Business Focus 170

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30 | WINTER 2015 | living IN HAVERING

Businesses shining bright More than 340 of the Borough’s top business people gathered at the CEME Conference Centre in Rainham for the Havering Business Awards 2015 Gala Awards ceremony.

Hosting the event were impressionist and comedienne, Francine Lewis, and Time 107.5 FM presenter Mark Dover (both pictured below)

As guests arrived at 6.30pm for the pre-dinner reception students from Havering Music School provided the background music.

During the four-course meal, singer, Tony Roberts (pictured page 31 top right) and magician, Darren McQuade, provided entertainment.

Following the glittering awards

ceremony there was time to dance the night away to The Base Tones (pictured page 31 top centre) and the Time 107.5 FM disco (pictured below).

More information www.havering.gov.uk/ businessawards

Golden Anniversary Award for Achievement Coborn Engineering Co Ltd www.coborn.com

Business Person of the Year Sarah Walters, Romford Contemporary Arts Programme www.wearercap.co.uk

Havering Business of the Year Lakehouse www.lakehouse.co.uk

sponsored by Enterprise for London www.enterpriseforlondon.com

sponsored by NC Construction Services Ltd www.ncconstruction.co.uk

sponsored by Harrison Wipes www.harrisonwipes.co.uk

Apprentice of the Year Jessica Ravenhill, Havering College of Further & Higher Education

Customer Care Award CEME Conference Centre www.cemeconference.co.uk

Environmental Business of the Year Safield Distributions Ltd www.safield.co.uk

sponsored by Neopost UK Ltd www.neopost.co.uk

sponsored by Metro Security (GB) Ltd www.metrosecurity.co.uk

sponsored by Willmott Dixon www.willmottdixon.co.uk/energy-services

Thank you to our Award sponsors 2014 ??????? ?????????? ?????????

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www.havering.gov.uk/living | WINTER 2015 | 31

Top judge receives award Martin Bumpus has chaired the Havering Business Awards judging panel since 2005, when the awards started.

Martin was Senior Business Development Manager at Lloyds Bank, covering the Havering area, until he recently retired.

Having stepped down from the bank he has also decided to retire from the judging panel and received a special award in recognition of his outstanding service to Havering Business Awards.

Best Family Business of the Year Harrison Wipes www.harrisonwipes.co.uk

Growing Business of the Year Halls of Ivy Beauty Academy www.hallsofivy.co.uk

Innovation Award Metro Security (GB) Plc www.metrosecurity.co.uk

sponsored by Chigwell Construction Plc www.chigwellconstruction.co.uk

sponsored by Haines Watts www.hwca.com

sponsored by Coborn Engineering Co Ltd www.coborn.com

New Business of the Year Pandora Images Ltd

Best Small Business of the Year Evans Insurance Brokers Ltd www.evansinsurancebrokers.co.uk

Staff Training & Development Award Containers4Sale UK Ltd www.containers4saleuk.com

sponsored by Time 107.5 FM www.time1075.net

sponsored by Romford Recorder www.romfordrecorder.co.uk

sponsored by Havering College of Further and Higher Education www.havering-college.ac.uk

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32 | WINTER 2015 | living IN HAVERING

Little Adventurers come from big dream Dreams can sometimes come true, and they did for Lee Stimpson, who opened the Little Adventurers Nursery in Cranham in April 2015.

Nursery owner Lee’s primary vision was always the same, written proudly on the entrance sign: “At Little Adventurers we believe that childhood should be just that – an exciting adventure, a time for children to discover, explore and investigate the world around them.”

With room for up to 52 children aged up to five-years-old, the nursery serves Romford, Hornchurch, Upminster and Cranham.

Nursery Manager, Ginny Andreas, said: “Our key ethos is that childhood should be fun. Each of our children comes to Little Adventurers with the opportunity to expand the skills they already have, with complete support from their parents.”

Home from home Business Development Manager, Chris Denton added: “The building was previously a residential

Jigsaw puzzles are fun and educational

home, and so when we renovated it, we wanted to keep the layout and feel of a house. It creates a familiar environment for the children and helps them to settle.

“For many of the children, this is the first time they are away from their parents, so we work to make each child comfortable, adapting to their individual needs as their emotional wellbeing is of paramount importance to us.”

Experienced staff The nursery employs professionally qualified and first aid trained nursery practitioners, two apprentices (currently training for Level Three in Early Years and Childcare) and their own nursery cook.

Ginny has more than 30 years of childcare experience and said that the quality of staff is of utmost importance as they work so closely with all the children.

More information www.littleadventurersnursery.co.uk The garden is put to good use throughout the year

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www.havering.gov.uk/living | WINTER 2015 | 33

Flytipping costs builder £2,621 Mr Andi Pemaj, of Andi Contractor Ltd, a builder and decorator in Saville Road, Romford, appeared at Barkingside Magistrates Court on Friday 21 August.

One of Mr Permaj's sub-contractors, who was working on an Andi Construction project, dumped a load of building waste in Bedfords Park. This was subsequently traced

back to Mr Permaj's client by Council investigators.

Mr Permaj refused to name the contractor who dumped the waste, but pleaded guilty to knowingly allowing a fly-tip to happen, for which he was fined £750, with a further fine of £750 for failing in a duty of care plus costs. The total was £2,621.

Business news to your inbox

Networking group meetings

More than 7,300 subscribers receive Havering Council’s monthly Business Briefing email newsletter, which includes details of forthcoming events, awards, changes in legislation and how to access funding to boost their business.

If you and your staff are not getting a copy log on to the website below and choose Business Briefing from the list.

Don’t miss out, sign up today.

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More information www.havering.gov.uk/Havering-Updates

Diary Dates Leader’s Business Network Events Thursdays at 5.30pm, venues to be confirmed, on: ■■ ■■

10 December 2015 9 June 2016

Women in Business (WIB) Wednesdays at 5.30pm, Havering College, Ardleigh Green Road, Hornchurch RM11 2LL ■■ ■■

27 January 2016 20 April 2016

Booking and more information www.havering.gov.uk/businessevents

Networking is a proven way to build good relations with other businesses, which can lead to referrals and new contracts.

There are a number of networking groups in Havering including those listed below. meets every fortnight at Liberty Bell, Mercury Gardens, Romford RM1 3EN on Thursdays from 8am until 10am. www.4networking.biz/Events

BNI Valour chapter meets each Tuesday morning at David Lloyd Centre, Squirrels Heath Lane, Romford RM11 2DY from 7am to 8.30am. www.bni.eu/chapter.php?chapter=2547

ebn (Effective Business Networking) Upminster and Hornchurch group meets at Manor Hotel, Berwick Pond Road, Rainham RM13 9EL from 8am until 10am on alternate Tuesdays. www.effectivebusinessnetwork.co.uk

Forum of Private Business meets on the second Friday of each month at YMCA, Roneo Corner, Rush Green Road, Romford, RM7 OPH, from 7.30am.

Gerry Goldner. www.fpb.org/events

Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) and Essex FSB hold joint networking events on the first Friday of each month from 7.30am until 9am. www.haveringbusiness.org.uk/events

NELE (Networking in East London and Essex) meets at the CEME Conference Centre in Rainham from 12.30pm until 2.30pm on Tuesdays. www.networking-in-east-london-and-essex.co.uk

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34 | WINTER 2015 | living IN HAVERING

Christmas is time for (legal) fun Havering-based solicitors Pinney Talfourd have got lots of fun planned for Christmas this year, and the community is invited to join in.

Christmas Carols at The Queens Theatre 2014

The 70 staff at the legal firm, which has offices in Hornchurch, Upminster and Brentwood, are organising a series of events during the festive season.

Head of Client Services, Catherine Polli, said: “At Pinney Talfourd we love to get into the Christmas spirit with the community.

“Pupils at Corbets Tey School, in Upminster, design our Christmas card, something they have been doing for more than 10 years. The imagination and artistic skill of these young people makes for fantastic designs “

Carols On Friday 11 December the firm takes over The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch, for its annual Carol Concert. Dawn Chorus is the choir that leads the 500-strong audience at the free event.

Catherine added: “Invitations go to our clients, contacts and supporters to join us and if anyone has transport difficulties our staff collect them and return them home.

“There is no charge to attend although there is a raffle and we ask for a donation if people enjoy the event – last year we raised around £1,000 and divided the money between the theatre and our own chosen charity for the year, which this year is Bertie’s Battle.”

Upminster Lights When Upminster Town Centre switches on its lights on Thursday 26 November, Pinney Talfourd’s staff will be there in force as the firm will be switching on its own Christmas lights in the Station Road, Upminster office followed by a reception for staff.

More information www.pinneytalfourd.co.uk