News for Havering businesses

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Business Briefing

News and information for businesses from Havering Council

Week ending Friday 03 June 2016


Diary Dates

Havering Business Network Events

Thursdays at 5.30pm, venues to be confirmed:

Tender opportunities

Employment Support for Troubled Families

The Department for Work and Pensions has launched its second ESF 2014-20 tendering round in London for employment support for Troubled Families.

The Invitations To Tender for each of the four Contract Package Areas (CPAs) for the Troubled Families programme are advertised on the Contracts Finder website. The deadline for applications is Friday 17 June 2016.

Radio Harold Hill logo

Radio Harold Hill is broadcasting regular business programmes and is looking for local entrepreneurs to feature on the show. Email your business details to Radio Harold Hill if you are interested in appearing.

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 Evolution Chapter meets each Wednesday morning at Maylands Golf Club, Colchester Road, Harold Park,  RM3 0AZ from 7am – 8.30am.

BNI Valour chapter meets each Tuesday morning at Thames Gateway YMCA, Rush Green Road, Romford, RM7 0PH 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 is holding a network event on Friday 3 June, 7.30am at Havering Museum. Free admission for members, non-members £5.

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. 

Are you paying the Living Wage?

If you’re an employer, you’ll need to make sure you’re paying your staff correctly, as the National Living Wage will be enforced as strongly as the current National Minimum Wage.

Pension enrolment

Auto Enrolment is a Government initiative that means employers are legally required to help employees save for retirement. All eligible employees automatically become members of a qualifying pension scheme with a high enough level of contribution. Sage has produced a guide for employers which can be downloaded here.

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.

First Aid logo

Emergency first aid courses

Level 2 Emergency First Aid at Work Course for local businesses are being run in Romford by trainaid every Saturday. See here to book a place and find out more information.

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.

Got something to say?

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

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.

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.

Transport for London

Transport for Business

Transport for London has launched a new Business Engagement website where you can find information on the support available for local employers to encourage their staff to be active, sustainable, and travel safely and efficiently. Click here for more information.

Pinney Talfourd logo

Free advice for working mums

Havering-based solicitors, Pinney Talfourd, is supplying regular information about franchising to the Working Mums website. See here for more details.

Email news logo

You can see previous editions of Business Briefing here.

Havering Women in Business logo

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

On Wednesday 13 July, 9.30am - noon on the theme of networking and pitches at Romford Library, St Edward's Way, Romford, RM1 3AR.

Havering Business Awards 2016 2

Entries for the Havering Business Awards 2016 are starting to arrive so if you're thinking of entering you need to act now. Closing date for entries is Friday 24 June.

There are also two free workshops to help you write your entry. These are on:

  • Monday 6 June, 5pm to 8pm
  • Thursday 16 June, 1.30pm to 4.30pm

Book your workshop place here.

Project Quad logo

Free workshops for retailers

Havering Council has teamed up with enterprise4good to run fully funded workshops aimed at helping retailers boost their business through practical help and advice.

The Project Quad workshops are on four consecutive Wednesdays, 6pm – 9.30pm, from 8 June to 29 June inclusive, at Thames Chase Forest Centre, Pike Lane, Upminster, RM14 3NS. Limited places available. Book your place by email.

business cyber attack

Protect your business from cyber threats - free seminar

Barclays Bank is holding a free cyber security seminar on Wednesday 1 June, 5.30pm - 7.30pm at its branch in South Street, Romford. Book your free place by email.

Help available for care firms

Havering Council has four places left on the free Sustainable Care Havering Project. If you provide adult social care don’t miss this opportunity to develop your business. Find out more here.

Recruiting staff?

If your business is looking to recruit staff why not book a free stand at the Recruitment Event planned for Monday 25 July, 2pm – 5.30pm at myplace, 343 Dagnam Park Drive, Harold Hill, RM3 9EN. Get more information by email.

Housing Services recruitment event 250716
men at computer

Calling all entrepreneurs

If you are self-employed or looking to start your own business The Workary at Rainham Library could be just right for you.

Havering Council is sponsoring an initial six-month trial to provide a room, with wi-fi, where you can work, meet clients and discuss issues with other local entrepreneurs and experts from Wimble Tech, which has set up similar centres in other London Boroughs. Kitchen facilities will also be available. Email here for more details.

Bike Week 2016 banner

Bike Week - are you involved?

With Bike Week fast approaching, from Saturday 11 - Sunday 19 June, now is a great time to register for Cycling Workplaces.

By registering, your organisation can receive free cycling products and support for staff including: free cycle parking, one-to-one cycle skills and a cycle safety seminar delivered at your workplace.

Food hygiene ratings sign

Food courses to

boost business

Havering Council, has partnered with professional trainers 'Health Works' to offer a one day food hygiene course with an exam at the end.

The course leads to a Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) Level 2 Award in Food Hygiene and Catering courses are run at Havering Museum​, 19-21 High Street, Romford, RM1 1JU. Book your place here.  

Combatting under-age sales

The Chartered Institute of Trading Standards offers an online course for staff to make sure they are informed of current legislation. Find out more here.

Free CPC Safer Urban Driver Training

Havering Council has been awarded funding from Transport for London to continue to offer free CPC accredited Safer Urban Driver Training to commercial drivers based or operating in the borough. The one day course educates drivers about road safety in relation to the most vulnerable road users. Drivers can register for training courses at Havering Town Hall in Romford, or businesses can book a free course for their drivers at their premises on a date of their convenience (minimum 16 drivers).Please note that although the training is free the CPC upload fee (£8.75) is not included.

Havering Show 2015

Put your business in front of 45,000 people at the Havering Show ...

Each year Havering Council is proud to deliver a range of popular events within the borough, including the Havering Show which attracts crowds of up to 45,000 visitors over the August Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August, and offers exciting sponsorship opportunities.

If you would like further details of how you can promote your business and engage with the local community, please contact Joanne Yeomans.

Havering Business Awards 2016 Sponsor logo

... and at the Havering Business Awards

If you want to be part of a six month media campaign to get your business noticed by other businesses in the Borough you need to be involved in the Havering Business Awards 2016.

There are plenty of opportunities for sponsorship, with packages at very competitive prices, but you will need to act fast to get the best deal that suits you. If you would like further details of how you can get noticed at this prestigious event, please contact Joanne Yeomans.

sign up to email updates

Get seen by 109,000 email newsletter subscribers

Havering Council's email updates are proving popular with almost 109,000 subscribers, including around 9,000 business subscribers, now receiving one or more of the 43 bulletins produced each month.

Some are weekly, others are monthly and they cover news and information from most of the Council's service areas. You can see the full list of email updates here.

If you want to find out about the competitive advertising rates for our email updates please email Joanne Yeomans.

RBS logo

Business Start Up Surgery

The Royal Bank of Scotland is holding a free-to-attend Business Start Up Surgery at its offices in Western Road, Romford on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 July. Email Steven Elliott for more information.

Silver Anniversary 25 year cake

25 years of serving Havering

Crafty Arts, of Bryant Avenue, Harold Hill, RM3 0AP is celebrating its 25th year of trading with a series of special events during 2016.

Jump Evolution 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:

Evans Insurance Logo

Awards success for apprentice

Digital Marketing Apprentice Pippa Cox, from Evans Insurance in Romford,  won the “Apprentice of the Year Award” at the Thurrock Business Awards. Evans Insurance Brokers were finalists in two categories; Business to Business and Apprentice of the Year. It was Pippa who picked up the award that evening, with the Company later being announced as “Highly Commended”.

Hillis Security logo

Trusted Trader

Upminster's Hillis Security Systems has been short-listed for the Which? Trusted Trader of the Year 2016 Awards.

Romford Shopping Hall red logo

Units to rent ...

Romford Shopping Hall has units to rent on flexible terms with business rates and service charges included with prices starting from £250 per week.

... and opportunities for crafty people

There are also opportunities for local crafters to book a table at the regular craft events being held at Romford Shopping Hall. Prices are £20 per day plus VAT.

Email Michelle Fitzgibbons for more information.