Space for your business

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

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

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

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.

More

Invest in Havering

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

More

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 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

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

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.