Council Budget Consultation Webinar
21st January at 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Join Councillor Shantanu Rajawat (Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services) to find more about the Local Authority’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and Council’s future financial plans. We are facing tough times and this is your opportunity as a business to have your say. This is one webinar you should not miss.
Grant support for businesses impacted by COVID 19 restrictions

There are a number of grants now available for business in the borough and the Council is working hard to get systems and processes in place to administer the different grants as quickly as possible. 

THIS page contains details of live grant schemes, with links for application, and will be updated when new grants become available to businesses in Hounslow. 

If you are not certain which grant is applicable to your business please review the GRANTS POLICY

Important message from Kelly O'Neil - Director of Public Health: Hounslow Council

Kelly O’Neill, the Council’s Director of Public Health, explains in her video below, cases of Covid and associated deaths are rising rapidly in the borough.

We need everyone to follow the rules - to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives. And, if you have to leave home, remember – hands, face, space. It’s simple, and anyone ignoring these rules is making a decision to put their lives, and those of others, in danger.
Rapid Community Testing

Approximately 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 have no symptoms, but can still pass the virus to others without knowing.

Rapid, asymptomatic testing is now available for members of the community - such as key workers - using ‘rapid tests’ or ‘lateral flow tests’, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community and bring down the current high rates of infection in our Borough. 

This will help:
  • find people with #COVID19 but no symptoms
  •  break chains of transmission  
  • keep workers safe

You can book your rapid test at:
  • Hounslow House
  • Heston Library

Book your rapid test online or by calling 0207 084 9697
Hounslow Adult and Community Education (LearnHounslow) are running various course this term. For the time being all our courses run online and here are details of courses which may help with employment in particular.

We continue to run Initial Assessments for our new Free Essential Digital Skills Qualification courses – these are currently conducted remotely – see dates on the flyer.

Essential Digital Skills are the new legal entitlement which enables adults aged 19+ with no or low digital skills to undertake 'essential digital skills' qualifications free of charge. The aim is to give everyone the opportunity to benefit from digital technology and stay safe online.

There is another flyer here too for a course which helps learners to take part in our online courses - people who may lack confidence with online learning can learn how and gain that confidence to enable them to continue or start learning with us.
Learn how to manage your own business with #LearnHounslow
Call us on 0208 583 6000 to book your place onto a FREE short online course today. Find out more www.hace.ac.uk
The Ultra Low Emission Zone is expanding on 25 October 2021
Air pollution is not just a central London problem, with many areas still exceeding the legal limits for pollution across the city. That is why from 25 October 2021, the central London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanding to create a single, larger zone up to the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205). The North and South Circular Roads themselves are not in the zone.
You have received this email as a registered Oyster card user with TfL. As the expansion of ULEZ is a change that will affect some journeys in London, we are taking this opportunity to update you.
Where is ULEZ expanding?

Visit the interactive map to see if a postcode, location or landmark is in the expanded area.
Have you checked your vehicle?

Four in five cars already meet the standards, but we need owners of the remaining older polluting cars, motorcycles, lighter vans and minibuses to take action.
Cars, motorcycles, vans and other specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes) will need to meet the required ULEZ emissions standards, or a daily charge will need to be paid when driving within and into the expanded zone. 

Like the existing central London ULEZ, the expanded ULEZ will continue to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends (except Christmas day), with a £12.50 daily charge for vehicles that do not meet the required emissions standards. The daily ULEZ charge will be in addition to the Congestion Charge. The Congestion Charge zone will not be expanding.

You can avoid the daily charge by using a vehicle that meets the required emissions standards. The latest government restrictions requires everyone to stay at home. Our services continue to run for those who need to travel for legally permitted reasons. If you must travel, please walk or cycle if you can. If you are using public transport, please plan ahead using Journey planner or our travel tools. Travel during the quiet times and check before you travel.
An experienced local paramedic who launched a private medical supply company is offering coronavirus tests to give peace of mind to families, work colleagues and friends which see results in just 15 MINUTES.

With more than 30 years experience delivering healthcare, Kevin Wheal and his team of paramedics and nurses are providing independent COVID-19 testing at your home, place of work, hotel or clinic. Whether you who want to be reassured prior to visiting elderly relatives; peace of mind if your children are returning to school; you need to go to work or you are just worried about virus transmission, the one-step test give results within 15 to 20 minutes.

As healthcare professionals we’re offering screening and testing to local businesses, organisations and individuals using the latest rapid tests to offer comfort to those concerned about infection. A simple fingertip blood sample or from a nasal and throat swab identifies the presence of viral proteins – known as antigens – or antibodies. Starting at just £62, the team based at Heathrow airport, can also travel to you for the screening. 

During the second lockdown, staff from Medical and Rescue supported film production teams in London with COVID -19 screening and medical support, working closely with production teams to test both cast and crew. 

Medical & Rescue combines years of expertise and professionalism of multi-discipline staff from Military, Police, Government & Civil Defence organisations.
It offers training in all aspects of emergency medicine ranging from first aid and resuscitation to the management of anaphylaxis and major incident planning.

For more details contact: Medical and Rescue Limited
info@medicalandrescue.co.uk | Tel: 07768 843831
November issue of Let's Talk Business out now
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