The latest on networking opportunities in Havering and affordable workspace

News for businesses in Havering. Week ending Friday 24 March 2017.

Awards for digital agency

Respondit, a Romford-based digital agency and tenant at the Council-backed The Retailery (pictured above), has had their hard work recognised at the prestigious ‘Just IT’ awards this month.

The team picked up two awards: Developer and Employer of the year. Managing Director, David Hodder said: 'I’m delighted we were nominated for the awards, and over the moon to have won both. I think it speaks volumes about the business, and the hard work that the team puts in day-in and day-out. Romford has been a great place for us to develop and grow into an award-winning business and the team is looking forward to continuing with our success.'

Up for an award

Havering Council has been shortlisted for an award for being the best all round small business-friendly borough in London. The London Councils' awards ceremony will be held at the Kingsway Hall Hotel in central London on Thursday 30 March.

Havering has over 10,000 active businesses with 94% of them classed as micro businesses and research by the credit-scoring company Experian in 2015 found that Romford ranked the highest town in terms of the percentage of fast-growing companies and for the increase in the number of incorporated businesses.

Cllr Jason Frost, deputy lead member for economic development, said he was delighted with the news: “It demonstrates the ongoing commitment the council has to supporting our local businesses. Havering has a great entrepreneurial spirit and I know officers are doing all they can to nurture and develop that.”

Looking for affordable workspace?

If you need a workspace there are a range of options across Havering. They include:

1.The Workary@Rainham offers affordable co-working office space with high-speed Wi-Fi and unlimited free tea and coffee at a convenient location. Just two minutes from Rainham Train Station (C2C line), this space provides fixed and flexi desk space, breakout space and meeting rooms.

2. The Retailery in Romford Market Place. It offers shared desk space (pictured above) with unlimited internet, locker space, and two hours free use of a meeting room, all for just £170 per month. There are also fixed desk, retail and catering units available. Email hello@retailery.co.uk

3. CEME has launched its brand new business centre for start-ups and small businesses looking to accelerate the growth of their companies. The Launchpad Centre,part of the CEME campus in Rainham, offers a mix of high quality co-working space (hot desks and fixed desks) and small office space to let. It also has in-built business support included from its resident entrepreneur. To find out more email tom.ashby@ceme.co.uk.

Are you paying your employees the right wage?

The Department for Work and Pensions named and shamed over 350 employers who have failed to pay workers the National Living or Minimum wage. Don't get caught out!

Employers should remember that the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage is going up on 1 April. Check you are paying your employees correctly and be aware of the law for not paying the right wage.

Grants to help active travel

The deadline for applications from small businesses for a grant of up to £3,000 to implement measures to increase active travel (cycling and walking) is 31 March 2017. The grants include funding for lockers for cyclists and pool bikes.

Contact martin.day@havering.gov.uk for more details. Free bike storage is also available direct from Transport for London by joining their Cycling Workplaces scheme.

New Collier Row networking forum

The Collier Row Business Network Forum launches on Thursday 30 March.

Time: 6pm to 7.30pm

Venue: The Hall, Church of the Good Shepherd, 3 Redriff Road, RM7 8HD

This will be an informal gathering with drinks and canapes and a short presentation on the aims of the Forum.

The Forum has support from Havering Council and the Havering Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and throughout the year there will be a number of workshops, seminars and a chance to network with other local Collier Row businesses. The Forum is for all business sectors including sole traders and home businesses and is an opportunity to discuss and support each other in a number of ways.

This is a great opportunity for all Collier Row businesses to support the growth and development of businesses on a local level.

To book your place please email julieclay@thegoodshepherd.co.uk

News for HGV owners and drivers

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

Looking for an event venue to hire in East London/Essex?

Havering College has a range of fantastic spaces available to hire including conference rooms, exhibition spaces, performance spaces, dance and recording studios.

Help is available

A woman who has started a plus size online network, a florist and an HR consultant are among our locally-based businesses to have already engaged in an intensive programme of start-up support.

A partnership between small business support group Enterprise Nation and Havering Council started in June last year and has already delivered more than 760 hours of support, including one-to-one consultations, online advice and regular workshops.

The partnership is offering free business growth support via workshops and advice clinics over the next 12 months for another 100 entrepreneurs looking for help.

Congratulations...

To Harold Hill building firm Readie Construction who have been appointed as the main contractor for the first phase of the Segro Park development in Rainham. Segro Park, previously known as Beam Reach 5, is set to deliver 1.4m square feet of industrial space over the next 10 years.

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 hold regular breakfast networking meetings on the second Friday of each month at Havering Museum in Romford.

Havering B-Hive geared towards start-up businesses meet at various locations around the borough on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 9.30am. Informal networking with presentations and pitches.

The aim of the Havering Young Professionals Network is to give the youth of Havering's businesses a platform to grow and develop long lasting relationships, in their own way. Events are held monthly at various times and locations, with a blend of traditional business networking with a youthful twist.

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.

Next Havering Business Network

The next Havering Business Network will take place on Wednesday 24 May, at Rainham Library at 5.30 pm. The theme will be "How to make it big in business". Mac Robertson, Managing Partner from Haines Watts will be speaking about the business challenges he has faced.

Having led teams and owned his own practice for many years, Mac is a firm believer in investing in and nurturing young talent and understands first-hand the challenges of galvanising people in the direction of a vision and business plan. More information in next month's Business Briefing.

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.

Edit preferences or unsubscribe | Help | Contact us

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.

This service is provided to you at no charge by London Borough of Havering.