BUSINESS GROWTH SUPPORT AVAILABLE FROM YOUR CHAMBER

Growth Hillingdon is a fully funded, tailored business support programme that assists businesses in the London Borough of Hillingdon with their growth. Sarah Dale talks to business owner Shafika Khan to find out how the business support programme has provided valuable support and advice.

When Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce member Shafika Khan was told about the Chamber’s Business Support Programme, she snapped up the chance to sign up.

Originally from Dubai, Shafika now runs LBG Print Shop in Hayes with her husband Kamran.

She became a Chamber member in July and joined the Chamber’s Business Support Programme the following month.

Growth Hillingdon is a fully funded business support programme which is open and free to businesses in Hillingdon and aims to help both existing and new businesses. This includes self-employed people, sole traders, business owners, managers, co-operatives and social enterprises, provided the business is registered in the borough and employs fewer than 250 people.

Participants of the programme can build their own tailored plan through a combination of workshops, webinars, one-to-one mentoring and peer group sessions. It provides access to a network of industry experts and mentors for participants to benefit from their expertise and experience.

The programme is divided into several key business support areas: business strategy, sales and marketing, building your brand, financial fundamentals, efficiency and productivity, employment basics, accessing new markets, cyber essentials, property leases, sustainability, employee engagement and leadership development.

Shafika and Kamran launched LBG Print Shop – LBG stands for Leading Business Group – in 2021 and started production in 2022.

The family-run business is a one-stop shop for printing solutions with a range of products including T-shirts, hoodies and mugs as well as marketing materials such as business cards, brochures and flyers.

Originally based on Station Road, it is now located in larger premises on Blyth Road and Shafika says their USP is their quick turnaround on service for customers.

“I was at a crossroads,” says Shafika.

“I wanted to find a solution for myself and my company, balancing family life and business, and higher costs.

“I have been very lucky to find the programme at just the right time in August.”

Shafika met the Chamber team at the Yearly Hillingdon Expo in March and having identified “a number of positives” including already knowing some members, she joined in the summer.

“I thought it was a very good opportunity for people like me who want to grow,” she says.

“I wanted to network in a group with likeminded people who could provide help and who I could help too.”

Shafika counts herself as “very lucky” to have joined the fully funded six-week programme which has helped to renew her focus on business growth, identify key customers and boost her marketing skills.

“It gave me a boost in stamina and confidence,” she says.

“It’s been very eye-opening for me. Being a part of the business community has been a major highlight and it has really helped my confidence.”

Following the training sessions, Shafika has received access to mentoring support which helped her focus on her target markets such as construction companies and events firms.

“Before I was targeting anybody and everybody but my mentor helped me realise I needed to focus on my target markets,” adds Shafika, who has also adapted her e-newsletter strategy to be more focused and increased her presence on LinkedIn.

“Now I have a marketing plan. Before, I was only focused on my clients but now I allocate 90 minutes a week to working on the business.

“When you’re running a business, you can feel isolated but the Chamber has provided me with a whole community.”

Having realised many of their customers are one-offs, she is also looking into how to increase a portfolio of retainer clients and is working on tailoring a retainer service.

She is also planning to take on students on a part-time basis, as she is a firm believer in giving a chance for young people to understand industry.

“I’m very grateful for the support from the Chamber,” she adds.

“They introduced me to the people that would be suitable for my business. They gave me the direction.”

Shafika has been in the printing industry for 30 years and worked with her father in Dubai. When her family relocated to the UK, she and Kamran, and their two children, followed in 2020.

“Printing is inside me; I missed the smell of the printing press!” she says.

“I just needed a push and the opportunity to refocus so we can grow.”

Find out more about LBG Printing Shop at www.lbgprintshop.co.uk