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Businesses are getting back to being able to fully operate but with considerable challenges - recruitment, Covid related absenteeism, supply chains and other issues related to Brexit, managing debt and rising prices, to name a few!
If you need support in any of these areas, please get in touch and we will signpost you to sources of help. |
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In this e-newsletter we keep you up to date
with business grants and policies and our own range of business support. We also ask for your feedback on how we have supported you in the past two years and,
looking ahead, how this should work.
We are busy putting plans in place for the Merton Best
Business Awards 2022, so watch this space. We will also be launching a range of
events at the newly refurbished Canons House in Mitcham, all with the purpose
of you making new business connections and providing you with topical business
insights.
I look forward to seeing you in person as well
as through our continued online activities in the weeks ahead. |
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International Women's Day Networking Breakfast
Tuesday 8th March
8.30am - 10am
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We are delighted to be supporting Time & Leisure at their
annual International Women's Day Networking Breakfast - a great opportunity to
meet other local women in business. We are thrilled to offer Merton Chamber
members £5 off.
Click
'book now' above to find out more and to receive your discount code.
We hope to see you there!
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Emergency First Aid at Work Thursday 24th March 9.30am - 4.30pm
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Join us for a full day course where you will learn basic life saving first aid and workplace health and safety regulations. This course is aimed at any individual who is the nominated emergency first aider or anyone wanting a comprehensive one day first aid course.
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Fire Warden Marshal Training
Thursday 28th April |
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If you have a key role to play
within the management of fire safety in the workplace, then please join
us for a practical workshop and undertake practical demonstrations
including extinguishing different types of fire and using fire
extinguishers.
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MERTON BEST BUSINESS AWARDS | |
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Merton Best is Back The Merton Best Business Awards have become a key event in the business calendar, so we are thrilled to announce that they are back! If you would like to apply for an award, then stay tuned for news about the launch and our new and exciting categories for 2022.
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Sponsorship Opportunities
If you would like to
increase your brand awareness and connect with the business community in Merton
then why not become a sponsor of the Merton Best Business Awards - one of the
biggest events in the Merton calendar! We have packages available with different
options to suit your goals and budget. Please email sophie@mertonchamber.co.uk to find
out more.
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Merton Council agrees new grant
scheme
In the days ahead
Merton Council will open its third grant scheme of 2022 to local
businesses.
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With a fund of £4.787 million, the grants will be open to any
business that has not received or was eligible to receive the Extended Retail
Discount (retail, hospitality and leisure) or Nursery Discount.
Businesses have to
apply for the scheme and detail how they have been adversely affected by the
pandemic. Payments will be granted in accordance with the number of applicants
and paid by the end of March. Full details here.
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Merton and Kingston Chambers of Commerce are working with the research experts at Kingston and Roehampton Universities to seek feedback from local businesses on your experience over the past 20 months, |
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how you have accessed (or not) advice and support and what your experience has been.
Please help develop and improve the support we give by completing the questionnaire. It should take no more than ten minutes of your time and your participation will be much appreciated. Closing date March 9th.
We are thankful to the South London Partnership BIG programme for their financial support for this important piece of work.
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St George’s Hospital
Charity
With over 9000
dedicated staff caring for patients, St George's is the largest healthcare
provider in South West London, serving a population of 1.3million across the
region.
Common Ground Wimbledon
Opening in April 2022,
Common Ground Wimbledon is a premium boutique coworking space in the heart of
Wimbledon Village, with private offices, co-working desks and meeting rooms.
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This month we feature Merton Chamber members Wimbledon Community Association,
Morden Hall and The HR Dept. If you would like to be featured next month email natalie@mertonchamber.co.uk for more information. |
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The Perfect Match The last couple of years have highlighted the importance of local to us all and, with community investment becoming an increasingly important part of business strategy, why not let Merton Giving help you align the two?
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Supporting
Merton Giving means that any benefit stays right here in our borough making a
positive difference to local people on our doorstep. We can help you link into the local
charitable community through a range of different ways to suit different business
priorities and needs.
Read how
Merton Giving can support your business by helping shape your CSR
strategy. With local good causes and
communities, we care about locally benefitting what’s not to like?
Contact hello@mertongiving.co.uk to have a chat on how we can work
together.
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As the Kickstart Scheme draws to a close, we continue to support our employers. Whether it is helping them find a suitable Kickstarter through local Jobs Fairs or providing a range of advice and information about additional support available.
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Did you know?
- We have helped over 125
young people find work
- We have processed over
£470k worth of salaries through the scheme.
- That the National
Minimum Wage increases from April 2022
- About the Way to Work –
a new partnership between the government and employers to get 500,00
jobseekers into work by the end of June 2022. Read more in 'In The News' section below.
- And the best news of
all. Many of our Kickstarters have either been kept on by their
employer at the end of the six months, or with the experience they have
gained, gone on to find work with other employers including the BBC and
Met Police.
Pictured above: Connor, one of our Kickstarters and Chris their employer. Connor has now been taken on permanently at Archi Information Systems!
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There have been a lot of Government announcements in the
past few weeks that may have gone under the radar because of the media’s focus
on the Prime Minister.
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Prime Minister launches new Business Council • The Prime Minister’s revamped Business Council, co-chaired by the Chancellor, will convene a new cohort of business leaders to work in partnership with the Government - read more on our website.
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Covid: Business is Back in Business With businesses now able to fully operate here are a few top tips to help your workforce reduce their exposure to Covid.
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Way to Work Way to Work is a national push to help even more people benefit from the record number of vacancies available in the jobs market, including many in sectors vital to national recovery.
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This means there are many talented, work-ready people
on the books who are eager to take on your roles.
This campaign will help people move swiftly back into
the world of work and help you fill the roles you and
our economy need too. Find out more here.
The Levelling Up White Paper – this may not be good news for London but the White Paper covers significant policy objectives. Read a summary here.
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Working with Merton Council to support local businesses in Merton |
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