Engage Contents

Doing

Business... in West London

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PARLIAMENTARY FOCUS 37

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68 FIND EMPLOYEES FIND EMPLOYEES 69

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West London Business Chamber of Commerce acts as a The West London Business Network is an independent voice for the individual views of West London’ s business networking group which meets every third Thursday of the community to tackle the issues that impact on the growth month at the Drayton Court Hotel in West Ealing, west and success of West London‘ s businesses. The Chamber London. Meetings are said to be friendly and informative with also brings new jobs into West London and aims to raise regular speakers delivering their experience and advice. the economic competitiveness of the area. It is said to be Tel: 08700 270807 Website: www. wlbn. org the main point of contact in West London for international companies considering re-location and for growing SMEs to find new premises.

Harrow in Business is Harrow’ s local Enterprise Agency. Operating since 1983, it provides advice, information and

West London Business support to people considering: self-employment, setting up

West London Centre, 15-21 Staines Road in business, or growing their existing business.

Hounslow, Middlesex, TW3 3HR Services are mainly focused in Harrow, however similar

Tel: 020 8607 2500 services are provided across many parts of West London

Website: www. westlondon. com and training programmes are open to all.

Harrow in Business The Business Enterprise Centre provides start-up and Enterprise House, 297 Pinner Road, Harrow HA1 4HS existing businesses based in and around the borough of Tel: 020 8427 6188 Website: www. harrowinbusiness. com Hammersmith and Fulham with relevant information about initiatives, support organisations and key business news. The aim of the BEC is to create a top class quality resource Hounslow for Business offers free advice sessions for both which acts as a focus for local businesses and contributes existing small businesses and start-ups including help with to improving their competitiveness. business plans, marketing and networking strategies, and advice on tax and employment.

Business Enterprise Centre Hounslow for Business is a registered company, which

TEK House, 11- 13 Uxbridge Road, London W12 8TB is fully owned by the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce.

Tel: 020 8746 0355 It works with the borough council and other agencies to

Website: www. bectek. co. uk provide business-related Government information and information about support services. Tel: 0845 330 9105 Website: www. hounslowforbusiness. info

Brent Business Venture( BBV) is a business support agency, working mainly in North West London, which aims to inspire business success and support new and growing“ The main role of the North West London Chamber is to businesses. BBV provides free and impartial confidential help people to be more successful in their business or business advice and support. Appointments are preferred organisation,” the Chamber says. and can be made in advance by phone, fax or e-mail. It does this by helping business persons to network, gain BBV is a not-for-profit social enterprise and last year it was contacts, customers / suppliers and build their business. brought under the umbrella of Park Royal Partnership. It also promotes trade within the membership, is the voice of business in Brent and Harrow and influences councils’

Brent Business Venture thinking and actions on many key issues.

Monarch House, Victoria Road London, W3 6UR

North West London Chamber

Tel: 0203 110 2380 Enterprise House, 297 Pinner Road, Harrow, HA1 4HS

E-mail: info @ bbv. co. uk Tel: 020 8427 2884 E-mail: info @ nwlchamber. org. uk

Website: www. bbv. co. uk Website: www. nwlchamber. org. uk

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28 BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITIES

It is 37 years since the US economist Milton Friedman argued that“ The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits”. Nowadays hardly anyone subscribes to this narrow definition of the purpose of business and its place in society. The change of thinking is especially marked among young managers. Successive generations show increasing concern for the wellbeing of society and the planet, and business’ s role in that.

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The idea now is that companies should conduct their business not solely to benefit the bottom line. They must also be mindful of their responsibility to their‘ stakeholders’, those who have an impact on, or are impacted by, the organisation. The key to discharging these responsibilities – and to business success – is to develop strong relationships with these stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, community, environment, as well as the funders, and inform them of progress.

Sustainability or Corporate Responsibility( CR) is about“ the way we do business” – about how a company manages its environmental, social and ethical impact. By ensuring that its operations are carried out in a responsible manner, based on a declared set of principles, a business can build its reputation in the eyes of all its stakeholders: employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and community. Companies aiming for sustainability are measured, not against a single financial bottom line, but against the triple bottom line of economic prosperity, environmental protection and social equality. come from the local community in which a business operates. Good community relations can improve customer loyalty and staff retention

waste reduction through recycling can save overhead expenditure. There will also be wider societal benefits through the reduction of greenhouse gases which cause global warming.

asked by large corporates and local government to adopt standards of responsible business practice. By following this lead, SMEs can more easily bid for tenders and compete against the large players.

SMEs can develop niche markets using CR principles. For example a furniture importer only using wood from sustainable forests will attract customers who wish to minimise the global impact of their buying decisions.

BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITIES 29

For SMEs, being socially and environmentally responsible may seem yet another example of red tape. However, this is more than compliance – it is a voluntary activity which should be seen as beneficial to corporate strategy. It can also contribute to financial success, for example by reducing environmental costs through increased recycling.

West London Business is working with SMEs in West London to provide them with support as they engage in this new agenda. It can provide training and consultancy to establish a CR policy as well as set up staff briefings on what it means for them and the benefits to the business.

If you would like to know more about these services and details of future meetings of WLB’ s Corporate Responsibility Network please take a look at www. westlondon. com

Peter Desmond is Managing Director of Growth International Limited, a change management consultancy www. growthinternational. com which was awarded a‘ Big Tick’ this year by Business in the Community. Email: peter @ growthinternational. com

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Contents 5

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House of Commons

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Special Focus

36The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic face of British Politics 2007 Engage seeks the opinions of young BAME people and profiles current and future BAME politicians

Doing Business

48West London The best places to go for business advice in West London

Business Responsibilities

50Sustainable Business Peter Desmond encourages SMEs to get involved in CSR initiatives

Recruitment

Find Employees

��success depends upon recruiting from the widest and most diverse talent pool��

West London

Doing

Business... in West London

You live in West London or your business is in West London, and you need advice. Where do you go? Look no further. Engage brings you some of the main organisations offering business advice, support and training for new or existing small to medium-sized enterprises( SMEs) in West London:

West London Business Chamber of Commerce

Business Enterprise Centre

Brent Business Venture

West London Business Network

Harrow in Business

Hounslow for Business

North West London Chamber

Recruitment

West London

National Business Focus

53British Chambers of Commerce The true voice of British Business? – MD John Dunsmure makes the case

Business Networking

54National Black Women’ s Network Sonia Brown talks about the network’ s progress and future plans

Powerful Partnerships

56Rasheed Ogunlaru advises on the pros and cons of consortia partnerships

58 Finance

Mergers and Acquisitions investigated

Business Success

60Exclusive Interview Levi Roots talks candidly about his whirlwind success and future plans

Environmental Sustainability

64Case Study Silverdale global solutions shares its track record and calls for support

Networking Cultures

69Dimsum

Britain’ s Chinese community speak out on their contribution to the wealth and success of the UK economy

Networking Cultures

70Giselle Boutique London’ s Manufacturing Advisory Service demonstrates its impact on BAME enterprise

Interview New Start-up

72Engage talks with Leon Hutchinson

Health Maintenance

74Drinking Water Solutions Peter Campbell promotes alternative drinking water solutions for a sustainable healthier environment

Ask Engage

76Starting a Business? Advice on how to market your business

78 Recruitment

Find Employees Two highly successful recruitment establishments explain what makes them different

West London

Sustainable Business

Alongside changing consumer expectations, legislation and regulation play a part. The Companies Act 2006 and The Climate Change Bill are among factors forcing directors and businesses to consider the role they play in a

‘ sustainable development’ world.

80 Competition

SAGE computer software up for grabs

Products Technology

82Latest technology news, views and information

What’ s On Get Networking

85What’ s going on in your area – a list of events

| uk engage

IN THE NEXT ISSUE –

Why should Small and Medium-sized Enterprises( SMEs) become engaged in CR initiatives?

There are a number of reasons that support a business case for such activity:

1. Local Profile – both staff and customers

2. Cost savings – more efficient use of energy and

3. Supply chain – smaller suppliers are being

4. Entrepreneurship and Innovation –

– the new board agenda?

By Peter Desmond a board director of West London Business and Chair of the Corporate Responsibility Network

Special focus on UK Corporates who champion diversity

Tessa Sanderson speaks to Engage on Olympic opportunities for east London’ s kids

Women and disabled owned businesses

Black History Month addressed

West London

ISSUE FOUR 2007 engage | uk

engage magazine issue 004 \\\'07 | Page 5

Engage Contents

Doing

Business... in West London

Engage Contents

36The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic face of British Politics 2007 Engage seeks the opinions of young BAME people and profiles current and future BAME politicians

48West London The best places to go for business advice in West London

50Sustainable Business Peter Desmond encourages SMEs to get involved in CSR initiatives

Doing

Business... in West London

53British Chambers of Commerce The true voice of British Business? – MD John Dunsmure makes the case

54National Black Women’ s Network Sonia Brown talks about the network’ s progress and future plans

56Rasheed Ogunlaru advises on the pros and cons of consortia partnerships

58 Finance

60Exclusive Interview Levi Roots talks candidly about his whirlwind success and future plans

64Case Study Silverdale global solutions shares its track record and calls for support

69Dimsum

70Giselle Boutique London’ s Manufacturing Advisory Service demonstrates its impact on BAME enterprise

72Engage talks with Leon Hutchinson

74Drinking Water Solutions Peter Campbell promotes alternative drinking water solutions for a sustainable healthier environment

76Starting a Business? Advice on how to market your business

78 Recruitment

80 Competition

82Latest technology news, views and information

85What’ s going on in your area – a list of events

| uk engage