Barking & Dagenham Enterprise: The news update for internal stakeholders of Barking & Dagenham Enterprise
Issue 5: May 2008
IN THIS ISSUE:
Project updates and news
Barking and Dagenham businesses discuss economy
Billionaires and Dreamers at the Regeneration Road Show
EVENTS/WORKSHOPS:
08.05.2008 14.00-16.00
Speed Networking 4 U- Speed Networking for business support professionals
Venue: Knowledge Dock, UEL Campus, University Road, London E16 2RD
Cost: Free to attend
For more information please contact
12.05.2008
BDE Board Meeting
16.05.2008 19.00-1.00am
President's Spring Ball with Alvin Jones Band
A night of music, dancing, prizes, networking opportunities and much more. Proceeds go to The Living the Dream Charity
Venue: Marquee, The Rugby Club, Gale Street, Dagenham
Cost: £40.00 per ticket
For more information please contact
20.05.2008 8.00-9.30
Breakfast Meeting with Borough Commander Antony Eastaugh
Venue: Vicarage Field Shopping Centre (Upper Level), Ripple Road, Barking IG11 8DQ
Cost: Free to attend
For more information please contact
12.06.2008 9.00-14.00
Continuity Planning Workshop in association with Havering Borough Council and LBBD
Venue: tbc
Cost: Free to attend
For more information please contact
19.06.2008 8.00-9.30
Directors' Breakfast Briefing Series
Venue: tbc
This event is by invitation only
For more information please contact
25.06.2008 9.00-14.00
Continuity Planning Workshop in association with Havering Borough Council and LBBD
Venue: tbc
Cost: Free to attend
For more information please contact
STORY OF THE MONTH:
Vision On- Graduates
On Tuesday 22nd April 40 retailers from 25 independent retail outlets in Barking Town Centre graduated and showcased their transformational ‘before and after' photographs from the LEGI funded 5-week Visual Merchandising course, delivered by Vision On Training Ltd.
Visual merchandising is important in the retail sector as 85% of information retained by the brain is taken in visually. Furthermore, it creates a sense of impact because it helps to communicate a message clearly and memorably.
Retailers on the course learnt that they do not need new fixtures and fittings and a huge budget to attract new customers and keep existing ones happy. They also learnt how to identify their customer needs, as well as planning and applying cutting edge visual merchandising techniques and make it a part of their everyday business.
Brian Mukri, from Alismu Fashion in Vicarage Fields, Barking, completely transformed his business -Turning a confused, overstocked, jumble sale into a stylish cohesive ‘boutique' shopping experience. As a result, in just 5 weeks, he has widened his customer profiles, raised store and service standards and started a wholesale arm for size 16+. He now has plans to open a second store in Romford - a true enterprise success! Brian said "This course has given me a confidence boost; importantly, it has made me commercially wise!"
Project updates and News
Hot off the press: The Barking and Dagenham Business Awards has received over 100 entries! This is a great milestone for the first ever business awards in Barking and Dagenham. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in making this happen!
Enterprising waves: Enterprise Radio is now airing in Vicarage fields during Lunchtime, be sure to listen out for it when you are in the Barking area.
Updated BDE brochure: The BDE programme brochure has been updated with all the relevant programmes updates. For more information please do contact Magali Kazayi on 020 8724 8294 alternatively email
Dagenham Business Centre: Planning permission has been granted for the Dagenham business centre on Rainham Road North. The business centre will provide office and workshop units for small businesses in a supported environment.
Hot Net: After its launch at the Broadway theatre Hot Net is now looking to work closely with projects and other organisations that have Hot desking facilities. The Hot Net project provides an excellent opportunity to unite hot deskers to hot desk facilities. For more information please contact Sujata Vaishnav on 020 8223 2433 or alternatively email her on
Barking and Dagenham businesses discuss economy
Rachel Lomax, Deputy Governor at Bank of England, addressed businesses at April's Directors' Breakfast Briefing meeting. The event was an opportunity for the CEOs of Barking and Dagenham's biggest companies to discuss the state of the economy. Rachel Lomax gave an insightful view of her role in the Monetary Policy committee followed by a round table discussion where companies challenged her with some realities of their business conditions. The Directors' Breakfast briefing series, which is aimed at CEOs of Barking and Dagenham top companies, are organised by The Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber hosts a number of meetings for all types of companies. Should you wish to be informed of them please contact Mary Clements at
Billionaires and Dreamers at the Regeneration Road Show
The regeneration road show is taking place from the 27th May to the 1st June; this is an opportunity for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to showcase the various regeneration opportunities available for residents. BDE will be participating alongside Skills, Learning and Enterprise Department, and we will be launching our new board game ‘Billionaires and Dreamers'. Barking and Dagenham Small Business Centre and UEL Knowledge Dock will also be running workshops on selected dates.
The Billionaires and Dreamers board game is loosely based on snakes and ladders. The game takes the participants through various paths of their dreams development to the billionaires' status. It is a fun and interactive game that will allow the residents of Barking and Dagenham to understand the opportunities available for them and the support that can escalate them to success.
Watch out for the road show as it hits a place near you:
Tuesday 27th May - Barking Town Square - The Launch
Wednesday 28th May - Morrison's Dagenham
Thursday 29th May - Dagenham Heathway
Friday 30th May - Nicholls and Clarke, Freshwater Road
Saturday 31st May - Thames View, Curzon Centre; Bastable Avenue
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On Tuesday 22nd April 40 retailers from 25 independent retail outlets in Barking Town Centre graduated and showcased their transformational ‘before and after' photographs from the LEGI funded 5-week Visual Merchandising course, delivered by Vision On Training Ltd.
Rachel Lomax, Deputy Governor at Bank of England, addressed businesses at April's Directors' Breakfast Briefing meeting. The event was an opportunity for the CEOs of Barking and Dagenham's biggest companies to discuss the state of the economy. Rachel Lomax gave an insightful view of her role in the Monetary Policy committee followed by a round table discussion where companies challenged her with some realities of their business conditions. The Directors' Breakfast briefing series, which is aimed at CEOs of Barking and Dagenham top companies, are organised by The Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber hosts a number of meetings for all types of companies. Should you wish to be informed of them please contact Mary Clements at 
The regeneration road show is taking place from the 27th May to the 1st June; this is an opportunity for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to showcase the various regeneration opportunities available for residents. BDE will be participating alongside Skills, Learning and Enterprise Department, and we will be launching our new board game ‘Billionaires and Dreamers'. Barking and Dagenham Small Business Centre and UEL Knowledge Dock will also be running workshops on selected dates.
