Webinars - all are free, run for 60 minutes:


Business support for our BAME businesses, as part of Black History Month - 29th October - 10:00am
Panellists include:
  • Seema Malhotra - MP for Feltham & Heston
  • Nauzar Manekshaw - Branduin Business Support

More details to follow.


Business Taskforce - 5th November - 10.00 am
Panellists include:
  • Cllr Shantanu Rajawat - Cabinet member for finance and corporate services at Hounslow Council
  • Tony Ryan - Branduin Business Support
  • Dawn Edwards - The Real Business Club
  • Nicholas Woolf - Nicholas Woolf Solicitors
  • Helen Roberts - CPGEXP
  • Alan Rides - Hounslow Chamber and West London Local Chambers
  • Shankar Devarashetty - Oasis Accountants

More details to follow.


If you have missed our webinars, you can watch them now: https://hounslowchamber.org.uk/10015
London moved into ‘High Alert’ level of three-tier Covid-19 system (courtesy of LCCI)
 
Health Secretary Matt Hancock delivered a statement in the Commons yesterday where he confirmed that, among other regions London and Essex would be moved to the High Alert Level. This means:
 
  • People must not meet with anybody outside their household or support bubble in any indoor setting – this includes meeting people in indoor hospitality settings
  • People must not meet in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other space.
  • People should aim to reduce the number of journeys they make where possible.
  • The full list of COVID alert levels by area can be found here.
  • The list of restrictions for areas in ‘High’ can be found here
 
The measures will be reviewed every 14 days

Support for businesses under new tier system outlined by Rishi Sunak

  • Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced an expansion to the Job Support Scheme (JSS) for firms required to close due to coronavirus restrictions.
  • Under the expansion, firms whose premises are legally required to shut due to local or national restrictions will receive grants to pay the wages of staff who cannot work.
  • The Government will pay two thirds of each employees’ salary, up to a maximum of £2,100 a month.
  • The employer will not have to contribute towards wages and will only be asked to cover national insurance contributions and pension contributions.

Changes to Local Restrictions Grant Scheme 

Furthermore, the Local Restrictions Support Grant Scheme has been altered. Firms that are forced to close as a result of lockdown measures for two weeks or more can claim a grant of up to £3,000 per month. The criteria are:

  • occupies property on which it pays business rates
  • is in a local lockdown area and has been required to close because of the formal publication of local restrictions guidance that resulted in a first full day of closure on or after 9 September.
  • For properties with a rateable value of £15k or under, grants to be £1,334 per month, or £667 per two weeks
  • For properties with a rateable value of between £15k-£51k grants to be £2000 per month, or £1000 per two weeks
  • For properties with a rateable value of £51k or over grants to be £3000 per month, or £1500 per two weeks

For businesses that do pay business rates, councils have been given funding to provide one-off £1,500 grants. The criteria are:

  • your business is required to close but you do not pay business rates
  • if your business is not required to close, but has been severely affected, for example as a result of customer businesses being closed
  • These schemes are discretionary, councils are expected to lay out further details individually
New Local Alert Levels (courtesy of the Cabinet Office)

Digital assets on Local Alert Levels are now available on the Coronavirus Resource Centre: https://coronavirusresources.phe.gov.uk/local-alert-levels/resources/

Translations are being produced for key materials and are expected next Wednesday if not before. These will be in Arabic, Chinese (simplified), Gujarati, Bengali, Indian-Punjabi, Pakistani-Punjabi, Polish, Slovak, Somali, Hindi and Urdu. 

The aforementioned postcode checker is now live, too, and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local-restrictions
Lifelong Learning Skills and Employment Summary

I am a member of the Governance Board of Lifelong Learning, Skills & Employment I thought you might find this update of interest – please click here for more information.
Financial education textbook, published by Young Enterprise.

Although designed for schools, this is useful for us all.

It is downloadable from
Looking for a change of scenery this October Half Term? Book your next family Staycation at the Holiday Inn London - Brentford Lock and enjoy 2 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast from just £110 per night. 

This offer includes: 
2 nights accommodation for 2 adults and 2 kids (under 13)
Dinner (kids eat from our kids menu) 
Breakfast 
Free parking


*Offer valid on stays between Monday 19th October - Sunday 1st November 2020. Minimum 2 night stay. Non-refundable with exception to changes in government lockdown guidelines. Over 13s would include a further charge. 


Book now or contact reservations@hibrentfordlock.co.uk
West London Local Chambers & Hounslow Chamber of Commerce are the primary support, networking, and representation organisation in west London for SMEs.

We support the interests, the commercial aspirations and the investment from businesses in Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham - the Chamber is the voice for all businesses located in the borough