Lets Talk Business Nov 25

Reimagine Banking

Steve Chu, Head of Commercial Banking at iFAST Global Bank

It has been a busy year for our Chamber as growth continues both locally in West London, with over 80 events delivered up to October, covering local and global business, including 40 International Trade Events, all culminating in our Business Awards on 21st November. We wish all finalists the best of luck for the night.

In this issue we look at skills for the future and the youth employment crisis. We feature an interview with Steve Chu, Head of Commercial Banking at iFast Global Bank. The Spotlight focus is on Hammersmith and we share members

Enquiries

West London Chambers of Commerce Spring Grove House, West Thames College, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS

Tel: 07879 813817

Email: sallysmith@westlondonchambers.org.uk

Web: www.westlondonchambers.org.uk

comments on how to get the best from your Chamber. We also have our usual round up of members news, arts & culture and health & wellbeing for you to enjoy. We look forward to 2026 and supporting our members in overcoming challenges and expanding their businesses in the coming year.

Happy reading and a very Merry Christmas to you all.

Alan Rides

Chief Executive Officer, West London Chambers of Commerce

Publisher Ian Fletcher

Benham Publishing Limited

Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ

Tel: 0151 236 4141

Fax: 0151 236 0440

Email: admin@benhampublishing.com

Web: www.benhampublishing.com

Media No. 2101

Published November 2025

Editor

Sarah Dale

Email: sarahdale@benhampublishing.com

Tel: 0151 236 4141

Features

Karen Hall

Tel: 0151 236 4141

Email:karen@benhampublishing.com

Advertising Sales

Karen Hall

Tel: 07801 788880

Email: karen@benhampublishing.com

Production

David Wright

Tel: 0151 236 4141

Email: dave@benhampublishing.com

West London Chambers of Commerce

Business Awards 2025

21st November 2025 - 6:30pm

Novotel London West,1 Shortlands, Hammersmith W6 8DR

Award Categories

Best Business for Health & Wellbeing

Best Business for Hospitality & Leisure

Best Business for Marketing & Social Media

Best Charity / Social Enterprise

Best Entrepreneur

Best Exporter of the Year

Best Green Business

Best New Business

Best Restaurant / Retailer

Best Small Company under 50 Employees

Best Tech Business

Business Enabler of the Year

Creative Business of the Year

Diversity and Inclusion Award

Apprentice Employer of the Year 2025

Employer of the Year

League of Their Own Award

Unsung Heroes Award

Women In Business Award

Business of the Year

Chamber of Commerce Recognition Award

Community Award

“A delightful evening celebrating excellence and honouring the best in business”

Award Finalists

Absolute Aesthetics x Academy Ltd.

Aciers UK Ltd.

Ajar Technology

Andreea Tufescu Photography

Aristone Optical

ARQ Hair Ltd.

Auto West London

AVA SEO Ltd.

Avalon Insights

AWP Legal

Beauty Bar

BirthGiver Film Productions

Blue Crystal Property Management

Bridge Baker

CBA Rope Acccess Ltd.

Clayton Hotel Chiswick

Cloudhouse Technologies

Deaf Animation World Ltd.

Digipac Consultancy Ltd.

Ealing Living Magazine

Ealing Mencap

Edwards Removals

Eggs Invest

EMR SENSITIVITY Ltd.

Football For All

Global Skills Training Ltd.

Gripped London

Gunea Luthra

Gurve Foundation

Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway Ltd.

Human Sun Light Ltd.

Hyatt Place London Heathrow Airport

IKB EVENTWORKS

IPTogether Ltd.

IVA Plants

K4 Group of Companies

Konooz Fine Art London

Leverage Enterprises Ltd t/a Leverage

Security

Loantube

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

M & M General Insurance Services Ltd. -

M & M Group

Mama Haven

MCR Pathways

Muddy Barkers Ltd.

Novotel London West

Oasis Accountnants Ltd.

Olsights Ltd.

Pilates Now! Ltd.

PinkSEO Limited

Plane Saver Credit Union

PPC Gameplan

Rightangled

Ringway Hounslow Highways

Rocket Restaurants Ltd.

Russell Finex

Sadia Barlow Photography

Sam’s Riverside

Sarah’s Haberdashery

Sensor IT

7 Hopes London

SHEWISE

Shiuli

Simon Inc Ltd.

Simplified Solutions & Co Ltd.

SMASH OPERATIONS T/A McDonalds

SNAK Restaurants Ltd.

St George PLC

St Micheal care t/a Home Instead

Hammersmith & Chiswick

Stamford Bridge Hotel

Story Beyond Lines

Telescope AI

Thatched House

The Coffee House Acton

The Earls Court Development Company

The Entsports Agency Ltd t/a ESA

The George and Dragon Pub

The Mulberry Centre

The University of West London

The Upper Room

The Weir Bar

The Zip Yard Shepherds Bush Road

Tidy Fox Ltd.

Translator in London Ltd.

Unique People Consult

Venture X Chiswick Park

Venture X White City

Visiting Angels - South Middlesex

Visual

Vizability.io

W.G.S.F.

Walfinch Chiswick, Hammersmith and Kensington

Wandsworth Sash Windows

West London Queer Project

Woodford Tools

WSI Digital Advisors

XAir Technologies

London airport makes history with recordbreaking summer

A London airport has made history by becoming the first major European hub to handle over eight million passengers in a single month during one of the busiest summers on record.

Heathrow Airport surpassed the eight million mark in August, after experiencing its busiest day ever on August 1, welcoming over 270,000 travellers.

Terminal 5 alone recorded over 112,000 passengers on August 22, setting a new single-day terminal record.

Despite the high volumes, the airport reports its strongest summer performance to date, with 98 per cent of bags arriving as

scheduled and 96 per cent of passengers clearing security in less than five minutes.

On-the-day cancellations across the summer decreased by more than a third compared with the same time last year and passengers travelling without their bags reduced by 42 per cent year-on-year.

August was also Heathrow’s most punctual month on record, cementing its status as Europe’s most on-time major hub.

The record-breaking month comes amid growing momentum behind the Government’s commitment to expanding Heathrow, a move that could unlock greater capacity, greater routes and greater trading opportunities.

As part of this vision, Heathrow has submitted plans for a 100 per cent privately

funded third runway, which could be operational within the next decade and support the national mission for economic growth.

Heathrow CEO, Thomas Woldbye, said:

“August is set to go down in the history books – Heathrow became the first European airport to handle over eight million passengers in a single month and we achieved that while maintaining industry-leading punctuality and service levels.

“This is an outstanding achievement, made possible by the collective efforts of our colleagues, airline partners and the wider airport community, who worked as one to deliver excellent service for our passengers and the UK.”

www.heathrow.com

PinkSEO’s Silvia claims prestigious award

The Best Businesswomen Awards have announced their winners for 2025 at a glittering Gala Awards ceremony held at the Daventry Court Hotel.

Businesswoman Silvia Del Corso from PinkSEO won the Gold Award for Best Customer Service in this prestigious competition which seeks to find the very best female business talent from across the UK. Founded in 2016 and based in Isleworth, West London, PinkSEO is a female-led SEO agency helping established businesses, particularly in the medical, legal, financial, and e-commerce sectors, grow sustainably through ethical, transparent, and data-driven search strategies.

The tenacity, creativity, and resilience of female entrepreneurs truly took centre stage. Each winner, carefully selected by an expert panel of judges from hundreds of entries, has showcased exceptional innovation, strong leadership and a passion for their industry. Plus, an unwavering drive to succeed. The Best Businesswomen Awards were created eleven years ago to celebrate the achievements of female-led businesses and charities across a diverse range of industries. Open to all female business owners, the awards highlight the business acumen, drive and dedication of talented businesswomen who are all inspirational role models.

The judges commented:

“Silvia has made clever use of tech to drive loyalty and create a solid customer experience in a crowded market with creative solutions. PinkSEO’s commitment to regular customer satisfaction surveys made them stand out. She encourages a structured format to check in with clients regularly, meaning that any issues can be identified and resolved proactively. We gained a real insight into the detail-driven nature of the customer journey, sharing all stages of support to deliver an excellent experience.”

Commenting on the win, Silvia Del Corso, Founder and Managing Director of PinkSEO, said: “Winning Gold for Best Customer Service means the world to us because it recognises what truly matters most in our work: our clients’ trust. Every member of our team is dedicated to making SEO understandable, transparent, and genuinely helpful to the businesses we support. I’m incredibly proud of our team’s care and commitment, and of the long-term relationships we’ve built with our clients who inspire us every day.”

West Thames College and London Borough of Hounslow to launch new Independence Hub for young people with additional needs

West Thames College, in a partnership with the London Borough of Hounslow, is proud to announce the launch of its brand-new Independence Hub on 7 October 2025 at its Isleworth campus.

Supporting Young People with Complex Learning Needs

The Independence Hub has been designed to support young people with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) and Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD), offering a tailored, person-centred approach that empowers students to achieve greater independence and prepares them for adulthood.

The vision of the Hub is rooted in creating meaningful, engaging, and highly individualised learning experiences that celebrate each student’s unique abilities. The curriculum is structured around the Preparing for Adulthood (PfA) outcomes – Education, Independence, Community

Participation, and Health – ensuring every young person is equipped with essential life skills, confidence, and opportunities for progression.

A Shared Commitment to Inclusion

West Thames College’s CEO & Principal, Marta Gajewska said: “At West Thames College, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, no matter their starting point. We are proud to serve our community and to work in partnership with the London Borough of Hounslow to transform opportunities for young people with the most complex needs.”

from left to right: Hounslow Council’s Steven Forbes and Mandy Skinner. Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills, and Employment, Councillor Samia Chaudhary. West Thames College’s CEO and Principal, Marta Gajewska.

Curriculum Quality and Training

Manager in Supported Learning, Jane Pendrey, added: “Over the years I’ve seen the difference it makes when young people with learning disabilities are given the right support at the right time. The Independence Hub is about creating those moments every day – whether that’s making a meal, gaining work experience, or simply feeling safe and understood. These are the stepping stones to independence, and I’m thrilled to see this vision become a reality.”

A Partnership Creating Real Opportunities

Activities include developing independent living skills such as cooking and housekeeping in the purpose-built flat, gaining work-related experience in the College’s on-site shop (in partnership with Tesco) and charity shop, and participating in creative, physical, and therapeutic programmes to support communication, interaction, and wellbeing.

The Hub also benefits from state-of-theart facilities including sensory rooms, accessible outdoor spaces, immersive learning environments, and dedicated support from highly trained staff, including speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.

Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills, and Employment at Hounslow Council added: “The development of independence hubs, beginning with this exciting partnership with West Thames College, is further evidence of a SEND improvement journey that’s gathering pace. Through effective collaboration we’re creating new provision within the borough to support young people to develop the skills to live full and fulfilling lives.”

West Thames College’s commitment to excellence was reaffirmed in December 2024, when the College was graded ‘Outstanding’ for its provision for High Needs Students. The Independence Hub builds on this success, ensuring students have every opportunity to thrive in an inclusive, supportive, and nurturing environment.

JOIN

Connecting Education with the Community

The joint partnership between West Thames College and London Borough of Hounslow also ensures that the Hub is closely connected to the local community. Both partners work in collaboration with families and external agencies to support smooth transitions into and beyond college, whether that means progressing into supported living, employment, or community-based activities.

Gajewska concluded: “The Independence Hub embodies our shared commitment to inclusion, equality, dignity, and respect — providing a safe and nurturing environment where every learner is supported to build confidence, develop independence, and experience success in ways that are meaningful to them. Together, we are helping families and the wider community access the high-quality education, expertise, and opportunities that make a lasting difference to people’s lives.”

“At West Thames

College,

we believe

that every young person

deserves

the opportunity to thrive, no matter their starting point. We are proud to serve our community and to work in partnership with the London Borough of Hounslow to transform opportunities for young people with the most complex needs.”

Families interested in learning more about The Independence Hub are warmly invited to get in touch or arrange a visit.

The Independence Hub Supported Learning, West Thames College,  London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS

T: 0208 326 2000  E: Parmeen.sarda@west-thames.ac.uk

Skills of the Future – at the University of West London

Predicting future skill needs is a challenging task. As technological change, particularly the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, is reshaping the economy, many of the jobs of the future have yet to be imagined, let alone advertised.

At the University of West London (UWL), we build our curriculum around what gives our students the best chance of success in this evolving labour market. Much of the policy focus is on providing learners with opportunities to develop technical skills in growth areas identified in the UK Industrial Strategy published earlier this year. We already offer courses in key priority areas of the strategy. Like many other universities, we are as engaged in providing students with technical, vocational skills as we are in providing them with academic and theoretical ones.

Digital Future Labs

For example, our new Digital Future Labs equips students with hands on experience in artificial intelligence, data analytics and cybersecurity, areas identified as critical to the UK’s future growth. In aviation, our partnership with Heathrow is developing workforce skills across airport operations, logistics and sustainability. In healthcare, we aspire to offer provision in dentistry and pharmacy that will train clinicians for a digitally enabled NHS. And in hospitality, our graduates power London’s world leading visitor economy. Across all these areas, we work with employers to co design courses that match real world demand, ensuring our students are ready to contribute from day one. While it is important that today’s students’ study for tomorrow’s growth sectors, it is equally important that we equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values

necessary to address global challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and economic instability. At UWL we are integrating sustainability across all disciplines by fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and active citizenship to prepare graduates for an increasingly complex world where the need to adapt to change is crucial.

Critical thinking and problem solving

Our students are supported to develop these core capabilities throughout their studies. Critical thinking and problem solving are embedded across the curriculum, while teamwork and communication are developed through collaborative projects with employers and community partners. We place a strong emphasis on adaptability, equipping students not only with knowledge, but with the confidence to apply it in new and changing contexts. This means they graduate with the resilience to navigate disruption, the curiosity to keep learning, and the creativity to shape emerging industries rather than simply respond to them.

Future skill needs will not only vary by sector but also by geography. That is why universities must embed themselves in their local areas if they are to make a real difference. In early 2026, in partnership with Hounslow Council, UWL will launch a new ‘Communiversity’ hub in Feltham, one of the parts of London with the lowest levels of higher education participation.

As well as working with local schools to provide information, advice and guidance on

future career pathways, the hub will offer a suite of micro credentials, short courses developed specifically around the skill needs of the local community. They allow people to upskill quickly, gaining credit that can be built towards larger qualifications or used as standalone credentials to further their careers through the lifelong learning entitlement.

This hyper local approach has the potential to be rolled out across London, enabling universities to meet the future skill needs of different neighbourhoods and communities.

Adaptability

For individuals and communities to be able to react to and shape what future skill demand looks like, they will need flexible institutions that can support their needs. Universities have not always been as agile as they could be, but at UWL we are determined to change that. By combining technical skills with adaptability, local engagement with global insight, and employer partnerships with inclusive education, our goal is to equip our students, and our region, not just to succeed in the future world of work, but to lead and shape it.

Discover the business and learner provisions available from the University of West London by visiting www.uwl.ac.uk/business-services

Authors: Prof. Graeme Atherton, Associate ProVice-Chancellor (Regional Engagement), and James Edmunds, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism, The University of West London.

Spark! rebrands as Youth Careers Collective to tackle UK youth employment crisis

Nearly one million young people in the UK are neither earning nor learning — a growing crisis that demands urgent action.

To meet this challenge, leading youth employment charity Spark! is rebranding as Youth Careers Collective, effective 3rd November 2025, reflecting its vision for every young person to be ready, equipped, motivated and able to enter the world of work and build a rewarding career.

A bold step for systemic change

Originally the Education Business Partnership in Hounslow, and operating as Spark! since 2012, the charity has spent 45 years delivering impactful employability programmes across West London and beyond. In response to growing need, it has expanded significantly in recent years — and is now taking a bold new step forward to drive real, systemic change for young people facing the greatest barriers to work.

The rebrand reflects the charity’s renewed focus on clarity of purpose, collective action, and raising the profile of youth employment as a national priority.

“Our rebrand marks the start of an ambitious new chapter,” said Chief Executive, Matt Lent, “alongside our new five-year strategy, it will help us meet the youth employment

challenge head-on. One in eight young people are currently not in employment, education or training — a huge loss of potential for individuals, employers, and the economy. As Youth Careers Collective, we’re determined to change that by growing our reach, deepening our impact, targeting our support and influencing real change.”

More than a name change

While the charity’s vision, mission, and values remain the same, this rebrand represents a deeper commitment to transformation. It’s a promise to put young people first in every decision and action. It’s a commitment to help them not just

“alongside

find jobs, but build rewarding, sustainable careers. And it’s a pledge to bring people and organisations together from across sectors to drive lasting, systemic change.

A call to action

Chamber member Youth Careers Collective invites employers and businesses, schools and colleges, councils, charities, funders, and individuals to join the Collective to improve career prospects for young people in their communities and nationwide.

For more information visit: www.youthcareers.org.uk

our new five-year strategy, it will help us meet the youth employment challenge head-on. One in eight young people are currently not in employment, education or training — a huge loss of potential for individuals, employers, and the economy.”

Youth Careers Collective Chief Executive, Matt Lent

Reimagine Banking–a new way to bank

Steve Chu, Head of Commercial Banking at iFAST Global Bank, talks to Sarah Dale about the benefits for SMEs to banking with a global digital bank and the value of face-to-face networking in the local community.

Reimagine Banking– that is the strapline of iFAST Global Bank. The global digital bank has been designed to make banking easier for SMEs by creating one account for transactions and savings with multiple currencies.

It is part of iFAST Corporation, a global digital banking and wealth management platform, which has its headquarters in Singapore.

Established in 2000, the Group offers a comprehensive range of investment products and services to financial advisory firms, financial institutions, banks, multinational companies, as well as retail and highnetworth investors across Asia.

In 2022, iFAST Corporation acquired a UK bank and rebranded it as iFAST Global Bank. It provides multi-currency deposits, domestic and international payments, and foreign exchange services. Regulated by both the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), iGB operates across three divisions:

• Digital Personal Banking – enabling individuals, including those abroad, to open a UK multi-currency current account.

• Business Banking – Two dedicated subdivisions were established to serve distinct client segments: Commercial Banking, serving SMEs and corporates with domestic and cross-border payment needs, and Transactional Banking, supporting regulated financial institutions including banks and NBFIs.

• EzRemit – delivering fast and convenient global remittance services.

Steve Chu, Head of Commercial Banking at iFAST Global Bank, said:

“There are many ways our vision of iFAST is changing the landscape of banking. Our customers can have a multi-currency business account, which is very beneficial to companies which operate worldwide. Customers can also benefit from having their current account and savings account as one account which is particularly beneficial for SMEs and start-ups so they don’t have to juggle funds around accounts while earning interest.

“We want to simplify banking and make it easier for SMEs. What customers are looking for is a trustworthy bank.”

Steve worked in banking in Hong Kong in wealth management and investments before moving to the UK in 2021 to work for HSBC UK. He joined iFAST Global Bank in 2023 and built the personal banking team and, along with CEO Inayat Kashif, established the commercial banking team.

iFAST Global Bank is based in the UK at Canary Wharf and has a team of 70-80 employees. In November, they are moving to a larger office, which is double the size of their current space, within the same building to support their growth and are also recruiting to grow the team. As well as the UK team, iGB has a team in Asia, including an IT team in Malaysia and an additional customer services team in Malaysia.

“Having customer service teams based in both the UK and Malaysia mean that our customers can reach us whatever time of dayit is and from wherever they are based,” adds Steve.

The company, which won the Best Newcomer Award at the British Bank Awards 2025, is on a growth trajectory, however, Steve says the

You can see Stamford Bridge from the hotel rooms. We are also close to Kew Gardens, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace and the museums. It’s a great location to really explore London from an accessible price point.

“Face-to-face contact is important to us. We believe that even though we are a digital bank, the human connection is a key and valuable point to establishing a positive relationship with customers.”

challenge they face is raising awareness of how digital banking can benefit customers.

“Business banking can be quite traditional,” explains Steve. “Business owners are sticking with the separate current and savings accounts as they don’t realise there is an option like ours, which makes banking simpler. It is quite a new concept.

“We are new to the industry, but at the same time, we are actively listening to our customers. We are growing our business and growing our customers’ businesses.”

They joined West London Chambers of Commerce two years ago.

“We became Chamber members as we are quite new to the area,” adds Steve.

“Face-to-face contact is important to us.

We believe that even though we are a digital bank, the human connection is a key and valuable point to establishing a positive relationship with customers.”

Part of the ethos of iFAST is to give back to the community which they do in several ways, including supporting cultural events such as sponsoring the London Lunar New Year Fair, supporting the Miyabi Matsuri Japanese Summer Festival and this year, they will be sponsoring an Indian community event.

For the past two years, they have sponsored the Bessingby Park Rangers U9/U10 teams, and this year they will continue their support to encourage more children to enjoy and participate in football.

They also provide sponsorships for international student associations, helping students feel welcomed and supported in the UK.

www.ifastgb.com/en/commercial-banking

Calling all Champions: H&F Giving launches new campaign

Local charity and Chamber member H&F Giving has launched an ambitious new campaign, A Better Hammersmith & Fulham, calling on the community to raise £100,000 by March 2026. The money raised will support grassroots organisations in the borough who are doing incredible work.

The campaign follows the release of H&F Giving’s recent report, Building a Strong and Connected Community, which highlights stark inequalities in Hammersmith & Fulham. The report found:

• 1 in 3 children in the borough are growing up in poverty

• 49% of residents over 65 are income deprived

• Both young adults (18–25) and older residents report high levels of loneliness and social isolation

Executive Director, Louise Wilson, said the report shows just how much need there is: “The research painted a really stark picture and we are determined to do something about it. At H&F Giving, we fund and support incredible local charities doing amazing

work. This campaign is about giving them the resources to reach even more people.”

The charity is seeking 100 Champions, local businesses, community groups and individuals who each pledge to raise £1,000. Together, they will fundraise £100,000 to fund grassroots organisations that provide everything from safe after-school clubs to classes and support for adults with learning difficulties and community wellbeing programmes as well as much more.

Louise adds: “We hope the community will get behind this campaign. After all, these are your neighbours who are struggling, and this is your Hammersmith & Fulham.”

The A Better Hammersmith & Fulham campaign is just the beginning of a wider ambition: H&F Giving aims to raise £1 million

The Weir celebrates the unveiling of J.M.W. Turner blue plaque

The Weir Bar in Brentford proudly announced the successful unveiling of a Blue Plaque honouring the renowned painter J.M.W. Turner, commemorating his first artistic commission, received while he lived in the building that now houses The Weir.

The unveiling ceremony took place in September, with the plaque now prominently displayed above The Weir’s front door. The event was supported by Mike Reed, Radio DJ and Chairman of the British Plaque Trust; The Mayor of Hounslow, Amy Croft; and two of Turner’s direct descendants. The Weir team, led by owner and Chamber member Joanne Scully, welcomed guests and the local community to celebrate Turner’s historic connection to the building.

J.M.W. Turner, celebrated as one of Britain’s greatest romantic painters, is famed for his masterful use of colour, and dramatic landscapes and marine scenes. At age 10, Turner was sent to Brentford to live with his uncle, a butcher, who lived in a cottage next door to The White Horse Public House, a building now incorporated into The Weir. It was during this time Turner became known for his artistic abilities, and he received his first paid artistic commission: a series of colourings of engraved plates from Henry Boswell’s ‘Picturesque View of the Antiquities

of England and Wales’. This book was later gifted to Brentford Library.

The Unveiling Ceremony featured speeches by Mayor of Hounslow Councillor Amy Croft, Turner’s descendant Julie Dene and Mike Reed of The British Plaque Trust. Attendees included Ruth Cadbury MP, Jo Baxendale, Catherine Parry-Wingfield the former chairman of Turner’s House, and members of the Brentford and Chiswick Local History Society, reflecting the deep community appreciation for Turner’s legacy and The Weir’s historic significance.

Joanne Scully, owner of The Weir for over two decades, expressed her pride in promoting this connection to Brentford’s rich cultural heritage, which is very timely as their brand-new extension and ground floor Kitchen opens mid-October. “It is a privilege to celebrate Turner’s formative years here. Our historic building has roots dating back over 400 years and holds a special place in Brentford’s story. We are thrilled to share this piece of history with the community, and

by 2028 to invest in local solutions for some of the borough’s most pressing challenges. For local businesses, the campaign is an opportunity not only to give back, but also to connect with their community in a meaningful way. By becoming Champions, companies can demonstrate their commitment to social impact, rally employees behind a shared cause, and help create a stronger, fairer borough for everyone.

To find out more about becoming a Champion, visit www.hfgiving.org.uk/better.

To read the full research report, Building a Strong and Connected Community, visit https://hfgiving.org.uk/needs-inhammersmith-and-fulham-2025/

at such an exciting time for the future of The Weir, it’s a wonderful moment for Brentford.”

The Weir is gearing up for their biggest Christmas Celebration yet, featuring a week of live music from artists Steve Overland and Jim Kirkpatrick, festive Christmas Carols with The Stars and an exclusive performance from Rebecca Purdy on an outdoor stage in their award-winning garden.

For full details of The Weir’s Christmas Events Calendar and Menus visit www.theweirbar.co.uk

spotlight focus - hammersmith

Spotlight Focus: It’s all happening in Hammersmith

From H&F Council’s revitalised Civic Campus and town hall to the huge re-development of Olympia, Hammersmith is booming. Here are some of the highlights for businesses and residents

Building work is progressing at the Civic Campus site in King Street as H&F Council reimagines it place in the lives of our residents, visitors and businesses.

The modern, vibrant mixed-use campus will be Britain’s most exciting new arts, cultural, business, government and community quarter. Residents have already moved into the surrounding flats.

The Civic Campus aims to boost the borough’s economy and always benefit local people. It aims to be far more than a collection of buildings – it will be a beautiful, environmentally positive and accessible new quarter where people can live, work, play and relax.

The new King Street campus will become a ‘go-to’ destination in Hammersmith, providing welcoming, comfortable, convenient and inclusive spaces for the community to work, learn and share ideas. This also includes a new five-screen cinema and Sky Park restaurant with panoramic views of the River Thames.

A new public square, restaurants and bars sit alongside a cinema while performance areas, gallery space and shops will create an iconic new community around Hammersmith’s revitalised Grade II-listed art deco Town Hall. It is an inclusive space that uses new technology – such as solar panels and ground source heat pumps – to provide low-carbon energy.

On the other side of the borough, developer Yoo Capital is leading the £1.3billion regeneration of Olympia to create a new destination for culture, education, entertainment, exhibitions, offices and eateries over 2.25million sqft.

On completion, Olympia will be home to a new 1,574-seat theatre operated by Trafalgar Entertainment Group, a 4,000-capacity music venue run by Anschutz Entertainment Group, new Hyatt Regency and CitizenM hotels and a school for the performing arts.

The site will also feature 2.5 acres of pedestrianised streets and public realm open to the local residents and visitors – 365 days a year.

A flyunder in the town centre

We’d like to see both the Hammersmith gyratory and flyover removed. They would be replaced with underground road links by their owners, Transport for London. The proposal was included in our latest draft Local Plan. Instead, the flyover and sections of the A4 would be replaced with a tunnel. This will free up land for development and reconnect

Seasonal day markets and pop-up pubs

The flyover has divided Hammersmith from the River Thames for more than 60 years. This plan will heal that divide by creating new affordable homes and offices, new green spaces and keep traffic flowing.

New public art

We recently installed new public artwork in two popular riverside underpasses in Hammersmith. It’s part of our work to beautify public spaces around the new Civic Campus development.

The installations – designed by local artists Yati Sharma and Lisa Pfeiffer – are set to brighten the journeys for residents and visitors between King Street and the riverside.

Businesses say yes

The Hammersmith Business Improvement District has recently been re-elected for the fifth time – with 92% of local businesses voting in favour.

The plan will now unlock more than £5million of investment in Hammersmith town centre over the next five years. This includes enhancing visitor and commuter safety and attracting more footfall.

This summer, H&F Council launched a new Pop-Up Piazza in Lyric Square. It hosted a month of open-air evening pop-ups with giant outdoor games, seating and deckchairs, live music and bars run by local pubs, restaurants and cafes.

The all-day seasonal market attracts more than 150 stallholders selling everything from hot food to artwork, jewellery and clothing. While shoppers are entertained with three live music stages, street entertainers and activities for children. Turnout averages 10,000-15,000 visitors across the day.

Made in H&F pop-up

Local entrepreneurs and creatives at H&F Council’s independent pop-up shop –Made in H&F – have racked up sales of £80,000 in the past 12 months.

Opening last November in Hammersmith Broadway shopping centre, Made in H&F has hosted more than 80 local artists, fashion designers, painters and jewellers who were not previously stocked on the high street.

Rain gardens

A popular green space in King Street is being extended with two new rain gardens – supported by local green investors and green-fingered residents from Hammersmith Community Gardens Association.

The pavement along King Street – between Beavor Lane and Standish Road – has had a facelift with new plant beds filled with native shrubs chosen to help boost biodiversity along the road.

The project is funded by £100,000 from H&F’s Green Investment scheme. Local resident investors have now helped us raise more than £3.25million for vital green improvements.

The Macbeth Centre

The home of adult learning in H&F –The Macbeth Centre – celebrated its 150th anniversary of providing education in Hammersmith.

The landmark birthday was with special events throughout the year, including an arts and crafts exhibition, a free open day and celebration of student success.

Hammersmith town centre to its historic riverside.

Heather Harvey-Wood heather.harvey-wood@cushwake.com 07917 423467

Alex Doyle alexander.doyle@cushwake.com 07826 537141

Patrick Rosso patrick.rosso@colliers.com 07825 571048

Stan Gibson stanley.gibson@colliers.com 07776 605378

YC Lau yc.lau@colliers.com 07551 383904

from Drivalia Fulham

New trailblazing public sector partnership to unlock Feltham’s future

Hounslow Council, the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and the Greater London Authority (GLA) recently announced their intention to work together.

Hounslow Council, the Ministry of Defence (MOD), and the Greater London Authority (GLA) have today announced their intention to work together to deliver one of west London’s most ambitious regeneration projects on MOD land in Feltham.

As the centrepiece of Hounslow Council’s Future Feltham masterplan this site will transform the town centre, breathing new life into the area and delivering a significant number of new homes, jobs, and community facilities. It marks a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock Hounslow’s largest brownfield site and accelerate Feltham’s wider regeneration.

The partnership between the GLA, Hounslow Council and the MOD will combine each organisation’s development and planning expertise to accelerate the delivery of the site. MOD Feltham is expected to contribute significantly to housing delivery in the borough, helping to provide the genuinely affordable housing that Londoners desperately need.

The housing-led scheme will be complemented by space for commercial and creative activities, creating a vibrant neighbourhood that will be reconnected to the surrounding area by a new network of streets and public transport connections through the site.

After the War Department (predecessor to the MOD) first acquired the land during the First World War, the MOD are continuing to invest in military infrastructure that will allow the relocation of existing operations

and the release of the site for housing delivery. The site will adopt the trailblazer approach to development on public sector land that was announced in March, bringing together national, regional and local government to accelerate housebuilding with construction expected to commence in 2028.

Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, said:

“Delivering growth and delivering for business is about more than profit. It’s about better affordable homes, sustainable and inclusive neighbourhoods, and crucially investing in our people and places, to help residents thrive. This trailblazing partnership is a bold step forward together we will turn a closed-off site into a place that works for local people, Londoners, and ensures a longlasting legacy for our Borough.”

Catherine Davies, Head of Estates DIO, said:

“I’m very pleased to be working with Hounslow Council and Greater London Authority to promote the development of this important town centre site in Feltham. Three public authorities coming together with one vision offers a real opportunity for a creative outcome that will provide much needed housing and additional benefits for the local community. It will also enable re-investment elsewhere on the MOD Estate to support operational needs”

Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, said:  “We’re pleased and proud to collaborate with MoD and LBH to help bring forward this site

in Feltham which will enable the delivery of much needed homes, as well as new jobs and community facilities for Londoners. This trailblazer project is an opportunity to show what can be achieved when central, regional and local government work hand in hand to build a better, fairer, more prosperous London for everyone.”

The Feltham MOD site is the centrepiece of the ‘Future Feltham’ programme of work which is set to be one of West London’s most ambitious regeneration programmes. With the intense Masterplan Refresh work underway Feltham as a whole, including MOD Feltham, has the opportunity to deliver; 3,000 new homes, including genuinely affordable housing,9,200 new jobs across commercial, creative, and skills sectors, new community, leisure, and green spaces and enhanced connectivity and public realm improvements.

Freddie Mercury Memorial Garden opens in Feltham

Alan Rides CEO of West London Chambers, was proud to open, with prestigious company including Queens’s Brian May, Kashmira Bulsara (Freddie’s Sister), Mayor Amy Croft, Seema Malhotra MP and Council Leader Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, the Freddie Mercury Memorial Garden and Eco Cabin in Feltham.

After Alan got a chance to talk to his favourite band’s lead guitarist and rock legend Brian May, and asked if he would be kind enough to sign Alan’s T-shirt that he bought when at the Live Aid Concert in 1985, where Queen and Brian May were the biggest band at the concert, which was watched by 1.5bn people globally.

Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council

A new era at West Thames College as Marta Gajewska Succeeds Tracy Aust as CEO and Principal

West Thames College has entered a new chapter as Marta Gajewska steps into the role of CEO and Principal, following the retirement of long-serving leader Tracy Aust at the end of the 2024–25 academic year.

Marta Gajewska, a passionate further education leader with over 20 years of experience, brings a vision rooted in student success, inclusive learning, and skills development. She focuses on preparing learners for education, employment, and life through high-quality, responsive, and future-focused education that reflects the community and local economic needs. Having helped shape the College’s strategic direction, she now leads one of London’s topperforming colleges — ranked number one for student achievement three years running and awarded an Outstanding Ofsted rating with a Strong contribution to meeting skills needs in December 2024.

Marta said: “These achievements reflect the dedication of our staff, the ambition of our students, and the strength of our partnerships with employers and stakeholders. Our commitment to excellence — our journey beyond Outstanding — continues. We will keep raising the bar to ensure every student receives the education, support, and opportunities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world and competitive job market.”

West Thames College works closely with employers — including Heathrow, British Airways, Buckingham Palace, Curo Construction, and Brentford FC — to equip students with adaptable skillsets. Marta is committed to strengthening these partnerships to ensure students develop confidence, independence, and future-proof skills. She added: “West Thames College is a place where every student, staff member, and partner matters. I believe in creating an inclusive, welcoming environment where learners can build confidence, grow in independence, and realise their potential.”

Sarah Gardner BEM BCAv: Celebrating 5 Years of Best Businesswoman Awards recognition

Award-winning charity founder and business leader Sarah Gardner BEM is marking two major milestones in 2025: the 5½-year anniversary of her flagship charity, Serving Our Superheroes, and her fifth consecutive year of recognition at the prestigious Best Businesswoman Awards.

From a Laundry Bag to a £4.5M Movement

Founded in April 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and registered as a charity in September 2020, Serving Our Superheroes began by providing laundry bags to NHS staff to protect their families from cross-contamination. Since then, the charity has grown into an international movement. In 5½ years, it has delivered more than 194,000 essential items valued at over £4.5 million, supporting hospitals, care homes, asylum seekers, domestic abuse survivors, homeless communities, and families in crisis.

Sarah said: “What began as a simple act of kindness has become a powerful movement of compassion and inclusion. Reaching this milestone is a tribute to the incredible volunteers, partners, and supporters who make our mission possible.”

Best Businesswoman Awards — Five Years of Recognition

Sarah is also celebrating her fifth consecutive year of success at the Best Businesswoman

Awards, one of the UK’s most prestigious recognitions for female entrepreneurs. Her achievements include:

• Silver – Charity Champion (2021)

• Silver – Charity Champion (2022)

• Silver – Charity Champion (2023)

• Silver – Charity Champion (2024)

• Silver – Most Inspiring Businesswoman (2024)

• Special Recognition Award (2024)

• Silver – Charity Champion (2025)

The 2025 Awards took place on Friday 10 October, where Sarah received Silver for Charity Champion for Serving Our Superheroes. She will also be honoured with the Green Apple Environment Award on 17 November 2025.

“It’s a privilege to be recognised again,” Sarah said. “These awards celebrate the strength and impact of women in business. For me, it’s proof that purpose and performance can thrive together.”

A Record of Excellence: 48 Awards and Counting

Sarah has now received 48 national and international awards, including the British Empire Medal (BEM), British Citizen Award, League of Mercy Award, multiple Stevie® and Globee® Awards, and the UCLan Alumni Achievement Award. In 2022, she was also named Chartered Manager of the Year by

succeeds Tracy Aust, who retires after 27 years. Aust said: “It’s not the Ofsted Outstanding that means the most to me — it’s providing an Outstanding Student Experience for each student.”

West Thames College is proud to be a patron of West London Chambers, who very much enjoy their office space in Spring Grove House and the use of the impressive meeting rooms.

www.west-thames.ac.uk

the Chartered Management Institute, making her one of the UK’s most celebrated charity leaders.

Leadership Beyond One Charity

Beyond Serving Our Superheroes, Sarah has founded CHEF (Community Health Education Foodbox) and Well-being for All, and co-founded Project 90/10 with EmmaJane Taylor. She also continues to support other organisations through mentoring and community initiatives.

Donations remain vital to sustain this lifechanging work:

Donate at: www.servingoursuperheroes.com/donate Together, we can ensure no one is left without essentials — and that every person feels valued, respected, and supported.

“Sarah Jane is known to our team as Super Woman. She has so much energy and does so much for the community. West London Chambers is proud to number her amongst our membership.”

Sally Smith - COO West London Chambers

Marta

Marta Gajewska

discover fulham discover fulham

The Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) between Hammersmith BID, Discover Fulham, Safer Business Network and H&F Council, has been working for over a year making Hammersmith and Fulham a safer place for our businesses to trade.

The BCRP has successfully served banning orders on 21 of our most prolific offenders, with 13 having served custodial sentences. A vital part of the BCRP’s work involves raising awareness about reporting business crime. It can be demoralising with perceptions of a lack of action from the authorities when it comes to this type of crime. However, because policing is now very data-driven, it is important to always officially report shoplifting, abuse towards staff or any other crime.

Reporting gives your business the best chance of receiving help from the Police,

who will use that data to build up a case to put more resources in your premises. They can only do this if they have enough official crime reports and if there is an agreement on your part to support any prosecution of the perpetrator.

Simply put, if a crime is not officially reported with a crime reference number, then according to police data, it did not happen.

To help spread the message, Hammersmith BID and Discover Fulham have partnered to produce window stickers for our local shops and eateries, with the message “Report It, Support It”.

Report it:

Always report business crime to the police. You can do this easily online using the QR code below.

To make things even easier, the BID can provide you with a reporting pack which is a template document that saves time when reporting a business crime.

Reporting gives your business the best chance of receiving help from the Police, who will use that data to build up a case to put more resources in your premises. They can only do this if they have enough official crime reports and if there is an agreement on your part to support any prosecution of the perpetrator.

You can also see the guidance from the National Business Crime Centre on how to categorise the type of crime that has happened on your premises. You can see this by scanning the QR code below.

Support it:

You may be asked by the Police to provide a witness statement and if necessary, attend court if the perpetrator is arrested. You should always say yes or else the case will close. Rest assured that very few people who give a detailed enough witness statement are actually asked to attend court.

The BID will be visiting our levy paying businesses soon with the window stickers and we encourage you to put these somewhere visible in your shopfront and train staff to “Report It, Support It”.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Hammersmith BID info@hammersmithbid.co.uk or Discover Fulham info@fb-bid.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Where The Traditional meets The Modern

ELEGANT BESPOKE FURNITURE & UPHOLSTERY SERVICES

We pride ourselves on our expert craftsmanship and attention to detail, which allows us to create beautiful, functional and individual pieces of furniture for your home.

High-End Bespoke Furniture Services

Traditional & Modern Upholstery

Antique Upholstery

Re-Upholstery

Fabric Wall Covering

Soft Furnishings

Bespoke Joinery

Interior Decorating

At Interior Art Craft, luxury modern bespoke furniture meets traditional techniques of upholstery.

With experience working for prestigious clients, including castles in France, the United Kingdom and internationally, Interior Art Craft restores or creates in both traditional and contemporary styles. Each piece is meticulously made with the fabric of your choice. The most delicate and original work can be created in its west London workshop.

Contact us today to discuss your requirements

E info@interiorartcraft.co.uk

W www.interiorartcraft.co.uk

T 07900 006 547

Workshop: Wallis House, 1100 Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 0HE, London

A once-in-ageneration opportunity: it’s time for Earls Court

The 40-acre former Earls Court Exhibition Centres site is on the verge of a transformation. With planning decisions due soon from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the redevelopment of this long-vacant landmark site could unlock major economic benefits for West London. ECDC’s proposals will create a new mixeduse district which will drive economic growth across the capital. The masterplan includes c. 4,000 new homes, targeting 35% affordable, and 2.5 million sq ft of workspace focused on

climate innovation - establishing Earls Court as a key hub within WestTech London.

At its heart will be 20 acres of public realm and open space, including a new 4.5-acre Table Park and a network of Exhibition Gardens. The plans also feature up to 100 new shops, cafés, and restaurants and three major cultural venues, reigniting the area’s creative legacy and attracting visitors yearround.

Recent independent analysis by Arup has projected that the development will add up to £3 billion in Gross Value Added each year to the UK economy, supporting 23,500 jobs across the UK supply chain, including around

North Acton Square is changing

New shops are just some of the changes coming to North Acton Square with the aim of making it a ‘more lively and welcoming place’.

The improvements are being delivered by Ealing Council, in partnership with the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, The Republic Community Projects, Imperial College London, City & Docklands, ADD Properties, and Downing.

Work is already under way to create six new retail units. Among the businesses set to move in are food and drink providers and a barber shop, as well as a shop selling products made by local artists and makers and an information hub for the Park Royal Design District.

All businesses will be London Living Wage (LLW) accredited, meaning they are paying its employees a wage that meets the real cost of living in London. LLW is currently £13.85 per hour.

There will also be a new ‘village hut’ for the people who live, work in and visit the area to enjoy. It will serve as a social space for residents.

Works under way

Works on the square have started, with the units installed and better lighting and landscaping coming soon. The shops will be managed by the local arts and cultural organisation The Republic Community Projects.

‘You said, we listened’

Council leader Peter Mason said: “Park Royal is a thriving hub for the creative industries, a priority growth sector for the borough and this development will see the creativity of Park Royal brought into North Acton.

“Back in 2021 we asked our residents what they thought about North Acton’s streets and spaces. We have developed these plans for the revitalised square based on the ideas and suggestions of local people, who know the area better than most.”

Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes said: “These substantial improvements to

12,000 on site in innovation, culture, leisure, and local services. During construction, the development will support 3,000 jobs, with the on-site Earls Court Skills Centre helping to train up the next generation of workers.

Once complete, the neighbourhood is expected to boost local spending by £75 million to £100 million annually. With work due to start in 2026 and first phases opening from 2030, this is a defining investment for West London’s economy.

Businesses can view the proposals at www.earlscourt.com and share their views via the councils’ planning portals or www.tinyurl.com/LBHFandRBKC.

the square will create new prospects for businesses and jobs for local people. All businesses trading from the square will be London Living Wage accredited which supports our status as the only London Living Wage place in West London.

“There will be many opportunities for people to contribute to the new thriving community space. We are looking forward to sharing more in the coming months. Watch this space.

Don’t miss out...

”Watch out for the exciting events and activities coming to the square over the next few months.

Resolve issues before they become a problem

by Sakine Wasmuth, Founder of Integrity Pro

“Addressing employees’ needs during workplace disputes or investigations can be challenging and unsettling for all parties. Whether your organisation requires expert mediation or an impartial workplace investigation, our comprehensive service is designed to manage these situations with the utmost sensitivity and professionalism.”

When situations such as whistleblowing, personal grievances, or fraud arise, thorough investigation is essential—especially if employees are in dispute. It is vital that your workforce has confidence that any resolution reached is impartial and conducted with integrity; otherwise, there is a risk of further harm. For this reason, our workplace investigations are always conducted to the highest standards of professionalism, impartiality, and confidentiality.

As the founder of IntegrityPro, I wanted to create a business that offered truly independent, objective, and confidential workplace mediation and investigation services to organisations and their employees. After years in the financial sector as an auditor, where I conducted workplace investigations, I witnessed firsthand the positive impact of well-managed, impartial investigations - and the fallout from badly managed situations.

Don’t let your workplace disagreements escalate. Our confidential workplace mediation service to help your organisation and employees to reach a mutually beneficial agreement to restore an effective working relationship.

Typical mediation scenarios

• Employee and manager

• Employee and team members

• Board and members

• Franchise and franchisee

• Business partners

• Acquisition and merger related conflicts

When grievance, whistleblowing or fraud claims arise, it is vital you establish the facts. Our workplace investigation service will provide your organisation with facts so you can move forward knowing you are taking appropriate steps given the circumstances.

Having an independent, objected and trusted investigator will allay fear of unfair treatment, cover up or power imbalance.

Do you need help or advice with a workplace investigation or workplace mediation?

Get in touch. I offer a complimentary call where we can talk through your options – with full confidentiality and no obligation.

It is vital that your workforce has confidence that any resolution reached is impartial and conducted with integrity; otherwise, there is a risk of further harm.

How to get the most from YOUR Chamber Better

Big things start with small conversations

From fresh menus to rebrands, discover how clear, consistent visuals helped Trafalgar Theatres shine — all thanks to a simple networking introduction. Sometimes the best business opportunities come from the simplest of conversations. That’s exactly what happened when Liesel Böckl met Amelia Schiller, Business Support Manager at Trafalgar Theatres, during the West London Chamber’s Festival of Business in Brentford.

At the time, Trafalgar Theatres and their subsiderary, Trafalgar Events and Hospitality were preparing for the festive season and needed a set of Christmas images to promote their seasonal offerings. What began as a quick menu shoot at Chiswick Cinema soon blossomed into a creative partnership - one that has since spanned three separate menu shoots and played a key role in Trafalgar Event’s complete rebrand.

As Amelia put it: “The new photography gave us the fresh, cohesive look we needed for our rebrand.”

“Liesel is a master of food photography. A shoot that started small swiftly became a full campaign thanks to her expertise! A fabulous experience—can’t wait to work with her again.”

This success ties back to a key point Liesel shared in her talk “How We Transformed 3 Brands Through Food Photography” earlier this year at the Branding Webinar, led by Aya Nouwailati of West London Chambers: clarity and consistency are everything. In hospitality, you only have three seconds to win over a customer. Poor photography or an outdated website can cause you to lose them instantly. For Trafalgar Events, fresh visuals were essential to showcase their gorgeous venue and new menus, while creating an exciting, unified look across their website, social channels, and marketing.

Working with fellow members of a networking group brings unique advantages. There’s already a foundation of credibility, as membership implies shared values and professional standards. That sense of trust makes it easier to communicate, exchange ideas, and move projects forward without hesitation. Knowing you were collaborating

with a fellow West London Chambers member gave both sides peace of mind and the freedom to let creativity flourish.

This story is more than a seasonal success — it’s a reminder of the power of networking. A casual introduction at a local business fair turned into a fruitful working relationship, resulting in impactful marketing materials and a stronger brand identity for Trafalgar Theatres and Chiswick Cinema.

In turn, Liesel gained a valued client and the opportunity to work in one of West London’s most iconic venues.

As the year draws to a close, this collaboration stands as a perfect example of how meaningful connections emerge from networking groups. These events aren’t just about exchanging business cards — they’re about building relationships that lead to lasting, mutually beneficial partnerships. Here’s to a festive season filled with great connections, creative projects, and opportunities that come when you invest in your local business community.

www.lieselbockl.co.uk | www.trafalgar.events

Buzzspark: Powering peopledriven marketing for places

In an era when audiences crave authenticity, Buzzspark helps BIDs, placemakers, and brands turn real community stories into powerful campaigns that drive engagement, loyalty, and growth.

The platform makes it easy to capture and leverage user-generated content, helping organisations showcase their people, places, and everyday moments that bring a destination to life.

When Buzzspark was introduced to West London Chambers of Commerce, the connection was a natural fit. Known for being one of the most proactive and approachable Chambers in London, WLC’s vast network offered an ideal gateway to reach local businesses and share ideas that strengthen communities.

“Authentic stories have the power to spark pride, inspire action, and grow local economies.”

Buzzspark was created to solve a challenge faced by most town centres and businesses — the constant demand for fresh, engaging content with limited time and resources. By turning authentic stories into marketing that resonates, the platform helps keep businesses visible and high streets vibrant.

One standout collaboration was with Make It Ealing, where Buzzspark delivered three themed community giveaways — #MakeItTasty, #MakeItFeelGood, and #MakeItSnappy — celebrating local food, wellbeing, and creativity.

Each campaign encouraged residents to rediscover their high street, share what makes Ealing special, and attract new visitors to the area. Reaching over 270,000 people, the campaign delivered a 269% rise in engagement and a 300% uplift in campaign-driven spend — directly reinvested into high street businesses.

With the support of West London Chambers amplifying these campaigns, the impact reached even further — proving that authentic stories truly do power local growth.

www.buzzspark.io

The power of showing up

By Sunil Kalia, Founder of AVA SEO

As a business owner, I’ve always believed that half the success is simply showing up, and that’s exactly what being part of the West London Chambers of Commerce helps you do. Reflecting on the British Slovenian Chamber of Commerce visit organised by the West London Chambers of Commerce, I had the opportunity to connect directly with Slovenian companies exploring trade links with the UK. One of those connections, DeltaHub, a design-led tech accessories firm, became a client after engaging my SEO consultancy, AVA SEO, to support their

international website strategy. That project started with a handshake over coffee and concluded with a 5-star Google review.

Recently, the West London Chambers played a key role in the Maldives-UK Business Summit, which led to discussions with Maldivian ministers and tourism leaders about some exciting collaboration opportunities.

These aren’t just events; they’re pathways to tangible outcomes. The Chamber opens the door, but it’s down to you to step through. I’ve discovered that being present, engaging, and sharing your expertise allows real opportunities to emerge.

For any business wondering whether Chamber membership makes a difference, from experience: it definitely does.

“The Chamber brings people together and supports all types of businesses. It is always gratifying to see our members working together and forming working relationships that can last a lifetime! Businesses can feed off these collaborations to develop, grow and experience further success. This is what the Chamber is all about”

For further information about joining the Chamber and seeing what benefits it could offer your business or organisation contact: sallysmith@westlondonchambers.org.uk or 07879 813817 or visit www.westlondonchambers.org.uk

Sally Smith COO West London Chambers of Commerce

Arts & Culture

Handover ceremony for the King’s Award for Enterprise

Presented at a significant moment in Brompton’s legacy of innovation – as the company looks ahead to its next generation product range –the King’s Award is a reminder of just how special the Tessera SX40 has been.

Brompton Technology welcomed the Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London, Mr Randeep S. Lall, to its headquarters in West London on Wednesday 1 October for a special handover ceremony of the King’s Award for Enterprise, awarded in the Innovation category for the Tessera SX40 LED processor and presented on behalf of His Majesty King Charles III. Brompton CEO, Richard Mead, reflected on just how important the award is to the company, saying, “We pride ourselves on our innovation and it is wonderful to have that recognised with such a prestigious award.”

Speaking to employees and partners gathered for the occasion, Mr Lall emphasised how proud everyone should feel

about receiving the coveted award, which goes through a stringent selection process. He said, “What is so special about the King’s Award is that it is a distinction you have all worked for and achieved together as a team. And it is a distinction, I may say, because these Awards are greatly sought after and sparingly given.”

The award comes at a pivotal time in Brompton’s story, as the company launches its next-generation processor, the Tessera SQ200. Reflecting on the moment, Mead described it as “a great opportunity to remind ourselves of quite how special the SX40 has been.”

The SX40 has been central to Brompton’s growth over many years. Introduced in 2018 when Brompton was entirely focused on live

“What is so special about the King’s Award is that it is

you

a distinction

have all worked for and achieved together as a team. And it is a distinction, I may say, because these Awards are greatly sought after and sparingly given.”

events, its careful design and development, led by CTO Chris Deighton, addressed the challenges of 4K video in elegant ways. While the SX40 was designed with live events in mind, its true innovation has been its flexibility as a platform. Just a year after launch, it gained the capability to receive HDR video through Brompton’s proprietary Dynamic Calibration technology. Then, when pioneering filmmakers began using LED screens on virtual production sets during the pandemic, not only was the SX40 there from the start, but Brompton also introduced a host of new features that would give the processor new functionality – greatly improving on-camera performance, streamlining system workflows and elevating image quality. These innovations were so well received that the SX40 was later recognised with both a Lumiere Award and an Emmy Award.

The SX40 leaves some giant shoes for the SQ200 to fill. But Brompton’s newest technologies are built on the same intrinsic values: image quality first, innovation with purpose and return on investment that lasts. Mead concluded, “I want to thank everyone who has played a part in the SX40’s success story. Including the partners who have been willing to invest in the product, who have used it to deliver incredible projects, and who have challenged us to keep innovating.”

Randeep presenting the Kings Award to Richard Mead and Chris Deighton of Brompton Technology.

AI and your marketing content

by Rob Marshall

Chiswick, West London.

A couple of weeks ago we received a request for AI generated VoiceOver.

We provided a quote and, as expected, the customer duly disappeared.

I can only assume they felt that the examples they found online weren’t realistic enough and that perhaps a voice studio could do a better job. They would be right, my skills as a voice director do indeed help me mould generated voice into more believable narration. But, of course, I charge for that expertise and the client clearly wanted a realistic voice at Chat GPT prices.

AI generated presenters and narrators are popping up all over the internet. Should you be using it for your content?

You’ll be surprised to hear that I am not completely against it. But now, more than ever, businesses need to be sure that they are getting marketing bang for their buck. When you create an advert, a ‘how to’ video, an infomercial or similar, you are persuading someone to believe in you.

Sometimes the somewhat robotic, monotoned delivery of AI is good for emphasising the modern, hi-tech nature of your product or service, but most of the time it just delivers the semantics you have put into it with no unique intonation or emphasis. Audiences seldom have the inclination to deconstruct your content; their subconsciouses will do that automatically and if it comes over as less emotionally fulfilling, they won’t tell you, they will simply go on to watch another video, possibly made by a competitor of yours.

The events company which vows to Interrupt YOUR Routine

Interrupt the Routine Ltd is a creative events company run by Creator & (Mis)Chief Host of Team-Building Events, Rob Blackwood, who loves nothing more than creating the “wow factor” for clients.

“I love what I do, and I love watching how people interact, spark off each other, frustrate each other and laugh when we do our interactive team-building sessions,” says Rob. “Whether it be through our award-winning Quizzes or one of our Gamesmaster sessions, seeing how people discuss and make decisions is hugely positive to be a part of.

“Many clients come to us wanting hosts to bring a “wow factor” with them, but I have found that on many occasions they are not quite sure what this means (they’ve often been given a remit from above to go fact-finding with), so we try to help clarify the thought by suggesting the session they might want should be engaging, inclusive and entertaining for the company, club or institution which is bringing us in.”

What is often overlooked, Rob explains, is the value of having a professional host, which is key to the success of any event.

“A good host will and should connect with the people in front of them, encourage and acknowledge in a light-hearted manner the various successes and failures to ensure they ‘keep the room’ (as opposed to losing it, which I hear many stories about from clients who come to us after a ‘meh’ experience) and look to create the magic that, for us, constitutes what a live event should be,” he says.

“There is so much content in people’s lives. So much busyness. So many targets. We invite people to be present so that they can really enjoy their time together. It’s nice to see leaders ask in advance for everyone to free up that time so they can fully join in, as we see people who are within metres of each other every day of their working week learn so much more about colleagues in our sessions. ‘I’ve seen a new/different side to you today’ is often said.

“We also know the reality is it’s not always possible to expect 100 per cent attention from 100 per cent of participants (deadlines, client calls and other variables) which is why there is value in having a top host who can hold the room, keep the energy good and have people engaged.

“With our activities, we talk to the client and make sure there’s variety so people can be accessing things that stimulate, challenge

I am proud to have recently celebrated 25 years in business. So, if you are looking for content production, it’s worth remembering why face-to-face meetings are often still essential. Currently, the real human touch is still unmatched and, unless you’re a robot manufacturer, may be exactly what your marketing campaign needs to set your content apart from the rest.

Tom Levitt

NoStairway.com

and allow for enjoyment. Find out something new about a colleague! With a quiz, you want healthy discussion, not feeling you’ve just come through a round of Mastermind. With activities, it should be a series of games that allow for play. It’s something that adults often forget: play. Our job is to set up the playground and then ask people to jump in. To paraphrase Shakespeare: ‘The play’s the thing wherein you’ll catch enjoyment that you bring’.”

www.interrupttheroutine.co.uk

Creative Director Nostairway Creative Production Studio.

Cybersecurity: A Strategic imperative for West London leaders

In the heart of West London’s vibrant business hub, the question for every executive is no longer if a cyberattack will strike, but when.

by

UK businesses face escalating cyber threats, with UK firms suffering more than four nationally significant cyberattacks per week in 2025 alone is a stark reminder of the persistent dangers targeting organisations like yours. With the average cost of a UK data breach now exceeding £3 million, the financial and reputational risks cannot be ignored.

For West London’s diverse business landscape, from dynamic startups to established enterprises, cybersecurity is a critical foundation for protecting revenue, client trust, and market position. Despite this, research shows that 62% of UK firms still view cyber investments as a cost rather than an essential business enabler. This mindset leaves dangerous gaps, especially in SMEs, which represent the backbone of West London’s economy.

MSPs in the region, like Timeless IMS, recognise that safeguarding local businesses means stepping beyond technical solutions. It’s about aligning cybersecurity with the unique challenges and growth ambitions West London leaders face daily.

Turning Cyber Risk into West London’s Business Advantage

The threat landscape grows more complex: phishing, ransomware, and supply chain attacks are increasingly sophisticated, leaving 1 in 5 UK SMEs vulnerable to disruption at any time. However, businesses that prioritise cybersecurity see tangible benefits, including enhanced resilience, customer confidence, and regulatory compliance a must in a heavily regulated regional marketplace.

Engaging with a trusted MSP enables West London executives to shift from reactive crisis management to proactive risk strategy. Regular, transparent risk assessments

The threat landscape grows more complex: phishing, ransomware, and supply chain attacks are increasingly sophisticated, leaving 1 in 5 UK SMEs vulnerable to disruption at any time. Timeless IMS: Your trusted partner for managed IT and cybersecurity

tailored to your sector and business size help demystify cybersecurity, empowering you to make decisions that protect your operations and reputation while unlocking competitive advantage.

Your Strategic Cybersecurity Checklist for West London

1. Book a detailed UK-focused cybersecurity risk assessment to identify and close hidden vulnerabilities that threaten business continuity.

2. Schedule an executive briefing with a local MSP partner like Timeless IMS to align security investments with your West London business goals for maximum ROI.

3. Prioritise ongoing security awareness training to equip your team as an active defence line against phishing and social engineering, which remain top attack vectors in the UK.

West London businesses thrive when innovation meets resilience. Cybersecurity is no longer just IT’s responsibility; it’s a boardroom priority essential to thriving in today’s fast-evolving digital economy. By proactively embracing this challenge, West London leaders can fortify their organisations against risk and secure future growth with confidence.

Chamber Patron Timeless IMS

NOVOTEL LONDON BRENTFORD

ChristmasFestiveMenu

Our contemporary West London hotel lies less than 8 miles east of Heathrow Airport, and the centre of London is easily accessible by rail (Brentford Station) or via the Elizabeth Line (Ealing Broadway) as well as by tube (South Ealing Station).

Visit our Gourmet Bar & Restaurant which offers traditional and modern dining throughout the day. Our 4-star Hotel boast 202 modern bedrooms, seven fully-equipped meeting rooms

catering for up to 60 guests, an indoor heated pool, a saunarium and fitness centre, plus complimentary Wi-Fi throughout.

Family-Friendly Novotel London Brentford is just a short drive from the beauty of Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, the historic avenues of Richmond and the roar of Twickenham Stadium.

Home of Brentford FC is Brentford Community Stadium, a 15 minute walk from the hotel.

Novotel London Brentford is a proud member of West London Chambers of Commerce

Hotel that makes every moment matter

Novotel London Brentford

Great West Road, Brentford. TW8 0GP

T:+44 20 7660 2230 E: H6995@accor.com www.novotel.com

https://all.accor.com/hotel/6995/index.en.shtml

Hospitality in West London:

West London is a prime tourism hotspot with the jewel in the crown being the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the UNESCO World Heritage site. But west London is not just Kew, there are many other places including stately homes and buildings such as Osterley House, Syon House, Chiswick House & Gardens, and Boston Manor to Fulham Palace and the delightfully intimate Hogarth House, where West London Chambers held a summer evening drinks reception.

West London Chambers often hold evening events in these beautiful buildings to encourage our members to explore their local area. We don’t just have stately homes, but museums also, the London Museum of Water and Steam, the Musical Museum, Gunnersbury Museum, the latter offering free entry and Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery. The Regency Manor is a rare and spectacular example of a building designed, built and lived in by Sir John Soane. So next time you have visitors maybe stay in west London and avoid the crowds, rather than travelling into London to sightsee.

Skills development remains a strategic priority in the hospitality sector. The West London Annex to the London Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) identifies key areas for growth, including digital capabilities, customer service

excellence, and leadership development. Initiatives like the apprenticeship programmes are helping bridge these gaps, ensuring a pipeline of talent ready to meet evolving demands. Sustainability is also gaining traction, with several venues adopting greener practices, from zero-waste kitchens to energyefficient refurbishments.

With over 2,200 members and a database of 8,000 subscribers, West London Chambers, the second largest Chamber of Commerce in London provides vital support through networking, training, and seasonal events. The upcoming “Christmas Jolly and Fullers Brewery Tour” on 4th December is a prime example of bringing together our members so they can meet and network in a relaxed way. There is nothing better than face to face networking and it also gives you the opportunity to engage with the Chamber team, so your business is fresh in our minds. We are often asked to recommend businesses, and it helps if you are an active Chamber member because we remember you! What you put in is what you get out.

As we enter the festive season, the hospitality sector stands as a beacon of west London’s entrepreneurial spirit. With strong backing from the Chambers and a shared commitment to skills and innovation, the region is poised to deliver a vibrant, inclusive, and futureready hospitality experience that reflects the diversity, resilience and creativity of its communities.

“At Holiday Inn London Brentford Lock, we’ve seen real momentum in West London over the past 12 months. Leisure short breaks, local events, and a steady return of corporate meetings have all driven occupancy, with guests choosing our canal-side setting for an experience-led stay that blends relaxation with great connectivity to Central London and Heathrow.

The growing sense of community collaboration across West London has been a real highlight. Like the wider sector, we’ve navigated recruitment and cost pressures, but by working closely with local colleges, training providers, and the Splendid Hospitality Group, we’ve continued to invest in people development and service excellence.

We’re also passionate about responsible hospitality,  removing single-use plastics, championing IHG’s Greener Stay initiative, supporting the River Trust’s clean-up projects, and fundraising for Cash for Kids, because guests increasingly want to stay somewhere that reflects their values and gives back locally.

As a hands-on Hotel Manager, I’m passionate about shaping a team that takes pride in every guest experience. For us, it’s about clean, functional rooms, warm and genuine service, and accountability at every level. That focus has lifted our service scores, staff engagement, and community profile, and we’re heading into the festive season and 2026 with real optimism and momentum.”

Stuart Donnelly – General Manager Holiday Inn Brentford Lock

CELEBRATE THE SEASON IN STYLE.

From elegant business lunches to glittering Christmas parties, Sam’s Riverside & Sam’s Waterside are the destinations for festive dining by the river.

With best wishes for a Merry Christmas from all of us at Sam’s.

1 Crisp Walk, Hammersmith, London, W6 9DN samsriverside.co.uk

3 Kingham Ave, The Brentford Project, Brentford, TW8 8GB samswaterside.co.uk

Chef Profile:

Abbie Hendren Head Chef

Sam’s Waterside

Abbie Hendren is the Head Chef at Sam’s Waterside in Brentford, leading a team that delivers exceptional, ingredient-led dining through carefully curated seasonal menus. She also supports operations at Sam’s Kitchen cafés in Chiswick and Hammersmith, ensuring consistency and quality across all West London sites.

Abbie’s culinary journey began at The Falcon Hotel in Uppingham, where she started as a commis chef. From those early beginnings — including a baptism of fire on the kitchen porter section — she developed the resilience and skillset that have shaped her approach today. Her experience in Michelin-star kitchens informs her modern brasserie-style menus, combining classic techniques with creativity and innovation.

A hallmark of Abbie’s work at Waterside is the collaboration with passionate suppliers, including the restaurant’s charity partner Chiswick House. By working closely with growers and producers, she develops new dishes from the freshest seasonal ingredients, ensuring the menu evolves constantly. This dedication to ingredient quality and zero-waste principles is reflected

in the weekly set menu, which changes to highlight the produce available each season. Her cooking style is dynamic and adaptive: ingredient-led, ever-changing, and responsive to what is freshest on the day. Abbie’s leadership extends beyond the kitchen — she nurtures her team, encourages creativity, and maintains high operational standards, ensuring guests enjoy a premium dining experience every visit.

Under Abbie’s guidance, Sam’s Waterside continues to thrive as a destination for quality, sustainable, and inventive dining in West London. From seasonal specials to dishes inspired by supplier collaborations, the restaurant demonstrates that passion, precision, and a commitment to excellence can elevate every meal. A weekly menu not to be missed for those who value seasonal, thoughtfully prepared food.

A hallmark of Abbie’s work at Waterside is the collaboration with passionate suppliers, including the restaurant’s charity partner Chiswick House. By working closely with growers and producers, she develops new dishes from the freshest seasonal ingredients, ensuring the menu evolves constantly.

Building bridges across the pond

The West London Chambers of Commerce’s UK-Atlanta, Georgia Outbound Trade Mission took place from 29th September to 4th October. Members who joined us shared their innovative new products and services with Atlanta Airport’s purchasing team, enjoyed a visit to the British Consul with local market insights, and had the opportunity to network with businesses across 36 countries.

CEO Alan Rides says: “Our trade mission to Atlanta was hugely successful in opening doors that had been closed for 26 missioners. Our thanks go to the British Consul General in Atlanta, DBT, the Atlanta Black Chamber of Commerce, Invest Atlanta, and, of course, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s largest airport.

“I am pleased to showcase two success stories from participants Robert Emms of Human Sun Light, inventors of hand sanitisers, and Kevin Loi-Heng of Avalon Insights, an AI training and consultancy firm.

“Our trade mission programme will deliver four missions this year for our West London and beyond companies, so when the UK’s first independent WTO Trade Policy Review (2025) sets out a confident, modern trade vision showing that trade now accounts for 62% of UK GDP, we need to take note. Especially as services exports are delivering a £193.7 billion surplus, confirming the UK as the world’s largest net exporter of financial services and the only G7 economy exporting more services than goods by value.

“The review also highlights that exportoriented firms are estimated to be up to 22% more productive than other firms, demonstrating the central role of trade in UK economic growth. Furthermore, the review includes a 10-year industrial plan to invest

in key sectors such as Life Sciences, Clean Energy, and Digital Technology, supported by upgraded financial backing from UKEF. We need to take some action. For West London exporters, this means long-term clarity, opportunity, and a clear growth roadmap within a reformed, rules-based system. The WTO review reaffirms the UK’s direction as open, fair, digitally advanced, and sustainability driven. We recommend reviewing your international trade strategy in light of the UK’s WTO commitments.”

To read the full article:  https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/ tpr_e/tpr_gbr_28oct25_e.htm

Kevin

Loi-Heng,

Co-Founder

of Avalon Insights, an AI research and training company.

Participating in the UK–Atlanta Trade Mission was a transformative experience that reshaped how I think about international business collaboration. It challenged me to apply out-of-the-box thinking and expanded my view of ‘the possible’.

From the outset, navigating a new business environment was both exciting and demanding. Understanding a new culture, communicating our value proposition to match a different community’s needs, and building trust in a short span of time required adaptability, creativity, and persistence. The challenge was an excellent opportunity for growth as a young entrepreneur.

The mission also offered great networking opportunities. I met founders, investors and thinkers, building solutions at the intersection of tech and education. Each encounter affirmed for me that the demand for my expertise extends far beyond the UK and that I was on the right path.

Since returning, our team has been actively following up on several leads that emerged from the trip, including potential partnerships that span not just the US but Africa also. The experience has not only expanded our international network but also deepened our commitment to building cross-continental bridges that promote inclusive and responsible technology innovation.

The Atlanta mission proved that global opportunities favour those willing to step out of their comfort zone, learn a new culture, and explore. We are grateful to have gone with the West London Chambers of Commerce.

Robert Emms, Founder of Human Sun Light.

Human Sun Light is an innovation-driven technology company focusing on designing, developing and sourcing advanced UV light to continuously and safely disinfect air, surfaces and water for both commercial and residential indoor spaces. Their products include FarUVC hand sanitisers, LED UVC down-lights, air purifiers, and whole-room disinfection systems.

I recently joined the Outbound UK Trade Mission hosted by the West London Chambers to showcase my brand-new Far-UVC Hand Sanitiser – the first of its kind. The trip was full

of firsts: my first trade mission, first cancelled flight, first time hand-carrying a prototype through US customs (ably assisted by Alan!), and my first visits to Atlanta, Georgia, and the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson. I even attended my first British Consulate reception.

The trip unfolded differently than I’d imagined, but the surprises became the highlights. With the encouragement and quick thinking of Alan, Elsa and the local team, I soon found myself centre stage – mic in hand – introducing my innovation to the expo audience.

The experience generated fresh ideas, new perspectives and clarity on how to advance my technology into pre-production. Engaging directly with real users of my prototype provided invaluable feedback to refine the product’s design and usability.

During the post-mission debrief with Alan, we explored new strategies, figures and positioning for Human Sun Light. I also gained practical insights into networking, building connections, and identifying “door openers” across all levels. Honestly, the mentorship alone was worth the trip – Alan’s experience, humour and stories were a masterclass in business and diplomacy.

I’m now in follow-up discussions with Hartsfield-Jackson’s Head of Sustainability, and the positive outcomes from Atlanta have resonated strongly with Heathrow, where we’ll soon run live UX trials of the prototype. As Alan said, “Mission complete” – but for Human Sun Light, this is only the beginning.

The experience generated fresh ideas, new perspectives and clarity on how to advance my technology into pre-production. Engaging directly with real users of my prototype provided invaluable feedback to refine the product’s

design and usability.

Chamber Comment

Alan Rides Chief Executive Officer, West London Chambers of Commerce

With tariffs being imposed, then reduced, and lifted again, there is much uncertainty in the trade of goods, especially with our biggest trading partner, the USA, hence the unsettled figures.

Yet, total trade in the 12 months to the end of August 2025 was up 5.1% on the previous 12 months. London’s main export is services, which is in steady growth, but in the UK only 11.5% of companies export, and this is the market where you can grow your business with the UK economy showing only just above 1% growth.

So how can we help?

Your Chamber has led trade missions this year to Taipei, Istanbul, and Atlanta, plus we are visiting China in November.

For 2026, in Q1, we are planning a mission to India where we can introduce you to new customers looking to trade with us. Plus, we have received missions from China, Pakistan, Libya, and Algeria in October and November, so let us get West London exports up together.

For any export queries, please contact me. Alan Rides CEO.

alanrides@westlondonchambers.org.uk

International Trade events update

Alan Rides presenting in Parliament at CEL India

Award winners from CEL India

First meeting with the Gambia High Commission to develop bilateral trade with West London

Reception with President of Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadéra with Lord Waverley

Alan Rides CEO WLLC opening Atlant Black Chambers GoGlobal conference

Alan Rides meeting Angela Kays from Invest South Africa

Atlanta GoGlobal conference with Elsa Caleb

China trade mission reception from Habin Province

Meeting with Atlanta International Airport

Tour around Atlanta Airport

Atlanta Trade Mission reception at British Consul General Rachel Gallagher’s residence

Christopher Durkin signing an MOU with Turkmenistan

Meeting with Deputy Mayor of London Howard Dowbar and Minister Malhotra ahead of Atlanta Mission

Trade promotion with Libya

GUNNERSBURY PARK SPORTS HUB

We have something to keep the whole family active and entertained including:

• State-of-the-art gym

• Sports hall

• Fitness studios

• Floodlit 3G pitches

• Floodlit tennis courts

• Football, cricket and rugby pitches

Discover more at better.org.uk/gunnersbury-park

Rugby club connecting the community in Ealing

by Tim Smith

Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club has long been at the heart of our community – a place where players, coaches, volunteers, families and local businesses come together around a shared passion for rugby.

From elite men’s and women’s teams competing at the top level, to one of the country’s busiest minis and youth set-ups, the club is home to a thriving pathway for talent at every age and stage. On any given weekend, Trailfinders Sports Club is filled with toddlers, teenagers and first-team players all wearing the club’s green and white colours.

We’re fortunate to play in a venue that not only stages rugby at the highest level but also welcomes over half a million people each year through a wide range of sport and community activities. This season carries even more momentum thanks to England hosting the record-breaking, and biggest Women’s Rugby World Cup in history. With the final having taken place in late September, Trailfinders are proud to have contributed 18 players across nine different countries – a remarkable figure from a single club. This included England Vice-Captain and World Player of the Year Nominee, Meg Jones featuring alongside Abi Burton as part of the winning Red Roses England team. That breadth of representation reflects both the depth of our talent and the growing profile of women’s rugby, which continues to inspire new supporters and participants.

But rugby at Ealing Trailfinders is about more than just what happens on the field. This year we are launching Connect Through Sport, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between athletes and life outside of sport. It is a network that brings together players, alumni, students and local businesses, creating opportunities that work in both directions.

For those curious about how Connect Through Sport could benefit both your business and our players, we’d love to welcome you into the network.

For businesses, it offers access to a pool of ambitious, motivated individuals eager to take their first steps into the workforce. For players, it opens doors to opportunities like apprenticeships, internships and part-time roles that support their career aspirations alongside their sporting commitments, and sets them up for permanent positions in the future.

The outcomes can be life-changing: a women’s player taking on part-time work in her chosen profession while pursuing her rugby dream; an academy graduate moving straight into an internship thanks to an introduction at the club; or a local business gaining a dedicated young professional who brings the same discipline and drive off the pitch as on it.

We’re inviting West London businesses to join us as founding members of Connect Through Sport by becoming

“NextPlay Partners”. There’s no need to have immediate vacancies – the aim is to build the community now, stay connected, and grow together.

We are proud of our association with West London Chambers and were grateful to

- Head of Commercial Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club

Personalising wellbeing for a multigenerational workforce

by Sadee Akhtar, Clinical Aromatherapist at Essentially Sadee

A Workforce That Spans Generations

Today’s teams can stretch across four generations, from baby boomers to Gen Z. Each brings unique strengths and pressures. That diversity is powerful, but it raises a challenge: how can wellbeing feel relevant to everyone?

Why One Size Rarely Fits All

Most workplace programmes still follow a one-size-fits-all model. Meditation apps, yoga sessions, and gym memberships are rolled out with good intentions, yet participation often drops. Older employees may feel these activities don’t reflect their needs. Younger staff may see them as disconnected from the realities of their day. Uptake stays low, stress stays high, and businesses carry the cost.

The Power of Personalisation

Real progress comes from wellbeing that meets people where they are. A short reset between meetings.

A small ritual before sleep. A discrete cue that signals focus. These micromoments make wellbeing practical and meaningful.

Scent as a Personal Anchor

In clinical aromatherapy, scent creates these moments instantly. A single breath can shift mood, focus, or energy in seconds. For one person, that means calm before a big presentation. For another, clarity during an afternoon slump. Different needs, same principle: wellbeing that feels personal, not prescribed.

The Meeting Before the Meeting

At a London firm, a manager keeps a small aromatic inhaler in her desk drawer. Before every tough conversation, she takes one quiet breath. “It reminds me to pause,” she said, “and show up as the version of me I want my team to meet.”

Two seconds that subtly change her whole day.

As workforces grow more diverse, wellbeing must evolve too. The future isn’t another perk. It’s personal, adaptable, and designed for humans, not policies.

Juggling the Space Between Calm & Chaos?

At Essentially Sadee, everything starts with one belief: There is no wellbeing without the wellbeing of others

I created this service to support care teams, community members, and workplaces with personalised, plant-based remedies that are gentle, inclusive, and rooted in science. This is about more than wellness trends, it’s about creating meaningful support systems for those who hold space for others.

Let’s Talk

If you’re curious about how scent could support wellbeing in your workplace, drop us a note at hello@essentiallysadee.com, we’d love to start the conversation.

If you believe in a shared approach to wellbeing, I’d love to collaborate. Let’s explore how scent-based support could benefit your team or community. www.essentiallysadee.com

Looking after our wellbeing

EMR Sensitivity: what no-one knows about but everybody is affected by

Our wellbeing should be important to us all, whether in the workplace or at home. We are now making our wellbeing a priority and by putting our wellbeing first, we are concentrating on our physical and mental health. All articles are contributed by Chamber members. We thank them!

“Just because EMR is invisible, doesn’t mean its impact isn’t real. At EMR Sensitivity, we make the unseen seen, and the unheard heard.” – Jean-Marc Degioanni Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is all around us — from Wi-Fi routers and smartphones to power lines and household electronics. Because it’s invisible, most people never give it a thought. Yet for millions, exposure triggers headaches, fatigue, insomnia, brain fog, and anxiety.

This condition, often called electrosensitivity, is widely misunderstood, leaving many people feeling dismissed and isolated.

For Jean-Marc (JM), the impact was deeply personal. After building a successful design business in England, he began to experience debilitating symptoms: pounding headaches near Wi-Fi routers, restless nights in hotel rooms, and exhaustion after long calls on his phone. “It felt like living in a house with a constant high-pitched noise,” he explains. “Most people couldn’t hear it, but for me it

was unbearable.” Eventually, the symptoms grew so severe that they disrupted both his health and career.

EMR can be compared to air pollution. You can’t always see smog, but it still irritates your lungs and weakens your body over time. Similarly, EMR may silently affect us all, not just those who are highly sensitive. For some, it’s immediate; for others, the impact builds slowly, unnoticed until health begins to decline.

Rather than retreat, Jean-Marc turned his struggle into a mission. In 2023, alongside his daughter, he founded EMR Sensitivity Ltd, dedicated to raising awareness, offering tools such as the Areca Plus Card™, and building a community of support. His vision is simple: to help people — and even pets — live healthier, more confident lives in a wireless world. Because whether you feel it or not, EMR affects us all.

To learn more, contact Jean-Marc at: info@emrsensitivity.com

The Lingering Wounds: How domestic abuse creates trauma and impacts women’s health

Domestic abuse is not just a private tragedy. It’s a public health emergency. While bruises may fade, the emotional and physical scars can last a lifetime. At SHEWISE, we witness daily how trauma from abuse quietly reshapes women’s mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing, eroding confidence and hope.

Trauma: The hidden aftermath Abuse is often a sustained pattern of control and fear that leads to Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). A deep trauma that alters how women see themselves and the world. Even long after the abuse ends, the body and mind remain on high alert, trapped in survival mode.

Health impacts

Survivors are far more likely to experience depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance misuse, and suicidal thoughts. Physically, many live with chronic pain, heart disease, digestive problems, reproductive issues, and exhaustion. All signs of a body burdened by prolonged stress.

Barriers to healing

Fear, shame, isolation, financial dependence, and lack of traumainformed or culturally sensitive care often prevent women from

seeking help, prolonging their suffering.

Pathways to healing

A trauma-informed approach is vital. One that prioritises safety, empathy, holistic care, and cultural understanding. At SHEWISE, we champion services that empower women to rebuild confidence, independence, and connection. Women are welcomed at seven of our Women’s Resource Hubs, where they find safety, community, and healing spaces designed to help them rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

Finally, the effects of domestic abuse don’t end when the violence stops. But with the right care and community, healing is possible. Every woman deserves the chance to feel safe, valued, and whole again.

By Salma Ullah - Co-founder & CFO www.shewise.org

Talking is the best tactic

Brentford FC has installed a collection of benches in West London to encourage its community to open up about mental health. With the first installed timely for World Mental Health Day. The benches are being placed in parks local to the club’s home at Gtech Community Stadium as part of Brentford’s campaign ‘Talking is the Best Tactic’, which is aimed at getting people to take time to talk to one another about their mental health.

Each bench, delivered in partnership with London Borough of Hounslow, will include information signposting to professional mental health support services, as well as crisis support for those experiencing a mental health emergency.

The use of benches to create space for important conversations is inspired by the work of Brentford’s sports psychologist, Michael Caulfield, who installed the seats at the club’s training ground to give players, coaches and staff a safe, confidential place to talk.

The benches at the facility have had a significant impact on the club’s players who have used them as a space to pause and have meaningful conversations with Michael, or simply to sit and reflect in peace.

Speaking at Robin Grove Recreation Ground, the site of the first community bench to be installed, Michael said: “The bench has been placed in the community where anyone walking past can sit and just have a chat. They can turn to the person next to them, if it’s someone they love or a stranger, ask how it’s going and start a conversation.

“Nothing else is more important in life than having these conversations. You can’t get through anything in isolation. Any private problem can only begin to be solved by talking to someone else. Being outside is crucial. You can have a better level of conversation than inside.”

Brentford player Fábio Carvalho also attended the opening and agreed that having open conversations is important for everyone, including professional footballers. Fábio said: “Everyone needs someone that they can speak to openly, to not feel judged in a way where they can’t be honest about what they’re going through, or what they really want to say.

“Football’s amazing. It’s done amazing things for me and my family. But being able to have that open conversation when things aren’t

going the way you want them to go, I think it’s beneficial both on and off the pitch.”

More Brentford FC benches will be at sites across west London in Lampton Park and Strand on the Green Recreation Ground, as well as Carville Hill Park and Waterman’s Park, both of which are close to Gtech Community Stadium and frequently used by fans walking to home matchdays.

Robin Grove Park is also the site of the recently opened Brentford FC Orchard, planted by the club to nurture biodiversity in the community and create habitats for pollinators, such as bees and other insects. To further support the club’s sustainability work, flower beds have been planted next to each community bench to provide a calm and relaxing environment.

As part of the club’s work in this area, free monthly drop-in events will be hosted by Brentford FC Community Sports Trust to provide the community with access to mental health expertise. The Trust also provide free support through its BeeActive Football

or Comedy for Thought sessions, where attendees can hone their football or standup comedy skills in spaces facilitated by experienced talking therapists.

Brentford worked in collaboration with London Borough of Hounslow to place the benches in the community. Since 2021, in partnership with the NHS West London Trust, the council have worked with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust to support Hounslow residents with their mental and physical health. This project involves yoga sessions, talking therapy and friendly football sessions, illustrating the power of physical activity in improving people’s mental health. Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Public Spaces, said:  “Mental health, and suicide, is an issue that sadly touches many families, my own included. Some years ago, my cousin Stephen died by suicide. I’ve always thought, when people are feeling at their loneliest, it’s so important they know they have someone to talk to.

“So I’m proud that we’re working with Brentford FC on this new initiative to help those in need find a listening ear. If that little reminder on a bench in a park saves even one life, then it will have made a difference.”

Brentford is one of 10 clubs taking part in the Premier League’s suicide prevention programme, ‘Together Against Suicide’. As part of the programme, Brentford will use its platforms and community outreach activity to raise awareness of suicide and how it can be prevented, reduce the stigma surrounding it and encourage help-seeking behaviours.

Fábio Carvalho and Michael Caulfield chat on one of Brentford FC’s community benches in Robin Grove Park

Past Events

Ealing Festival of Business 2025

Mid-October saw the second Ealing Festival of Business run by West London Chambers of Commerce, and sponsored by UWL, Ealing Council and West London College. It was gratifying to see that the festival’s reputation is growing.  There were 41 stands and 450 people came through the doors on the day, which is up almost 100% from last year. The day started with the Stakeholder’s breakfast where James Murray, MP for Ealing North and Chief Secretary to the Treasury spoke to around 60 guests. James was followed by the Leader of Ealing Council, Cllr Peter Mason and Sara

A look back at some of our recent Chamber events

Raybould, Snr Deputy Vice Chancellor of UWL (Education and Student Experience) and the DL for Ealing, Richard Kornicki. After breakfast there was a signing of an agreement between Ealing Council and the University of West London.

The Festival opened at 9.30 am and there were diverse stands, ranging from Berkeley Homes, the Green Quarter to Raise Design Ltd, which is on a mission to shift us from sedentary living with compact, convenient and beautifully designed sit-stand desks for any workspace.  www.raisedesign.london.

During the day there were informative seminars, the first being AI Made Simple, led by Peter McKenna from WSI Digital Advisors, a company based in Ealing. The afternoon saw an Ealing Meet the Buyer by Branduin Fit to Bid

The day ended with a well-earned G&T in Freddies Bar. West London Chambers would like to thank our sponsors and all the stand holders. We could not do what we do without the support of our businesses. The Festival will be back in 2026!

Ealing Festival of Business Stakeholder’s Breakfast featuring speaker James Murray MP16th October 2025

Hounslow’s Heart BID (Business Improvement District) introductory event -

events

Forthcoming Events

Sustainability Seminar

Auto West London OMODA & JAECOO

109 Devonshire Road London W4 2AN

Tuesday, 4th November 2025

6.30pm – 9.00pm

Business Awards 2025

Novotel London West, 1 Shortlands, W6 8DR

The Business Awards Black Tie Gala Dinner includes a three course meal and a pre dinner drinks reception. At this event, we will be announcing all of our fantastic winners, so this could be your ‘Oscar’ moment!

Friday, 21st November 2025

6.30pm – 11.30pm

Libyan Reception

Doing Business with Africa’s Wealthiest Country

Spring Grove House, West Thames College, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS

Friday, 14th November 2025

12.30pm – 4.00pm

Algerian Agriculture, with 1-2-1s

Spring Grove House, West Thames College, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS

26th November 2025

1.00pm – 4.00pm

Acton BID Business Breakfast

ActOne Cinema, The Old Library, 119-121 High St, London W3 6NA

Friday, 28th November 2025

8.30am – 10.30am

For further information on any of our past or forthcoming events please contact Sally Smith on: sallysmith@westlondonchambers.org.uk or 07879 813817 or visit www.westlondonchambers.org.uk. West London Chambers of Commerce

Christmas Jolly: Fullers Brewery

Fullers Griffin Brewery

160 Chiswick Lane South London W4 2PJ

Come and join us for a tour of the brewery, beer tasting inside the Hock Cellar, followed by a Christmas buffet at the George & Devonshire!

Thursday, 4th December 2025 - 4.00pm – 10.00pm

Women in Business –Christmas Evening

Auto West London, 109 Devonshire Road, London W4 2AN

Tuesday, 16th December

6.30pm – 8.30pm

Mental Health in the Workplace Webinar

Via Zoom

Tuesday, 20th January 2026

10.00am – 11.00am

Evening Networking with Sanderson Design

Sanderson Design House, Voysey House, Sandersons Lane, Chiswick W4 4DS

Wednesday 11th February 2026

6.00pm – 8.30pm

SAVE the DATE

Festival of Business

Holiday Inn, Brentford Lock, 3rd March 2026

Regeneration Conference

Clayton Hotel, Chiswick, 7th May 2026

Charity Golf Day

Wyke Green, 4th June 2026

Welcome to our New Members

Aegis Financial Consulting

Ian Rex-Hawkes

www.aegisfinancial.ltd

Independent Financial Planner

Alileo Wine

Paul Gautiwe www.alileowines.com

Wine distributor

All Families Mediation Ltd

Charlene Edwards www.allfamiliesmediation.com

Supporting divorcing/separating couples to reach agreement on children

Arishi

Andrew Elia www.arishi.co.uk

Technology advisor and bespoke digital solutions

Back Harmony Pilates CIC and Weight

Harmony Coaching & Therapy

Glenworth Joseph www.weightharmonycoaching.com www.backharmonypilates.co.uk

Health & Wellbeing

Banhoek Chilli Oil Company (UK) Ltd

Dannon Cook www.banhoekchillioil.com

Manufacturer of chilli condiment oils

Branford Group Limited T/A Wandsworth Sash Windows

Matthew Smith www.sashwindows.london

Manufacturer and installer of wooden windows and doors

Butterfly Wings

Maria Rodriguez

www.butterflyw.co.uk

Massage & Wellness

Caspian Giles

David Wright

www.caspiangiles.com

Estate agents

Control Distributed Trading Branch UK Ltd

Faisal Ahmed Alrubayee www.cdtuk.co.uk

Industrial, Oil & Gas Services

Cordial HR

Salma Shah

www.cordialhr.com

HR Consultancy

Currency Global Limited

Jacob Waring www.currencyglobal.com

Foreign Exchange Specialist

Daksh Global Ltd

Parag Anand www.dakshglobal.co.uk

Suppliers of custom made Metal Fabricated Products

DUA Accountancy

Paul Dukes www.dua.co.uk

Accountancy and Business Consultancy

EMR SENSITIVITY LTD

Jean-Marc Degioanni www.emrsensitivity.com

Health & Wellbeing

General Purpose

Josh Page www.generalpurpose.com

The UK’s leading AI Training and AI Strategy business

Hammersmith Belle

Jane White

www.bellepubsandrestaurants.co.uk

Pub & Hotel

Hampton & Kempton Waterworks Railway Ltd

Linda Roberts www.hamptonkemptonrailway.org.uk

Heritage railway offering the public steam train rides and special events

Home Instead Ealing

Leena Lakhani

www.homeinstead.co.uk/ealing

Home Care company

Interior Art Craft Ltd

Alban Leroux

www.interiorartcraft.co.uk

Upholsterer

Kenit Euro Co. Ltd

Hugh Jung www.kenit.biz

Airconditioner Sales and Installation

KRB Corporate Finance

Kieran O’Regan www.krbcf.com

Corporate Finance Consultancy

Madras Flavours ( Hounslow ) Limited

Mubarak Abdul Jabbar www.madrasflavours.co.uk

Vegetarian Indian Restaurant

My Last Startup

Richard Abbott www.mylaststartup.com

Small business advisory

Novap HR

Reena Singh

Human Resources

Speak Out in Hounslow

Sally Malit

www.soh.org.uk

Charity supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism

Tahas Kimti Ltd

Juzer Kimti www.tahaskimti.co.uk

Accountants and Business Advisor

The View From W5

Conal Urquhart

www.heviewfromw5.substack.com

Internet news site

Wordsworth Consulting Ltd

Simon Wilcox

Aviation consulting company

How to adopt AI without abandoning your principles

by Tom Hewitson Chief AI Officer at General Purpose

AI offers genuine productivity gains, but it raises legitimate questions about environmental impact, job displacement, and who actually benefits.

The answer is deliberate adoption: clear principles that protect your values whilst capturing value from the technology.

Three principles that work in practice

Get everyone using AI in their daily work first. When everyone in your organisation is actually using AI day-to-day, you’re far more likely to spot biased outputs, problematic patterns, or unintended consequences.

You’re building the skills and confidence people need to articulate concerns about ethical usage. People need hands-on experience to contribute meaningfully to ethical decisions. Someone who’s used AI for three months can engage in the debate. Someone who’s never touched it cannot.

This requires proper ongoing training for everyone, not just the technical team. Not a two-hour introduction. Real upskilling that gives people confidence and capability to use these tools thoughtfully.

Be transparent about what AI does.

Once people are using AI, be clear about how it works and what decisions it’s making in your business.

When something goes wrong (and eventually, something will), prior transparency is the difference between a manageable incident and a trust crisis that takes months to repair. AI tools should be assisting human judgement, not replacing it.

decisions, dismissals, customer complaints, contract terms.

The most significant ethical failures in AI happen when organisations remove human oversight to save costs, then discover too late what their systems were actually doing.

Understand

your impact

You’ve probably heard claims that using ChatGPT is like boiling a kettle or buying a latte. Nonsense.

A ChatGPT query emits about 2–4 grams of CO2. A latte emits around 840 grams. In other words, you would need well over 100,000 AI queries to equal one transatlantic flight from London to New York.

Make informed trade-offs rather than dismissing the issue entirely or treating every query as a crisis.

The AI industry is consolidating fast Training sophisticated models requires hundreds of millions in capital and access to scarce technical expertise. The number of organisations capable of building foundational AI systems is small and shrinking. We’re looking at a natural monopoly situation. For mid-sized businesses, this creates a problem. If you don’t develop internal capability now, you’re going to be buying expensive tools from monopolistic providers later, with no influence over how they work or what values they embed.

Organisations that establish ethical AI practices today will have leverage tomorrow. They’ll be able to demand transparency, fair pricing, decent terms from providers. They’ll have the expertise to know when they’re being sold something that doesn’t actually serve their interests.

monopolistic abuse without killing innovation. Businesses that adopt AI ethically can show what responsible practice actually looks like, creating pressure on others to follow.

Collective action matters. Individual ethical choices, whilst important, aren’t going to prevent monopolisation. That requires coordinated pressure.

But that coordination only works if enough organisations develop the internal expertise to understand what they should be demanding in the first place.

What to do on Monday morning

Give everyone in your organisation access. Provide proper training. Create space for people to experiment and learn. Encourage them to share what works and what doesn’t.

This is how you build the institutional knowledge to make good ethical decisions about AI.

Once people have real experience with the technology, then you can have meaningful conversations about where to deploy it more formally, what guardrails you need, and what your ethical principles should actually look like in practice.

The goal is to develop the institutional muscle to make thoughtful choices as you scale.

The organisations building this capacity now will shape how AI gets used in their sector.

West London Chambers of Commerce

Build processes that require human sign-off for anything that materially affects people – hiring

You have leverage as customers. You can demand transparency, interoperability, fair pricing from providers. Industry groups can push for regulation that prevents

Tom Hewitson is Chief AI Officer at General Purpose, where he’s helped learners from over 100 organisations build practical AI capability without compromising their values. Prior to founding General Purpose he worked at Meta, the Government Digital Service and BBC Worldwide.

AI TRAINING FOR THE TEAMS OF TOMORROW

“An excellent course on the fundamentals and how to use tools like ChatGPT effectively.”

Senior People Partner, Virgin Media O2

“Insightful session blending theory and practice. I left inspired, with a whole new toolkit!”

Founder, Anne Health

“Whether novice or not yet expert, the value and insights are invaluable.”

EVP, Dow Jones

“Informative, enjoyable course that showed how AI can help me work smarter, not harder.”

Funding Associate, Thirty Percy Foundation

Book a call today

Take a deep breath –the Budget is on its way

by Justin Urquhart Stewart

We have been softened up for what is going to be bad news, although no doubt there will be some sweeteners snuck in.

So, against the background of a faltering economy, what should the Chancellor do given that she’s hedged herself into a box?

Rachel From Accounts does have one get out card and that is to follow John Maynard Keynes who said, “When the facts change, I change my mind”. This would give her the opportunity to tear up the last Budget and start again.

However, in likelihood she won’t say that, but what she must not do is to produce a mouldy rabbit from a hat and pretend it is all fine. Rather, she must focus on the one driver of any economy: confidence.

She would be very foolish to try starting with a wealth tax. That is just old-fashioned class envy and only for followers of the worst Marx brother – Karl. The rule is clear – create wealth and then you have something to tax. Taxing as a penalty for those who have worked hard and been successful is just bad politics and bad behaviour.

Don’t squeeze lemons until the pips squeak but plant a leman orchard for a future of lemon abundance.

Also, we should remember that we need wealthier citizens and should not encourage them to leave. The top 10% of taxpayers

paid 60% of all income tax in 2023–24, and that was up from 35% in 1978–79.

Next, she should address those areas which have the chance of greatest success. Provide further tax breaks, not subsidies or cash, to those areas already showing strengths – our technology hubs, silicon-roundaboutglen-fen-gorge-beach and even stick (Bournemouth).

These hubs create new technology, new companies and new jobs – and we are rather good at it.

The Chancellor should also address an area of weakness: the secondary funding for these companies, many of whom are scooped up Silicon Valley acolytes or short-term private equity pirates.

Pensioners have had a great deal in recent years with the pension triple lock, which was only brought in by Chancellor Osborne to try and sure up the pensioner vote at a time when the economy he inherited was in a dreadful state. It will go but probably not yet.

Probably the fairest taxes will be income tax, which could rise but on a limited time scale, say four years (i.e. just before the next election if they last that long) but alongside a reduction in National Insurance which effects just those who work as opposed to pensioners.

It is inevitable that an adjusted property tax will come in at some stage. The current values for council tax are way out of date and serve only to sharpen the north/south divide. And we need look no further than Stamp Duty. The Tory

Probably the fairest taxes will be income tax, which could rise but on a limited time scale, say four years (i.e. just before the next election if they last that long) but alongside a reduction in National Insurance which effects just those who work as opposed to pensioners.

leader used that as her headline at the last Conservative party conference.

Currently we have a Stamp Duty paid by purchasers (who are usually the ones with less money) rather than the sellers and it acts as a significant brake in the spending of money. Moving house is a great multiplier, as every time we move, we will spend on the kitchen, the plumbing and decoration. The speed of money through the economy increases along with the tax take.

Encourage people to stay, invest and spend. Use the business incentive schemes which are usually forms of guarantee which would only get called upon if the business were to fail. The Government doesn’t have to spend more but encourage others to do so.

We are back to the key word – confidence. Let us hope that we hear an inspiring speech.

5 minutes with... FLAME & FIRE

Who are you?

Frances Hughes of Flame & Fire Restaurant

What’s your business all about?

We are an independent steakhouse bar & grill, in Hammersmith, close to Ravenscourt Park. We aim to balance upscale and approachable, by offering fine-dining ingredients and welcoming service, in an elegant but unpretentious environment. Our speciality is dry-aged steaks. The dryaging process makes the meat more tender and brings out the richness of flavour. Earlier this year we added Japanese Wagyu to our menu. It’s the special diet given to Wagyu cattle that maximises the marbling (fine streaks of fat that run through the meat, appearing as delicate white flecks). It is this that gives it its rich, tender, buttery taste. Most of our guests come for our steaks, but not all. Our lamb shank is the second-best seller, after our steaks, and we always have choice for those who don’t want to eat red meat, or any meat at all. Fish and poultry are constants, and vegetarian and vegan options are always available.

Through our food, service and atmosphere we seek to create memorable dining experiences for our guests; it’s about more than just eating. We want to exceed guests’ expectations and for them to feel valued and welcomed; to have enjoyed quality, flavoursome food that is responsibly sourced, thoughtfully prepared, well presented and reasonably priced; with service that is warm

and attentive, in an environment that is conducive to relaxation, comfort, conversation and connection.

Three words to describe yourself?

Flavoursome. Refined. Inviting.

Ideal customer?

5 minutes with Flame & Fire is a valued member of West London Chambers of Commerce

their faces. The positive feedback we receive from guests whether in person, by email or via Google and Tripadvisor reviews, is also very rewarding. This can be everything from a romantic meal to a family gathering, a business dinner to a birthday party or wedding celebration.

30+ professionals, couples or families, who value high quality food and good service in comfortable surroundings. They might live in west London or be happy to travel for good steak and relaxed fine dining.

Biggest achievement?

Winning the West London Chambers Award for Best Restaurant 2024 was a fantastic achievement for us! Aside from this, surviving the impact that covid had on us and the hospitality industry as a whole, which sometimes feels like a bad, surreal dream. There are many other challenges I could list, but getting through them (from big to small) is an achievement, and to be, in the words of Elton John, still standing!

Biggest gripe?

The multiple calls we receive asking if we want to change our card machine provider, or utility provider, especially during a busy shift.

Your inspiration?

Seeing people enjoy themselves and connecting with each other with smiles on

Philosophy in business?

Adopt a win-win approach; Treat others how you would like to be treated; Welcome feedback; Stay calm under pressure.

Sporting hero?

I’m not a huge sports fan/follower to be honest, but I do like Gary Lineker, Ian Wright and Jürgen Klopp; also Peter Crouch who grew up in west London (Ealing) where I grew up. I like them for how they come across as people, their humanity and character. I also like Clare Balding (sports commentator, presenter and author), who lives/lived locally in Chiswick. She has been a judge at the Chiswick Dog Show and spoken at the Chiswick Book Festival. She was great on Gogglebox too.

Biggest tip for success?

Perseverance and adaptability, take the rough with the smooth; things will always change.

Adopt a win-win approach; Treat others how you would like to be treated; Welcome feedback; Stay calm under pressure.

Weston Hall: your local business and events venue at the University of West London

At the University of West London, we are known for shaping careers and making an impact in the business world. But did you know we also offer fantastic venue hire options across our campuses?

Beyond standard classroom bookings, our campuses feature exceptional event spaces and specialised facilities designed for business, training, and promotional activities-including a mock courtroom, medical simulation centre, biomedical labs, and professional kitchens.

Seamless event support

Our dedicated Events Team is here to help every step of the way-from logistics and AV setup to catering and event coordination.

Why choose Weston Hall?

• Prime location – Easy to reach in West London, with great transport links and parking.

• Versatile spaces – Ideal for conferences, exhibitions, workshops, and networking

• Modern facilities – Equipped with the latest AV technology and adaptable layouts.

• Expert event support – A dedicated team to help plan and deliver a seamless experience.

• Additional spaces – The Heartspace and breakout rooms for added flexibility.

Weston Hall: the heart of your next event. Our flagship venue, Weston Hall, is a modern and versatile space that can host up to 300 guests, making it ideal for conferences, networking events, and exhibitions. It has welcomed high-profile events like BBC Question Time, TEDx, and the Ealing Festival of Business, now in its second year!

Right next door, The Heartspace provides a bright and open area, perfect for networking, catering, and exhibitions, ensuring your event flows seamlessly. Need more space for workshops and talks? We also offer contemporary classrooms and additional breakout rooms to suit your needs.

Let’s make your event a success!

Get in touch with our Events Team today to find out more or secure your booking.

Venues@uwl.ac.uk 020 8231 2038

linkedin.com/west-london-venues www.uwl.ac.uk/business-services/university-venue-hire