Hounslow Council has launched a new programme of business support is to help town centre businesses trade safely and recover from the pandemic.

The 12-week programme will help support the self-employed, pre-start, start-up and small businesses across all industries.

A series of online workshops, networking events, business clinics and one-to-one support will be offered free of charge to enable local businesses to access expert advice from specialist consultants.

The support will cover a range of issues including:

• How to convert your current offering to sell more online

• Accessing COVID-19 grants and funding

• Creating a new business model for growth

• Sales and marketing strategies that get results

• Finance and cashflow management, social and environmental

• The impact of Brexit on importing and exporting and key legal issues

• Importance of health and wellbeing through a crisis

The support is open to all businesses in the borough and funding for the programme will be provided by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund.

Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said: "The coming weeks and months will continue to be very challenging, and businesses in Hounslow are having to work very hard to adapt to this difficult environment.

"That's why we're announcing today's extra support to help local businesses access the funding and specialist advice they need to put their businesses on a more sustainable footing.

"The free support will be offered to all businesses in the borough over a three-month period, so I urge everyone who needs help to step forward and take advantage of the scheme.

"Hounslow Council has very ambitious plans to support the recovery of the borough as we come out of the pandemic.

"Central to that vision is thriving local businesses, so I want to say again to the self-employed and local businesses: we're here for you.

"We will continue to listen to your needs as we work through this crisis together and we'll deliver more support wherever there is the opportunity to do so."

More information here