Let's Talk Business February 23

West London Chambers of Commerce

talkbusiness let’s

THE OFFICIAL BUSINESS MAGAZINE OF WEST LONDON CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

‘HANG’ WINNER of the Advance for Growth competition

THE BIG INTERVIEW MARK ORMISTON talks about how Ormiston was streets ahead of the environmental game and reflects on the rich history of the business.

INSIDE: SPOTLIGHT FOCUS - Brentford where business is always evolving • INTERNATIONAL TRADE - Rise in demand for imported goods shows UK economy is moving but needs to export more • HEALTH & WELLBEING - Why having your hearing checked is so important

Project Funding Sprint: Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)

In partnership with Knowledge Transfer Network, UWL host funding application sprints for academic staff and businesses to assess project ideas that drive innovation and growth.

Wednesday 8 March 2023, 2pm-3.30pm

Thursday 11 May 2023, 12noon-1.30pm

Thursday 5 September 2023, 2pm-3.30pm

To attend, email the Knowledge Exchange team: employer@uwl.ac.uk

Scan QR code with your phone camera

I am please to present our Spring edition of “Lets Talk Business”.

We are all going through a tough winter, with high Energy costs leading to inflation not seen in many years, which has led to our economy being the only G7 country to be in recession. But spring is in the air, energy costs are now down to 2021 levels which will lead eventually to prices returning through competition to more normal levels.

In this edition we congratulate “Hang” and celebrate West London’s finest companies in our Festival of Business which allows them to showcase the best

West London offers and welcome the 37 new members to our Chamber.

Remember, if your ambition is to innovate, grow locally with finance plus look at overseas expansion we are the best organisation to help deliver these aims.

West London Chambers of Commerce Festival of Business

The West London Festival of Business is part of our regrowth, showcasing and promoting our diverse business community. The day starts with a stakeholder breakfast, where we are proud to have the following keynote speakers:

Helen Elsby: Chief Solutions Officer, Heathrow Airport Ltd

Cllr Shantanu Rajawat: Leader of Hounslow Council

Cllr Stephen Cowan: Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council

Cllr Deidre Costigan: Deputy Leader of Ealing Council

The business exhibition will open at 9:30am, with up to 50 stands and there will be a series of seminars running throughout the day. From ‘Choosing the right path’, which will cover making connections, digital growth and the London Living Wage to a Procurement panel discussion at 3:00pm.

Holiday Inn, Brentford Lock, Commerce Road

Brentford TW8 8GA

Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Breakfast 8:00am - 9:15am Exhibition 9:30am - 4:00pm

Come and join us for our Festival of Business!

The event is free to attend, you just need to book.

Exhibitors:

West London Chambers

Issy Les Moulineaux

Currie Motors

Garner & Hancock

University of West London

Hyatt Place Heathrow Airport

Beata Expressions

Branduin Business Support

Oasis Accountants

HSBC Bank Plc

Brunel University London

BBS - Brunel Hive

Hallmark Connections Ltd

HR Dept KD Wills Ltd

WSI Digital Advisors

Koffeeklatch

Tenner

Access Self Storage Ltd

The Pallets Yard Limited

Venture X

Kurdistan-Britain and Europe Business Council ( KBEBC)

Iraqi PavilionProgress Group

Blue Summit

Al Khayal

Costco

Holiday Inn

KFCCI

Diamond Geezer Productions

DQS

Work Hounslow

Lampton Leisure

Origin

Chargebox

KallKwik - Chiswick

Timeless IMS

Finpoint

Hounslow Council

West Thames College

Consolidated Logistics Services Ltd

Ajida

West London Chambers of Commerce

BD Training

Caidal Menzies LLP

Ingka Centres

AttendIT.net | RedRoutemaster.com

The Direct Co Group

Green Mopeds

IT expert Chris Gillie loves nothing more than solving problems whether it be a runaway mouse or a cyber attack

Chris Gillie has worked in IT for more than 25 years and joined the Chamber to provide IT support.

Starting his career at EuroTunnel, he now works as an independent IT professional managing the IT for three small to medium sized organisations.

He is also a resident of Brentford, highlighted in our Spotlight Focus Area this edition.

“I have lived in Brentford for about 15 years, and I am a live-in landlord of an HMO, renting out three rooms,” said Chris.

“I had lived in West London before, and this house was perfect. Priced as a three-bed, I knew it would make a four-bed once I’d taken a partition wall down. It was in my price range and had good parking.

“Over my time in Brentford, I have been the owner of WaveLogic, a small IT support company (now sadly closed), the IT Manager of Brentford School for Girls and IT manager of MapMechanics which was a map related technology firm in Brentford.”

It was in this last role that Chris met Chris Greenwood, now Chair of West London Chambers, who introduced him to Hounslow Chamber of Commerce about four years ago, to help them with IT support.

“When I first joined the Chamber to do their IT support, while visiting them on that first day, I noticed the labels on the icons on their screens suddenly change to gobbledygook and then see a ransom demand appear,” he said.

“It was a ransomware attack. I therefore had to wipe the machines, install everything from scratch and restore the data from backups.

“Although somewhat stressful, it helped me to get to know the team much faster than otherwise would have happened and brought forward the upgrades I would have had to do anyway, as their systems were a little out of date.”

Chris always knew that IT was the career for him and studied computing at university. “I enjoy solving problems for people,” said Chris.

“I think the funniest incident I have dealt with is a woman who thought she was being hacked because her mouse cursor kept moving on the screen. I asked

her when it had started and she said it was when she returned to her desk. I asked her where her mouse was as I could only see her laptop and she said it was in her blouse pocket. So, every time she moved, the mouse moved. She had put it in her pocket when she had moved her laptop to her desk.

“Everyone always thinks it’s marvellous what I do and thinks it’s really complicated, but to me it’s really simple. It gives me a lot of satisfaction.”

Sally Smith, COO of West London Chambers of Commerce, added: “Chris was incredibly calm and reassuring during the ransomware attack and continues to be an immense help to the Chambers.”

Everyone always thinks it’s marvellous what I do and thinks it’s really complicated, but to me it’s really simple. It gives me a lot of satisfaction.

Image by Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida from Pixabay

Technology changes quickly. Ensuring you have the right experts for your business Is costly. Finding and retaining them Is difficult In today’s market. Blue Summit can be your In-house experts. Our Managed Service solution provides you with experts In the IT field who understand your business and work to ensure your systems are driving your business. From Helpdesk to Virtual CIO, we will handle your IT needs.

solution they can call, message, WhatsApp and even Teams call with one number managed by the company. No more need for employees to use their own numbers or forward their calls. And all of these services are usually half the cost of your current phone system.

surprises. We then work to Implement that plan, ensuring the whole company Is on board and taking advantage of the efficiencies. Our goal Is to Improve process, reduce waste and utillze technology to drive business. Ask us today how we can help you.

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From custom application hosting to entire system outsourcing, Blue Summit can cover your hosting needs.

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Blue Summit takes a different approach to traditional IT Consulting as well. Our goal Is to always ensure your business has the right solutions and processes. That’s why we created the Virtual CIO role. Small and medium businesses need a CIO, without the cost of a full-time CIO. Our Virtual CIO will work with you to understand your business. The vCIO will then work to develop a five year technology plan to ensure you are ahead of the needs of your business, eliminating the last minute budget

Did you know we can recycle equipment in an environmentally friendly way for you for FREE? We will pick up any unwanted IT equipment, remove and destroy any hard drives and then either donate or recycle the equipment on your behalf. All for FREE. Need certified drive destruction? No problem. We will remove the drives, wipe them and then physically destroy them. We’ll provide you with a certificate of destruction along with an inventory of each drive.

How the Employee Ownership Trust Offers the Ideal Exit Strategy at ZERO Tax

The Latest Triumph for Employee Ownership

The initiative to introduce the EOT through Schedule 37 of Finance Act 2014 emerged from the Coalition Government as the single most significant triumph in the development of employee ownership since Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) and the Share Incentive Plan (SIP) were introduced by New Labour in 2000. Unlike EMI and the SIP, which deliver direct employee share ownership to individual employees, the EOT offers indirect employee share ownership. The unique feature of the EOT is that the sponsoring company’s shares are held in a discretionary trust as a collective arrangement for the long-term benefit of the company’s total workforce in stabilising the company’s ownership structure and securing its independence.

Although different in kind from EMI and the SIP, either of these two scheme arrangements can, if the company so chooses, operate alongside the EOT and offer direct employee share ownership to complement the collective ownership by the EOT.

Notably, the grant of EMI options to senior employees, properly implemented and communicated, can act as a motivational empowerment for executives, thereby ensuring that the shareholder succession is matched by a management succession that is so essential for a successful exit. Nevertheless, the EOT can operate without any accompanying taxadvantaged (tax-approved) employee share schemes, and still offer, courtesy of its own 2014 legislation, if the company so decrees, tax-free bonuses to its employees.

The Headline Capital Gains Tax Exemption: ZERO Tax Charge for the Selling Shareholders

Under Section 236M, TCGA 1992, the Controlling Interest Requirement secures a complete exemption from capital gains tax for the seller of the shares for the sale of the 51% (or more, up to 100%) controlling share interest to the EOT in a defined single tax year. This exemption is available for persons who are not companies.

Provided the statutory requirements are met, notably that the shares are in a trading company or the parent company of a trading group, then the capital gains tax exemption is available to an unlimited extent. The fact that the exemption is unlimited is a particularly attractive feature, even if the seller has access to Business Asset Disposal Relief, for the simple reason that the sale of shares to the EOT attracts zero capital gains tax on an unlimited amount of value.

The Income Tax Exemption for Qualifying Bonus Payments to Employees

Chapter 10A within Part 4 of ITEPA 2003, introduced as a new EOT insertion, is devoted to the rules for the tax-free status which accord to qualifying bonus payments to employees. The tax-free status is given as an exemption from income tax for up to £3,600 for each employee in any given tax year, operated for all employees on a same-terms basis.

Although it is the establishment of the EOT that provides the opportunity for the company to introduce qualifying bonus payments, it is the company that pays the qualifying bonus payments to the employees and not the EOT trustees.

The Deferred Consideration

The Sale and Purchase Agreement for the sale of the shares is between the existing shareholders and the EOT trustees acting on behalf of the EOT. Although the company is not a party to this agreement, it is the company that funds the EOT through an arrangement that must be non-binding in order to ensure that monies received by the EOT from the company are not subject to income tax.

The whole of the sale proceeds, linked to the whole company value, will be paid to the existing shareholders immediately following the sale if the EOT has the available funds, albeit supplied by the company. Alternatively, though, the sale proceeds may be paid as a series of deferred consideration payments over whatever time-period is manageable for the company to fund the EOT.

Given that the deferred consideration does not have to appear on the balance sheet, the creditworthy status of the company is protected in the eyes of the business community. This piecemeal payment profile is an appealing feature for a company that, at the actual date of the sale transaction, does not have the full amount of the available cash to fund the EOT.

The Growing Popularity

Since 2014, 1,030 companies have taken the EOT route to a company sale. The ownership by the EOT of the shares of the company in perpetuity stabilizes the independence of the company and reinforces the employees’ confidence of continuing employment. In a consultation on exit, as well as discussing the advantages of the EOT, discussion should also be given to the Employee Share Trust (“EST”) which allows a more gradual sale approach over several years. The capital gains tax rate for the sale of shares to the EST (as distinct from the EOT) is the Business Asset Disposal Relief rate of 10%.

David Craddock, M.A. (Oxon.) is a recognised authority in the UK and worldwide on employee share schemes and the author of Tolley’s Guide to Employee Share Schemes.

In this article, David identifies the role that the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) can fulfil in facilitating the ideal tax-efficient and cost-effective exit strategy as an alternative to a trade sale or an initial public offering.

Specialists in employee share schemes and reward management

David Craddock has been advising on employee share schemes and employee share trust arrangements for over 35 years. He advises on every aspect of the implementation process, working personally with the client at each stage, and offering solutions and expertise in all the technical questions that require clarification during the consultation.

If you are interested in speaking with David with a view to engaging his expert services for a NO OBLIGATION FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION in Employee Share Schemes, Share Valuations or for the delivery of seminars or courses, then please contact:

T: 01782 519925 • M: 07831 572615

E-mail: D.Craddock@dcconsultancyservices.com

Visit: www.davidcraddock.com

David Craddock is one of those rare people who has not only a first class grasp of legal and technical issues but also the ability to explain and advise on them in a practical way.

Russell Finex’s growth spurt leads to recruitment drive and building works

We don’t have external shareholders. It’s a very stable company and provides a stable working environment for all our employees. We have approaches by companies wanting to buy us on a regular basis but it’s of no interest to us.

A global firm with almost 90 years of history is expanding to accommodate its growth.

Russel Finex Ltd, established in 1934, is a global sieving and filtration specialist based in Feltham. They make a range of products from vibrating sieves and screeners to self-cleaning liquid filters and additive manufacturing powder handling solutions.

With its iconic Mo Farah mural on the side of the building, it is a well-known landmark in west London.

The manufacturing site has been based in Feltham since the early 1960s with its head office, previously in central London, relocating to the Feltham site in 1993. All manufacturing takes place on site in Feltham with 85% of its products being exported. The firm also has sales and marketing offices in the US, Belgium, China and India plus a small sales site in Brazil, which is in the early stages of development.

With a turnover of £45m, the firm’s success is rooted in its approach to recruiting and retaining employees through a profit-share bonus and a noncontributory final salary pension scheme, says managing director Ray Singh.

A qualified mechanical engineer, Ray started at Russell Finex when he was 22.

He started in an office sales role but with his university-level education, he soon climbed the ranks. When he was taken on, the company had just bought the European branch of an American company which made high-speed mixers and with his technical background, he was soon assigned to support this. He worked as sales manager, business development manager and sales and marketing director before he became managing director in February 2011.

Under his leadership, the firm’s turnover has risen from £17.6m in 2011, when he took the helm, to £45m.

The business’s growth has also meant that they have been able to buy additional units at Feltham and the famous mural is currently framed by scaffolding. They have an active development department which is constantly looking at product development and improvements to equipment.

“When I started as MD, there were 100 people working for us,” said Ray.

“Now we have more than 250 people and we are looking to recruit more.”

The new roles include: an advanced electrical technician, two welders/ fabricators (TIG), an internal sales engineer and a trainee shipping administrator.

Employees of the firm benefit from a competitive salary package, profit-share bonus and a non-contributory final salary pension scheme (after three years of employment).

“This makes us unique,” said Ray. “We don’t have external shareholders. It’s a very stable company and provides a stable working environment for all our employees. We have approaches by companies wanting to buy us on a regular basis but it’s of no interest to us.

“The company offers a profit share scheme and pays out a bonus at the end of the year.

“I think the structure is one of the main things that has made us so successful and has kept us ahead of our competitors, as well as our product development.”

They have been members of the Chamber since 2014.

“The Chamber is a great resource for businesses whatever their size,” he said. “Last year, we worked with the Chamber on mental health seminars.”

Working with the community is something Ray is keen for the business to continue doing. They teamed up with local cancer charity, The Mulberry Centre, to be their corporate partner last year and this year plus they support local food and clothes banks and St George’s Youth Club.

The company has won and been highly commended in several of the Chamber’s business awards including Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Hounslow Business Awards and Employer of the Year in both 2021 and 2022.

For full details of the positions available at Russell Finex, email: careers@russellfinex.com

HRUC Apprenticeships & Skills

West London’s Largest College Apprenticeship Provider

HRUC Apprenticeships & Skills

is an industry leading training provider in west London brought to you by Harrow, Richmond & Uxbridge Colleges (HRUC)

We offer an enhanced provision of high-quality apprenticeships in over 25 sectors and professional development courses with various flexible delivery modes, plus recruitment and training for employers.

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:

HRUC 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.hruc.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.hruc.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

HRUC 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.

Work with us - we are a trusted provider

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

• 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 1500 employers such as Brunel University London, London Borough of Ealing, Martin Baker Aircraft Limited and Skanska

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.hruc.ac.uk/employers, email employers@hcuc.ac.uk or call 01895 853780 today!

Why Brentford is a Great Place to Start and Grow a Business

Brentford might be best-known for its impressive glass-clad buildings and blue chip headquarters (and Brentford FC, of course). But with small business owners facing tough challenges in 2023, it takes more than curb appeal to give businesses the support they need to thrive.

Hounslow Council’s Innovate and Grow programme is one solution specially designed to help businesses tackle ongoing economic challenges. This newly launched initiative offers loans, mentoring, and the opportunity to gain fresh business skills.

But that’s not the only reason Brentford makes a great place for business.

At UBCUK we’ve been accommodating small businesses in our flexible workspace in Brentford since 2012, and we’ve seen plenty of positive change over the years. Now more than ever, entrepreneurs appreciate the opportunity to locate their business in an accessible location, with a healthy mix of business and lifestyle amenities on the doorstep.

Here are some key reasons why Brentford makes a great place to do business:

1. Heart of the Action: Brentford is a gateway to Central London and is highly accessible by road, rail and air. It’s based at the meeting point between the M4 and Great West Road (A4) and within 7 miles of Heathrow Airport. It has its own mainline station and is close to a number of underground stations including Boston Manor, Northfields and South Ealing.

2. A Business Powerhouse: Brentford is a powerhouse of innovation. The borough of Hounslow is home to around 18,000 businesses and was recently named London’s second fastest growing economy. A massive 95% of Hounslow’s business growth has been attributed to microenterprises (employing under 10 staff), and it’s also home to more than 15,000 independents.

3. Wellbeing and Balance: Brentford has plenty of green spaces for walking meetings or lunch

breaks. Our workspace at The Mille is a short walk from Boston Manor Park, leading to Boston Manor Playing Fields and Elthorne Park. Slightly further afield is Warren Farm Nature Reserve and the National Trust’s Osterley Park. A short drive south of The Mille is the vast Syon Park estate and the much-loved Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.

Testament to Brentford’s ability to help businesses thrive and grow, our workspace at The Mille is regularly close to full occupation – which goes to show just how much Brentford is considered a great place to start and grow a business.

Interested in joining Brentford’s business community? Take a look at ubcuk.com or pop into The Mille on Great West Road for a tour!

Rainbow Junction a powerful statement of visibility and inclusion

The idea was the brainchild of West London Queer Project (WLQP), who the Council have worked with over the past year during Pride 2022, and in the development of a new Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion strategy.

Aubrey Crawley, Founder of WLQP and a new member of West London Chambers of Commerce, said;

Unfortunately, homophobia and transphobia are on the rise and the harmful rhetoric coming from number 10 and the right-wing media is only fuelling the fire and creating further barriers for our community.

Since their release, I have been disappointed in some of the comments that have appeared on social media and unfortunately many people have completely misunderstood their meaning and purpose.

Rainbow

Junction a powerful statement of visibility and inclusion

Hounslow Council has installed a Rainbow Junction in Chiswick, consisting of four separate crossings in the colours of the progress pride flag.

Rainbow Junction, where Chiswick High Road meets Annandale Rd and Turnham Green Terrace, was revealed at the start of both LGBT+ History month and Football vs Homophobia month of action and is a vivid demonstration of the Council’s commitment to the rights of the borough’s LGBT+ community.

“Since moving to London in 1998, I have witnessed first-hand the decline of LGBTQ+ spaces and infrastructure in West London. WLQP Was born out of the desire to recreate what is missing and to connect, support and give voice to LGBTQ+ people living in West London.

Rainbow Junction is a powerful statement of visibility and inclusion, a beacon of hope and a reminder that things get better for anyone who is struggling with their gender or sexual identity.

LGBTQ+ youth have a far greater risk of dying by suicide and suffer a higher rate of suicidal thoughts and depression, and these rainbow crossings send out a powerful message that they are not alone and that they are a part of a loving and supportive community. Visibility encourages acceptance

One of the other aims of the crossings is to inspire meaningful discussion about equality, diversity and inclusion however, and unfortunately the surprising level of negativity on social media is a stark reminder of the homophobia, bigotry and ignorance that continue to exist. We still have so much work to do.

Rainbow Junction demonstrates our commitment to challenging that type of harmful prejudice and I hope you can join me in embracing their positive meaning.

We all deserve to be happy, to feel safe and to live our lives authentically.

Entrepreneur Denise assists clients to flourish financially

How Coworking Could Soften Hounslow’s Cost of Living Crisis

Hybrid and home-based work has become the norm for many workers. But as the energy crisis bites, workers are faced with a dilemma: is it actually cheaper to work in a company office this winter?

The pivotal moment in Denise’s career change from a senior role with software giant Oracle came from the most surprising of places.

With a business development, marketing and partnering background, Denise took a sabbatical in 2014, and volunteered on an organic model farm in Southern India.

Raisa, like many business owners, had myriads of workrelated plans and projects spinning around in her head. Facilitating a one-page SWOT analysis for her was a defining moment for them both.

Roll forward eight years and Denise specialises in working with entrepreneurial business owners - from West London Chamber members through to RHS award-winning Garden Designers - who struggle getting a flow of the right clients to be able to flourish financially.

Given our ‘cost of living crisis’, building what Denise calls a ‘Know, like, trust’ dynamic with your sweet spot clients, is imperative regardless of the

economic landscape. That’s to say, really understand who the clients are you love to work with. Work out where they ‘hang out’ and get to know them, building rapport and trust. Networking is just one way to achieve that.

The visual twist?

In our short-attention span world with an overload of ‘stuff’ coming at us, cutting through this ‘noise’ has never been more important. Images, being the fastest way to communicate, are a much under used way to achieve this.

For this reason, to double a client’s impact and success, once key messages are defined, Denise also advises how best to achieve this visually.

Denise also hosts SME Force for Good each last Friday of the month by Zoom. With a 10-minute expert speaker talk and friendly networking, it’s the best start to the last day of the working week.

https://bit.ly/regsme

denise@insightfulcollective.co.uk

Research by Uswitch estimates that people working full-time from home over the cooler months will increase their daily gas use by 75%. Working from home full-time also uses approximately 25% more electricity, as workers prepare meals and hot drinks, run computers, and charge mobile devices.

This comes as heating and electricity costs are surging during the energy crisis.

For those who don’t have an expensive commute, it may actually be cheaper to use a flexible coworking space this winter.

UBC, which operates a flexible office and coworking location in Brentford, offers coworking credits and anytime day passes starting from just £25 per day. This becomes much cheaper when buying credits in bulk, or choosing a monthly membership. A monthly coworking membership at The Mille in Bretford costs £249 per month, the equivalent of approximately £12.45 per day (based on 20 working days per month).

This includes:

• Full-time access during business hours to a dedicated desk with lockable storage in a spacious office, shared with other professionals.

• A comfortable work environment with high-speed Internet connectivity, ergonomic furniture, kitchen facilities, and all utility costs included.

• Use of the building address with mail handling, and receptionist services including call answering.

Contact Leon Swan

Email: brentford@ubcuk.com

Tel: 0800 169 9822

www.ubcuk.com/coworking

• Access to meeting rooms at discounted rates.

• 12 months’ business growth support with free Membership to Enterprise Nation.

Aside from saving money on heating and energy costs, coworking enables workers and entrepreneurs to enjoy better work-life separation. Working at home can be incredibly distracting, which damages productivity and even family relationships. On the flip side, it can be isolating for those who live and work alone.

Coworking provides a comfortable but professional environment, with networking opportunities along with onsite business and community events.

UBC’s Brentford coworking space is located at The Mille on Great West Road (A4) near the M4. It has easy access to public transport via Brentford and Boston Manor stations and a frequent bus service.

Why not take a closer look?

Take a 3D video tour or pop in for a visit. We’ll happily give you a free coworking day pass to try it out for yourself!

Now, flexible workspace solutions at UBC are even more cost effective. See UBC website for all current offers www.ubcuk.com/offers.

Denise Quinlan, founder of The Insightful Collective, is a West London Chambers and Business, celebrated and award-winning business coach, with a visual twist.

From supplying wire to Italian inventor Marconi to ensuring the Thunderbirds Are Go, Ormiston Wire has a long and interesting 230-year history. Sixth generation MARK ORMISTON talks about how Ormiston was streets ahead of the environmental game and reflects on the rich history of the business.

both in the UK and through exporting

“After the recession of 1989/1990 hit, the company started looking at ways

marine industry, and they have been manufacturing wire turbulators used for heat exchangers since 1968 and have developed their own loopedspiral design.

Keeping the staff happy in their work is what Mark says is the company’s secret to success.

The firm has seen several changes to working conditions in recent years, for example, moving to a four-day week by closing Fridays and closing shop at 3pm Monday to Thursday.

“The staff are really happy with a four-day week, we have done it for three years now,” added Mark.

“We have a happy team, you have to enjoy going to work, you spend enough time there.

“One of the guys who works for us has worked here for 59 years. It’s important to us to keep our staff and keep them happy. That’s our secret. You have got to look after your staff and make sure they’re happy, pay them well and give them a life. That’s our philosophy which I learnt from my father.”

Every time the company has hit hard times, they have bounced back showing a steely resilience as strong as the wire they supply.

During the Cold War, 50% of income was supplying wire to the Defence industry whereas now it is the retail sector that benefits from the specialist wire Ormiston produces.

Over the years, the company has supplied wire to support the popular puppets, Thunderbirds, for the television industry and 18 miles of stainless steel wire strand for the rowing course at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

“Things move on,” said Mark. “We have moved into supplying wire for retail units, suspended lighting in warehouses and art installations.”

As well as Mark at the helm, other members of the Ormiston family are involved in the business. His stepdaughter Karley Ormiston works in sales, Karley’s mother Pauline Ormiston is the company secretary and other family members are shareholders.

our products out. Now we only empty

Mark, whose work experience prior to taking the helm at Ormiston Wire included being a member of the Territorial Army which gave him insights which he wouldn’t otherwise have gained, working in a factory in Sussex and gaining hands-on experience at a textile mill in Austria, said he looks beyond certificates and education when he takes on staff.

“I dropped out of college,” he said. “I believe in giving someone a job and see what they can do and that they can learn the job, they do not necessarily need certificates.

“In my father’s day, in the 1950s, we had 88 employees, we now have nine. This is the way British manufacturing has shrunk over the years. In 1950, 50% of employment in London was in manufacturing.”

Mark has had the tale of supplying Guglielmo Marconi passed down to him through the generations. He said: “My grandfather’s brother said make sure that Marconi pays before you give him any wire!”

The wire sold to Marconi was used for his experimental wireless telegraphy. He is known for creating a practical radio wave-based wireless telegraph system.

And Mark’s grandmother, Dorothy Ormiston, ran the business throughout the Second World War as all the men had been called up to fight.

“She was a formidable woman by all accounts,” said Mark. “She died before I was born but I’ve heard all about her.”

Ormiston Wire manufactures a range of different types of wire e.g. strands, braids, bunches, for a wealth of uses. superclamps, used particularly in the

“But we’re still in the game,” added Mark. “We have big expensive machinery, and we still make specialist wire for the UK and export worldwide.”

The recession in the 1980s led to their factory in West Ealing being sold and the smaller more efficient factory being purchased in Isleworth. The company’s manufacturing facilities are now in Isleworth and Redditch in the Midlands.

Over the last few years, the company has, like countless others, had to ride the storm of both a global pandemic and Brexit but still has an annual turnover of £1.5 million and is looking to continue its success in future generations.

Ormiston Wire is a supportive member of West London Chambers and has spoken at a number of Chamber sustainability seminars.

As a specialist wire manufacturer and supplier, we are frequently called upon to provide solutions for what could be considered unconventional applications. But if wire is the answer, we can usually supply it.

We are not only a source of wire but also a source of expertise. We have worked with the special effects departments of many film and TV production companies. So if you have ever wondered what really makes ‘Thunderbirds Go’, it’s often Ormiston wire!

Our wire ropes are used to tether goats and other animals, so the space they have to roam is not too free range. We even supply wire to prevent moss growing on roofs. For us, no specification is too large, too small, or too unlikely.

Hybrid flexible working is needed to rebuild our economy

The new hybrid working guidance from the Flexible Working Taskforce has been welcomed by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC). As part of its involvement in the Flexible Working Taskforce, the CIPD has jointly produced practical guidance to support effective hybrid working.

The guidance focuses on people management; recruitment and induction; inclusion and fairness; and health, safety and wellbeing. It looks at providing training to managers on how to manage hybrid teams effectively, reviewing HR processes, keeping any hybrid working policies and principles under ongoing review – including the impact on workers with protected characteristics.

Commenting on the new guidance from the Flexible Working Taskforce, Jane Gratton, BCC head of people policy, said: “Many businesses have experienced the benefits of staff working from home over the past 18 months and our research indicates three quarters of employers will continue to offer hybrid working going forward.

“This new guidance will help all employers to confidently implement and roll out hybrid working in a way that is fair and accessible to their workforce.

“Flexible working makes good business sense and is increasingly becoming a standard part of staff benefit packages. While remote working may not be practical for all job types, the wide range of other flexible working options that firms can consider opens the doors to new talent to fuel growth and rebuild our economy.”

Celebrating a win for #Flexfrom1st campaign

The CIPD’s #Flexfrom1st campaign aimed to make access to flexible working arrangements more equal.

They encouraged employers to support flexible working

for all and the right to request flexible working from day one of employment - current UK law states employees can only request to work flexibly after 26 weeks of employment, with a limit of one request per 12 months.

While the COVID-19 pandemic saw huge increases in remote working, CIPD research found that 46% of UK employees did not have access to any form of flexible working in their current role, despite many different types of flexible working arrangements available. Those without access to flexible working are around twice as likely to be dissatisfied in their job, compared to those who do.

CIPD research also clearly identified the benefits of flexible working arrangements for employers and employees, from improved wellbeing

and work–life balance to greater engagement and job performance.

On Thursday 23rd September, the Government published a consultation on making the right to request flexible working a day one right for all employees. The CIPD welcomed the consultation and responded positively to the proposed change in legislation.

CIPD surveyed over 1,000 senior HR/decision-makers and found 57% were in favour of a day one right to request flexible working.

The result of this consultation has concluded in the UK Government pledging to change the policy, enabling employees to make flexible working request from day one of their employment (law date change TBC).

West London Chambers, has adopted the hybrid working model. The team became adept at working from home during the pandemic, setting up designated space for our workstations. When we were able to return to the office, the consensus was that we would go into the office for face-to-face meetings, project work etc. We find the new style of working is far more productive, we keep in touch via weekly Zoom meetings and daily phone calls, where the plans for the week/months ahead can be talked through.

Sally Smith, COO, West London Chambers of Commerce

Hounslow small business advertising competition winner unveiled

The winner of the new Advance for Growth competition, launched by Hounslow Council, JCDecaux and West London Chambers of Commerce in September has been revealed.

The winner, Hang, based in the new Hounslow High Street Quarter development, was unveiled at the annual Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, and have won the amazing opportunity to have their business seen by residents and visitors across the borough.

Hang will receive access to the Council’s and JCDecaux’s Out-of-Home advertising estate for a whole calendar year, as well as tailored business support from the Council and the Chamber. The competition’s runners-up – Hearing Well and CBA Rope Access Ltd– will receive access to business mentoring from the Council and a year’s free subscription to the West London Chambers of Commerce.

Jon Partridge, Managing Director of Hang said:

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us and we are so excited to share our love for climbing with the rest of the borough. Advance for Growth will help supercharge our plans as a business, bringing our brand to people when they are out and about in the borough. We are proud to be born in Hounslow and one of the very first commercial tenants at the prestigious new High Street Quarter development.

“Climbing is a fantastic way to keep on top of your physical and mental wellbeing. We have a range of options available whether you are an experienced climber or total beginner, every is welcome.

“We know times are tough at the moment, so we are proud to offer a wide range of discounts to help as many local people as possible experience the joys and benefits of hanging around.”

Hang, is a start-up launched by three friends who met and forged a friendship through a mutual love of climbing, opened its doors last year. The state-ofthe-art, indoor bouldering centre (a type of climbing without ropes, over a giant crash pad), includes a shop, café, and co-working space to combine a challenging physical workout with a fun, social environment.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Shantanu Rajawat said:

“We received some fantastic entries from a diverse mix of businesses so picking a winner was very difficult, I want to thank every business that took the time to enter. Our winners Hang have an exciting offer for residents that complements our plans to transform our high streets into places where you don’t just shop, but where you can also spend your leisure time.

“Hounslow is proud of the many businesses that call our borough their home, and the Chamber’s annual business awards provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the invaluable contribution they have made to both Hounslow and London’s economy.”

Chris Collins, CO-CEO JCDecaux UK said:

“We’re delighted to have worked closely with Hounslow Council and West London Chambers of Commerce on this exciting competition. We are thrilled to work alongside Hang to help them use the power of the public screen to take their business to the next level, harnessing Out-ofHome’s ability to build brands, create fame and drive business results.”

Sally Smith, COO, Hounslow Chamber of Commerce

said:

“Congratulations to Hang! What an exciting new company, located in Hounslow town centre, bringing such benefits to our youth and bouldering fans. This mixed use is what our High Streets need.

“We are very much enjoying working with Hang, especially spotting their eye-catching advertisement, which is currently showing across the borough. I hope you will agree that the front cover of this magazine is inspiring also. We have really enjoyed working with JCDecaux and the Council on Advance for Growth and hope it will continue next year.”

Fair pay and youth employment at the heart of Hounslow’s growth

Fair pay for Hounslow residents

The London Living Wage is based on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s methodology for calculating a minimum required income and is considered the minimum income for healthy living. In London, it currently stands at £11.95 which is around 70% of the average London wage, and 25.8% more than the Government’s National Living Wage of £9.50.

London Living Wage accredited and the Council is rolling up its sleeves to increase this number. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t many more businesses in Hounslow paying the London Living Wage. They just haven’t taken the steps to becoming accredited and realised the benefits yet.

To

You can become an accredited employer through the Living Wage Foundation by agreeing to pay both your directly employed staff and contracted staff at least the London Living Wage.

and employers continue to be central to the Council’s ongoing development and economic success, but numbers say that things can get much brighter and prosperity can be shared with local people.

According to data from the Living Wage Foundation,

less than the London Living Wage in 2021 with 29.5% and 29% respectively. By contrast, Kensington and Chelsea and Richmond upon Thames saw only 10.5% and 11% of residents’ jobs classified as low paid.

Our interactive information sessions take place once Register onto an information session to find out your

one of our advisors. Email skillsescalator@hounslow.gov.uk or call 07790359392.

Mapping the data

In London, there are currently 3,166 accredited businesses, representing just 0.1% of all companies based in the Greater London region.

64% OF BUSINESSES SAY THE LIVING WAGE HAS HELPED DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES FROM OTHERS IN THEIR INDUSTRY 75% OF BUSINESSES SAY THE LIVING WAGE HAS INCREASED MOTIVATION AND RETENTION RATES FOR EMPLOYEES 86% OF BUSINESSES SAY THE LIVING WAGE HAS IMPROVED THE REPUTATION OF THEIR BUSINESS 93% OF BUSINESSES SAY THE LIVING WAGE HAS BENEFITED THEIR BUSINESS NOT JUST GOOD FOR PEOPLE, GOOD FOR BUSINESS #LIVINGWAGE

In 2019, Hounslow was London’s second fastest growing economy with over £13bn of GVA a year, with the borough’s future economy set to be driven by innovation, technology and creativity. Businesses

Visit the website to register onto an information session:

In Hounslow, there are only 32 businesses that are currently

Hounslow has the 5th highest proportion of residents’ jobs being paid less than the London Living Wage. Of all London boroughs, Brent and Enfield saw the highest proportions of residents’ jobs being paid

Like all areas, Hounslow’s economy has experienced dramatic changes over the last three years – owing to the pandemic, Brexit and the cost-of-living crisis. With inflationary pressure, real wages have declined. This has disproportionately impacted those who work in lower-paid sectors, over half of whom are already in ‘financial trouble’ or ‘only able to manage’. Income, along with the cost of essential outgoings and financial resilience, is one of the main factors that contribute to whether an individual is able to cope with high inflation (Institute of Health Equity, Marmot Review for Industry Business, January 2023).

most. The number of 16-24 year olds out of work and claiming Universal Credit in Hounslow is a third higher than before the pandemic. Not only that but young people are staying on it for longer - with over two in three (68%) remaining on Universal Credit for less than a year in January 2018, compared to just one in three (38%) in March 2022.

Silvia del Corso from pinkCEO says:

“Getting accredited by the London Living Wage Foundation really stands you apart from other businesses in your sector. The accreditation gives a level of legitimacy to your business”.

Gautam Ladva from Ajar Technology says:

Future impacts

work, come along out more.

We hear Hounslow businesses want to stand out from the crowd, improving their economic resilience. To do so, all employers should have access to a talented and diverse group of local and young employees, in relation to the growing proportion of young unemployment.

advisors.

As an organisation operating in Hounslow, employing young people is a productive and effective way to develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. By doing so, employers can differentiate themselves from others in the industry, support the local economy, increase motivation and staff retention, and ensure that young people in Hounslow have every opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. Along with boosting youth employment, Work Hounslow want to support employers to pay the London Living Wage and be part of a network of accredited LLW businesses, enabling employers to benefit from the accreditation and employees to cope with the cost of living crisis. The more accredited businesses in Hounslow, the closer we come to realising our ambition to become a Living Wage borough.

“The tech sector is an expensive industry, so being London Living Wage accredited really just gives us that competitive edge” .

An alliance of prominent employers could make Hounslow a Living Wage borough, a worthy recognition for areas doing more to encourage fair pay. This would provide an ongoing network and resource for all employers in the area, as well as a potential template for other businesses to follow, and build on.

Share your experience

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

Work Hounslow, Hounslow’s Skills and Employment Team, are examining the immediate barriers local organisations may face, and exploring the wider benefits a fair pay approach can bring to workers of all ages.

To help with this, Hounslowbased businesses are invited to complete a short survey and come along to the Hounslow Festival of Business to learn more. Please take a moment to fill out this survey using the QR code below. surveymonkey.co.uk/r/

Quotes from Hounslow’s accredited businesses:

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Your Chamber is also a London Living Wage employer.

Brentford (Really) is Brilliant

The town built on two rivers and a canal

where business is always evolving

and eight years later bit by bit that transformation is really taking shape.

& Osier Court Regeneration scheme to move on to, so enabling that regeneration to commence.

In the summer of 2015, there was a party on Market Square in Brentford town centre to celebrate the square’s completed refurbishment. Bands played and locals made merry on haybales by the newly installed water fountains. Tote bags emblazoned with ‘Brentford is Brilliant’ matched the iconic neon signs on lamp columns in the High Street.

Brentford’s brilliance is built on an industrial waterside heritage forged in its docks where the Grand Union Canal and River Brent meets the

Thames. Different industries came to the fore in the 20th century with the emergence of big businesses on the ‘Golden Mile’ like Firestone Tyres and Gillette – multinationals hitting on Brentford’s ideal positioning between Heathrow and the City.

Like all towns, Brentford has evolved and back in 2015, ambitious plans were being put in place to transform the town centre. Developer Ballymore’s vision in partnership with the Local Authority – The Brentford Project – was to reconnect Brentford to its riverside roots,

New homes – 876 in total – are naturally at the heart of the development, but the 4.79 hectare site will also contain 14,000 square metres of new retail, leisure and commercial property. New businesses are set to open their doors at The Brentford Project this autumn, culminating in the promise of an “extensive, thriving mix of dining, entertaining and shopping amenities; public spaces including a Waterfront Square as a dedicated space for outdoor markets, performance and public events”.

Hounslow Council’s section of the Brentford Project is nearing completion. Block D, as it is known, comprises 96 one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom flats and 12 new commercial units. The retail units are designed for local retailers which will complement Ballymore’s commercial offer. Block D homes will provide a local decanting opportunity to enable the residents at the Charlton and Albany House

Miranda Lee, sales executive of Marthe Armitage Prints, said:

The regeneration for Charlton House, Albany House, and Osier Court will provide 209 new residential dwellings with associated landscape, amenity, and public realm, alongside a local neighbourhood centre comprising of 1,190 square metres of commercial floorspace at ground floor. The architectural approach for this commercial floorspace reflects the ambition for flexibility, with a design to meet the requirements of a range of potential commercial users, including food retail, space for community activities or artists’ studios. While this flexibility will serve the specific requirements of future occupiers, foremost it is there to meet the day-to-day needs of the local community.

With Brentford’s businesses continuing to build on the rich heritage of the past, if they were saying Brentford is Brilliant in 2015, what will they be saying in 2025?

West London is where Marthe has spent the majority of her life and where the inspiration behind much of her artistic work has come from, so it was important for the team to move somewhere that was local to the company’s roots - and to the history and heritage of the original designs. There was also, of course, the factor of moving the extraordinarily heavy printing press, so the fewer miles the better!”

“

Brentford is Brilliant campaign founder Julia Quilliam of Brentford estate agent www.quilliam.co.uk. Julia was awarded a British Empire Medal for contributions to Brentford in 1999

Photo by @gwen_shabka

Sam’s Larder

Sam Harrison is the owner of Sam’s Larder Brentford, which opened in November, and a new restaurant, Sam’s Waterside, which is due to open as part of the Ballymore Project in August.

“It’s an exciting time in Brentford,” said Sam, who also has a restaurant, Sam’s Riverside, next to Hammersmith Bridge, and two other Sam’s Larders in Chiswick and Hammersmith.

“We are in Phase One of the opening offering coffee and pastries and will be fully open as a fully functioning Sam’s Larder by spring. At the moment, it is a shared space with Ballymore, the project developer.

“I feel really good about recruitment in the area. Hospitality is still having a really tough time with recruitment generally, but a lot of my team will live in Brentford; there’s a lot of the younger demographic here.”

Sam said his business is very much West London based and he picked Brentford as his new site for both a Sam’s Larder and his new restaurant because of its proximity to the Thames, the positive development of the area and the juxtaposition of old and new buildings.

“The Ballymore development of 900 new apartments is exciting for the area, but there is much more to Brentford than the project,” said Sam.

“For me, as a local resident, it’s a mixed demographic, mixed ages. It has so much history. For many, it’s an undiscovered gem.”

Marthe Armitage Prints

Marthe Armitage Prints is an artisanal design company, producing exclusive, hand-printed wallpapers and coordinating screen-printed fabrics from handmade linocuts.

Last year, they moved from their previous and long-standing base in Chiswick to a new studio and showroom in the Brentford Lock West development on Commerce Road.

Miranda Lee, sales executive of Marthe Armitage Prints, said: “West London is where Marthe has spent the majority of her life and where the inspiration behind much of her artistic work has come from, so it was important for the team to move somewhere that was local to the company’s roots - and to the history and heritage of the original designs. There was also, of course, the factor of moving the extraordinarily heavy printing press, so the fewer miles the better!”

Viewing Brentford as a “remarkably cultural and artistic London hub”, the business knew it was the right site.

“As a small artisanal company, we wanted to find a spot that had just the right blend of urban busyness and community spirit, and felt Brentford was just the place,” said Miranda.

“A number of new developments underway, it’s not only a lovely place to work and be inspired, but also an exciting place to establish ourselves for the future.

“The Brentford Project, now well underway in terms of construction, has been on our radar for a few years now and was a key factor in our choice to move to the area. Set to attract a whole wealth of new businesses to the areawith a particular focus on emerging and independent retailers - we’re excited to be a part of this growing community and the regeneration that the Brentford Project will no doubt bring.

“We’ve also been made aware of another exciting new development - The Makers Yard - currently in the planning application phase. Should the development come to fruition, and with it the goal to attract crafts and artisanal brands to its studio spaces, we will welcome the presence of fellow creative players just down the road from us, as well as any future collaborations that may arise as a result.”

For more information contact hounslow.gov.uk/regen-brentford

Sam Harrison is the owner of Sam’s Larder Brentford,

said: “

It’s an exciting time in Brentford,” said Sam, who also has a restaurant, Sam’s Riverside, next to Hammersmith Bridge, and two other Sam’s Larders in Chiswick and Hammersmith.”

NOVOTEL LONDON BRENTFORD joins West London Chambers of Commerce

Novotel London Brentford Hotel is proud to become a new member of the chamber.

Our contemporary West London hotel lies less than 8 miles east of Heathrow Airport, and the centre of London is easily accessible by rail (Brentford Station) or via the Elizabeth Line (Ealing Broadway) as well as by tube (South Ealing Station).

Visit our Gourmet Bar & Restaurant which offers traditional and modern dining throughout the day. Our 4-star Hotel boast 202 modern bedrooms, seven fully-equipped meeting rooms

10% OFF for Chamber Members booking venue hire for 2023

Special code LTB12 to be mentioned at time of booking. (Offer closes 31st March 2023)

catering for up to 60 guests, an indoor heated pool, a saunarium and fitness centre, plus complimentary Wi-Fi throughout.

Family-Friendly Novotel London Brentford is just a short drive from the beauty of Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, the historic avenues of Richmond and the roar of Twickenham Stadium. Home of Brentford FC is Brentford Community Stadium, a 15 minute walk from the hotel.

Hotel that makes every moment matter

Novotel London Brentford

Great West Road, Brentford. TW8 0GP

T:+44 20 7660 2230 E: H6995@accor.com www.novotel.com

https://all.accor.com/hotel/6995/index.en.shtml

WESTLINK HOUSE Serviced Offices

Westlink House - 981 Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 9DN

•

This space is an iconic art deco property offering good communications and transport accessibility with extensive frontage to the A4 Great West Road known as The Golden Mile. The space boasts raised access floors, air conditioning, good natural light and onsite parking facilities. The centre offers tailor-made office space to suit your exact requirements with very competitive prices on flexible terms, from monthly licence agreements with all-inclusive rates to 5+ year leases. Whether you require large open plan layouts or partitioned smaller suites this centre can accommodate you. Break-out, meeting and conference rooms are available for larger meetings, presentations, conferences or training session. The business centre is located on the south side of the A4 Great West

Road, halfway between Syon Lane and Boston Manor Road. Approximately 1.8 miles to the east the property of the Chiswick Roundabout, which is a major West London road interchange connecting the South Circular (A205), the North Circular Road (A406), A4 Great West Road and Junction 2 of the M4 motorway, giving you great access to London and beyond. Brentford railway station and Syon Lane railway station are reachable in under five minutes’ walk. Boston Manor Underground station (Piccadilly line) is the nearest being approximately 15-20 minutes’ walk. The H91 bus route is from West Cross Way and stops directly outside the centre, making your daily commute that little bit easier. The space is also surrounded by plenty of local shops, restaurants and cafes.

To arrange a viewing or for more information, please contact:

Tel: 020 3582 0192|Email: nadia@lrpltd.com | www.lrpltd.com

The next chapter in Cavalry Barracks’ rich story is about to begin

Inland Homes, working in close consultation with the London Borough of Hounslow and the local community, is delighted to announce it has received a resolution to grant planning permission for a mixed-use development at Cavalry Barracks.

The major redevelopment of the former Ministry of Defence site will unlock Hounslow West’s potential to build a vibrant community that includes 1,525 new homes, as well as commercial space and more than 10 acres of open space.

The new masterplan focuses on creating highquality homes in a sustainable environment that

celebrates the site’s history and supports the ongoing regeneration of the area. Alongside much-needed homes to suit a wide range of residents, the redevelopment will bring 2,700 square metres of commercial space for shops, cafes, workspace and community uses. Sports pitches, play areas and green open space will be created for the whole community benefit, including the revival of the old parade ground as a new public park twice the size of Trafalgar Square.

Inland Homes is proud to be playing a key role in unlocking the potential this unique site presents.

Find out more at cavalrybarracksconsultation.co.uk

CAVALRY BARRACKS

The Arts Council England have awarded Gunnersbury the status of National Portfolio Organisation.

We are delighted to announce that Chamber member Gunnersbury Park Museum will become a National Portfolio Organisation, becoming the first such organisation in Ealing and one of three in Hounslow.

National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs), are chosen by the Arts Council England based on their ability to deliver ACE’s ‘let’s create’ strategy and engage communities and individuals in arts, culture, and heritage. Gunnersbury will receive £129,500 per year for the next three years. The funding from Arts Council will enable us to build on the amazing work that was made possible through our previous National Lottery Heritage Fund project, taking the museum service from strength to strength

Our inspirational schools programme will benefit from the funding, as we look to expand to include more outreach, enhanced digital learning and start a heritage careers-focussed programme for secondary schools. Focusing on further development, we will create a Community Cultural Champions programme, which will provide training and skills development for local people. We will further deliver an exciting and regularly changing exhibition programme, across both the museum and the park, as well as online and out in the wider community. The programme will celebrate the Creative Industries in Ealing and Hounslow – past, present, and future - including well known sites such as the iconic Isleworth and Ealing Studios.

As the local museum for Ealing and Hounslow, continuing to represent our community is key. We will work in partnership with our communities to collect new objects and archive material of relevance to local people. These materials will form the centre of cocurated displays in our permanent

galleries. We will also be engaging with our local Creative Enterprise Zones to collect new material and work with our contemporary creative industries to create new displays throughout the museum and showcase local talent through exciting programming.

David Babington Smith, chair of the Directors at Gunnersbury Estate (2026) CIC, said: “This is excellent news for Gunnersbury, and for West London, as only the second organisation to receive NPO status in the area. We are very grateful to the Arts Council for this significant grant towards our learning and museum services, which will allow us to bring more arts, culture, and heritage engagement opportunities to the residents of Ealing and Hounslow.”

Ellie Lewis-Nunes, Heritage & Communities Manager at Gunnersbury Estate (2026) CIC, said: “We’re delighted to have received this investment from the Arts Council England. As the museum for both Ealing and Hounslow we are thrilled to be able to engage even wider audiences with a high quality cultural offer.”

Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Parking, Parks and Leisure, Councillor Salman Shaheen, said: “Hounslow has some of the leading parks and green spaces in London, and I’m delighted that Gunnersbury Park has been recognised by the Arts Council as a National Portfolio Organisation. By becoming a National Portfolio Organisation, Gunnersbury becomes the second organisation in West London to be

recognised by the Arts Council, following Brentford’s Waterman’s Park. Gunnersbury has been rightly praised for its ability to engage communities with compelling arts and culture, and NPO recognition is testament to all the hard work by Gunnersbury, the Council, and its partners.

Core funding provided by the Arts Council ensures that the Park can work with the Hounslow and Ealing communities to deliver a best-in-class schools and exhibition programme, and manage the necessary staffing and resourcing requirements. We encourage visitors and residents alike to discover all that Gunnersbury Park & Museum has to offer, all year round.”

Jan De Schynkel, Arts and Culture Manager, Ealing Council said “Up until recently Ealing was one of the very few London boroughs without an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisations (NPO). Therefore, one of ourstrategic priorities was to support aspiring Ealing-based organisations to become an ACE NPO and/or attract outside NPOs to be based in Ealing. We are delighted with the news that Gunnersbury Park Museum will receive core support for the next 3 years as a new NPO. This is well-deserved and recognises Gunnersbury’s hard work of trying to engage meaningfully with people and places. This will build capacity to deliver transformational programmes and exhibitions that are vital and relevant for our diverse communities.”

Arts Council England Chair, Sir Nicholas Serota, said: “As well as continuing our commitment to our many established and renowned cultural organisations, I am deeply proud of the support we will be giving to those new organisations which will help ignite creativity across the country. We are facing economic pressures at present but this funding is about an investment in our future. This portfolio will support the next generation of visionary inventors, makers, performers and artists. In particular, the growth of our funding for organisations that support and develop work for children represents a profoundly important long-term investment in our country’s talent.”

Arts Council England Chief Executive, Darren Henley, said: “Together, each of the 990 organisations that have been offered funding will contribute to a portfolio that is rich, varied and truly national. This is our widest ever spread of investment across the country, ensuring that many more people will have access to a wider choice of exceptional art, culture, and creative opportunities on their doorsteps. We are in tough times, but we must remember creativity brings with its extraordinary dividends, boosting our country’s economic growth, creating jobs, bringing communities closer together, and making us happier as individuals. Everyone deserves to enjoy the benefits it brings, and with this investment, we believe we’ve taken a decisive step towards making that vision a reality.”

West London Chambers Member, Marketing Entrepreneur Named One of 2023’s Most Inspiring Female Founders

Silvia Del Corso, who founded PinkSEO in 2016 in West London is being profiled alongside 100 female entrepreneurs from across the country, as part of the campaign to celebrate the multi-achievements of women running businesses in the UK today.

The f:Entrepreneur campaign was launched in 2017 to raise greater awareness of the impact of incredible female business owners across the country, and help provide inspiration and role models to the wider small business community. Delivered by Small Business Britain – the leading champion of small businesses in the UK - the campaign offers a host of events, training, and networking opportunities to boost skills, capability, and confidence.

The f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ line-up particularly sets out to showcase trailblazing female founders who lead purpose-driven businesses alongside a roster of other responsibilities, such as volunteering, mentoring and community support.

Indeed, Silvia Del Corso was also nominated finalist for the WLBA 2023, West London Business Awards in the category Creative/ Media Business of the Year.

On being featured in the #ialso100 lineup, Silvia said:

“I am immensely proud and grateful of having been featured in this list of the 100 most inspiring female entrepreneurs in the UK.

Having relocated from Italy to London in 2016, relaunching my small business in a new Country

was in some ways a leap of faith. Particularly as a female entrepreneur in tech, and in a usually male-dominated industry as SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is, I strongly wanted to brand the business as female-led, hence the name PinkSEO, although we have clients in any industry and gender.

Running a small business has been an exciting challenge, despite the difficulties us entrepreneurs had to face with the pandemic first and the cost-of-living crisis next.

I am grateful for the support and resources provided by the West London Chambers, including access to networking events, opportunities to speak about my expertise at online events, training and support via numerous events, and being a finalist in the Business Awards of West London Chambers in 2021. Thanks to this support, we have grown quickly, expanding our team up to the 6 members (all UK-based) we have at the moment, without ever compromising on the one-to-one tailored attention to our clients that is so important for us.

I’m also proud to highlight how we have always remained a pureplay SEO agency: among so many generalist marketing agencies, we are committed to only focus on the Search Engine Optimisation branch of activities, in order to be able to offer to our clients the most advanced and in-depth approach and results”.

From adaptive fashion designers to female-run private security companies, social enterprise leaders and ethical product manufactures, this year’s

f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ campaign celebrates inspiring and resilient female entrepreneurs that have flourished despite the challenges of the past years, with many still growing or starting new ventures. Many of the businesses featured in this year’s campaign also demonstrate a huge commitment to championing diversity and inclusion, as well as promoting sustainability.

Both f:Entrepreneur and Small Business Britain were founded by Michelle Ovens CBE, who is also the director of Small Business Saturday UK.

“Congratulations to Silvia Del Corso, and each of the talented female entrepreneurs featured in this year’s #ialso100,” said Michelle Ovens.

“It is so vital that we recognize and celebrate the phenomenal contribution that women running businesses are making across the UK, and the far-reaching, positive impact they are having, not just on the economy, but on wider communities too. The last few years have been hugely challenging for small businesses, yet despite this female entrepreneurship continues to grow and flourish in the UK and is very much at the heart of the UK’s recovery.”

Silvia Del Corso, Isleworth-based Director of an SEO Agency has been named as one of the UK’s most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs by the f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ campaign.

To see the full line-up of the 100 amazing women featured in this year’s f:entrepreneur #ialso100 campaign visit https://f-entrepreneur.com/ialso-100-2023/

Photo: Carin Thakrar Photography

Hundreds of SIM cards given to digitally isolated young care-leavers

services, for distribution. Another 300 SIMs were expected to arrive soon after.

Brigitte Faubert, a member of the club’s care leavers project team, said: “During the pandemic, we realised how isolated young careleavers can become, scattered in their placements within and outside Hounslow.

“They rely so much on their phones for routine human contact, for study and for job seeking, which is increasingly difficult to finance on a low income in the current cost of living crisis.”

Hounslow council scheme aims to reduce allotment waiting lists

Hundreds of allotments are to be created in wasteland to help families tackle rising food costs. Scrubland big enough for 500 allotments is to be turned over to locals to grow their own food to help beat the cost-of-living crisis, while reaping the health and wellbeing benefits and encouraging younger generations to appreciate nature.

The Hounslow project will see 27 acres of public wasteland that is inaccessible or used for flytipping made available to residents for new allotments, community gardens and orchards.

to rise. At last count, there were 952 residents on the council’s allotments waiting list.

Cllr Salman Shaheen said: “Allotments are vital to the health and wellbeing of Hounslow’s residents.

“We want to ensure all residents who value and treasure the land have a space they can call their own. That is why we are bringing in measures to ensure the spaces on our sites, that are not being loved and cared for as they deserve to be, are improved and cultivated and given to residents on our waiting lists.

More than 300 SIM cards have been distributed to young care-leavers, refugees and vulnerable young people in Hounslow.

Founded in 1929, Hounslow Rotary Club works with young people in the care system and the members have become very aware of the practical and emotional difficulties faced by those with little family support.

The club applied to Vodafone UK’s charities.connected initiative for free Vodafone SIM cards to help young people overcome their digital isolation by facilitating their internet connectivity.

Hounslow Rotarians Brigitte Faubert and Bob Johnson handed over nearly 100 Vodafone SIM cards to Councillor Lily Bath, portfolio holder for children, learning and employment, and Chris Chalmers, director of

Hounslow Rotary Club’s Careleavers Project and needs such as sport programmes, IT equipment, mentoring, job talks, social events and outings.

Vodafone’s charities.connected initiative is open to any registered charity that would benefit from free connectivity, either to improve its own digital capability or to extend its services or help individuals and families to connect online. One SIM card provides 40GB data a month, plus free calls and texts, for six months.

Emma Reynolds, head of communications, sustainability and regulatory affairs at Vodafone UK, said: “We are committed to tackling digital exclusion. We hope that by providing free connectivity to Hounslow Rotary Club and other amazing charities across the UK who have such an enormous impact on their local communities, we can help create a more inclusive digital society.”

www.hounslowrotary.club

The Grow for the Future scheme, launched by Councillor Salman Shaheen, cabinet member for parking, parks and leisure on Hounslow Council, will also set aside a plot of land on each of the 18 allotment sites for schools to use.

Hounslow has 1,950 allotment plots, but demand for a plot continues

“I’d like to underline our commitment as a council to maximising plots available to residents as we know that demand remains high. Beyond the 182 plots we expect to bring into use by March we are working on a new project to further increase allotment capacity across the borough.”

Paul Vick architects announced as Company of the Year finalist

Paul Vick Architects is delighted to be a finalist for the West London Construction and Property Company of the Year 2023 award, having won the award last year. The news was announced at the Houses of Parliament Terrace, where presentations were made by Bob Blackman MP, Ruth Cadbury MP and Andrew Dakers, CEO of West London Business.

The company has won several awards previously including Most Innovative Architecture Firm London 2020, 2019 and 2018, Best Cultural Architecture Practice UK 2019, and Best Construction Adviser UK 2017.

“The vision has and is shifting,”

said Paul Vick, who founded Paul Vick Architects in 2007.

“The planning and development environment continues to change at pace. We are finding that attitudes to forward planning and resilience, investment, returns and profit, regeneration and footfall, relationships of work and living, health, climate change legislation, climate change physical impacts and implementation are all being revisited.

“And since we are asked about the magic sauce of how we achieve 100% planning permission still with existing and new build, the answer is in addressing these above issues head on and at a granular level. We are all in it together.”

pictured are Rotarian Bob Johnson handing the SIM cards over to Councillor Lily Bath , Portfolio Holder for Children Learning and Employment.

Rise in demand for imported goods shows UK economy is moving but needs to export more.

UK trade performance in November showed a 6.1% increase in imports (after inflation) and a 1.7% growth in exports leading a growing trade gap.

Since the UK left the EU, we have signed 71 new trade deals but all with smaller markets. Although we are in the final stages of an agreement with India and the Gulf, to replace the EU we need the other world’s bigger markets of China and USA to sign agreements with us to lift export volumes significantly said Alan Rides, Chamber Chief Executive. We have also seen that investment levels in the UK have flatlined to 2014 levels. The result of all of this plus Covid means that the UK is now the only G7 economy to show negative growth of -0.8%. In comparison, the USA and Canada had 4.4% and 3% growth

respectively and our neighbours in Germany, France and Italy have growth of between 1.8% and 0.3% as reported in the BBC news [30th January] based on OECD/ONS 2022 figures.

Alan also said that the good news is that:

• In the 12 months to September, exports to Sweden rose by 42%, by over 32% to Ireland, by 30% to Belgium, and by over 28% to France.

• In the 12 months to June, UK exports of both goods and services to our top Commonwealth export markets shows an increase, of over 43% in exports to India, 19%

to Singapore, and over 15% to Canada.

• Against all expectations, UK retail sales topped all analyst estimates across all sectors including food, and UK consumer confidence data also rose in November.

• London has climbed ahead of San Francisco and New York to become the world’s biggest centre for FinTech investment.

• London has retained its second-place ranking behind New York in the 2022 Global Financial Centre Index. Paris ranked 11th and Frankfurt 16th.

Reacting to the ONS Trade

figures for November, William Bain, head of trade policy at the BCC, said: “UK trade performance improved in November led by a 6.1% increase in goods imports (adjusted for inflation).

“Goods exports also picked up, rising by 1.7%, but concerns about the impact of the Brexit deal continue due to a 1.2% fall in goods exports to the EU.

“Early estimates of trade in services showed a flat picture –with exports down by 0.2%, and imports by 0.6%, adjusted for inflation.

“Looking at a comparison over the three months to the end

of November with the three months to the end of August, goods exports to the EU were 4.9% lower over that period.

“While the UK did better than its peers in overall trade in November, the Export Strategy needs to deliver in 2023 given the global economic headwinds UK goods and services exports are currently facing.”

For help in growing into new international markets please contact your Chamber and attend our regular international trade seminars led by Alan Rides Chamber Chief Executive who is a former DIT Trade Officer.

Goods Imports

In November 2022, UK goods imports rose by 6.1% after removing effects of inflation (values were 3.5% less before this removal). The rise in goods imports from the EU was led by higher machinery and transport equipment imports (ship imports from Finland were particularly noteworthy). Non-EU goods imports were boosted by higher sales of cars from China and aircraft from the US. Fuel imports from Qatar and Norway continued to fall in November.

Goods Exports

Falls in EU goods exports values were driven by lower

sales of fuels for the fourth consecutive month. The rise in non-EU goods exports values was largely down to increases in machinery and transport equipment sales, including aircraft to Qatar and motor vehicles to the US and China.

Services

On services, excluding inflation, imports fell to £17.8bn in November and exports to £29.5bn – a reduction of 0.6% and 0.2% respectively from October.

Three-month trend

Looking at the three months to the end of November, total UK goods imports from both the EU

and outside the EU fell by 3.2%, compared with the three months to the end of August. The fall in EU goods exports over that period was 4.9%. Over the same timescale overall goods exports fell by 1.5%.

The services picture was better with a rise of 2.0% in exports over that period offset by a 1.2% decline in imports. Total trade values over that period increased by 0.3% in exports but were 2.6% lower in imports.

Trade Deficit

Excluding inflationary factors, the total trade deficit narrowed by £3.8bn in the three months to the end of November.

Goods exports also picked up, rising by 1.7%, but concerns about the impact of the Brexit deal continue due to a 1.2% fall in goods exports to the EU.

Early estimates of trade in services showed a flat picture – with exports down by 0.2%, and imports by 0.6%, adjusted for inflation.

Photo by Jay Huang www.unsplash.com

Discover Fulham - determined to make sure crime doesn’t pay.

Preventing crime and making our area as safe as it can be, has long been a priority for the team at Discover Fulham (part of the Fulham Broadway Business Improvement District). Towards the end of 2022 this was formalised by creating a Business Crime Reduction Partnership with the Safer Business Network, who bring their expertise from different partnerships across London to support in tackling crime.

To further demonstrate our commitment to supporting the business community, we have recently agreed to provide a radio network which will be linked to the CCTV office, and for the initial period will be monitored by new Street Wardens who we are welcoming on a trial basis for the next three months.

All of our work on tackling crime in the borough is being supported by PCSO David Miller, one of the most recognisable faces in the Borough, and recent winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Discover Fulham Business Awards.

Thursday 9th March will also see us host businesses from across the Borough at Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea Football Club, and one of the most successful Women’s teams of recent years, for a Violence

Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Workshop. Working in partnership with the Metropolitan Police to provide businesses from across Hammersmith and Fulham with the knowledge and skills to do all we can to make our local environment as safe as possible.

Visit www.discoverfulham.co.uk for more information and to book your place.

Andy Bell - BID Manager

Local Businesses Celebrated at the Discover Fulham Business Awards

At a glittering ceremony hosted by Fulham Broadway Business Improvement District (BID) at Stamford Bridge, the home of Premier League club Chelsea, the winners of the first-ever Discover Fulham Business Awards 2022 were announced.

During a month-long campaign to recognise business excellence in the Fulham Broadway BID Zone, the public was invited to vote for their favourite businesses across seven categories to show support for the town centre and to acknowledge the vibrant and diverse business community.

Sally Smith, COO and Alan Rides, CEO of West London Chambers of Commerce, commenting on the event said “West London Chambers was proud to help sponsor the evening. It was a lovely evening in such an impressive venue. Well done to the all the winning businesses! All Fulham Broadway BID members are automatically members of our Chamber so we are looking forward to working with you to deliver services that can help your business grow.”

The category winners of Discover Fulham Business Awards 2022 are as follows:

Best Customer Service, sponsored by Fulham Broadway Retail Centre

The Honest Barber

Responsible Workplace, sponsored by Woodfords Solicitors LLP

Ibis London Earls Court

Best Retail Business, sponsored by Online High Street

My Healthcare Clinic

Hospitality Business of the Year, sponsored by West London Chambers of Commerce

Ibis London Earls Court

The event was also used to raise money and awareness for local charity, Dads House, which run a foodbank, and provides legal support and social support for single fathers, their children and their families. On the night

Best Professional Service Business (non-retail), sponsored by West London Chambers of Commerce

HomeWork Workspace

Fitness Business of the Year, sponsored by Woodfords Insurance

The Gym Group

New Business of the Year, sponsored by The Fulham Centre and HuddleWorkspaces by Romulus Greedy Kings

Wellbeing Business of the Year, sponsored by Fulham Broadway Retail Centre

Skip The Filter

over £2,500 was raised for the charity through a raffle.

Commenting on the awards, Andy Bell, manager of Fulham Broadway BID said:

“Congratulations to all the category winners and

Best Social Media, sponsored by Online High Street

Skip The Filter

In addition, two special awards were also announced on the night:

Employee of the Year, sponsored by The Fulham Centre and Huddle - Workspaces by Romulus

Alan Cullen from Vizability Media Group for over 40 years of service.

Special Recognition Award, sponsored by Dads House

Presented to PCSO David Miller for his outstanding work in the community.

nominees. Fulham has a thriving business community, and this has been the perfect opportunity to celebrate all that Fulham has to offer. Over the last few years, many businesses have experienced challenges.

Nevertheless, through innovation and perseverance, many have been able to adapt to the changing business environment. Celebrating those who have achieved success in their fields is appropriate.”

A huge thank you to all our sponsors for helping to make the night such a success.

Growing storage business provides the space for other businesses to grow and shine

The Brentford branch is the newest addition to the Access Self Storage chain which now has 61 stores nationwide.

Located on the corner close to where the old Gillette Building stands, the Brentford office and storage space opened in October 2021.

All the newer buildings are “much bigger” than the older ones, as Gareth Morris, head of operations, explains.

“We have owned the land for quite some time,” said Gareth.

“I have looked at a number of different sites near there. We appropriated additional land there as well. We decided to open a big centre there as it’s a very prominent location right on the M4 and near the historic old Gillette building.

“Our new sites are generally much bigger than our existing portfolio. We generally offer a mix of storage and office space.”

Secure storage units range in size from the size of a locker to a football pitch. Parking, mailboxes, records management, and storage by the box services with free delivery and collection are also available services across the UK.

“Businesses can start with us and grow over a number of years,” added Gareth.

“You can take a mailbox, you can take an office and you can grow into a bigger office. Some people start with a small square footage then a bigger square footage and then a warehouse. We have so many success stories within these walls.”

Brentford is one of three new

branches to open in the last two years. The others are in Streatham and Sydenham. More new branches are in the pipeline.

Gareth started his career at Access Self Storage 20 years ago in March. He was looking at a recruitment job post when the Access Self Storage advert for an assistant store manager caught his eye.

He soon moved up the ranks taking on the progressive roles of store manager, regional manager, operations manager and now head of operations. In his role, he looks at developing the systems and processes to make the business “more streamlined and efficient”.

“Storage industry is quite archaic

in some ways and some of the business has been behind the times, but we have been able to develop the systems and processes to make it more streamlined and efficient and that’s what I have been highly involved in,” he said.

“We have been able to improve services and reduce costs and continue to drive the business forward.

“A key change now in the business world is data and working with the data. We have tens of thousands of customers. We have thousands of enquiries every year. Across all our sites we churn over 100% of the customer base. We will get some people who stay there for a number of years. I use that

data to help improve customer experience and the systems and processes.”

Access Self Storage has been in business for nearly 30 years and hails from a time when everyone who started a business chose a name beginning with ‘A’ so it was first in the phone book.

It now has 250 employees across the storage sites and head office and is recruiting for more.

“We continue to grow,” said Gareth. “We have new site acquisitions ongoing to further grow the business.

“We continue to recruit, it’s always a challenge, particularly for the entry level customer service assistant roles. We have increased our salaries across the board with a considerable uplift, which are exceptionally competitive.

“We have expanded our training team to make sure we can focus on our customer service too.”

The firm also holds it own Access Business Awards with the first one held in 2014. Open to all the company’s customers, the award winner receives a prize worth just under £20,000 – storage value worth £14,000 and a marketing package worth £5,200.

Giving back to their loyal customers is something Gareth and his team are passionate about. During the Covid pandemic, the business provided a lot of credit to help customers through the crisis.

“If it was a business such as a pub or restaurant (who really struggled during the pandemic) we gave them credit and gave payment plans to others,” he said. “It was our way to pay back to our most loyal customers.”

You can take a mailbox, you can take an office and you can grow into a bigger office. Some people start with a small square footage then a bigger square footage and then a warehouse. We have so many success stories within these walls.

“Blindness cuts us off from things, but deafness cuts us off from people”

Why having your hearing checked is so important

Hearing loss affects approximately 11 million people in the UK which makes it the second most common disability in the UK but, as an invisible disability, it often goes unnoticed.

Hearing is important for healthy relationships and social connections, as important in our working lives as it is in our personal lives.

If you have noticed a change in your habits regarding your hearing, for example, noticing the television is too loud or having difficulty hearing when there is background noise, it may be time to consider having a hearing test.

Those most at risk of hearing loss are people older than 60 and those working in noisy occupations.

Chamber member and hearing aid audiologist Deepak Jagota says it is vital to listen to customers as “no two people are the same even if they have the same degree of hearing loss”.

“That’s why a patient centred approach is important taking into account specific areas of difficulty and individual needs,” said Deepak, from Hearing Well.

“We take a holistic approach and take the time to understand our patients in order to deliver the best solution leaving no stone unturned.”

It is this combination of expertise, diligence and care that supported one of Deepak’s clients, who needed a tailored hearing solution.

Chris Williams said: “My sister is

disabled. Her recent loss of hearing had become a real risk to both her safety and to her ability to live independently. Her disability and a unique combination of problems meant finding the right hearing solution for my sister was far from straightforward.”

Having tried a wide range of devices from several manufacturers with the client, the hearing aids that were ordered fixed her hearing but proved too fiddly for her limited fine motor skills.

Chris continued in his five-star review of Hearing Well: “You could tell that Deepak was genuinely distraught at not being able to help her. He immediately returned our money despite all the time and effort he had invested.”

Deepak continued with his research to find a solution and contacted several more hearing aid manufacturers from within the UK and internationally. In the end, a design engineer friend of Deepak’s succeeded in creating a new size and shape of hearing aid especially designed to deal with the client’s unique issues and physiology.

“I am so grateful for the level of perseverance and downright dogged determination shown by Deepak on behalf of my sister,” added Chris.

“It has been about three months since she was fitted with her special unique-toher hearing aids. They work perfectly. She is delighted to be able

to join in conversations and now feels safe out in the traffic. They fit her perfectly and she wears them very proudly.”

Hearing loss

• 1 in 6 of the UK adult population is affected by hearing loss.

• 8 million of these are aged 60 and over.

• 6.7 million could benefit from hearing aids but only about 2 million people use them.

• About 900,000 people are severely or profoundly deaf.

• About 12,000 people in the UK use cochlear implants.

• Many people with hearing loss also have tinnitus which affects 1 in 10 adults. They may also have balance difficulties.

• Hearing loss is associated not only with mental health conditions but also with numerous physical health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, anaemia, chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, balance problems and an increased risk of falls. www.hearinglink.org

Hearing Well is a valued Chamber member and winner of a number of Chamber Business Awards.

For more information visit www.hearingwell.co.uk

Helen Keller

Creating a Dementia Friendly Community in Hounslow

Alzheimer’s Society is working with businesses and venues in Hounslow to ensure people with dementia are able to easily access services and shops within the borough.

The work is part of the charity’s aim to create a Dementia Friendly Community in Hounslow with inclusive shops and venues, so residents are empowered to live their lives as normally as possible after a dementia diagnosis. A Dementia Friendly Community is a borough where people with dementia feel understood, supported, confident they can contribute to community life and carry out everyday tasks or activities.

Two-thirds of people with dementia live in the community rather than a care home, yet many report feeling trapped in their homes and let down by their communities. There are nearly 2,300 people affected by dementia in Hounslow, with 1,334 experiencing severe dementia. The projected annual cost of dementia in the borough is £105 million.

The law means employers must make reasonable adjustments for people with dementia to avoid disadvantage in the workplace. Retailers also have an obligation to ensure consumers are protected and access to services is as inclusive as possible, including for those with dementia. From increasing signage to staff wearing a Dementia Friends badge, small changes can make a big difference.

Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friendly Community CoOrdinator, Silvia Mazzanti is working to ensure Hounslow is a safe and welcoming place for those with dementia.

She explained: “Businesses can attend Dementia Friends sessions or take part in our local steering group whose aim is to create tangible changes across the borough. Any organisation can adopt measures to become more dementia friendly from assessing their premises or offering space for activities.

“Dementia friendly businesses are more likely to retain existing customers affected by dementia and attract new ones. For staff, having an understanding of dementia means they will be more confident when dealing with customers. This benefits customers with dementia and demonstrates the business’s social responsibility.

“Recently Alzheimer’s Society has been collaborating with Brentford FC on the development of their café sessions at the club’s stadium. Brentford are liaising with Alzheimer’s Society and other organisations to run sessions for elderly people with conditions including dementia.” There are 79,000 people living with dementia in London, enough to fill Brentford’s stadium more than four and a half times.

Silvia added: “It is great to have Brentford and historic houses like Chiswick and Boston Manor in Hounslow, eager to make their practices and facilities more accessible and inclusive for people with dementia. We are excited to see more activities started and spaces offered as the programme progresses.

I encourage all organisations locally to get in touch, join our steering group and help make our vision become a reality.”

Alzheimer’s Society is teaming up with West London Chambers of Commerce to turn the aspirations of achieving a Dementia Friendly Community, into a reality. Silvia plans to begin work with Sky at their Hounslow headquarters and Heathrow airport in 2023. There are over 510 dementia friendly communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland where local businesses commit to support their customers and employees affected by dementia. From taxi drivers to hairdressers and the

bus company to the newsagent, everyone can identify things they can tweak to better support people with dementia.

The charity’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation acts, thinks, talks about the condition. There are now more than 3.5 million Dementia Friends nationally.

Whether you attend a face-to-face session or watch the online video, Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends is about learning more about dementia and the small ways you can help.

Dementia friendly businesses are more likely to retain existing customers affected by dementia and attract new ones.

Silvia Mazzanti with Chris Durkin, Director of West London Chambers of Commerce

West London Chambers of Commerce

My Thames Tuition

Helen Crocker

49 Lateward Road, TW8 0PL mythamestuition@gmail.com

Modern Finance Solutions

Hitesh Kanadia

10 Basildene Road, Hounslow, TW4 7LE 0208 572 1534

hitesh@modernfinancesolutions.co.uk

Hydrogen Waves

Niall Arthur Haughian

241A Lady Margaret Rd, Southall, UB1 2PU niall@hywaves.com

Counting Ltd

Charlie Samuelson

20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU charlie.samuelson@countingup.com

D&D Global Trading Ltd

Junaid Ahmed

Wonea House, 2 Richmond Place, Isleworth, Middlesex, TW7 7BL junaid@ddgt.co.uk

SAV Systems

Jonathon Hunter Hill

Scandia House, Boundary Road, Woking, Surrey, GU21 5BX 01483 771910

info@sav-systems.com www.sav-systems.com

Pearson Business Solutions Limited

Guy Pearson

92 Seward Road, Ealing, London, W7 2JL 02088 101877

guy@pbs-ltd.co.uk

Bright Window Africa

Saloua Dlimi

43 Percie Laurie House

217 Upper Richmond Road, London, SW15 6SY salouadlimi@gmail.com

Vale Cars London

Nick Paya Shop 3 East Vale, The Vale Acton, W3 7RU 0208 743 1881

admin@vale-cars.com www.vale-cars.com

kidwise-group

Sumera Kidwai 18 Metcalf walk, Hounslow , TW13 6YF 07944 593690

sumera@kidwisegroup.com

Mo Associates Engineering Ltd

Mehmet Ozturk

12 Melcombe Place , London, NW1 6JJ 02031 571026

mehmet.ozturk@mo-associates.co.uk

Hang About Ltd

Joe Partridge

9 Smithy Lane, Hounlsow, TW3 1EH 07793 862857 jp@hang.co.uk

Edge10 Group

David Nauth First Floor, 85 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 7LT 07920 516313

dave.nauth@edge10group.com

Invest and Human Resources Developments

Abdusalam Abubaker

8 Clive Place, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1DD abdusalam99@yahoo.com

West London Queer Project CIC

Aubrey Crawley info@wlqp.org

Moonrise Sports

Charlie Hartley 9 Evesham Road, Cookhill Alcester , B49 9EJ

charlie.hartley@moonrisesports.com www.moonrisesports.com

Progress Group Limited

Mohammed Al-Issa 21 Grangeforth Road, Manchester,M8 9EJ mo.issa@progressgroup.uk www.progressgroup.uk

No1 First Aid Instructors Ltd

Colette Ball

22 Chesterfield Road, London, W4 3HG

no1firstaidinstructors@gmail.com www.no1firstaidinstructors.co.uk

R&B Global Solutions Ltd

Ramiro Salgado

G01 Brentford Park House, Brentford, TW8 0GT 07391 099979

ramiro.salgado@rb.solutions www.rb.solutions

Football Samurai Academy

Hideyuki Miyahara Park Lodge, North Acton Playing Field, Noel road, W3 0JF 075082 13334

hmiyahara@japanatuk.com http://footsamurai.com

Orbit Cargo Services Ltd

Syed Muzahir Hussain Unit 7, Argonaut Park, Galleymead Road, Colnbrook 07481 586303

accounts@orbitcargoservices.com https://orbitcargoservices.com

RHM Advisory Limited

Richard Meddelton

106 Village Way, Ashford, Middlesex, TW15 2JU 07900 608213

Richard.meddelton@btinternet.com

Hyona Cleaning Company

Grace Fredricks

61 Creukhorne Road, London, NW10 9DJ grace@hyonacleaning.com www.hyonacleaning.com

Home Instead

Maddy Aleayehu

186 Sutton Ct Rd, London, W4 3HR 07435 96113

maddy@hc.homeinstead.co.uk

Van Buddies

Debbie Crowley

119 Rainville Court, Rainville Road, Hammersmith, W6 9HJ 0207 381 9658

debbie@thevanbuddies.co.uk www.thevanbuddies.co.uk

Marthe Armitage Prints Ltd

Jo Broadhurst

The Brentford Studio, Unit 2 at Carrick Square, 5 Commerce Road Brentford, TW8 8LE 07884 123 692

info@marthearmitage.co.uk www.marthearmitage.co.uk

Better Bookkeeping Solutions Ltd

Michael Bennetts 4 Grasmere Ave, London, W3 6JU 0208 6293 922

mike@better-bookkeeping-solutions.co.uk www.better-bookkeeping-solutions.co.uk/

b2 Hounslow Clinic

Ben Boulter 131 High Street, Hounslow TW3 1QL 020 8230 1088

Ben@b2group.uk

Green Facilities Management

Manu Sareen Building 3 , 566 Chiswick Business Park, London, W45YA manu@greenfacilities.co.uk www.greenfacilities.co.uk

The Direct Co Group Ltd

Alex Gani Unit 5 Mitcham Industrial Estate, CR4 2AP 020 8646 4888

a.gani@sud.co.uk www.thedirectco.co.uk

InXpress Heathrow

Dennis Dune

InExpress Heathrow, 2 Parkway, Uxbridge, UB10 9JX 07843 269457

dendunne@hotmail.com

J&I Cleaning

Sara Czerniawska

Unit 4, Eastcote Industrial Estate, Ruislip, Field End Road , HA4 9XG 07446 158010

info@jicleaning.com

www.jicleaning.com

SimNa Creative Consulting

Paula Robinson 60E Philbeach Gardens London, SW5 9EE 07855 060162

paula@simna.co.uk

Actone Arts

Ivan Dorrell-Stern 119 High Street, London, W3 6NA 07549 794115

info@actonecinema.co.uk

www.actonecinema.co.uk

Attend IT

Adam Shailes 202 High Street, Brentford, TW8 8AH 0208 626 4485

adam.shailes@attendit.net www.attendit.net

Global Skills Training

Nasir Warsama

Old Acton Library, 1st Floor, High Street, Acton, W3 6NA 07985 868888

nasir@global-skills.com

www.global-skills.com

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Forthcoming Events

International Women’s Day

Venue TBC

8th March 2023

5.30 pm – 8.00 pm

Speakers tba

Shepherds Bush Business Breakfast

Delina, 175 Shepherd’s Bush Market, London W12 8DF

15th March 2023

£10/£15 plus fees

West London Chambers will exhibiting at Business Innovation Expo at Excel

15th and 16th March

Come and visit our stand

Please visit our webpage for more events being announced and updated constantly https://westlondonchambers.org.uk/events/list/

How to improve your sales to deliver growth with finance

Spring Grove House, West Thames College, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS

23rd March 2023 2.45 pm – 6.00 pm

Sponsored by Oasis Accountants

Ticket price £10/£15 plus fees

Wine and light bites

Trading with India

Spring Grove House, West Thames College, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS

20th April 2023

3.00 pm – 6.00 pm

Sponsored by MTXpress

Ticket price tbc

Wine and light bites

West London Regeneration Conference

Holiday Inn, Brentford Lock, Commerce Road, Brentford TW8 8GA

11th May 2023

2.00 pm – 11.00 pm

Northern Iraq - Meet the Buyer Event

KBEBC

Spring Grove House, West Thames College

14 June 2023

TBC

Golf Charity Day

Wyke Green Golf Club, Syon Lane, Isleworth TW7 5PF

29th June 2023

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

West Chambers of Commerce

Your Mobile Solution for Home Working

TecaDec is the creation of Peter Bond an engineer, and owner of British Bins – the UK’s leading online supplier of wheelie bins. Peter recognised the need for a multi-screen portable working rig when on the go and out of his office. When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the Tecadec became the perfect solution for mobile and remote working. Made of polyethylene, the Tecadec’s compact yet durable design allows a fully adjustable setup while including a robust case for travel.

Portable Dual Screens

The Tecadec aims to increase efficiency when working away from your personal setup. With adjustable dual-screen capabilities, the Tecadec’s integrated design reduces the need for multiple adapters and improves productivity within a limited space. As postpandemic hybrid working arrangements become the norm, the need for an elegant yet efficient workspace is more pertinent than ever.

Work Life Balance

When confined to your own home, it can become incredibly taxing to be surrounded by your work environment once the workday is complete. Where most employees can leave their work stress at the office, homeworkers are forced to live with this burden. The Tecadec’s rapid

setup and pack-down design promotes a healthy work-life balance and an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality as it encourages you to leave the stress of the office, at the office, by simply moving the desk to one side.

Office On The Go

With brand new wheels added to the Tecadec’s design, the ‘office in a box’ solution allows you to set up and work from anywhere. No bigger than your average suitcase and remarkably lightweight, the Tecadec assures easy travel and transportation, perfect for trade shows or cross-country exhibitions.

Collaboration with Timeless IMS

In 2022, a partnership between Peter Bond and Timeless IMS was established which allowed Timeless IMS to become the sole resellers of the Tecadec,

in the UK and Ireland. Through this partnership, improvements to the Tecadec have been suggested and actioned, creating Tecadec 2.0. The new and improved design included:

• Adding larger wheels to the base of the desk, preventing damage to the case and providing increased stability when moving.

• An adjustable handle, often seen on your standard suitcase, was also added to the new variant’s design, allowing the transportation of the desk to be much easier.

• Bespoke designs and customisation have also been implemented by Timeless IMS, allowing the desk to be customised to meet your brand’s needs. Even when on the go, you can promote your business with any design that suits you. Contact us on sales@timelessims.co.uk

As readers of the Let’s Talk Business magazine, Chamber Patron Timeless IMS are offering a FREE PowerCup and 30-day FREE IT support with your Tecadec Portable Desk purchase.

Enter code ‘LetsTalk’ at checkout.

West London Chambers of Commerce

www.timelessims.co.uk/store

Heathrow Business Summit

The 24th Business Summit was held in November last year after an enforced gap of three years. London Heathrow Airport invited small and medium-size enterprises (SME) to reconnect with its £188bn supply chain. We at the Chamber worked hard to find representative companies from our three boroughs, within various sectors to attend the Summit, ranging

from a photographer to a rope access company.

The Summit offered insight into how working with Heathrow will enable SMEs to play a central role in the airport’s operation and wider sustainable supply chain and highlighted ways by which SMEs can help Heathrow continue to grow sustainably. Hounslow Chamber and West London Chambers

also had a stand and a most successful day recruiting three new members. At the end of the day, we were honoured to be awarded a Heathrow Community Award, to recognise the work we have done over the years and will continue to do with Heathrow, to help all our businesses benefit from the major economic driver in west London, namely Heathrow.

The Summit is one of a range of initiatives Heathrow has established to rebuild its supply chain sustainably. The airport’s recently refreshed sustainability strategy. Connecting People and Planet – sets out how barriers to entry will be removed as well as a commitment to grow the proportion of SMEs in the airport’s supply chain .

The 24th edition of the Heathrow Business Summit took place in partnership with local Chambers of Commerce and business groups. Heathrow’s role as the largest employer based in West London - with SMEs comprising over 40% of the airport’s supply chainplaced the Summit as a unique opportunity for local SMEs to find out how they can work with larger suppliers, and for Heathrow itself to continue to grow its supply chain. We are extremely proud to have been supported by West London Chambers of Commerce who played a pivotal role as a key partner in the successful delivery of the Summit.

In the words of Becky Coffin, Communities and Sustainability Director:

Leon Swan

Business Centre Manager

Who are you?

I am UBC’s Business Centre Manager based at The Mille in Brentford with over 20 years Customer Service experience.

What’s your business all about?

As a Chamber member, we help businesses of all size to find the right type of workspace that works for them and with the flexibility to evolve and grow whether they are just starting out in business or more established. We can accommodate hybrid working styles with services that include Virtual Office, Coworking Spaces and Serviced Office Space.

Three words to describe yourself?

Professional, friendly and outgoing.

Ideal Customer?

One that sees their supplier as someone to build a longterm partnership, one that is

willing to communicate and makes time for a coffee and chat.

Biggest achievement?

Helping a small client succeed and grow their business with my centre.

Biggest gripe?

Recent train and tube strikes.

Your inspiration?

My Dad and my family.

Philosophy in Business?

Behind every successful person are a lot of unsuccessful years, you have got to keep working at it.

Sporting Hero?

Pele – R.I.P.

Biggest tip for success?

Be your authentic self, always.

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