Shop Local & Dine Local
September and October, 2008
Shop Local and Dine Local is HammersmithLondon Business Improvement District’s exciting new campaign for the autumn, aimed at highlighting the excellent choice and great value to be found in Hammersmith Town Centre, not to mention convenience. Every weekday night is late shopping night with TK Maxx, Primark and Sainsbury’s all open until 8pm, Marks & Spencer until 9pm and you can find Tesco open right through to midnight!
To celebrate the Shop Local and Dine Local Campaign, the streets all around the BID area, which covers Hammersmith Town Centre, have been decorated with bright and colourful street banners. These banners, which you will see on lamp columns around the area, say Shop Local HammersmithLondon and Dine Local HammersmithLondon encouraging everyone to do just that.
Shop Local intends to show off Hammersmith’s amazing retail offer which as you already know, includes some of the biggest high street names in the country, all reflecting Hammersmith’s status as West London’s best value shopping district.
At the same time, Dine Local sets out to highlight the wide range of restaurants, cafes and bars which is expanding all the time.
Launch of new campaign at Bianco Nero
Thursday 11 September, 2008
Bianco Nero, Hammersmith’s quality Italian restaurant, hosted the launch event for HammersmithLondon’s latest Shop Local & Dine Local campaign. The event was well attended with local business owners and employees eager to hear about what the campaign was about. During an evening of canapés, wine and networking, the guests heard about the benefits of ‘thinking local’ when it comes to where they shop and dine, and how keeping things local supports Hammersmith’s diverse assortment of restaurants and food retailers.
What's On
9th October, 2008
As part of HammersmithLondon’s Dine Local Campaign, we aim to highlight the wide choice and great quality Hammersmith has to offer by showcasing a variety of bars and restaurants and the next evening will be at Chula’s on October 9th. If you would like to register, there are still a few places available... more
HammersmithLondon Free Yoga Course
September & October, 2008
In early September, HammersmithLondon launched a new wellness activity aimed at reducing the levels of stress experienced by those who work in Hammersmith. Four eight-week yoga courses were offered free to those who work within the BID in an attempt to assist individuals in avoiding ill health, depression and anxiety – all symptoms of stress. The yoga courses have proved extremely popular with all four courses filling up within hours of their announcement. HammersmithLondon, in conjunction with Hammersmith Fitness and Squash Centre, would like to thank all who enrolled for taking the first step towards better health in the workplace (and posture!)
HammersmithLondon Smoking Cessation Course
September & October, 2008
HammersmithLondon realises that quitting after the social summer season can be a challenge. That’s why we were here to help! Together with the local NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) HammersmithLondon organised two smoking cessation courses to assist those who wanted to increase their chances of quitting for good. The smoking cessation courses are held in Aperitivo, Bianco Nero’s downstairs bar and lounge.
Peace Week
Tuesday 16th September
On Tuesday 16th September, HammersmithLondon assisted the local police force in organising Peace Week at Lyric Square. The event included a number of key speakers talking to school students from across the borough about the meaning of peace, and how each individual can help spread peace through their daily interactions with one another. Borough Commander, Chief Superintendant Kevin Hurley and Father Terry Testub gave warm addresses on the issue and performances’ by local school students and the Lyric Youth Theatre helped make the event a poignant and memorable day.
European Mobility Week
Wednesday September 17th
HammersmithLondon, in conjunction with Hammersmith & Fulham Council, organised a day of activities and entertainment in celebration of European Mobility Week. The aim of the day was to raise awareness about sustainable mobility and the alternative methods of transport available to Hammersmith office workers such as walking, riding a bike, car pooling or lift sharing. For one day only, the concrete space in front of the Hammersmith Apollo was transformed into a green oasis, complete with grass, lush trees and free giveaways. The day featured a Dr. Bike, which was immensely popular, as well as a ‘Make Your Own Smoothie Bike’ and live entertainment from the kooky and clever Magic Shaun.
Guided Walks
last Friday of the month
HammersmithLondon’s Guided walks continued
in September in brilliant sunshine to Hammersmith’s favourite beauty
spot along riverside.
Why not join us on October 31st when we will be visiting the Borough Archives.
Special Delivery!
Elena gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in August and both mother and child are doing extremely well. Before returning to HammersmithLondon, Elena will be making an extended visit to her native Bulgaria delighting in showing family and friends her little bundle of joy!
Festival of Classical Concerts
HammersmithLondon is delighted to announce we are arranging a series of early evening concerts to be held at St Paul's Church, Hammersmith on October 28th, November 11th and November 27th.
The first of these concerts on October 28th will be a special Charity Gala performance in aid of the Mayor’s Appeal Fund which this year is going to Hammersmith & Fulham’s Alzheimer's Society.
5.45 – 6.30 Reception
6.30 – 7.15 Concert
There are also a number of complimentary seats available to employees working in the BID area. Please register early to avoid disappointment.
Otherwise tickets will be £20 per person and if your company would like to support this very worthwhile cause, cheques should be made payable to "The Mayor's Appeal Fund".
Safety Forum
Monday 22nd September
On Monday 22nd September, Hammersmith retailers were invited to join the HammermsithLondon Business Watch Training Forum which took place at the Novotel Hotel. The forum came as a result of extensive consultation with businesses regarding their key concerns and issues. All the retailers questioned stated that shoplifting and anti-social behaviour was a major issue and was causing a great deal of difficulty in the retail sector.
The forum featured presentations from:
- Les Steggles, an area crime prevention officer specialising in ‘target hardening’ and making stores and premises harder to break into and exploit.
- Marc Davies, BID and SNT police constable, who explained about the rights of the employer and what can be done to detain shoplifters. Marc also did various role plays with the PCSOs to show how descriptions of potential shoplifters are essential in facilitating their capture.
- Kevin White, local CCTV development officer who explained the benefits of a working Safetynet system, highlighting how it can improve safety and sales in your business.
- Finally, staff from the Mets Employer Supported Policing unit came to demonstrate how BID area retailers and employers can allocate a staff member to be trained as a fully fledged Special Police Constable. The benefits of joining the scheme are not only that you have a member of police staff on your premises at all times, but also that whilst on duty the constable can patrol the immediate area in and around your premises.
SNT Radios
September update
The Safetynet radio system is growing in size and is working effectively to lower crime and anti-social behaviour in Hammersmith. In a recent meeting with the local Met Police Safer Neighbourhood Team, it was decided that the system could be utilised to assist in the work of the SNT in catching criminals and making the streets safer. As a result of this, the whole Hammersmith SNT team will soon be carrying Safetynet radios and will be contactable in case of an incident occurring. Currently it is only the PCSOs working for the BID that carry the radios and their response is limited if not on duty. However with the SNT on board as well, the Hammersmith BID area will receive the security coverage it needs to become and safer place to work and visit. The police constables have powers of arrest and will be more accessible when needed. We are sure that with the assistance of the SNT will provide a real boost to the system and to the area.
PCSO successes
September update
In August, PC Marc Davies working as part of the BIDs safe and secure team undertook an operation to help address a concern that is frequently being raised as a concern in the media. Carrying a knife or bladed weapon in public is a tremendously dangerous and worrying trend amongst certain groups in and around London. The damage done to families and to the lives of young people because of violence involving knives is regularly reported in the media and has impacted Hammersmith directly with the murder of Kodjo Yenga in 2007. The issue of knife carrying must be addressed and as a result of this Marc setup an operation in partnership with Transport For London and British Transport Police to utilise one of the Met polices’ main weapons in combating knife crime, the knife arch. The knife arch is a reinforced plastic archway that people are encouraged to walk through. The arch is made of reinforced plastic and works in much the same way as an airport metal detector. If someone goes through the arch carrying a metal weapon of any kind, the arch alerts the police and the person is then subject to a thorough search. One person was arrested for a drug offense and another was reported as being of interest to the anti-terrorism unit for carrying suspicious reading material. One person was searched for being a known gang associate, but overall, out of the 55 people checked via the arch, no knives were recovered and no knife related arrests were made.