Webinars coming up:

Green energy - Webinar

Wednesday 7th July 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Book Here

2021 is a hugely important year for climate action with COP26 taking place in Glasgow in November and there’s never been a more critical time for making our collective voices heard on the role that circular economy, waste reduction and recycling can and must play in reducing carbon emissions.

Speakers:

• Cllr Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Communities & Climate Emergency
• Matt Prescott, Heathrow - SAF/decarbonisation
• Barney Close, Race to Zero campaign
• Winston Gordon, London Bike Hub
• Conor O’Broin, Spark Motos – electric ‘motor’cycles
• Chris Smith, Meld Energy Limited - a net zero consultancy and project developer

Hounslow Business Support – Innovate & Grow

Fit To Bid® Programme

Are you ready to submit a winning bid?

Do you want to learn how to submit tenders and win new contracts?

Hounslow Council have extended the Innovate & Grow programme to July, and Branduin have been tasked to deliver 1-2-1 tender business advice sessions to local businesses based in the Borough of Hounslow. The Fit To Bid® programme will help you enhance your bidding skills and potentially win work on offer at Hounslow Council Procurement, as well as future opportunities at Heathrow Airport, Tier-1 & Tier-2 Suppliers, and HS2.

Please click on the link below to access a confidential Online Bid Capability Assessment Questionnaire designed specifically for small businesses in Hounslow.

Hounslow: Bid Capability Assessment Questionnaire

Please fill-in the online questionnaire urgently – it will only take 5 minutes.

All respondents will be provided with a confidential and customised report on areas of improvement to increase your chances of winning more contracts, with recommendations on additional policies, accreditations, financials, etc.

We request you to move fast by completing the online questionnaire as soon as possible to:

• receive your personalised report with recommendations; and
• book your 1-2-1 tender business advice session with an experienced advisor.

The programme is FREE for residents and businesses based in the Borough of Hounslow. Please act quickly and fill-in the online questionnaire.

If interested please contact Alan Rides at alanrides@hounslowchambewr.org.uk

New £20 business voucher initiative

It has been a difficult time for businesses over the last 15 months, and we want to do all we can to support you as Hounslow recovers from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We want to get your views on a new ShopLocal voucher initiative we are planning to boost our local economy, support Hounslow’s independent businesses to recover and thrive, and raise awareness among residents of what their high streets have to offer.

Under the initiative, Hounslow Council will provide a free £20 voucher (electronic or printable) to every household in the borough to spend with local businesses who have signed up to the scheme.

When a resident redeems their voucher, the business simply scans the voucher code via an app or enters a code into a web portal (integrated with point-of-sale system) and will be reimbursed up to the value of £20 by a bank account credit. Payments will be made to the business on a weekly basis after a seven working day cooling off period.

The initiative is completely free for eligible businesses in Hounslow and businesses will receive full training and ongoing support from our voucher supply partners. The Council will also run an awareness campaign featuring many of the participating businesses. You can opt out at any time if you find the scheme isn't for you.

Why get involved?

By taking part in our ShopLocal voucher scheme, you will:

• Encourage new customers to visit your business.
• Increase awareness of your business and promote a culture of shopping locally.
• Be included in an online map and listing which will be promoted by the Council.
• Potential to increase monetary value e.g. you could also run your own promotional offer for voucher customers.

How to get started

If you have any questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help - you can email us at: support@evouchers.com

The Hounslow ShopLocal Voucher Initiative Expression of Interest (Evouchers.com)

The success of the Hounslow ShopLocal Voucher Initiative is dependent on the borough's businesses seizing the opportunity and registering. 

Changes to Streetspace trials on Devonshire Road and Bath Road announced

We’ve made changes this week to the borough’s Streetspace trials following further engagement with residents and local businesses.



• The trial on Bath Road in Hounslow West, where parking was removed to widen the footway to enable social distancing outside some shops, will come to an end in early July. 
• The trial on Devonshire Road in Chiswick, where access for motor vehicles has been restricted, will be significantly amended. Restrictions will remain in place between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. in order to support local traders and hospitality businesses, but general traffic access will be reintroduced during the daytime before the end of July.

Thank you to the thousands of people who took part in the consultation, as well as those who spoke to us when we were knocking on doors in and around Bath Road and Devonshire Road as part of a further engagement activity in the last few weeks.

A final review of the other Streetspace trials will be conducted in July after which we will announce which will be made permanent or whether any further changes need to be made.

The Streetspace reviews are available at www.hounslow.gov.uk/streetspace-review

More information

How has the pandemic affected your business?

While the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the day to day lives for many of us, it is no secret that Startups and SMEs have been greatly affected. Whilst the vaccine roll out in the UK brings the hope of abandoning lockdown living, it has also introduced a fresh set of challenges for Startups and SMEs alike on its road to recovery.

'40% of SMEs have expressed concerns about generating revenue in 2021'

Share your business challenges with us

Whether you are in the process of future planning, diversifying, or are seeking support within a new area, Co-Innovate can provide a range of expertise. 

Co-Innovate Journeys aims to support London based SMEs by encouraging business growth through collaborations with Brunel University London's many resources, leading expertise and knowledge. By collaborating with Brunel you will have access to leading academics, as well as students with a fresh perspective and a range of ideas to help support your business. 

Are you a new business?

Our Co-Innovate Bridging the Gap programme will allow you to tap into our support system at Brunel University. If you are a budding entrepreneur and are looking for the right support, we can offer: 

• An online space for interactive learning and development to drive business ideas forward
• Workshops covering the essentials on Marketing, Finance, Branding and more
• Mentoring
• Collaboration projects with students who can provide a fresh perspective

If you are interested in learning about the free support we offer, get in touch below.

Contact us

The Bank of England today published its Q2 Agents’ Summary of Business Conditions, the link to which is below.

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/agents-summary/2021/2021-q2

Director’s Loan Cognizance – click here for more information

Open Day Sunday 4^th July

10.30 - 4.30 - Free Admission

Please join us for a Community Open Day at the Musical Museum in Brentford, made possible with the generous support of Virgin Media O2 and Neighbourly.

Visitors can explore our collection of working instruments, displays and inventions which tell the story of how music has been recorded and reproduced over the last 400 years. Find out how mechanical musical instruments work and sound through mini-guided tours of the collection and enjoy live performances of the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. Street instruments will be played outside and guests can enjoy a cold drink or ice cream at tables outside or in the River View Café.

Also on display is an array of historic phonograph and gramophones hosted by The City Of London Phonograph and Gramophone Society, a Brentford FC Griffin Park photography exhibition by BrentfordThruMyLens and interactive musical activities for our younger visitors.

This is a day for the local community to come and enjoy one of the fabulous heritage attractions in the area. Admission is free to all.

The Musical Museum, 399 High Street, Brentford, TW8 ODU.

0208 560 8108

www.musicalmuseum.co.uk

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click here for this week’s menu – treat yourself!

May issue of Let's Talk Business out now

https://issuu.com/benham/docs/lets_talk_business_may_21

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.