Lets Talk Business February 2021

ISSUE 5: February 2021

talkbusiness let’s

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

Special milestone for Sally Smith

The Big Interview Harpal Lehal HCUC

INSIDE: International Trade - Brexit deal: what next for businesses? | Keeping it Local - An Economic Recovery That is Close to Home | The Big Interview with HCUC - Building Skills for a brighter future | Patron Focus Bolder scheme highlights Sky’s local connectivity | Spotlight Area Focus - It’s happening in Hammersmith Environment- Sustainability in modern business | 5 Minutes with Farah Qureshi

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Contents & welcome

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12 40 Welcome to our mid-winter edition of Let’s talk business.

We are getting the vaccine rolled out quicker than most countries, especially in the EU. As a Chamber we also need to make sure our local economy gets a much needed, shot in the arm for local business to survive this pandemic.

In this edition we talk about International trade with an EU deal in place and in the rest of the world, employment plus apprentice opportunities, we also have a regional focus on developments in

Hammersmith & Fulham and across the boroughs.

Finally, we congratulate all the winners in our 2019 / 20 business awards and most importantly celebrate Sally’s 20 years of service with our Chamber, with whom I have been privileged to have worked with for the last 5 years.

We hope that you enjoy the read and find our stories informative.

Alan Rides MIEx (Grad) Managing Director

Contents 4-6

International Trade

30-31 Awards

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Director Focus

32-33 Environment

8-9 Supporting Local 34 News Economy 35 Technology 10-11 News 36-37 Profile 12-17 Skills 40-41 Chamber Events 18-19 The Big Interview 43 News 21 Patron Focus 44 New Members 24-25 Spotlight Area Focus Hammersmith 45 Health & Wellbeing 28-29 Legal

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5 Minutes with…

Some articles and images may have been originated prior to Covid-19 restrictions Enquiries Hounslow Chamber of Commerce Spring Grove House, West Thames College Campus, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS Tel: 020 8326 6416 Email: sallysmith@hounslowchamber.org.uk Web: www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

Publisher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Web: www.benhampublishing.com Media No. 1774 Published February 2021

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. © 2021. 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.

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Brexit deal: what next for bu We have a UK/EU trade deal, now we have to make it work.

This has resulted in UK exports to EU down by 68% in January says Road Haulage Association.

EU announced it will put a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on 29th January 2021 without notifying the PM of the Republic of Ireland, four weeks after signing the trade agreement with the UK. Then states it was a mistake and threatens to reimpose it in the future. This single act has managed to bring together Remainers and Leavers in the UK, a country divided over Brexit for many years, and for the first time see the EU in the light many Brexiteers have described them as.

The Russians now do not recognise the EU, as they believe true power only resides with individual member states.

With the UK Chairing the G7 in 2021 can we show the world why Britain is Great?

Will the world be a better place with the new US President?

I have asked Justin Urquhart Stewart, our leading investment guru and Mel Bruneau, our Chamber Director for Cargo and Logistics to contrast the views from the City of London and Heathrow Airport

Alan Rides MIEx (Grad)

Managing Director Chamber of Commerce

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usinesses?

“The end of Trump’s four-year tirade will be a relief for most of us – apart from some closely related yahoos somewhere in the hills. It may have been unfortunate for him that his final year happened to coincide with COVID-19, but much damage had already been done, with many geo-political issues having been made worse. First his withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership left the way clear for China’s influence to grow, and then through similar inaction with the environmental Paris Accords and the Iranian nuclear agreements, he has managed to leave a trail of political confusion, with the possible exception of the Israeli deals with the UAE. The pandemic, however, ensured that any economic success was wrecked by the subsequent series of economic coronaries around the globe. Then, of course, we decided to provide our own extra issue to manage the organisational confusion that was going to be our final Brexit.

“So, are we to see a continuation of such a forlorn story? No, although we should never underestimate the potential ineptitude of our leaders. In fact, we are already seeing a global economy start to recover from its greatest shock in decades. With his eye-watering expenditure package, the new US president, Joe Biden, will want to kickstart the US economy and that will be a further boost to the global economy. Take that along with the steady rollout of the vaccines and that vital word for any economy – confidence – will start to return.

Investment guru Justin Urquhart Stewart of investment platform Regionally “Thank heaven it is the New Year. Could it really be as bad as last year? Frankly I am surprised and even amazed that we are in such a relatively good state when you consider that the world economy had to fight its way through four dreadful demons.

Just for some added piquancy, we decided in the UK to add in one further complication.

“In our own realm we have seen our industries hit hard, especially in the services. However, this is where we shall also see the returning boost first come through. As economies open up, business returns and the wheels of travel start to turn, so we will see expenditure and investment begin to increase again. Yes, many service companies have sadly not

seen it through; some were not financially strong enough to survive and others had poorly structured short-term financing. However, new shoots will come through and it will be then up to each of us to help to encourage, to educate and where we can, to invest.”

Mel Bruneau, founder of Heathrow-based MES Consultancy & Training Services Ltd and a director of Hounslow Chamber

“One phrase sums up the implications of the EU Brexit deal: a nightmare! There are significant delays to goods being shipped out of the UK and further delays when they reach their country of origin.

There are complications with paperwork, even for companies that have done all of the necessary preparation beforehand.

I’ve heard some people say: “if people get all of their ducks in a row in terms of the administration, they’ll be fine. That’s simply not the case, however.

“There are also issues with companies switching the mode of transportation of the goods. At the moment, companies are trying to move more sea freight by air without fully understanding air freight rules. For example, one company attempted to move three pallets of explosives out of the UK but couldn’t get them through the x-ray scanner at the airport.

“Other companies have started to send goods by sea but are being hit by delays at the ports.

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Navigating through

Some have even put their overseas trade strategies on hold, preferring instead to hold onto goods; this has led to additional stockpiling and increased tension in some relationships with overseas customers. It has also meant that some manufacturers have stopped making goods and have had to send staff home because there’s not enough work for them.

“Hopefully some of these issues will be ironed out in the months ahead but right now the situation is a cause for concern. If the situation is not brought under control it will lead to a decrease in trade with the EU – and that will have an adverse effect on the UK economy.

“The Brexit deal would have been a challenge to come to terms with on its own but we also have the ongoing COVID crisis to deal with. Simultaneously overcoming both of them is the biggest challenge that the UK has faced in a generation.”

For assistance in overcoming the above and other international trade issues, please contact your award winning “Support for Exporting” from BEIS Chamber of Commerce who can also issue your export documentation. contact alanrides@westlondonlocalchambers.org.uk alanrides@hounslowchamber.org.uk or see our website https://www. westlondonlocalchambers.org.uk/eu-trade-hub https://hounslowchamber.org.uk/ international-trade

Mark Hayward

POST-BREXIT PERIOD

YouGov polling reveals that Brexit has dropped off the radar of most people in the UK. The Covid-19 question has impacted all parts of society.

But for businesses, the challenges of adapting to Brexit remain important. This is likely to be the case for coming years, too, as additional new legislation and cooperative technologies are introduced by the UK and (EU).

business. Is China, US or Commonwealth the future of our exports and imports?

As of 1 January 2021, businesses are getting to grips with the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the free trade agreement referred to as the ‘trade deal’.

2) Can you develop client pipelines outside of the EU?

Businesses find themselves examining and revising the following areas of their business:

4) Is the EU a viable option for trade post- Brexit? Additional paperwork will be required

• Import and export of goods to and from EU countries.

5) How do you develop relationships in a global world?

• Import and export of goods to and from Northern Ireland, which has its own rules.

This affects both goods from and to Great Britain, as well as the EU.

The solution will be companies that are fastest to the global market are going to win, you need to pivot and deliver you exports and imports to new trading partners.

• Transport and logistics of food. Extra red tape is causing issues for importers and exporters.

The UK business services is the largest sector in the UK which accounts for 80% of GDP. Under the current deal, you may need to negotiate with each individual country. The UK is a financial hub and will remain even if we are outside of the EU.

• Online shopping for e-commerce businesses has additional costs with EU partners.

• Medicine importers have slowed their transportation due to red tape • Financial services aren’t included in the trade deal, £5.3 billion trading has moved to Paris and Amsterdam • Transfer of personal data between the EU and UK that’s covered by the GDPR. It can be an uncertain world, but this provides huge opportunities for your

Key questions to consider: 1) Are you focussed on the past or the future?

3) Which trading areas are best placed to help your business? i.e. China or US

Travel for large company’s individuals will now have extra Visa restrictions, which will slow exchange of people and ideas.

The government is in the process of negotiating a Pan-Asia free trade deal and those members could lead to huge opportunities. This deal is a mix of established countries like Canada and Japan and fast-growing countries like Mexico and Vietnam. But the true value of this deal is that if the US joined and built this trading bloc on the global stage.

Please ask me any questions about building business on mark.j.hayward@outlook.com www.absolutebusinessmindset.com/abm-coaching-services

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Mel helps logistics firms in post-Brexit trade As a highly experienced logistics professional of almost two decades, Mel Bruneau is currently working out the implications of Britain’s eleventh-hour Brexit deal. Even for someone with a demonstrable track record in the sector, that’s not an easy task.

“Logistics firms are having to get their heads around Brexit and work out what it means for them,” she says. “Generally, they are seeing an increase in paperwork required to ship goods in and out of the country and in some cases, this has resulted in increased costs.

“At the moment, companies are trying to move more sea freight by air. Air transport is usually used for low-volume, high-quality goods but the dynamic has changed. Freight through Heathrow Airport has risen dramatically as passenger numbers have fallen due to the coronavirus.

“The unknown of Brexit causes much uncertainty. Before Christmas we saw a lot of stockpiling because companies were not sure that their usual trade patterns wouldn’t be disrupted in the new year.

Hopefully things will become clearer in the coming months.”

Mel is a qualified health and safety advisor, professional trainer and dangerous goods safety advisor, and an expert in all areas of the transport and warehousing industry. She established her company, Heathrow-based MES Consultancy & Training Services, ten years ago and works closely with airlines, handling agents,

A few years ago I was working with a freight forwarding expert who was involved with the Chamber. I stepped in for him at the last minute to do one of his talks and things just snowballed from there. I was appointed vice-president of the Chamber’s board of directors in 2016 and I’ve been heavily involved with the organisation ever since. freight forwarders, distributors and manufacturers to ensure clients meet all requirements of the relevant legislation when transporting goods from one country to another.

Born in Kent, she spent her early career in admin roles, first as an office manager in Aon’s private medical insurance division and then as a PA to a vice-president at investment giant J.P. Morgan. In 2005 she joined a training provider of specialist courses on the safe transportation of dangerous goods before taking up consultancy roles at two other logistics firms, advising

SMEs on logistics and health and safety compliance.

Always mindful of bringing new blood through the ranks, Mel conducts end point assessments on freight forwarding apprentices and people studying for qualifications that will get them into the police force. She also sits on Hounslow Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors – although this may not have happened had it not been for a chance event.

Mel recalls: “A few years ago I was working with a freight forwarding expert who was involved with the Chamber. I stepped in for him at the last minute to do one of his

talks and things just snowballed from there. I was appointed vice-president of the Chamber’s board of directors in 2016 and I’ve been heavily involved with the organisation ever since.”

In the COVID outbreak Mel has been doing everything possible to help the Chamber assist the business community. Her work includes managing a team of marshals who visit local businesses to help them comply with COVID regulations.

Mel says: “After the first lockdown last spring, there was little understanding among businesses about what was expected of them.

Many of them were confused with the rules and restrictions, especially as they changed on a regular basis.

“I provided health and safety training to the marshals so they could better engage with and support Hounslow businesses. Many of these businesses are small independents with few additional resources to deal with COVID compliance. They needed our guidance.

“That’s just one example of how Hounslow Chamber supports its local community. They’re a very proactive organisation and they’ve done more than most to help businesses through this pandemic.”

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An Economic Recovery

THAT’S CLOSE TO HOME The new year has already brought multiple challenges for Hounslow’s businesses.

With Government introduced national restrictions in place, as well as the change in our relationship with the EU, many have faced unprecedented challenges to their business and livelihoods. Providing uncertainty and job insecurity for many of our residents.

There is a potential light at the end of the tunnel with the Global economy showing signs of reviving, and vaccines projected to reach all vulnerable groups by April. Gradual easing of social restrictions with a return to ‘some form of normal’ by autumn.

Hounslow Council, along with firms and households need to embrace the changed economic landscape. Initiatives need to be implemented to protect the most vulnerable, and that allow capital, labour, skills, and innovation to shift to new purposes in order to build a stronger, more resilient, greener postCOVID economic environment.

Hounslow is proud of its economic track record.

A borough of hard-working people, home of global headquarters and innovative start-ups.

And pre-Coronavirus the second fastest growing economy in London with GVA of over £13bn annually. We are committed to ensuring we reclaim that trajectory In October of last year Hounslow Council became one of the first Local Authorities in London to publish its plan to recover from the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic on our communities. ‘One Hounslow, Forward Together’ commits to:

Q&A with Tracy Aust (Principal of West Thames College) What are the benefits of hiring local staff and using suppliers in the borough?

Local connections run very deep at the College, and 50% of our students and 39% of our staff live in the borough. We also have lots of past students who now work for the College.

This works really well - aside from the shorter

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commute supporting travel costs and wellbeing, they are more able to see things from both the student and the teachers’ perspectives and therefore make more in-depth suggestions for improvement. There is a real vested interest.

They are great advocates for the College and it’s fantastic for us to have our past students now as members of staff.

• Deliver an inclusive, innovative, resilient and sustainable economic recovery • Investment to scale up our successful programmes such as the Skills Escalator and Creative Enterprise Zone • Greater flexibility over use of existing funding streams such as Apprenticeship Levy • Support for the local industries most affected

by Covid-19 • Funding to support development of new business and entrepreneurship, particularly with young people • Investment in infrastructure and connectivity • Creation of an Aviation Communities Fund, bringing together capital and revenue support for those communities severely damaged by the decline in aviation It’s the theme of supporting local businesses that we focussed on in the last issue of Let’s Talk Business. And specifically, how the Council is taking a proactive approach to its procurement with the aim of buying more products and services from businesses based in the borough – #KeepItLocal.

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services said “Hounslow Council has rightly taken a lead to #KeepItLocal. We ran an extensive campaign to support local shops over Christmas and have recently doubled the value of goods and services that we have purchased directly from companies in the borough. We also want to encourage all businesses in the borough to look at the benefits of local supply chains to help keep the pound in Hounslow and assist the borough’s economic recovery” We invited two local organisations – West Thames College and Brentford based signage and graphics company Octink - to share their views and tell us about the actions they’re taking to #KeepItLocal.

Lots of our suppliers are local too, recently we worked with a local designer to provide PPE during the first lockdown. One of the main benefits we’ve seen is in the purchaser-supplier relationship expanding to create broader opportunities for both parties, as well as them understanding the local market.

What else is West Thames College doing to support local businesses?

The College is very keen to support local businesses in whatever way we can, including adapting our procurement policies e.g. including a positive weighting for local businesses in

criteria for future bids/contracts/services. Creating work experience is often key to building these local relationships, and this is something we do with local employers. Business owners are always invited to our Employer Events such as Aspire, to meet the students and explore opportunities with us. We work with local employers through our Employer Advisory Boards. These provide real employer opportunities for our students which often include live project briefs, work experience and in some cases jobs as well as providing local employers with a local talent pool.

We already engage extensively with local community groups, charities, voluntary sector, often through student led activities. Our interaction with the local businesses is often facilitated via the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, where we regularly sponsor events such as the annual Business Awards

Is it important for the Local Authority to set an example, and support the borough economy by using local suppliers?

Yes, it is good to lead by example. More opportunities in the borough for local businesses will lead to more entrepreneurships, more startups, more growth and more innovation – all of which is great for our students. We’d also be happy to support #KeepitLocal as an initiative any way we can. A recent example was West Thames promoting the LA’s current business support programme.

How do you think more local businesses/organisations could be persuaded to #KeepItLocal?

It’s important to know exactly what is available locally. As a College, a lot of our higher value items are purchased through a consortia which enables us to get value for money – could a similar model be used that encourages local purchasing?

Messaging is important, and improved communications around benefits of shopping locally e.g. positive impact on local employment opportunities and the green agenda, would certainly help to influence and persuade

I was happy to attend a series of meetings, chaired by Mark Pearson, Head of Procurement and Contracts for Hounslow Council, that included other Council officers and stakeholders such as West London Business to understand how this could be pulled together.

Octink’s Local Journey

The benefits to both sides are clear and these should be seen in the broader context of other business to business opportunities. As a clear example, Hounslow offers a large and diverse pool of local talent that companies the size of the giants along the Great West Corridor have all recognised. The advantages of reduced travel times and career opportunities sit well with both the employer and employee.

by Will Tyler (Director of Octink) It was at a meeting with Councillor Steve Curran, the Leader of Hounslow Council, that the #KeepItLocal campaign was first discussed with me. Cllr. Curran asked if, as a local business it would be workable, to assess tenders and work requirements with the social value that was delivered within the Borough.

I have chaired the local charity Spark! for the last eight years. Spark! has brokered approximately 8,000 work experience placements between local schools and businesses each year alongside other projects. My business partner Mike Freely has sat on the board and hosted Cultivate London. Cultivate London, based in Hounslow, are working to improve employment, education, health and wellbeing outcomes of communities in London by improving the natural environment, setting a standard for engaging communities in their green spaces and providing greater access and understanding of community and environmental needs.

As to Octink, with the back-drop of the pandemic, the ability to win their first contracts with the Council has been welcome. There are a number of opportunities that Octink have both won and engaged with other local companies to deliver.

This is turn has allowed both companies to look to work together further afield. Simon Inc, local designers, have partnered with Octink to deliver the internal fit out of the Creative Enterprise Hub on Brentford High Street that opens in the spring.

On reflection the chance conversation between Cllr Curran and I set an initiative in motion that will continue to deliver both value and opportunities to the Hounslow community and the business community within.

It was with this in mind that my answer to Cllr Curran was a resounding yes! There are many companies large and small who actively look to engage with the local community through ‘giving back’. The idea that this would be a metric for winning work locally made sense for both the Council and local business community.

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news

Treaty Shopping Centre and Hounslow Multi-Cultural Centre Food collection brings festive cheer A month-long food collection for the Hounslow Multi-Cultural Centre (HMCC) has resulted in an “amazing” amount of goods donated.

Before Christmas Chamber Patron, the Treaty Shopping Centre encouraged people to bring along cans of food and dried goods such as sugar, tea, coffee and hot chocolate to assist HMCC, which serves the multi-ethnic

community in the London Borough of Hounslow.

Supported by local religious and voluntary groups and individuals and as a response to the need to help people and communities to integrate into the broader population of Hounslow, HMCC has been working as a medium between the statutory services and the voluntary sector, serving communities living in the London Borough of Hounslow since 1981. The purpose of the centre is to act as a focal point for activities that combat exclusion and provide

basic advice, assistance, sustenance, friendship and opportunity to individuals so they can express the joy of their own cultures and religions.

For more than 32 years, HMCC has been used regularly by thousands of people from various communities and is widely viewed as one of the most successful projects in the London Borough of Hounslow.

Janet Leatherland, manager of the Treaty Centre and Advisory Board member of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, says:

Planning & Managing Your Finances If you’d like an expert on financial planning to help you reach your goals here’s how it makes perfect sense:

Shankar Devarashetty, Managing Director of Oasis Accountants, from his extensive experience in all things finance explains why it pays to choose the right accountant to sort out your financial planning.

When it comes to finances, one can’t be too careful! This is one of the vital reasons that so many businesses wait far too long to hire an expert accountant, they may not know who to trust.

Obviously, it is a good idea to opt for someone who is trustworthy and reliable.

Tax Planning Tax planning can be baffling if things are uncomplicated.

However, when it comes to business taxes, things may get quite complicated. In our experience, the laws are constantly changing and adjusting, making it imperative to have a professional help you stay updated with the recent changes.

Accountants can essentially help you create an efficient tax plan for your business and evade you from making the expensive mistakes.

Hence, if you are unaware of the laws, then it is easy to mess things up and end up paying more than you need to. Besides, there are plenty of tricks that accountants are aware of to help reduce the amount you need to pay and surge your investments.

You maybe leaving money on the

table that can be claimed from your returns.

Also one part where people end up draining money in is simply filing in time. Therefore, if your business is on top of tax deadlines, you’ll avoid paying late fees. Since these add up in no time, it is worth having an expert to stay on top of these things and remove stress of any kind!

Time Savings Save your business some time, it takes time to balance your books, do your taxes and manage all the financial aspects of your business.

As finance professionals, we are experts in all things financial with the constant practice of handling the finances for various companies, there’s no reason you cannot expect things to be done much faster. The time saving is worth it, besides not having to handle everything by oneself can leave extra time to focus on all areas of your business.

“We had a great response to our month-long collection for the Hounslow Multi-Cultural Centre.

An amazing haul was donated to this very worthy cause; I cannot believe how generous everyone has been!

“HMCC does so much to support local communities in our area and it’s only right that this should be recognised.”

Find out more about the Multi-Cultural Centre at www.hmccuk.org Financial Planning Businesses need a plan to raise their bar, for that it needs tracking everything. Would you know when your money is going or coming from?

An expert accountant would help you find the most valuable clients along with setting your goals with the apt decisions to move forward.

This would be possible by identifying the greatest areas of profit, put our skills to improve the future of your business and its success.

No Room for Mistakes Errors in finances can come easy, one misplaced decimal and everything can go way off. So clearly if you don’t have a head for figures, it could be tedious to keep everything adding up. Many business owners may not be good at numbers side of things, one of the main reasons to outsource your finances. Accountants ensure you get everything right! We work with businesses to create fail safes that will help you avoid making mistakes, help you change the way you run your business and grow your efficiency.

Surely making it the ideal investment that your business makes, provided you choose the right one.

Contact: E: hello@oasisaccountants.co.uk T: 020-38189530 M: +44 7806 690596

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news Tribute to long-serving security guard A highly regarded member of the local community has sadly lost his life after a battle with COVID-19.

Muse Mohammed had served on the security team at The Centre Feltham, a key retail hub in the area, for the last 14 years. However, he was unfortunately taken ill with COVID and sadly passed away on Sunday January 31.

Samantha Bond-Arnold, manager at The Centre Feltham, said: “Muse was such a popular and highly regarded member of the team – a true gentlemen and a lovely character. News of his passing is so terribly sad. The team, tenants and people in the wider community will miss Muse dearly.”

Management at The Centre Feltham are in discussions with Muse’s family about planting a tree in his memory.

Flood: peril in need of better control The world faces a growing crisis through global warming whenever flood is threatened. Recent events have shown the devastating impact and it is not going to change. The flood prevention market is largely a cottage industry and so has difficulty in accommodating scale. Further, the efficacy of current preventative measures is questionable and so society faces inflated economic and social cost let alone the threat to life and limb.

New Chamber member, Tim Snowball of Pedrick Abate, has challenged the continued use of sandbags, given the numbers in existence. He could not understand why certain media outlets regularly showed pictures of a Victorian product, with known deficiencies, being rolled out. Surely there must be a better way? So, he gained exclusivity rights to the patented “21st century” sandbag, known as Floodmate. The aim is simple. There is a massive need by so many interested parties; let us gear up to supply, if necessary, countries across the globe.

With an extensive City of London insurance background and numerous high-level contacts, he wants to advance without financial aid of an insurance company even though they would be huge beneficiaries of Floodmate. Using his fresh eyes as an outsider allows him to serve all business sectors rather than just one.

Tim Snowball | tim@pandalt.com

Small Businesses Are Still Signing for Offices Here’s Why Having started 2021 in another lockdown, it wasn’t quite the New Year we all hoped for. But with a vaccination programme now in full swing, positive change is happening.

Even while many people are still working from home, at UBC we are continuing to receive daily enquiries from small businesses seeking flexible office space in Hounslow.

This may seem odd during the current restrictions. But our offices in Brentford have remained open throughout the lockdown for essential businesses and, between times, have become a vital hub for (safely-distanced) collaboration for teams and small businesses.

Here’s why: • Workers need a safe space away from the home. Some people don’t have enough space for quiet focused work, particularly with children at home.

• Private offices can be used with time-share shift patterns. This enables employees to come in at different times and work safely.

• Our office in Brentford is away from the city centre and has onsite parking, which allows for safer travel by car. The centre is professionally managed and Covid-safe.

• Entrepreneurs still need a commercial address. Not only does it look more professional than a residential address, it also protects your home from spam mail and unexpected callers.

Speaking to our small business clients, it’s clear that they are thinking about the future. The current situation is temporary and they are all aware that a growing business cannot operate from home 100% of the time. It’s too disconnected.

A serviced office provides a cost-effective workplace that’s shortterm and flexible; it delivers the type of collaboration and amenities business owners need to support their team and achieve growth, with less risk and commitment than a traditional long-term office letting.

To learn more, why not head over to ubcuk.com and find out how we can help your business work more efficiently in 2021?

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

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skills

HCUC Apprenticeships & Skills West London’s Largest College Apprenticeship Provider

provide a £2000 grant to employers for each

employers who hire new apprentices aged

Online & On Campus Apprenticeships:

HCUC Apprenticeships & Skills is an industry leading training provider in west London brought to you by Harrow College and Uxbridge College (HCUC).

25 and over, the government will pay £1500.

HCUC Apprenticeships & Skills offers a flexible blended learning platform for Online & On Campus Apprenticeships to minimise disruption at your workplace.

Industries include Accounting, Team Leading, Operational Management and more.

We offer an enhanced provision of highquality apprenticeships with various flexible delivery modes, tailor-made recruitment and training for employers and online professional development courses for individuals.

Build back better with the extra funding to recruit new apprentices Is your business getting future ready? The government has extended the deadline to

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new apprentice you hire, aged under 25, until March 2021. There’s also an additional £1000 for hiring 16-18 year olds! For those

Terms & conditions apply.

We offer apprenticeships in over 25 sectors.

So now is the best time to take up the chance to access the extra grants to recruit and build a skilled and efficient workforce to help you boost productivity in your company.

We will promote your vacancies for free and our recruitment officers will ensure they line up the best candidates to match your requirements. To recruit an apprentice, call 01895 853780.

Online courses & blended learning apprenticeships for business and individual needs

The blended study platform means apprentices do not have to attend college as frequently as with traditional delivery models.

So it’s the perfect opportunity for employers to get their ambitious employees to upskill without any interruption on-site. Read more here: https://apprenticeships.hcuc.ac.uk/ apprenticeships/online-and-on-campusapprenticeships/

Fully Online Human Resources Apprenticeship: We are offering a fully online Human Resources Apprenticeship for individuals and businesses who are keen to train their existing HR staff or hire new staff. For more information, call 01895 853780.

100% Online Courses: Our 100% online courses, in a range of subjects, help individuals increase their skill sets.

Whether it is for job opportunities, plans for a career change or to simply gain in-depth knowledge in a specific topic of interest, these qualifications enable people to access support to make their next step in life. Find out more here: www.uxbridgecollege.ac.uk/onlinecourses

West London Business Awards 2021- our apprentices are finalists again!

This year, our apprentices are shortlisted again for the West London Business Awards 2021 final.

Some of these shortlisted apprentices are existing employees doing an apprenticeship to upskill and progress their careers. Some are simply stepping into the world of work and finding their forever career path. We are excited about our 8th year of nominations and looking forward to the exciting Virtual Awards ceremony to find out results!

PARITA SHAH HR MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY

We are celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2021 (8 February – 12 February)

We can help you with day to day employment issues; grievances, disciplinaries, performance management/ absence management as well as general HR support on policies, procedures and contracts.

HCUC Apprenticeships & Skills have some great activities planned for this year’s National Apprenticeship 2021 to celebrate our apprentices and employers. To find out more about the events taking place, visit: https://apprenticeships.hcuc.ac.uk

Work with us - we are a trusted provider • The largest College group in west London, providing a great variety of apprenticeships with flexible delivery options • One of 12 institutions in the country to be established as an Institute of Technology offering higher-level technical qualifications in construction, digital and engineering • A provider you can rely on – a strong track

record of delivering training for over 50 years

Some of our apprentices have won regional awards including West London Business Awards in 2013, 2015, 2017 & 2020 – reflecting the pool of talented apprentices we help you to recruit and train for your business.

• In depth experience in working with over 700 apprentices and 1200 employers at any given time • Experts in creating industry links with companies such as Brunel University London, Martin Baker Aircraft Limited, Menzies Aviation, and Royal Opera House.

“Your people are your most valuable asset”

Through Insights Discovery Profiling, we can help you to get your people working better together in teams, build resilience through better self-understanding and understanding of others, help to recruit for behaviour and not just technical ability as well as develop the leadership skills of your managers.

Using Insights Discovery, not only helps improve communication but also helps to increase productivity and provides solutions focussed results through behavioural change. As we know, people are your most valuable asset.

We incorporate professional coaching methods and styles that allow the leaders in your business to develop and build long term sustainable change; providing them with the tools and techniques to be agile whilst maintaining stability within the business and enabling them to adapt to an ever-changing environment.

A professional HR Management consultancy who can help you grow your business and develop your talent by providing bespoke HR, Coaching & Training Solutions.

Contact us - we are happy to help With over 50 years of combined skills and experience we help companies as well as individuals build worthwhile futures.

To find out more on how to get started, visit https://apprenticeships.hcuc.ac.uk or email employers@hcuc.ac.uk or call 01895 853780 today!

Please get in touch with us below at: Tel: 07525427918 parita@paritashahconsulting.co.uk www.paritashahconsulting.co.uk linkedin.com/in/parita-shah-cipd-89597ba2

let’s talkbusiness

13

skills

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skills

Government launches skills initiative A new campaign has been launched to boost the nation’s skills and job prospects.

An Hour to Skill is a governmentled initiative that encourages people to set aside one hour a week for online learning by taking a free course from The Skills Toolkit, an online portal offering a range of different courses.

Topics covered range from practical maths, computer essentials and personal growth and wellbeing to professional development, business and

finance, digital design, marketing, computer science and coding.

Course providers include The Open University, Google, Amazon and FutureLearn.

The idea is that by setting aside one hour a week for online learning, people can acquire skills that employers are looking for, boost their job prospects and keep their mind active. At a time when most people are spending more

time indoors due to COVID-19, these courses can also play an important role in supporting the mental wellbeing of the country.

Launched by the Department for Education (DfE), the initiative is designed to improve the life prospects of people by helping them to get on in their careers.

One in three people have used online learning to help them get a better job, and a report published by think-tank Demos showed that, on average, online learning can boost annual pay by £3,640.

Many people have turned to webbased courses to brush up on their technical skills or acquire softer skills and attributes that employers are looking for,

such as leadership, problemsolving, project management and teamworking skills.

Gillian Keegan, minister for apprenticeships and skills, said: “I’m delighted to launch An Hour to Skill and thank all of the great organisations that have joined forces to help boost the nation’s skills and job prospects at such an important time for our economy. Progressing your learning doesn’t have to be a mammoth task – spending just one hour a week on a free online course can make a real difference to your earning potential. We’re confident that learning through The Skills Toolkit can give you the skills employers are looking for.”

For more information visit https://theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk/#ldn

Adults to gain new skills on 400 free courses Tens of thousands of adults will be able to benefit from almost 400 free courses this year, in the first major development in the Lifetime Skills Guarantee announced by the government in September.

The fully-funded courses, ranging from engineering to healthcare and conservation, will be available to adults without a full qualification at Level three (A-level equivalent) from April 2021 to help them gain in-demand skills and open up further job opportunities.

Designed to help the country repair its economy after the pandemic, the qualifications have been carefully chosen to help adults improve their career prospects and meet the needs of the economy. They will be reviewed regularly so the courses offered can be updated as the economy changes.

The announcement marks an important step in the development

of the government’s landmark Lifetime Skills Guarantee, which aims to transform the skills system to ensure more people, regardless of their age or background, can get the skills they need to progress in employment.

support education and training providers as they scale up their provision to deliver the courses and meet the needs of learners.

Stephen Phipson CBE, chief executive of manufacturers’ organisation Make UK, said: “Industry will be pleased to see manufacturing and engineeringrelated level three qualifications as part of this new offer. Protecting existing vital skills and providing people with an opportunity to learn much-needed new skills is crucial.

The offer is backed by £95 million from the £2.5 billion National Skills Fund, which is financing programmes that support the immediate economic recovery and help meet future skills needs.

“It is also an important first step in supporting individuals on the pathway towards higher-level qualifications as we transition to a digital economy. These new opportunities will be critical in the months ahead for the manufacturing sector as we build a workforce fit for the future.”

This funding will enable thousands of adults to gain new qualifications and access better job opportunities. A proportion of the cash will also be used to

Education secretary Gavin Williamson said: “As we recover from the pandemic, we are focused on making sure that individuals and businesses can build back

better than before. Throughout our lives we may all need to boost our skills or gain new ones. These free qualifications will help open doors to better employment opportunities for thousands of adults and support businesses to access the workforce they need to grow.

“Our new Lifetime Skills Guarantee promises to help you get the skills you need at every stage of your life.

I’d urge all those eligible to see what course they can take from spring next year and start thinking about their next steps.”

let’s talkbusiness

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We Need to Bring Out the Best in our Young People, with Skills Development for Apprenticeships The need swiftly to bring our young people to a ‘better place’ has never been more important.

The Situation: Jasper Alliance London (JAL) is an accredited education provider with a special interest in young people affected by isolation during Covid-19 lock down, and needing preparation for apprenticeships because: • their education was/is stalled or less effective • some achieved their first job and are now unable to work • others lost their job and are uncertain about job prospects • some have no career or ‘first job’ offers • productivity and confidence is low • mental health is affected if too many things go wrong at the same time

JAL believe that young people understandably feel let down and anxious. It is time to put in place support structures to encourage them to grow and renew their optimism, with skills development and preparation for apprenticeships.

The Background: Several years ago, members of the JAL Team designed a significant accredited training module programme to prepare young people for the job market.

This was part of the 13.6 million ‘Backing Young Britain’ initiative, and it saw apprentice/internship youth successfully achieve 93% completions on the programme.

Based on that success, JAL’s Apprentice/Internship Training Programme is ready to be activated again because it already has proof of concept and delivery in multiple universities and organisations, with hundreds of learners giving feedback in the high 90’s.

The Solution: There is a need to develop the Three R’s to: Re-establish human communication and connection. Get it back to being as close to normal as possible.

- during lock down isolation, social skills have suffered, so re-training is necessary Restore the positivity that young people should have for their futures.

-business training skills will help to rebuild confidence and they gain accredited certification

will keep them busy and feeling positive. With enjoyable training in essential core business skills, we give them the tools to achieve daily tasks and gain confidence before undertaking their apprenticeships.

By using a tested training programme, and a team who are themselves in the business world, we will bring out the best for our young people with Preparation for Apprenticeship Skills Training from JAL. Contact: purcell@jasperalliancelondon.com

Renew hope as fast as possible.

-that feeling of achieving something every day; learning new skills and having achievable daily challenges to build motivation and positivity is essential.

- young people need to believe in themselves and new knowledge will enable their renewal.

Qualified teacher and researcher, Jay Purcell says: ‘Learning new practical essential business skills

Preparation for Apprenticeship Skills Training by JAL to Bring Out the Best in Uncertain Times.

YOUTH LEARNING & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2021 | LIMITED TO 20 PLACES (per cohort) – Can be delivered* at your officeAvailable – Concessions *

Modern Business Communications & Presentation Dynamic training, upskilling, learning and motivation for Young People • Apprenticeship • Internships • Getting ready for work placement • Preparing for your first job or a new job

Prepare yourself with Modern Business Communications and Presentation. Learning these techniques will benefit you personally and professionally. Covering such topics as:

Accredited, Certified and Peer Reviewed

Two Fully Assessed Options: 1. Learn Face-to-Face: (Training & Assessments) Delivered by a qualified university teacher and researcher who actively works on youth projects.

3 2. Virtual Learning: (80% Online & Assessments 1to1) Online discussion learning and assessments to complete. With limited face to face teaching and with many online discussions. 3

• Manage your Time • Personal Communication • Presentation Skills • Positioning Yourself for Success

Learners say:

Gain knowledge to understand Business World essentials.This programme scores 97% completion and excellent reviews.

“We are like lost puppies.We need to know what is expected of us so that we can feel confident.”

Jasper Alliance London Registered in England and Wales. Company Number 8405520

Call to Discuss Training or Curriculum Design needs to ‘Bring Out the Best’ for Young People: People:

“Good to be taught by someone actually in the business world.”

“We have learned so much. Practical skills for life.”

“Enjoyed the training because it was all useful.”

+44 (0)7884 413305 purcell@jasperalliancelondon.com Members of London Borough of Hounslow Chamber & West London Chambers

* Concessions Available *

LEARN & EARN | GET AHEAD

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www.jasperalliancelondon.com

the big

interview

Building skills for a brighter future Apprenticeships are increasingly being seen as a vital tool in the fight to build a national skills base that will keep UK business competitive. It’s therefore a busy time for further education (FE) professionals who are tasked with developing the next generation of talent through this form of training.

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Leading this challenge locally is Harpal Lehal, who oversees apprenticeship provision at HCUC, the organisation born out of the merger between Uxbridge College and Harrow College in 2017.

With 25 years’ experience in this line of work, 20 of which have been at, Chamber member, HCUC, she knows only too well the advantages that apprenticeships can bring.

“I’m passionate about apprenticeships because they can help young people get on the career ladder without taking on a lot of debt,” she says. “They can learn on the job, acquiring new skills while earning a wage, and they can use their experience to progress within a company or even start their own business.

This form of training is also useful for experienced professionals who want to upskill in their current roles or perhaps turn their hand to a completely new career.

“Apprenticeships are important for business as they allow companies to take on people and mould them into the ethos and fabric of the business.

This requires an investment in terms of time and money but it’s worth it in the long run. Many employers have championed apprenticeships as a great way of bringing new skills and fresh ideas into their business, and some apprentices have gone on to run multi-million-pound companies.

We offer 28 different sectorspecific apprenticeships in subjects from accounting and finance to engineering, dental nursing and IT. Our priority is to work with employers to find out what their skills needs are now and how these requirements will evolve in the next few years.

It’s clear that Harpal is a firm advocate of apprenticeships and workplace training in general – and probably the reason why she has stayed in this important sector for so many years. After being made redundant early in her career, she became operations manager at a training provider, where she worked in quality assurance and oversaw the running of three training centres.

In 2000 she joined what was then known as Uxbridge College’s Employer Services division which grew to become the largest College provider of apprenticeships and workplace learning in West London. Following the merger of Harrow College

& Uxbridge College in 2017, this division evolved into its current form, HCUC Apprenticeships and Skills, and delivers training programmes with major companies such Addison Lee, Brunel University London, Menzies Aviation, Dyer & Butler Electrical Ltd., C B Electrical & Mechanical Services Ltd. and Skanska.

Harpal says: “We offer 28 different sector-specific apprenticeships in subjects from accounting and finance to engineering, dental nursing and IT. Our priority is to work with employers to find out what their skills needs are now and how these requirements will evolve in the next few years. The world is changing

so fast and businesses and education providers have to adapt accordingly.

“Employers in many sectors are incorporating more digital elements within their business and becoming more aware of the green agenda. Housebuilders, for example, are working out ways of making their developments more environmentally friendly – not just the buildings but the spaces and transport links around them.

“As a college, we have to be aware of the impact these changes are having on the skills agenda and tailor our learning provision to suit.”

Another focus is to convince employers that haven’t yet invested in apprenticeships to help them understand the benefits apprentices can bring to their workplace. The government has engaged with apprenticeship opportunities including the Kickstart scheme, which provides grants to employers that create job placements for 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit.

“Government incentives are very welcome in this climate,” says Harpal. “Money is tight for many companies at the moment and these Kickstart grants could be the thing that persuades an employer to take on a young person and give them a chance.

“Not only will this get people off benefits and into work, it could help employers to address a vital skills gap within their business.”

“Previously perhaps there was a perception that apprenticeships were an option of last resort – something you did if you weren’t clever enough to go to university. I’m glad to say that the recent reforms have seen dramatic changes to the quality of apprenticeship programmes.

The development of higher level apprenticeships offered at our West London Institute of Technology creates opportunities for apprentices to train and achieve a degree apprenticeship within many job roles. Employers large and small are realising the value of apprenticeships and some have teamed up with FE providers to deliver bespoke apprenticeship programmes.”

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19

STUDENT WORK PLACEMENTS

CONFERENCE ROOM HIRE

APPRENTICESHIPS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

There are many ways employers can get involved with West Thames College through programmes such as Work Experience and Industry Placements.

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

You can also get involved in our West Thames College Aspire Careers Fair or Employer Advisory Board. If you’re interested and would like to know more, please contact us on wex@west-thames. ac.uk

The house is available to hire per room, per day and is popular for business meetings, conferences and training events. Catering can be provided as required. Email conferencehire@westthames.ac.uk

At West Thames College we aim to provide our apprentice’s the skills & knowledge they need to help them get their career started. An Apprenticeship can be a pathway to get your business growing with a new apprentice as well as having options to up-skill your current staff.

Scan the QR code or email Jasmine.

Matthias@west-thames.ac.uk to find out more and apply now.

patron

focus

Bolder scheme highlights Sky’s local connectivity Sky Spaces became a patron of Hounslow Chamber of Commerce several years ago and since then has forged many useful connections and contacts.

The company, which is the property division of broadcasting giant Sky, recently became involved in a local collaboration that will see new premises for Bolder Academy built on a site near Sky’s headquarters in Isleworth.

The development came about after part of the land on the site was purchased by the Department for Education, with Sky Spaces buying the adjacent land for which various uses are currently being discussed. Construction work is continuing at pace and the new facility is due to open in September 2021.

Not only has Sky Spaces helped to facilitate the development, it is also supporting the school and its students in a number of ways. On a practical level, the company has

provided laptops to students who are currently working remotely due to the COVID-19 lockdown, helping them remain connected during these challenging times so they can continue with their studies.

pass on the benefit of their experiences. This can help to develop the students by teaching them life skills – how to overcome resilience, for example, or how to take opportunities to be creative.

Sky has also been directly involved in their education by providing opportunities to gain insights from experienced business professionals and sports stars, including world champion boxer Anthony Joshua. In addition, Sky Spaces staff have been drafted in to give advice on literacy and numeracy, nutrition and general health and wellbeing.

“It’s great to be involved in this project. Building skills locally in schools, colleges and universities is critical to the future health of local companies and the economy.

Diana Foxlee, director of Sky Spaces, says: “It’s important that students’ education is not just limited to the curriculum.

We’ve tried to give them access to skilled individuals who can

“As well as giving us the chance to forge links with other organisations, being a Chamber patron has allowed us to gain new perspectives from people we might not otherwise have come across in our day-to-day work.

A small metal manufacturer in Feltham might have similar challenges

to the ones we face and be able to demonstrate a different way of doing things. No matter which sector you operate in, it pays to be open-minded.”

Diana Foxlee, Sky Spaces

As well as giving us the chance to forge links with other organisations, being a Chamber patron has allowed us to gain new perspectives from people we might not otherwise have come across in our day-to-day work.

let’s talkbusiness

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Local Company with Global Reach Cavalier Logistics UK Ltd is a privately owned small business; we are a young company which means we can be agile and flexible and can provide a full service logistics solution that can be adapted according to your needs. The UK team has extensive experience in Global Logistics, specialising in Time Critical, Biopharma and Dangerous Goods. Our experts will ensure that all of your time and temperature sensitive shipments are handled correctly and according to their individual requirements.

We are part of the wider Cavalier Logisitcs group, which enables us to havea global reach and offer a seamless end to end service.

Cavalier Logistics Group is committed to working within established quality procedures to provide each customer with the most reliable personalised service, we are dedicated to the continuous development of both our people and our services.

We pride ourselves in providing a flexible and innovative approach to achieving solutions for our customers, helping them in turn to meet the increasing demands of their own customer base.

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Global Logistics Biopharma Logistics 24/7 Time critical – when it needs to there yesterday Storage to International shipping MHRA Approved Pharma Warehouse

www.cavlog.com

connect@cavlog.com

+44 (0)20 3887 1350

spotlight

area focus

It’s happening in Hammersmith Hammersmith is a hive of regeneration activity.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, regeneration chiefs are forging ahead with plans to revitalise parts of the borough, including a scheme to breathe new life into the western end of King Street.

Patricia Bench, BID Director at Hammersmith BID commented: “Both these ambitious developments reinforce the BID’s continuous work to support the businesses already in the town centre, and to encourage more organisations to move here.

We’re extremely proud of Hammersmith’s strong credentials in retail, culture and our creative industries. The BID’s fourth term, due to commence on 1 April 2021, comes at an excellent time for us to continue to provide a sustainable framework to underpin this growth.”

“West London Local Chambers is proud to deliver Chamber services to companies in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham working closely with both the excellent local authority and BIDs. This is a crucial time, especially for small companies, to have access to local support to survive and grow plus receive assistance for international trade and export documentation which only Chambers can deliver” says Alan Rides Chamber Managing Director

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let’s talkbusiness

Affordable housing will be a great attraction for some, and from a business perspective it will be a fantastic place for incubating start-ups.

The planning committee at Hammersmith & Fulham Council originally gave the green light to the proposals in February 2019.

As part of the plans, the historic grade II-listed town hall building will be transformed into an energyefficient civic campus at the heart of the community. Construction work has started on the new Civic Campus after the demolition work on the old Town Hall Extension was completed. Building work is now starting on the new genuinely affordable homes and the cinema site on the corner of Nigel Playfair Avenue and King Street, as well as the renovation of the town hall.

The plans also include startup space for the borough’s entrepreneurs, homework space for local schoolchildren and a new fourscreen cinema with room for cafes, shops and restaurants built on the existing cinema and car park site.

“In Hammersmith we have an ecosystem that’s attractive for global firms and we have excellent connectivity in a geographical and digital sense. A lot of companies are incorporating digital within their operations and this is helping them to gain a competitive advantage in their respective marketplaces.

More than 200 new homes – over one half of which have been classified as affordable – will be built, while new community art and event spaces will be erected, including a new public space for performances and events in front of the restored town hall.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council said opening up the town hall to the public, local start-up businesses and partner agencies would support the council’s mission to deliver the best public services as part of its industrial strategy.

Councillor Andrew Jones, cabinet member for the economy at the council, says: “The redevelopment of King Street, and the town hall in particular, will bring people into the area for a variety of reasons.

“Affordable housing will be a great attraction for some, and from a business perspective it will be a fantastic place for incubating start-ups.

“As part of our industrial strategy we want to draw in large companies, such as hedge funds and pharmaceutical firms, and this creates opportunities for smaller firms in the supply chain.

“Going forward, we have to build on our best business assets, which include our arts, creative media and retail industries. These sectors are really important to us.

It’s fantastic that Hammersmith & Fulham Council is working with the Chamber of Commerce once again, via West London Local Chambers, to ensure businesses survive this COVID crisis and get through to the other side intact.”

In a separate regeneration scheme, retail giant IKEA UK is

set to open a new store in the King’s Mall in Hammersmith.

The move is part of a strategy by the firm’s owner, Ingka Group, to bring the IKEA brand to city centres around the world.

At the time of the announcement of the plan last year, Peter Jelkeby, country retail manager and chief sustainability officer at IKEA UK & Ireland, said: “Our plan to open a new city centre store in Hammersmith is an exciting next step as we continue to respond to people’s evolving shopping habits, making IKEA more convenient than ever before.

“People have been eager to see our affordable range and access our life-at-home expertise on the high-street for some time, so we’re excited to introduce a unique IKEA store to the vibrant local community in Hammersmith.”

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25

Residential Sales, Lettings & Auctions Willmotts Est. 1856, provide an award winning Estate Agent and Letting Agent, service in Hammersmith, London W6. Winning best Sales & Lettings for 6 years in a row, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 & 2015.

If you are looking to sell your home look no further, our sales & lettings staff have in excess of 45 years' experience in finding properties ranging from individual flats to large family homes for prospective buyers and those looking to rent in and around the West London area. We are confident we can do the same for you.

We have gained a reputation for a high quality service through, trust, professionalism and a sound local knowledge. Our office is strategically placed in Hammersmith to cover West London property and beyond. This allows us the flexibility of effectively managing our current diverse portfolios.

For further assistance please contact; For any help or advice relating to these services, please get in touch with William Taper | Telephone: 020 8222 9958 | sales@willmotts.com

Willmott House, 12 Blacks Road, London W6 9EU T: 020 8222 9958 E: info@willmotts.com W: www.willmotts.com

Hammersmith Property Market Is it Time to Stamp Out Stamp Duty?

Most people pay Stamp Duty Tax when they buy a property, house, apartment or other land and buildings over a particular price in the UK. The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak (quickly followed suit by the Welsh and Scottish Governments), announced last July that Stamp Duty was partially being suspended on all English property transactions up to £500,000 (£250,000 in Wales and Scotland) - a Stamp Duty Holiday.

That meant only 1 in 8 English buyers would pay any Stamp Duty Tax on their home purchase (if it was over £500,000), saving any buyer up to £15,000 in tax on the purchase. The problem is the property needs to have been purchased and bought by the 31st March 2021. Complete the transaction a day later, and those buyers will have to pay Stamp Duty.

In November 2015, the then Chancellor, George Osborne, announced in his Autumn Statement that buy to let landlords would have to pay an additional 3% in Stamp Duty (over and above owner occupiers) for all property bought after the 1st April 2016. As shown in the graph below, this caused a surge in property buying (which we have seen since this summer with the Stamp Duty Holiday), with many Hammersmith buy to let landlords completing their property purchase in March 2016, as they dashed to complete their property purchase before the tax increase.

The issue is local authorities are snowed under with local search requests, mortgage companies and conveyancing staff are working from home, so property transactions are taking much, much longer. This means many Hammersmith (and UK) buyers who have currently sold (subject to contract) will miss out on the stamp duty saving.

Residential Sales, Lettings & Auctions

Most (not all) estate agents have been warning the buyers and sellers in their propertyWillmotts chains thatEst. some deals might not make winning Estate Agent and Letting Agent, 1856, provide an award the 31st March 2021service deadlineinand pleasingly, most people Hammersmith, London W6. Winning best Sales & Lettings for 6 aren’t moving because of the years in Stamp a row, Duty 2020,Holiday 2019, (they 2018,are 2017, 2016 & 2015. moving because they need extra space because of the pandemic). However, it only takes one person in the chain not If you are looking to sell your home look no further, our sales & lettings staff to be ‘singing off the same hymn sheet’ for the whole chain to excess of 45agent. years' experienceWith in finding properties from home at £946,300, collapse … so keep inhave touchin with your estate the average value of ranging a Hammersmith individual flats to large family homes for prospective buyers the stamp duty cost ifand thethose sale islooking delayed after the 31st March rent in andnewspapers around the West London area. confident we can do the A campaign by one oftothe national and an online 2021We is anare additional £15,000 petition to extend the same stamp for duty holiday has meant the topic you. could be debated in Parliament in the next few weeks, after My advice to all buyers and sellers is to be constantly talking to 100,000 home buyersWe and have sellers gained signed that petition, asking your quality estate agent, yourthrough, solicitor and your mortgage broker. a reputation for a high service trust, for an additional six-month Stamp Duty Holiday.

The home With your estate agent to ascertain if they have asked every professionalism and a sound local knowledge. Our office is strategically buyers and sellers are worried the property market will person (or asked the other agents in the chain to ask the placed in Hammersmith to cover West London property and beyond. This collapse after March 31st when the Stamp Duty Holiday is question), “What if we don’t meet the stamp duty deadline?” allows us the flexibility of effectively managing our current diverse portfolios. removed.

With your mortgage broker and solicitor to give them all the For further assistance please contact; information they need to ensure there are no delays with any The last time British home buyers were conscious of upcoming information they request from you.

Stamp Duty changes, it distorted the number of properties sold. The bigger questionFor though is, did changerelating the overall any help oritadvice to these services, please get touch with Call Willmotts forinproperty advice or information number of people moving home?

William Taper | Telephone: 020 8222 9958 | sales@willmotts.com Rentals, Lettings, Management & Investments

info@willmotts.com or call 020 8222 9958

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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.”

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legal

How can I extend my lease ?

Kiran Walia answers some of your questions Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 (Statutory/Formal Route).

What do you mean by “private agreement”? How do I begin negotiations?

You or your solicitors should contact the freeholder and request his terms for a lease extension.

My lease is short.

Am I entitled to a lease extension?

Yes, subject to various requirements and provided that you have owned the property for at least two years. Also, the original lease must have granted for a term of 21 years or more. If you are eligible, then you should be able to obtain a lease extension with a term of an additional 90 years (to be added to the current term). You may also be able to stop paying ground rent.

I do meet the requirements. How do I go about obtaining a lease extension?

There are two ways of obtaining a lease extension: either by private agreement with the freeholder (“Informal Route”) or by service upon the freeholder of a Notice under Section 42 of the

The freeholder will probably require you to pay his legal and surveyor’s costs in connection with the lease extension, which are likely to be around £1,500.00 plus VAT but possibly more. He will appoint a surveyor to value the lease extension i.e. to calculate the price they should ask for the premium. You must also consider appointing your own surveyor to value the cost of the lease extension.

Should I wait to extend my lease if so will it cost more?

You should bear in mind that each year the term of your lease grows shorter and it therefore becomes more expensive to extend the lease. This is especially the case if your lease has less than 80 years left to run.

What happens once we have agreed the lease extension?

Once terms have been agreed, a completely new lease is prepared by the solicitors, your solicitor will register your new lease at the Land Registry.

What happens if I can’t agree a price for the lease extension with the freeholder or he refuses to grant me a lease extension?

If negotiations break down and you cannot reach an agreement

with the freeholder, then you can serve upon him a Notice under Section 42 of the Act (Section 42 notice) – provided that you meet the criteria set out above.

What happens after my solicitor has served the Section 42 Notice?

Once the Section 42 Notice has been served, the freeholder has 2-6 months from the date of the counter notice in which to respond by serving upon you a Counter Notice. The Counter Notice will either accept or reject your claim. It will also state whether or not the freeholder is willing to accept your offer for the lease premium. If not, then it will state the lease premium the freeholder requires. There is then a period of 2 to 6 months from the date of the Counter Notice during which your surveyor can negotiate on your behalf with the freeholder’s surveyor.

What happens if we can’t reach an agreement?

If no agreement is reached, then either you or the freeholder is entitled to apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to make a decision. The application to the tribunal must be made not later than 6 months from the date of the Counter Notice. Up to this point, you will probably be responsible for paying all of the freeholder’s legal and valuation fees. However, once a Tribunal hearing has begun, each party has to pay their own costs. It normally takes 4 to 6 months for a Tribunal hearing to be scheduled.

Each party is represented and expert evidence can be produced.

Please note there are important time scales that each party needs to be adhere to.

I am buying a leasehold property with a short lease.

What should I do?

If you are buying a leasehold property with a short lease which you want to extend, then obviously you do not have the right to do so because you have not owned the property for at least two years.

Provided that the seller is himself eligible for a lease extension, there are two ways around this: either the seller can agree terms privately with the freeholder to extend the lease and the new lease can be granted directly to you on completion of your purchase; or the seller can serve a Section 42 Notice upon the freeholder requesting him to grant an extended lease.

The benefit of the Section 42 Notice would be transferred to you on completion. You would then be able to demand a new lease from the freeholder as if you had actually owned the property for at least two years.

If you are getting a mortgage, please bear in mind that lenders will not usually agree to grant you a mortgage on the property you are buying if the lease has less than 55 years left to run. Your solicitor will be able to check this for you.

Are all leaseholders automatically entitled to a lease extension?

No. There are some situations in which a leaseholder is excluded from the right to a lease extension.

The article is intended only to provide an overview of the position. It should not be relied on in place of specific advice. For more detailed advice, please email the author Kwalia@graner-hancock.co.uk . We look forward to speaking with you in relation to your individual requirements.

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business

awards

Awards celebrate business success in challenging year Hounslow Chamber of Commerce and West London Local Chambers celebrated the cream of the borough’s best businesses in an online awards ceremony in December.

Due to COVID-19, the annual event moved online to recognise and reward some of the region’s big achievers in the business community.

Hosted by the Chamber with guest speaker Mark Ramprakash, the former England cricketer and Strictly Come Dancing winner, the event attracted more than 100 guests and saw Woodnet Lifetstyles crowned Best Business of the Year.

“We provided a lot of the back-up support that wasn’t visible in the end product but it was important nonetheless.

“Going forward, we all want to get back to live events but even when we do I think there’ll be virtual elements within them. Many people and businesses are embracing technology and incorporating it into their everyday activities.”

Award winners: Best Business for Health & Wellbeing:

Ash Sanjenbam of Woodnet Lifetstyle – which has created hygiene stations to control the spread of infections – said: “Thank you ever so much, Sally, Alan and all at the Chamber – what a year, what a whopper of a year! I’m very humbled with the award and the recognition.”

• Cranford Opticians – winner

Sally Smith, chief operating officer at Hounslow Chamber, said: “I want to congratulate all of our winners and runners-up and, indeed, all who entered the 2019-20 business awards. We would not be the Chamber we are today without your support.

These past few months have been challenging for so many of us, so it was good to celebrate successes across Hounslow and West London, albeit via Zoom.

I had never even heard of it in March!

“Alan and I certainly enjoyed the evening. We were quite emotional and can’t wait to get back to live events, but in the meantime, we will continue with Zoom!

“I was so impressed with our tech team, courtesy of 2k Tiger, and also the Q&A session with Mark Ramprakash – what a charming person!”

Events management firm 2k Tiger provided the Chamber with technical support, creating a webinar format for the event, organising the Q&A session with Mark Ramprakash and setting up Whatsapp groups to facilitate discussion between the Chamber and the event sponsors.

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2k Tiger founder Mrinal Madina said: “It was great to work on this event for the Chamber.

The business awards are a regular feature in the calendar and many companies look forward to it and want to get involved.

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• Sofresh Kitchen – highly commended • Beauty Bar – highly commended

• Magenta Security Services - highly commended • 2k Tiger – highly commended Best Exporter of the Year: • SKS Group – winner • Russell Finex – highly commended Best Green Business: • Magenta Security Services – winner • Chiswick Park Enjoy-Work – highly commended • Russell Finex – highly commended Best Micro Company: • London Counselling Practice – winner • Sofresh Kitchen – highly commended • Insightful Images – highly commended Best Small Company: • Danhouse Security – winner • Cranford Opticians – highly commended Best New Business: • Woodnet Lifestyles – winner • Atrium Hotel Heathrow – highly commended • Venture X Chiswick Park – highly commended Best Retailer: • Hearing Well – winner • Beauty Bar – highly commended • Cranford Opticians – highly commended Best Security Business – Cyber & Physical: • Kingfisher SEC – winner • Danhouse Security – highly commended

Best Business for Hospitality & Leisure:

• Magenta Security Services – highly commended

• One Golf Club – winner

Best Tech Business:

• Holiday Inn London: Brentford Lock – highly commended

• Intellicasa – winner

• 2k Tiger – highly commended Best Business for Marketing and Social media: • The Kettle Shed – winner • Fastsigns Hammersmith - highly commended • Contactus – highly commended

• Consolidated Logistics Services – highly commended • Serendipity int – highly commended Employer of the Year: • Danhouse Security – winner • Coalo – highly commended • Fastsigns Hammersmith – highly commended

Best Business Support & Advice/Service Company:

Lifetime Achiever Large Company:

• Consolidated Logistics Services – winner

• Chiswick Park Enjoy-Work

• Safer Business Hounslow – winner

Lifetime Achiever Small Company:

• Oasis Accountants – highly commended

• Beauty Bar

Best Charity/Social Enterprise:

Chamber of Commerce Recognition Award:

• Serving Our Superheroes – winner

• Russell Finex

• Rotary Club of Hounslow – highly commended

Business of the Year:

• Thamesbank Credit Union – highly commended

• Woodnet Lifestyles Ltd

Best Entrepreneur: • Kingfisher SEC & Woodnet Lifestyles – winner

awards Serial volunteer to receive coveted award Twenty-seven extraordinary people from across the UK are being recognised with the coveted British Citizen Award (BCA) – including Chamber member Sarah Gardner from Uxbridge, Middlesex.

Sarah, who runs the Serving our Superheroes charity, was honoured with a BCAv for Services to Volunteering & Charitable Giving. The charity, which was recently voted the Best Charity/Social Enterprise in the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce and West London Local Chambers

medals by courier, together with video messages of congratulations and an invitation to the House of Lords at a date yet to be determined.

The BCA scheme, in association with OneStop, is now in its sixth year and recognises exceptional people who positively impact their communities.

Sarah is a chartered manager and fellow of both the Chartered Management Institute and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and currently works as a projects and improvements manager. She has worked in the public sector for more than 20 years, during which time she has undertaken many initiatives to help others, mainly in the area of public safety but more recently in the areas of mental health and well-being.

best businesses awards, provides laundry bags, wash bags and other products to frontline care staff and people in need, including homeless people.

Her current voluntary roles include her work as an army officer for the Army Cadet Force for over 16 years. She is also assistant medical support officer for the Middlesex and North West London Army Cadet Force; a school governor; a trustee of Hounslow Community Food Box (a food bank); and vice chair of Thamesbank Credit Union.

Due to the current lockdown, the usual grand medal presentation ceremony at The Palace of Westminster was unable to take place. Sarah and the remaining 26 medallists received their BCA

Sarah is also the president-elect and community officer for the Rotary Club of Elthorne-Hillingdon and recently set up two charities to help and improve the lives of others.

Mukesh gains national recognition for volunteering work Chamber member Mukesh Malhotra has also been selected to receive a British Citizens Award (BCA) for his volunteering and charity work.

For nearly 20 years Mukesh has volunteered within his community and has been instrumental in the fight to end polio.

He is currently director and chair of Chamber member, ThamesBank Credit Union, an unpaid role. This is a financial cooperative owned solely by members to provide a safe place for savings and access to loans.

Mukesh also speaks regularly at colleges and universities on third sector topics such as credit unions, food banks, rough sleeping and cyber security.

Through his involvement with the Chamber member, Hounslow Rotary, he has co-founded with Susanne Rea and introduced Rotary World’s Greatest Meal to Help End Polio, which globally has helped in the fight to save more than 18.5 million children from polio. The efforts of the Hounslow Rotary have recently been recognised by The Lord Lt of London &

the DL. They have also been commended for their work during the pandemic.

Mukesh is also trustee of the UK arm of a water charity called Roll Out The Barrel, whose primary aim is to transport clean water – that “last mile” from the water pump or borehole using 35-litre water barrels which can be pushed or rolled rather than carried.

In addition to the above, he is a trustee of Disability Network Hounslow, which supports people with physical, sensory or mental impairments. Throughout all Mukesh’s voluntary work, he has helped many communities both locally and nationally.

He says: “I am blown away to be selected to receive a British Citizens Award for my volunteering and charity work. I hope that this inspires all of the unsung heroes in our community, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.”

I can imagine what comes to mind when you hear the word ‘tax’. When I started working in R&D tax credits, my perspective changed – a government legislation that gives instead of takes. I became passionate, passionate helping clients receive money back for all their hard work.

Passionate to see the difference it makes for them, and passionate to have a front row seat to the exciting innovations happening in the UK. The Latin root of ‘innovation’ comes from the word ‘novus’ – translated as new, fresh, and unprecedented, a word that embodies my intention to start a company where I can provide my unique touch to the service. A service that is focused solely on a client’s needs in a way that will create the most value for them.

Novus Tax’s mission, with a combined professional experience of more than ten years, is to raise awareness of schemes that over 90% of eligible SMEs are missing out on and build lasting relationships to support companies in their R&D journeys.

What are R&D tax credits?

R&D tax credits are a UK government scheme to incentivise investment in research and development by providing relief to companies in the form of Corporate Tax reduction or tax credits. Depending on the circumstances, the scheme can provide a return from 11% to 33% of qualifying expenditure a company incurred as a result of R&D activities.

R&D is defined as an advance in science and technology which involved uncertainty and could not be easily worked out by a professional in the field.

Why are eligible companies missing out?

Often, misconceptions regarding eligibility arise from the definition provided by HMRC. Companies are too quick dismiss their entitlement because they fail to recognise the R&D nature of the work they carry out. Some companies are unsure of how they would go about making the claim and often find the process difficult or lengthy. A third scenario arises when companies don’t have a comprehensive knowledge of qualifying costs.

How can I find out more information or make a claim?

You can make a claim in three different ways: yourself, through an accountant or an R&D tax specialist company. There is a vast amount of information available online. However, there may be limits to specific information that applies to you, as the scheme is available across all industries and covers a variety of R&D activities. In this scenario, free assessments are invaluable. I would recommend, therefore, getting in touch with an R&D tax specialist who offers these so you can find out your eligibility, qualifying costs and how to make a claim.

Please get in touch by info@novus.co.uk or call Asif directly on 07557957102

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environment

Cleaning up our environment Across the world there’s a major drive to reduce the global carbon footprint. The idea is that if everyone does their bit to green up the environment, all of those small actions – recycling old bottles, using low-emission lighting, sourcing recycled materials – will add up to have a huge positive impact on the fight against climate change.

Locally, Hounslow Chamber of Commerce and West London Local Chambers are working with businesses to see how they could improve their environmental credentials. Last October, several companies attended the Chamber’s clean air webinar, which focused on what could be done to reduce road congestion in London and the resulting air pollution that could harm public health and the environment.

The attendees discussed a range of options, such as encouraging employees to cycle to work, use a greener motor vehicle and make efforts to improve air quality in their workplaces.

Development specialist and Chamber member, Meld Energy was one of the webinar speakers

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and was founded on improving its businesses sustainability credentials. The company is passionate about enabling the path to net zero where greenhouse gas production is matched or bettered by its removal from the atmosphere.

Meld Energy founder Chris Smith says: “As a net zero consultancy and developer, we have to practice what we preach. We’re a new business and have never had any office space so we all work from home. Each team member is energy-conscious, has smart technology in the home and has energy contracts with green suppliers. Travel is kept to a minimum through the use of media calls and where travel is required, we prefer rail. The team has also started transitioning to electric vehicles when we need to travel by road.

Sustainability in modern business

By Chamber member, Dan Rice of digital and branding partnership Hay+Rice

“Of much bigger impact though, is what we do with our clients and partners. Our mission is to deliver scalable net zero energy solutions that generate commercial value and social benefits through clean air, lower costs and improved environment for all. This means that we work with clients, particularly those in the public sector, to do the best they can with the assets they have – improving building efficiency, building low-carbon heat and power schemes and delivering the transition to lowcarbon transportation through the provision of infrastructure.

Our view is that we all have a part to play and by working with our clients and partners we can deliver a cleaner, greener and healthier world for us all.”

Some companies are capitalising on the green energy boom.

Spark Moto has built its business around the provision of 100% electric mopeds, scooters and motorcycles made by established brand names such as Zero, NIU, Super Soco and Sur-Ron. Spark sells 25 different models and operates a fleet of ten 100% electric demonstrators – more than any

other motorcycle dealer within the London and M25 area.

Conor O’Broin, one of the founding directors of Spark Moto, says that the low-emission, low-cost advantages of electric bikes and scooters make them an attractive proposition for would-be buyers.

He says: “Electric motorcycles cost very little to run – from under 1p per mile in electricity costs. There’s no road tax to pay and you only pay 5% VAT on fuel (electricity). Upfront costs are generally higher than those associated with a standard bike, but if you own an electric model you can break even within as little as two years, with substantial savings thereafter.

“With just two or three moving parts between the throttle and the back wheel, electric motorcycles have very little to go wrong or maintain. As they’re electric they have no tailpipe emissions – so no pollution, no direct CO2 and these machines move through spaces with little noise.

“We have a business that puts sustainability first. This can only be good for our customers and the wider environment.”

Did you know that one Google search uses enough electricity to power a light bulb for about 100 seconds? It’d be easy to wrongly assume that online business has a squeaky-clean efficiency rating, and with more businesses focusing their operations on the digital realm, it’s more important than ever to be aware of how this can impact the environment.

Hounslow Chamber of Commerce and West London Chambers have now switched its website to another hosting location, one that’s driven by high-speed servers powered 100% by renewable energy. This process has been managed by Hay+Rice; we’ve provided support and hosting for the existing Hounslow Chamber and West London Chambers website for the last three years. Sustainable choices have been a cornerstone of Hay+Rice’s recent re-shaping, following research into the impacts of the digital world on the environment and the positive influence that well-informed choices can have, as online traffic continues to grow exponentially.

During 2018, data centres (roughly speaking, where servers are located) emitted as much CO2 as the commercial airline industry

and gobbled up 1% of global electricity demand – 205TWh (terawatt hours). This number is expected to grow to as much as 8000TWh by 2030. It’s therefore clear that eco-conscious data centres should be supported when we vote with our wallets, and businesses need to be made aware of the impacts of their choices.

The Chamber’s website will continue to grow in its new green location and we’d encourage all other businesses to do the same.

Working through digital agencies such as Hay+Rice ensures that finding high-speed and secure hosting options becomes affordable.

The agency’s flexible approach to selecting service providers means that the most appropriate solutions are identified, and the technology is managed for you.

Aside from our work with the Chamber, our portfolio covers a wide range of businesses across many industries. Our new website touches on some of our more recent work, from designing brands for boutique businesses to new websites and ongoing support for councils and larger organisations.

For more information visit hayandrice.co.uk

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news Reach Children’s Hub launches employment and skills development initiative Reach Children’s Hub, based in Feltham, provides an innovative example of community work using the cradle-to-career model. It holistically supports thousands of children in Feltham to enable them to live the lives of choice and opportunity, and for their families to thrive.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic the sharp rise in furlough, under-employment and unemployment facing the community became increasingly concerning. This was [ use the one that works best ]Logo Options compounded by the fact that many wards in Feltham already had multiple economic disadvantages from access to resources to economic participation. We knew that the economic fallout of the pandemic was hitting the low-skilled, contact-based sectors the

most. At that time the area had the 3rd highest furlough rate in the country.

Therefore, we sought to understand the situation on the ground better. In October, we interviewed more than 420 people. Over half of the people interviewed had experienced a negative effect on employment (52%). The effects were various. From families who lost their jobs or closed down their businesses (15%) to those that have lost income due to their jobs being unstable (27%). Disconcertingly, more than half of the interviews had significant concerns about maintaining or still having a job in the next 6 months (55%). 19% of the interviewees had significant financial concerns.

Of those 55% indicated that they might not be able to meet the household bills in the next 4 weeks, and 15% said that they might not be able to afford food for their children.

We tried to avoid the age old trap of linking historically deprived communities with tokenistic interventions. As well as providing emergency support, we also considered what programmes are going to provide good and sustainable jobs for our community?

One of the ways we have addressed the question has led us to working with the Positive Transformation Initiative and CISCO to establish different pathways to employment for local residents. We know that one of the best levers we have for transformation is working with the local businesses who are keen to collaborate and think differently. To find out more please visit: www.reachacademyfeltham.com Reach Academy is a valued member of the Chamber and Sally Smith has actively introduced them to local Feltham businesses.

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The pandemic has taught us all to think about how we work and we like to think we operate a bit differently. We take the time and trouble to understand your business, your plans and aspirations.

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technology

Cybercrime has rapidly developed into one of the greatest threats, affecting organisations across the world. Chamber Patron Timeless IMS Technology Roadmap can protect your business.

Businesses faced a 20% rise in cyber security threats last year versus 2019, with the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, serving as the catalyst for a year of increased efforts to infiltrate corporate networks.

Businesses in the UK each faced approximately 687,000 attempts, on average, to breach their systems online in 2020. This significant rise can be chiefly attributed to COVID 19, as well as the massive shift to remote working.

An estimated 65,000 attacks are carried out on UK SMEs every day resulting in 4,500 breaches.

SME’s 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 do not have an in-house 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 are not 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 lockdown with a crypto locker that requires a sophisticated algorithm to break.

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

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.

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

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

• deliver protection that will offer the same level of security to your business and its users, who are working onsite and remotely — 24/7/365 • constantly trawl the dark web — a hotbed for cyber criminals — to anticipate and repel the newest attacks, while also searching for the sale of your data

Timeless IMS’ are honoured to have won the award for Best IT & Cyber Security Outsourcing Specialist – UK, by Corporate Vision

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

For further information, please visit our website: http:/www.timelessims.co.uk/ What is Cyber Security? https://bit.ly/3mvCDgc

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profile

Sally celebrates 20-year Chamber anniversary This year marks a special milestone for Sally Smith. It’s the twentieth year since she joined Hounslow Chamber of Commerce and is the pinnacle of an eclectic career that has seen her drop out of university, run bars and breweries, raise three children, return to university to get a degree and offer practical help and advice to hundreds of grateful local businesses.

Her current job title is chief operating officer of the Chamber but it doesn’t really tell the whole story of what she does. Her role involves everything from hosting events for local companies to building contacts and networks, improving the Chamber’s membership offer and in the past certifying export documentation for organisations that trade internationally.

and we treat every one of them with the same importance. We lay on events and provide sponsorship opportunities but we also offer little extras – such as goodie bags and vouchers for companies at our business awards. We’re a highly active organisation that wants to help businesses make connections and feel part of their local community.”

More recently, she has also been doing her utmost to help businesses get through the worst health pandemic in living memory.

Sally has been instrumental in pioneering several Chamber-led initiatives including Safer Business Hounslow, which aims to drive down crime and make the borough a safer place to work, shop, live and invest. She’s also encouraging businesses to apply to take on a young person for six months under the government’s Kickstart Scheme, a £2 billion initiative to create high-quality work placements for 16-24-year-olds so they don’t have to rely on Universal Credit in the long term.

Sally says: “I’m so proud of what we’ve done for businesses in this pandemic. Many of them are suffering and are coming to us for help.

We’re here to support our members but we also provide assistance to non-members as it’s vital to have thriving business communities in Hounslow, Ealing, Hammersmith and other areas of London.

“We have currently have around 450 members, from sole traders to GSK [GlaxoSmithKline]

“We’re always on the look-out for different ways in which we can support businesses and individuals,” says Sally. “We’re agile and can turn on a sixpence.”

Born in Knutsford, she studied French and Italian at university but didn’t complete the course.

“I was booted out,” she recalls. “At that age, perhaps I didn’t have the rigor that I do now.”

After a stint at a PR firm, she found a fun job as “an executive gofer” working for David Bruce of Bruce’s Brewery, who ran a number of Firkin pub/breweries in London and Bristol. She stayed with the company for eight years, before leaving to have her first child.

Two more children followed before the lure of education and self-improvement persuaded her to study part-time for a degree in English literature at Brunel University London.

“My husband was a solicitor and worked long hours,” she says. “Although raising a family is a full-time job in itself, I needed something extra to stimulate my mind.”

In this COVID-19 pandemic I’ve become more comfortable using technology – I’m a bit of a Zoom expert now – and I’ve done interviews with London news outlets. I’m the friendly face of the Chamber and I’d like to think I’m approachable, while being honest, straight-talking and trustworthy. I always endeavour to deliver what I promise and I’m always at the end of the phone to help local businesses.

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Sally graduated with a first and then jumped at the chance to take a managerial post at Hounslow Chamber in 2001. With her drive and determination, she soon set about growing the organisation’s membership base and raising its profile more widely in the business community.

She recalls: “I remember recruiting my first member and I ran around the room shrieking and thinking, what do I do now? Eventually, businesses began to take the Chamber more seriously.

“I’ve always preferred to be a big fish in a small pond – that way, I feel I can make a difference. The more I understood what the Chamber stood for and how it could have a positive impact on businesses, the better I became at my job.

“In this COVID-19 pandemic I’ve become more comfortable using technology – I’m a bit of a Zoom expert now – and I’ve done interviews with London news outlets. I’m the friendly face of the Chamber and I’d like to think I’m approachable, while being honest, straight-talking and trustworthy. I always endeavour to deliver what I promise and I’m always at the end of the phone to help local businesses.

“My message to the business community in these difficult times is: use us! We are here to assist you and if we can’t help you directly, we’ll be able to put you in touch with someone who can.”

Over the last two decades, Sally has worked with many Chamber staff and colleagues who have been struck by her warmth, friendliness, tenacity and ability to get things done! Many of them have gone on record to say that it has been a pleasure and honour to work with her.

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Prices correct as at time of print.

This is Brentford WEST LONDON WATERSIDE LIVING AT THE HEART OF THE REGENERATION OF BRENTFORD

NEW APARTMENTS NOW RELEASED 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments from £445,000

020 3627 4142 thebrentfordproject.com

The Brentford Project: Ballymore’s town centre rejuvenation is putting Brentford back on the map

Perhaps unsurprisingly, access to green spaces has become another must-have over the past year. Adding to what is already a green, leafy pocket of the capital – home to the 300 acres of Kew Gardens and the 200 acres of Syon Park - The Brentford Project will bring new public landscaped spaces for local and resident use, including sensitively transforming the beautiful gardens of the deconsecrated Grade II* Listed St Lawrence’s Church.

Recently, Ballymore released a new collection of two-bedroom apartments with views over the gardens, as well as across the river to Syon Park and beyond (prices from £445,000).

Over the last year, we’ve experienced a huge shift in the way that we live, work, travel and socialise. The global pandemic has forced us to adapt and revaluate what we classify as essential in our day-to-day lives, with the common threads of community, green space and local amenities. With light at the end of the tunnel, the next big question is whether these new priorities will become long term lifestyle changes.

One concept that aptly captures this more local lifestyle is that of the ’15-minute city’. Originally conceived by Sorbonne Professor, Carlos Moreno – long before Covid-19 became part of our everyday vocabulary – the idea is one where everything you need is within 15 minutes of your home, from shops, schools and healthcare to parks and leisure.

While somewhat of a departure from our pre-Covid-19 priorities, now access to a great high street on the doorstep has never been more important, especially for those looking for a new place to live. With the future of our neighbourhoods set to look a little different, it provides an exciting opportunity for the developers behind major regeneration schemes.

Ballymore’s The Brentford Project is one such example, where its 11.8-acre redevelopment will deliver a major rejuvenation of the town centre. Alongside delivering 876 new homes, the scheme will revitalise the southern stretch of the high street, reconnecting it with the waterfront and bring an exciting mix of dining, entertainment and shopping amenities and new public spaces.

The revitalised high street will incorporate day-to-day amenities, including market-leading retailers

and vitality to the high street, the finished product celebrates all things Brentford - from its unique canals and waterways to Brentford F.C.’s famous bee emblem – which Hixxy describes as “a positive, beautiful and uplifting image inspired by the local area, giving a very grey building an injection of colour and life!”.

While the benefits of green space on wellbeing are well documented, the positive impact of ‘blue space’ is lesser known, with recent research from the University of Exeter highlighting the improvements being close to water can have on mental health. Sitting at the meeting point of the River Thames and River Brent, Ballymore’s plan, as John Mulryan describes, is “to establish a new waterside destination”, while extensions to the Thames Path will open up the water frontage even further. and traditional shops like a bakery, greengrocer and butcher. Major supermarket chain, Morrison’s, recently announced it will open a new store as part of the project.

Local business has been placed firmly front of mind too. Characterful yards and lanes will reconnect the high street to the waterfront, with the passageways dedicated to supporting local independent retailers, artisans, craftspeople and budding entrepreneurs - a particularly important element for Ballymore. As John Mulryan, Group Managing Director at Ballymore, explains, “local start-ups and businesses bring excitement,

innovative and opportunity to an area, so it’s vital that we provide a space for them to thrive.”

Testament to this communityfocused approach, several brands are already on site and offering a taste of Ballymore’s vision for Brentford, including classic and supercar dealership, Duke of London, and bakery Rye by the Water, which overlooks the canals and waterways.

Most recently, Ballymore partnered with renowned botanical mural artist Hixxy, to create a temporary mural covering the multi-storey car park on the high street. Designed to bring colour

Workhouse Dock, an existing but neglected mooring on the River Brent, will be rejuvenated with 24-hour moorings, and lined with restaurants, pubs and cafés, while tiered seating terraces and raised podium gardens will provide a space to relax, spend time and enjoy life on the water. There’ll also be Waterfront Square, a dedicated space for outdoor markets, performance and public events.

For more information on The Brentford Project, please visit www.thebrentfordproject.com or call 020 3797 4875.

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events

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February Sales And Marketing Business Clinic Webinar

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M a r c h Local Chambers Networking Webinar

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10:00am-11:30am

09:00am-10:00am

10:00am-11:30am

https://bit.ly/360sq5E

Pandemic Insurance & How Do You Go About Making A Claim https://bit.ly/3cnMAdR

Hounslow, Kingston, Merton & Wandsworth Chamber

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/joint-chamber-networking-tickets-137914741705 Cost: Members- £10 per person

| Non-Members – £15 per person

A great way to hear what Chambers are doing across a wider local area to support businesses and most importantly a way to grow your network and do more business.

These events are always popular so book early to guarantee your place.

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M a r c h Green Circular economy Webinar

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M a r c h Making Tech work for you Webinar - digitalisation of 10:00am-11:00am some business procedures/use of CRM

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M a r c h Security – cyber/physical

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10:00am-11:00am

How To Thrive in a crisis - Power Networking Hounslow

10:00am-11:00am https://bit.ly/3adEzWl

10:00am-11:00am

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M a r c h International Trade – Grow your trade with 10.00am-11.30am the UAE webinar

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A p r i l Kickstart update Webinar

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A p r i l International Trade Webinar

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Regeneration 3.0 Conference

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

24th June 2-8pm

We are sticking our heads above the parapet and have set a date for Regeneration Hounslow 3.0.

Join us at our live event to learn more about the exciting developments/projects across the borough.

Presentations from:

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Ballymore Barratts London Berkeley Group Bugler

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EasyBuild Construction Software Fairview New Homes Hounslow Highway West Thames College

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Hounslow Festival of Business September 2021 The Hounslow Festival of Business is part of that celebration, showcasing and promoting our diverse business community.

Business Awards 2020/2021 November 2021 The Hounslow Business Awards recognise and celebrate the success of companies of all sizes across a wide range of industry sectors.

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

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Golden Mile Glistens With Employment Opportunities St Edward, a joint venture company between Berkeley Group and M&G Investments, has submitted plans to redevelop the Tesco and Homebase sites on Syon Lane, kick starting the regeneration of the Golden Mile. The outline plans propose up to 2,150 homes, 35% of which are tenure blind affordable homes, generous public spaces, a state-of-the-art Tesco alongside new offices, cafes, and community spaces.

While the developments will deliver a significant amount of investment into the local area and help to boost the economy, there are more far-reaching impacts that can really help jobseekers and young people entering the job market for the first time. The 15-year project is estimated to support 4,700 construction jobs, as well as safeguard and create 650 permanent jobs, alongside other supply chain opportunities for both construction and completed homes or commercial spaces.

St Edward are focussed on making the most of opportunities to get younger people into construction or associated careers, even if it just experience of the professional world for the first time or later on with degree-related apprenticeships.

Tom Pocock, Managing Director at St Edward said: “In these particularly challenging times the growth and investment provided by these developments will be fundamental to recovery in the local area. Our employment team have already started working with education providers and charities to forge links in the local area and will be organising a range of virtual events for National Apprenticeships Week this February 2021.”

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St Edward has already teamed up with Hounslow Youth Council to offer a one-day CV training workshop which will be the first of many. The programme provided an insight into the vast career options available within the construction industry, alongside practical tips about how to boost CVs and develop interview skills.

Kainaat, from Hounslow Youth Council, took part in the workshop.

She said: “Getting CV advice from a company as big as Berkeley was amazing because it meant I have confidence in going back and looking at my own CV and being able to adapt it.” She will be doing work experience with the St Edward land and planning team in summer 2021.

St Edward are now working with Hounslow Council to devise a longterm Employment and Skills Plan which will provide apprenticeships, training opportunities, work experience and career talks focused on industry image.

The wider Berkeley Group has supported 500 apprentices across their sites and offices during the last financial year, including more than 100 directly employed.

Berkeley Capital’s REACH programme recently won the CITB Large Employer of the Year Apprenticeship Award. www.syonlanefuture.com

St Edward Proposals at Syon Lane

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4,700

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news

Heathrow’s Local Recovery Plan:

At the end of last year, Heathrow and Lord David Blunkett published the ‘Heathrow Local Recovery Plan’, in partnership with key local stakeholders including Hounslow Chamber of Commerce.

The plan sets out a clear agenda for the recovery and makes two policy asks of the UK Government – to temporarily introduce flexibility into how the Apprenticeship Levy can be used, and to provide support through reskilling and retraining opportunities to help people to stay in or find new employment. The local economic recovery plan comes at a critical time, as research from Oxford

Economics reveals that there could be 16,000 fewer jobs in the communities around Heathrow by the end of 2021 versus 2019, as a result of the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19. Heathrow’s action plan has been developed alongside local councils, enterprise partnerships, education providers, business groups and Chambers of Commerce and will be implemented and monitored by the newly created Heathrow Local Recovery Forum, chaired by Lord Blunkett.

Alan Rides - Managing Director of Hounslow plus West London Local Chambers says “we are proud to support Heathrow proposals for Associated Freeport status which will increase local employment and assist international trade.”

To read the full report visit: https://mediacentre.heathrow.com/pressrelease/details/81/Corporate-operational-24/12624

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new

members Welcome to our New Members

Mark Hayward M J Hayward Ltd 36 Pyrmont Road London W4 3NR 07582 923042 mark.j.hayward@outlook.com

Gosia Latecka Charlton Kings Consulting 66 Bafford Approach Cheltenham GL53 9JB 07852 733729 office@charltonkingsfinance.com

Richard Lee Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow Pandox UK OPCO Limited Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport Eastern Perimeter Road Hatton Cross Hounslow TW6 2SQ 07930 195190 Richard.Lee@HGIHeathrow.com

Ekaterina Moteva Thamesbank Credit Union The Bungalow Pinkwell Lane Hayes UB3 1PE 07473 540410 bdm@thamesbank.org www.thamesbank.org

Sebastien Barillot Whysebird 30 Barclay Road London SW6 1EH 07795 857581 hello@whysebird.com www.whysebird.com Daniel Speechley RTLS Communications Ltd 63 Park Road Uxbridge UB8 1NN 07764 944461 dspeechley@rtls.uk.com rtls.uk.com Kevin Wheal Medical and Rescue Ltd 4 Rowan Close Ashford TW15 3JL 07768 843831 kevin@medicalandrescue.co.uk www.medicalandrescue.co.uk

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Sarah Imran Zapp Waste Ltd 2 Lawley House 37 Clevedon Road Twickenham TW1 2TW 07447 647467 sarahimran@zappwaste.com www.zappwaste.com Asif Hussain Novus Tax Limited First Floor Roxburghe House 273-287 Regent Street London W1B 2HA 020 3897 0700 07557 957102 asif@novustax.co.uk www.novustax.co.uk Conor O’Broin Spark Moto Ltd Clifton Nurseries Woburn Hill Addlestone KT15 2QG 03330 153570 07775 560205 conor@sparkmotos.com www.sparkmotos.com

Philip Ingam Green Chilly Limited Office Gold Building 3 Chiswick Park 566 Chiswick High Road London W4 5YA 07766 478522 philip@greenchilly.co.uk www.greenchilly.co.uk Neil Barham Danhouse Security Ltd No. 1 Farriers Yard Assembly London 77-85 Fulham Palace Rd London W6 8JA 0208 748 9269 neil.barham@danhouse.co.uk www.danhouse.co.uk Amar Perwaiz Montreux Financial Ltd 91 Great West Road West Link House Brentford TW8 9DN 0207 096 0227 07916 360837 enquiries@kybfinancial.com www.kybfinancial.com Jose Munoz Grant & Bowman Limited 20 Market Place Brentford TW8 8EQ 020 8326 2626 07736 233772 jose@bowmangroup.com www.grantandbowman.com

Hasan Heshmat Hydro-C Ltd 126 Stanley Street Glasgow G41 1JH 0141 582 1213 07500 295962 director@hydro-c.co.uk www.hydro-c.co.uk Eddie Asare KM Door to Door Ltd 52A Windsor Street Uxbridge UB8 1AB 07807 487655 07539 958840 KMDOOR2DOOR@outlook.com www.kmdoor2door.com Mrinal Madina Chiltest UK Ltd 37 Ivy Crescent Chiswick W4 5NG 07918 150722 mrinal@chiltest.com www.chiltest.com Bal Gill Beauty Bar 150 The Crossways Heston Hounslow TW5 0JR 020 8814 0011 07930 895558 beautybaruk@hotmail.com Shamus Mahmood The Internet Marketing Consultants Ltd International House 24 Holborn Viaduct London EC1A 2BN shamus@theimcs.com 07795 262855

health and

wellbeing

Time to Talk Day puts mental health on the map

recession is going to impact their longer-term prospects – if it hasn’t already. This doesn’t all sit with the employer but it’s in the employer’s interest to help staff manage their wellbeing to help prevent potential absences, to remain productive and feel supported, which in turn helps to build loyalty and motivation.”

The HR Dept, which offers personalised expert HR advice to local businesses, said it was keeping its clients abreast of changes to government legislation and helping them take additional steps to keep their employees safe.

Mental health is high on the political agenda and, looking at the statistics, it’s easy to see why. One in four of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year and poor mental wellbeing costs employers up to £45 billion each year – a rise of 16% since 2016.

Against this sobering backdrop, it’s clear to see why efforts to promote positive wellbeing have been stepped up by politicians, employers, education providers and communities – especially in the current COVID-induced lockdown which has increased feelings of uncertainty and anxiety.

One of the most popular and well-known campaigns is Time to Change, a social movement established to tackle mental health-related stigma and discrimination.

There are now hundreds of Time to Change champions campaigning in their communities across the country, as well as many employers and employees promoting positive mental health in their workplaces.

The annual Time to Talk Day, which took place on February 4 this year, highlights these vital issues and gives people all around the country the chance to celebrate positive wellbeing and tackle mental health-related stigmas.

In Hounslow and surrounding areas, companies are doing their bit to ensure their staff maintain a healthy mindset in the current pandemic.

Chartered accountancy firm Menzies has implemented several practical measures, including regular business updates and a homeworking policy that gives staff the flexibility to balance their day jobs with family activities.

Chamber member, Director Lance Hobbs says: “Communication is key. Open, honest communication on a regular basis will help employees understand what’s going on, even when there’s no news. One of the worst things for people is not knowing what’s going on, so companies should find ways to engage with employees who are not coming into the workplace. Organising online social events is a good starting point; it’s not all about work!

Chamber member, Ed Hussey, director of people solutions at the firm, says: “We provide guidance and links to helpful information on managing stress, working safely from home, the need for breaks, exercise and relaxation.

We have get-togethers and events on line – for example, we hired a magician to put on a show via Zoom for employees and their families – and we issue regular reminders about who they can contact to discuss any concerns they’re having.

“Workplace mental health is so important at the moment because there are so many potential stresses being placed on workers over an extended period. These can be a combination of health, family, care and financial issues, plus the weight of uncertainly about how the

“When things are challenging at home and at work, that’s the most likely time for people to have difficulty in coping. The pandemic has caused issues for many who may be at risk of losing their jobs and income. Some parents have had to home-school and there’s the anxiety that contracting COVID-19 could affect the health of their loved ones.

“Employer support for people at work, including those who’ve been furloughed or are working from home, is so important. Whilst the stigma of mental health in the workplace is disappearing in many companies, some people may still feel they can’t speak up if they have an issue. Companies should make their workplaces a safe environment for people to raise the issue.”

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5 minutes

with....

Farah Qureshi Designer Maker of jewellery in fine, precious materials

Who are you?

My name is Farah Qureshi and I am a designer maker and Chamber member. I specialise in creating collections of jewellery in fine, precious materials.

What’s your business all about?

My business focuses on being ethical and sustainable and I use a lot of recycled metal in both silver and gold. I also have a fairtrade gold licence. Using Fairtrade gold supports small mining communities, providing higher standards of living for miners and their families. As well as good working conditions for the miners.

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Three words to describe yourself?

Creative, modern and elegant.

Ideal Customer?

My ideal customer is both male and female, those who have an interest in jewellery and handmade British craft.

Biggest achievement?

My biggest achievement has been to take a leap of faith and pursue my business on a full time basis.

Biggest gripe?

My biggest gripe recently is trying to grow my business during a pandemic.

Your Inspiration?

My inspiration for my designs comes from many sources from found objects in the home, through to botany under the microscope and much more. Life is an inspiration.

Philosophy in Business?

My philosophy in business is to provide good customer service.

Sporting Hero?

My sporting hero is Londoner, Mo Farah.

Biggest tip for success?

My biggest tip for success is to persevere and to never give up and use your Chamber of Commerce.

TRUS T US TO MOVE YOU R PROJ EC T FORWARD

Why use The LK Group?

We reduce risk, save money and add value. Whatever your environmental needs, our team of specialists is here to guide you through every stage of your project.

Our services: Geotechnical Contaminated Land SuDS & Flood Risk Land Drilling Japanese Knotweed Project Management Contact us: info@thelkgroup.com www.thelkgroup.com Head Office 0161 763 7200 Welwyn Garden City 01707 909059

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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

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