Supporting Local Economy

An Economic Recovery

THAT’S CLOSE TO HOME

• 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

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: 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.

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 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. 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

Octink’s Local Journey

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.

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. 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.

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.

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.