Issue 5 - Sept/Oct2007 - South London Business

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36 Area focus: Sutton South London Business Re-vamped chamber delivering the goods A new-look Sutton Chamber was re-launched on May 4, 2006 with a remit to “provide a strong and sustainable force for change… to enable the business community in the London Borough of Sutton to meet the challenges of today and the future.” With the re-launch came a new home for the chamber. Reed Business Information generously offered the chamber accommodation in Quadrant House, adjacent to Sutton station and the use of the excellent facilities there to host guest speakers or to hold more informal evening events. Since then, thanks largely to the drive and vision of chairman and director Paul Cawthorne, the chamber has re-established itself as the focus of the borough’s business community, bringing a succession of high profile speakers to its seminars and initiating a number of innovative events for local employers and workers. Cawthorne was born in the borough and this has given him a strong emotional attachment to the area. He wants to see its businesses prosper and play a full part in the development of the local community, which is why he is currently an active participant on practically every committee in the borough that either directly or indirectly seeks to support local business. The issues that Cawthorne and fellow director Christopher Wood have brought to the attention of local businesses over the last year range from changes in fire safety legislation to the formulation of a Core Planning Strategy for the borough and the impending introduction of the London-wide Low Emission Zones in 2008. The chamber has developed a particularly close working relationship with Sutton Council. The Chamber welcomed chief executive Paul Martin as one of its first guest speakers and co-founded the successful series of Sutton Business Forums in partnership with the Council’s Department of Economic Renewal and Regeneration. The forums bring together members of the many and varied local networking groups, enabling them to maximise their buying and selling potential within the borough boundaries. The Chamber also takes its corporate social responsibility seriously, supporting worthy causes such as St Raphael’s Hospice, which offers palliative care to Sutton and Merton residents. Martin has helped launch many other Building for the future: Sutton Chamber directors Chris Wood (left) and Paul Cawthorne initiatives for local businesses in the short time since the re-launch. He welcomed Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, last year to the borough to launch the Smarter Travel Sutton initiative and the Sutton International Business Forum was launched this year with the objective of building links with the business communities in Sutton’s twin towns. The first trade mission – to Gagny, in Paris – is scheduled for September 11. If the idea is successful the chamber will be extending it far beyond its twin towns, to develop overseas trade for its members and to maximise the attraction of Sutton as a UK base for overseas companies. More recently the Chamber directors have established a Chamber Executive to help diversify roles within the chamber and fast-track the development of the Chamber. Cawthorne and Wood have welcomed South London Business and Carshalton College to the executive, along with representatives from the major local networking groups. “We want many more businesses in Sutton to join the new chamber, in order to access the full range of events and business advice that we have to offer,” said Cawthorne. “Together, we can make the borough a pleasant, accessible and thriving place to do business.” Sutton Chamber organises a range of networking events, briefing seminars and VIP breakfasts. Visit www.suttonchamber.biz or call 020 8642 9661 for an application form, a full list of events and the latest Chamber news.
September/October 2007 CC2696_130x88mm_LonBizMag_Ad Area focus: Sutton 31/7/07 11:49 Page 37 1 The Government’s skills pledge – did you know? “With seven million adults who are functionally illiterate and 11 million who cannot add up two threefigure numbers, the social and economic cost of an unskilled adult population is fundamentally damaging to Britain’s chance of winning in the 21st century”, said skills envoy Sir Digby Jones The Skills Pledge is a voluntary, public commitment by companies and organisations to support all its employees to develop their basic skills. This includes literacy and numeracy and the opportunity to work towards relevant and valuable qualifications to at least Level 2 (equivalent to 5 good GCSEs). The ‘pledge’ is all about supporting staff to become skilled, competent and able to make a greater contribution to companies and organisations. In order for the UK economy to successfully compete with other advanced and emerging economies, such as China and India, investment in more skills is a must. Without a better skilled and qualified workforce, we will not improve our productivity and competitiveness, thus sustaining the living and economic standards the UK strives for. Business Services at Carshalton College can work with you to help you realise your business and professional ambitions through skills and training development. The College offers a wide range of Level 2 and Level 3 vocational qualifications, as well as literacy, language and numeracy skills development. Our flexible approach to learning means that we can offer you tailor-made packages, which can include workplace-based training. Our programmes will keep you one step ahead of the competition by providing you with a better qualified and motivated workforce, ultimately increasing efficiency and profits. For more information, please call Business Services at Carshalton College on: 020 8544 4399, or email: business. services@carshalton.ac.uk Business Services at Carshalton College We understand that whatever business you are in, a skilled and motivated workforce is key to the success of your organisation. Let our dedicated Business Consultants help you to: • Identify the skills your business needs • Pin point the right training • Agree a tailored training programme • Find out what funding is available to you • Help fulfil the Government Skills Pledge For more information, please contact Business Services on 020 8544 4399 quoting reference: SLB 09/07 Realising ambitions through skills training and development Carshalton College t 020 8544 4399 Nightingale Road e business.services@carshalton.ac.uk Carshalton Surrey SM5 2EJ www.carshalton.ac.uk E&TS 130x88.indd 1 31/7/07 4:19:18 pm www.southlondonbusiness.co.uk
Page 1 and 2: September/October 2007 | £3 2 Sout
Page 3 and 4: September/October 2007 Foreword and
Page 5 and 6: September/October 2007 News 5 Recor
Page 7 and 8: Facing the future with Acas The rol
Page 10 and 11: 10 News South London Business Surve
Page 12 and 13: 12 News South London Business Recru
Page 14 and 15: 14 London transport South London Bu
Page 16 and 17: 16 Business profile South London Bu
Page 18 and 19: 18 Skills and training South London
Page 22: 22 Smoking ban South London Busines
Page 25 and 26: September/October 2007 Advertising
Page 27 and 28: September/October 2007 Venues relau
Page 29 and 30: Events… Croydon Chamber’s event
Page 31 and 32: Chamber set for September in Paris
Page 33 and 34: How Southlondon.biz helped Personal
Page 35: The advertising and features supple
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Page 42 and 43: 42 Business travel South London Bus
Page 44 and 45: 44 Corporate Christmas South London
Page 50 and 51: 50 Company news South London Busine
Page 52: Only 7 units remaining For Sale/To

Issue 5 - Sept/Oct2007 - South London Business

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