Free CPC training

Next courses -  Thursday 16 February and Wednesday 1 March 2017 at Havering Town Hall, Romford. Thursday 26 January, Tuesday 21 February and Wednesday 15 March 2017 at CEME Innovation Centre, Rainham. This one day Safer Urban Driver training course educates drivers about road safety in relation to cyclists and pedestrians, including a bike ride where they experience life on London's roads as a cyclist. Drivers can register for free places on the CPC accredited courses, or businesses can book a free course for drivers at the  training course for their drivers at their premises (minimum 16 drivers).

Read more

2017 Pioneer 10 Programme

Pioneer 10 has helped more than 4,000 businesses to grow. Now is your chance to be a next generation business and discover innovative new ways of thinking and doing.

The Pioneer 10 CEME programme is operated by Oxford Innovation, and based at CEME Innovation Centre in Rainham. All online support and initial, offline start-up support is free to all local businesses.Take charge and join the programme.

More

HGV owners and drivers - have your say

TfL are holding the first in a series of consultations on proposals to implement a Direct Vision Standard (DVS) for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs). The DVS aims to address the issue of HGV and vulnerable road user safety in London.

The DVS uses a zero to five ‘star rating’ system to categorise HGVs based on how much a driver can see directly from the cab without using cameras or mirrors. Under the proposal ‘zero star rated’ HGVs would be banned or restricted from London’s roads by 2020, and only HGVs rated three stars and above would be allowed from 2024.

The consultation closes on Tuesday 18 April 2017.

Have your say

Best practice masterclass for care providers

As part of the Sustainable Care in Havering Project, Havering Council are running Masterclasses open to all providers who are seeking to understand more about how to make their business thrive and become sustainable.

Date: Friday 10 February 2017

Time: 10.30am-1.30pm (coffee available at 10am for a prompt 10.30am start).

Venue: Room CR3A/B in Havering Town Hall, Main Road, Romford.

To book your place email: Paul.Watson@Havering.gov.uk

Get seen by 117,000 email newsletter subscribers

Havering Council's email updates are proving popular with more than 117,000 subscribers, including around 10,000 business subscribers, now receiving one or more of the 43 bulletins produced each month. If you want to find out about the competitive advertising rates for advertising your business in our email updates please email Joanne Yeomans.

Read more

Business Engagement Activities

The Business Development Team at Havering Council provide a range of free business engagement activities. Each meeting will equip delegates with new tools and ideas for running your businesses, and will provide business-to business networking opportunities.

Havering Business Networking -  to provide businesses and social enterprises who have an interest in Havering with a unique opportunity to engage with Havering Council.

The Church of the Good Shepherd (church hall), Collier Row, RM5 3BA

Thursday 2 March: Sales & Growth for Local Businesses 5.30 to 8.30pm  held at – Book here.

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.

Havering Chamber of Commerce and Industry holds regular breakfast networking meetings on the second Friday of each month at Havering Museum in Romford. 

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

Romford Makerspace Meetup is a twice monthly meetup to share ideas and plan ahead. If you are a maker, a 3D print enthusiast, into robotics, or just like tinkering with electronics and technology and you are close to Romford, and you are interested in meeting similar people locally, then this is the group for you.

WordPress meetups are the chance for all WordPress users (and those who want to know more about WordPress) to get together and discuss various aspects of designing, developing and marketing WordPress websites and blogs.  Meeting on the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 6pm at The Retailery, in Romford's Market Place.

Check group websites for latest info. 

Lindsay Hondebrink is Havering Council's new Interim Business Development Manager. She was Head of Enterprise at SEMLEP, the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership, with responsibility for enterprise, skills and delivery of its European Structural Investment Fund Programme.

Prior to this she worked at Bedford Borough Council for 5 years as its Economic Development Manager with responsibility for the Regeneration Unit. Lindsay looks forward to working with you to support business development activity across Havering.