Big changes ahead next month if you drive into central London, learning and training opportunities, and much more.

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News for businesses in Havering, 20 March 2019.


Are U ready for ULEZ?

ULEZ signage in street March 2019

The central London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) begins on 8 April.

The ULEZ will require vehicles driving into central London to meet new emissions standards or pay a daily charge. The scheme will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in the same area covered by the existing Congestion Charging Zone. It will be in addition to the existing Congestion Charge.

The scheme is designed to tackle the problem of toxic air in London. Around half of London’s air pollution is caused by road transport and the ULEZ is one of a range of measures to clean it up. From 25 October 2021 the ULEZ boundary will be extended to create a larger zone bounded by the North and South Circular Roads.

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Adding value to your business

CEME building 2017

CEME, the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence, in Rainham offers fully-funded business support to help its members as well as the local business community to grow. 

They are holding a workshop on 3 April at 10am on the value of work placements. Find out how valuable a work placement can be to innovating your business. CEME's workshops are fully-funded, which means you have nothing to pay.

Register


Advice and information

EU business image

If you are an EU citizen living in Havering, a business that exports to the EU, or planning a holiday to an EU/EEA country this year, you may have questions about how the UK's planned exit from the EU may affect you.

Havering Council's website has a page of useful information and links.

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The Mayor of London has also produced a helpful checklist of things to  think about if you, or one of your work colleagues, is making an application for Settled or Pre-Settled Status.

Checklist

Barclays Bank are organising an event at Queen's Theatre in Hornchurch called Building Business Resilience – Brexit and Beyond, to try and help customers with any uncertainty around the UK's exit from the EU.

Held on Wednesday 10 April from 8.30 - 11.30am the informal session aims to help other business owners to:

• Learn how to build resilience and prepare their business for the future

• Explore cashflow, trade, labour and fraud and the key steps businesses can take

• Learn how to assess and prepare their business for future changes.

Register by email


Help to grow

Adding value to your business

Get Set for Growth

GetSet for Growth helps SMEs strengthen their business and marketing strategies in order to generate more money from more customers and help secure finance to invest in their growth.

The GetSet for Growth Havering programme is fully funded by Havering Council which means the support is free and available to businesses in Havering and the events are held at venues in Rainham and Romford.

Workshops coming up include sessions on negotiations, tendering and writing bids.

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Workshops at the British Library

Workshop image

The British Library runs workshops and webinars providing advice and support to businesses. Many of the events are free to join.

Topics covered range from how to start and grow your business a business idea, how to protect your intellectual property abroad, and how to get your business online.

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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.

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. Here are details of just some of them:

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

BNI Eclipse meets on Tuesdays in Rainham. Meetings begin at 7:45 am prompt, and are wrapped up by about 9.30am. The venue is the CEME conference Marsh Way, Rainham, RM13 8EU. There is a £15 meeting fee that covers the room hire.

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.

CEME in Rainham has launched a networking group on the first Friday of each month. Held from 10am - midday at the CEME Launchpad centre it's a free networking opportunity.

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. 

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 12.30pm 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. 

Saint Francis Hospice Business Alliance meets in Havering-ate-Bower on Thursday 4 April from 12- 2pm.

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.


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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