At your Service

During these difficult economic times, Ealing Council is doing what it can to support local businesses. We have listed here on these pages just a selection of the initiatives designed to help our town centres and local economy to survive the recession.

Cllr David Millican, cabinet member for regeneration and transport said “ I regularly meet with owners of businesses across the borough I know these are tough times. We're trying to do what we can to give them the support they need in the current economic climate, and we encourage residents to do the same by shopping locally whenever possible”.

For information on the schemes mentioned in this article and the other services we offer, including business Link advice surgeries, visit www.ealing.gov.uk/regeneration or contact Mathieu Rogers on (020) 8825 9214 or Nila Tailor on (020) 8825 6931.

Shop front of grants:
Businesses in Acton, Central and West Ealing, Handel and Southall town centres can now apply for council grants to help pay for new signs, Windows, displays and better access. The scheme was started last month and will be available for a limited time. And earlier one that was run in the borough of Newham led to an increase in trade and turn over half of the businesses " in more people.

Rate relief:
traders and small businesses are being carried to call the council's business rates team on (020) 8825 7020 to find out if they could qualify for a discount, or visit www.ealing.gov.uk/business for more details.

Traders associations:
we have been working on some of our town centres to help set up traders associations among local businesses to help them gain a collective voice and be able to work together to improve the area and encourage custom.

Apprentices:
the council is one of the biggest employers in the borough and have been recruiting and training local young people into apprenticeships. The scheme has proved so successful that we now offer out our advice, expertise and assistance to companies so they can follow suit and take on apprentices.

Business directory:
the first ever edition is now available on our website, www.ealing.gov.uk, with 2000 local companies listed to help businesses contact one another.