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Make a change for Clean Air Day

Clean Air Day is today, Thursday 17 June with the theme ‘protect our children’s health from air pollution’. The annual campaign, led by Global Action Plan, aims to raise awareness of air pollution across the country.  


Children are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution; it not only impacts their health but also their ability to learn. Recent studies show that reducing air pollution by 20 per cent could improve children’s ability to learn by one month each year. 


Even with year-on-year air pollution reduction, more work is needed to keep residents safe. From 25 October 2021, the central London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will expand up to the North and South Circular Roads, and will include Chiswick. Four out of five cars already meet the ULEZ emissions standards, however older more polluting vehicles will need to take action, you can check your vehicle here. 


What can you do to help? 


The good news is that our air pollution crisis is solvable and there are simple steps we can all take to help our family avoid toxic air and cut down on the pollution we emit – it's good for us and good for the planet too. 


Drive less 

  • Give your car a day off – walk, cycle or take public transport (safely) to school or work and for local journeys where possible. 
  • Use quieter streets when you’re on a bike or on foot to avoid main roads. 
  • Work from home more often – ask your workplace to make this easier for you. 


If driving is essential 

  • Go electric – there are lots of ways you can travel electric. Hire an electric car, taxi or test drive an electric vehicle today. 
  • Don't idle – turn off your engine when your vehicle is stationary, and it is safe to do so. Leaving engines running while stationary is simply an unnecessary source of air pollution. Find out more about idling.


Avoid burning at home 

  • Avoid using wood burning stoves and open fires - if it is essential, only burn dry, well-seasoned or ‘Ready-to-Burn’ labelled wood, or smokeless fuel. 
  • Avoid burning household and garden waste – take it to a local reuse and recycling centre instead.  


Use AirTEXT 

  • Between 1st January 2020 and 31st December 2020 there were 14 airTEXT alert days in Hounslow. If you are concerned about air quality and would like to receive regular warnings of high pollution, you can sign up to our free airTEXT service, which sends alerts via text message or email.

Complete the Air Pollution Calculator and see how you can make a change! 


Find out more

Need to self-isolate? £1,000 in funds may be available to you


Residents who ‘Step Up For Hounslow’ during the borough's Surge PCR testing and vaccination period can now benefit from enhanced Test and Trace Self-Isolation Payments of up to £1,000 if they are on a low income, need to self-isolate but can't work from home.


Anyone who applies who does not meet the criteria may be eligible for a discretionary payment.


For more information and to apply, click below.


Apply here

Today (17 June) you can get vaccinated!


Getting the vaccine is one of the best ways we can stop the spread of the virus and curb the impact of any new variants of concern.


If you are over the age of 23, below you can find a list of all our upcoming pop-up vaccination clinics over the next few days, more details of which are here.

  • Book an appointment via www.nhs.uk or call 119:    
  • One of Hounslow’s five community pharmacy sites hounslow.gov.uk/vaccine
  • Brentford Fountain Leisure Centre- 658 Chiswick High Road, Brentford TW8 0HJ - Open 8.00am-8.00pm  



  • Or visit a pop-up clinic with no appointment necessary at:
  • Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Hounslow (TW3 3UA) - Open 8.30am- 8.00pm. No need to book! 


Get vaccinated

Get a PCR test at a mobile or local test site near you!


It's important that you get a PCR test as soon as you can to identify any new variants of concern and keep the infection rate under control, even if you've already had a vaccine.


Please get a PCR test as soon as possible on Thursday 17 June at the following locations:  


Mobile PCR Testing Units:     

  • Beaversfield Park, Hounslow (TW4 7JF) – Open 9:00am-3:00pm 
  • Church of the Good Shepherd (TW4 6HJ) - Open 10:00am-6:00pm 
  • Tesco Hayes, Bulls Bridge (UB2 5LN) – Open 10:00am-6:00pm 
  • Bell Road, Hounslow (TW3 3NX) – Open 9:00am-3:00pm* *You can drive to this site and remain in your car as you receive a test.    
  • Brentford Market Square (TW8 8FJ) - Open 9:00am-5:00pm (hours may vary at short notice, please check www.hounslow.gov.uk/surge


Local PCR Testing Sites:     

  • Brabazon Road Sports Court, Hounslow (TW5 9LR) – Open 8:00am-8:00pm   
  • Padstow Walk car park, Feltham (TW14 9XU) – Open 8.00am-8.00pm    
  • Stamford Brook car park, Chiswick (W4 1NH) – Open 8.00am-8.00pm


You need to book an appointment for Stamford here.

When booking, select “do not have symptoms” and then “I was asked to take a test by the Local Authority.” Please also walk to this site if you can, as there is no parking on site and parking is very limited nearby.  


  • Hounslow House– 7 Bath Road, Hounslow (TW3 3EB) – Open 8.00am-4.00pm 

 


Or book an appointment at a regional PCR test site by clicking here.  

  • Twickenham Stadium (TW2 7BA) entrance at the rear via Whitton Dene – Open 8.00am-8.00pm* 
  • Heathrow Airport Car Park E2, Eastern Perimeter Road (TW6 2SQ) – Open 8.00am- 5.00pm* 


*When booking, select “do not have symptoms” and then “I was asked to take a test by the Local Authority”. Drive through site only. 


Get PCR tested

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Heathrow Airport is looking for a company to produce a new sustainable single-use mask to help reduce waste.

It is a live competition which all businesses are able to apply for.

Heathrow have said that they anticipate needing 80 Million masks when back at full capacity so this will be a great opportunity.


The link to the opportunity is now on the website.

Upcoming Opportunities | Heathrow

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Who is that knocking on my door?

 

If you wanted to protect your business premises from intruders and vandals you could securely lock your doors and windows, employ a guard, install CCTV and put warning signs up.

 

All of these come at a cost and this cost is weighed against the potential harm that could be suffered. Undoubtedly secure locks on doors and windows is the first step and putting up signs is the cheapest – it’s a balancing act risk vs cost. 

 

In the cyber world how do you secure your gateway to the world and the internet?

 

The latest cyber security article is a guide to free tools available to organisations and is available to view online HERE

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The Mulberry Centre is in good health and is progressively reopening their doors and welcoming clients, staff and volunteers back into the Centre. You will be aware that the pandemic forced us to offer our services on-line. This has been a huge success and we will continue to offer a blended mix of on-line and personal contact sessions in the future.

 

To remind you, The Mulberry Centre is a local charity that provides practical and emotional support for anyone affected by cancer- whether they have just received a diagnosis, are supporting a colleague or family member or have just lost someone they love to cancer. All our services are offered free of charge and we have no age or postcode boundaries. Our support lasts for as long as it’s needed. 


Support Services details

 

They are delighted to announce that their volunteers have received The Queen's Award for Volunteering which includes a special commendation for their work during the pandemic. This is a tremendous accolade for our volunteers and shines a light on the excellence of The Mulberry Centre. 

https://themulberrycentre.co.uk/featured/the-queens-award-for-voluntary-service/


And in 2022 they are celebrating their 21st birthday! For more information please click here and/or contact Catharine Langrish on [email protected]

"I have attended some of your sessions including the one on Property advice last week, all of which have been so valuable to small businesses like us. " -

Sunita Panjabi

Hounslow business programme: Innovate & Grow

Webinars coming up:

Fit to Bid: Branduin Business Support 

Circular Economy & Developing Key Partnerships

Monday 21st June 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Book Here


The idea of a circular economy that offers new ways to create a more sustainable economic growth model is gaining popularity. This webinar is designed to introduce the growing business case for sustainable solutions and learn how to manage and lead a sustainable business by incorporating circular economy principles into supply-chain strategies to support sustainable growth.

 

Developing and nurturing key partnerships is a strategic and profitable way to grow a business, especially within the circular economy. We believe that business owners have a better chance of winning new business and achieving long-term success if they “partner their business out of the pandemic”.

 

This webinar delivered as an interactive and practical Business Sprint is based on a unique Partnership Value Canvas, and will explain how to select, develop, and win more business by forming key partnerships and collaborations.

 

The session will cover 5 different types of strategic alliances:

  • Marketing Partnerships
  • Supply Chain Partnerships
  • Integration Partnerships
  • Technology Partnerships
  • Financial Partnerships


Speaker:

  • Nauzar Manekshaw, Managing Director - Branduin

Presenting to Win

Monday 28th June 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Book Here


Ges’ skills are built on a background of four decades of commercial roles, from bank manager to business development manager twinned with public speaking, delivering workshops, keynotes, MC at major events, and radio broadcasting.

 

He is an expert in training business owners to effectively communicate the benefits of their products and services via online and face-to-face channels.



Speaker:

  • Ges Ray, Presentation Skills Specialist - Branduin

A great way to hear what Chambers are doing across a wider local area to support businesses and most importantly a way to grow your network


Cost: Members- £10 per person     Non-Members – £15 per person

A great way to hear what Chambers are doing across a wider local area to support businesses and most importantly a way to grow your network and do more business.

These events are always popular so book early to guarantee your place.

Limited Numbers –  Only 20 places are available to each Chamber to enable us to manage the group effectively on zoom. A Wait list will operate and additional spaces may be released depending on overall capacity.

Book Here

May issue of Let's Talk Business out now


https://issuu.com/benham/docs/lets_talk_business_may_21

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West London Local Chambers & Hounslow Chamber of Commerce are the primary support, networking, and representation organisation in west London for SMEs.


We support the interests, the commercial aspirations and the investment from businesses in Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham - the Chamber is the voice for all businesses located in the borough.

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