News for Havering businesses

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Business Briefing

News and information for businesses from Havering Council

December 2015


Roger Ramsey

Diary Dates

Leader’s Business Network Events

Thursdays at 5.30pm, venues to be confirmed:

  • 3 March
  • 9 June
  • 15 September
  • 8 December
  • 2 March 2017

Book your place at the next events.

Women in Business

Wednesdays from 5.30pm at Havering College, Ardleigh Green Road, Hornchurch, RM11 2LL, on:

  • 27 January
  • 20 April
  • 19 October
  • 25 January 2017

On Wednesday 13 July, from 7.30am at Natwest, Blackburn House, 22 - 26 Eastern Road, Romford, RM1 3PJ.

Book your ticket for the next event.


New Licensing Policies

New Statements of Licensing Policy will be coming into use on Thursday 7 January for the Licensing Act and Sunday 17 January for the Gambling Act.

Please make sure you are familiar with the new requirements before making an application.


Networking in Havering

Networking is a proven way to build good relations with other businesses, which can lead to referrals and new business. There are a number of networking groups in Havering including those listed below.

BNI Valour chapter meets each Tuesday morning at David Lloyd Centre, Squirrels Heath Lane, Romford, RM11 2DY from 7am - 8.30am.

The 4N networking group meets every fortnight at Liberty Bell, Mercury Gardens, Romford, RM1 3EN on Thursdays from 8am - 10am.

The ebn Upminster and Hornchurch group meets at Manor Hotel, Berwick Pond Road, Rainham, RM13 9EL from 8am - 10am on alternate Tuesdays.

The Forum of Private Business meets on the second Friday of each month at YMCA, Roneo Corner, Rush Green Road, Romford, RM7 OPH, from 7.30am. More information: Gerry Goldner

Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with the Federation of Small Businesses,hold networking events at The Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, RM11 1QT on the first Friday of each month from 7.30am until 9am.

NELE (Networking in East London and Essex) meets at the CEME Conference Centre in Rainham from 12.30pm - 2.30pm on Tuesdays.

Please check group websites for latest information. 


Time to consider European funding?

Idox is running a training event – Funding Steps into Europe – which will showcase a range of case studies and presentations about European opportunities, highlighting the possibilities and pitfalls through key topics.  The event is  on Tuesday 9 February 2016 at Stamford Bridge, home to Chelsea Football Club.


Low Carbon Entrepreneur lightbulbs

Could you be the 2016 Low Carbon Entrepreneur?

The Low Carbon Entrepreneur is a competition run by the Mayor of London and sponsored by Citi Foundation to find fresh new ideas to cut carbon emissions and give students employability skills.

It’s open to current students and recent graduates (2015) from London universities and colleges. To enter, you must be over 18 on Wednesday 30 March 2016. You can enter as an individual or as a team. Applications must be submitted by midnight on Sunday 14 February 2016. Enter now.


London Growth Hub

The London Growth Hub provides a one-stop-shop for London’s businesses to access a range of public and private sector support. More information is available here.


Business Support

Havering Council offers a range of advice and help to support your business.

More details are on the website which is regularly updated.

Get full details here.


Got something to say?

If you have a news item for a future edition of Business Briefing, please send it to Jolly Choudhury.

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You can see previous editions of Business Briefing here.


Pinney Talfourd Carol Singing

Carols raise £2,000 for charity

Havering legal firm, Pinney Talfourd teamed up with Queens Theatre Hornchurch in December to host ‘Christmas at the Queens’ – a lively free sing along event for the whole community.

Local choir Dawn Chorus led the crowd for a series of upbeat Christmas songs including “Let it Snow” and “Jingle Bells” before the Mayor of Havering, Councillor Brian Eagling, joined the stage to say a few words and announce the raffle alongside Managing Partner of Pinney Talfourd, Philip Cockram.

This was a free event but the charity raffle on the day and generous donations raised more than £2,000 in aid of the Queens Theatre charitable trust and Pinney Talfourd’s own charity of the year ‘Bertie’s Battle’.


Consultations

Rainham village sign

Businesses should speak out on Rainham river crossing consultation

The Mayor of London has published details of 13 new river crossings for London between Fulham and Dartford. Full details are available in Connecting the Capital.

Consultation on a new bridge linking the A13 at Rainham to Belvedere is taking please until Friday 12 February 2016. Make your views known here. 

Town centre traffic calming consultation

Havering Council is currently consulting on installing a new zebra crossing, pedestrian refuges and traffic calming measures on Western Road, Romford. Consultation deadline Friday 8 January.

Cycle route sign

New road layout for Main Road

Proposals for major improvements to the junction of Main Road with Upper Brentwood Road, Gidea Park - near Gallows Corner - are out for consultation.

The scheme includes:

Creation of a protected cycle track

Introduction of 13 pay and display parking outside the shops at Upper Brentwood Road

Provision of a speed table at the entrance to Hockley Drive

Changes to parking, waiting and loading restrictions

Full details of the proposals can be seen here.

Deadline for consultation responses by email is Friday 8 January. 


Evans Insurance Logo

Insurance firm shortlisted for national award

Evans Insurance Brokers, based at Holgate Court, Romford, have been shortlisted for the prestigious award of Commercial Broker of the Year at the Commercial Insurance Awards 2016.


Local Business Accelerators competition

The hunt is on to find the best local businesses. Are you a successful local business owner in need of a boost? Fancy some business mentoring from Deborah Meaden? Want some free advertising in your local paper? Then Local Business Accelerators is for you! 

Businesses wishing to take part need to contact their local paper, which will put them forward for the award. The deadline for nominations is Friday 29 January 2016. The winner will be announced at the end of March 2016.

Full entry details available here.


Crafty Arts Harold Hill

Vote now to help Havering firm win

Crafty Arts in Harold Hill is up for the Independent Lifestyle Retailer of the Year award in the London Small Business Awards and needs your vote to help it win.

In 1991 Natasha and Jay Necati opened a little shop supplying discounted art supplies and craft materials for all ages. Over the years the shop has grown and the product range has expanded with it.

Crafty Arts is now one of the most extensive providers of craft and art tools and supplies in London. Voting closes at 5pm on Friday 8 January 2016.


Food hygiene ratings sign

Food courses to boost business

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Level 2 Award in Food Hygiene and Catering courses are run at Romford Baptist Church, Main Road, Romford, RM1 3BL.

All the courses are on Tuesdays, starting at 9.15am and ending at 4.30pm. The next proposed course date is 19 January. Book your place here.  


Four lorries HGV

Free CPC driver training for Havering businesses

Havering businesses can register their HGV/LGV drivers for free Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) accredited safer urban driver training.

Funded by Transport for London, the one-day course focuses on safe driving around vulnerable road users, particularly cyclists, to increase safety on London’s roads. There are several dates until Wednesday 17 February, but places are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.


Email news logo

Keep customers safe

Safety First is the Havering Council email update which contains information on Food Safety Alerts and Product Recalls. Click the relevant link to receive your copy each month.


East Coast Music shop opening

Now open in town

Havering is proving an attractive place for new businesses, which bring with them jobs for local people. Among those firms which have recently invested in Havering are:

  • East Coast Music had its shop at 182 Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, RM11 1QL officially opened by Deputy Mayor of Havering, Councillor Phillippa Crowder (pictured).
  • Virgin has moved to a kiosk at The Mercury Mall shopping centre, Romford
  • Techouse has opened on Level One at The Mercury Mall shopping centre, Romford
  • Cut Label has moved to Level Two at The Mercury Mall shopping centre, Romford
  • Poppinz, formerly Charm It Up, has opened in a kiosk on Level Two at The Mercury Mall shopping centre, Romford
  • Teatots, a soft playarea for children, has opened on Level One at The Mercury Mall shopping centre, Romford

    London black taxi cab

    Taxi payment changes

    The Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) have confirmed they will require all London taxis to accept card payments, including contactless, from October 2016.

    TfL has negotiated with the credit card industry to bring down the cost for drivers of accepting card payments. This will reduce transaction fees paid by cabbies from up to 10 per cent to three per cent or less of the transaction.

    Under the plans customers will not pay any surcharge on their fare. Taxi drivers will recoup their transaction costs through a proposed 20p increase on the basic fare (the minimum fare that shows on the meter at the start of the journey which, at £2.40, is currently amongst the lowest in the country).


    Business Directory web page

    Keeping trade local

    We provide a free online Havering business directory. You can use the directory to promote your business. Add your business to the directory here.


    Apply online

    Book site visits 24/7

    If you are a builder or developer who needs a site visit from a Havering Council Building Control officer you can now book that visit at any time 24/7 using our online booking service. Book online before 10am and your site can be visited the same day.

    There are also many Building Control forms you can complete online here. Havering Council also issues a Building Control Briefing email update, which you can get free of charge here.