Easing the burden “It is important to have the right health and safety measures. Estates Excellence will take the burden away for businesses, ensuring sustainability and a good health and safety approach.” deputy mayor cllr oliur rahman Support available For further information about the training and support available through Estates Excellence, visit... www.hse.gov.uk/estatesexcellence Business news News in brief Forum meeting A BUSINESS group launched just over three months ago will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, January 28. The Bethnal Green Business Forum get-together starts at 5.30pm in the café at Oxford House. The forum is based at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street. For further information visit http://bgbusinessforum.org.uk Advice meeting ISLAND Advice Centre, which offers free advice on welfare, housing, debt and immigration, is holding its annual meeting on Thursday, January 22. Residents are invited to attend at Island House, Roserton Street, Isle of Dogs from 5pm. For further information, email moydul@island-advice.org.uk or call 7538 0094. Excellence adventure Small firms can join free health and safety courses BY SARAH MCLAUGHLIN BUSINESSES are being offered free training as part of an initiative to improve health and safety in the workplace through information, training and guidance. Estates Excellence, launched at Forman’s, Fish Island, offers a series of practical programmes for small and medium-sized businesses, delivered through the council, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and a wide range of other partners. Businesses can take advantage of a free and expert assessment of their specific fire safety, food safety and health and safety training needs, before booking on to a wide range of free workshops. There will also be access to occupational health professionals and a series of networking opportunities. Deputy Mayor Cllr Oliur Rahman, who is cabinet member for economic development, added: “It is important for any organisation to have the right health and safety measures in place. Estates Excellence will take the burden away for local businesses to progress and grow, ensuring sustainability and a good health and safety approach.” Juliet Can, director of Stour Space, a creative hub and social enterprise supporting creative practitioners in Fish Island, said: Staff from the businesses which took part in the launch at Forman’s on Fish Island “It is very important for businesses like us and other entrepreneurs to ensure they provide environments that are safe. “Smaller businesses sometimes can’t access expertise and skills that are needed and it can be scary to say they need help with their health and safety.” The Estates Excellence team will be visiting businesses on Fish Island over the next few weeks to explain the services they can offer. Businesses that want to take part will be assessed for their health and safety needs before final training programmes are agreed. Training and advice on offer includes fire risk assessments, control of substances hazardous to health, manual handling, working at height, machinery safety, workplace transport and event management. Businesses interested in taking part should contact the council’s health and safety team by email at healthandsafety@ towerhamlets.gov.uk or call 7364 5008. HSE can be contacted at estates.excellence@hse.gsi. gov.uk or 0800 849 8012. A SOCIAL enterprise run by sisters Rahena Begum, Jaida Begum and Jobeda Ali in Shadwell took the top prize at a ceremony celebrating women in business. Three Sisters Care provides services to people in their own homes, and offers free care and clinical skills courses to unemployed women and residents who care for family members. The business won the Social Enterprise of the Year award at the Precious Awards. Rahena said: “It is the organisation’s ambition to help women gain economic independence.” Rahena, Jaida and Jobeda at the awards ceremony 19 – 25 JANUARY 2015 N E W S F R O M TOWER HAMLETS COUNCIL AND YOUR COMMUNITY 7
East_End_Life_19Jan2015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above