Improving transport connections to help businesses in Havering, a chance to bid for work, and great local networking opportunities.

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News for businesses in Havering, November 2018.


Stay well-connected

Havering Business Network

The Havering Business Network are meeting on Wednesday (21 November) from 6pm at the Town Hall in Main Road, Romford.

The theme for this Network is "Improving Connections for Havering Businesses" at which Highways England will discuss the proposed new motorway connecting Kent, Thurrock and Essex through a tunnel beneath the River Thames.  Havering Council will also be sharing their vision for transport infrastructure in the borough.

Book your place. There's no charge, and a buffet and refreshments will be served.

Book


Love your hub

London Riverside BID logo 2018

Havering Council and partners including the London Riverside BID are working to develop an innovation hub on your doorstep and would like your views on what it might offer.

The hub could help businesses of all sizes learn about how they can invest in new technologies (especially digital) to improve their processes and productivity, provide the opportunity to trial new software and processes, and help you with the skills, training and support needed to implement digital technologies in your business.

We want to make sure you have your say in what the hub should offer and would be grateful if you could complete this survey. The survey can be accessed here and should take 10-15 minutes depending on the depth of your answers.


UK Budget 2018 highlights

Budget 2018 book

Housing: The government will invest £291 million from the Housing Infrastructure Fund to unlock over 18,000 new homes in East London through investment in the Docklands Light Railway. 

Business rates: In the two years to the next revaluation, businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or less will see a cut in business rates by a third.

Planning: The Budget announced that the government has launched a consultation on new permitted development rights to allow upwards extensions above commercial premises and residential properties, including blocks of flats, and to allow commercial buildings to be demolished and replaced with homes.

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Building your business

Man using plywood on building site

Havering Council is working with developers to give local construction companies opportunities to bid for work in the area as part of their Section 106 commitments.

Opportunities are expected to greatly increase during 2019 as major construction projects with Wates, First Base and Notting Hill Genesis commence.

Register on our website if your firm would like to be considered for future opportunities.

Register 


Meet the buyer

SEGRO logo

SEGRO is holding a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event to promote work packages available during the construction of SEGRO Park Newham as part of their East+ development.

The event will be held on Monday 3 December, from 10 to 12 o’clock at Newham Workplace, Westfield Stratford City, 5th Floor, 2 Stratford Place, Stratford, London E20 1EJ. 

SMEs based in East London, including Havering, will be able to meet the contractors (Barnes and A&H Construction) who are delivering a 113 bedroom Travelodge due to complete in November 2019, and a logistics facility due to complete in August 2019 on Jenkins Lane, Newham for SEGRO.

Local suppliers that sign up to the initiative and meet the eligibility criteria will be considered by the contractors as potential sub-contractors for the developments.  

The event is by registration only. To register, please email marcomms@segro.com stating your name, company address, and telephone number. You will then be asked which package/s of work you are interested in. These packages range from scaffolding to road marking.


Supporting business

Brexit flag

The London Growth Hub and the Mayor of London have launched a new Brexit Business Resource Hub to support businesses through the transition process, whatever the outcome.  

It will bring together key resources from a range of partners to help you with business planning, supporting you to map areas of your business with potential exposure to Brexit, and then finding the help and tools to manage that exposure. The Hub will be updated regularly as the Brexit negotiations progress.

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Being smart about travel

Cycle confident training course

There are lots of ways Havering Council's Smarter Travel Team can help your business including cycle training,  sustainable travel advice and grants for businesses.

Email Martin Day for more details.


Cashback for your new boiler

Gas boiler

Cleaner Heat Cashback is the Mayor of London’s £10million scheme designed to make London’s workplaces more energy efficient, while cutting fuel bills and improving air quality through the reduction of toxic emissions from older, polluting boilers.

The scheme, which is the first of its kind in the UK, provides between 30 to 35 per cent cashback to SMEs when they replace older, polluting boilers, with new, cleaner systems.

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Workshops at the British Library

Workshop image

The British Library runs workshops and webinars providing advice and support to businesses.

Topics covered over the next month range from starting a or running a restaurant or coffee shop, to writing successful business plans. Many of events run with just a minimal or no charge.

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Networking in Havering

Business group

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.

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

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

BNI Integrity chapter, meets each Thursday morning at Barking & Dagenham College, Dagenham Road, Romford, RM7 0XU from 6.30 - 9am.

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. 

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

Havering B-Hive meet on the fourth Thursday of the month, 10 - 11:30am, at Yates, South Street, Romford. It's a space to share experience, receive support, and get to know other business people who understand the highs, lows and challenges of running a business.

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

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.

Hornchurch Rotary Club hold a free to attend monthly networking meeting at The Railway Hotel, Station Lane in Hornchurch. It's from 12.30 - 2.30pm. A 30 minute meeting is held at 12.30 followed by a Rotary Club lunch that includes a speaker from 1pm. Call 01708 440028 for more details.

Reach and Connect Networking will be held on the first Thursday of each month. Attendance is free thanks to sponsorship from Kingston Smith.

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 hold a breakfast networking event every two weeks on a Wednesday. It's held at the Liberty Bell in Romford starting at 8am. On-site parking is free. The group is an SME support organisation providing a comprehensive range of membership benefits.

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Investing in Havering

Invest in Havering logo

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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