Lets Talk Business Feb 26

MERCURE LONDON EARLS COURT: A Hub for Business & Events in West London

For businesses in West London seeking a refined venue that combines modern amenities, professional service, and convenient location, Mercure London Earls Court stands out as an exceptional option. Whether you are planning a board meeting, team training, or accommodating out-of-town colleagues, the hotel offers a seamless blend of business functionality and guest comfort.

A Strategic Location

Mercure London Earls Court is perfectly positioned for companies based in Fulham, Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith, and surrounding boroughs. It benefits from convenient transport links, with Earls Court and West Brompton stations just a short walk away - making it easier whether you are arriving from Heathrow/ Gatwick or travelling to and from Central London or Wimbledon.

A Flexible Venue for Large-Scale Business Events

Our flagship event space London Suite offers 1,200 square metres of highly versatile event space. With 5-metre-high ceilings suitable for immersive staging and exhibitions, the ballroom can be configured to host:

• Chamber networking evenings

• Trade exhibitions and showcase events

• Conferences and business forums

• Awards ceremonies and gala dinners

• Corporate seasonal celebrations

The flexibility of the space allows local companies to scale events confidently, whether hosting 50 guests or several hundred attendees.

In addition, second-floor meeting rooms with natural daylight, in-built AV, wireless projection and Nespresso facilities provide an ideal setting for board meetings, training sessions and strategy days.

Accommodation Solutions for Visiting Clients

With 508 guest rooms, the hotel is well equipped to support multi-day events and corporate stays. Preferential accommodation rates are available, with ibis rooms from £149 per night and Mercure rooms from £179 per night (inclusive of VAT and breakfast), providing practical solutions for businesses welcoming visiting clients, speakers and delegates.

The bedrooms are thoughtfully designed for business travellers - quiet, well appointed, and complete with spacious work areas, fast Wi-Fi, and plush bedding. Whether you are hosting a multi-day

event or simply accommodating overnight guests, the hotel provides a relaxing retreat that allows visitors to recharge and prepare for the day ahead.

Exhibition & Showcase Opportunities for Local Companies

For businesses looking to increase visibility within the local economy, the venue offers significant exhibition capacity. The adaptable layout of the London Suite enables companies to create branded stands, immersive product displays and sponsor activations — making it a strong platform for trade shows and industry gatherings.

Enquire Today

Availability for these offers are limited, so early booking is recommended. To learn more, arrange a site visit, or reserve your space, contact the Mercure London Earls Court events team.

Discover how your next business event or stay can benefit from the perfect combination of location, service and value - right here in West London. As part of the vibrant West London business community, Mercure London Earls Court welcomes opportunities to collaborate with Chamber members and host events that strengthen local connections.

For partnership discussions or event enquiries, contact: h5623-sb@accor.com

Email h5623-sb@accor.com

Contact +44(0) 203 988 8300

Website https://all.accor.com/hotel/C0V5/index.en.shtml

Welcome to our first edition of the new year, where we celebrate the successes of 2025 and focus on the opportunities for 2026.

Success comes in the form of Gripped London, which, having completed the full zip line course (pictures available on request), I heartily recommend. Opportunities through our Festival of Business is an excellent way to start the new year by showcasing your company to businesses across our West London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Hounslow. We are also proud to launch our Hounslow’s Heart BID, working with BIDs in neighbouring boroughs to help make our town centres safer and more business friendly. We also thank our outgoing Chair, Gillian Stafford, for her two years of service, and welcome our new Chair, Elsa Caleb.

In this issue our Spotlight Area focuses on Hounslow, where London connects and brings together outer and inner boroughs, links and local communities.

Enquiries

West London Chambers of Commerce

Spring Grove House, West Thames College, London Road, Isleworth TW7 4HS

Tel: 07879 813817

Email: sallysmith@westlondonchambers.org.uk

Web: www.westlondonchambers.org.uk

Our Big Interview is Restaurateurs

Sam Harrison & Fanny Stocker who are celebrating two decades of great food, a relaxed welcome and a genuine passion for the West London community. Better Connected articles show how to get the best out of your Chamber, and our Business Awards pages showcase the recent winners of our 2025 awards.

We are also launching trade missions to support our exporters to China, Turkey, the USA, and India, as well as numerous inbound trade missions and an international trade training programme. Wishing you all success for the new year.

Alan Rides

Chief Executive Officer, West London Chambers of Commerce

Publisher Ian Fletcher

Benham Publishing Limited

Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ

Tel: 0151 236 4141

Fax: 0151 236 0440

Email: admin@benhampublishing.com

Web: www.benhampublishing.com

Media No. 2167

Published February 2026

Editor

Sarah Dale

Email: sarah.dale@benhampublishing.com

Tel: 0151 236 4141

Features

Karen Hall

Tel: 0151 236 4141

Email: karen@benhampublishing.com

Advertising Sales

Karen Hall

Tel: 07801 788880

Email: karen@benhampublishing.com

Production

David Wright

Tel: 0151 236 4141

Email: dave@benhampublishing.com

West London Chambers of Commerce

Festival of Business 2026

The Festival of Business is the premier business event, showcasing and promoting the diverse business community in Hounslow and across west London, enabling our local companies to showcase their products and services, ensuring our pound is spent locally, keeping our economy strong.

Our ninth Festival of Business is almost here! During the day we will showcase and champion business across the boroughs.

The Chamber exists to support firms, assisting them to grow and create new jobs, while at the same time encouraging new start-ups that innovate and fill the demands of the marketplace. At our Festival of Business, we give local companies a platform to demonstrate their products and services to our local economy.

The London Borough of Hounslow has a vibrant and diverse population of some 280,000 people and a business community in excess of some 18,000 companies that reflect all aspects of that diversity. London is the biggest economy in the UK and after the City of London and Canary Wharf we are the third largest economy in London. Additionally, our services now cover Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham to nearly 1m people making the area the equivalent to the UK’s seventh largest city with a GDP of £40bn.

“Branduin’s participation in the West London Chambers Festival of Business has been a fantastic experience year after year. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with decision makers, network, and showcase our services to the local business community. We’re always excited to engage with visitors, onboard SME suppliers to our Fit To Bid programme, and contribute to the events vibrant atmosphere.”

Nauzar Manekshaw - Managing Director, Branduin Business Support

DATE:

West London’s flagship event for ambitious businesses

Supported by:

TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2026 RD

West London’s flagship event for amb

The day will start with a VIP breakfast and in speakers. These will include Cllr Tom Bruce, D Hounslow Council and representatives from E Hammersmith & Fulham Councils, along with Creative Mile Brentford.

The day will start with a VIP Breakfast with our keynote speaker Professor Peter John CBE, Vice-Chancellor and President of University of West London. He will be followed by Cllr Tom Bruce, Deputy Leader of Hounslow Council and representatives from our other two councils, Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham. Creative Mile Brentford will also say a few words about the exciting project with the National Gallery.

HOLIDAY INN, BRENTFORD LOCK

This thought-provoking event brings togethe innovators, entrepreneurs and West London for a day Expect up to 40 exhibitors, netwo and collaborative workshops

This thought-provoking event brings together industry leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs for a day. Expect exhibitors, networking opportunities and collaborative workshops.

While the business exhibition runs from 9 30am to 4 00pm, there will be a series of seminars running throughout the day Seminars include an exciting panel of experts discussing the latest updates on AI, and an informative workship on ‘ Tactics to Win New Contracts’ by Branduin Business Support .

EXHIBITORS

AzuraTech

Seminars and keynote speakers:

Back Heathrow

Bahar Factory

Blue Summit

While the business exhibition runs from 9.30am to 4.00pm, there will be a series of seminars running throughout the day.

with up to 50 stands and there will be a series of seminars running throughout the day.

Tuesday March 3rd, 2026

VIP Breakfast - 7:45am - 9:30am

Exhibition & Workshops:

TO BOOK A STAND OR VIP BREAK PLEASE CONTACT: GERALDINE H 07710 574479

Venue: Holiday Inn, Brentford Lock, Commerce Road, Brentford TW8 8G

Branduin Business Support

Brentford Voice

CBA Rope Access Ltd

Seminars include an exciting panel of experts discussing the latest updates on AI, and an informative workship on ‘Tactics to Win New Contracts’ by Branduin Business Support.

gerryholden@westlondonc

Creative Mile CIC Brentford

Currie Motors

Green Facilities Management Ltd

Exhibitors

AzuraTech

Green Guide Magazine

Grow London Local

Holiday Inn Brentford Lock

Hounslow Council

Back Heathrow

Hounslow’s Heart BID

Bahar Factory

Blue Summit

Branduin Business Support

Brentford Voice

CBA Rope Access Ltd

Creative Mile CIC Brentford

Currie Motors

Green Facilities Management Ltd

Green Guide Magazine

WHY ATTEND?

Grow London Local

Meet up to 40 exhibitors

Holiday Inn Brentford Lock

Hear expert keynote speakers

Hounslow Council

To book a stand or VIP Breakfast contact Geraldine Holden on or email gerryholden@westlondonchambers.org.uk

Why Attend?

K4 Group

Thames College WSI Digitial Advisors

• Meet up to 40 exhibitors

• Hear expert keynote speakers

• Build valuable business connections

Leverage Enterprises Ltd

Oasis Accountants

Progress Group Ltd

Right at Home Ealing

The Pallets Yard

• Discover opportunities

The festival is a fantastic opportunity to connect with professionals, offering valuable networking and engaging conversations that help strengthen relationships within the local business ecosystem - Venture X Chiswick Park

REGISTER FREE TODAY! SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT: https://bit.ly/4ccONI0

University of West London

Venture X Chiswick Park

West London Chambers

Build valuable business connections

Hounslow’s Heart BID

Discover opportunities

West Thames College

WSI Digitial Advisors

Experience Holiday Inn London – Brentford Lock, perfectly positioned along the picturesque Grand Union Canal. Combining contemporary comfort with warm, attentive service, our hotel provides an inspiring setting for every occasion. Whether you’re planning a business meeting, corporate workshop, or family celebration, our versatile event spaces and dedicated team ensure every detail is seamlessly managedso you can focus on connecting, collaborating, and creating unforgettable moments.

Day Delegate Rates from £54, min 10 delegates.

Gripped London named as winner of Advance for Growth competition 2025

Gripped London has been named the winner of the Advance for Growth competition in partnership with JCDecaux, London Borough of Hounslow Council, and the West London Chambers of Commerce.

JCDecaux UK is pleased to announce that Gripped London has been named as the winner of the 2025 Advance for Growth competition.

Now in its fourth year, the Advance for Growth programme offers a Hounslowbased SME the chance to receive premium digital advertising space with JCDecaux UK, business support from Hounslow Council, and tailored mentoring from the West London Chambers of Commerce.

Gripped London, the aerial and outdoor activity centre located on Staines Road, impressed judges with its unique experienceled business model, local job creation and its potential to grow as a destination for families and corporate team building. This year’s prize includes Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising with JCDecaux, West London Chambers membership, a feature in the Let’s Talk Business magazine, and bespoke mentoring. Runners up are CityFit Brentford and Nationwide Building Materials. Both businesses will receive free membership to the Chambers and business mentoring via Hounslow Council and West London Chambers for the year.

Not only did Gripped London win the Advance for Growth competition, it also won an award at the 2025 West London Chambers Business Awards: the League of their Own Award. The recognition highlights the adventure park’s commitment to delivering unforgettable outdoor experiences and growing its presence within the local community.

Gripped London offers a wide range of highenergy outdoor experiences designed to

challenge, excite and bring people together. From epic high-ropes courses to heart-racing 1km dual zip line trekking, 50m-long speed slides to treetop net adventures, visitors can enjoy adrenaline-fuelled activities that have been carefully designed to deliver thrilling, extraordinary experiences.

Adventure, thrills and magical memories await for visitors to make this year their most exhilarating ever. Welcoming families, friends, schools and corporate groups looking for unforgettable days out in the capital, Gripped London is the ultimate daredevil playground packed with an abundance of adventure and excitement. Gripped London entered the awards to shine a spotlight on the hard work, passion and creativity the team brings to deliver their unique outdoor adventures in West London. The team prides itself on its commitment to create unforgettable adventures and be the ultimate destination for creating extraordinary experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

Winning the Advance for Growth Award provides Gripped London with a valuable platform to raise its profile, strengthen brand recognition and attract new visitors from across West London and beyond, while reinforcing its position as a standout destination for outdoor adventure. The Gripped London team have said that winning amongst so many inspiring local businesses is a huge honour, and the team is excited to carry this momentum into the year ahead.

Emma, General Manager at Gripped London reflected on the achievement: “We’re truly chuffed to have won the Advance for Growth Award this year, we cannot believe it. It feels awesome, we’re so happy and truly humbled by this recognition. Thank you to everyone who nominated us. We look forward to working with the Council, JCDecaux and the Chamber over the coming months.”

As Gripped London is a seasonal attraction, JCDecaux has generously offered one of the runners up CityFit Brentford OOH advertising in January 2026 and the advertisements are now up and looking impressive! To quote Csilla of CityFit Brentford “Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity; I am truly grateful. I will certainly do my best to maximise the impact of this complimentary advertising.”

We are looking forward to seeing Gripped London being featured in the spring.

“West London Chambers is really proud to be part of the Advance for Growth competition for the fourth year, celebrating the diverse business community in the borough of Hounslow. Gripped London, the Aerial and Outdoor Activity Centre in Hounslow is the welldeserved winner this year.

Gripped London on Staines Road has it all: high rope courses, zip line trekking, bag jumps, speed slides, all making it the perfect day out for all ages, no matter the weather.

Through OOH advertising Gripped London will now be able to extend its reach to more families and businesses, as it’s perfect for team building. I am really excited to see the advertising campaign and the front cover of our business magazine, Let’s Talk Business. And of course visiting Gripped London for the zip wire! Huge congratulations to all the team at Gripped London.”

Sally Smith, COO, West London Chambers of Commerce

Neena Gharu – Head of Apprenticeships

West Thames College and local employers: Developing the workforce of the future

Employers across West London are facing growing pressures to recruit skilled staff, close persistent skills gaps, and support their workforce to upskill and reskill in response to rapid economic change.

At West Thames College, addressing these challenges is fundamental to our mission. We work hand-in-hand with employers to build strong, mutually beneficial partnerships that align education with the realities of the workplace. Through high-quality teaching and meaningful engagement with the world of work, our students develop the skill and professional attitudes employers need, enabling businesses to thrive while empowering individuals to succeed in rewarding careers.

For us, this work is grounded in ensuring our students are fully prepared to succeed in the workplace. Every partnership, apprenticeship

and employer engagement activity is designed to ensure our students leave with more than qualifications; they leave with confidence, real industry insight and the ambition to contribute from day one. In doing so, we help employers access a strong pipeline of emerging talent while creating meaningful opportunities that benefit both businesses and the communities they serve.

National Apprenticeship Week: Connecting talent and opportunity

In February, the College brought together employers, partners and students through a focused programme of activity aligned with National Apprenticeship Week. The week demonstrated how close collaboration between education and industry can address skills shortages, develop talent pipelines and support economic growth across the region.

Our Apprenticeships team worked closely with employers through recruitment and engagement initiatives, including a recruitment event with World Duty Free and participation in Hounslow’s Limitless Apprenticeships and Jobs Fair. These events enabled businesses to connect directly with potential apprentices while showcasing the breadth of opportunities available across sectors for both young people and adult learners.

A highlight of the week was the Apprenticeships Breakfast Event at our Isleworth campus, where employers, partners and stakeholders came together to discuss workforce development priorities and the role apprenticeships play in building long-term capability. Importantly, students were part of these conversations, gaining valuable insight into employer expectations and professional environments.

Understanding Logistics: A sector

in focus

One of the most impactful moments of National Apprenticeship Week took place on 12 February, when West Thames College hosted its Understanding Logistics event at the College’s Skills + Logistics Centre in Feltham.

The event welcomed leading organisations including the National Institute of Couriers, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, Royal Mail, Evri, SBL Couriers and RIF Group, alongside representatives from the London Borough of Hounslow. Working directly with students, these partners highlighted career pathways within a sector that plays a critical role in both the local and national economy.

Opening the event, Principal and CEO Marta Gajewska highlighted the strategic importance of the sector and the need for strong collaboration between education and industry:

“Logistics is about thousands of people working behind the scenes to keep the economy moving. Here in West London, the sector offers significant opportunities from entry level jobs with progression through apprenticeships to senior leadership roles, and it is vital that education and industry work together to prepare the workforce the sector needs.”

Carl Lomas MBE, Chair of the National Institute of Couriers, also spoke to students about the wide range of roles available locally, noting:

“Heathrow, Hounslow, Isleworth, Feltham — this is the heartland of logistics, rich in jobs and well paid - do you want to manage these operations, drive these vehicles or get involved in the technology behind them? Get involved – these jobs are here today.”

The event featured employer demonstrations, discussions around skills requirements and an outdoor vehicle showcase, including electric and gas-powered vehicles. This hands-on approach helped students understand how the industry operates, while demonstrating the breadth of career opportunities and progression routes available, and highlighting innovation and the sector’s transition towards more sustainable, low-carbon transport.

Real voices, real impact

Apprentices were placed at the heart of National Apprenticeship Week, with students hearing directly from current apprentices across a range of industries. These first-hand accounts offered insight into the benefits of learning while earning, building technical expertise and developing confidence in the workplace.

By sharing real journeys and experiences, the College reinforced apprenticeships as a practical, high-value route into skilled employment that benefits both individuals and employers.

Why partnership matters

Together, National Apprenticeship Week and the Understanding Logistics event demonstrated the impact of meaningful collaboration between education and industry. Through tailored training, apprenticeships and employer engagement, West Thames College supports businesses to:

• Address current and future skills shortages

• Build a diverse and inclusive talent pipeline

• Align training provision with real-world industry needs

• Strengthen workforce capability and longterm retention

For employers, engagement with the College represents not a one-off interaction, but the start of a strategic partnership focused on shared outcomes.

Looking ahead: Aspire 2026

Building on this momentum, West Thames College will host Aspire 2026 on 4 March 2026 at its Isleworth campus.

Aspire is an exhibition-style event designed to connect students directly with employers, helping young people build confidence, develop employability skills and gain insight into real career pathways. For employers, the event provides direct access to motivated students from a wide range of vocational and academic backgrounds.

Businesses taking part will have the opportunity to inspire future talent, contribute industry insight, explore apprenticeships and training solutions, and begin long-term partnerships with the College. Aspire represents a practical way for employers to engage with the next generation while helping shape the skills of tomorrow.

AspireEvent WESTTHAMESCOLLEGE

To learn more about apprenticeships, explore partnership opportunities or register for Aspire, visit west-thames.ac.uk/employers or scan the QR code to start the conversation.

At West Thames College, our promise is simple — Start Here, Go Far — and together we can build the skills, talent and workforce that will power West London’s future.

The “Sorry Tax”: Reflections on Sheryl Sandberg and gender inequality

When Sheryl Sandberg published Lean In in 2013, one observation resonated with women across industries almost immediately. Women, Sandberg wrote, apologise far more often than men at work, not for genuine errors, but for speaking, questioning, interrupting, or simply taking up space.

by Sarah Jane Gardner BEM Entrepreneur & Charity leader

Her insight was not anecdotal. Psychological research shows that women apologise more frequently because they perceive a wider range of their actions as potentially inappropriate or risky, not because they are less competent, but because they have learned that professional and social penalties are real and unevenly applied (Schumann & Ross, 2010).

Sandberg highlighted what she called the double bind: when women behave assertively, they are often judged as abrasive or unlikeable; when they soften their language, they are seen as less authoritative. Men demonstrating the same behaviours are far more likely to be rewarded.

More than a decade later, the reality is clearer. This is not simply a confidence issue it is a structural one. And for women who are caregivers, particularly parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the barriers are more pronounced.

The gender pay gap: still real, still gendered

According to the Office for National Statistics, in April 2025 the median gender pay gap for full-time employees stood at 6.9%. Importantly, the gap widens significantly with age, particularly after 40, reflecting the cumulative impact of caregiving, career breaks, and reduced access to progression rather than differences in skill or ambition. This context matters because it shapes behaviour. When women know they are

already paid less and face harsher scrutiny, self-censorship becomes a rational survival strategy.

The apology is not weakness. It is risk management.

Caregiving, SEND, and the “Second Shift” Women remain the primary caregivers in most families and communities, this does not change when they hold senior professional roles.

ONS time-use data shows that women spend 3 hours and 37 minutes per day on unpaid work, 54 minutes more than men. For parents of SEND children, that load is even heavier and less predictable. Meetings with schools and therapists, medical appointments, and crisis support at home do not fit neatly into a standard working day, yet most organisations still measure commitment by physical presence, not productivity.

Many women are also part of the “sandwich generation,” caring for both children and ageing parents at the same time.

Flexibility and the leadership ceiling Women often step into roles below their capability or hold back from applying for promotion because senior progression is still widely assumed to mean less flexibility, longer hours, and an “always-on” culture.

That assumption reflects the labour market. The Timewise Flexible Jobs Index found that only 31% of UK job adverts mentioned flexible working in 2023. Even more stark, for roles paying £60,000 or more, only around 6% were advertised as part-time or open to job-share arrangements.

This matters because it narrows progression at exactly the stage when many women take on high-intensity caregiving responsibilities. Women are also more likely to question their readiness for promotion. A widely cited finding shows that men often apply for roles when they meet around 60% of the requirements, while women tend to apply only when they feel almost fully qualified. Combined with structural inflexibility, this reinforces a cycle where women particularly carers remain under-represented in senior, higher-paid positions.

A call to action: Changing the dial Workplaces that recognise caregiving as legitimate labour, and design roles with flexibility by default, retain stronger, more diverse leadership. Paid carers’ leave, hybrid working, and inclusive progression pathways are not “nice to have”, they are strategic investments in productivity and retention. At the same time, women should be supported and encouraged to speak up, advocate, and take up space without apology. This is not about becoming louder for the sake of it. It is about claiming legitimacy; recognising that your lived experience, resilience, and skills are not obstacles to leadership, but qualifications for it.

Be the change you want to see! When women stop self-censoring, they don’t just change their own trajectories. They change what leadership looks like for everyone who follows. When women stop shrinking themselves to fit broken systems, those systems are forced to respond.

According to the Office for National Statistics, in April 2025 the median gender pay gap for full-time employees stood at 6.9%. Importantly, the gap widens significantly with age, particularly after 40, reflecting the cumulative impact of caregiving, career breaks, and reduced access to progression rather than differences in skill or ambition.

Hounslow welcomes the Duke of Gloucester to mark 100 years of the Golden Mile

The Duke of Gloucester paid a special visit to Hounslow to mark the 100th anniversary of the Golden Mile.

The iconic stretch of the Great West Road was first opened by King George V in 1925. Today, it is one of West London’s most important areas for new jobs, businesses and investment.

The visit, hosted at the landmark JCDecaux building in Brentford, brought together leaders from business, development, education, culture and the community to celebrate a century of innovation, industry and design excellence and to look ahead to the next 100 years of opportunity.

The Duke toured an exhibition charting the origins of the Golden Mile, its globally recognised Art Deco architecture and its industrial past, before attending a boardroom programme of presentations on growth, regeneration and future investment along the corridor.

Presentations from historian James Marshall, Areli, Hadley Property Group and

the University of West London explored the history of the Great West Road, current major redevelopment schemes, and the area’s rapidly evolving economic role including proposals for new employment space, investment in skills and education, and a future vision for innovation-driven industry, media and technology in West London.

The Mayor of Hounslow presented His Royal Highness with a book on the history of the Golden Mile, authored by James Marshall.

Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: “It was an enormous privilege to welcome The Duke back to a place first opened by His Royal Highness’s grandfather a century ago.

“The Golden Mile began as one of Britain’s great industrial frontiers a place of remarkable architecture, creativity and invention. Today, it stands once again at the centre of a new wave of innovation, powered by media, education, technology, advanced manufacturing and design.

Mitie accredited as a member of the

Mitie, the UK’s leading facilities management, transformation and compliance company, has been awarded the Good Business Charter (GBC) accreditation, reflecting its commitment to responsible business practices that support people and the planet.

With 84,000 colleagues working across the country in roles from security to sustainability and cleaning to compliance, Mitie is the largest employer to be accredited by the GBC, meeting the standard required across all ten commitments of the Charter. It has pledged to continue to uphold the commitments, which collectively promote care for colleagues, suppliers, customers and the environment, while ensuring fair tax practices.

The accreditation was marked at a breakfast reception held at Mitie’s headquarters in The Shard. The breakfast was hosted by Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee, Jenny Herrera, CEO of the Good Business Charter and Jason Towse, Managing Director, Business Services at Mitie.

Founded in 2020 by Julian Richer, founder of Richer Sounds, the Good Business Charter is the UK’s benchmark for responsible business behaviour. It was developed with the Confederation of British Industry and The Trades Union Congress, representing the voices of both businesses and workers. With 97% of the public wanting to support responsible businesses, the Charter provides an accessible accreditation that demonstrates this behaviour, including prioritising colleagues and caring for the environment.

“The Golden Mile will continue to be a driver of sustainable, inclusive growth for London and for the UK creating jobs, skills, investment and opportunities for generations to come.

“I would like to thank JCDecaux for hosting the visit and all our partners and presenters who showcased brilliantly the heritage, ambition and potential of this unique corridor. Together, we will shape the Golden Mile’s next century, just as boldly as the last.”

Alan Rides and Sally Smith were very pleased and proud to meet the Duke of Gloucester.

Over the past year, the GM100 programme has celebrated the Golden Mile’s history through exhibitions, trails and community-focused storytelling rediscovering the factories, people, products and ideas born here.

Good Business Charter

By choosing to join the Good Business Charter, Mitie is helping to set a higher standard for the facilities management industry and wider British business, evidencing that major employers can lead with fairness, responsibility and care, providing a blueprint for a more ethical future of work in the UK. Mitie recognises the growing need for successful businesses to drive meaningful social impact and have as part of our ‘Plan Thrive’ mission, have committed to uplifting 1 million lives through inclusive employment and helping people to build sustainable careers.

Jason Towse, Managing Director, Business Services, Mitie said:

“We are incredibly proud to have achieved Good Business Charter accreditation, setting the benchmark for responsible business in the UK This recognition reflects our commitment to creating better places and thriving communities, supporting our colleagues, customers and communities through fair practices and sustainable growth.

“As a top ten UK employer and the largest to be accredited, Mitie is leading the way in championing fairness, sustainability, and integrity.”

Jenny Herrera, CEO, the Good Business Charter, said:

“The Good Business Charter is here to raise the bar at a time when too many businesses settle for the minimum in how they treat their colleagues, customers, suppliers and the planet. We’re so pleased to spotlight Mitie as one of the major employers standing for doing the right thing and behaving responsibly towards all their stakeholders across our ten components.”

Liam Byrne MP, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee said:

“I met Jason Towse, Managing Director of Mitie, at a Good Business Charter event earlier this year – and the determination the team has shown in achieving accreditation in less than a year is a testament to their commitment to responsible business and should serve as an inspiration to businesses up and down the country.”

“I was really pleased to be invited to the breakfast reception at Mitie. West London Chambers of Commerce is proud to be a GBC member, showing our commitment to responsible business practice.”

Sally Smith, COO, West London Chambers of Commerce

the

Keeping it real at the table for 20 years

Restaurateurs Sam Harrison

&

Fanny Stocker are celebrating two decades of great food, a relaxed welcome and a genuine passion for the West London community. Karen McLauchlan catches up with Sam to find out more.

When it comes to good food, great service and the kind of easygoing atmosphere that keeps customers coming back time after time, Sam Harrison has certainly hit on the right recipe.

Well loved in the restaurant world, especially his local patch of West London, he recently toasted 20 years as a passionate restaurateur. It’s a period that has seen huge change for the hospitality sector – and the way many of us choose to eat out.

Involved in hotels and restaurants since the age of 16, Sam worked for celebrity chef and restaurateur Rick Stein managing his operations in Padstow, Cornwall. His career then took him to Australia and Canada before returning to London to open his first restaurant in 2005 – Sam’s Brasserie in Chiswick.

“Returning from Australia I was able to convince Rick to take a punt and come on board to open my first venture – an all-day brasserie called Sam’s, a name suggested by Rick who said it was easy for people to remember.”

A second restaurant followed. But in summer 2015, after a decade of hugely successful trading, Sam sold both of his restaurants to The Hawksmoor Group.

In 2019, Sam & Fanny teamed up for the opening of Sam’s Riverside, next to Hammersmith Bridge. Sam’s Larder in Hammersmith opened in August 2020,

followed by Sam’s Larder in Chiswick and Sam’s Waterside, in Brentford.

“The thing I loved about Australia was the quality of restaurants was exceptional, but they had this wonderful casualness, a lovely, relaxed atmosphere. The guy serving you might be wearing board shorts, but he was also a complete professional.

“My ethos has always been to look after people well. I’m very proud of our food, but the way we build relationships with our guests is the reason we have been successful.”

Success has come despite some of the most crippling times for the hospitality sector –the Covid pandemic.

Sam’s Riverside opened in November 2019. A glorious riverfront setting in Hammersmith attached to the iconic multi-arts venue, Riverside Studios. A former Victorian ironworks, which became a film studio in 1933, it was also BBC studios from the Fifties to the Seventies. Its most recent redevelopment saw it reopen in 2019.

Four months after launching Sam’s Riverside, Covid hit leading to an unprecedented, rapid and widespread closure of restaurants which fundamentally altered the hospitality landscape.

“It was brutal,” said Sam. “We’d spent every penny getting our new restaurant open in this incredible location. Then everything closed. But we set up a pledge page

and raised £100,000 from people paying money to spend when we would hopefully reopen. There was incredible local support which meant we survived.”

But out of Covid chaos came new opportunities. Deli and food store Sam’s Larder opened while the restaurant remained closed.

“Like many, we were trying to survive,” said Sam. “I’m not sure we’d have done that if it hadn’t been for Covid. Today it’s a lovely shop front for the restaurant.” Covid also brought more expansion with the launch of “cosy corner café”, Sam’s Kitchen.

“There was already a café down the road from Sam’s Riverside, Cafe Plum. I used it a lot and was a big fan. But Covid hit them hard and we decided to buy the place from the owners. Out of those difficult times we now had this lovely little triangle: our main restaurant, the shop and now a café.”

The family of Sam’s outlets has continued to grow. Expanding to Brentford, Sam’s Waterside is part of the Ballymore Project, a new West London development that is creating a new community. Again pandemic-driven changes to day-to-day life played a part in the expansion.

“During lockdown I’d head out on my bike and go west to Brentford. I didn’t know the area that well but it was somewhere to head for with its canal and boat yards, plus I found an amazing bakery that opened in lockdown. I’d get a coffee and buy some incredible bread – it was my Covid ‘treat’.

“But it also meant I discovered the new Brentford development, right on the canal with plans for 900 apartments.

I got to see that a lovely sense of community was building. Conversations started and we opened as the site’s flagship restaurant in November 2023. “Covid was incredibly tough but it also presented opportunities. There’s a strong chance if it hadn’t come we may still have just one restaurant. But we took those opportunities.”

The opening in Brentford was also helped by Sam’s connections at West London Chambers of Commerce. Sam is a supportive member and

regularly teams up with The Chamber to host their business breakfast. This connection allows him to network, meet new people and really get under the skin of the local community.

“It was a tough opening for us, we were first into a new development in an area that hadn’t had a restaurant like ours before,” he said. “The Chamber has been hugely supportive and being able to exchange ideas and have other people to talk to has been so beneficial.”

Thankfully people have found their way back to restaurants and cafes postpandemic – but many of us are now more selective about where we eat, with the cost-of-living crisis also driving expectations for quality and value. Conditions remain tough for hospitality, with economic pressures and rising inflation, but Sam is a big believer in banging the drum for the sector.

“We don’t have any immediate plans to open more sites, 2026 is a year of consolidation for us. But I love creating restaurants, building teams and there are other parts of London that I think would like what we offer.”

Talking to Sam, his passion comes through loud and clear. A genuine desire to get things right runs through his business – quite literally. The business names his sites trade under is Genuine Restaurants, for good reason.

“We chose Genuine as our company name as for us it’s our North Star and what we stand for – genuine value, genuine food, genuine in the way we look after our teams.

“In London there will always be places that are the hot ticket. They won’t be the hot ticket in six months and that crowd moves on. That’s not what we’re about.

“Choosing where to eat out is an emotional decision, you make a connection with a place you like in your community. We’ve been in West London for 20 years and aim to be here for another 20.

“I’m always happiest when I hear people say they’ve had a great experience, they’ve been well looked after and the food was delicious. For me that’s job done.”

“Choosing where to eat out is an emotional decision, you make a connection with a place you like in your community. We’ve been in West London for 20 years and aim to be here for another 20.”

“And

Hugh Grant returns to H&F’s Big Christmas Day lunch

Hollywood came to Hammersmith on Christmas Day when actor Hugh Grant joined hundreds of older residents at Hammersmith & Fulham’s annual Big Christmas Day Lunch.

The Chiswick-raised star and patron of local charity H&F Giving attended the event at the Novotel in Hammersmith on Thursday 25 December, helping to spread festive cheer among more than 400 guests.

It is the second time the star of the Paddington and Bridget Jones films has turned up at the event having previously appeared at the 2023 meal.

The long-running lunch, which is financially supported by Hammersmith & Fulham Council alongside donations from residents and local businesses, is open to older people who would otherwise have spent Christmas Day alone. Now in its fourth decade, the celebration has been running for more than 30 years, with some of its original volunteers now attending as guests.

The free day out included a traditional roast dinner, live music from Vivid Music, dancing, gifts and free transport to and from the venue. More than 20 buses and taxis were laid on to bring residents to the event. Hugh Grant was joined by council leaders including Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of Hammersmith & Fulham, and Cllr Alex Sanderson, Deputy Leader, as well as the borough’s Mayor, Cllr Sharon Holder, Deputy Mayor Cllr Daryl Brown and Cllr Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform.

Local MPs Ben Coleman, MP for Chelsea and Fulham, and Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick, also attended. More than 65 volunteers worked alongside the council’s events team on the day, serving lunch and supporting transport services.

Others gave up their time earlier in December to help pack gifts for guests, with each person receiving a festive food hamper containing items such as soup, shortbread, chocolates, honey, jam and tea.

Louise Wilson, Executive Director at H&F Giving, said: “A massive thank you to the whole H&F community for making this special day happen, including everyone who donated and volunteered, all of our sponsors, and to H&F Giving’s patron Hugh Grant for taking time out on Christmas Day to sit down and chat with our older and isolated neighbours. “Days like this are only possible year on year because of the generosity of the community and everyone coming together to help their neighbours.”

Special guests on the day also included the Pearly Queens of Fulham, one of the Mayor’s chosen charities, while attendees were able to take home souvenir photos thanks to Photobooth First.

The event was supported by a wide range of local organisations and businesses.

The Hurlingham Club Foundation donated the turkeys for the lunch, Olympia sponsored the entertainment, and several groups – including Friends of Brook Green, North, Wates, ThermoServ Limited and Chelsea Supporters’ Trust – sponsored tables.

Additional support came from The Julia Rausing Trust, Dr Edwards and Bishop King’s Fulham Charity, Shoots & Leaves and Hammersmith BID, with the Novotel providing decorations and Blueprint Partners producing promotional videos free of charge.

H&F Giving are now looking for sponsors for H&F’s Big Christmas Day Lunch 2026 and while the Christmas lunch takes place once a year, H&F Giving’s work continues year-round, with several ways for people to support the local community including by becoming a local Champion for H&F Giving’s ‘A Better Hammersmith & Fulham’ campaign that will support local organisations doing amazing work in the borough.

If you or your business would like to get involved, they would love to hear from you. Head to their website hfgiving.org.uk or email team@hfgiving.org.uk to find out more.

Heathrow Community Trust (HCT) - 30 years of local impact, and an invitation to shape what comes

By Sarah Rothwell CEO heathrowcommunitytrust.org

As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2026, HCT has an opportunity not only to reflect on achievements but also to look forward to how businesses and communities can collaborate to generate lasting local impact.

Founded in 1996, HCT is an independent grant-making charity supporting communities across the nine boroughs surrounding Heathrow Airport. Over three decades, we have evolved from a corporate social responsibility initiative into a trusted, independent funder helping local people and places to thrive.

A unique funding ecosystem supports our work. This includes ongoing backing from Heathrow Airport itself, generous passenger donations through leftover currency collections, contributions from Team Heathrow businesses, and fundraising events like our annual Golf Day. In 2025 alone, passenger donations raised £172,000 for local causes, highlighting what collective effort can accomplish.

We currently fund projects across three core areas: Communities, Young People, and Environment and Sustainability, alongside the Heathrow Active People Initiative (HAPi), which supports staff volunteering.   During the Covid-19 pandemic, we acted swiftly, distributing over £280,000 in emergency grants to help local organisations assist those most in need. In 2025, we allocated more than £830,000 to community initiatives across our funding

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region, the nine boroughs surrounding the airport.

Our Trustees combine expertise from business, community, and Heathrow itself.

One of our Trustees, Sunil Kalia, is also a member of the West London Chambers of Commerce and sits on our Young People grant panel, reflecting the strong and valued link between HCT and the local business community.

As we celebrate 30 years, we look to the future. This anniversary offers an opportunity for businesses of all sizes to consider how they can get involved, whether through funding, partnership, or long-term support for local initiatives.

If you would like to learn more about our work or discuss how your organisation might engage with HCT, I would be very happy to hear from you. I can be contacted directly at ceo@hcommunitytrust.org.uk.

Hounslow: London’s biggest opportunity...

Hounslow is where London connects. It brings together outer and inner boroughs, links local communities and provides direct access to global markets. As a key part of the UK economy, Hounslow supports trade, travel and industry, and its strategic location has long defined it as a gateway to opportunity. Today, that role is evolving, positioning Hounslow as London’s biggest opportunity.

With Heathrow on our doorstep, major regeneration programmes are underway across some of the country’s most strategically located development sites. Hounslow is a place where businesses can land, grow and thrive in the UK. From the creative industries along the Golden Mile to town centre transformation in Feltham and Brentford, Hounslow’s approach is clear: support business growth while delivering better places to live, work and invest.

As Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Council, puts it: “Economic growth in Hounslow must be inclusive growth, making a better place for everyone. Growth that creates opportunity for our residents, our businesses and our town centres. By working in partnership with investors and employers, we can deliver new homes, new jobs and places that people are proud of while ensuring the benefits of growth are shared across our communities.”

Opportunity Hounslow

At the heart of the borough’s economic strategy is Opportunity Hounslow. A simple message that reflects both ambition and location. Hounslow

is where London begins. Extending from Zone 6 to Zone 2, the borough acts as a bridge between inner and outer London, and between local enterprise and global markets. Nowhere is this more evident than at Heathrow.

Heathrow is where the world lands and it lands in Hounslow. The borough is integral to the airport’s day-to-day operations, supply chains and workforce, making it one of the most internationally connected locations in the capital and a natural home for global facing businesses. Aviation, logistics and Heathrow-linked supply chains sit alongside strengths in advanced manufacturing, food and drink, digital and creative industries.

Hounslow is home to thousands of SMEs and major international employers alike, supported by a young and diverse workforce. Businesses such as Ajar Technology, Brompton Technology and Russell Finex demonstrate the borough’s capacity for innovation while delivering real social value – from apprenticeships and local employment to community engagement and place-making.

The Golden Mile London

Few parts of West London have a stronger industrial identity than the Golden Mile. Once synonymous with manufacturing and Art Deco architecture, the Great West Road is now evolving into a modern employment corridor that blends creativity, industrial and mixeduse activity.

Hounslow’s media and creative cluster is a particular asset. Anchored by Sky and supported by the Great West Creatives Creative Enterprise Zone, also known as Golden Mile London, the area continues to attract studios, post-production facilities and creative businesses seeking space, connectivity and value without central London costs.

Having just turned 100, the Golden Mile is now looking firmly to the future. The Council is developing a Golden Mile Investment Framework to guide long-term growth along the corridor. This will coordinate infrastructure, transport, public realm and land use, ensuring the Golden Mile continues to function as a centre for employment and innovation while accommodating new homes and mixed-use development where appropriate.

Key sites are already helping to shape the Golden Mile’s future:

• The former GSK headquarters at 980 Great West Road – proposals are in place to redevelop into a major mixed-use neighbourhood, delivering new homes alongside community facilities and improved public spaces.

• The London Motorsport Campus at Larch Drive has secured planning permission, bringing new momentum to advanced engineering and automotive-related uses at the western end of the Golden Mile.

• Sites around Syon Lane, including the former SEGA building and the Tesco and Berkeley Homes area, are continuing to progress through planning and design stages. Together, these projects reflect a shift towards flexible workspace, housing and modern town-making while retaining the Golden Mile’s role as a centre for employment and innovation.

• Brentford Fountain Leisure Centreplans are progressing to shape the the future of the leisure centre, which forms part of the Golden Mile.

Future Feltham

Feltham is set to play a major role in Hounslow’s future growth. The recently approved Future Feltham Investment Framework sets out a long-term plan to revitalise the town centre and surrounding areas, with the potential to deliver thousands of new homes and jobs.

Central to this is the redevelopment of the Ministry of Defence site, one of the largest brownfield opportunities in West London. The Council is working in partnership with the MoD and the Greater London Authority to unlock the site, improve connections and ensure the benefits of investment are felt locally.

Beyond the MoD land, the framework also looks at retail, workspace, public transport and public realm, aiming to create a more resilient town centre that services residents, businesses and visitors alike.

The Brentford Project

In Brentford, regeneration is already visible on the ground. The Brentford Project has transformed the relationship between the High Street and the waterfront, introducing new homes, public spaces and routes that have helped re-establish the town as a destination.

As later phases come forward, the focus is on strengthening the local economy with independent businesses, leisure uses and workspace playing a growing role alongside housing.

Plans are also progressing for a major arts and culture centre in Brentford, which would become the largest of its kind in the borough Combined with homes and public realm improvements, the project reflects the

“Economic growth in Hounslow must be inclusive growth, making a better place for everyone. Growth that creates opportunity for our residents, our businesses and our town centres.”

Council’s view that culture has a direct role to play in economic vitality.

Regeneration at Charlton House / Albany House also forms part of Brentford’s longerterm housing programme.

What’s next

Looking ahead, Hounslow has a strong pipeline of projects that continue to move through consultation, planning and delivery. At Convent Way, proposals are emerging for a large-scale, landscape-led redevelopment that would deliver hundreds of new homes alongside improved open space and community facilities. The Council is also progressing its wider civic estate programme (sometimes referred to through the Civic Agreement), modernising public buildings to make better use of public land, support town centre regeneration and unlock new housing and investment opportunities.

Proposals such as the West London Orbital rail scheme and the innovative use of waste heat from Mogden for district heating demonstrate how Hounslow is planning for sustainable, long-term development.

Cllr Rajawat said: “What links all these projects is a focus on long-term value and inclusive growth. We’re not interested in isolated developments, we want to create places where businesses can grow inclusively, residents can thrive and investment delivers real, lasting benefits for the whole borough.

hounslow’s heart BID

Hounslow’s Heart BID is now in place

West London Chambers of Commerce Ltd is proud to announce that the borough of Hounslow has its first BID (Business Improvement District). BIDs were introduced in 2003 and many surrounding boroughs have a number of successful BIDs. After much consultation and several introductory meetings, the recent ballot was successful, winning 98% of the vote from the businesses in the BID area, who chose to vote.

Hounslow’s Heart BID started on 1st December with an emphasis on improving safety and anti-social behaviour in the BID area, which covers the town centre and surrounding streets. After safety, cleanliness will come high on the agenda, followed by improved marketing. Tackling these issues will help attract higher footfall to the area. From 1st December there has been an increased number of Marshals to patrol the BID area which covers the town centre and surrounding streets. There are now six Marshals looking after the BID area. Up to now they have been under the Safer Business Hounslow brand, they will now be badged as Hounslow’s Heart BID. A BID Manager has been appointed who will be the point of contact for the BID businesses, and will be based on the High Street. We are really pleased to welcome Bill Miller to our BID team. More about Bill in our next edition.

A BID is a business led and funded scheme that enables coordinated investment in a commercial area. Governed by legislation to ensure fairness and transparency, a BID is developed through consultation with the business community and the subsequent development of a five-year business plan.  The BID is funded by a small levy on local businesses, based on rateable value, which is used to pay for the services and initiatives provided. The return on investment can be significant in terms of increased footfall, sales and a more appealing area to work, live and visit.

BIDs are governed by a Board of Directors, made up of representatives from local businesses. This ensures that the priorities and needs of the business community are at the forefront of the BID’s decision-making process. The Board is responsible for setting the budget and strategic plan for the BID as well as overseeing its day-to-day operations.

The benefits of a BID are numerous and a few are below:

• Reduced levels of crime and antisocial behaviour leading to a reduction in stock loss and associated costs.

• Reduced business costs through smart procurement, such as waste and recycling and energy costs.

• Increased footfall and awareness of who is trading leading to additional sales.

• Raised profile for businesses and the area through PR and marketing.

• A strong collective voice, advocating on behalf of the business community for improving trading conditions and working in partnership with other organisations.

• Improved trading environment through cleaner and better maintained streets.

• Improved networking through business events and working groups to help businesses connect, share insights and form partnerships.

There are a lot of success stories, here are a selection from other BIDs in neighbouring boroughs:

• In a single week Make It Ealing BID’s security schemes led to items recovered totalling £1,234 in value, 21 banning notices issued and 32 calls from businesses attended.

• Businesses in Fulham Broadway BID save £200 through the BID’s emergency first aid training offer.

• McDonalds saves £600 per year in each location with a BID offering support with waste collection.

• Kingston BID had 425,000 square metres of chewing gum removed.

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Family mediation to help you move forward

by Charlene Edwards Family Mediator

My name is Charlene. I qualified as a Family Mediator in 2021. I am a dedicated mediator, committed to helping families navigate challenging times and find peaceful resolutions.

If you are separating or divorcing, family mediation provides a safe, confidential space to help you sort out disputes – without involving big legal fees or going through a long drawn-out court battle.

Professional family mediators help you work out what happens after you split up. They won’t try to get you and your ex-partner back together. They can also help when you’ve been separated a while. What do mediators do?

As a mediator I will listen to you and your ex-partner explain your concerns and views to each other and will help you both to reach an agreement. Mediation works by helping people find practical solutions that feel fair. It is a confidential and safe space. Family mediators are trained to work with people whose relationships have broken down. They come from professional backgrounds, such as law, social work, healthcare, counselling. Mediators help you

A mediator will ask questions to understand your situation. Unlike going to court, you stay in control. No-one can make you do anything against your wishes. Discussions are confidential.

Children have the right to a relationship with both parents (as long as it is safe) and their needs are most important. Some mediators are trained to include children in discussions but only if you, your ex-partner and the child agree.

I firmly believe that families are best equipped to make decisions that serve their unique circumstances. As a mediator, I will guide you to understand your options, exploring creative solutions and reaching agreements that prioritise the well-being and interests of all involved, especially the children.

I am accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) and a member of the Family Mediation Association. I am able to mediate in all areas of family dispute, including matters concerning children, financial arrangements and property.

I have 40 years experience working with children, young people and families during which time I qualified as a social worker. I am also an accredited Coach with a particular interest in Solution Focused practice. My background in the social care field, which included working directly with individuals, chairing multi agency meetings and facilitating complex family dynamics, is particularly informative to my work as a family mediator.

Family mediation:

• Allows you and the other party to make the decisions, instead of a judge.

• Is less stressful than a court process, with less conflict between you and your partner, improving communication.

• Allows agreements to be reviewed and changed if you both agree – e.g. if your situation changes, and as your children get older and have different needs.

• Is easier on your children when parents cooperate and helps them continue important family relationships.

• Is quicker, cheaper and provides a better way to sort out disagreements than long drawn-out court battles – helping you to get on with the rest of your life as quickly as possible.

Costs are shared equally, with each party paying half of the fees. You may also be eligible for the £500 Government Voucher Scheme.

Mediation that puts families first

Family mediation helps if your relationship has broken down and you need to sort out practical issues.

We’re here to help you move forward with clarity and care. Whether you need information about a MIAM, property and finance matters, or you’re ready to book a session - get in touch today for a confidential discussion.

IOC Success in 2025 Lady Mayor’s Show

The Lord Mayor’s Show – which became the Lady Mayor’s Show last year for the first time in its 800-year history – is a procession from the City to Westminster and dates back to the early 13th Century.

In 1215 King John granted that the City of London could appoint its own mayor, but required that the each newly elected mayor should travel upriver to Westminster and pledge his loyalty to the King.

Dame Susan Langley DBE is not the City of London’s first female lord mayor – she is the third woman out of the 697 people who have held the post – but she is the first to take the Lady Mayor title.

The Lord or Lady Mayor London – which differs to the office of Mayor of London that was created in 2000 where an elected Mayor serves a four-year term of office and is currently held by Sir Sadiq Khan – has ceremonial duties and is an international spokesperson for the City.

The procession has grown over the years into a vibrant parade and is an opportunity for

livery companies, charities, business and the armed forces in the City to parade through the streets of London.

The Institute of Couriers took part in this year’s event, with a final mile delivery by a giant owl in salute of bagpipes. There were 100 final mile walkers in a 10-brand kaleidoscope of colour showcasing 10 zeroemission L-cat micro delivery vehicles.

A total of 10 brands, including Santis, Evri, Royal Mail, DPD, TVS SCS, CitySprint, Absolutely, FedEx, GLH, Whistl and Smiths News took part.

The theme for 2025 was focused on women and diversity, supported by the new Lady Mayor. The IOC VIP group headed by IOC CEO Dr Tracey Worth, also included Traffic Commissioner Sarah Bell, new Police Head of Business Crime, Superintendent Lisa Maslen, Logistics college boss Marta Gajewska, Prof Stacey Clemes, NHS Truck health guru Bernie, and West London Chambers of Commerce’s Chief Operating Officer, Sally Smith.

The pageant is the longest-running TV broadcast, as it was first aired in 1937. The parade is timed by the military bands at 116 beats a minute.

I was honoured to be invited to walk with CILT in the Lady Mayor’s Show. It was a lovely experience, which I enjoyed hugely. Thank you to Carl and Tracey of CILT for all their hard work to make it happen.

Sally Smith, COO, West London Chambers of Commerce

Elsa Caleb appointed Chair of the West London Chambers of Commerce

The West London Chambers of Commerce is delighted to announce the appointment of Elsa Caleb as its new Chair, as she begins her tenure at the start of 2026.

Elsa joined the Board of the West London Chambers of Commerce in October 2023 and has since made a significant contribution to its strategic direction and external engagement. With a strong track record in governance, business development, skills, education, and international trade, she brings extensive experience across the private, public, voluntary, and creative sectors.

Since joining the Board, Elsa has played an active role in convening highimpact business events, roundtables, and collaborative forums, strengthening relationships between local businesses, community organisations, policymakers, and strategic partners. Her work has focused on creating practical opportunities for knowledge exchange, business growth, and inclusive economic development across West London.

In 2025, Elsa, along with the Chief Executive, Alan Rides led an international business delegation to Atlanta, Georgia, supporting West London enterprises to explore global markets, build international partnerships, and connect with USbased business leaders and institutions. The delegation reinforced the Chamber’s commitment to enabling locally rooted businesses to engage confidently on a global stage.

Alongside her work with the Chambers, Elsa is the Founder and Director of Elsa Caleb Ltd, where she advises organisations on business growth, governance, funding, market entry, and capacitybuilding. She has held previous Chair and senior leadership roles across boards and committees, supporting organisations through periods of growth, transition, and strategic change, with a particular focus on skills development, education, and community impact.

In May 2025, Elsa was invited to Buckingham Palace to

“I’m

meet His Majesty King Charles III, in recognition of her contribution to skills development and education. The visit marked a significant milestone in her public service and leadership journey, reflecting her longstanding commitment to building pathways that empower individuals, businesses, and communities.

Commenting on her appointment, Elsa Caleb said:

“I’m excited to be starting 2026 as Chair of the West London Chambers of Commerce. Looking back, 2025 was a year filled with meaningful connections. I had the privilege of meeting and working with inspiring people across our community, and each conversation reinforced the power of collective effort.

This year, my focus is clear: building partnerships and developing joint initiatives that strengthen West London’s business ecosystem. I am looking forward to working even more closely with local leaders, entrepreneurs, and organisations to drive positive impact and create sustainable opportunities for growth.

Here’s to a year of collaboration, innovation, and community. Let’s make 2026 a defining year for West London.”

As Chair, Elsa will work alongside the Board, executive team, members, and partners to deepen collaboration, champion enterprise, and ensure the Chamber continues to play a leading role in shaping a resilient, inclusive, and ambitious West London economy.

excited to be starting 2026 as Chair of the West London Chambers of Commerce. Looking back, 2025 was a year filled with meaningful connections. I had the privilege of meeting and working with inspiring people across our community, and each conversation reinforced the power of collective effort.”

How to get the most from YOUR Chamber Better

Just showing up on the day opened doors we never expected

A late decision to take a stand at the 2023 West London Chambers of Commerce Festival of Business led The Pallets Yard into the Heathrow supply chain, new partnerships, continued expansion, and a spot on the BBC Evening News. A story of networking, courage, determination, resilience, circularity and SME growth rooted in West London.

What if the moment that transforms your business happens on the very day you nearly did not show up?

Established in 2006 and run by Ian Leander and Ruth-Anne Lynch, The Pallets Yard in Southall buys and supplies affordable, goodquality second-hand wooden and plastic pallets across London and the wider UK. Ruth-Anne reflects on how a single moment at the 2023 Festival of Business became a turning point for The Pallets Yard.

Our direction shifted in February 2023 when, with little time to pull our marketing material together, we made a late decision to take a stand at the WLCC Festival of Business.

During the event, I plucked up the courage to ask a Tier 1 panel whether large organisations were doing enough to engage with SMEs. The question earned an unexpected round of applause, caught the attention of Paul Doherty, Heathrow’s Procurement Director, and opened the door to a new relationship that reshaped our path culminating in a spot on BBC Evening News in November 2025.

The journey began with a visit to our site, an invitation to speak on Heathrow’s 2023 SME Panel, and eventually our place in the Team Heathrow supply chain. Since then, Wilson James, Bradford Swissport and Grundon have welcomed us as Approved Suppliers.

Two years ago, upgrading from a 3.5-tonne vehicle to a 7.2-tonne truck felt like a huge

step. We have since invested in an 18-tonne vehicle to match the pace of our growth.

The West London Chamber’s Sally Smith and Alan Rides have consistently supported us, and our Branduin Business Support mentors continue to guide us with clarity and expertise.

We showcased our Reclaimed-Wood Initiative at the 2025 Heathrow Summit, featuring items made from pallet wood. This highlighted the sustainability and creativity possible when timber is repurposed and kept in circulation, avoiding landfill.

Alongside operational challenges such as COVID, rising overheads, cash-flow pressures and access to finance, securing a 3–5 year open-yard lease in West London is essential to support our growth.

Now, with far better preparation than in 2023, we will return to exhibit at the WLCC Festival

of Business in March 2026 – a full-circle moment in every sense.

What have we learned along the way?

• Believe in yourself and your offering (if you don’t … who will?)

• Respect your customers and suppliers.

• Network widely and engage confidentlyeven when courage is low.

• Find good mentors and build meaningful partnerships.

• Show up— because showing up when it matters can open doors you never imagined possible.

Here is to growing stronger, showing up boldly, and embracing every opportunity that comes our way. And if we can do it, so can you!

info@thepalletsyard.co.uk www.thepalletsyard.co.uk

Chamber can become a powerful catalyst for growth

Sweatlounge at Cityfit Brentford was launched in 2025 as a result of Chamber networking

SSW Business Management provides small businesses the opportunities for greater growth, efficiency improvements & profitability. This is primarily achieved by leveraging local connections.

by Samandeep Singh Wadhwa SSW Business Management LTD

Being part of a Chamber of Commerce is about far more than attending networking events. When used strategically, a Chamber can become a powerful catalyst for growth, collaboration and innovation. My experience with the Chamber has demonstrated just how impactful those connections can be when you engage fully and with purpose. Through the Chamber, SSW Business Management was able to build key relationships with like-minded businesses across West London. These introductions didn’t remain as surface-level conversations; they evolved into meaningful collaborations that ultimately led to the launch of several new projects. The Chamber created an environment where conversations could move quickly from “what do you do?” to “how can we work together?”

This was particularly evident during the expansion of CityFit Brentford. SSW Business Management was brought in to expand this local gym and create unique opportunities for its members. The Chamber played a vital role in connecting me with small businesses across West London, many of whom were facing similar challenges around growth, customer engagement and differentiation. These peer-to-peer connections provided not only practical support but also fresh ideas that could be adapted within the CityFit Brentford model.

One standout example was my introduction to SweatLounge. Through Chamber networking, I came across the concept of an infrared sauna pod and immediately saw its potential within a gym setting. It sparked an idea: could we integrate recovery and wellness in a way that added genuine value to members? That initial connection led directly to the launch of the SweatBar at CityFit Brentford — a new offering that enhanced the member experience while opening up an additional revenue stream. Sweatlounge & SSW Business Management now have a strong relationship which has aided in reduced costs for the business model.

The value of Chamber involvement extended beyond direct introductions.

CityFit Brentford’s sponsorship of the EPL Padel Tournament at Rocks Lane, another opportunity connected through the Chamber network, positioned the brand in front of a new, highly engaged audience. That visibility led to conversations with premium drinks brands, including Yew & Bol, and ultimately to key partnerships that aligned perfectly with CityFit Brentford’s health-focused ethos. The lesson is clear: to get the best from your Chamber, you need to be proactive, curious and open to collaboration. Attend events with intention, follow up on conversations and look beyond immediate gains. When you do, your Chamber can become not just a network, but a genuine growth partner for your business.

“My job satisfaction comes from linking Chamber members, making introductions is what the Chamber does so well. The best way to meet people is via the networking events, but sometimes having a coffee with the team can lead to other opportunities. In mid-January I was having a coffee in Sam’s Waterside with a potential new member, for whom I have now made some introductions.

As I was leaving, I saw Liesel Bockl, Chamber member and food photographer doing some work for Sam’s. Liesl had met their marketing manager at a recent business breakfast we held at Sam’s Waterside. The joy of connections! West London Chambers is very much at the heart of the business community.”

For further information about joining the Chamber and seeing what benefits it could offer your business or organisation contact: sallysmith@westlondonchambers.org.uk or 07879 813817 or visit www.westlondonchambers.org.uk

Arts & Culture

Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery announces a major exhibition for one of our Chamber members, Marthe Armitage

In 2026 Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, the historic country home designed and built by Sir John Soane (1753–1837) in leafy Ealing, West London will celebrate and explore a number of the themes and subjects which delighted and preoccupied the great Regency architect.

A leading UK female artist is bringing her interpretation of nature to the Manor. Marthe Armitage explores repetition, symmetry and the relationship between the natural and man-made world.

Marthe Armitage: Pattern Maker

19 March – 19 July 2026

This exhibition explores Armitage’s distinctive approach to pattern making in wallpaper and fabric design. The child of Dutch parents, Marthe is renowned for her hand-drawn, hand-printed patterns created in her Chiswick studio. Now aged 95, she is one of Britain’s most beloved designers and is celebrated for the intricate and imaginative detail that still imbues her work, and the expert craftmanship of her practice.

As the title suggests, Pattern Maker traces Armitage’s artistic process — from initial sketches, tracings and lino blocks to finished wallpapers and textiles — revealing the journey behind each work.

Her designs are rooted in the landscapes, riverbanks, and architectural details of her local Chiswick surroundings — where she

and her family have lived since 1939 — and translate the familiar, such as a chestnut tree or an angelica plant into the fantastical, transforming everyday scenes into immersive decorative worlds.

This focused exhibition brings together original drawings and tracings, prints, archival material, and large-scale installed wallpapers and fabric, offering an intimate insight into the life and work of an artist whose designs have quietly shaped British interiors for more than half a century. At Pitzhanger, Armitage’s celebration of craft and place finds an appropriate, resonant setting, echoing Sir John Soane’s own passion for pattern, narrative, and the handmade.

Art on your doorstep: The National Gallery is coming to Brentford

Life-size reproductions of masterpieces from the National Gallery will be coming to Brentford.

The second phase of a new national touring project, The National Gallery: Art On Your Doorstep, was announced today. Organisations across the UK will share paintings from the nation’s collection with communities beyond Trafalgar Square. Over the course of three years, the National Gallery will be reaching all four nations of the UK, working with a total of 12 partners. For the second phase of the project, the Gallery will be partnering with Oakwell Hall and Country Park in Kirklees, Newport Community Council on the Isle of Wight, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, and Creative Mile, Brentford Art Trail. The Brentford exhibition will run from 4th September 2026 – 14 February 2027. Up to 30 printed reproductions of masterpieces from the National Gallery will be exhibited. Each painting will be reproduced life-sized, in fine detail and in its frame, allowing visitors the chance to look closely at the brushstrokes and discover hidden details. Outdoors and free to view,

everyday.

The exhibition will not only be displayed across the town but also be shaped by its people, landmarks and history.

Creative Mile, Brentford Art Trail will work with the National Gallery and local people to position up to 30 paintings connecting to the art festival’s theme of ‘love’ in unexpected places, encouraging visitors to understand the artistic heritage of the area.

Hannah Widgington, Exhibitions Manager at the National Gallery, said: ‘The trail will offer a rare chance to encounter these works beyond the familiar Gallery walls and weaves them into everyday life. Local residents will help select the artworks featured on the trail and will contribute their own creative responses.’

Mark Pearce, Event and Creative Director of Creative Mile, Brentford Art Trail said “We are delighted to be working with the National Gallery on this project bringing some of their famous art collection to Brentford. We are looking forward to making artistic connections to the town.

By presenting life-sized reproductions of masterpieces in public parks, high streets and community spaces, Art On Your Doorstep builds on where and how people can encounter art. Developed in collaboration with local partners and shaped by community voices, the project celebrates the creativity and identity of Brentford, bringing people and paintings together in shared everyday spaces.

Find out more at: www.nationalgallery.org. uk/exhibitions/across-the-uk/the-nationalgallery-art-on-your-doorstep www.creativemile.org

Connecting the right people to the right environments so they can thrive

Success in sport and success in business are increasingly aligned, and a factor often seen in both is simple: community.

As both a professional player for Trailfinders Women and the founder of Offload, Ella Amory’s mission is built on a powerful idea – connecting the right people to the right environments so they can thrive. It’s a philosophy that mirrors the work of the West London Chamber of Commerce: creating opportunities through relationships, shared knowledge and meaningful introductions that help individuals and organisations grow.

“One of the first things I was told at business school was ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’. Skills and knowledge matter, but community is what gets you into the right rooms.”

Looking back on her career, she pinpoints the moment that confirms that belief. Two key relationships opened doors that changed her life – one that brought her to England, another that led her to Ealing. Without those connections, she believes her journey might have looked very different.

That experience inspired Offload. The platform helps athletes – wherever they are from –access opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. Talent shouldn’t be limited by geography or circumstance. By building networks around players, Offload aims to level the playing field and support both sporting careers and life beyond the game.

At the heart of it all is a belief in shared growth. She points to the idea of an ‘economy of knowledge’: when you share knowledge or introduce two people, you multiply value. Like lighting another candle, both flames burn just as brightly, and together they create more light.

“In rugby, even two players competing for the same position make each other better. If one raises their level, the other must as well and then the whole team benefits. Business is the same: when people share ideas, raise standards and support each other it can lift the entire community.”

“At its core, the Chamber is about bringing people together so they can grow – which is exactly what I’m trying to do too.”

Whether in sport or business, the goal is the same: stronger connections, shared belief, and a community that lifts its members higher than they could ever go alone.

West London Chambers of Commerce are proud partners of Ealing Trailfinders Rugby Club and official player sponsors of Ella Amory, founder of Offload.

Garner & Hancock Solicitors named Wills & Probate Solicitors of the Year

Garner & Hancock Solicitors have been named Wills & Probate Solicitors of the Year –London 2025 by Legal Insider.

Established in 1882, the firm has built a legacy of guiding families through the complexities of wills, probate, succession tax, and crossborder estates with clarity and compassion. The team excels in international wills, offshore trusts, succession tax planning, and contested probate and are members of STEP, The Law Society, Resolution, and ELA

Garner & Hancock’s award reflects not only their local impact in West London but also their growing role in international estate planning, guiding expats, business owners, and families with crossborder assets to navigate succession tax and inheritance laws seamlessly.

Clients consistently praise the firm’s professionalism, warmth and clarity. From handling complex estates that span years to offering straightforward willwriting services, Garner & Hancock’s team provides peace of mind at every stage.

This year, Garner & Hancock will expand their services with a digital platform designed to ensure solicitorbacked wills are accessible, affordable and straightforward to complete online.

The Brentford Canal Festival – Saturday June 20, 2026

A day of celebration, years of impact

The Brentford Canal Festival is the biggest free festival in Hounslow. It celebrates our waterways, sustainability and the natural environment, highlights community involvement and diversity, celebrates creative talent and volunteer energy. It is delivered by volunteers, supported by sponsorship from local businesses, Creative Enterprise West and London Borough of Hounslow.

A Catalyst for the Cultural Regeneration of Brentford

The Festival is a non-profit-making event, focused on celebrating our town and community and offering opportunities for Hounslow’s diverse cultural groups to come together through music, dance, water sports and food. But it also serves as a driver for the local economy and a boost for other

commercial and cultural events throughout the year and across sectors by:

CREATIVE: Providing exposure for local musicians and emerging talent Showcasing local galleries and artists studios Platform for promoting the Creative Mile and Brentford’s wider creative sector

HOSPITALITY: Introducing new customers to Brentford’s restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars

SPORT: Introducing new participants to Brentford’s water sports offering through free taster sessions Promoting Brentford as

the Centre of Excellence in West London for Water Sports Activities

ENVIRONMENT: Raising awareness of the importance of preserving our waterways by providing a platform for environmental groups (RSPB, Canal & Rivers Trust, Inland Waterways etc) and direct exposure to the canal environment through free boat trips, paddle-boarding, canoeing etc on the day

We’re committed to building a greener Festival — reducing waste, working with eco vendors, and aiming to meet standards for sustainable events. Our ambition is for the Festival’s impact to last much longer, with projects to improve facilities for water users, including the shower block on the Grand Union Canal, Gallows Bridge, towpath cleanups, biodiversity projects, and enhancing green spaces.

If you’d like to know more about the Brentford Canal Festival: Contact Brentford Voice: info@brentfordvoice.co.uk

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Wandsworth Sash Windows crowned Creative Business of the Year

The West London Chambers of Commerce Business Awards is a night to celebrate the best that West London has to offer. This year, the Creative Business of the Year winner was not one you would immediately associate with ‘creativity’, but a truly bespoke offering meant Wandsworth Sash Windows walked away with the award.

Wandsworth Sash Windows is run by brothers Matthew and Nathan Smith, who have been leading the business together for over a decade. Having lived in Hammersmith & Fulham for several years, Matthew is proud to call the borough home. When the opportunity arose to open a showroom opposite Stamford Bridge, he seized the chance, not only to reduce his commute, but to establish a visible local presence. The Fulham Road showroom has since become an important part of their recent growth and success.

Specialising in the manufacture and installation of high-quality external timber joinery for homeowners, the range includes traditional sash and casement windows, French doors, front doors and bifolding doors, all crafted in wood and double-glazed to combine heritage character with modern performance.

Speaking to Let’s Talk Business Matthew said: “What makes us different is the depth of experience behind the scenes. We operate three dedicated joinery workshops, in Hampshire, Leamington Spa and East Sussex, where many of the same skilled craftsmen have worked for years. This continuity allows us to produce truly bespoke products that enhance the traditional architecture of the homes we work in, and in turn contribute positively to the character of Hammersmith & Fulham itself.

A capability that massively sets us apart is our expertise in incorporating original stained glass into newly crafted timber joinery, encapsulated within modern double-glazed units. It is an intricate, time-intensive process requiring both technical precision and respect for heritage craftsmanship, which is why few companies are able to offer it.”

It was this traditional bespoke nature that impressed the judging panel, Alan Rides CEO of West London Chambers of Commerce said: “The business world is always progressing, and we have seen the rise of technology and more recently AI which has changed the way people work. There is still a place for traditional skills and methods, and for a business like Wandsworth Sash Windows to make it fundamental to their business was a key deciding factor of the judging panel”

Nathan added: “Winning Creative Business of the Year at the Chambers Awards was an unexpected and wonderful honour. It is immensely rewarding to know that our windows and doors showcase the very best of British craftsmanship in homes across the borough, day after day.

Over the years we’ve had the privilege of completing many projects locally, building lasting relationships along the way. Many past clients are happy to act as references, and some will even open their homes to prospective customers who wish to see our

work firsthand, something we consider the highest endorsement of trust.”

The brothers have also kept the office team intentionally small meaning customers are never far from the people who run the business. Clients regularly speak directly with Matthew or Nathan, or Sales Director Charlie, people who understand the details, can make decisions, and genuinely care about getting every project right.

The brothers added: “As a local, family-run business, we remain committed to preserving the architectural character of Fulham and the surrounding areas, while delivering the personal service and craftsmanship that earned us recognition in the first place.”

For more information or to discuss a bespoke quote, you can find Wandsworth Sash Windows at www.sashwindows.london

This profile is brought to you by Discover Fulham - www.discoverfulham.co.uk

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Tracy Aust OBE recognised in 2026 new year honours for services to further education

West Thames College is proud to announce that Tracy Aust, former Principal and Chief Executive Officer of the College, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2026 New Year Honours for her services to further education.

Tracy retired in 2025 after more than 27 years of dedicated service in the further education sector, including a transformational period as Principal and CEO of West Thames College. Under her leadership, the College achieved significant milestones, including an Outstanding Ofsted rating and strengthened regional partnerships that advanced skills opportunities for learners across West London.

Throughout her career, Tracy has been a champion of truly inclusive education, maintaining high expectations for all learners, and fostering collaborations with local employers, community organisations, and regional stakeholders. Her work has contributed to measurable improvements in student achievement, community engagement, and cross-sector partnerships, reinforcing the College’s role as an anchor institution serving its community.

“We are delighted that Tracy has received this well-deserved national honour,” said Marta Gajewska, current West Thames College CEO & Principal. “Her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to students and the communities the College serves have made an enduring impact on the College and the wider further education sector.”

Throughout her career, Tracy has been a champion of truly inclusive education, maintaining high expectations for all learners, and fostering collaborations with local employers, community organisations, and regional stakeholders.

Brentford FC’s Gtech Community Stadium launches a 24/7 safe haven

Brentford FC’s Gtech Community Stadium has been accredited as a Safe Haven by the Safer Business Network.

The club’s west stand security hub, located on Lionel Road South outside the stadium, will provide support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to any member of the public who feels vulnerable or needs help. The hub will be managed by trained security staff members and open to the community at all times.

Safe Havens are dedicated spaces of support, which help people with their onward journey, providing various forms of assistance, such as contacting emergency services, phone charging facilities, calling a taxi or reaching friends and family.

The Gtech becomes a Safe Haven as part of Brentford’s commitment to ensuring our fans and community, particularly women and girls, feel safe in the local area all year round.

The Safe Haven will be resourced by security staff who have received bespoke training provided by the Safer Business Network. The training equips staff with relevant skills and expertise to recognise vulnerability and how to offer help to those who need it.

Brentford’s chief executive Jon Varney said: “We are a club that sits in the heart of the community and it is vital that we are able to support our fans and those living in the local area. In creating a Safe Haven space at our stadium, we are ensuring there is help available for anyone at any time of day.

“This builds on the wide-ranging work we are doing with fans and partners as part of our continued commitment to create inclusive

and safer environments for women and girls, not just on a matchday but everyday.”

Eren Bessim, training and development manager at the Safer Business Network, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Brentford Football Club as the latest venue to become a Safe Haven. As a club deeply embedded in its community, Brentford continues to lead the way in championing safety, inclusion, and wellbeing both on and off the pitch.

“Brentford FC is also a proud supporter of the Women’s Night Safety Charter, reinforcing its commitment to tackling violence against women and girls and making the Gtech safe for all. Their leadership and passion for creating safer spaces make them a powerful advocate for this initiative. We look forward to working closely with Brentford as part of our growing Safe Haven network.”

Prioritising safety for women and girls Brentford is committed to ensuring the protection of women and girls and is undertaking a wide range of work to drive awareness, educate fans and take action to tackle this important issue.

The Silent Giants: The critical role of MSMEs in the global future

by Lord JD Waverley office@msmeworldunion.org

West London Chambers of Commerce under the patronage of Lord Waverley

Micro, Small and MediumSized Enterprises (MSMEs) are more than just business units operating in the shadow of large corporations - they are the beating heart of national economies.

In every region of the world, from dense cities to remote rural communities, MSMEs fuel the engines of growth, job creation, innovation, and social cohesion. For countries striving toward economic resilience and inclusive development, empowering MSMEs is not just an option; it is an economic imperative.

When MSMEs succeed, nations prosper. Across many nations, MSMEs account for 50–90% of all jobs, providing employment opportunities across manufacturing, services, agriculture, digital industries, and retail. Economically, they contribute 40–60% of national GDP in many countries. They are the primary drivers of income generation and poverty reduction; when they thrive, families gain stability, communities prosper, and national development accelerates.

MSMEs stand at a crossroads internationally

What is missing is the structure - and the champion - to bring it all together. This is that moment. This is the rise of the global MSME movement.

“When

The Call to Action: MSME World Union formation

The world needs a MSME World Union now. A global champion bold enough is needed to reshape the rules of the game. MSMEs are everywhere yet represented nowhere. This Union will fill the gap, becoming a forceful, coordinated voice to influence international trade rules, AI regulation, and ESG standards.

Each of the 195 countries is to have a representative, together with a regional leader for each of 11 regions worldwide.

The MSME World union will serve as the catalyst for the provision of essential services to the MSME community by promoting foreign trade, investment, and economic cooperation through business support, trade exhibitions, and digital trade. Please support!

MSMEs succeed, nations prosper. Across many nations, MSMEs account for 50–90% of all jobs, providing employment opportunities across manufacturing, services, agriculture, digital industries, and retail.”

International trade for West London has plenty to celebrate for 2026:

by Alan Rides Chief Executive Officer, West London Chambers of Commerce

London is named top business meeting city for business in Europe,

The Middle East and Africa

Make UK survey shows:

• 65% of UK manufacturers believe opportunities outweigh the risks

• 68% UK manufacturers are increasing their investment in new product development

• 63% believe the Industrial Strategy will increase investment

This year’s survey shows that manufacturers are doubling down on innovation. Despite cost pressures and economic uncertainty, manufacturers are ambitious for growth. They’re investing in new products, embedding new technology and exploring new sectors and markets. The Industrial Strategy is boosting optimism, providing a springboard for investment and an opportunity to improve UK competitiveness. Rising costs and economic uncertainty haven’t gone away, yet nearly two-thirds of manufacturers believe the opportunities in 2026 outweigh the risks.

HSBC announce 82% of companies surveyed replied that strong growth is forecast in exports.

Peter Kyle MP Minister for Business and Trade announced with Tim Reid CEO UKEF

help from UKEF at their 2026 annual conference as follows:-

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is significantly expanding its support, with capacity raised to £80 billion as of mid-2025 to boost UK exports. This includes a £20 billion boost to support UK businesses with new insurance products for SMEs, improved digital tools, and a focus on sector-specific, sustainable, and high-value international projects.

Key highlights regarding the increase in UKEF cover:

Increased Capacity: The total capacity for UKEF lending and guarantees has been raised to £80 billion to drive international growth.

Support for SMEs: New measures, including simplified online portals and “Small Export Builder” insurance, aim to support over 1,000 SMEs annually by 2029.

Export Insurance Enhancements: Exporters can increase their permitted credit limits by 50% (up to a maximum of £100,000) by demonstrating timely payments from buyers.

Strategic Growth: The increased capacity supports the UK government’s trade strategy, providing enhanced insurance products for SMEs and bolstering trade defense.

Market-Specific Cover: UKEF has increased, or has the capacity to increase, cover for specific markets (e.g., Ukraine, Iraq) to support UK suppliers in key regions. This expansion is designed to ensure that no viable UK export fails due to a lack of finance or insurance.

Trading forward: Finding opportunity in complexity

by Linda Middleton-Jones Managing Director of International Trade Matters Ltd.

Let’s be honest, the international trade landscape currently feels like navigating through fog - regulatory shifts, geopolitical tensions, supply chain recalibrations. But this complexity is creating genuine opportunities.

Take ESG. If you’re already handling customs audits, integrating ESG compliance isn’t such a leap. Smart businesses are turning this into competitive advantage - ESG credentials are now prerequisites for preferred supplier status and premium markets.

Critical minerals are reshaping global trade. Understanding ethical sourcing and supply chain resilience has moved from “nice to have” to “essential.” These complexities are embedded in Free Trade Agreements, and businesses that navigate them are winning partnerships others can’t access.

AI is amplifying human expertise, from sanctions screening to supply chain mapping freeing businesses to focus on strategic decisions rather than routine compliance.

But here’s what really matters: resilience through diversification. Thriving businesses aren’t relying on single markets or revenue streams. They’re building portfolio approaches with geographic diversity and flexible delivery models.

International trade has always been an arbiter of peace. By championing ethical partnerships, forward-thinking businesses foster stability over conflict.

The companies positioning themselves for what comes next aren’t waiting for certainty. They’re building capability now - in ESG compliance, supply chain intelligence, technology adoption, and strategic resilience.

International trade events update

by Alan Rides Chief Executive Officer, West London Chambers of Commerce

West London Chambers of Commerce is proud to announce a record year that culminated in our Business Awards at the end of November, which was attended by 350 business guests, up from 290 in 2024. Just the month before, the Ealing Festival of Business also set a record with 450 attendees, compared to 250 in 2024.

The year began with the long-established the West London Festival of Business, which attracted 300 attendees, followed by the West London Regeneration Conference, showcasing the developments in west London. Our Charity Golf Day also remains popular, with 80 participants attending and playing.

Chamber membership has steadily increased over the last 10 years, now reaching 2,300 from just 200 in 2015. We are now the second largest Chamber of Commerce in London. Alongside our five flagship events, we hold informative sector webinars, seminars, networking breakfasts, evening networking events across our three boroughs. We have a highly active Women in Business group and delivered two black history month events. We also publish a business magazine, Let’s Talk Business, five times a year.

This year also saw a first for West London Chambers, as we were instrumental in

launching a BID (Business Improvement District) in Hounslow town centre. Hounslow’s Heart BID is the first BID to be introduced in the borough of Hounslow. BIDs were introduced in 2003 and there are a number in Ealing and Hammersmith & Fulham, with which we work closely.

A key Chamber USP is a focus on International Trade, particularly for the international companies around Heathrow. 45 international trade events were held out of a total of 100 events in 2025. Additionally, a survey showed that 44% of the 450 respondents expressed interest in participating in overseas trade missions; consequently, the Chamber organised Missions to Istanbul, Taipei, Atlanta, and Hainan, China in 2025. Our unique reputation for international trade is growing, along with our domestic events.

All on the back of Heathrow showing a record breaking year handling 84 passengers –mostly business and a record 1.59m tonnes of cargo, including to USA up 4.6%

This is reflected in ONS figures showing total UK exports £929bn up 4.3% showing that we are well on the way to our target of £1 trillion of exports by 2030

To help our exporters achieve this goal for 2026 our program includes:

• Mission to China – March following on from November’s visit (pictured above)

• Mission to Turkey March / April

• Mission to Morocco – May

• Mission to Atlanta – September/October

• Mission to India - November

A key Chamber USP is a focus on International Trade, particularly for the international companies around Heathrow. 45 international trade events were held out of a total of 100 events in 2025.

Additionally, a survey showed that 44% of the 450 respondents expressed interest in participating in overseas trade missions; consequently, the Chamber organised Missions to Istanbul, Taipei, Atlanta, and Hainan, China in 2025.

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Our wellbeing should be important to us all, whether in the workplace or at home. We are now making our wellbeing a priority and by putting our wellbeing first, we are concentrating on our physical and mental health. All articles are contributed by Chamber members. We thank them!

Looking after our wellbeing What if Imposter Syndrome wasn’t a bad thing?

by Ruth Sloss Executive and Leadership Coach

Show me a business leader who has never experienced Imposter Syndrome and I’ll show you a fibber. Probably. From years of coaching and developing people I’ve noticed the more senior an individual, the more they confess to Imposter Syndrome, self-doubt, feeling a fraud, call it what you will.

This isn’t just anecdotal. A 2022 YouGov survey established:

• 58% of people in the workplace experience Imposter Syndrome

• 18% of senior managers experience it versus 13% of junior employees

Imposter Syndrome is perceived as a bad thing that holds us back. If extreme, it lowers self-confidence, make us question our judgment and impacts our effectiveness. But what if it was a helpful, good thing? Consider those 18% of senior managers. Might it be driving them to accomplish more, thereby achieving seniority?

If you think Imposter Syndrome could never be helpful, imagine someone with zero inner critic who believes they’re always right. They risk alienating others with arrogance and making poor business decisions by ignoring other opinions.

Imposter Syndrome can keep us self-aware and learning. I once heard self-doubt beautifully described as ‘a nudge from our learning mind to engage our curiosity and spur us forwards’, the driver for those senior managers.

When I’m coaching those experiencing Imposter Syndrome we get curious about the gap between their Imposter voice and reality,

because there lies learning. Perhaps a senior leader experiences it in meetings with their Executive team. We’ll consider:

• What negative thoughts run through your head? “I get flustered. The Exec look down on me because I didn’t attend university.”

• What are the objective facts? “No-one has mentioned university. I got flustered once over some data”

• What’s the learning? “They’d probably be offended if they knew I’d thought this. They need my expertise. I need to better prepare data.”

Use these questions when you experience Imposter Syndrome. Consider it a helpful Critical Friend that spurs your career forward.

Imposter Syndrome can keep us self-aware and learning. I once heard self-doubt beautifully described as ‘a nudge from our learning mind to engage our curiosity and spur us forwards’, the driver for those senior managers.

Supporting mental health at work: Through practical, nutrition and lifestyle strategies

by Ruchi Bhuwania Lohia www.wellnesswithruchi.com

Mental health is no longer a peripheral wellbeing issue; it is a core business consideration. With rising levels of absenteeism, and burnout affecting productivity, staff morale and retention.

Organisations that take a proactive approach to mental wellbeing are undoubtedly better positioned to perform sustainably over the long term.

While leadership culture and workload design are important, research shows that daily nutrition and lifestyle choices play a crucial role in how well individuals manage stress. To make this practical, I present five considered workplace strategies.

Support brain function through key nutrients

B vitamins, magnesium, omega-three fatty acids are essential for neurotransmitter production and healthy nervous system function. Prioritising oily fish, nuts and seeds, leafy greens, helps maintain cognitive performance, and emotional resilience.

Maintain steady energy through balanced meals

Fluctuating blood sugar can lead to energy dips, and reduced concentration. Including a combination of protein and fibre at each lunch time helps stabilise blood sugar levels, supporting sustained focus, mood regulation and overall mental clarity.

Rethink caffeine and hydration habits

Excessive caffeine, especially later in the day, can increase anxiety. Regular hydration and moderating caffeine intake after midday help maintain calmer energy levels and improved concentration.

Build movement into the working day

Prolonged sitting reduces circulation and can contribute to mental fatigue. Periodic short movement breaks, walking meetings or standing desks help regulate stress hormones, improve mood and enhance cognitive clarity.

Ruchi Bhuwania Lohia is a BANT and CNHC-registered longevity nutritionist, workplace wellbeing specialist, and founder of Wellness with Ruchi (www.wellnesswithruchi.com).

With 18 years’ experience as a senior executive in mergers and acquisitions in London’s finance sector, Ruchi understands first-hand how overwhelming work and life demands can become. Her practice is dedicated to creating deeply personalised, practical, and evidencebased corporate wellness programmes aligned with organisational wellbeing strategies.

Protect sleep as a performance tool

Consistent, high-quality sleep underpins emotional regulation, memory and decisionmaking. Encouraging boundaries around late-night emails and supporting flexible start times where possible reinforces the message that recovery is essential for sustained performance.

Mental Fitness: The new competitive advantage for West London businesses

by Ramiro Salgado Coach | Business Strategist

In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, leaders across West London are carrying more pressure than ever before. Economic uncertainty, hybrid work challenges, rising stress levels, retention issues, and increasing demands on performance have created an environment where traditional leadership skills are no longer enough.

What organisations now need — and what forward-thinking Chambers like the West London Chambers of Commerce are championing — is mental fitness: the ability to stay clear-minded, resilient, focused and effective, even under pressure.

Mental fitness goes beyond wellbeing

It blends neuroscience, psychology, and practical leadership tools to help business owners and senior managers strengthen the mental capacities that drive performance: clarity, calm, emotional stability, communication, and decision-making. When leaders improve their mental fitness, the benefits ripple across their teams and organisations. Decision-making becomes faster and more grounded. Stress goes down. Productivity becomes more sustainable. Communication improves. And crucially, businesses become better equipped to

navigate uncertainty without burning out their people.

That is why, starting March 2026, we are launching a new initiative for WLCC members:

Mental Edge™ — a practical, timeefficient mental fitness programme designed specifically for business leaders.

The programme includes:

• Weekly 10–15-minute video lessons focused on leadership clarity, stress management, focus, confidence and conflict resolution.

• Daily guided practice, delivered through the AddedMe Mind Gym Club app — simple, science-based exercises that build resilience and focus in just five minutes a day.

When leaders improve their mental fitness, the benefits ripple across their teams and organisations. Decision-making becomes faster and more grounded. Stress goes down. Productivity becomes more sustainable. Communication improves.

• A private WLCC community, offering peer support, accountability and shared learning.

• Weekly live Masterclass sessions & Q&A, helping members apply mental fitness tools to real business challenges.

• Five complimentary 1:1 High-Impact Leadership Audits per month, exclusively for WLCC members.

All of this is provided free of charge to support the wellbeing and performance of the West London business community.

As we move into a new business year, Mental Fitness isn’t just a wellbeing initiative — it’s a strategic necessity. And with WLCC’s leadership, West London can become a national example of how stronger minds build stronger businesses.

Scan the QR code to take the initial assessment and join the waiting list now:

Elevating Cybersecurity: The Case for Cyber Essentials Plus

In our previous article, “Cybersecurity: A Strategic Imperative for West London Leaders,” we explored the inevitable reality of cyber threats lurking in the shadows of our bustling business landscape.

From tech startups in White City to retail giants along the Thames, no organisation is immune. But knowing the “when” of an attack isn’t enough, it’s time to arm ourselves with actionable defences. Enter Cyber Essentials Plus: a UK government-backed certification that’s not just a badge, but a fortress against the most common digital dangers. As West London continues to thrive as a hub for innovation and commerce, this follow-up dives into why every business, big or small, should prioritise getting certified. Let’s turn vulnerability into vigilance.

Understanding Cyber Essentials Plus: Your shield against everyday threats

At its core, Cyber Essentials is a straightforward scheme designed to protect organisations from the basics of cyber risks, like phishing, malware, and unauthorised access. It focuses on five key technical controls: firewalls, secure configuration, user access control, malware protection, and patch management. But Cyber Essentials Plus takes it a step further. While the basic level involves a self-assessment questionnaire, Plus requires an independent, hands-on audit by certified experts who test your systems for vulnerabilities.

The stark reality: why West London can’t afford to wait

Picture this: It is a busy Friday in Hammersmith, and suddenly your pointof-sale systems freeze. Customer data is encrypted, and a ransom demand flashes on screen. This isn’t fiction, it is the nightmare that unfolded for major UK retailers like Marks & Spencer in 2025, where a ransomware attack led to nearly £300 million in lost profits and weeks of downtime. Closer to home, London businesses have been hit hard: Heathrow Airport faced baggage chaos from a supply chain hack, Harrods dealt with checkout outages, and the Co-op Group suffered supply disruptions affecting millions.

The numbers paint an even grimmer picture. According to the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, 43% of UK businesses, equating to around 612,000 organisations, experienced a cyber breach or attack in the past year. Phishing featured in many incidents, while ransomware attacks doubled to affect 1% of businesses (around 19,000 organisations), often exploiting simple, unpatched vulnerabilities. Supply chain attacks surged, with many intrusions originating from third-party suppliers. For small businesses, the figure hovered around 42%, with average costs from significant incidents running into the hundreds of thousands.

Without certification, you are essentially leaving the digital door unlocked.

The business boost: beyond protection to prosperity

Getting Cyber Essentials Plus isn’t just about dodging disasters, it’s a competitive edge. Certified businesses see 92% fewer insurance claims, making premiums more affordable and coverage easier to secure. It signals to clients, partners, and investors that you’re serious about security, opening doors to government contracts and supply chains that mandate it.

The 2026 outlook: ai acceleration, geopolitical risks, and the resilience imperative

Looking ahead into 2026, the cybersecurity landscape is set to intensify. The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 identifies AI as the top driver of change, supercharging both attacks (through faster, more sophisticated phishing and ransomware) and defences (via AIpowered detection), with 94% of leaders agreeing it will be the most significant factor. Geopolitical fragmentation will amplify state-sponsored threats, while supply chain

complexities and widening “cyber inequity” leave smaller businesses more exposed.

In the UK, expect tighter regulations like the forthcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, pushing operational resilience and thirdparty risk management to the forefront. Key takeaways for West London leaders

• Act Now on Basics: Implement the five controls to block 80% of threats; Don’t wait for a breach to force your hand, especially with 43% of UK businesses hit in 2025.

• Invest in Assurance: Cyber Essentials Plus’s independent verification builds credibility, reduces risks, and delivers 92% fewer insurance claims, vital as ransomware doubled in 2025.

• Leverage for Growth: Use certification to secure contracts, lower insurance, and enhance reputation, turning security into a business asset amid rising supply chain attacks.

• Prepare for 2026 Trends: Brace for AIamplified threats (94% of leaders see it as the biggest driver) and geopolitical risks by building foundational resilience; Cyber Essentials Plus is your first, most effective step.

• Stay Vigilant Locally: With London’s highprofile targets and incidents like the 2025 retail ransomware wave, prioritise training, updates, and supplier checks to protect your operations.

In West London’s dynamic economy, cybersecurity is not a cost, it is a cornerstone. By pursuing Cyber Essentials Plus, you are not just protecting your business; you are futureproofing it against the accelerating threats of 2026 and beyond. For more guidance, reach out to us, the West London Chamber or visit the official Cyber Essentials portal.

Past Events

November 6th, 2025

November

December

A look back at some of our recent Chamber events

Karachi, Pakistan

November 7th, 2025

Libya–UK

November 7th, 2025

December

January

January

Forthcoming Events

West Youth Zone Business Breakfast

West Youth Zone, 2 Edcity Walk, London W12 7TF

Join us for an exciting business networking event at West Youth Zone, A state of the art, truly-inspiring Youth club for the youth of Shepherd’s Bush, just moments away from Westfield.

Thursday, 26th February, 2026

8.30am - 10.30am

West London Festival of Business

Holiday Inn, Brentford Lock, Commerce Road, Brentford, TW8 8GA

The West London Festival of Business is your opportunity to shine, giving you the chance to showcase and promote your business to our diverse business community.

Tuesday, 3rd March, 2026

Breakfast – 8am – 9:15am

Exhibition: 9:30am – 4:00pm

Acton BID Business Breakfast

Friday, 13th March, 2026

8:30am – 10:30am

Details to follow

International Women’s Day

Brentford School for Girls, 5 Boston Manor Rd, Brentford TW8 0PF

Thursday, 19th March, 2026

8:45am – 10:45am

Evening networking with Porsche

Great West Road, London W4 4LZ

Thursday, 26th March, 2026

6.30 pm – 8.30 pm

China Outbound Trade Mission

March, 2026

Details to follow Trade Mission to Türkiye

Ankara, Türkiye

Monday, 13th – Wednesday, 15th April, 2026

Details to follow

Gunnersbury Business Breakfast

Gunnersbury Park Sports Club, Gunnersbury Park, Popes Lane, London W3 8LQ

This event will be hosted by Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub. Join local business owners, professionals, and entrepreneurs for a relaxed and productive business networking breakfast.

Tuesday, 14th April, 2026

8.30am - 10.30am

Acton BID Business Breakfast

Friday, 24th April, 2026

8:30 am – 10:30 am

Details to follow

Charity Golf Day

Wyke Green, 4th June 2026

Regeneration Conference

Clayton Hotel, Chiswick, 17th June 2026

For further information on any of our past or forthcoming events please contact Sally Smith on: sallysmith@westlondonchambers.org.uk or 07879 813817 or visit www.westlondonchambers.org.uk.

West London Chambers of Commerce

Business Awards 2025

A massive thank you to everyone for attending the Business Awards on Friday 21st November, at the Novotel in Hammersmith.

The West London Chamber’s team do want to congratulate all our winners and indeed all those who entered the 2025 Business Awards. We would not be the Chamber we are today without your support. It was great to celebrate the successes across Hounslow, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and beyond. We certainly enjoyed the evening!

Apprentice Employer of the Year

Winner: Russell Finex

Highly Commended: Global Skills Training Ltd

Best Business for Health & Wellbeing

Winner: Rightangled

Highly Commended: Home Instead Hammersmith & Chiswick

Highly Commended: 7 HOPES LONDON

Best Business for Hospitality & Leisure

Winner: The Weir Bar

Winner: Novotel London West

Highly Commended: The Entsports Agency Ltd

Best Business for Marketing & Social Media

Winner: PinkSEO Ltd

Highly Commended: Simon Inc Ltd

Best Charity & Social Enterprise

Winner: West London Queer Project

Highly Commended: The Upper Room

Best Entrepreneur

Winner: CBA Rope Access Ltd

Highly Commended: Ealing Living Magazine

Best Exporter of the Year

Winner: Aciers UK Limited

Best Green Business

Winner: Ringway Hounslow Highways

Winner: St George plc

Best New Business

(company must be under 2 years old)

Winner: XAir Technologies

Highly Commended: Auto West London

Best Restaurants / Retailers

Winner: Sam’s Riverside

Best Small Company (under 50 Employees)

Winner: Absolute Aestheticsx Academy Ltd

Highly Commended: Woodford Tools

Best Tech Business

Winner: Ajar Technology

Winner: Sensor IT

Best Enabler of the Year

Winner: The University of West London

Creative Business of the Year

Winner: Simon Inc Ltd

Winner: Wandsworth Sash Windows

Diversity and Inclusion Award

Winner: SNAK Restaurants Limited

Highly Commended: The University of West London

Employer of the Year

Winner: OASIS Accountants Limited

Highly Commended: Rocket Restaurants Limited

League of their own Award

Winner: Gripped London

Highly Commended: Human Sun Light Limited

Unsung Heroes Award

Winner: Christina Ciravegna, Venture X White City

Women in Business Award

Winner: Gauri Nafrey of Bridge Baker

Winner: Lorraine Heggessey, Rachel O’Riordan & Amy Belson of Lyric Hammersmith Theatre

Highly Commended: Fanny Stocker of Sam’s Riverside

Highly Commended: Rosie Griffiths of Olsights Ltd

Highly Commended: Avril Clark of Smash Operations

Community Award

Winner: Ealing Living Magazine

Winner: Hampton & Kempton

Waterworks Railway Ltd.

Chamber of Commerce

Recognition Award

Winner: Cllr Stephen Cowan

Business of the Year

Winner: Venture X Chiswick Park

Congratulations to all winners, finalists and to the West London Chambers on such an impressive event! At Translator London Ltd. we are proud of being part of the vibrant and supportive West London Community”

Jaqueline Guardamagna, Translator London Ltd

Business Awards 2026 are on 21st November 2026 at the Novotel, Hammersmith, and will be launched in March.

Welcome to our New Members

Sram & Mram Limited

Aishwarya Gadekar

Management consultancy

Mihail Florin Gavrila

t/a London Notary Public

Mihail Florin Gavrila

www.mihail.co.uk

Notary Public

Decorexi Ltd

Ling Leung

www.decorexi.co.uk

Home decor & lighting retailer

&together advisory

Mohneet Dhir

www.and-together.co.uk

Financial planning for founders

Wandsworth Sash Windows

Matthew Smith

www.sashwindows.london

Manufacturer and installer of wooden windows and doors

Shesto Limited

Dan Delic

www.shestotrade.com

Precision tools, accessories and equipment

Garment Spa London Ltd

Hamza Afzal

www.garmentspalondon.co.uk

Eco Dry Cleaning

Rice Consulting Ltd

Tony Padoan

Consultant and advisor to businesses in the fmcg

CityFit Brentford / LavWill Ltd

Csilla Vegh

www.cityfitgym.co.uk

Gym

Nationwide Building Materials

Tejinder Kallha

www.nationwidebm.co.uk

Online selling building materials

Gripped London

Hannah Walker

www.begripped.com

Aerial adrenaline park

SVS1 Consultancy Limited

Sumeet Girdhani

Management consultancy

PromptTech Global Holding

Vanisree Byrepalli

www.prompttechsolutions.com

Innovative business solutions

KS Beginnings Ltd

Nimesh Patel

www.ksbeginnings.co.uk

GDP consultancy services

PRG Financial Planners

Satinder Shokar

www.prgfinancialplanners.com

Financial advisors/planners

IVA Plants Ltd

Alexandra Ghemu

www.ivaplants.co.uk

London based independent tea business creating functional herbal and black tea blends.

Smart Currency Exchange Ltd

Alex Bennett

www.smartcurrencyexchange.com

Treasury solutions that protect businesses from risk

Davenport Solicitors Ltd

Barry Dass

www.davenportsolicitors.com

Law partner for UK employers

Brentford Voice

Martin Case

www.brentfordvoice.co.uk

Community development

Hounslow Business Hub

Emma Siddhu

Residential and commercial sales let. Nri legal services

Ruth Willmott Associates Ltd

Ruth Willmott

www.ruthwillmott.com

Landscape and garden design

MKK Solicitors

Maliha Khan

www.mkksolicitors.co.uk

Law firm

The Alignment Studio

Ahmet Topcuoglu

www.alignmentstudio.co.uk

Meeting facilititation and business development consultancy

NJ Holdings Group Ltd

Aqeel Ahmed

www.njholdingsgroup.com

Software development

Phitech Solutions Ltd

Zeeshan Malik

www.phi-techsolutions.com

Industrial automation and industrial

cyber security

President TrumpThe Sorcerer’s Apprentice?

by Justin Urquhart Stewart

How many of us grew up with the magic of Walt Disney’s cartoons? From the tears induced by Bambi’s mother dying, to the tunes of the Jungle Book, they often became a key part of our childhood. But one character that particularly stood out was Mickey Mouse as the apprentice to the powerful magician and sorcerer named Yen Sid (Disney spelled backwards). Thinking that he can be as clever and capable as the real sorcerer, M Mouse uses the sorcerer’s hat to animate a broom to do his chores. This inevitably leads to utter chaos when he can’t control the enchanted brooms from flooding the room. The clear lesson for us all is not to play with things we don’t understand.

It would now seem that Yen Sid has found another apprentice. This Mickey Mouse character, though, is potentially far more dangerous than an overconfident rodent – and, ironically, first became globally known through fronting a show called The Apprentice. The current President of the USA has, as we all know, a significant ego and a self-belief that verges almost on the manic. He has been the great disrupter of social, political and economic norms and generally accepted views.

West London Chambers of Commerce

slackness. Trump’s disruption of the NATO member nations complacency over their reliance and dependence on America’s defence expenditure, has shaken these nations into realising that the near free ride of Uncle Sam’s defence umbrella is not unlimited and their massive cutbacks of their own defence budgets was a free gift to themselves following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. Times have changed. With Russia fighting a hot war on Europe’s eastern flank, as opposed to the Cold War we were once used to, these nations have not just had the ubiquitous wake up call, but also a loud alarm that they need to act in a new world order. They need actively to consider life without the guarantee of US defence and even consider life in a post NATO world if the situation concerning Greenland does not resolve itself amicably.

Add to that the lessons from the wars in Ukraine and Armenia, that the defence weapons we still have may be helpful in fighting yesterday’s battles but not tomorrow’s. The UK finds itself with two new aircraft carriers but until recently no suitable planes, let alone the defence flotilla required for such capital ships to have around them to be effective - as the Russians have already noted and thanked us for providing two rather large targets for them. Perhaps we would be better off with a £30 drone attached to a packet of semtex!

businesses. And so he will be more likely to welcome interest rate cuts as they would have benefitted businesses such as his own.

In his view, and it is a short term view, if the economy is slowing then a rate cut is going to boost it again. But it does ignore other economic risks, such as rising inflation, weak employment figures and a threat to the value of the dollar.

These are the sorts of decisions that should be left to the likes of Jerome Powell. By way of illustration, if you want a really dull supper party, ask some central bankers around. They are there to be tedious, boring - and also to take a longer term view, while avoiding calamitous errors (like inflation) which can be seriously damaging not just to economies but also companies and, most importantly, the population of the countries that are affected. These bankers don’t have to win elections, they have to be seen to be solid, reliable and provide that vital trust and confidence that economies depend on. The behaviour of the US President could seriously endanger this, not just for the USA but because of its size and influence, the rest of the world. Unlike in the world of Hollywood, alas, there is no way to rewrite the script – and no guarantee of a happy ending.

This can of course be very beneficial in certain circumstances, especially where normal behaviour has curdled into over confident complacency and lackadaisical

Back in the United States, our Sorcerer’s Apprentice thinks he knows about international finance, economics and the role of central bankers. His criticism of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has hardly been subtle, by initiating a legal investigation of the Fed’s budget – of which he subsequently denied knowledge - President Trump has made it abundantly clear that interest rates should be cut dramatically and immediately. This may have a personal element to it, given that Donald Trump’s own business was built on debt, which is not necessarily the case for many other

The current President of the USA has, as we all know, a significant ego and a self-belief that verges almost on the manic. He has been the great disrupter of social, political and economic norms and generally accepted views.

5 minutes with

5 minutes with... FERGUS CROCKETT

Who are you?

I am Fergus Crockett. Fortunate husband, father, friend and business coach.

What’s your business all about?

I coach business owners to develop their business into an outstanding business. Three words to describe yourself?

Clear. Empathetic. Focused Ideal customer?

Business owners who care about performance, people and long-term value.

Biggest achievement?

Leading large-scale commercial transformation while maintaining strong customer and employee engagement.

Biggest gripe?

Watching really capable leaders struggle

in silence when support would make a huge difference.

Your

inspiration?

My Dad and my father-in-law. Kind caring men who achieved so much from very humble beginnings.

Philosophy

in business?

“At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou

Sporting hero?

Roger Federer. Skill, poise, consistency and respect for all his competitors. I also love this statement. “I only won 52% of the points. It’s what you do when you lose the point that matters”.

Biggest

tip for success?

Try to improve what you do every day. Every morning brings more opportunities.

“At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou