Hounslow Chamber webinars
All are free, run for 60 minutes and start at 10:00 am:


25 th  June - Green Energy

Panellists include:
  • Derek Myers, CEO of Beond Group, initiators of Zero Carbon Project, are on a mission to help West London — the UK’s 2nd largest business district, become the greenest economy in the UK.
  • Cllr. Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Communities and Climate Emergency.


2 nd July - Business Task Force


If you have missed our webinars, you can watch them now:  https://hounslowchamber.org.uk/10015
It was good to have Cllr Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, with us on the panel of this morning’s Task Force , where there was a lively discussion about the impact of new traffic/parking restrictions on businesses in Chiswick and Hounslow West. The measures are temporary and are as a result from Central Government directives.
 
With regard to the downturn at Heathrow, Cllr Curran has recently written to the Prime Minister regarding the downturn at Heathrow. Please click here to see the letter in full. To have your voice heard please do write to your local MP and indeed the PM.

Cllr Curran also gave information on the allocation of Covid grants.
Government guidance on working safely during the coronavirus pandemic has been updated to reflect industry feedback, guidance on Test & Trace, guidance on safer travel and to provide advice on managing security risks. The full guidance can be found here .
The Department for International Development and the Foreign Office are to merge.
Boroughs support safe reopening of London’s high streets

Boroughs are asking residents to play their part in helping local high streets and businesses get back on their feet, boosting the local economy and potentially creating jobs and services for London’s communities.

Cllr Clare Coghill, London Councils Executive Member for Business, Europe and Good Growth said: “As boroughs cautiously look to reopen London’s diverse high streets with safety as a top priority, Londoners now have a real opportunity to support and celebrate their local traders.

“The phased reopening of non-essential retail businesses from 15 June will bring some more normalcy to the lives of Londoners. While we are all spending more time at home, now is the perfect time to explore local shops that we may not have had the chance to before and to support much-loved businesses we know well.

“If we stick to social distancing and follow the robust safety systems shops have worked hard to implement, we can safely make a conscious choice to shop locally, protecting local businesses and even supporting growth in these challenging times.”
#OpenForBusiness campaign

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is encouraging business owners and shop workers to take photos in front of their ‘open’ signs this week and post these on their social media channels as part of the #OpenForBusiness Campaign. More information here:  https://bit.ly/BEISO4BTweet
A number of Government updates to the coronavirus advice and restrictions comes into effect this week.  (courtesy of Hounslow Council)

Face coverings   must now be worn for the full duration of journeys on public transport. Operators will be able to refuse travel or issue penalty fines for those who fail to wear a face covering, in a similar way to the rules on having a ticket for travel.

Wherever possible, people should continue to avoid public transport and walk, cycle or drive. You should also avoid busy stations and peak times (5.45am - 8.15am and 4pm - 5.30pm). 

People using taxis and private hire vehicles should use a face covering for the duration of all journeys to help reduce the chance of infecting others.

Hospitals visitors and staff must now wear face coverings, and they should also be used by people in enclosed or busy spaces, such as shops. 

The Government’s overarching guidance remains the same.

Everyone must: 
  • Stay at home as much as possible 
  • Work from home if you can 
  • Limit contact with other people 
  • Keep your distance if you go out (two metres apart where possible) 
  • Wash your hands regularly 

Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms of a high temperature, or a new, continuous cough or a loss of, or change to your sense of smell or taste. 
You can find further advice and information on hygiene precautions and social distancing on the  NHS website .
Cycling and e-scooters
Many people have started cycling during the coronavirus pandemic to avoid public transport. Cycling is a great form of exercise that helps you to stay fit, keep yourself and others safe during this crisis and allows you to make a positive difference to the environment.   

Can you cycle on a public footpath?  

Cyclists are not allowed to cycle on public footpaths. Now more than ever, residents are walking more in our borough and it is important that cyclists keep off the pavements and footpaths to help keep themselves and others safe.  

Cycle tracks   

Cycle tracks are normally located away from the road, but sometimes they can be found alongside pavements and footpaths. When you are cycling on cycle tracks, you must keep to the side for cyclists as the pedestrian side remains a pavement or footpath. 

You can find out more about the guidance for cyclists in the Highway code on the Government’s  website. 

Electric scooters   

It is illegal to use electric scooters (e-scooters) and powered transporters on public roads and pavements in London. This includes cycle tracks and pedestrian-only areas. You can find out more about electric scooter guidance, driver and cycling safety on the Transport for London  website.

Try out our free cycling training sessions  

We offer a range of free cycling training for people who live, work or study in Hounslow. All ages and abilities are welcome. Whether you cycle for fun, leisure or for commuting, cycling is cheap, environmentally friendly and brings many benefits of a healthier lifestyle.  

Click  here  for the free training. If you have any questions or would like more information, you can contact the Road Safety Team via email:  cycling@hounslow.gov.uk   
We are making a number of temporary changes to the central London Congestion Charge to help us get London moving safely and sustainably.

The temporary changes are designed to reduce traffic in central London and enable more journeys to be made safely by foot or bike, while keeping the bus network reliable for those making essential journeys. The temporary changes will apply from Monday 22 June.

These include increasing the Congestion Charge to £15 per day, removing the £1 Auto Pay and Fleet discounts, and extending the hours of operation to between 07:00 and 22:00 seven days a week (excluding Christmas Day). The Residents' Discount will also be closed to new applicants from 1 August.

These temporary changes to the Congestion Charge will be kept under review.

For more information, visit our driving page .
Protect against cyber fraud - click here for spyware information
T-levels roll-out (courtesy of LCCI)

  • Education Secretary has announced a roll-out of T-Levels as 88 new education providers have been selected to deliver the courses. He has said this will play a role in the coronavirus recovery.
  • Now, some of the 180 education providers will be able to deliver the courses from September 2022. 
  • A unique part of T-Levels will be the completion of a high-quality industry placement lasting 315 hours.
Hounslow Chamber of Commerce is the primary support, networking, and representation organisation in west London for SMEs.

We support the interests, the commercial aspirations and the investment for some 18,000 firms - from Chiswick to Feltham, Heathrow to Osterley and Brentford to Bedfont - the Chamber is the voice for all businesses located in the borough.