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Whether you are part of a large organisation or work from an office at home, there are many good reasons for joining the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce.

As the business hub of Wandsworth, your Chamber is influential in helping to create the right business environment for local companies to flourish. Through membership you have the ability to use our “business voice”, the opportunity to meet key stakeholders, network and do business with many other local businesses that you won’t find anywhere else. So, do it now, online, and start enjoying the many benefits on offer.

www.wandsworthchamber.org

For more information or to discuss how we can help you, please contact us at:

Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce 020 3633 6575

enquiries@wandsworthchamber.org

in post-COVID revival

By Antonia Johnstone founder of Sign of the Times

“I wanted to share a little post Covid recovery story for Business Connexions.

“I am the founder of www.wearesott.com, a luxury second hand designer resale marketplace with a store based in Chelsea and a studio in Battersea. Like many businesses through COVID, we were forced to shut our doors, make efficiencies and re-think processes. “During the pandemic, people were stuck in their homes looking at “a lot of stuff” and since March they have had the opportunity to start afresh and form new shopping habits that are more sustainable and well thought through. This has naturally been further compounded by Cop26. “At Sign of the Times, we have been blown away by the support of so many people and businesses in this post-COVID age. From celebrities such as Lucy Williams journalists such as Bay Garnett and businesses such as The Ivy Club, everyone has had a fresher and more collaborative approach to doing business. “This alongside our phenomenal community of Signers and the local government support in the form of grants and kickstarters has meant that we have flourished coming out of a lockdown and we are experiencing exciting growth numbers for this time of year.”

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Students’ climate change gardens plan wins eco-award

Students in Wandsworth have won a £10,000 cash prize that will be used to create climate change gardens and help improve air quality at two sites in Tooting and Wandsworth.

Pupils attending the Francis Barber referral unit were awarded the money after being named as one of only five winning entries from schools and colleges across the capital in the Mayor of London’s Climate Kick Start competition, supported by Bloomberg.

The initiative is designed to help secondary schools pioneer eco-projects that engage young Londoners in climate action and raise awareness of environmental issues. The Francis Barber students will now create the green spaces at their two sites to help boost air quality, provide welcoming natural spaces and create a vegetable garden as part of the school’s independent living and creative curriculum. Some of the cash will also be used to develop a bike maintenance and repair programme to support sustainable transport. Headteacher Jackie Addison said: “I am absolutely thrilled and delighted that our school has been chosen as one of only five winners of this highprofile London-wide competition and I’m so proud of our pupils for having drawn up and developed such exciting and inspirational plans. They should all be really proud of themselves too.” The competition winners were announced at a star-studded ceremony at the Barbican, hosted by the Mayor and TV presenter, Paralympian and climate activist, Ade Adepitan MBE. Ade Adepitan said: “I’ve seen the devastating impact of climate change happening all over the world right now, but I’ve also felt the impacts right here in London – from air pollution to flooding and overheating. Now’s the time to do our bit. “I’m delighted to have been able to reward the young people and schools taking action to tackle these environmental issues first-hand, and I hope they are an inspiration for all Londoners to get involved.”