Essential Local Information
For businesses of Battersea, Balham and Clapham

2010
Click on the image below to download a pdf of the latest Essential Local Community Newsletter, published at the end of May 2010





2009

1) Please click on the image to the right to download a pdf  of the summer 2009 issue of the Essential Local Community newsletter.

2) Click here for last Spring's issue or see below for past e-newsletters containing useful information for local businesses.










Past issues:

Essential Local Information - Christmas 08
For businesses of Battersea,
Balham and Clapham

    Please scroll down to read the newsletter or click on the subject above to go straight to a particular section. Alternatively you can click here to download a printable version of the full newsletter in Word. Please note that offers may have expired. Please call for details.

     

    Introduction
    Times are tough for businesses of Battersea, Balham and Clapham. There are customers out there, of course - it's Christmas, but we are definitely competing for less business.

    In such a situation it is important to promote yourself cost-effectively and to target your most relevant audience. There is little point, for example, in spending hundreds of pounds to reach people living a long way away who are unlikely to use your services.

    Spending nothing, however, might be an even bigger mistake. In an article in The Sunday Times, Dragon's Den expert Duncan Ballantyne pointed out that "All businesses should allocate a good deal of their resources to marketing their wares. "It is not self-evident to the man or woman in the street," explained Duncan, "that you produce the best pastries, windows or tyres. It needs to be spelt out and shouted about."

    He warned of the danger of spending a small fortune adopting the must-have marketing techniques and argued instead that you should focus on deciding exactly which customers you are targeting. "In terms of advertising, think locally," he said.

    A number of services, events and organisations are in place to support this objective in Battersea, Balham and Clapham, and a selection of these can be found below.

    Please get in touch if you'd like advice on how to make the most of the season's potential and/or if you'd like to take advantage of our £155 Christmas editorial, advert and six months online offer (see below). We wish you a happy and successful Christmas.

    Richard Chumbley
    Essential Local
    Richard@essentiallocal.com
    07985 642245


    Christmas Offer:
    Editorial, Website & Advertising for just £155!

    1/4 page professionally designed advertisement in Essential Local magazine, distributed to 15,000 residences in Clapham, Battersea and Balham at the beginning of December. (This offer can be taken with a 1/2 page advert instead for a supplement of £90).
    +
    Editorial promotion in an Essential Local Christmas feature, either in a 'Perfect Christmas Gift', 'Ideal Venue' or 'Winter Services' feature. Each promotion includes a product/interior photograph, 40 words of description and full contact details for the business.
    +
    Six months online promotion on three websites     Online directory listing on InsideClapham.co.uk, InsideBattersea.co.uk and InsideBalham.co.uk (averaging 250 visitors per day). A listing includes a photograph, description, contact details and link to your own website.

    £155 inclusive

    Call Richard on 07985 642245, email richard@essentiallocal.com or click here for other Christmas Promotional Offers.

     

    Essential Local     wins BEST Award - Business Volunteers Needed
    Essential Local is a keen supporter of local community and business programmes, assisting,  amongst other groups, The Balham Town Partnership and the Northcote Business Network.

    We are proud to have won the 'Support from a Small Business' BEST award for our work assisting with mock interview sessions for local schools as part of the Wandsworth BEST programme. In this programme local volunteer businesses help prepare pupils for the world of work by offering work experience placements and/or offering time assisting in mock interviews.

    If you have an hour to spare between February and June 2009, have interviewing experience and would like to offer your services as an interviewer or your business as a venue for a work placement, Wandsworth BEST (www.bestebp.org.uk) would love to hear from you.

    For more information, please contact Tuula Ball on 020 8871 8631 or by email to tball@wandsworth.gov.uk



    Coming soon: WeLoveNorthcoteRoad.com
    Look out for WeLoveNorthcoteRoad.com, a new website owned by the businesses of Northcote Road and created with the aim of promoting the local area and providing visitors with essential information about the shops and services to be found here.

    Designed on the Northcote Business Network's behalf by, and with the continuing support of, Essential Local, WeLoveNorthcoteRoad.com will be unlike other local online directories in that it will be a non-profit-making site established and run purely for the benefit of local busineses and the local community.

    Currently in its final stages of development and not available in the public domain WeLoveNorthcoteRoad.com will be launched shortly. Watch this space.



    Keep Trade Local
    The Federation of Small Businesses launched an exhibition of business owner and shop portraits on Tuesday 11th November at Crumpet in Northcote Road to celebrate the individuality and heart that small businesses bring to villages, towns and cities.

    Part of the Keep Trade Local campaign and petition launched in March 2008, the objective is to highlight the plight of small businesses and stem the tide of closures on the high street. The campaign addresses parking charges, public procurement, post office closure, crime against businesses, business rates and planning policy.

    Essential Local is keen to support this campaign and if anyone has any suggestions as to how we might be able to support its objectives, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

    To sign the campaign petition visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/keeptradelocal/ For more information about the campaign, please contact aviva.bresky@fsb.org.uk



    Forthcoming Business/
    Community Events

    Wandsworth Business Forum & Green Business Awards
    Monday 17th November
    The Clapham Grand, St John's Hill, SW11
    These forums are an invaluable tool for communication between the council (officers and members) and local businesses. This meeting will also see the presentation of the Green Business Awards and there will be presentations by inventor Trevor Baylis OBE and Richard Tracy, newly elected London Assembly member.     For further information please contact Marian Cowler on 020 8871 6181 or by email to mcowler@wandsworth.gov.uk

    Enterprise Week - Lambeth
    17th -23rd November
    Across the UK
    A national celebration of enterprise with thousands of events and activities happening across the UK. Lambeth Council along with the Lambeth Business Support Network (LBSN) are planning a week of exciting and inspirational events in Lambeth during Enterprise Week 2008 to inspire young people's ideas and make them happen. For more information visit www.lambeth.gov.uk

    Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce Networking Lunch
    Thursday 20th November, 1230 - 1430.
    The Three Bridges Restaurant, 153 Battersea Park Road, SW8
    Including a presentation on South London's Major Transport Priorities sponsored by South London Business and South London Partnership. To book call 020 8767 2761 or e mail enquiries@wandsworthchamber.org

    Businessmums' Networking Lunch
    Tuesday 25th November
    The Firestables, 27 Church Road, Wimbledon Village
    For Mums in business or with a business idea. Meet, network, share ideas and rest assured you're not the only crazy one! Guest speaker:  Sarah Tremellen, founder and CEO of Bravissimo. From 11.30am. £22 includes a two course meal. Contact alli@motivatingmum.co.uk or on
    (0) 784 0016 774

    Balham Festive Evening and Christmas Lights Switch On
    Thursday 27th November 2008
    Hildreth Street, between Bedford Hill and Balham High Road
    17.30 Seasonal Refreshements and Children's Entertainment
    18.00 Carol Singing
    18.45 Switching on of Balham Christmas Lights
    For more info contact Kim Bellringer, Balham Town Centre Manager on 020 8767 4082 or email kbellringer@wandsworth.gov.uk

    Winter Fair at the Church of the Holy Spirit
    Saturday 29th November
    Narbonne Avenue, off Abbeville Road, Clapham SW4
    The perfect place for your Christmas shopping. Crafts, collectibles, books, homemade cakes and jams, cards, decorations and gifts for all the family. Visit the Kids Zone, with Christmas crafts especially for children. Enjoy the tombola, hamper raffle, mulled wine, teas, refreshments and music. For further information contact pennybrooke@btinternet.com

    Northcote Road Christmas Event
    Thursday 4th December 2008
    Northcote Road, SW11
    Northcote Road's annual Christmas Event. Details of the day's events to be confirmed. For further information contact Andy Wilson-Smith of the Northcote Business Network on 0207 924 1117 or by email to andy@crumpet.biz

    Webbs Road Christmas Event
    Thursday 4th December
    Webbs Road, SW11
    A number of shops in Webbs Road will stay open until 8pm offering nibbles and drinks, plus Christmas Carols will be sung on the street that night. For more information contact summerl@hotmail.co.uk

    Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce Networking Event
    Thursday 4th December, 1700 - 1900
    Battersea Power Station, Kirtling Street, SW8
    Presentation followed by wine and canapes
    To book call 020 8767 2761 or e mail enquiries@wandsworthchamber.org

    Lunch with Carol Thatcher
    Thursday 4th December
    Harrisons, Balham
    Local networking group TalkInCompany hosts a lunch with Carol Thatcher, journalist, author and reality TV star. The lunch will cost £25 per person (which includes a glass of house wine, a choice of main courses and coffee/tea) and promises to be great fun. The event starts at 12.00 and finishes at 2.30. 20% of the profits made at the lunch by TalkInCompany will be donated to a charity of Carol's choice.For more information and to buy tickets please visit www.talkincompany.com or call 07847 568786

    Northcote Business Network Meeting
    Tuesday 9th December 2008
    Crumpet, 66 Northcote Road, SW11
    Monthly Meeting of the Northcote Business Network. Starting at 6.30pm. All of Northcote Road's businesses are welcome. For further information contact Andy at Crumpet on 0207 924 1117 or by email to andy@crumpet.biz

    French Market
    Saturday 20th/Sunday 21st December
    Hildreth Street, Balham
    The Authentic French Market returns to Balham. For more information contact Kim Bellringer, Balham Town Centre Manager on 020 8767 4082 or email kbellringer@wandsworth.gov.uk

    *Don't miss the Essential Local Christmas Offer:
    Editorial, Website & Magazine Advertising for just £155 (    see above)



    Top Tips for Optimising Your Website
    Bea Hatherley, Co-founder, Mr Site Ltd, the UK's leading DIY website creation tool, gives us her tips on getting visitors to your website.

    Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of increasing the amount of visitors to your website by ranking your website high in the search results pages of a search engine. Of course there are web design companies that will charge gazillions and do it all for you but why not try the DIY SEO route first? You could save your business thousands in web designer fees.

    Content
    Keep content fresh and up to date.  This will encourage search engines to revisit and boost your site ranking accordingly.

    Register Your Site With Google
    By going to www.google.com/addurl

    Sitemaps
    Create a sitemap or use Google sitemaps and this will encourage search engines to revisit more and give your Site a higher results page listing.

    Links
    The more genuine website links you have, the higher your Site will be ranked.  Just one incoming link to a relevant other business (e.g. an organic restaurant in Guildford) could be all it takes to get a boost..

    Getting Back To Basics
    Get a notepad out and properly plan each page of your website.  Build each page around one or two or three keywords or phrases such as organic, Turkish, Brighton (if you run an organic Turkish restaurant in Brighton). On your homepage, situate the most important content at the top of the page (remembering to also include your keywords or phrases in page titles, meta-tags, image ALT-tags and filenames).

    Competition
    Do a search on your keywords/phrases and see which other companies are listed. Are they in the same category as you? Which keywords/phrases have they used for their restaurants or hospitality businesses?  Use your browser to 'view the source' of their page and look at their search words.  Look at their content, images, meta-tags and titles. What can you learn from them? 

    Images
    Flash animations, video and images cannot be read or indexed by search engines as there is no text for them to pick up. Code inside JavaScript is also harder to read. Pages containing only images are likely to get either a low or no listing at all. It's best to avoid images on their own, or otherwise balance them with a reasonable amount of text describing each image.

    Cheating
    Don't ever try to cheat search engines eg. white text on a white background or repeating the same word over and over again. Most search engines now have strict policies about this and instead you'll find your Site penalised and slipping down the results pages.

    Growing Pains
    To enjoy steady growth in rankings (and therefore) visitor numbers, avoid making sudden changes to your website. Organic optimisation is slow, takes commitment but is definitely worth doing. You'll soon see your Site move up the results pages.

    For more info, visit www.mrsite.com or call 0870 803 1495.

    Essential Local can provide a one-to-one web design and optimising service and has done so for numerous businesses in Battersea, Balham and Clapham. We offer fully functional and customised websites from £350. Contact Richard on 07985 642245.

     

    The Eight Things You Need to Do Your Own PR
    by Paula Gardner of Do Your Own PR.

    1. A Website.
    Even if you think a website isn't going to directly to contribute to sales, having a web presence makes it a lot easier for journalists to suss out a bit more about you before they commit themselves to getting in touch. And, once you've got your details and further information up there it's not unknown for journalists to respond to a press release and write up their piece from your release and your website alone, without even getting in contact with you.

    2. A Brand.
    Having your brand defined, at least in your head, helps you market yourself boldly, strongly, and even provocatively if necessary. Think about what you represent. You don't just sell financial products; you offer security and trustworthiness. You don't only own a hair salon and cut hair; you offer a fresh new image, a time to change the way you look and feel about yourself. Think about mobile phone adverts - very few of them actually have a mobile phone in them but hint at aspirational lifestyle statements! It's a technique that works.

    3. A Thick Skin.
    There will be those times when you call a journalist in the middle of press day and they grunt at you down the phone. Don't take it personally. Just shrug it off and move on.

    4. A Spring in your Step and a Smile on Your Face.
    Most of us, journalists too, prefer to talk to someone who is optimist and cheerful. So, stand tall and put a smile on your face (even when you're on the phone, it does work).
     
    5. Persistence.
    Putting regular time in really makes a difference. So, get out your diary and schedule in some PR appointments with yourself for the next few months.

    6. Help.
    Whether it's a colleague, a PR or media student, a willing friend in business or a PR Buddy, having someone who is not afraid to say "That press release is just too boring" is really worth finding.

    7. Knowledge of the Press.
    I often get clients who don't read, never make the time to listen to the radio and are proud of the fact. I do empathise with them, but really, to have any success in PR you've got to know who you're talking to. So, sit down and choose your target publications, list them and tick them off as you read them. Regularly.

    A good resource that you but cheaply is the Writers and Artists Yearbook which covers a good range of publications (both newspaper and magazine in the UK). The "Guardian" Media Directory moves up a step in seriousness, covering the addresses, phone numbers, websites and key personnel for companies in every section of the media, from digital television to magazines, regional newspapers to publishing houses, think tanks to charities. The site www.mediauk.com is also a great top up resource.

    8. A Fail Safe Method of Contact.
    If you know that you're not going to be around for long periods, whether it's away at meetings or doing your day job, make sure there is someone who can at least take a message and hunt you down when the press come knocking. Because, unlike the postman, they rarely knock twice.

    Paula Gardner and Do Your Own PR coach enthusiastic business people who are serious about getting their company noticed. They offer a range of ecourses, consultations, workshops and speakers. Contact Paula on 07941 244 343 or by email at mail@doyourownpr.com, referencing Essential Local.

    Essential Local specialise in assisting small businesses in Clapham, Balham and Battersea with cost-effective branding, marketing, magazine advertising, design, we design and print services. Please give us a call if you'd like to learn more about how we can help.

    Call Richard on 07985 642245.

    click here to download a printable version of the full newsletter in Word.


    ---------------------------------------------------------


    Essential Local Information - Summer
    For businesses of Battersea,
    Balham and Clapham

    In this newsletter:

    • Receive a pair of free tickets to the Motor Show (offer now closed)
    • Discounted trial stall available at Balham's market
    •     Newsletter special offers
    •     Top ten tips for marketing a small business
    • Serviced office to rent in Balham
    • Time management coaching
    • Rent review problems?
    • Support/grants available for businesses of Wandsworth and Lambeth

    Please scroll down to read the newsletter or click on the subject above to go straight to a particular section. Alternatively you can click here to download a printable version of the full summer newsletter in Word. The autumn newsletter will be arriving shortly. Any problems, please let us know.



    Introduction
    Few of us have time to sift through the business advice and support available to us, even though such information could make a significant difference to our business.

    Essential Local has been providing design, printing, web design, distribution and promotion services to the businesses of Clapham, Battersea and Balham for over three years. These newsletters are a natural extension of this and area intended to provide local businesses with useful information, local news and professional advice.

    I    f there are any issues you would like us to research for the next newsletter, or if you have suggestions as to the type of information that would most help your business, please let us know.

    Look out for the next Essential Local newsletter which will feature tips as to how to do your own (free) PR.

    Best regards,

    Richard Chumbley
    Essential Local
    richard@essentiallocal.com
    07985 642245


    Trial Market Pitch in Balham
    Could your business benefit from a trial pitch at Balham's Hildreth Street Market?

    Wandsworth Council is offering a discounted trial pitch for business who wish to sell their products and services in the centre of Balham. In addition to providing an outlet for your products, a market stall is also an opportunity to raise the profile of your business in the local area. Subject to availability, market pitches can be taken on any day of the week.

    Those interested in finding out more about the possibility of taking a stall should contact Sharon Wright, the organiser of Wandsworth's markets, on 020 8871 6384 or stwright@wandsworth.gov.uk


    Newsletter
    Special Offers:
    Offers available only until November 20th 2008.
    All prices are inclusive.

    Essential Local Printing
    1) 5000 double-sided A6 flyers on 300gsm (light card) for £95
    2) 500 business letterheads on 120gsm for £99
    3) 1000 single sided A5 flyers on 130gsm gloss for £85

    Essential Local Magazine and InsideBattersea.co.uk

    1) 6 months advertising in both Essential Local magazine
    and on InsideBattersea.co.uk, InsideClapham.co.uk and InsideBalham.co.uk
    £185 inclusive
    2) Half page adverts in 3 issues of Essential Local (inc. design)
    £450 inclusive
    Issue 17 of Essential Local magazine will be distributed to
    15,000 local households in early December.
    Please book now if you'd like to be included.

    For further details, design advice or an informal discussion contact Richard Chumbley on 07985 642245 or email richard@essentiallocal.com


    Top Ten Tips for Marketing
    a Small Business
    We asked marketing expert Ho Raven for her top tips.

    1) Know what your brand stands for - work out how to describe your business/product or service in one succinct sentence that will motivate your potential customer to buy from you.

    2) Get to know who your customers are. Find some common attributes about your best customers - are they mostly women or men? Where do they live? What interests do they have?  Paint a pen portrait of your customer, you'll be able to work out where to look for more like them.

    3) Encourage your customers to buy more from you. Although essential, it's more difficult to acquire a new customer than it is to get an existing one to buy from you. Find a reason for them to come back to you.

    4) Get your customers to recommend you. Get a few endorsements from customers, include in your advertising and use simple tactics such as a "member-get-member" leaflet alongside any product or service you sell.

    5) Test, refine and roll-out - use this principle to learn and understand how to improve your marketing effort.

    6) Work out your advertising/sales ratio - set aside a percentage of the profit from your target number of sales for advertising - make sure you measure the return on your investment - building awareness takes time, don't expect to achieve your sales target immediately. Consider coverage, reach and frequency, it can take at least 5 times for someone to see your advertisement or sales message before they decide to buy.

    7) Effective PR - There are plenty of places to get advice on how to write a good Press Release, but PR is only effective if it gets published, make sure you follow up any release with a phone call. If you don't have time to do this, you may need to hire someone.

    8) Effective networking - Partner up with other businesses and create joint promotional activities - cross promote each other's products in each other's newsletters, just make sure the other business is a good fit with your brand.

    9) Create a unique selling proposition - Don't promote on price - customers can and will shop around - find a way to create value which customers can't find anywhere else, leverage on quality, experience or service instead.

    10) Make sure your marketing effort is efficient - If you're spending a lot of time on marketing activity that doesn't generate much in return, even if it hasn't cost you anything - think about your labour in terms of cost. If you run your own business your time is precious - don't waste it on work that isn't effective. It may save you time and money to get an expert to show you how. Think of marketing as a necessary equipment cost - if you're a chef you'll want to have good knives and utensils - think of marketing as essential tools that you need to invest in.

    Written by Marketing Consultant Ho Raven of Mummy Marketing, June 2008. 020 8641 7038.
    Email     ho.raven@mummymarketing.com


    Serviced office available in central Balham
    A light, air-conditioned, carpeted office suite is available in central Balham. Approximately 865 sq ft, the office is fully wired with network, telephone system, alarm, private fitted kitchen and separate male and female WC's. Furniture available if required. Ready for immediate occupation. central Balham. 

    £600 per week, fully serviced and inclusive of all outgoings (available non-serviced if required).

    All enquiries to Julia at Aspire on 020 8772 6300 or email julia@aspire.co.uk


    Effective Time Management
    Local small business coach Nicola Bird offers some timely advice.

    When I ask small business owners what the biggest challenge is to them in running their business, you can bet that 'time management' will be up there. One of the reasons many people decide to set up on their own is to achieve a better work-life balance and dictate their own hours, yet many small business owners feel overwhelmed, guilty that they're not spending enough time with their families. The image of a headless chicken pretty much sums it up.

    So what can you do to start to achieve some focus and a productive use of your time? Choose one of the tips below and do something differently:

    1. Write yourself a personal mission statement.
    What are you there to achieve? If what you're doing doesn't help you reach this goal, either ditch it or delegate it. If your personal mission statement is to sell as many widgets as possible, why are you doing your own book-keeping? You might question the cost of this, but if you spent your time generating more business, rather than keeping the books up to date,  how much more than what it costs could you be earning?

    2. Decide what hours you will work, and what hours you won't.
    Then stick to it. What are the costs to you of answering work emails and calls in your family time? If you are continually on call to your clients, you're creating a rod for your own back.

    3. Stop procrastinating!
    If the job feels too big, slice it up into chunks and deal with one at a time. If you can't tackle it due to a fear of failing, ask yourself what is the worst that can happen if you only got it 80% right? If it's a boring task, just remember we don't have to enjoy everything you do, just accept it's not going to feel fun to do, then box up that feeling, put it to one side, and do it anyway.

    Nicola Bird is Director of Work on the Business, who work with small business owners in Southwest London to help them gain focus, time and a clear strategy to grow their business to its fullest potential. See www.workonthebusiness.co.uk or call 07795 276746.


    Rent Review Problems?

    Rent review difficulties are extremely common and the challenges for small business owners in rented premises can often feel insurmountable. There are, however, stories of recent successes and it is definitely worth seeking further advice.

    Wandsworth council, for example, advises businesses to seek help and advice from a solicitor or chartered surveyor.
     
    For businesses not already represented, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors has a free rent review and lease renewal helpline service where businesses can speak to a surveyor for up to 30 minutes for free.

    Contact 020 7334 3806.



    Local     Business Support and Grants Available
    Both Wandsworth and Lambeth Council and other agencies provide support for small businesses. These contact details and others can be found on their respective websites.

    Wandsworth Economic Development Office
    Providing a wide range of business support services. They hold various business promotion events and seminars and provide local business information (including vacant commercial property). They offer loans and grants for businesses at properties in designated town centres, work with developers to bring forward business space, support independent businesses (particularly in town centres) renew older industrial areas and improve our town centres.

    For further information visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/business or contact Norman Frost, Business Development Manager, Wandsworth Council. Telephone 020 8871 7698 or Email nfrost@wandsworth.gov.uk


    Town Centre Improvement Scheme
    This scheme provides loans and grants to businesses to refurbish and improve their premises. It is designed to make a difference to the business and add value to the property as well as improving the immediate local area. Improvements should have a life expectancy of 5 years.

    The Scheme provides interest free loans and/or grants of up to 33% of eligible costs from a minimum of £1,000 to maximum of £15,000 per eligible address. Applications are subject to individual assessment and all financial assistance is discretionary.
     
    Contact John Ruske, Town Centre Improvement Scheme Manager, Wandsworth Council. Contact 020 8871 7031 or email jruske@wandsworth.gov.uk


    Clapham Junction Town Centre Partnership Board
    The body responsible for helping to channel developments in Clapham Junction, comprising members of local Business Networks, the Battersea Society, Wandsworth Council and other local representatives.

    Lorinda Freint is the town centre manager for Clapham Junction and can be contacted on 020 7627 3182 or by email at lfreint@wandsworth.gov.uk.
     

    Balham Town Centre Partnership Board
    The body responsible for helping to channel developments in Balham, comprising members of local businesses, the Balham Society, Wandsworth Council and other local representatives.

    Kim Bellringer is the town centre manager for Balham and can be contacted on: 020 8767 4082 or by email at kbellringer@wandsworth.gov.uk


    Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce
    An organisation of local business people set up to further the interests of business and trade in the Borough of Wandsworth by increasing its knowledge of these businesses, providing a social framework for them to meet and acting a representative for local business at a local and national level.

    For further information visit www.wandsworthchamber.org or email enquiries@wandsworthchamber.org


    Lambeth Business Support Network (LBSN)
    The Lambeth Business Support Network (LBSN) is a forum of business support organisations in Lambeth which provide support and assistance to both existing businesses (including social enterprises) and people who wish to start a business.

    For more information, please contact Colette Makambila on 020 7926 5966 or email enterprise@lambeth.gov.uk.


    Clapham and Stockwell Town Centre Management Team
    Bringing together regeneration, community planning, community development, neighbourhood renewal, the voluntary sector, employment and sustainable development.

    Contact David Collins on 020 7926 0765 or email dcollins@lambeth.gov.


    GLE oneLondon
    Providing a wide range of high quality business support. They finance, advise, mentor and train thousands of people every year to start and grow their businesses.

    Advice sessions take place every Thursday 9.30am - 1.30pm at Gracefield Gardens Customer Centre, 2 - 8 Gracefield Gardens, London SW16 2ST.

    To book an appointment phone 020 8678 5450 or visit www.gle.co.uk/onelondon for further information.


    Business Link
    Providing a team of dedicated business advisors, a support website and telephone support, they work to assist small and medium sized businesses using their expertise and business connections.

    Contact 0845 6000 787 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk


    Further links
    Visit these pages for further information:

    Wandsworth Council - business links page
    Lambeth Council - business links page


    Coming up in our Autumn Newsletter:

    1) Optimising your website - more hits, more customers.
    2) PR tips - eight things every small business should know

    Plus: local business news, events and information

    Please click here to download a printable version of the full Summer newsletter in Microsoft Word.

    To ensure that you receive the next free newsletter, please submit your name and email address using the form above.

    NB: Issue 18 of Essential Local magazine will be distributed to 15,000 local households in early December. Please book now if you'd like to be included.

    For free local advice and quotes on design, printing, web design, magazine and online promotion contact Richard on 07985 642245 or email richard@essentiallocal.com
    ----------------------------------

    Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. The publisher does not officially endorse any advertising material included within this publication. Essential Local, InsideClapham, InsideBalham and InsideBattersea are trademarks owned and controlled by Richard Chumbley. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form - electronic, mechanical, recording, photocopying, or otherwise - without prior written permission of the publisher. All in-house artwork and editorial presented in this publication remains the copyright of Richard Chumbley unless otherwise agreed in writing. ©Richard Chumbley. All rights reserved 2008.