Thousands of local workers to benefit from discount travel

Local businesses are encouraged to sign up to an exciting new scheme which has already seen more than 5,000 local workers across Adur and Worthing eligible to benefit from discounts on rail and bus travel.

More than ten local businesses and organisations have joined easitADUR & WORTHING, a collaboration between Adur & Worthing Councils and leading social enterprise easit.

Workers are not only offered discounts on peak and off peak travel and season tickets, but also reductions on bikes and car hire, as well as other initiatives which promote more environmentally friendly travel.

The scheme aims to encourage people to travel more sustainably for both work and leisure in an effort to reduce carbon emissions, one of the leading causes of climate change. It can also improve staff health and wellbeing, as well as address congestion and parking problems.

West Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundations Trust is one of the organisations which has already signed up to the scheme and hosted the first easitADUR & Worthing network meeting:

Suzanne Fisher, Associate Director of Facilities at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:  “The new Adur and Worthing easitNETWORK is excellent news for Western Sussex Hospitals staff and so we were delighted to host the launch event at Worthing Hospital.

“Membership of the easit scheme is a key element of our Green Travel Plan, which helps reduce car emissions and traffic congestion by providing employees with discounts to public transport, out of town Park & Ride car parks and improved facilities for cyclists and motorbike users.”

Cllr Dan Humphreys, Leader of Worthing Borough Council, said: “We are really pleased that so many businesses in Adur and Worthing have decided to sign up to the scheme. Encouraging staff to think more about sustainable transport options is another step forward in our work to become more sustainable. Cycling and walking also help promote health and wellbeing leading to a happier workforce.”

Mel Mehmet, CEO of easit, said:“We are delighted to have launched our first new network of 2019 and the 16th easitNETWORK overall.  There now exists a real desire to address transport issues and that is where easit can help. We are very much looking forward to working with Adur & Worthing Councils and other local businesses.”

Transport is one of the six areas being tackled by the Councils’ SustainableAW programme to combat global warming and protect and improve the environment in Adur and Worthing. The other areas are: energy, waste, water, biodiversity and carbon reduction.

To find out more about Adur & Worthing travel improvement plans, click here,

10^th Anniversary & £175k Raised – Time to Celebrate for Charitable Foundation

Sussex-based MHA Carpenter Box is celebrating the 10^th anniversary of its pioneering charitable foundation…by committing to add £20,000 in 2019 to the £175,000 already raised for voluntary groups serving communities local to its Worthing and Gatwick offices.

The chartered accountancy firm was one of the first businesses in the area to set up a charitable arm with a focus to support smaller local organisations that often find it difficult to raise funds. The foundation is run by staff trustees along with one partner, who together decide on donations and grants.

“Our staff have been magnificent in their fundraising efforts.” commented MHA Carpenter Box Practice Director Chris Coopey. “From bake sales, treks, skydives, quiz nights and even a bath race, our staff have done it all!”

To celebrate the 10^th anniversary milestone, the firm will be running 10 events throughout 2019 - five fundraising activities and five with a volunteering focus - with the aim of raising £20,000.  

The official launch of the special year was held at the MHA Carpenter Box offices in Worthing and attracted the support of the High Sheriff of West Sussex, Caroline Nicholls DL, the Deputy Mayor of Worthing, Councillor Hazel Thorpe and her Consort, Robin Rogers, along with local charitable groups and businesses.

Chris added: “The event provided the perfect platform for what I know will be a wonderful year for the foundation – we are now looking forward to our first major fundraising event of the year…our Big Biz Quiz in April.”

For more information about the Carpenter Box Charitable Foundation, please visit:  https://www.carpenterbox.com/cbcf

www.carpenterbox.com

METALL #10 Solutions to the Skills Chasm

The lack of recruits at every level consistently tops the list of concerns for manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses both in the South and nationally. The next meeting of METALL – the Manufacturing Engineering Technology Alliance (METALL #10) – seeks to find some practical solutions to this long-term problem which hinders business growth and risks succession.

By bringing businesses and education professionals together, METALL #10 will look at practical ways they can all work together to help influence local change in schools and help our educators understand the great career opportunities that pursuing STEM subjects can lead to; without doubt, more students need to be undertaking these subjects.

Chris Coopey, Partner and Practice Director at MHA Carpenter Box commented: “I am looking forward to this event as I’m sure there will be some really interesting and lively debate around this skills shortage – which has been an issue for too long now and appears to be worsening year-by-year. We should be able to agree on some real outcomes that will help our educators to encourage more students to pursue STEM subjects leading to important and fulfilling careers and which will be a practical step on the long road to resolving this issue.”

The METALL #10 event will be held between 8am and 11am on Thursday 11 April at the new Engineering & Digital Technology Park, University of Chichester’s Bognor Campus, followed by a site tour. The event will be facilitated by Richard Freeman, CEO of East Sussex-based company, always possible. Places will be limited, so please sign up quickly if you would like to attend to avoid disappointment at www.metall.org.uk/events/

METALL is supported by MHA Carpenter Box chartered accountants, solicitors asb law and sector recruitment professionals, CBSbutler.  It was launched in 2016 with the primary aim of sharing best practice across Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology businesses.

www.carpenterbox.com

Worthing Homes are hiring!

Youth/Community Workers

Cook & Gardener

Salary £9.93 per hour

Do you want the chance to be part of an award winning project?

Do you want the opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of people in your community? 

If the answer is Yes, come and join our team!

We are seeking 2 team members to join our Award winning Community House.

The Community House is a project based in East Worthing that runs a number of structured, timetabled activities as well as providing an informal drop in facility for the local community and general public. The house is jointly funded by Worthing Homes and the Big Lottery Fund and aims to support the needs of individuals within the local community.

Kids Cookery – every Thursday 3-5.

·        Devising a menu mainly from the ingredients given to us by a local supermarket.

·        Helping people to prepare and cook for themselves and others.

·        Tidying up and encouraging other users to keep the Community House Tidy.

Gardener - You must be available on Wednesdays during half terms and holidays

• ·        Are you able to respond well to young people and teenagers?
• ·        Are you flexible and caring with an outgoing personality?
• ·        Do you have experience of working in a community setting?
• ·        Can you help grow food to use in our various cookery projects?
• ·        Friendly working atmosphere where no two days are the same.
• ·        Can you devise a range of gardening activities that will engage our young people and adults?

In return we offer:

Paid holiday and comprehensive training and support

Worthing Homes is committed to safeguarding the welfare of those accessing our services through the effective use of the DBS Disclosure and baring service. All sessional workers being considered for posts working with children or vulnerable adults in regulated activities must be DBS checked at Enhanced level, prior to commencing work.

To apply, send your CV and covering letter to jobs@worthing-homes.org.uk

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all sectors of the community. We are an inclusive organisation and value each individual’s unique contribution, irrespective of race, ethnic origin, religion, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or social background. 

Major boost for Shoreham as landmark office block nearly complete

The countdown is on to the opening of a new Adur District Council-funded office block which will generate a return to the local authority while bringing hundreds of jobs to the heart of Shoreham.

In a pioneering move which will bring noticeable benefits to the local economy, the local authority is creating a new £9.5 million contemporary looking development on the former Civic Centre car park in Ham Road.

It will then lease the four-storey building to growing communications company Focus Group, allowing it to relocate from its current base in Southwick.

The development is the one of a number proposed for Shoreham town centre which will see hundreds of new homes, along with work space and improved riverside routes for pedestrians and cyclists created along the western harbour arm.

With the bulk of the work on the new office block now complete, Council leaders joined representatives from Focus and the project team for a tour around the striking new building.

Councillor Neil Parkin, Leader of Adur District Council, said: “I am totally staggered at the quality of this new landmark building for Shoreham which has sprung up in just a matter of months.

“Very soon the transformation of an ugly tarmac strip for council workers cars into a head office for a growing national company will be complete.

“This is a prime example of how as a local authority we can use our assets for the greater good. The new building itself not only generates an income for the taxpayer but also creates jobs for local residents and generating business for local traders.

“The project team involved in this construction have done an excellent job and I look forward to the work being completed in just a few weeks.”

The development will bring back into use the car park site which has been largely vacant since the Civic Centre closed in 2013.

Work started on site a year ago and since then teams have created a striking brick and bronze cladded building.

Inside, the open plan office will have a contemporary feel, with top-of-the-range internet connections and a roof terrace just some of the perks for workers.

The project, which has been supported by £1.8 million of funding from the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and is being overseen by Willmott Dixon, will be complete by the end of April.

Focus will then move into the office block by summer, investing a major six figure sum to transform the building into a thriving new headquarters.

The move will ensure the retention of 250 jobs in the area while allowing it to continue to grow - with hopes of a further 150 to 200 posts created in the first 18 months of occupation.

Ralph Gilbert, of Focus Group, said: “We are all really excited that after many months of waiting we are soon to move into our new home four weeks ahead of schedule.

“We want to make this building one of the best offices in the region so that we can attract the best staff while showcasing some of the groundbreaking technology which we advocate and install for firms across the UK.”

Russell Miller, Director of Delivery at Willmott Dixon commented: “This project has been a valuable investment for the local community, creating local jobs and regenerating a large part of the town centre. Together, we have made a positive impact on the local community, leaving behind a legacy that we call be proud of.”

5 Rings Growth Transition and Growth Plans

2018 was a year of growth and transition for 5 Rings. Operationally the business saw the transfer of the MD role from founder Geoff Raynsford to Pete Raynsford. It implemented a new ‘hub and spoke’ infrastructure to allow it to deliver continued regional expansion and it saw excellent growth in turnover driven by a strong performance in both IT and Telecoms.

Commenting on 2018 and plans for 2019 MD Pete Raynsford said:

“We are at an exciting stage in our development. We saw Geoff step back to a more advisory role, the introduction of some great new technology and were able to report sales growth of 18% across the group.

2019 may well pose some global economic challenges but our focus is firmly on well-established owner managed businesses and mid-sized businesses who tend to be resilient and extremely well managed.

As such we are planning further growth and face the new year with a strong balance sheet and a willingness to invest. We are also considering bolt on acquisitions in the IT Services sector. “

The group continues to support a selection of chosen charities which includes a major campaign to raise funds for ‘Care for Veterans’ entitled the ‘11 for 11’ campaign and Home Start Hertfordshire amongst others.

More information on 5 Rings can be found at www.5ringsgroup.co.uk

Sussex Year End Accountants celebrate first anniversary trading!

Leon Ruward, Sussex Year End Accountants says "I am coming up fast to my first anniversary trading as Sussex Year End Accountants Limited.

I know that one of my best decisions in the last year was joining Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce.

In my previous position, I had attended various different networking and very quickly felt that they were a bit of a farce for me, so I was not sure if joining Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce would be for me.

However, by fully committing to being a member I now belong not only to a network of great people for business purposes, but enjoy a social aspect with them as well.

If you can think back to last summer when the sun was shining, I had a great day going round Shoreham harbour in a boat, what a great way to network.

I would like to thank Tina, Tracie and Lauren for their hard work, as a newbie working on my own it has been much valued support and opportunity."

For more information on Sussex Year End Accountants, please click here

Plans for Teville Gate revealed - statement

Leaders of Worthing Borough Council have today responded to the news that a full planning application to redevelop Teville Gate has been submitted.

The proposal, which is known as Station Square, has been brought forward by Mosaique, the private owner of the brownfield site which borders the A24 and Teville Road.

Cllr Daniel Humphreys, Leader of Worthing Borough Council, said: “The people of Worthing have been waiting a long time for firm plans to come forward for Teville Gate.

“It is one of the town’s most prominent sites, which is why we want to see good-quality homes and jobs created there, in addition to ensuring that a much better link is provided between the town centre and the station.

“The formal submission of these plans is another step towards the regeneration of this brownfield site and I look forward to looking at the plans in more detail.”

Once the application is validated, a six week public consultation will take place ahead of the Council’s planning committee making a decision on the plans later this year.

Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “Given the prominent location and size of this redevelopment, interest in the plans for Station Square is set to be high across the town.

“I urge residents and businesses to look at the plans and provide their comments so that the planning committee can take these into consideration when making a decision.”

Worthing Homes are hiring!

There are 2 vacancies available. 

Please click here to view details about the Cook role

Please click here to view details about the Gardener role

Government funding boost for Greater Brighton’s pioneering projects

Two Greater Brighton projects to improve public services while freeing up land for major regeneration schemes have received a government funding boost.

The Greater Brighton One Public Estate programmehas been awarded a further £208,000 to help it work with partners and unlock multimillion pound projects on public land in Brighton and Burgess Hill.

The aim is to use the money to bring forward these developments, creating scores of homes and improving public services while saving local taxpayers a large sum in running costs.

Greater Brighton leaders welcomed the national investment as a big boost to the regional economy, adding it showed the partnership of councils, business and education providers was paying dividends across the City Region.

Councillor Garry Wall, Chairman of Greater Brighton, said: “This is an excellent result and is yet another example of how by working together we can bring investment into our City Region.

“Given the high level of competition from around the UK for this fund, it’s a real vote of confidence that we have received this funding. In total, we have now brought in close to £2 million of investment through these government schemes which shows we must be doing something right.

“We must now put this money to good use to deliver on the jobs, homes and regeneration schemes that can help bring millions into our local economy while transforming our local communities and region as a whole.”

The One Public Estate programme was launched in 2013 to make better use of public-sector sites, cutting running costs, freeing up space for new homes and jobs while improving services to residents. It is a joint initiative between the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Local Government Association

It is designed to encourage the emergency services, local councils and government departments to work more closely together by sharing sites and creating public-sector ‘hubs’ - where services are delivered in one place.

The announcement by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government confirmed the following Greater Brighton projects were successful:

• Burgess Hill Station Quarter - £90,000
• Moulsecoomb Neighbourhood Hub - £83,000

The programme also won a grant of £35,000 to support the programme management.

Councillor Daniel Yates, leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, said: "The One Public Estate programme is a great example of how we are working with partners across the region to make the best use of public property and land for the benefit of all our residents, providing housing, jobs and better public services.

“We’ll use the funding to progress the Moulsecoomb Neighbourhood Hub project which is improving and bringing a range of public services together, as well as using redundant land to provide new low-cost housing. We are growing the scope of this project to provide more than 300 affordable homes and enable closer joint working between health and social care services.”

Cllr Wall, who is also Leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said: “The Burgess Hill strategic growth programme is the most ambitious programme of change anywhere in the sub-region.

“There will be significant development and investment in the area in the near future so the funding award for the Burgess Hill station quarter is vital for our community.

“This project offers a unique opportunity to maximise the delivery of new housing and commercial floorspace and facilitate the redevelopment of the station itself.”

It brings the total amount brought into the region through the Greater Brighton One Public Estate programme to £1,042,500. A further £819,000 has been received in Land Release Fund capital fundingto three projects in Brighton & Hove.

Among the projects to benefit from funding is a proposal to create a new health hub for Worthing’s Civic Centre (£90,000 funding in November 2016). Others include the Hove Station Quarter (£70,000) and the North Street Quarter (NSQ) Health Hub in Lewes (£150,000) which both received funding in January 2018.

The Minister for Implementation, Oliver Dowden, said: “Getting the best use out of publicly-owned land can help to regenerate our towns and cities and give people improved access to the services they need.

“This programme shows that when government works smarter, with public authorities coming together, taxpayers get better value for money, new jobs are created and space is freed-up for vitally needed new homes.”