Join Durrington High School at their next Careers Day!

Happy New Year to our amazing local business community.

At Durrington we aim to help all our students learn about the world of work and each year many amazing local businesses work with us on activities including careers day, summer careers week and work experience. We would love you to be involved in an upcoming event where you can meet your potential future employees.

We will be delivering an off-timetable Careers Day for all Year 10 students on Friday 7th February 2025.

Students will take part in sessions throughout the day covering the following areas.

• CV Writing & Work Experience Reflection (Preparing for the future)

• The Job Game (Exploring the opportunities around you)

• Mock Interviews (Gaining life skills)

• Apprenticeships / Business Sectors (Learning about future destinations)

• Further Education (Learning about future destinations)

We are seeking volunteers for the following activities.

The Job Game – In pairs, students will have 2 minutes to guess your job. They will then have another 2 minutes to ask you questions. There will be an opportunity at the end for you to talk to the wider group and offer some information. It can be a current or a past job you’ve held or a wider sector you represent.

Mock Interviews – You will conduct a 5-10-minute interview with a student and complete a feedback sheet for them. Students will have had preparation time. The feedback you give will be based on their conduct, presentation, thoughts and communication. We will provide sample questions but you are free to use your professional experience to shape it. You must have real world interview experience to take part in this activity.

The day will run from 8:40 – 3:10 and lunch / refreshments will be provided. 

To find out more and register your interest please complete this google form 

There is room on the form to ask questions but you can also call on 01903 705 605 or email careers@durring.com  

From Trainees to Partners at Carpenter Box

New year, new role! Two accountants who began their careers as trainees at Carpenter Box will join as new Partners in 2025 at the rapidly expanding South East and Sussex based firm.

Kristina Perry and Nick Tebb both joined the practice direct from university – and will now help shape Carpenter Box’s continuing growth strategy.

Kristina, a University of Brighton accountancy graduate, started her traineeship in 2012, achieved her ACCA qualification and worked her way up to the position of Client Service Director for the Assurance & Advisory team in 2023. Today, she not only oversees and signs off audit reports, she also leads an internal team providing technical knowledge across the firm’s accounting and audit functions.

Says Kristina: “As someone who has always lived in the Worthing area, I was aware of the Carpenter Box name from my college days, so to become a Partner here is really exciting. From the outset, I’ve always valued the supportive culture at the firm and in my new role, I aim to continue to promote that inclusive ethos while at the same time contributing to our clients’ successes and to the firm’s future growth.”

Nick arrived at Carpenter Box in 2014 as an accountancy graduate from De Montfort University in Leicester. From trainee, he progressed through various roles to Client Service Director at StarBox, Carpenter Box’s rapidly expanding accountancy and financial advice service for new media entrepreneurs, social influencers and rising stars.

“The firm’s growth over the last decade has been phenomenal, and for me it’s been incredibly exciting to be involved in shaping the success of StarBox,” says Nick. “It speaks volumes about the Carpenter Box culture that young professionals joining the firm at an entry level can see a career path that can lead to Partner. I’m very much looking forward to contributing to the firm’s ambitious growth plans while ensuring we maintain the local connection that Carpenter Box has built over the last 100 years.”

Carpenter Box Managing Partner, Alan Edwards, who himself joined the firm as a trainee, congratulated Kristina and Nick on their promotions.

He commented: “Kristina and Nick embody the progressive ethos of Carpenter Box to provide an environment within which people feel empowered to reach their full potential. Nurturing talent and rewarding success is in our DNA and I look forward to seeing both Kristina and Nick thrive in their new roles.”

Outside of work, Kristina is a passionate supporter of the Manchester United women’s team, while Nick is also a football enthusiast, channelling his energy into coaching a local children’s team. Both live in the Worthing area.

Aldingbourne Trust lose £20,000 worth of tools in heart-breaking Christmas break in

'Tis the season to give, not take! Sadly, this wasn’t the case for us at Aldingbourne Country Centre, as our wood workshop was targeted by thieves just days before Christmas. The theft was discovered on Christmas Eve by our Wood Manager, Brian, who had stopped by to finish some projects before the end of the year.

Thieves gained access to the workshop through a window, stealing a grand total of 30 high-value Hilti tools, including jigsaws, combihammers, and 12 battery packs. These tools, donated by Hilti as part of their charitable programme, were stamped with "Donated by Hilti GB" making them easily identifiable.
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Commercial & Retail Manager Jason shared, "The important analogy is that like the wood we collect—something written off or disposed of—it is transformed in our hands into something of value. The people we support are exactly the same. We give individuals who might otherwise be written off a sense of purpose and value."

This loss has had a significant impact on our plans to create and sell bespoke wood products. While the police investigation is ongoing (crime reference number: 47240250193), we’re doing everything we can to ensure something like this doesn’t happen again.

Despite this setback, we’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness of our community. Following media coverage, including a visit from ITV News, a local gentleman came forward this morning with a £1,000 donation and new tools for Brian and the team. Fontwell Racecourse has also pledged its support, and we are truly grateful to everyone who has reached out.

During an interview with ITV, Stephen, one of the people we support, summed up how we’re all feeling, "Whoever has done this should be arrested for it."

Your kindness means the world to us, and it’s helping us turn this difficult situation into something hopeful. If you’d like to help us rebuild and continue empowering lives, please consider donating at aldingbournetrust.org/donate

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Lizzie Senn at lizzies@aldingbourne.org

Hunters Recruitment - Member Case Study

What do you do?

Helping our clients, local businesses, find the best possible hires is the passion of Hunters Recruitment & Training, a consultative and family-run recruitment specialist. Proud members of the REC, we also work with our candidates to upskill and prepare for interview. We have been trading for twenty-six years with our headquarters in Shoreham by Sea, and for the last few years our Worthing sea front office.

Our Temporary Workers cover absences, holidays and seasonal work surges. We support our clients hire the best possible permanent hires to add value, taking away the recruitment headaches, and saving time and money.

Why did you join the Chamber?

Hunters joined the Chamber to feel closer to the local community, to build business relationships, and to learn from other successful businesses.

As a recruitment business, our success hinges on our local business partners growing and thriving, so it is vital for us to share and celebrate the successes and understand the frustrations of our fellow members.

What’s your favourite thing about being a Member of the Chamber?

We enjoy learning from other Members about what makes them flourish, and we love looking for opportunities for how we can offer assistance and support.

We value the training offered by the Chamber, and the opportunities to meet up with other members.

www.huntersrecruitment.co.uk

Ingrid Sports Massage Therapist - Member Case Study

What do you do?

Hi there, I am a Sportsmassage Therapist based in West Worthing. I treat muscular problems such as aches and pains and or helping to maintain good muscle health.

This can be pre and post exercising or post injury to improve recovery. I stress that Massage Matters as to physical and mental wellbeing.

Why did you join the Chamber?

I joined the Chamber to get support and to support other businesses. I feel that supporting each other is vital especially in tough economical times like ours. I feel the better local businesses get to know each other the more you are able to establish trusting relationships. And therefore able to pass business, clients and or customers on.

What’s your favourite thing about being a Member of the Chamber?

The good part of being a member of the Chamber is the ongoing support and helpful events provided that you can attend. It's also nice to be part of the business community and being recognized.

www.sportsmassage-worthing.co.uk

What do you do? 

So…If you’re interested in our services and serious about reducing costs & improving collections then please contact us on 0800 689 9181 or Email us on newclaims@lrcollectionsltd.co.uk

We see the chamber as an integral part of our business and love being part of an ever evolving, fun, supportive and diverse community. We also love the fact that the chamber provides you with the help, support and education that your business needs.

Shake It Up Creative - Member Case Study

What do you do?

Shake It Up Creative is a marketing and web company based in Worthing that works with SMEs who are ready for professional marketing support. Our sectors of strength are arts & culture, charity and hospitality but naturally our work extends wider than this, including public sector projects.  We like to get to know our clients and work like a natural extension of their internal team.  We love working with purpose-led organisations and for every project we deliver, we provide at least one hour of marketing advice to a small business in need.  Over more than two decades as a Director and Founder I (Rachael Dines) have worked with hundreds of small organisations including Worthing Samaritans, Brighton Gin and Egalité Care.  I'm a Chartered Marketer, a BIPC Expert in Residence and the charities marketing expert for Community Works alongside being an expert advisor on many regional, funded, support programmes such as Grow Digital and Go for Growth IOW. I've previously featured on BBC Radio Sussex, C5 and as the live, expert SEO guest on the LBC Radio Clive Bull Business Show.

Why did you join the Chamber?

To raise the profile of my company, have learning opportunities and also because it's good value.  It's given me all of this, plus a valuable support network and new business too.  As every business owner knows, things aren't always rosy and I've made strong enough connections through the chamber to always have someone to talk to or to recommend me when I've needed a boost.  For the past few years I have been an Ambassador and sat on a working group and I enjoy being able to give back to an organisation that has genuinely cared about me as I've built my business.

What's your favourite thing about being a member?

Having a variety of events to go to - I've been on walks, food factory tours, out for cocktails and to the airport amongst other places - as well as the continuous opportunity to meet new people. I'm always recommending the Chamber to business owners that I meet in other networks and I also try to bring new ideas to the table as an Ambassador to help the Chamber continue to evolve. The chamber also gave me my first speaking opportunities which led to me later being on panels and speaking at huge events like Brighton SEO.

Pilbeam Construction - Member Case Study

What do you do? 

Pilbeam Construction builds and manages large and medium-sized projects across Sussex and the South East, mixing traditional values with innovative techniques.

Having begun as a family business in 1955, we specialise in the commercial, health, education, heritage and residential sectors – with a reputation for offering personal service, a proactive approach and a loyal supply chain.

The company recently underwent a management buy-out which has seen long-standing directors Alan Corbett and Andrew Arrow take over the reins, with a vision to maximise the qualities our customers love so much whilst growing the business responsibly.

That includes meeting a growing need for affordable sustainable buildings that are good for the environment and delivered in a reliable time frame.

Our true USP is that our highly qualified 20-strong team regularly demonstrates an ability to deliver large-scale complex assignments, whilst retaining the collaborative approach and personal touch you associate with a family business.

Why did you join the Chamber? 

• Valuing local connection across Worthing and Adur and building relationships in the region has always been a big part of the way Pilbeam works.
• Our business was born nearby in Southwick by our founder Alan Pilbeam nearly 70 years ago and we’re still there - and very proud of our roots in Sussex.
• By staying local we have got to know all the consultants, quantity surveyors and architects around East and West Sussex. So, we always know what’s going on – and of course we’ve built a lot of friendships and loyal clients, too. Working with the Chamber of Commerce is a big part of that.

It’s all about meeting old friends, making new ones and keeping in touch with everything that is going on in the region.

Attending networking events helps build awareness of your business – and of course it can open up new business opportunities too.

www.pilbeamconstruction.co.uk     

Freedom Works - Member Case Study

What do you do? 

At Freedom Works, we're not your typical co-working space. Yes, we provide desks and a place to work, but we're so much more than just a roof over your head. Our spaces are designed to foster collaboration and creativity, cultivating collaborative communities. But we go way beyond that. We offer a wide range of resources and opportunities, from curated events to shared lunches, all geared towards helping our members grow and succeed. And we don't stop there; our comprehensive business support services are there to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your business reaches its full potential. And just when you thought things couldn't get better, as a member, you have the flexibility to utilise your benefits across all our spaces, enabling you to work wherever suits you best. At Freedom Works, we're not just about workspaces; we're about creating thriving ecosystems where individuals and businesses can truly flourish.

Why did you join the Chamber? 

Our decision to join the Chamber of Commerce was motivated by the networking opportunities it presents. Connecting with professionals from various backgrounds fosters collaboration and provides invaluable insights for our growth. We anticipated that membership would enhance our brand visibility through active participation in events and sponsorships, solidifying our presence in the local business community. Ultimately, we sought the Chamber to act as a catalyst for Freedom Works' success, offering a platform to network, build connections, and elevate our brand within the business landscape and local community.

What’s your favourite thing about being a member? 

One of the things we appreciate most about being a member of the Chamber of Commerce is the fantastic networking opportunities it provides. Connecting with professionals from various backgrounds not only encourages collaboration but also offers valuable insights for growth. Our membership enhances our brand visibility through participation in events and sponsorships, reinforcing our presence in the local business community. Participating in events like the Better Business Show exemplifies how these opportunities come to fruition. In essence, the Chamber plays a role in Freedom Works' success, offering a platform to network, connect, and enhance our brand within the business environment and local echo system.

www.freedomworks.space

St Oscar Romero - Member Case Study

What do you do?

 I am an extended learning Leader at St Oscar Romero Catholic school in Goring and I help to bring the students in to the real World. I focus on Careers, Enrichment and Outdoor learning with the help of the dedicated Business/Training Partners (you!) Events like: Build and Bake Enterprise Day, Careers Fairs, Environmental activities and lots of trips to the workplace including our week long Work Experience program. 

Why did you join the Chamber? 

So I can promote and encourage Partners to help out so to develop our your students to be effective and driven employees and leaders of the future. 

www.stromeros.co.uk