4 minute read
Spotlight Focus – Ealing
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.
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.
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.
“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
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.
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 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.
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 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.
“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.
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.
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.
