Hounslow Chamber webinars
All are free, run for 60 minutes and start at 10:00 am:
Arts & Culture - 9th July
This sector seems to have slipped the net in the Government funding packages. Over the past 100+ days of lockdown the arts has kept us going. The industry needs help. Please register to have your say.
Health & Wellbeing - 16th July
Lockdown has now lasted for over 100 days, the retail/hospitality sectors are beginning to open – are you confident to return to a pub? Please register to take part in the discussion
Skills & Training / Transform & Innovate - 23rd July
Yesterday 12,000 job losses were announced. Hounslow is going to be particularly hard hit owing to its proximity to Heathrow. Please register to have your voice heard.
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Discretionary Business Support Grant still open for applications
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The Discretionary Business Support Grant for small and microbusinesses is intended to aide those businesses within the London Borough of Hounslow who have so far not qualified to receive funding from central government during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Concerns of local lockdown unfounded
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There have been media reports which identify Hounslow as one of many council areas at heightened risk of needing a local coronavirus lockdown. This is not the case.There are currently no serious concerns.
Cllr Candice Atterton, Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care and Health, has issued this statement.
“Contrary to irresponsible reports in the media, there has been no significant spike in cases of coronavirus in Hounslow which warrants cause for serious concern or consideration of a local lockdown.
“As lockdown measures continue to be relaxed, and test and trace systems improve, it is very likely that many parts of the country will see increases in cases over the coming weeks. Small fluctuations day by day in different areas are to be expected. The overall levels of coronavirus in London remains low and steady.
“Like all London boroughs, we are working closely with Public Health England with access to the latest data to monitor new cases. We have a robust outbreak control plan in place and are able to quickly identify any need for immediate intervention.
“However, what the situation in Leicester demonstrates is that coronavirus is still out there and lives are still at risk. We cannot afford to get complacent. We must all continue to play our part, follow the rules, protect our vulnerable residents and control the spread.”
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Changes to lockdown rules from this Saturday
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The Government recently set out further changes to lockdown measures in England to enable people to see more of their friends and family and allow more businesses to open.
From this Saturday (4 July):
- You can meet in groups of up to two households (your support bubble counts as one household) in any location - public or private, indoors or outdoors. You do not always have to meet with the same household - you can meet with different households at different times. However, it remains the case - even inside someone’s home - that you should socially distance from anyone not in your household or bubble. This change also does not affect the support you receive from your carers.
- When you are outside you can continue to meet in groups of up to six people from different households, following social distancing guidelines.
- Additional businesses and venues, including restaurants, pubs, cinemas, visitor attractions, hotels, and campsites will be able to open - but certain premises where the risks of transmission may be higher will remain closed.
- Other public places, such as libraries, community centres, places of worship, outdoor playgrounds and outdoor gyms will be able to open.
- Stay overnight away from your home with your own household or support bubble, or with members of one other household.
- It will be against the law to gather in groups larger than 30 people, except for a limited set of circumstances to be set out in law and unless all members of the group are exclusively from two households.
For more information, read the Government’s
updated Q&A document
on what you can and cannot do. It also details the full list of premises which are allowed to open.
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
- Wear a face covering on the public transport network and in hospitals
- Wear a face covering in enclosed or busy spaces, such as shops
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
.
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Covid-19 update
(courtesy of HMRC)
As of 1st July 2020, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is changing.
Employers will be able to bring previously furloughed employees back to work part time and decide the hours and shift patterns they work to suit the needs of their business. From 1 August, employers will be asked to contribute towards wage costs.
For the latest information, join the following live webinar:
Extension to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and flexible furloughing
– we’ll take you through the changes, flexible furloughing, claim periods and key dates.
If you haven’t managed to join, we've also added more dates for our popular live webinar:
Coronavirus COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
– you can get the latest on who can claim, who you can claim for, how to make a claim, what you may be entitled to, and more.
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Hounslow's library reopening programme
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Three libraries in the borough are set to reopen as part of Hounslow Council’s phased library reopening programme. Feltham and Heston libraries will reopen on Wednesday 8 July followed by Chiswick Library on Monday 13 July.
We have put a range of health and safety measures in place to minimise risk for staff and members of the public. These include social distancing, frequent cleaning and limiting the number of people in the building at one time.
The libraries will initially be operating with reduced hours, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm and visitors will be able to access a ‘browse, borrow and return’ service only.
Library computers will not be available for the public to access immediately. However, this service is under review and will be offered at a later date as part of the phased reopening programme.
While physical library buildings have been closed, Hounslow Libraries has continued to provide the Library at Home service; delivering books, DVDs and puzzles to vulnerable residents who are isolating in their own homes during the coronavirus pandemic.
The School Library Service has also continued, enabling all schools across the borough to have access to a wide range of library books.
You can visit our
website
for more information about library services and the reopening programme.
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Greetings from NKV Holistic Living! We are a Health & Well-being company offering multi-dimensional solutions to address multiple challenges related to Emotional, Mental & Physical Health.
Please join us for a free 1-hour session to learn more about how we can help you maintain your Emotional, Mental & Physical Health and Well-being. The session includes introduction to unique tools, techniques and benefits, followed by a 15 minute guided relaxation.
Date: Tue, 7 July 2020 at 5.00 pm
Venue - Online session (meeting link will be shared)
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Hyatt Place West London is re-opening - 4th July
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Their primary concern at this time is the safety of their teams and guests, so they will be operating in line with UK Government guidelines for social distancing and safe operations.
Click here to see further details
, they will continue to review these measures in line with the latest guidance.
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2020 continues to be a challenging year and some may question Business Awards going ahead. After much reflection we feel there are reasons to be optimistic. Please enter the Awards, based on your activity in 2019, using it as a means to celebrate the past, to mark the end of 2020, and to give you and your team a wonderful night out on 15th October 2020, to move into the Christmas season and to start 2021 in an upbeat frame of mind.
The Business Awards are open to ALL businesses in the London Boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow and ALL our Chamber members, wherever you are based.
There are 19 award categories which you can enter now, just click the link to enter, fill out the form and submit. The deadline date for entries is 22
nd August 2020.
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Sonia Duggan – Coaching with Inspiration was so impressed by the photo of the elephant and the lion cub that she looked online. Sadly this is what she found:
To quote Sonia, “It's a pity because it's a beautiful image and idea.”
Apologies for not checking the image out and shows how gullible I am!
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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
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