Celebrations for Havering businesses, great networking opportunities and smart travel tips

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News for businesses in Havering. February 2018.

Feb 2018 advert

We celebrated and were inspired!

HBA Feb 2018 Best Customer Service

Havering’s biggest business event took place at CEME in Rainham earlier this month.

Over 60 businesses entered the awards and 21 finalists were competing for eight awards. The Mayor of Havering, politicians and media representatives came together to celebrate the business community in Havering, and inspire each other for an evening of entertainment and success.

The Business of the Year Award, which was selected from the winners of each category, was presented to The STC Group - a specialist training and employment company. Pandora Images (pictured above) took away the Best Customer Service Award. Click to see the full list of winners.

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It's cold out there!

Town Hall in snow

Havering’s gritting teams have been working tirelessly over the past week to ensure the roads are clear and safe from snow and ice.

The Council’s fleet is made up of five salting lorries which are sent out when temperatures are very low, no matter what time it is. We have been gritting all priority routes to ensure traffic is kept moving.

Priority routes include main roads, and school entrances. Red routes such as the A12, A127 and A13 will be gritted by TfL. 

While our winter heroes do their best to keep the main roads clear, our gritters sadly don't have superpowers, and it will never be possible to cover every road and pavement in the borough.

Latest information


Space for your business

Retailery Mar 2017

Office space is now available at The Retailery, central Romford. 

  • £125 a month for one person (open plan)
  • £250 a month for up to two people (open plan)
  • £400 a month for up to four people (open plan) 
  • £800 a month for up to four people (lockable, private office)  

One month rolling contract for maximum flexibility to your company. Includes rent, rates, electricity, water, waste disposal, internet, phone diversion, free use of meeting room with technology, communal kitchen, toilet facilities, entry phone, CCTV, and cleaning.

Available from 1 March 2018. 

For more information please visit The Retailery or email hello@retailery.co.uk


Being smart about travel

Cycle confident training course

There are lots of ways Havering Council's Smarter Travel Team can help your business. Here are a couple:

Free Driver CPC Training – Attending these fully accredited driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) training courses contributes a full day towards the 35 hours Driver CPC training that professional drivers need to complete every five years.

Small Grants for Business – apply for a grant worth up to £3000 to help you increase active travel (cycling and walking) at your business.

Please contact Martin Day for more details.


Opportunity knocks

STC HBA 2017-18

The STC Group, who won the Business of the Year Award at the Havering Business Awards 2017/18 (pictured above), are introducing Office Professional training for people aged 16 to 24 who are unemployed and looking to work in an office environment.

The course is designed around full time training for six weeks Monday to Friday and then undertaking a six week placement or apprenticeship. STC are looking to work with employers who may have these opportunities for an apprenticeship or placement in April  2018. The idea is to give an opportunity for someone who will be committed and wants to progress in the world of Business and Administration. 

If you think you may be able to offer a placement please contact Andrew.godfrey@thestcgroup.co.uk


Property help

London Growth Hub

The London Growth Hub has a property advice service for businesses and they are offering a series of free masterclasses and 1-to-1 sessions in March for London-based SMEs who are looking to enter into, or renew, a commercial property lease. There is no cost to access the advice.

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Invest in Havering

Invest in Havering

If you are planning investment in Havering - or know a business that's considering this - visit our dedicated inward investment website.

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Networking in Havering

Business networking

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 third Thursday of each month at 9.30am. It includes informal networking with presentations and pitches.

Havering Young Professionals Network aim to give the youth of Havering's businesses a platform to grow and develop long lasting relationships, in their own way. Events are held every third Thursday of the month at the Retailery in Market Place, Romford, from 5 - 7pm 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 7 - 8.30am.

BNI Valour chapter meets each Tuesday morning at Thames Gateway YMCA, Rush Green Road, Romford, RM7 0PH from 7 - 8.30am.

Collier Row Business Network Forum holds a number of workshops, and seminars throughout the year and is a chance to network with other local Collier Row businesses. The Forum is for all businesses including sole traders and home businesses to discuss and support each other. 

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

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

Romford Makerspace Meetup Are you are a maker, a 3D print enthusiast, or into robotics? Do you like tinkering with electronics and technology? Then, this is the group for you. Join in a twice monthly meet-up to share ideas. 

WordPress meetups are the chance for WordPress users to get together and discuss various aspects of designing, developing and marketing WordPress websites and blogs. Meeting on the third Tuesday of every month from 6pm at The Retailery, in Romford's Market Place.

Your Business Community has recently launched a breakfast networking event taking place every two weeks on a Wednesday. The event is held at the Liberty Bell in Romford starting at 8am. On-site parking is free. The group is a SME support organisation providing a comprehensive range of membership benefits.

Check group websites for latest info. 


Date for your diary

Retailery Mar 2017

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

Havering Women in Business is supporting Interntaional Women's Day 2018 by hosting an evening event at the Retailery, Market Place, Romford where powerful, inspirational business women will share their stories:

  • Emma Jones MBE, founder of Enterprise Nation
  • Sarah Walters, Managing Director of Made Public CIC
  • Denise Mortimer, Founder of the Fabulous Finder.

The event is free but booking is essential.

Book


On the move

Post Office logo

The Crown Post Office in Hornchurch is closing and from Wednesday 7 March the main Post Office will be relocating to the Hornchurch Convenience Store, 92 North Street, Hornchurch.