What does sustainability mean for business?
On 26th April a briefing talk was given at the Chamber breakfast meeting on the importance of businesses incorporating more environmentally positive practices in their businesses. Regardless of size every business should be thinking about how they can improve their environmentally sustainable credentials. This is becoming a critical success factor and key to the long term survival of business in the future. If nothing else the introduction of a number of government initiatives are increasingly impacting every business. Some of the new legislation introduced recently includes the sugar tax to tackle obesity and ensure that businesses are not profiting from people’s misery. The Clean Air Act, Water Reduction Act both of which have been introduced so that companies reduce their impact on our environmental resources. Businesses who sell products with high sugar content have begun to add healthier alternatives to their range to save on cost. Whilst manufacturers of high sugar products have been forced to reduce the amount of sugar in their ingredients to less than 10% to avoid falling into the sugar tax bracket. The 5p tax on plastic bags has led to a change in consumer behaviour around buying habits. There has also been a recent ban […]
First Green Business Forum presentation
First Green Business Forum presentation took place during the breakfast meeting held at the Good Hotel On 4th of September 2017 We discussed the purpose of the forum and then the Green Business of the year 2016 award Winner Meena Joshi of Aardra Systems Ltd gave a talk about her business. Hear from a business doing it already in the Environmental Sustainability space Meena Joshi is the CEO of Aardra. She runs the business with her husband and her son. Let me tell you a bit more about our business:- We are a LTD company based in East London, UK and we are a Research, Developer and manufacturer of water Management systems that is an intelligent electronic structure that senses the moisture in the soil and responds accordingly to adequately supply the soil with water. As you may be aware, water resource is depleting globally and in some countries resulting in the cause of droughts while various parts of the world now have desert like environments due to climate changes. Our systems working range is from a single pot in a garden to a commercial farm. Water is only provided when requested by a plant or a plantation (subject to appropriate […]
Eggsellent result for Chamber
Eight-six Easter eggs and £53.50 – enough for another 53 eggs – were donated at our March breakfast meeting to the appeal to bring Easter joy to Newham children in family difficulties. In the 2017 inaugural year, 72 eggs and no money were donated. Kevin Jenkins, OBE, founder of appeal organisers Ambition, Aspire, Achieve, says in a letter: “Overall, the appeal raised 1,725 eggs, which we distributed to the disadvantaged, vulnerable and at risk children referred to the appeal. Everyone’s efforts are truly appreciated and you have helped to make a real difference this Easter for the area’s most needy children.”
Elizabeth Line progress
Work on the Elizabeth Line (Crossrail 1) at Pudding Lane, Stratford, has been completed. It involved track work allowing trains to enter and exit new tunnels from the existing railway. Upgraded overhead lines, signals and track have been completed at Gidea Park to enable the 200m-long Elizabeth Line trains to use sidings. There are talks being held to extend the line to Bexley and north Kent. There is still no news of discussions on getting a station to serve London City Airport.
Discount club grows
Member-to-member discounts on services have been boosted with Holiday Inn Express London – Excel, Dockside Road, E16 offering 10% off hotel bookings and meeting/function rooms. Other member discounts available: Aardra Systems water-saving device – 25% discount; Holiday Inn London – Stratford City – 20% discount on food and drinks; Alan Patient & Co. chartered accountants – free untimed initial consultation and 10% off first year’s fee; Chigwell Tours – 5% off coach tour bookings; Good Hotel London, Royal Victoria Dock – 5% off any event booking; There are also some special offers: A free 45-minute financial consultation with chartered accountants Lall Ondhia, A free 45-minute legal consultation with solicitors Wiseman Lee and, A free legal consultation on party wall disputes with surveyors Charles G Hibbs & Co. Each member attending a Chamber event receives a card to show to obtain the discounts.
Business Park deadline set
The first phase of the huge Chinese business park alongside the Royal Albert Dock will be completed in March next year (2019), it has been announced by developers ABP London. This will include commercial offices, retail outlets and housing. When the whole scheme is completed in 2028 it will be the biggest business park in Europe. ABP has joined with Newham Chamber of Commerce to hold a breakfast meeting on June 15th at their offices in Dockside Road, E16 to inform local businesses of the opportunities that will exist for them when the first phase is completed. To book, email John James at secretary@newhamchamber.com
Records for London City
London City airport is smashing passenger targets. Last Thursday (March 22nd) recorded its best-ever day with 18,607 people boarding flights. In the week to Sunday, March 25th, a record 101,336 passengers departed from or arrived at the Silver town airport on 1,525 flights – 2% higher user numbers than the previous record in 2016. British Airways and Flybe led the way with packed journeys to Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh and tourist spots. Holidaymakers are said to have boosted numbers at this normally popular airport for business people. The Easter holiday period was expected to see 55,000 passengers pass through. It’s good news for new Chief Executive Robert Sinclair, who has been buffeted by flight disruption due to bad weather conditions and an unexploded World War 11 bomb. The airport is about to start a £480m expansion, finishing in 2011.
Your chance to promote your business – FREE
Taking part in this year’s NEWHAM BUSINESS AWARDS is an opportunity to promote your business. Time 107.5 fm radio, the online East London Radio and the Newham Recorder have all indicated they will be covering the finalists chosen in the 12 categories. And, naturally, our own website will be featuring these and some of the more unsuccessful interesting entries. Finalists will also be featured prominently at the black tie presentation dinner in Stratford Old Town Hall on Thursday, October 5th, when more than 200 people are expected to attend. And you will be able to promote your success to boost business. So it is time to get your entries submitted. Send them online to: https://www.newhamchamber.com/newham-business-of-the-year-awards-2017/ OR post/hand in your entries at Stratford Old Town Hall, 29 The Broadway, Stratford, E15 4BQ The entry form and judges’ category guidance notes can be found at www.newhamchamber.com The deadline is next Tuesday (August 15th) at 5pm. This competition is open to non-Chamber members in Newham (or whose business is mainly in the borough) and all Chamber members. Community organisations will be particularly welcome. Last year’s winners cannot compete in the same category, but can participate in others. The two losing finalists in each […]
NEWHAM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2017 UPDATE
Application deadline extended The application form and judges’ guidance notes for this year’s 2nd Newham Business of the Year awards are now available on the Chamber’s website at www.newhamchamber.com The application form must respond to the guidance given by the judges and can be sent either via the website or posted/handed in at the Old Town Hall, 29 Broadway, Stratford, London, E15 4BQ (envelopes should be addressed to Newham Chamber of Commerce Limited). The deadline for entries HAS BEEN EXTEND TO 5pm on TUESDAY, AUGUST 15TH, 2017. Shortlisting of entries to three finalists in each category will take place during the latter end of this month. Interviews of shortlisted entries will take place at the beginning of September. The black tie presentation night dinner is at Stratford Old Town Hall on Thursday, October 5th. A reception will be held between 6.30pm and 7pm before the dinner, presentations and dancing. Tickets will initially be only available to shortlisted finalists and sponsors. Any still available will then be placed on general sale at 50.00 plus VAT (total: 60.00). Advance payment is required. Tickets are limited by available space and comfort of guests.
Brexit, The Gig Economy, The Digital Single Market
We are in the 5th month of the year almost at the half way mark. This is a good time to review your business progress against your strategic goals. A lot has been happening in the economy so far this year. Here are some of the business and economic changes happening which I think are important for you to know. It will help you to do your reviews of where your business is heading and how these macro economic developments will help or hinder your business. What is your human capital/staffing strategy? Do you use mainly part time workers? EU workers? Have you assessed the impact of Brexit on your business? Will you survive, thrive or take a nose dive? How does digitization affect your business? Have you embraced the changes that going digital is bringing? Self employed and gig economy – House of Commons Report The days of a job for life and is something for the history books. The era of permanent jobs lasting for two years or more is also gradually fading away. With the introduction of zero hours contracts, remote working and portfolio careers we are now living in the era of the gig economy. This […]
How You Can Profit From Sustainability
There are a number of innovations and initiatives which businesses large and small are developing within the environmental/sustainability space. It is no longer an option for organisations to expect to remain competitive if they continue to conduct business without any consideration for the people who buy the products and services and the planet we live in. Here are some really innovative examples of how you can build a successful business and still have an environmental/sustainability focus. Create circular products with zero waste with Cradle to Cradle production processes Cradle to Cradle is a term used to describe products that have been designed so that every aspect or material used in its construction can be recycled, reused, composted or consumed so the product is essentially waste-free. The term was made popular by William McDonough and Michael Braungart in their book titled Cradle to Cradle, Remaking the Way We Make Things, which is a manifesto for cradle to cradle product design and gave rise to the development of a new independent Certification standard by McDonough and Braungart. There is a Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard which is administered by the independent non-profit Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. The Cradle to […]
5 Business Matters that will REALLY matter in 2017 – Nnenna Anyanwu
As we prepare for the Christmas season for some it will be one of the busiest times of the year and for others it is quiet time to use for planning into 2017. Whatever it is for you it is important that you are aware of some key Government changes that will impact your business in 2017 and beyond MTD Making Tax Digital – this is part of the government’s plan to modernise the tax system. They want all individual and business tax payers to have and be operating a single digital account for their tax affairs by 2020. This will remove the need to have multiple HMRC accounts for different things. The purpose is to help taxpayers to manage all their tax affairs in one place and reduce the administration burden and duplication for HMRC. HMRC will already have access to information about a tax payers PAYE, NIC and pension from their employer and Bank account interest from their bank or building society. They will then just need to log in and check that it is correct and complete. For businesses the process of registering new companies and submitting accounts will be more streamlined between HMRC and Companies House. […]
London City Airport gets lift-off
The Government today has formally approved the London City Airport development programme – previously rejected by recent London Mayor Boris Johnson. It involves: Seven new aircraft stands to welcome “next generation” aircraft and more planes on the ground at the same time. Parallel taxi lane to maximum runway capacity at peak times. World-class terminal extension to accommodate an increase in passengers and ensure continued speed-through check-in and arrivals. Welcoming 6.5m passengers per year by 2025 (4.3m in 2015). 344m pounds privately-funded investment. The project will create 2,000 new jobs and, says the airport’s Head of CSR & Public Affairs, Liam McKay, “will be a further catalyst for growth, investment and regeneration right across East London”.
UEL graduate ‘overwhelmed’ by £20,000 prize
University of East London (UEL) alumnus Mahyar Rahmantalab has secured a £20,000 investment package for his fledgling platform connecting local producers with influential chefs, Pomegranate, after triumphing at the University’s annual E-Factor business ideas contest. The judges, industry experts collaborating with UEL Enterprise, definitely saw a clear business opportunity in Mahyar’s pitch and will be looking forward to see more British local high-quality organic and biodynamic fruits and vegetables reaching top restaurants. Mahyar described his victory as “unbelievable” and “overwhelming”. The £20,000 start-up package prize includes funding, business support and a tenancy at the University’s Knowledge Dock Business and Innovation Centre, based at its Docklands campus, where Mahyar will be working closely with the UEL Enterprise team and surrounded by budding entrepreneurs. Timothy Isle, a member of the Enterprise Team at Knowledge Dock, said, “Receiving money is always important for a business but the support they get through our business idea incubation process is of much more value than just winning a cash prize,” “We’ve given a lot of extra support to the participants in this year’s process, including taking them through a series of workshops, a boot camp, a pitching workshop and a month of individualized mentoring.” The annual […]