Lets Talk Business May 2022

ISSUE 10: May 2022

talkbusiness let’s

the official business magazine of hounslow chamber of commerce and west london local chambers: ealing and hammersmith & fulham

A marriage made in heaven Shafali Shown-Keen

McDonald’s franchisee

Comment

Councillor Steve Curran reflects on his time as leader of Hounslow Council

INSIDE: Regeneration | Comment - “The best decision I ever made was moving to Hounslow” | Spotlight focus - Help is at hand for Ealing businesses | International Trade - UK Export growth is stagnant so firms look for new overseas markets for future growth – your Chamber can help | 5 minutes with Tracy Aust, West Thames College

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Contents & welcome

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34 Welcome to our latest edition.

This spring is a time of mixed emotions.

We are sad to be saying goodbye to our old council leader Steve Curran and other long-standing Councillors.

But spring is also a time for nature to blossom and flower so we welcome in the new leader of Hounslow Council and congratulate him, his new team, and other elected councillors across the boroughs we serve.

We hope that this spring we can fully open for business, both locally plus internationally so your Chamber and our growing team is here to help. In this edition we showcase the Regeneration

and Recovery of our boroughs and the support that there is for improving you and your staff’s education. We also have a full schedule of events, so we hope to see you at one.

Kindest

Contents 4-9

Regeneration and 34 Regrowth 37 18-19 The Big Interview 38-39 21 Comment 41 24-25 Spotlight Focus – Ealing 27

Ask the Expert

29

Profile

30-31 International Trade

Alan Rides MIEx (Grad) CEO

Technology News Health and Wellbeing Chamber Events

42-43 New Members 44-45 News 46

5 Minutes with…

Some articles and images may have been originated prior to Covid-19 restrictions Enquiries Hounslow Chamber of Commerce Spring Grove House, West Thames College, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS Tel: 07879 813817 Email: sallysmith@hounslowchamber.org.uk Web: www.hounslowchamber.org.uk

Publisher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141 Web: www.benhampublishing.com Media No. 1922 Published May 2022

Editor

Jez Davison Email: Jez@benhampublishing.com Tel: 0151 236 4141

Contributing editor David Burrows

Features

Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email:karen@benhampublishing.com

Advertising Sales Karen Hall Tel: 07801 788880 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com

Production Peter Wilkinson Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: peter@benhampublishing.com

Disclaimer: let’s talk business is published for the Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to the Editor at the Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in let’s talk business are not necessarily those of the Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2022. Please note that submitting an article does not guarantee publication. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.

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regeneration

Regeneration and reg In recent years, Hounslow and surrounding boroughs in west London have benefited from a range of regeneration projects, from the creation of a 17,250-capacity stadium for Brentford Football Club to the development of thousands of affordable homes. As new buildings light up the local skyline, it’s only right that the innovation behind so many of these regeneration projects should be celebrated.

On June 16, there’ll be a chance to do exactly that at the Regeneration & Regrowth Conference, hosted by West London Local Chambers at Holiday Inn London, Brentford Lock. This two-part event will mark the many developments across the borough and inform delegates about exciting projects that are underway in the area. These projects are creating jobs, providing work for local businesses and powering the local economy.

For further information regarding this event see Chamber events on page 41. To book your place visit: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/regeneration-regrowthconference-tickets-301396012587 Part of this regeneration is being driven by Hounslow Council, which has mapped out an ambitious vision for the future of the borough.

Karen Mercer, Director Regeneration and Economic Growth at the council, says: “We’ve set out plans to take a strong leadership role, driving long-term transformation and regeneration.

The Hounslow: Prosperity and Place framework, approved by the council’s cabinet in January 2022, sets out the ambitious approach to supporting the regeneration and economic growth of the borough. It sets out how we will build on the boroughs’ significant pre-COVID economic strengths, driving a new path for a fairer, more resilient, and diverse future economy, creating good jobs, and providing real opportunity in the borough.”

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The framework focuses on four key areas •

Retain Hounslow’s economic activity – actions to arrest decline and help to retain business activity, especially small businesses.

•

Re-image Hounslow’s future economy – our places and future economy and the role of innovation, technology and creativity.

•

Reskill and re-employ Hounslow’s residents – enabling them to access skills and employment support and training, and good jobs.

•

Regenerate Hounslow – providing planning and development frameworks that guide the right development to the right locations, and that unlock good growth.

Karen continues: “Hounslow was one of the hardest-hit boroughs in the country by the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve been working alongside our communities to support and

growth empower them through recovery. Following on from the success of the council’s £20 ShopLocal resident voucher, our recent free Innovate and Grow enterprise support programme engaged with more than 760 different established businesses and startups in Hounslow. The extensive support programme, funded by the government’s COVID-19 Additional Restriction Grant, set out to help businesses get back on track and re-establish the confidence to grow and expand their businesses in the heart of Hounslow, boosting income, profits, and protecting and creating local jobs.

Alongside the Prosperity and Place plan, we’ve worked with our resident and business communities to create town centre visions and support our four main centres (Hounslow, Feltham, Brentford and Chiswick) to evolve, thrive and innovate.

“Alongside the Prosperity and Place plan, we’ve worked with our resident and business communities to create town centre visions and support our four main centres (Hounslow, Feltham, Brentford and Chiswick) to evolve, thrive and innovate. Each town centre has a unique vision which looks to retain and amplify the positive aspects of its identity and character, while attracting new sensible investment and funding into the area to overcome the different challenges they each face.

“In March, we started the discussion with the local community in Brentford on the next steps for activating their vision. The conversation was very open and started the thinking on how we

can work in partnership to support town centre businesses and resident communities. This summer, we’ll continue these conversations with communities in their town centres on the remaining visions, and how they will support the whole borough’s regeneration.”

Find out more about regeneration in Hounslow and read the plans in full by visiting www.hounslow.gov.uk/regeneration.

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We have a history of building Bell Road, Hounslow high quality homes in Hounslow As an award-winning, family owned property developer with 40 years industry experience, you know a Bugler home is a high quality home.

We have developed a trusted relationship with the people of Hounslow, and our years of experience in the area mean that we know what works for the local community.

Our most recent Hounslow-based development on Bell Road will mark the start of a new chapter for many, when it completes in 2023.

Located in the heart of Hounslow, it is going to provide 127 new homes for the local community.

We build desirable homes that people are proud to live in and our reputation is built on the highest quality and attention to detail. If you would like to know more, get in touch with our team.

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bugler.co.uk | 01923 777988

Celebrating 40 years in business

Bugler Group celebrates 40 years in business Bugler Group CEO, Andy Bugler, provides a summary of the approach and values that have underpinned our success over the past four decades.

Since Tom Bugler established Bugler Developments as a small private house builder in 1982, the past four decades has seen our company evolve into a multi-disciplined Group.

We specialise in building new homes for the public sector throughout London and the South East (Bugler Developments), as well as maintaining our on-going commitment to developing bespoke private homes (Bugler Homes) and growing our presence in the land sector (Bugler Land). This breadth of knowledge and experience in construction, private housing development and land make us the ideal joint venture partner for our many public sector clients.

Our company is still wholly owned by the Bugler family and together with my brothers, Kieran and Denis, we remain fully involved in the leadership and day to day running of our business. The family aspect of our business is a huge factor in the way we operate and all the team at Bugler are fully signed up to our enduring and underlying values and principles of Partnership, Lasting Reputation, Approachability, Caring and Excellence (PLACE).

Our expertise in the public housing sector has led to many successful and longstanding partnerships with a number of leading Housing Associations throughout our region.

From the seeds of our first small public sector project in Ealing in 1992, we are now building circa 600 new homes per year for the affordable housing sector, and we are involved in several developments in excess of 100 dwellings.

During these years, new build development in Hounslow has been a key part of our business.

From building six houses in Grove Road in 2001 for Acton HA, we have gone on to develop new homes throughout the Borough in partnership with a number of RP’s including A2Dominion, Notting Hill, MTVH and SBHA. In 2016 we completed our flagship scheme of 155 apartments at London Road for A2Dominion with whom we are now delighted to be on site with once again at Bell Road, where we are in the process of building 127 new affordable homes for the local community.

As ever, this project will carry the quality hallmark of every Bugler Development.

The reasons for our longevity and success are numerous, but fundamentally our belief in teamwork and commitment to building quality homes with a non-contractual, can-do attitude are at the heart of all we do.

Wherever you see the Bugler brand – we are currently on site in 25 different locations throughout the capital and beyond – you can be sure that behind the hoarding there will be a fully committed and professional Bugler team.”

bugler.co.uk | 01923 777988

• • • • • •

HIGH RENTAL YIELDS, CROSSRAIL AND GREEN SPACE MAKE FOR STRONG A INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY Set to be one of the UK’s most biodiverse developments, The Green Quarter in Ealing offers high-quality homes amongst an abundance of parkland with quick transport links into the centre of London.

Berkeley is creating a new residential community perfect for modern lifestyles.

The Green Quarter is a place at one with nature, delivering or opening up access to more green space than St James’ and Green Parks combined. Southall Crossrail Station, situated adjacent to the development, offers a direct service to Bond Street in 17 minutes and Canary Wharf in half an hour*, making The Green Quarter the ideal location for those who want easy access to central London but plenty of green space on their doorstep.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT At an early stage in its 25-year process and adjacent to Southall Crossrail Station, each home represents a significant opportunity for investment returns. Prices for properties within a mile of Crossrail stations have already increased by 66% according to Hamptons International and are continuing to rise.

Berkeley developments of a similar scale, including Royal Arsenal Riverside and Kidbrooke Village have seen capital appreciation of up to 100% over 10 years, significantly outperforming the wider property market. The average apartment price increase in Southall is also higher than the wider Ealing area, increasing by nearly 19% between 2015 and 2020 compared to 4% across Ealing.

James McNeill, who invested in The Green Quarter last year, found renters a month after completing on his home. “It all happened very quickly,” he says. “They’re a professional couple, which seems quite typical for the development; in fact, I believe one of them is a surgeon.”

The Green Quarter is located next to the historic Grand Union Canal and Berkeley has already improved the waterside paths, allowing for people to easily walk or cycle.

New bridges across the canal will be built, providing a link for residents to 90-acre Minet Country Park.

The couple are paying £1,250 a month to rent James’ one-bedroom apartment.

“Everything’s gone to plan, and I’m really pleased with the result. The expected rental yields are high, and I fully expect to see a very strong return on my investment.

Maybe one day I might even end up living there which is exciting!”

There will be a new commercial neighbourhood, featuring a variety of shops, restaurants, cafés and bars to be enjoyed by residents and local people alike.

REGENERATION EFFECT A thriving community is already emerging as this 88-acre site is transformed into an area overflowing with life. There’s already a great atmosphere at The Green Quarter which is only set to grow.

Central Gardens, The Green Quarter’s first park, opened last August. Designed in partnership with biodiversity experts the London Wildlife Trust, it will be extended in phases to create a 4.5-acre park including rich grassland and woodland. Alongside it will be an 8-acre wetlands, a place where wildlife can thrive and people can explore, promoting mental and physical wellbeing.

OPPORTUNITIES NOW Homes at The Green Quarter are ready to move into now, with one-, two-, and threebedroom properties on sale currently or in the near future. There are properties for every stage of life, including spacious twobedroom homes which can be purchased using Help to Buy. For Let’s Talk Business All properties have access to their own private outdoor balconies, some of which have direct views over Central Gardens, as well as private courtyards within their apartment blocks. Residents facilities including a gym, lounge, co-working space and concierge service will open this summer, making The Green Quarter perfect for people seeking healthy, flexible lifestyles.

Prices currently start at £480,000 for a two-bedroom home. For more information, contact the Berkeley sales team on 020 4579 2861 or visit: www.the-green-quarter.com *source: crossrail.co.uk

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Unlocking Hounslow West’s Potential Inland Homes has exciting plans for the Cavalry Barracks After more than two centuries, in 2019 the Ministry of Defence announced that it would be moving out of the Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow West.

Inland Homes, a specialist brownfield developer with an established trackrecord of delivering outstanding schemes on former Ministry of Defence sites, is proud to be working with the London Borough of Hounslow and local community to unlock the potential this unique site presents.

Following extensive consultation, Inland Homes has submitted plans to create 1,577 new homes, more than 2,600 square metres of business and community space, an expansive public park and sports fields, and much more. All this will be achieved whilst retaining, refurbishing, and celebrating all Grade II listed buildings on site.

Visit www.cavalrybarracksconsultation.co.uk to find out how our shared vision for the Cavalry Barracks is set to unlock Hounslow West’s potential.

www.cavalrybarracksconsultation.co.uk

CAVALRY BARRACKS

Dan Barnett, a Feltham mobile bike mechanic entered The Hounslow High Street Start-Up Competition 2022 with the hope of bringing to life his idea for a permanent bike repair workshop and one-stop-shop for local cyclists in the Hounslow Borough. Dan was selected as one of the lucky winners and with support from the Centre Feltham he turned his ideas into reality. Utilising one of our large vacant units, Dan opened a bicycle repair shop which has proved to be very successful. Due to the size of the unit, he was able to offer local schoolchildren cycling lessons on a purposebuilt track within the unit.

The Centre Feltham shopping centre, located in the heart of Feltham and currently owned by Aviva Life and Pensions UK Ltd, was approached early this year by Save the High Street.org to see if they could provide support with their annual competition which gives 3 local businesses the opportunity to grow their business by way of opening a temporary Pop-up-shop. The Centre Feltham Team were pleased to support this and be a part of this exciting opportunity.

The Centre Feltham, High Street, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 4GU

www.thecentrefeltham.co.uk | Tel: 020 8844 2468

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Dan was also joined in the unit by JJ Ceylon Ltd who offered Sri Lankan Street Food and Drinks available to take away. JJ Ceylon Ltd discovered that there is a large interest in the Feltham area for street food. Dan and JJ Ceylon Ltd are now looking for premises in the town on a more permanent basis.

TRUSTEES NEEDED TO HELP BUILD POSITIVE MINDS AND POSITIVE LIVES Anchor Counselling is a highly respected organisation that provides free counselling and psychotherapy to Hounslow residents in partnership with NHS IAPT and West London Health Trust.

Anchor Counselling is seeking to appoint several new trustees and diversify its board in terms of personal skills and backgrounds. The role of the Board is to support and guide Anchor Counselling to:

of the following areas is also welcome although previous board or charity experience is not essential:

n Pursue its purpose with clear goals and optimise the provision of mental health services in the community

n Business Development

n Explore new ideas for enhancing mental health support

n Financial expertise (Treasurer)

n Comply with governing documents, charity law, company law and other relevant legislation or regulations

What is important is commitment and enthusiasm and someone who believes in the benefits of counselling and psychotherapy and is willing to contribute their time and skills to help us to make lives better.

n Safeguard the organisation’s good name, values, and financial stability We are particularly interested in receiving applications from people who reside in or near Hounslow. We are also seeking a board treasurer and board secretary. Experience in any

n Fundraising n Governance

How a Workspace Community Can Help Your Small Business Grow All over the world, demand for coworking and flexible workspace is soaring. It’s estimated that almost 5 million people will work from coworking spaces by 2024, an increase of 158% compared to 2020 (Coworking Insights, 2021).

Likewise, at UBC we’re seeing increasing interest and take-up in our flexible office space - so much so that we’ve just added an 8th location to our UK network. We’ve also introduced day passes and pay-as-you-go credits to accommodate even more flexibility.

But why? What’s driving this surge in demand?

During 2020, the idea of sharing office space was almost unthinkable given the social distancing measures of the time. Now, after two years of separation, things are changing. Many people have missed the social interaction of a workplace and realise that while working from home is convenient, it’s not the most productive solution.

Entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes are now seeking more collaborative and supportive business communities in which to work.

n Marketing

We’re in constant contact with our clients at Brentford and our other UK centres. Here’s what they’re telling us:

n Communications

•

Working from home is isolating. The home can be a lonely place when you live and work in the same four walls day in, day out. This is particularly true for solo entrepreneurs who don’t have regular access to a central office.

•

Coworking is inspiring. Working alongside other people, even if you don’t work for the same company, is more mentally stimulating than working alone. Often, we find that our coworking clients value having like-minded professionals nearby for inspiration and ideas.

It’s also helpful for building a business network - our clients regularly swap contacts and provide recommendations to each other.

•

Business support is invaluable. Working alone, it’s easy to feel like you’re taking on the world all by yourself. But with UBC, you have access to business support from our own business centre staff. From answering phone calls to setting up your meeting room projector, having a little help on your side is a welcome relief.

n Strategic planning

The trustee position is unpaid.

The role involves 4 evening board meetings per year (of 2-3 hours currently by Zoom) and a one-day annual strategy event. There are no board subcommittees.

For an informal discussion or to apply, please send your contact details and some information about yourself to jacqueline.mccouat@anchorcounselling.org. www.anchorcounselling.org

If you’re interested in joining a supportive community of business professionals, why not try coworking at UBC? Our Brentford workspace offers a full range of options, from cost-effective day passes to private flexible office space.

You can’t miss us - The Mille is a landmark glass building on the Golden Mile, Great West Road. Pop in for a chat and bring your laptop.

Contact Manny Aduteye Email: brentford@ubcuk.com Tel: 0800 169 9822 www.ubcuk.com/office-space/brentford let’s talkbusiness

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55

years of experience in offering employer-led education

Create a Stronger

Business Future Together with Harrow College & Uxbridge College

Regular & Blended Learning Apprenticeships Technical Higher Education

by West London IoT T Level Qualifications & Industry Placements Work Experience & Traineeships Skills Training & Courses for Upskilling & Reskilling Opportunities

The

Largest Apprenticeship provider in west London

Additional government incentives available.

T&C apply.

Get started today

01895 853780

www.hcuc.ac.uk/employers

HCUC Apprenticeships & Skills West London’s Largest College Apprenticeship Provider Work with us - we are a trusted provider

HCUC Apprenticeships & Skills is an industry leading training provider in west London brought to you by Harrow College and Uxbridge College (HCUC).

With over 55 years of combined skills and experience we help companies as well as individuals build worthwhile futures. We are:

We offer an enhanced provision of high-quality apprenticeships in over 28 sectors and professional development courses with various flexible delivery modes, plus recruitment and training for employers.

•

A top college in London with consistent success rates

•

A trusted expert in delivering specialist training. We are one of the first 12 institutions in the country to open an Institute of Technology, recently established by the government offering higher level technical qualifications

•

One of the first FE colleges in London to deliver T Level qualifications

•

A College group with strong industry links with over 1200 employers such as Brunel University London, London Borough of Ealing, Martin Baker Aircraft Limited and Skanska

Build your business with funding to recruit new apprentices Hiring an apprentice doesn’t have to be costly. There are a range of funding options available and the amount businesses can benefit from will depend on whether they pay the apprenticeship levy or not.

Employers will receive a £1,000 incentive for taking on an apprentice who is aged 16 to 18 years old or under 25 if they have an education, health and care plan or have been in the care of their local authority. T & C apply.

Businesses can access grants to recruit and build a skilled and efficient workforce to boost productivity. We promote vacancies for free and our recruitment officers ensure they line up the best candidates to match job requirements. To recruit an apprentice, call 01895 853780.

Blended learning apprenticeships & employability courses Flexible Apprenticeships: HCUC Apprenticeships & Skills has created a flexible blended learning platform to minimise disruption at your workplace.

Industries include Accounting, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Mentoring, Team Leading and Operational Management.

The blended study platform means apprentices do not have to attend college as frequently. This enables ambitious employees to upskill without any interruption on-site. If you are keen to train your existing staff, visit www.hcuc.ac.uk/employers for more information.

Employability Courses: We are also offering a blended learning option to help individuals increase their skills set, enabling them to make their next step in life. Find out more here: www.hcuc.ac.uk/jobseekers

Upskilling and reskilling opportunities When key business decisions need to be made quickly, it’s important to have easy access to the skills your internal talent can bring to the table. When you invest in your existing staff to upskill or reskill them, they will deliver instant access to the skills you already have. So, when changes need to be made in your business, they can be made quickly and easily, in real-time. Chat to us on 01895 853780 to find

out how you can progress existing high performing employees through our bespoke specialist training to enhance efficiency.

Employer-led technical education HCUC is committed to supporting local businesses to increase their levels of innovation and productivity by meeting and driving demand for technical skills. We offer specialist technical education provision through T Levels as well as Higher Apprenticeships and Higher Education at West London Institute of Technology. This helps learners to develop skills that employers need, leading to a rewarding future for businesses. The technical delivery teams support employers to understand how investment in skills, new technology and innovative practices helps them drive increased productivity; and nurture entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial talents.

We provide a dedicated Account Manager for your company to fill in their skill gaps for the present and the future. Our experienced recruitment team support employers to recruit locally and find the right talent - free of charge.

To find out more on how to get started, visit www.hcuc.ac.uk/employers, email employers@hcuc.ac.uk or call 01895 853780 today!

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Partner with the Career University The University of West London Our mission is to be an industry partner of choice, supporting business needs through access to our talented and diverse students, and quality research and enterprise.

Interested in working with the University of West London?

Scan the QR code to read our Business Partnerships Brochure.

To discuss partnership opportunities and book a meeting contact : employer@uwl.ac.uk

Specialist facilities at the heart of West London Kyle Allen, Head of Business Services We take pride in our specialist facilities, from excellently equipped music recording studios to the hospital ward in our medical simulation centre,. Our portfolio of photo shoot, filming, conference, private dining, catering and event spaces, spread over two sites, in Ealing and in Brentford is perfectly located in the heart of West London, and only 30 minutes away from central London.

If you would like to book any of our facilities or have any questions contact Kyle and the team at: venues@uwl.ac.uk 020 8231 2038 www.uwl.ac.uk/venuehire

Degree Apprenticeships for West London and beyond!

Janet Rowson, Head of Degree Apprenticeships Attract and retain the best talent and develop the skills your business needs. At the University of West London, we deliver a broad range of rigorous, highly jobfocused degree apprenticeships to add value to your organisation.

We will support you in the recruitment of your apprentice, meet regularly with you to monitor progress and to plan for the future. This helps to ensure the skills and knowledge they develop is of direct relevance to their role.

Our extremely high retention rates testify to the support we provide to our apprentices and the high-quality teaching and learning they receive. Your apprentice will be assigned a personal tutor for pastoral support and will have 24/7 access to our virtual learning environment and library facilities.

To find out how we can support your business contact Janet and the team: 020 8231 2607 janet.rowson@uwl.ac.uk Looking to become an apprentice?

Information for applicants here: www.uwl.ac.uk/study/apprenticeship-applicants

A guide to apprenticeships Why apply?

Not for profit consultancy: Fresh Minds for Business

What’s an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship is a genuine job and under all circumstances an apprentice will be employed from day one. Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study.

An apprentice will: – work alongside experienced staff – gain job-specific skills – earn a wage and get holiday pay – be given time for study related to their role (the equivalent of one day a week)

– Earn a real wage; – Be trained in the skills employers want; – Set yourself up for the future – apprentices enjoy marked salary increases when they complete their training, and those completing a higher apprenticeship could see increased earnings of an estimated £150,000 over their lifetime.*

Angela Warwick- Client Experience Coordinator for Fresh Minds for Business, UWL

What levels are there?

All apprenticeships include elements of on the job and off the job training, leading to industry recognised standards or qualifications. Some apprenticeships also require an assessment at the end of the programme to assess the apprentice`s ability and competence in their job role.

Name Intermediate Advanced Higher Degree

Entry requirements

Apprenticeships are available to anyone “I am proud to be a graduate of that overUWL the age of 16, living in gives England and have no upper age limit. The National Apprenticeship Service is committed to students the best opportunitiesensuring to work with businesses Level Equivalent educational level that high quality apprenticeships are a prestigious option, accessible to passes at grade A*– C or 9 skills –4 in2 sharing5 GCSE their talent and much needed by our all people from all backgrounds. All 3 2 A level passes/Level 3 Diploma/ on Find an apprenticeship will business community to thrive invacancies challenging market International Baccalaureate clearly state what the entry requirements are for the job role being advertised.

4, 5, 6 and 7 Foundation degree and above There will be different entry requirements environments”.

6 and 7 Bachelor’s or master’s degree depending on the industry, job role and apprenticeship level.

Recent changes to the minimum English

and maths requirements now mean Levelling In 2021, Fresh Minds for Business received the that people with a learning difficulty or disability can now access a level 2 Up Award for Extending Enterprise. intermediate apprenticeship as long

What can they earn?

The national minimum wage (NMW) for apprentices is £3.90 per hour from April 2019. The apprentice NMW applies to apprentices aged under 19 or aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship.

Apprentices aged 25 and over, and not in the first year of their apprenticeship, will be entitled to the National Minimum Wage.

as they can achieve an entry level 3 qualification during their apprenticeship.

A Disability Confident Employer will Fresh Minds for is 18an award-winning 25 and over 21 to 24 Business 18 to 20 Under generally offer an interview to anystudentthat declares they have a £4.34 £8.21 £7.70 £6.15 based consultancy programmeapplicant thatand has partnered disability meets the minimum criteria as defined by the employer. For more This is the legal minimum pay per hour, most receive more. The Apprenticeship Pay details, searchthe Disability Confident on Survey 2016 estimated the average gross hourly pay received by apprentices in Great with businesses in West London and neighbouring GOV.UK. Britain was £6.70 an hour for level 2 and 3 apprentices which is equivalent to nearly £14,000 per year. More details on salaries entry criteria ingrowth, specific apprenticeship regions to and support competitiveness, and occupations can be found on GOV.UK and search ‘apprenticeships’ resilience for over three years.

Year

April 2019

Projects are completed to high professional standards by students working under the supervision of experienced consultants based in the University’s Business School and independant advisors from industry.

University education – Is this the best route into employment?

AAT and CEBR Feb 2013

*

Our programme is driven by mission to support our business community and to give our students the opportunity to develop their professional profile by working with businesses to meet real-world challenges.

To find out more contact Angela and the Freshminds for Business team at: freshminds@uwl.ac.uk

Spring Grove House is a spacious and elegant building located within the campus of West Thames College in Isleworth, West London.

The house is available to hire per room/per day and is a popular venue for: • Business meetings (smaller rooms seat up to 12) • Conferences (larger rooms seat up to 65 people) • Training events • Film location • Photo shoots

Historical Setting: This Grade II listed building has period features dating back to the 18th century when it was the home of pioneering botanist Sir Joseph Banks, who famously accompanied Captain Cook around the globe.

Great Location: Spring Grove House is well connected, just 3 miles from Heathrow Airport, close to the A4 and easily accessible by public transport from central London.

Book Now Online or Make an Appointment for a Tour:

www.SpringGroveHouse.com

Apprenticeships at West Thames A new apprentice can be a great way to grow your business and staffing team, as well as an option to up-skill your current staff.

Did You Know that as an employer, you can get funding from the government to help pay for apprenticeship training? Also all apprentices are provided with a dedicated Apprenticeship Mentor.

At West Thames we see education as a transformative tool and believe that education and training contributes to a prosperous and cohesive community.

We have a number of Level 1 – Level 3 students looking to progress onto apprenticeships in three main areas.

Brand new Logistics Sortation Apprenticeship scheme at West Thames college Tuffnells, a courier for large shipments within the UK and abroad, has signed the first candidate for the Department of Education’s brand-new Express Logistics Sortation Apprenticeship scheme, at West Thames College.

These areas are:

1. Business - Areas include Marketing, IT help desk, Management, Business admin, customer services and more.

2. Logistics – Help close the skills gap in this area by providing on the job training and progression routes to replace an aging workforce.

West Thames will be working with the Department for work and Pensions (DWP) to offer Sector based work academy programme (SWAP) for sortation roles with Tuffnells as the employer. Each apprentice will receive bespoke training, work experience on site, as well as guaranteed interviews after the completion of the scheme.

3. Construction - We have a dedicated Skills and Logistics centre in Feltham which can offer top quality training.

Please get in touch if you would like further information: Jasmine.Matthias@west-thames.ac.uk | 079 1278 0097

Employer Advisory Boards Another way you can partner with us as a business is by joining one of our Employer Advisory Boards. Our Business Partners on the boards help shape the future of our courses thereby shaping the workforce of tomorrow.

It’s critical for our students to receive real world experience and hear from mentors out in the field. We are committed to providing this and have ambitious targets that we believe, with your help – we can achieve.

To join one of our Employer Advisory Boards contact: Martina.Greeves@west-thames.ac.uk | 020 8326 6422

This qualification will be invaluable in attracting apprentices to more logistic organisations as well as providing key industry skills to the future workforce; West Thames is pleased to be a part of such a new and dynamic development programme.

Tracy Aust, West Thames College principal, added: “The sortation apprenticeship with the SWAP course forms a seamless stairway into the express logistics sector. We’re delighted that Tufnell’s have brought on the first candidate in what should develop into something very special for Express Logistics solutions and the next generation workforce.”

the big interview

Shafali Shown-Keen, McDonald’s franchisee A marriage made in heaven

old retiree who just wants to have a coffee and a chat. It’s brilliant and I don’t regret doing this – not one bit.”

Mathematics graduate Shafali Shown-Keen has always had a good head for figures – a useful attribute if you’re going to start your own business. Now she has done just that, becoming the Brentford franchisee of global food retail giant McDonald’s in April 2021 and overseeing its financial growth throughout a testing last 12 months.

Shafali’s current venture is world away from her former career in finance. After graduating with a maths degree from King’s College London, she landed a job as an analyst for Allco Finance Group. She stayed there for more than six years before working in finance roles at construction and engineering giant Costain, where she eventually became head of corporate activity and strategy.

Shafali says: “I always wanted my own business. I’d explored many ideas but nothing that would warrant leaving my job, which came with a good salary.

That was until the McDonald’s opportunity came along.

“My parents had a sports and snooker club in Chiswick for 30 years. They had a passion for people, which rubbed off on me. When I started my business, I knew I wanted a customer-focused venture, one that would allow me to mix with people from all walks of life. At McDonald’s, your next customer could be a 16-year-old on his school lunchbreak or a 75-year-

“I was responsible for leading Costain’s merger, acquisition and strategy team,” she says. “I managed the group’s strategic development and delivery of acquisitions in line with Costain’s business strategy, which was to provide world-class engineering services to customers by delivering national infrastructure.

“When the McDonald’s opportunity came along, it made sense just to go for it. I knew I’d be working for a wellestablished brand and receive strong support. The interviews were tough – the whole process

took about nine months, then I spent a further nine months completing the training. It was necessary, though, as there was so much to learn. If you’re going to marry someone, you need to invest sufficient time and effort to ensure you’re both right for each other. Now I can look back and say McDonald’s and I are a really good fit.

“I had to convince them that I had a good business brain and show them that I had good connections in the local community.

McDonald’s is very keen on building community links and supporting local worthy causes.

Once I had demonstrated this, I got the opportunity to run the Brentford franchise.”

It has been a whirlwind couple of years for Shafali but her hard work is paying dividends. The business is now in a healthier position: turnover and customer satisfaction have both risen, food is being delivered quicker and staff retention is higher.

“I have about 120 staff to manage so this job keeps me busy,” says Shafali. “Eventually I’d like to own a string of restaurants, but I’d need a leadership team

in place as I’d have 600-800 employees to look after. A lot of people respect the McDonald’s brand. Over the last few years we have made a number of changes to improve our offering to customers. We’ve introduced healthier foods such as salads and fruit bags, and our plantbased McPlant burger has been a huge success. And last year the company also announced plans to be Net Zero carbon by 2040.”

As well as running the restaurant, Shafali works hard to develop and strengthen McDonald’s links with the local community.

She says: “We’ve done local litter picks and made donations to foodbanks. We’ve also provided mentoring and work experience for young people, and completed tree maintenance and lighting installation projects.

“I’m also a huge supporter of women in business. I do a lot of talks to encourage more females into leadership roles in companies. You need role models and the more we’re out there spreading the message, the quicker attitudes will change.”

When the McDonald’s opportunity came along, it made sense just to go for it.

I knew I’d be working for a well-established brand and receive strong support.

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let’s talkbusiness

THE

INSIDE STORY Favourite food?

Chinese, Thai, Japanese (anything spicy).

Favourite tipple?

Lychee Martini or a chilled glass of Gewurztraminer.

Favourite holiday?

On a sandy beach (anywhere hot).

Describe your family life?

Hectic! I have two children aged 11 and 9, who both do several activities.

I also have my extended family at my restaurant who need my attention!

How do you spend your downtime?

I do not get much, but when I do I like to run and catch up with family and friends.

What are your key strengths as a manager?

I asked my team and they said I care about my people. I’m always there for them and willing to help out whenever they need me.

And your limitations?

I’m always striving to do better. I know this doesn’t sound like a limitation but it causes me endless sleepless nights and puts a lot of pressure on my staff.

Best thing about doing business in the borough?

The support provided by local councillors, the Chamber and local neighbours.

Famous person you’d most like to spend dinner with?

Elon Musk to understand his next invention and where it will take us.

Most interesting fact about yourself?

I’m a fully trained dancer in the North Indian classical dance, Kathak.

let’s talkbusiness

19

Download the McDonald’s app for McDonald’s 322 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0JS Open daily 5am to Midnight

This is

18+. App T&Cs and Privacy Statement apply.

Don’t use the McDonald’s app while your engine is running.

Subject to availability. Participating restaurants only.

See app and mcdonalds.com for full details.

© 2022 McDonald’s. Apple® and the Apple logo® are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLlC.

comment

“The best decision I ever made was moving to Hounslow”

politics include holidays and sport. He played for Kingston RFC and Richmond FC rugby clubs and is a passionate supporter of Brentford FC and London Irish.

“My favourite part about being leader was meeting the diverse type of people who live in the borough. From Chiswick to Feltham, I always enjoyed meeting new people and finding out how we could make Hounslow a stronger, fairer and greener borough. I moved to the borough more than 28 years ago and it was the best decision I ever made.

“My proudest achievement as leader is building new council homes. During the past four years of this administration, we built 1,300 council homes for local people at local rent. Like many other London boroughs, Hounslow has an acute housing shortage.

However, by building these homes we made a tangible difference to hundreds of families’ lives.

“As leader, I made it a priority to strengthen the relationship between businesses and Hounslow Council – working very closely and in partnership with Hounslow Chamber of Commerce. With Brentford FC and London Irish based at Brentford Community Stadium, Hounslow is firmly on the map as a place that people want to work, visit and live. This is testament to our strong and fruitful relationships with local businesses – ensuring Hounslow is a thriving and prosperous place to be.

Councillor Steve Curran reflects on his time as leader of Hounslow Council…

Brought up in Kingston-uponThames, Councillor Steve Curran moved to Brentford 28 years ago.

Before becoming a councillor, he worked in the NHS for 39 years – most recently as head of facilities for Great Ormond’s Street. He retired from the NHS five years

ago. He became a councillor for the Syon Ward in 2010 and held various posts in Hounslow Council’s cabinet as the lead on housing, health and education.

He became leader of Hounslow Council in 2014. Councillor Curran’s interests outside of

“The most difficult part about being leader was that you never knew what was coming over

the horizon. When you’re a leader of a council, you’re on call 24/7. Councils also have a huge responsibility to protect the most vulnerable in our society – whether that be children in care or vulnerable adults.

This always presented us with challenges; however, protecting the vulnerable was always a top priority for me, never more so than during the pandemic.

The thing I most enjoyed about being leader was handing over the keys to a resident who was moving into her new council home. Back in February, I met a single mum who had recently moved into a council home we had built in Feltham. She was so grateful for the home we had provided for and her baby. Her positive experience makes this job worthwhile.

One thing I never expected about being leader was the depth and complexity of the role. The pandemic certainly presented itself with unexpected challenges for me. However, I can honestly say it brought out the best in the borough. Whether it was supporting residents with food parcels or offering support packages to local businesses severely hit – all parts of the borough came together to make a difference.

If I could say one thing to the next leader it would be: stick to your values. Deliver what you said you were going to deliver.

Being leader of a council certainly requires perseverance, so keep persevering! Enjoy the role and have fun. I certainly did.

My proudest achievement as leader is building new council homes. During the past four years of this administration, we built 1,300 council homes for local people at local rent. let’s talkbusiness

21

WORK HOUNSLOW Work Hounslow WORK HOUNSLOW If you would like to reskill or upskill for work Supporting Hounslow If you would like to reskill or upskill for w to one of our Information sessions to find ou Residents and sessions to find to one of our Information Businesses to Thrive Find out how Work Hounslow can help you re-skill

Find out how Work Hounslow can help you re-skill or your employment prospects at one of our information Our interactive information sessions place once a your employment prospects at onetake of our informa Working together with their Learn Hounslow’s Hospitality tutors said of the programme…’’ Sector Based Work Academies are an excellent opportunity for our jobseekers who are eager to upskill and improve their job prospects. The Hospitality course we developed was tailor-made specifically to meet the employers’ needs, which allowed the learners to accommodate the course around their busy schedules and feel the vibe of the workplace. And the guaranteed job interview was a great benefit!’’

At Hilton Garden Inn we worked closely with Learn Hounslow and Work Hounslow to create an opportunity for local job seekers to receive hospitality skills training, employability support, including an onsite visit to the hotel with a guaranteed job interview. I was really impressed with the calibre of candidates and how much they learnt during the program, and I am sure that they have great potential to develop successful careers in the hospitality industry.’’

Hilton Garden Inn enjoyed great success with the approach as the Hotel’s General Manager, Richard Lee discusses…’’The hospitality industry is facing a significant staffing crisis since the pandemic and employers are in a battle to recruit and retain the best talent, so as an industry we must find new ways to reach out and engage with candidates who have not previously considered a career in hospitality.

Work Hounslow’s current offer includes Hospitality, Health & Social Care, Catering and Business Administration. The team can also support with general recruitment needs for Hounslow businesses as well as promoting roles on our portal and via our regular resident bulletin.

sister service; Learn Hounslow, Our interactive information sessions take place on the Work Hounslow team have

Register onto an information session to find out your

been coming up with innovative solutions to recruitment barriers. Through upskilling programmes, including a range of employability and sectorbased skills, Work Hounslow support resident jobseekers to ensure they can successfully return to the workforce.

Register onto an information session to find out yo

To find out more or register, talk to one of our advisors

Email skillsescalator@hounslow.gov.uk To find out more or register, talk to one of our advis

or call skillsescalator@hounslow.gov.uk 07790359392.

Email or with call 07790359392.

In collaboration the Hilton Garden Inn, Hatton Cross, a tailored 3-week programme of fully funded learning was developed.

To see how the team can help you and your business, please do contact us; our Employer Engagement Coordinator Deborah Adams will be happy to help deborah.adams@hounslow.gov.uk.

Visit the website to register To find current opportunities and latest news, please visit the Work onto an information session: Hounslow website at www.workhounslow.co.uk Visit the website to register www.workhounslow.co.uk

WORK

k, come along ut more.

up-skill to improve n sessions. a week. options with us today.

s.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

let’s talkbusiness

23

spotlight focus

Help is at hand for Ealing businesses The London borough of Ealing is the third largest borough in the capital and one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the country. Young families and working aged people make up about 60% of its population.

Ealing comprises Acton, Ealing, Greenford, Hanwell, Northolt, Perivale and Southall and is home to the iconic film studios that have made the borough the creative epicentre of London. It is home to Park Royal, the largest industrial estate in Europe, with international food production companies producing around a third of all food consumed in London.

Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council, says: “Ealing’s location is key to its success in attracting a range of businesses that rely on the London connection but are attracted by the lower office and industrial space rents afforded in Ealing. Commercial office space is competitively priced compared to neighbouring boroughs. With central London at virtually full capacity, Ealing offers businesses a viable and attractive alternative to relocate.

Located in between the West End and Heathrow, the opportunities for its residents and businesses are exceptional, and with new leadership there’s renewed ambition to improve the lives of people, with a strong focus on creating good jobs on decent living incomes and good genuinely affordable homes.

Ealing was first dubbed the Queen of the Suburbs in 1902, and today it spans a coalition of seven towns, each with its own unique character, history and heritage.

With the Great Western Railway and the Grand Union Canal, Ealing was built on industry and graft, and these are the qualities that continue to prevail amongst its population today.

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let’s talkbusiness

“Ealing scores brilliantly on talent and connectivity, with excellent transport links to the capital and major road links connecting the borough to Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

Ealing scores brilliantly on talent and connectivity, with excellent transport links to the capital and major road links connecting the borough to Oxford, Birmingham, Bristol, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

“With Crossrail due to open imminently, Ealing will become an inner borough for travel times, but an outer London borough for the quality of life.

The arrival of the Elizabeth Line will make Ealing effectively a zone 1 borough with average journey times of 10 minutes to the West End and Heathrow and fantastic links further west to the

“Ealing Trades Online is a unique programme of free digital support to small businesses to enable them to improve their online presence, build a website and learn how to use digital tools to produce engaging video content.

The programme is available through one-to-one support with webinars covering different topics.

Thames Corridor. This unrivalled transport connectivity will be further enhanced by the delivery of London’s first High Speed 2 terminus at Old Oak Common, immediately north of North Acton as part of the UK’s largest and most ambitious regeneration programme at Old Oak Common and Park Royal.”

The borough is now one of the most attractive locations in London, with dozens of beautiful parks and green spaces to choose from.

“Ealing Business Accelerator is a support programme for new and existing businesses to survive and grow, with help from experienced business advisors to develop strategies for improvement through personalised one-to-one online consultations, group learning discussions, marketing sessions and various webinars.

Within Ealing is a diverse local population which appeals particularly to tech industries, which can tap into a talent pool that understands world cultures and speaks different languages.

It’s a skilled and well-qualified market, with a highly educated local student population.

“In addition, Ealing Winning Tenders aims to equip businesses with the skills and knowledge for winning tenders and new contracts.”

In the heart of the borough is the University of West London, which is recognised as one of the top ten universities in the UK. It’s home to award-winning courses and outstanding facilities including the School of Law, the Claude Littner Business School and the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare.

In November 2021, the council launched its pioneers fund, a scheme that provides grants to small and medium-sized businesses to help grow, develop new products or expand their workforce while stimulating the local economy. The £1 million pot was shared out among 12 selected businesses that were each able to demonstrate how the funding would help to accelerate growth and create new jobs.

There’s also support on offer for the diverse array of businesses that are based within the borough.

Councillor Peter Mason says: “As an authority, Ealing Council is proactive in encouraging good growth. We want to create an environment where good businesses can thrive and to provide opportunities for local people to access good jobs.

“Businesses in Ealing can now benefit from applying for the council’s apprenticeship levy funding so they can train new apprentices through the apprenticeship levy business support scheme.

Ealing Business Accelerator is a support programme for new and existing businesses to survive and grow, with help from experienced business advisors to develop strategies for improvement through personalised one-to-one online consultations

Ealing’s small and medium enterprises can also access several pop-up business support centres, which have been established at central locations across Ealing. Each pop-up offers free face-to-face support, advice, training, workshops and seminars.

let’s talkbusiness

25

RETHINK THE WAY YOU RENT DISCOVER GREENFORD QUAY’S NEWLY LAUNCHED BUILDING, LYONS DOCK West London’s canalside community

Residents’ Lounge

Bedroom

Private Dining

Living Area

Explore the latest building in Greenford Quay, London’s vibrant new waterfront neighbourhood, with studio, one, two and three bed apartments available to rent in Lyons Dock today, from £1,505 a month. This beautifully landscaped development in Greenford, Ealing, will be a community of five residential buildings, blending the flexibility of renting, just 30 minutes from central London, with all the convenient luxuries of modern life.

Greenford Quay has an exciting programme of community events, from street food markets to our yearly Summer Series, featuring film screenings, open air theatre and more. To find out what’s on visit our website.

www.greenfordquay.com

@greenfordquay

greenfordquay

ask the expert

How can Wyke Green Golf Club benefit your health and wellbeing?

Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, Golf Clubs welcomed an influx of new and existing golfers as members. A recent study from Golf shake shows “79% of members’ clubs and 88% of proprietary clubs reporting growth in the year”. This impressive statistic is further supported with the fact that 60% of golf clubs now have a waiting list.

Why has Golf boomed since covid?

Golf offers both Mental & Physical benefits

Not only has golf been modernized through trendy clothing, but many clubs have also adopted a more relaxed culture with things like smart casual dress codes. Examples like this make for a less intimidating and more welcoming atmosphere. In addition, once restrictions were eased after the first lockdown, Golf was one of only a few activities deemed safe to partake in. With people itching to get out the house and exercise, golf suddenly was an appealing option.

Being out in the open air for 3-4 hours during a round of golf is great physical exercise but also brilliant for the mind. Golfers know the frustrations of the sport but no matter the state of a golfer’s game, the feeling of being out in the fresh air on a nice day overcome any negative emotions.

Just some of the mental health benefits to golf are: -

Physical activity is a proven treatment for anxiety, depression, and dementia.

-

Golf itself is known to provide several benefits for individuals with mental health issues, without any of the side-effects associated with medications.

-

Physical activity (such as golf) is known to be effective in treating mild-moderate depression.

-

Regular golf can help improve confidence and boost self-esteem, all of which contribute to improved mental wellbeing.

(Golf & Health 2022)

Visit the only Golf Club in the borough of Hounslow Located in Isleworth, Wyke Green offers a sanctuary for not only golfers but also people looking for a new lunch / dinner spot or somewhere to enjoy a cold drink on a warm summer’s day. We have a redesigned club menu with

breakfast, lunch, and main meal options. There is something for everyone!

Our clubhouse offers a versatile venue with stunning views across our golf course. A perfect setting for wedding receptions, parties, or formal dinners.

If you are a golfer (experienced or beginner) there are membership spaces available and great lesson packages with our head professional, Will lambert. Take advantage of the great physical & mental benefits detailed above by visiting Wyke Green!

Wyke Green Golf Club Tel: 0208 560 8777 | www.wykegreengolfclub.co.uk/contact/contact-us let’s talkbusiness

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fc

FREEMAN CARR

Freeman Carr accountants based in Chiswick serve clients in the surrounding areas as well as overseas.

As a client of Freeman Carr, you’ll never have to speak to HMRC again, we take care of all queries on your behalf. We have a private online client area, so no more documents to sign and post back to us.

We advise on business and personal tax matters, covering those often confusing areas for clients such as:

• Capital gains • Inheritance allowances

We adopt the latest technology available both for client data privacy and also for processing client advice and calculations. We have a convenient client login area online where documents are shared and where tax returns and accounts are approved electronically.

Our proudest continuing achievement is to provide clients with a true understanding of their tax position and business finances as well as providing clear and normal communication, avoiding industry jargon in all our letters, emails and conversation.

• Cryptocurrencies • Appeals and investigations • Overseas income and non-domicile tax reliefs • As well as those otherwise unknown HMRC reliefs and tax breaks

Tel: 020 8742 8264 The Gatehouse, 2 Devonhurst Place Heathfield Terrace, London, W4 4JD

enquiries@freemancarr.com www.freemancarr.com

profile

Ram Varma FCCA advises on Capital Gains Tax Ram Varma has been advising clients on their personal and business tax positions for a number of years. A common area of confusion for clients, that Ram regularly demystifies, is that of capital gains tax, relating to both residential property and cryptoassets.

The gains and just as importantly, the losses on cryptoassets must be included on the annual personal tax return. The calculations can be complex to ensure all tax reliefs are claimed for, including past losses.

How much tax is payable on the sale of an inherited property?

What does HMRC require on the sale of a residential property and what are the deadlines?

When a UK residential property is sold HMRC require a report from the seller of the capital gains tax calculation and payment of the capital gains tax within 60 days of the completion date. Importantly, the tax year in which it will be included on the tax return is determined by the exchange date.

The report submission process is not as easy as it should be and Ram assists clients with setting up the required online capital gains tax account for UK property. The details and the figures then also need to be included as normal on the client’s personal tax return after the end of the tax year. This is to ensure that the tax calculated is still at the correct tax rate once all other income sources for the tax year have been included.

What are the tax requirements for cryptoassets gains?

There has been considerable chatter about cryptoassets and the related tax liabilities that may be accruing for those with gains on their investments. In most cases, the tax treatment is that of capital gains tax as opposed to income tax, which is either taxed at 10% or 20%, depending on the client’s total income from all sources, very similar to the tax treatment of share investments.

When a property is inherited, the beneficiary (the new owner) has a starting (probate) value, instead of the usual purchase price for use in the future capital gains calculation. If the property is eventually sold, there will be a capital gains calculation to prepare unless the property has been lived in by the beneficiary as their main home for the entire period since inheriting the property. Tax is calculated using the probate value, the selling price, the associated costs such as agent fees, renovation costs, solicitor fees etc. There will be other reliefs such as primary resident relief to claim if the property has been lived in for part of the ownership period as a main home. Again, tax would be payable within 60 days and the capital gains for UK property tax account would need to be set up and a report submitted to HMRC.

What tax reliefs are there for properties let out when they are sold?

Having owned a rental property that the client has let out for a number of years, they will be required to calculate and pay capitals gains tax to HMRC, again within the 60 day period from the date of completion along with the submission of the figures via the online UK Property capital gains tax account.

There are tax reliefs available if this property was at some point the main home of the client, this is primary residence relief. There is also a relief for the last 9 months of ownership that is deemed to be occupied by the client if it was at some point elected to be their main home. There is no longer a relief called ‘lettings relief’ unless the client lived in the property during the tenancy, put another way, during the period in which the property was let to

tenants. This is an unlikely scenario, hence the loss of this relief in most cases.

Are the capital tax rules different for separated and divorced couples when selling the marital home?

The rules on capital gains tax are somewhat adjusted for separated couples to ease the tax burden that would arise if the normal rules were applied to those who were no longer living in a property due to marital circumstances changing.

For example, if for separation of asset purposes, it is decided that a transfer of asset/s will be required from one spouse to another, this can still be done without any tax consequences in the first year of permanent separation, there is no requirement to be living together at the time of transfer.

Usually the family home is the principal private residence and a gain on its sale is exempt from tax. Issues can arise if more than one property is owned and depending on which spouse moves out of the family home, whether they buy or rent in the meantime and who owns the original family home after the divorce can affect tax.

After the first year of separation and before the decree absolute transfers between spouses will be deemed at market value and tax may be payable.

However there are exemptions, especially where the family home is transferred or sold within 18 months of separation, or where the transfer is after 18 months but is part of a financial settlement, or the property was the main or only home and the departing spouse has not yet elected any other property as their main home.

The above are all complex areas, so these are merely summaries of some of the points to bear in mind. Please do obtain advice. let’s talkbusiness

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international trade

UK Export growth is stagnant so firms look for new overseas markets for future growth – your Chamber can help Your Chamber’s West London Export Club is renowned for their award-winning exporting expertise, with many companies based there managing to trade successfully in overseas markets, after all £400bn of goods travel through Heathrow airport and its surrounding cargo hubs annually.

However, it has been a tough time for exporters. A survey of more than 2,700 UK exporters has revealed that export sales growth has been effectively stagnant for the past year. The British Chambers of Commerce’s quarterly Trade Confidence Outlook showed that the proportion of exporters reporting increased overseas sales was unchanged from Q4 at 29%, while those reporting a decrease rose one point to 25%.

The data showed that manufacturers were more likely to report increased export sales than either business-to-business (B2B) service firms (such as lawyers or accountants) or business-toconsumer (B2C) service firms (such as online clothing stores).

Conversely, though, B2B service exporters were more likely

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let’s talkbusiness

than either manufacturers or B2C service exporters to expect profitability to increase in the coming year.

Responding to the findings, William Bain, head of trade policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “This data confirms our concerns – that for the last year there was a broadly flat picture for UK exports. This is in contrast with the performance of our near neighbours, with Germany’s exports both within and outside the Single Market steaming ahead by double-digit margins and with trade losses from the pandemic already effectively recovered.

“UK exporters are facing the headwinds of higher red tape costs from trading with the EU, raised raw material pressures, and ongoing issues in global

shipping markets. If we are to realise the aspirations of the UK government’s Export Strategy then 2022 has to be the year where these structural factors holding back our exporters are addressed.

A quarterly survey of more than a thousand companies that trade overseas showed that 37 per cent named international markets as sources of growth, compared with only 34 per cent citing the UK market.

“Sustained export growth should be powering our economic recovery from the pandemic.

Chambers and their members are already working hard to increase exports but need more substantive measures from government now.”

It’s the first time since the Santander UK trade barometer research began in 2017 that overseas markets have trumped the domestic market as the main driver for company growth.

Another survey has also pinpointed international markets as a key driver of future growth for companies.

Mike Fraser MP Minister for Exports said “There are vast areas of untapped export potential across the UK. One in seven firms with a turnover over £500k are not exporting and could be”

A quarter of the companies said that they were now selling more in international markets than before Brexit on January 1, 2021, up from only 17 per cent previously.

Photo by Fatih Turan-www.pexels

Sustained export growth should be powering our economic recovery from the pandemic. Chambers and their members are already working hard to increase exports but need more substantive measures from government now

Your Chamber’s Export club is here to help, with monthly international trade events including seven trade missions coming to us in the first five months of 2022 from USA, EU, Middle East and Asia we are ready and able to help.

Our services were recognised by BEIS when they awarded our Chamber Best support for Exporting, if you have a problem just reach out

After many years of export support and export documents your Chamber was delighted to be recognised. Alan Rides CEO with Sally Smith COO

let’s talkbusiness

31

THOUSANDS OF JOBS AVAILABLE ACROSS HEATHROW AIRPORT

APPLY NOW AND START YOUR JOURNEY TO A GREAT CAREER

Thousands of local people have the chance to grow their careers at Heathrow Airport, as a major recruitment drive takes off as we head into the summer. Vacancies are available across the vast network of companies that operate at the UK’s hub airport.

WORKING HARD TODAY, PREPARING FOR TOMORROW

From the service and hospitality teams who make every journey memorable, to aviation and logistics roles vital to keeping the airport moving, there are opportunities for anyone looking to play their part as we welcome millions of passengers back to the UK’s busiest airport.

The Heathrow Employment & Skills Academy is the gateway to over 100 airport-based employers, known collectively as Team Heathrow. The Heathrow Academy is currently advertising vacancies in sectors such as retail, hospitality, security, travel services and ground handling at the airport.

When it comes to careers, the opportunities are endless at Heathrow. We offer roles from apprenticeships and entry-level through to specialist and leadership positions, across a wide variety of areas – such as customer service, driving and construction. Hundreds of vacancies are already advertised on the Heathrow Academy website. These include Heathrow Security Officers – one of the most important passenger-facing roles at the airport, where our team balances keeping people safe with providing excellent customer service.

Your exciting airport career is just around the corner. There are thousands of opportunities for you to start your career at Heathrow. Find them at www.heathrowacademy.co.uk.

LG PLANNING LIMITED The Company provides the following services: • Planning drawings and applications • Building regulation drawings and applications • Preparing Floor Plans • Interior design • Kitchen design • Project Management • Valuations • Surveys Our professional charges are very competitive. Contact us through email or the given mobile number and we can arrange a meeting to discuss further.

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Ensure your project fulfills every specification with building management from LG PLANNING LIMITED. Tailoring our services to your exact requirements, we offer highly-competitive rates for professional planning, management, and support.

A one-stop solution for commercial, residential, educational, and medical clients, our team is highly adept in catering to all sectors with planning and building regulation support. Don’t hesitate to contact us to see how we could help you.

Monday - Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Emergency out-of-Hours Available: Contact Us on 07753 223349

Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash

Tel: 07753 223 349 | Email: lgplanninglimited@gmail.com | www.lgplanninglimited.co.uk

technology

Your Business Security Journey When you start thinking about security technologies in business it can be quite overwhelming.

As a business owner you should consider your security posture: •

•

•

What do you think about security technology in your business?

When was the last time you did a risk assessment on your business?

When was the last time you did a risk assessment for your customers?

The Current Technology Security Landscape Cybersecurity is no longer about the future; it is centred on what’s happening today.

Analysts have been writing about threats for decades and businesses have been reading about them daily. Regulatory bodies have been discussing the need for change and governments have been leading with privacy

34

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legislation. Timeless IMS focus on helping and managing clients to establish and meet privacy requirements as the number of cybercrimes accelerates. We also recognise it can be uncomfortable to talk to prospects and our clients about cybersecurity because they think they have all their bases covered with the most common objections being “It won’t happen to me” and/or “My data is not attractive to hackers”.

To help combat the rising threat of attacks on small and medium businesses, it’s increasingly necessary to consider security that starts at home. Turnkey solutions can provide a fully managed protection experience. Focused on discovering suspicious activity such as network changes, activity on key endpoints and servers, stolen credentials on the dark web, and suspicious O365 activity. We recognise and use a proven security architecture to ensure that our own infrastructure and all our managed client’s businesses are protected.

Below are 15 ways to protect your business from a Cyberattack: 1. Perform a Security Assessment

4. Train your users and tell them about data security, email attacks; Remind them of the businesses policies and procedures 5. Protect your computers with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) 6. Utilise Multi-Factor Authentication 7. Keep all your devices up to date, especially Microsoft, Adobe and Java products 8. Subscribe to a Dark Web managed service, to know in real-time what password and accounts have been posted on the Dark Web 9. Use big data engines to review all event and security logs with Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) 10. Cloud based security with Web Gateway Security to block threats before the reach the office network 11. Mobile Device Security 12. A Firewall with Intrusion Detection and Prevention

2. Secure your email

13. Encryption, especially on mobile devices

3. Apply security policies on your devices and network

14. Backup to a local device and to the cloud

15. Cyber Insurance to protect the business income and cyber damage recovery Businesses continue to face a rise in cyber security threats and with hybrid working models common across a considerable number of UK businesses, this is set to continue throughout 2022.

Chamber Patron, Timeless IMS aim to accelerate our client’s business growth.

Our aim is to keep you and your business Safe - Secure – Running - Growing.

Talk to Us - We work with clients who want to work with us on how technology can be used as an enabler within their business.

There are plenty of client of technology and IT companies out there that follow the commodity service levels and there are also many company owners that see their IT needs as a commodity service, with no respect, value or appreciation for what technology can do for their business.

For more of our articles please visit www.timelessims.co.uk/ latest-news

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news

South East Leads the UK’s Regional Recovery

London and the South East are set to record the country’s fastest annual improvement in economic performance over the next three years.

That’s according to EY’s latest Regional Economic Forecast, measured by Gross Value Added (GVA). It shows that London will grow 3.1% per year between now and 2025, and the South East will grow 2.9%. Both are ahead of the UK average of 2.8%.

A diverse mix of sectors will drive long-term recovery, according to the report, and this is particularly evident in London and the South East.

One opportunity lies in attracting and retaining talent. Companies that offer flexible work attract people living locally as well as those further afield. It means companies can potentially employ people that live beyond the traditional daily commute, enabling them to bring in people with the best skills rather than those who live the closest.

Flexibility Powers Business Growth and Recovery This is positive news for businesses operating in these regions, especially given the abundance of support available for local businesses.

One such channel of support comes from, Chamber member, UBC which offers growth support services at The Mille in Brentford. UBC Brentford hosts in excess of 40 small businesses of which some have taken flexible workspace with us since the pandemic started.

Why does flexibility matter?

Richard Baker, Managing Partner at EY in the South East, noted in the report: “Greater workplace flexibility and the switch by many businesses to hybrid working could help open up more opportunities.”

Hybrid work also offers a more cost-effective way of working with less reliance on fixed office space.

Over time this enables companies to reduce costly square footage, and means employees spend less by reducing daily commutes.

However, companies offering hybrid work need a workspace that can accommodate the ebb and flow of people who use the workplace at different times, and this is where flexible workspace agreements are proving their worth.

UBC centres also have onsite coworking space with day passes, enabling clients to utilise overflow space on days when more people use the office than normal. It also allows local homebased entrepreneurs to buy access to coworking on a simple credit system and drop-in as needed.

As the UK and its regions bounce back from the impact of Covid-19, flexibility in all forms particularly when it comes to ways of working - is essential to help businesses build financial security, create jobs, and strengthen local economies.

Council creates partnership with Barcelona to connect tech hotspots Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) Council and Barcelona City Council have announced a new partnership to boost their innovative tech districts.

This international agreement will make it easier for both councils to work together and build on their world-class innovation districts – the White City Innovation District and the 22@ District. Both areas are home to many start-ups and scale-ups. This collaboration will also increase foreign investments, especially those in technology and in strategic sectors such as bio and health, and the jobs that are generated in both cities.

This new alliance will also include partners such as Imperial College London, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), the Royal College of Art, universities located in the city of Barcelona and the 22@ Network association.

At the virtual signing agreement, H&F leader Cllr Stephen Cowan, said: “This agreement brings together two powerhouses of the 21st century economy.

“Our industrial strategy is based on partnerships and has already helped to deliver over 6,000 new jobs in the tech, media and medical sectors. So, we’re delighted to now extend such partnerships to likeminded colleagues elsewhere in Europe with whom we have so much in common, including our shared focus in ensuring that all local residents will benefit from inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”

Barcelona’s deputy mayor Jaume Collboni said: “This agreement between two of the leading international innovation ecosystems such as 22@ and the White City Innovation District will allow us to generate new synergies to enhance the exchange and mobility of talent, technology and capital between two sister cities in London and Barcelona.”

Friendly local support to a healthier you

We can help your employees become Wellbeing Champions!

Wellbeing Champions can help inform their colleagues about healthy lifestyle choices and signpost them to local health and wellbeing activities. If you would like to find out more about the health and wellbeing training that One You Hounslow provides then call or email us using the details below or search One You Hounslow Training

Call 020 8973 3530 E-mail oneyou.hounslow@nhs.net

@OneYouHounslow

let’s talkbusiness

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“We all deserve a little lift and treat in our lives. The results are well worth it for YOU.” Maureen Silver After many years working as a Gynaecological Surgeon in the NHS Dr Hala founded “Dr Hala Medical Aesthetics” with the goal of bridging the gap between medicine and beauty. Since opening the clinic in 2017 she has launched her own skincare range and consistently acquired cutting-edge technology and treatments for her clients, with a recent focus on women’s intimate health.

‘I’m always learning about new therapies or technologies in medical aesthetics, through my own research or recommendations from clients’ Dr Hala smiles, ‘two things that caught my eye quite early on were FemiLift & Desirial Vaginal Rejuvenation.’ Dr Hala had seen first-hand the effect of the social stigma surrounding women’s intimate health during her time in the NHS and saw an opportunity to drive change.

‘It’s often seen as a taboo subject - because of the negative social stigma surrounding it, many women feel like they can’t talk about their intimate health concerns. So many of my patients were suffering in silence with issues such as urinary incontinence or dryness’, Dr Hala recalls, ‘I wanted to create a space where women could freely discuss their intimate health with me, while also providing them a solution, and I was able to do that with FemiLift & Desirial alongside my expertise.’

Tel: 020 7371 8939

Since introducing these treatments in her London-based clinic in Fulham Dr Hala has treated hundreds of women’s intimate health issues and opened the door for discussion to so many more.

Garnering recognition and attention along the way for her work, she was soon approached by Vivacy Laboratories (creators of Desirial) to become the Desirial trainer for the London region.

‘It was like a dream come true. To be able to train other medical professionals to provide such a needed service and enable more women to come forward about their intimate concerns, and have them treated, is invaluable to me.’

Charming, friendly, and professional, Dr Hala welcomes new clients to the clinic and creates bespoke treatment plans to suit their individual needs. ‘More work needs to be done to eradicate the negativity towards speaking on women’s intimate health. But I’m proud of how far we’ve come and the women we’ve treated, chipping away at the stigma bit by bit.’

|

info@drhala.co.uk

health and wellbeing

The business benefits of laughter

Monday morning is hardly the most joyous time in any office or business. It’s a long haul to Friday evening so it’s hardly surprising that not everyone is smiling or laughing. But does it have to be that way? It makes sense that a happier staff would be more productive, communicate better and be more cohesive as a team. But what can be done to achieve this?

It’s probably too much to ask of a CEO but for a CHO (chief happiness officer), getting employees to smile and laugh at life, work and everything else is the very essence of the job!

This is not to throw pie in anybody’s face or pie in the sky. There’s a growing body of evidence that employing a CHO could be a smart move for any business. A study at the University of Warwick showed that happier employees are 12% more productive. Meanwhile, St Edwards University reports that “an Australian industry-wide study of 2,500 employees found that 81% believe that a fun working environment would make them more productive, and 93% said that laughing on the job helps to reduce work-related stress. A further 55% said they would take less pay to have more fun at work.” I look forward to future studies showing

that happier employees take fewer days off due to illness.

Companies and corporations that have joined the trend to appoint CHOs include Amazon, Google and AirBnB. Usually, they recruit someone with a good sense of humour from the HR department and send them for specific CHO training courses. Small companies, while not being able to afford a full time CHO, can still employ laughter gurus or comedy coaches such as L. Vaughan Spencer, the spoof business coach and alter ego of top improvisational comedian, Neil Mullarkey, whose anthem for business success is: “don’t be needy, be succeedy!”

This approach works on two levels. Everyone feels better when laughing at the comedy coach but when you laugh as you learn, you also tend to remember the lesson much better.

As a medical doctor, it’s clear to me that while laughter is not always the best medicine, it has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, improve breathing, increase immunity and raises our endorphins, the natural high-making chemicals in the body. On a psychological level, it’s obviously good for us. Very few of us don’t enjoy a good laugh but humour and reverse psychology can also be used warmly and effectively to get people to laugh at the parts of themselves that are holding them back. The Almost Happy approach uses comedy and reverse psychology in the form of funny, wearable badges such as “Grim Executive”, “Dedicated Commuter”, “Creative Dictator” and many more to satirize aspects of employees that may be keeping them unhappy or only almost happy at work. When we’re encouraged to laugh at the parts

of ourselves that are holding us back, we decrease the power of those parts over us and are happier, more congruent and more productive in the workplace.

Dr Brian Kaplan is the co-author of Almost Happy: Pushing Your Buttons With Reverse Psychology with Hephzibah Kaplan, out now, priced £16.00

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Photo by: Katri Salonen

Hogarth’s House Summer Programme This summer Hogarth’s House in Chiswick has a packed programme of activities and events for you to attend. With creative workshops, family activities, special exhibitions and even a specially commissioned play there is something for everyone at Hogarth’s House this summer!

Waggle Dance Wednesdays, August 3 August 24. 8-12 year olds.

This storytelling and creative dance workshops (no previous dance experience necessary) will give you a chance to co-create movement that captures imaginations and individuals dance personalities.

Creative Workshops The Angry Musician - a family-friendly play, June 17 - June 26, Suitable for all ages.

The Pulp Rocket Theatre production returns to Hogarth’s House! The Angry Musician is a familyfriendly show inspired by William Hogarth’s famous print The Enraged Musician (1741).

Come and join Tom, Crotchet and Moll as they frantically try to rehearse a play, discover themselves, and avoid the various pitfalls of Hogarth’s London.

Audiences will be invited to join in the fun and there will be games, music, puns and plenty of audience interaction to entertain all ages.

Family Activities Gardening and crafts for Summer Half Term, June 1

Come learn more about what grows in the glasshouse and Mulberry Garden at Hogarth’s House! Decorate your own bamboo plant pot and plant seeds in this one-and-a-half-hour workshop.

Printmaking

(participants must be aged 16+) Monthly Printmaking Workshops On one Sunday each month you can come and learn how to make prints using both embossing and drypoint techniques and our very own printing press.

See the what’s on section of our website for details.

Colour matching the Mulberry Garden, June 11.

In this painting workshop, participants will learn to mix colours in response to the garden at Hogarth’s House. Experimenting to match the fresh and vibrant colours of the flowers and foliage seen in the Mulberry Garden in June, participants will use colour theory to mix paints and produce an image of a leaf Calligraphy with mulberry ink, July 16.

Join local calligraphy artist, Laura Edralin, for a 2-hour brush pen and mulberry ink workshop at Hogarth’s House. Calm your mind, connect with nature and get creative this summer.

Sketching in the Mulberry Garden, September 8 - September 29 A four-week sketching session in the Mulberry Garden with artist Christine Covill. In this relaxed environment during these sessions we will look at some basic techniques, being inspired by the natural world especially from the garden and mulberry tree.

Printing workshop: Royal profiles, June 4 To celebrate the milestone Platinum Jubilee for Queen Elizabeth II, we are taking a look at her iconic profile that has appeared on our stamps and currency for the past seven decades for inspiration.

Profiles are stunning, effective and we can’t wait to see your inspired creations!

Using the drypoint printing technique and our intaglio printing press, participants will produce a profile-inspired print.

Exhibitions

A family-friendly activity for the Jubilee weekend! June 2. Suitable for aged 5-11 In celebration of the Jubilee weekend, we are taking a look back at the celebrations of Hogarth’s day. Explore the chaos of Hogarth’s depiction of Southwark Fair using imagination and character exploration. Follow on by making double-sided bunting!

William Hogarth’s Animals, 29 March – 3 July 2022. Free Entry.

This special exhibition explores William Hogarth’s relationship with animals through his work as an artist and in his personal life.

Little Hands WOWLab Drop-off Workshop, July 23. Ages 6-11.

At Home with the Hogarths, July 12- January 15. Free Entry.

In this fun drop-off workshop with Little Hands, children will participate in S.T.E.A.M. based demos and experiments.

In this exhibition, you will be introduced to the people who lived at Hogarth’s House, their relatives, friends and neighbours!

Visitor Information: The former home of William Hogarth the artist and satirist known as The Father of English Painting is free to enter and open six days a week from Tuesday-Sunday from noon-5pm as a museum to the great man and his work.

You can find out more about all of our activities at Hogarthshouse.org Our Weston Studio space is available for private hires and more information can be found on our website at Hogarthshouse.org/hire

chamber events

Building Business in West London UWL, Paragon House, Boston Manor Rd, Brentford TW8 9GA

9 June 2022 6.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Regeneration & Regrowth Conference 2022 Holiday Inn Brentford Lock, Commerce Road, Brentford TW8 8GA

16 June 2022 2.00 pm & 6.00 pm www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/regeneration-regrowthconference-tickets-301396012587

Business Breakfast Ealing

Charity Golf Afternoon Wyke Green Golf Club Syon Lane, Isleworth TW7 5PT

30 June 2022 1.30-2.30pm & 7.00 pm Contact Alan rides to bookAlanrides@hounslowchamber.org.uk Call at +447780650338

Business Breakfast.

Hammersmith

Riverside Studios 101 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9BN

13 July 2022 (TBC) 8.30 am – 10.30 am

Green/Sustainability webinar Via Zoom

Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club Vallis Way, Ealing W13 0DD

19 July 10.00am – 11.30 am

23 June 2022 8.30 am – 10.30 am

Via Zoom

Summer drinks Please contact Sally Smith on sallysmith@hounslowchamber.org.uk or 07879 813817 or visit www.hounslowchamber.org.uk for more information.

Hogarth House Hogarth Lane, Great West Road, London W4 2QN

20 July 2022 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm

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new members

Welcome to our Zubair Awan

Lauren Brown

Rima Slyziute

Wajid Khokhar

My Legal Limited (Hounslow)

Cluster Director of Sales Heathrow & Woking Holiday Inn Express London - Heathrow Terminal 5 Old Bath Road, Colnbrook Slough SL3 0PH

Alexanders Removals & Storage Ltd

Dsire World Multimedia Limited - British

Jagdeep Gulati

www.alexandersgroup.co.uk

Ebury Business Centre Suite 1, Unit 3 161-163 Staines Road Hounslow TW3 3JZ 07889 725704 zubair.awan@mylegalsolicitors.com

Jo Webb room2 Chiswick 10 Windmill Road London W4 1SD 07597 899841 jo@room2.com www.room2.com/chiswick

Elizabeth Cook Groundworks Chiswick Ltd 114 Power Road London

Mindshine 3 Valens House Upper Tulse Hill London SW2 2RX 07988 054509 Jagdeep.gulati@yahoo.com

Navleen Kaur Sahara Sisterhood 29 Princes Avenue Greenford UB6 9BT 07956 337117 navleenk@gmail.com

51 Chase Road London

D’sire Fifth Floor Building 7 Chiswick Park 566 Chiswick High Road

NW10 6LG

Chiswick

0333 800 2323

W4 5YG

leah@alexandersgroup.co.uk

07568 795927 info@britishdsire.com www.britishdsire.com

Simon Wells

Tony Ryan

SimonWellsVO

Director

6 Francis Close

Smorgasbord Business Ltd

Shepperton

76 Main Street

TW17 0EP 07904 169960

Normanton on Soar Loughborough LE12 5HB

contact@simonwellsvo.com

07715 705209

www.simonwellsvo.com

tony@smorgasbord.tech www.smorgasbord.tech

John Collins London Borough of Hounslow Hounslow Historic Houses

Richard Haygarth Hounslow Golf Park Staines Road

W4 5PY

Antranik Sarkissian

7 Bath Road

020 8064 1935

Hounslow

Cocoon Hair & Beauty Isleworth Ltd 6 Odeon Parade 480 London Road Isleworth TW7 4DE 020 8568 2268 cocoon_by_anthony@hotmail.com

Hounslow

TW4 5DS

TW3 3EB

07714 456184

elizabeth@groundworkschiswick.com

Evan Water Hill Partnerships Ltd The Power House Gunpowder Mill

020 8994 6757 john.collins@hounslow.gov.uk www.hogarthshouse.org

Dean Dickson

Dorota Konopacka

Waltham Cross

Secret Of 3 207 Regent Street 3rd floor, Unit C London W1B 3HH 07467 847283

AEJ Travels

dosia@secretof3.co.uk

EN9 1BN 07702 559294 ev_waters@hotmail.co.uk www.hill.co.uk

let’s talkbusiness

richard@mapleleafgolf.co.uk www.hounslowgolfpark.com

Rob Stefanovic Business Development Director

Powdermill Lane Essex

42

Unit 1 Chase Road Trading Estate

35 St Johns Road Isleworth

ABM Facilities Services George House 75 - 83 Borough High Street London SE1 1NH

TW7 6NY

07810 637407

020 8560 2458

Rob.Stefanovic@abm.com

dean.dickson@aejtravels.co.uk

www.abm.co.uk

New Members Sayinthen Vivekanantham

Ilona Pokallo

Ewa Fisher

Homey Technology Ltd

Ask Amber

FisherWright Solicitors

58 Wood Lane

41 Halford Road

71-75 Uxbridge Road

London

Richmond

London

W12 7RZ

Surrey

W5 5SL

07981 015718

TW10 6AW

020 8719 0101

say@homey.co.uk

07794 558837

Ewa@fisherwright.com

www.homey.co.uk

hi@askamber.uk

www.fisherwright.com

www.askamber.uk

Tony Harrison Printercare Ltd Terminal House Station Approach Shepperton TW17 8AS 07834 084120 tony@printercare.co.uk www.printercare.co.uk

Asma Sharapova Ascetic Aesthete Ltd 85 Great Portland Street First Floor London W1W 7LT 07712 397130

Sophie King Femi Oladele-lawal

Hyatt Place Heathrow Airport

Uncle Fems

The Grove

5 Addlestone house

Bath Road

Sutton way

Sipson

London

Middlesex

W10 5HE

UB7 ODG

f_lawal@hotmail.com

07887 962687 sophie.king@hyatt.com

John McMahon Plane Saver Credit Union Profile West Building

Robert Afanyedey

950 Great West Road

Grin Healthcare Services Ltd

Brentford

69 Hounslow Road

TW8 9EJ

Hanworth

07557 962266

Feltham

JDMcmahon@planesaver.co.uk

TW13 6QA

www.planesaver.co.uk

07429 136210

asma@asceticaesthete.com www.asceticaesthete.com

Joy Ganaden-Lacana

www.hyatt.placelondonheathrowairport.com

robert@grincareservices.co.uk

Claudia Welsh

www.grincareservices.co.uk

B’ Empowered A1 Limited 112 Bromyard House

Kollaborations Ltd

Bromyard Avenue

22 Portland Crescent

London

Feltham

W3 7BF

TW13 4RY

07951 798308

07974 654844

claudia@bempowereda1.com

partnerships@kollaborations.com

www.bempowereda1.com

let’s talkbusiness

43

news

Roaming radio station comes to Chiswick House & Gardens Grow FM, a summer programme of activities and events exploring the theme of “community as health”, is coming to Chiswick House & Gardens this summer.

The brainchild of curatorproducers Yinka Danmole and Tadeo Lopez-Sendon, Grow FM is an experimental programme featuring new commissions by local and international artists and a roaming pop-up radio station, powered by the community for the community, broadcasting from Chiswick House & Gardens throughout the summer.

Grow FM is inspired by West London pirate radio stations, which became a lifeline for disenfranchised communities in the 1990s, as well as by Victorian Chiswick House & Gardens residents, the Tuke brothers, whose radical approach to mental health centred exchange and dialogue as a means of connecting with their patients.

Grow FM will encourage artists, host participants and audiences to come together physically and online, enabling new conditions for cultural exchange and production to thrive, especially for those groups and communities often overlooked.

Supported by the London Borough of Hounslow, as part of its Summer of Culture, the project includes paid placements for three young creatives as trainee audio producers.

Tadeo Lopez-Sendon said: “In an age where we witness the erosion of trust and social connections, Grow FM aims to re-centre community at the heart of social life.”

Yinka Danmole added: “Inspired

by Chiswick House & Gardens’

history, with the Tuke brothers’ radical Victorian approach to mental health practices, the Grow FM programme explores ways of nurturing this precious public space for the local community, for new collectives and for cultural production.”

Xanthe Arvanitakis, director of Chiswick House & Gardens Trust, said: “We know firsthand from Growing Together at Chiswick House, our thriving community engagement programme, that a strong sense of community is integral to our health and mental wellbeing.

We’re delighted to be working closely with the local people of Hounslow and this talented group of creatives to support Grow FM for improved health and wellbeing for all of us.”

Wellness event proves to be popular!

Sahara Sisterhood hosted a wellness event for women at the Grasshoppers Rugby Club in Isleworth sponsored by the Metropolitan Police on Thursday March 10, 2022.

The organisation said 77 delegates had registered for the event.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: “At Sahara Sisterhood, we always request feedback at the end of the event through an evaluation form that is distributed to all delegates to complete and return to the hosts.

In line with our normal practice, we distributed the evaluation forms to all delegates and these were collated at the end. In addition to the feedback forms,

44

let’s talkbusiness

SEGRO mark 100+2 year anniversary More than 300 people came together in April at the Royal Horticultural Halls in central London to mark 100 years since leading warehousing and industrial property developer SEGRO was established in 1920. However, eagle-eyed readers may notice that the event actually took place on the 102nd anniversary of its foundation after the Covid pandemic delayed proceedings by two years.

The Slough Trading Company, which later became SEGRO, was formed after the First World War following the purchase of a military vehicle repair depot in Slough from the UK government which was used to adapt war-damaged vehicles for civilian use. The founders quickly realised that the company’s long term future would be in the leasing of warehousing and industrial property and as such the Slough Trading Estate was born. Over the decades The Slough Trading Estate became Europe’s largest industrial estate under single ownership, home to hundreds of companies and a corner piece of the local community, and SEGRO has grown its property portfolio, including the

development and acquisition of several properties in the London Borough of Hounslow, to become Europe’s largest property company by value.

Hounslow and West London Chambers of Commerce, CEO Alan Rides, and COO Sally Smith, were delighted to be able to attend the evening and share in this milestone celebration.

Photo by Maude Frédérique Lavoie on Unsplash

all three hosts were given encouraging feedback throughout the day. One of the team members is a HR director who has extensive experience in managing this area and is passionate about improving organisational performance and seeking feedback to continuously learn to improve our service.

The delegate feedback was overwhelmingly positive and it was the first time Sahara Sisterhood had worked with the Metropolitan Police.

The conference was well structured and planned with a variety of activities including presenters, meditation, creativity, music, activities and discussion in breakout sessions.

Based on the feedback and comments received on the day, the conference was a huge success. This was achieved by the range of different activities throughout the day involving delegate participation where they were encouraged to present their findings.

Overall, the event was a huge success and we had lots of positive feedback.

We believe we provide a platform for the Met Police to be introduced and engage with the local communities in a nonconfrontational manner by allowing them to build bigger and stronger relationships with people that need their services.

We would propose to host another conference in June, September and December as a very minimum to build upon the relationships between the Metropolitan Police and the community.”

Serving Our Superheroes founder launches new venture It has been two years since Sarah Jane Gardner set up Serving Our Superheroes at the start of the pandemic.

It started out as a project to help prevent the cross-contamination of COVID-19, by providing laundry bags to the NHS and other frontline care workers during the pandemic.

Serving Our Superheroes now supplies washbags filled with toiletries to the NHS and a host of other items to homeless people, refugees, victims of domestic violence and other people in need.

The project has been hugely successful, with more than 153,000 items donated and over 150,000 people supported. Now Sarah has launched a spin-off venture, as she explains.

“We’ve updated our constitution to go international and I’ve sent many dresses abroad in partnership with Dress a Girl around the World, as well as continuing to serve our community locally. Our latest project, to supply trousers to hospitals, has had really good feedback from the hospitals and I’ve been asked for more. As a result, I’ve now set up a spin-off group, Pants for Patients.

The hope is to get trousers into hospitals around the world.

It’s the little things that make a difference and provide dignity in people’s time of need.

We’ve already been providing washbags so that people can clean their teeth and have a shower in hospital.

However, imagine you arrive in hospital and you’ve been in an accident and your clothes are ripped, or have had to be cut off.

The hospital gowns are open and don’t afford much dignity. With the trousers, patients can cover up and move around. They’re adjustable to fit all sizes and are loose so they’re easy to get on and off. They’re great for all patients, including those who’ve been in accidents, maternity patients who’ve had an unexpected C-section and need loose trousers, and the elderly who may live alone and have a long stay in hospital with no change of clothes. There are so many people living alone or in poverty so these trousers can help. They could also be worn by nurses in the community in third world countries or given out at schools where people can’t afford clothing.”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ groups/382659647201941/

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5 minutes with patron member a hugely diverse College and incredibly inclusive, both of which we are very proud of and actively celebrate. West Thames Our vocational courses are taught by industry professionals.

We have excellent links with employers and a core strength of the College is our collaborative working through our partnerships.

We are very proud of our state-of-the-art facilities and workshops at our main Isleworth campus and at our Skills + Logistics Centre in Feltham, both of which provide excellent learning environments.

Tracy Aust

Principal of West Thames College I’ve been at West Thames College for 23 years. I started as a teacher, teaching A Level Accounts, Economics and Business, having completed 3 years in a Sixth Form College prior to this, when I first qualified.

I never intended to stay but 23 years later, here I am.

What’s kept me here is really simple: our students and staff, who are great. Alongside this, I’ve been lucky enough to have been provided with so many opportunities to grow, develop and take on new challenges. And all of this is against a backdrop of a set of values and principles which completely resonate with me.

They are not just a set of words, it’s how we as a College work, day

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in, day out and this is reflected in our behaviours and the respect we have for one another.

What is your Business?

We are a successful, vibrant college of further and higher education. Each year we support around 6,000 students. We offer provision across 24 different curriculum areas, aged 14 upwards from pre-entry level all the way to level 6. We are

work. At the very least, bringing it in line with other education sectors e.g. schools, HE.

Inspiration To do the best job I can do in whatever I’m doing, whether that’s at work, personally or socially. I definitely get inspiration from my mum who has been a fantastic role model.

Philosophy in Business Doing the right thing and acting with integrity. It’s really important to lead by example.

Our students are very successful, with very high achievement rates and excellent progression routes to their chosen destinations.

Always putting students at the heart of what we do. When it comes to decision making, it’s asking the question about whether that decision has a positive impact on students? If not, then we have to question why we are doing it.

We help our students to fulfil their dreams.

Sporting Hero

3 words to describe yourself Honest, Fair, Driven

Ideal customer ALL of our students. Recognising and celebrating the fact that we are all different. Whatever their starting point, we want each and every one of our students to have an outstanding learning experience with us, enabling them to achieve, progress and fulfil their ambitions.

Biggest achievement On a personal front, being a mum to two great boys. On a professional front, it was definitely becoming Principal of West Thames. Being a Principal was not something I aspired to but I wouldn’t want to do this role anywhere else.

Biggest gripe Lack of funding to do what we need to, which is: a) supporting our students and b) ability to reward our staff in this critical sector for their incredible hard

Jonny Wilkinson CBE– former rugby union player He played for my home team – Newcastle Falcons as well as England, the British & Irish Lions and then Toulon.

He is best known for scoring the winning drop goal in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Why? – my love for rugby and I used to coach mini-rugby and he once did a private training session on a beach for our mini rugby team on their coming of age tour in Toulon in France Such a good role model with his commitment, attitude, hard work and his interaction with his fans.

Biggest tip for success Do something you are passionate and enthusiastic about Be honest, don’t underestimate the importance of good communication. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, we never stop learning.

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