Help is at hand for Ealing businesses

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

Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council, thinks Ealing’s location and diversity are key to its success. He said: “Our seven towns each have their own sense of purpose, identity, and pride.”

Located in between the West End and Heathrow, the opportunities for its residents, businesses and visitors are exceptional, and the council is committed to improving the lives of local people, with a strong focus on creating good jobs, tackling the climate crisis and delivering more genuinely affordable homes. Although Ealing remains leafy and elegant, with dozens of beautiful parks and green spaces to choose from, the borough has a distinctly modern characteristic too, with its diversity and location proving a real advantage.

“We are London’s breadbasket, with some of the capital’s biggest food producers at Park Royal,” Councillor Mason continued. “We are the home of loud, where Marshall built his first amp. We are cinema’s best kept secret, with the oldest and the biggest number of studios and production suppliers. And with Southall, we are the capital of British Asian culture and retail.

“So much of what makes London a great city also creates some of its biggest challenges, and so in Ealing we are forging a new path by focusing our efforts and our investments on bringing good, well-paid jobs back, and dispersing wealth and resilience to every part of the borough.

“We’ve already started by creating 2,000 new good jobs, tackling the climate crisis by investing in active travel and green infrastructure, and fighting inequality by finding new ways to deliver community and open spaces.

“We want to create an environment where the right businesses can thrive and provide opportunities for local people to access good jobs. We are attracting a range of firms that rely on the London connection but are also drawn to the outstanding office and industrial spaces we have in Ealing.

“In a post-pandemic world, so many more Londoners are embracing the chance to live a healthier, more balanced life in which they can work, socialise, exercise, and enjoy life closer to home. The revival of our local shopping parades, the growth of our office corridor, and the productivity in our industries is making that happen. The future London’s economy will need to take better advantage of opportunities outside of central London – and Ealing has all the qualities needed to succeed in the coming years.”

Ealing’s diverse local population appeals particularly to tech industries, which can tap into a talent pool that understands world cultures and speaks different languages. It’s a skilled and well-qualified market, with a highly educated local student population.

The University of West London, which is recognised as one of the top ten universities in the UK, is in the heart of the borough. UWL is home to awardwinning courses and outstanding facilities including the School of Law, the Claude Littner Business School, and the College of Nursing, Midwifery and Healthcare.

There’s also support on offer for the diverse array of businesses that are based within the borough. Businesses in Ealing can now benefit from applying for the council’s apprenticeship levy funding, so they can train new members of their teams. Ealing Trades Online is a unique programme of free digital support to small businesses to enable them to improve their online presence, build a website and learn how to use digital tools to produce engaging video content. The programme is available through oneto-one support with webinars covering different topics.

Ealing Business Accelerator is a support programme for new and existing businesses to survive and grow, with help from experienced business advisors to develop strategies for improvement through personalised one-to-one online consultations, group learning discussions, marketing sessions and various webinars. Ealing Winning Tenders aims to equip businesses with the skills and knowledge for winning tenders and new contracts.”

Councillor Peter Mason, leader of Ealing Council, thinks Ealing’s location and diversity are key to its success. He said:

“Our seven towns each have their own sense of purpose, identity, and pride.”

In November 2021, the council launched its pioneers fund, which provides grants to small and medium-sized businesses to help grow, develop new products or expand their workforce while stimulating the local economy. The £1 million pot was shared out among 12 selected businesses that were each able to demonstrate how the funding would help to accelerate growth and create new jobs. Ealing’s small and medium enterprises can also access several pop-up business support centres, which have been established at central locations across Ealing. Each pop-up offers free face-toface support, advice, training, workshops and seminars.

Finally, the borough’s hospitality businesses can now apply for a pavement license to put chairs and tables outside their premises for just £100 a year. Pavement licences were introduced to offer a cheaper way for restaurants and cafes to accommodate customers outdoors during the pandemic, and nearly 100 Ealing businesses have tried this option so far.

Councillor Mason thinks that by continuing to work together, the council and the borough’s businesses can deliver an even brighter future for Ealing. “Ealing is open for business. By working in partnership with local employers, we are helping to build a stronger economy and more resilient communities, with good, well-paid jobs and thriving high streets.

“We are ensuring that Ealing is a destination in its own right. A place where people come to visit and stay – whether to enjoy our fantastic parks, cinemas, pubs, restaurants and live venues, or for the rapidly expanding opportunities for jobs and business that we are securing.”