Please click here for the latest security advice – be so careful there are scammers out there!

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has received evidence of fraudulent messages being sent to the public informing them a new dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

People are being sent a text message claiming to be from the NHS which informs the recipient that, "we have identified that you are eligible to apply for your vaccine." The message ends with a link to a website mocked up to look like a legitimate NHS platform. The website requests personal details, including name and address and banking details.

The CTSI has said “this is the latest in a series of scams themed around the pandemic in circulation since last March. With the UK vaccine rollout underway, scammers have modified their scam to consider this new development.” The CTSI said “The vaccine brings great hope for an end to the pandemic and lockdowns, but some only wish to create even further misery by defrauding others. The NHS will never ask you for banking details, passwords, or PIN numbers and these should serve as instant red flags. Do not provide any information to the scammers, but please also report suspicious messages to Action Fraud, or if in Scotland, Police Scotland, as this provides intelligence and assists authorities in combating scams.” 

West London Creative Producers peer mentoring programme West London Creative Producers is a FREE peer mentoring programme for creative producers in Hounslow and neighbouring boroughs. Through a series of facilitated sessions with a small group of fellow creatives, you will build lasting relationships with people who also face the challenge of developing their businesses through uncertain times. Together, you’ll enhance your communication skills, apply your own experience to help others, and devise strategies for dealing with obstacles in your way.

How does it work? The group will meet fortnightly on Friday afternoons (3–5pm), starting 29 January 2021. Sessions will initially be on Zoom, with the option to meet at the Watermans’ Arts Centre when regulations allow. As a group, we will learn to support one another by listening to the issues each of us faces as we grow our businesses, co-developing relationships, and building trust to help us make good decisions and solve problems together. The first six sessions will be facilitated by Carl Schoenfeld, an award-winning TV and film producer and BAFTA voting member who builds learning communities at the Universities of Oxford, University of the Arts Berlin as well as West London, including the Westmont Enterprise Hub and the British Film Institute, whilst launching his own incubator start-up with the support of Oxford University Innovation. Each member will have a chance to chair a meeting, and you will also be introduced to professional support from accountants, lawyers, and coaches.

Who’s it for? West London Creative Producers is for innovators, makers and businesses in the creative sector with a potential for growth or for creating employment. You will either be based in the borough of Hounslow; or based in a neighbouring borough and have a business connection with Hounslow. You might be a freelancer with a project in development, or an established business looking to grow; you might be in the screen, digital, design, visual arts, or fashion industry. Whatever your creative talents—the more diverse our range of practices and backgrounds, the stronger the group will be.

How to apply? The programme is free for participants. To apply, please fill in our short application form (forms.gle/eZRQ3LxqVUkCtAyP7) and submit it by midnight on Monday 18 January. If you have any questions, contact Carl Schoenfeld on carl@schoenfeld.co.uk or connect on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlschoenfeld/. West London Creative Producers is a Creative Enterprise West programme, funded by the Mayor of London, in partnership with Creative People and Places Hounslow.

An exciting new project has been launched to help and support employees in the west London to develop their job-related skills, improve their technical knowledge and build their career prospects.

NLET is proud to offer this new offer for the Hospitality, Retail, Health & Social Care sectors that will enable eligible employees to gain qualifications and knowledge in a flexible and accessible way from basic skills English/Maths to sector based qualifications at Levels 1,2 and 3.

The project is completely FREE to all eligible employees and their employers. Please contact: londonlearning@nletrust.org or 020 8570 7766

Please click here for more details:

Please see pages 13 and 30 of the Chamber magazine Let’s Talk Business, issue 3: https://issuu.com/benham/docs/1772_august_let_s_talk_business_magazine

Barratt London is due to unveil 226 new homes at its landmark 27-storey Kempton Tower, part of its £210million mixed-use development High Street Quarter that is transforming the centre of Hounslow, West London, on the 16^th and 17^th January.

The range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments in Kempton Tower will offer a rare opportunity for homebuyers to purchase an impressive property in one of London’s most rapidly changing boroughs. Offering not only a superior home, but a fantastic investment opportunity. The local area is reaping the benefits of increased investment, with average sold prices seeing steady gains of 7% on the previous year, according to Rightmove (Hounslow sold price data via Rightmove https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/hounslow.html).

One, two and three-bedroom apartments at Kempton Tower are expected to start from £350,000, with London Help to Buy available. For more information, or to register your interest please visit the website at www.barrattlondon.com or phone 0330 057 6666.