As a small business owner should I network?

This question had been on my mind for a few months and despite researching it, I really wasn't sure of the answer. I am a small business owner, a sole trader, I work on my own. Sometimes I have questions, or unsure as to what I could be doing to improve my business. I have always believed the saying everyday you learn something new—it would be nice if that was something that would help my business. I have never been to a network meeting, I have been to many business events but and of course talked to different people and enjoyed it but often don’t see them or speak to them again. So after months of wondering I took a leap of faith and attended an open evening of a local business network group in Epping. All day I was unsure that I would actually attend but I did, I had no idea of whether it would be worth it or who I would meet but thought it was a free event and worth my time to check it out. As soon as I arrived I never stopped talking. Everybody was welcoming and friendly, they asked about my business and I asked about theirs, soon we were laughing and I was learning how nice it was to be with other local business owners. I stayed for the entire evening and went along to the next meeting, as a trial to see if I would like the meeting format, content etc having never attended one before. That was in March and I joined right there and then. Every Thursday I go along to the breakfast meeting in Epping. I have made some great friends and the support the group has shown me is fantastic, both on a personal and professional level. I enjoy the format of this particular network group, I learn something every time just by chatting or listening to other business members. It is a great way to start the working day, you also get hot drinks and breakfast. So to answer the question, and the only way to truthfully answer it was to experience networking for myself, and the answer is yes—you should network as a small business. So why not try it for yourself. Contact the Epping Forest Business Group (details to the right) or you can contact me and you could always come along with me as a guest so you can try it once for yourself. June

Editor, North Weald Village Life

Support has been made available for small businesses

Earlier this year Epping Forest District Council and Colbea partnered to provide support to businesses helping them to adapt their services in order to minimise carbon emissions whilst creating opportunities to reduce running costs. Moving forward, an expansion to the type of business advice available through Colbea is now available in Epping Forest. This offers local businesses new ways to navigate the recent challenges they face because of economic uncertainty and these new, free services include: Free business consultancy delivered on a 1-1 basis: General business advice and guidance for businesses which could include support around; business planning, grant applications and developing marketing strategies. This support is accessible for businesses of any stage, size and sector; including pretrading/start-up businesses. First Steps to Start Up Success courses: An introduction to business course which is also suitable for those who are thinking of starting their own company or who have already recently started a business. Introduction to Finance courses: Perfect for small businesses owners or employees who have responsibility in overseeing financial operations and would like to know more about best practice. To access any of the above services, businesses can contact Colbea directly on Call 01206 548 833 or Email enquiries@colbea.co.uk,.

Remembrance Sunday in North Weald

Many local people turned out to remember at the Remembrance Sunday event at St Andrews Church and after at the Annual Act of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at North Weald Airfield Memorial and Debt of Honour. The later event at the Memorial and Debt of Honour which is situated in front of the North Weald Airfield Museum is always well attended, but this year there were more people in attendance. Wreaths were laid and the two minute silence was of course implemented. Thank you to North Weald Parish Council for organising this annual event. Men and women asked to share their views on women’s safety at night. Essex County Council (ECC) has teamed up with the University of Essex to lead a research project about women’s safety at night. Following a countywide survey conduced by ECC on women’s safety late last year, it was evident that women felt most unsafe at night with 47% of respondents stating this. The survey also found that 21% of women felt unsafe in pubs, clubs and bars at night with 45% of women avoiding certain nightlife or hospitality venues because they made them feel unsafe. Residents are being asked to share their views on night-time safety with a particular focus on anything related to businesses and services that run during the night such as pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants. While this research is focused around women’s safety, the survey is open to both men and women. As part of ECC’s commitment to making the county safer for women and supporting them in feeling safer too, this research project is one of the many initiatives launched by the Safety Advisory Group (SAG). The SAG works with partners, support organisations, and residents, to gain a better understanding of the real fears people, in particular women have about safety. It then aims to address these issues and bring about positive change. The online survey takes around 5-10 minutes to complete and responses will be used to inform future work of the SAG. Deputy Leader of Essex County Council and Chair of the Safety Advisory Group, Cllr Louise McKinlay said: “We want all women to feel safe when out at night, and we hope that this research will help us to understand how we can address the key challenges and issues faced. By inviting men to also take part in the research, we hope to better understand perceptions from their point of view too.” “We are pleased to be working with a very talented team from the University of Essex to conduct this research and I look forward to seeing what the research reveals.” Dr Noelia-Sarah Reynolds and Dr Juneho Um, from Essex Business School at the University of Essex are leading the research. Dr Reynolds said: “We are delighted to be carrying out this research, which will not only help to make women feel safer when they go out in the county at night, but will also be of benefit to the economy and businesses operating in the area. “I am very keen for research to have a broader societal impact – this is a clear example of how research can make a difference in the community.” Dr Um added: “It is a privilege to be involved in research aimed at making people feel supported and safe and to see, in turn, what impact this has on the night-time economy.” The survey is open until Sunday 18 December and can be found at: Women's Safety at Night (Survey) (qualtrics.com).

Foster carers across Essex have expressed their delight at the new John Lewis Christmas commercial which highlights the amazing role foster carers play in welcoming children into their homes. The 90-second commercial follows the story of a foster dad as he attempts to master the art of skateboarding with failed attempts and several injuries along the way. It is not until the end of the commercial that we learn why he has gone to so much trouble. The foster carers open their door to a social worker and a teenage girl with a skateboard in hand. The emotional advertisement shows how foster carers go above and beyond to welcome children into their home and to connect with the children in their care. Foster carers Debbie and her partner Ali, from Epping have been fostering for six years and said: “We thought the advert was great, it made us cry. It’s fantastic to see John Lewis focussing on fostering and bringing it to the forefront of everyday life. For us as foster carers when we know we have a child arriving we do try to make them more comfortable by doing things and arranging things that matter to them. “For anyone who sees it and is thinking of fostering, take that step forward, don’t doubt yourself or your abilities. You can make a difference to that young person’s life and give them the Christmas they deserve.” Foster carers Brian and Lorraine from Clacton-on-Sea said: “It was admirable to see them shining a light on our vulnerable young people in care. With the way things are in the economy at the moment it really brings into focus what is important at Christmas and in life. If you’ve seen the advert and it’s made you consider fostering, look into it, it’s a wonderful thing to do. The experiences of fostering are amazing and seeing a smile on a young person’s face for the first time is worth a million dollars.” This Christmas there will be over 1,000 children in care across Essex. With families getting together and giving and receiving gifts Fostering is incredibly rewarding, offers great flexibility and puts family at its heart. Carers are welcome from any background, including single, married, LGBTQ+ or retired. Essex County Council matches children to your family, offers all foster carers excellent local training with an active network of support groups providing opportunities to meet and learn from other foster carers. It also offers 24/7 local support, a dedicated social worker and access to a clinical psychologist and mental health coordinators. Families can receive on average £483 per child, per week to help with the costs associated with raising a child. To find out more about fostering visit: https://www.essexadoptionandfostering.co.uk

In recognition of the continued generosity shown by Essex residents under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, Essex County Council (ECC) is increasing the financial support available to sponsors. The Government scheme originally launched in March, and there are now more than 1,900 Ukrainian arrivals staying with over 650 families across Essex. Sponsors are already entitled to payments of £350 per month from the Government as a “thank you” and to help with increased costs. ECC has now agreed to add a discretionary £200 a month increase for Homes for Ukraine sponsors, during months 7 to 12 of their guests’ stay. This means sponsors will receive £550 each month for months 7 to 12 while their guests are staying with them. Where hosting arrangements continue, payments will be backdated for sponsors whose guests have already been in Essex longer than 6 months. There is no need for sponsors who are currently receiving payment to contact ECC, but we ask them to bear with us as we make the necessary payment adjustments. The new payments will be received as soon as possible. In addition, ECC has also agreed to make a one-off payment of £500 this December to every Homes for Ukraine sponsor who has guests with them for at least part of the month. The increase in payments recognises costs for sponsors will have risen in recent months due to the rise in prices caused by inflation and increases in energy bills.

Councillor Louise McKinlay, ECC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnerships and Performance said: “The response from Essex residents to the Homes for Ukraine scheme has been incredibly positive, with so many of them opening up their homes to Ukrainian arrivals.” “We are keen to reward residents for their ongoing generosity, while also recognising that many sponsors will be facing additional pressure on their finances and may be worried about the rising cost of living.” “These additional payments will hopefully give sponsors some peace of mind and certainty as we head into what we know will be a difficult winter period.” “We are continuing to work with our partners across local and national Government as well as in the voluntary sector to ensure Ukrainian arrivals receive all the support they need, both as soon as they arrive and for as long as they live in Essex.” Sponsors who are not currently receiving the optional ‘thank you’ payments can find out more about how to apply on the Essex County Council website –Information for sponsors. The increase in financial support will be funded by the Government Homes for Ukraine funding.