Webinars coming up:
Security: Cyber & Physical Webinar
Thursday 25th March at 10:00am - 11:00am


Nearly a quarter of SMEs could not survive cyber attack 
 
  • New research from Vodafone shows that nearly a quarter of SMEs said they would likely go bust if they were forced to deal with the average cost of a cyber-attack. 
  • 16% of businesses said they would need to lay-off staff to cover costs of a cyber-attack. 
 
Having been a victim of a physical scam back in July, I fully appreciate the risks, the emotional upheaval and the feeling of stupidity.
 
 
Speakers to include:

  • Timeless – Speaker tbc
  • Identity Destruction Ltd – John Cauchi, speaking on Identity Destruction's secure shredding service. Click here to see a message from John
  • Victim Support - Bernice Keshet will give a wider perspective on community safety and the intersection with the business community.
New markets - Focus UAE
Wednesday 31st March at 10:00 am - 11:30 am

The first of a series of four webinars to support London’s businesses navigate Brexit and continue trading in the EU and new markets, this New markets webinar will cover

Click here for more details.
Hounslow Council signs up to Women’s Night Safety Charter

Yesterday, the Mayor of London renewed his commitment to women’s safety by calling on organisations across the capital that operate after 6pm to sign up to the Charter. Hounslow Council has responded immediately, signing up today. 

The charter provides an important opportunity for organisations, businesses and venues to show their commitment to ensuring women are safe, and to take practical steps to make all women feel confident and welcome at night.

Hounslow Council has a long record of careful and serious work on women’s safety. Our new ‘Safer Communities Strategy’ commits to 'work with everyone, so everyone feels safe'. Our Violence Against Women and Girls Plan was created through extensive interviews, workshops and focus groups with survivors and key partner agencies and consultations completed with residents, survivors, partner organisations and young people’s groups. 

Women and girls seeking help with abuse or violence issues should contact: 
  • Hounslow One Stop Shop on 07810 031 780
  • Refuge 24 Hour Helpline 0808 2000 247
  • Gateway (support for rape, sexual violence and abuse) 0808 801 8660
  • In an emergency women and girls are advised to call the Police on 999
£18.9m decarbonisation scheme unveiled to help tackle climate change in Hounslow

Hounslow Council is about to begin a major infrastructure programme to help tackle climate change by removing gas boilers from dozens of schools, leisure centres, libraries, and community centres.

The work has been made possible after Council bids for grants secured £7.65 million for schools in Hounslow and £11.3 million for public buildings from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
Gas boilers will be replaced with low carbon alternatives that will help Hounslow tackle climate change and reach the borough’s target to be carbon neutral by 2030.

According to the Climate Change Committee, 19% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from warming-up the places we live and work.

The new scheme will not only reduce carbon emissions it will also bring substantial financial savings for many buildings.
Hounslow signs first full-fibre agreement

Hounslow Council has signed its first, non-exclusive ‘wayleave agreement’ with award-winning broadband provider, Community Fibre.  

Community Fibre announced in February that it had enabled 200,000 London homes, doubling the number of London properties with high-quality fibre broadband in just a year and the company aims to connect 1 million London properties with affordable, faster, more reliable broadband by the end of 2023. 

Hounslow Council’s agreement with Community Fibre allows the company to install fast internet connections into some of Hounslow’s social housing, and work is underway to achieve similar deals - known as Wayleave Agreements - with other providers. 

The high-quality fibre infrastructure will begin to roll out in Hounslow in April 2021, and as people sign up for paid fibre internet, the deal enables a supply of free internet connections to some of Hounslow’s most vulnerable residents. 

Landlords who want their properties in London upgraded can get in touch with Community Fibre via landlords@communityfibre.co.uk 

Council calls for rethink over Barclays plans to close Brentford branch

Following the announcement that Barclays Bank intends to close its Brentford Branch on 2 June, the Council has negotiated an extension and is urging the company to rethink its plans.

Councillor Steven Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: “The closure of Barclays Bank in Brentford is a blow to many residents who rely on this branch and it’s bad news for many businesses in the area that trade in cash and no longer have a branch nearby to deposit cash." 
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
UBCUK are recruiting now for a Centre Manage for their serviced offices at the Mille, Brentford!  Here’s the link on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/2452168859/
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