865 582254 tmconcessions@aol.com

Robin Cairns

Manoj Bhardwaj

McQueen Cairns Technology Q West, International House 1110 Great West Road Brentford Middlesex TW8 0GP 0208 737 7447 rcairns@mcqueen-cairns.com

The Virtual Bean Accounting Company Ltd 39D Cambridge Park Twickenham TW1 2JU 07771 502252 mb@virtualbeans.co.uk

Tejas Kotecha

Raj Sandhu Bikal 9/10 Bodmin Road Coventry CV2 5BD 07453 889454 rs@bikal.co.uk Usha Netrakar NKV Holistic Living 6 Elm Grove Harrow HA2 7JE 07738 130334 team@nkvholisticliving.co.uk

Dagmar Stewart Imagine Affordable Living Ltd Block B 26 Wilmington Close Watford WD18 0FQ 07956 225799 dagmar@imagine-group.co.uk Richard Quantrill mtxpress Limited Great Western Studios 65 Alfred Road London W2 5ER 0203 991 1209 richard.quantrill@mtxpress.net

let’s talkbusiness

45

5 minutes

with....

Georgina Wald Corporate Communications Manager, Fuller Smith & Turner PLC. Who are you?

Philosophy in business?

Georgina Wald, Corporate Communications Manager, Fuller Smith & Turner PLC.

Always tell the truth – and live by your values.

Fuller’s has a very clear set of values – I understand them, I relate to them, and they have delivered results.

What’s your business all about?

We are a premium pubs and hotels business, with 215 managed pubs and hotels and 177 tenanted pubs. Our estate stretches from The Thames Barrier to Portishead, and from Birmingham to Bridport in Dorset. We pride ourselves on stunning pubs, with fantastic food, beautiful bedrooms and a great range of drinks. All delivered with the warmest of welcomes from exceptional people.

Three words to describe yourself?

Funny, loyal, generous.

Ideal customer?

Anyone who appreciates a good time in a warm and welcoming environment and who knows how to treat our team members with respect and good humour.

Biggest achievement?

I’m really proud of the people who have worked with me, that I’ve developed and who have gone on to have successful careers of their own. I get a real kick out of seeing them do well in their careers – even though it’s normally with another company and I always hate losing them at the time. Also, appearing on Celebrity Masterchef when the Brewery played host to the mass catering challenge!

Biggest gripe?

People who don’t show respect and who rant at our frontline team members.

Your inspiration?

My late dad. I miss him every day.

46

let’s talkbusiness

Sporting hero?

My sporting heroes are any of the amazing athletes I’ve met through our partnership

with Special Olympics. This charity is so little known in the UK, yet it transforms the lives of thousands of people with intellectual disabilities. Like all charities, it is struggling at the moment – and events have had to be postponed – but if you get a chance, go and see for yourself the joy that sport can bring.

Biggest tip for success?

Don’t ever do a job you don’t enjoy – you spend a lot of time at work. My Dad told me that when I graduated and it was good advice. Thankfully, I love my job at Fuller’s!

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The international currency account your business needs How mtxpress can simply manage your foreign currency requirements, whilst improving your margins and unlocking your cashflow.

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Your Global Currency Account With simplicity at its core your online account will function in the same way as your regular account, but with capabilities that will reduce your time and costs whilst improving margins.

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Collect funds globally and get paid faster • Invoice your customers directly from your online portal and receive their payment directly into your account.

payments in the currency your clients prefer.

• In-country account details are in your name allowing your clients to make simple and quick domestic payments.

Pay invoices and suppliers globally • Pay invoices in 130+ currencies quickly, accurately and with the security payments will arrive on time.

• Complete payments in your clients preferred currency.

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• Manage your payments with daily or forward contract exchange rates.

How do I open an international currency account? +44 (0) 203 991 1209 Apply online at: www.mtxpress.co.uk or Email: enquiries@mtxpress.net Mtxpress Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales (registered no. 12463289). Mtxpress Ltd’s payment and Foreign Exchange Services are provided by Ebury Partners UK Limited. Ebury Partners UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as an Electronic Money Institution. Registration Number: 900797

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