Watford law firm wins national award
VWV HR and employment law partner Gareth Edwards
2019 is off to a great start for the HR & Employment team at law firm VWV, which was announced as the Legal 500 UK Awards winner of the Human Resources (outside London) category.
Conducted independently, the Legal 500 UK Awards are based on the opinions of 250,000 in-house lawyers contacted throughout the year as well as in-depth research into law firms. This award recognises the excellence of VWV’s HR and Employment Law team, who is described by clients as “a team which will go above and beyond the call”.
VWV’s experienced lawyers provide specialist employment law advice to employers of all sizes and in all sectors. Last year the team launched a complementary HR consultancy, Narrow Quay HR, which focuses on providing HR services to the firm’s clients, including HR support, investigations, training and trade union consultations.
Partner Gareth Edwards, who leads the team, said: “It is great to receive such recognition in the Legal 500 UK Awards and reflects the hard work of all members of the team. The award is a great start to the year.”
With offices in London, Watford, Bristol and Birmingham, VWV’s 400-strong team has the reputation of being a friendly firm to work with and is recognised nationally for its sector-focused approach. VWV’s client base comprises Airbus, Birmingham Royal Ballet, University of Bath, European Healthcare Limited and Sigma Pharmaceuticals PLC.
The firm last year received an impressive four awards for its excellence in delivering legal services. This includes the ‘Excellence in Client Care’ from LawNet, ‘Legal Firm of the Year’ at the City of Birmingham Business Awards, the Legal Category at the Bristol Life Awards and the Bristol Law Society’s ‘Team of the Year’ award for VWV approach.
Furniture is still fit for task
We’re very keen to introduce ourselves to the Watford Business Community via the Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Conscience. We at JPA Furniture are an independent, family run business who want to have a positive impact on our local community.
Our business model is simple – we design, specify and supply new furniture across commercial organisations, education, construction and healthcare sectors, taking out the old furniture for recycling, diverting it from landfill and improving our clients’ environmental performance. Much of the furniture we collect is still fit for task, and we actively try and rehome these items locally, in organisations where they are badly needed – business start-ups, charities, not-for-profit organisations, etc. Our rehoming service is free of charge locally for maximum take up and fitted in to local runs.
Over the last three years we have diverted over 17,200 redundant furniture items from landfill (over 350 tonnes), and rehomed over 3,000 items locally, saving community organisations over £250,000 in furniture spend. We put our clients in touch with the organisations where furniture has been rehomed, so they can see it in action, strengthening their own community bonds.
Every aspect of our business is run against sustainable objectives from our operation, our services and our products. All products are responsibly sourced and all are recyclable. Our resources (furniture advisers, delivery vehicles, warehousing, fitters and service team) are based in close proximity to our clients for fast response and low fleet miles/operational energy.
Stop press: We are delighted to be able to supply six task chairs to Watford Chamber of Conscience in their new offices at BRE from our rehoming stock!
Group helps to feed the hungry
As a result of collaboration with Watford Chamber of Commerce, West Herts College staff and students from Foundation Studies, Music and Media participated in the Tesco National Collection for Watford Foodbank from 29th November to 1st December 2018. In total they collected, date stamped and packed 2.75 tonnes of donations from Tesco Watford customers.
Watford foodbank is an independent registered charity working with local churches, agencies and community groups, to stop hunger in and around the Watford area.
For more information on how to donate to the Watford foodbank, visit watford.foodbank.org.uk
Apprenticeship way to go
Watford Chamber is encouraging businesses to look at apprenticeships as a way of involving young people within their companies.
Companies with apprenticeship programs in place are more likely viewed as one that invests time and knowledge into its people, overall making them look like an employer of choice for prospective employees.
The Watford Chamber recently took on Izzy, a sales and marketing apprentice in early December.
The apprenticeship is kindly being sponsored by the Hilton Group, and Warner Brothers.
Izzy will be working alongside many businesses in and around the Watford area, attending network events, and being an ambassador for the Young Chamber, which is currently in the works in collaboration with West Herts College.
Elbow grease gets results
A team of ‘companies with a conscience’ put in some much-needed elbow grease to help a tenant after their front garden had become overgrown and it began to affect wellbeing.
On November 2, Cllr Amanda Grimston rolled up her sleeves and the clearance began.
Cllr Grimston was joined by the CEO of the Watford Chamber of Commerce Chris Luff, Justin Johnson from All Aspects Building, Steve Brownsell from Living Landscapes, and Neil Blayney from NB Groundworks.
Those who attended were all members of the Watford Chamber of Commerce and the scheme Companies with a Conscience.
Six long hours of elbow grease, combined with a regular supply of tea and chocolate, and the garden was transformed.
NEWS IN BRIEF:
Networking events will take place at Metro Bank, in High Street, Watford at the following dates and times:
February 15 from 10pm to 12.00pm
March 15 from 10pm to 12.00pm
April 19 from 10pm to 12.00pm
Networking events will also take place at Metro Bank Borehamwood at the following dates and times:
March 1 from 10am 12.00pm
April 5 10am to 12.00pm
Tickets for all events can be found on the Watford and West Herts Chamber Facebook page.
Also watfordchamber.co.uk/chamber-events
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