Q: When is an AGM not an AGM?

A: When it’s a fond farewell!

Most Annual General Meetings are thought of as cures for insomnia, but Worthing and Adur Chamber bucked against this idea with a very special AGM this month, here’s what happened…

For the last fourteen years Peter Bennett has led Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce as its President. In that time the Chamber has evolved beyond recognition. Peter became President in 2003 and one of the first things he did was lead the Chamber into the digital age. Worthing Chamber of Commerce (as it was then) needed to widen its appeal and Peter drove the expansion into the Adur region, changing its name to Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce.

Sadly, Peter decided it was time for him to step down as President and at the recent AGM Peter handed the reins over to Chris Coopey, Practice Director of MHA Carpenter Box. The meeting started formally enough with the usual ratifying of accounts etc but things took a slightly different turn when it came to thanking Peter for his service to the Chamber. Gifts were handed out, chains of office removed and tissues found!

We wish Peter well and we thank him wholeheartedly for his leadership and the huge difference he has made. Without Peter Bennett we would not have the Chamber we have today. Thank You Peter

That leaves us to now introduce the new Worthing and Adur Chamber President, Chris Coopey. Chris is Managing Partner at accountancy firm, MHA Carpenter Box, and previously served on the Chamber Executive Committee for a number of years. He takes the helm from Peter and has reassured members that he is looking to keep things on an even keel before making any drastic changes.

At the AGM he introduced himself to the attendees through some slides outlining his varied career so far. Not many knew he had previously served in the Army Reserves as an engineer or that he liked climbing telephone poles!

Chris said, “I’m looking forward to leading the Worthing and Adur Chamber and aim to have fun doing it. For me, being a member of our Chamber is an enjoyable thing. I want our members to be happy, both with what we offer and what they gain from membership too.”

We are sure this new Chapter is set to be an exciting time ahead and hope all the members and supporters of Worthing and Adur Chamber wish Chris and the Executive team much continued success following in the rather large footsteps of Peter Bennett.

Car park closes to make way for potential office development

The former Adur Civic Centre staff car park in Shoreham is closing in preparation for a multimillion pound office development scheme.

Land in Ham Road is earmarked for new employment space as part of Adur District Council’s plans to regenerate the former Civic Centre site opposite to potentially create much-needed new homes and business accommodation.

Demolition of the former Council office buildings is already well under way and due to finish within weeks.

The former Council staff car park, which opened to the public on a temporary basis last year, will close for a day next Tuesday (May 16) for a drainage survey to be carried out.

It will then close permanently from June 1 so that surveyors can continue their work ahead of a planning application for the car park site later this year.

Drivers who use the car park for pay-and-display are being redirected to other car parks in the town. The nearest are in Pond Road and Tarmount Lane.

A small number of monthly season tickets will not be renewed and current ticket holders will be advised of alternatives, including Riverside and Ropetackle.

Councillor Brian Boggis, Adur’s Executive Member for Regeneration, said:

“We apologise to users of Ham Road car park for any inconvenience the closure will cause. The car park was opened to the public on a temporary basis only while we made preparations for the exciting future of the site.

“We are now ready to move ahead and look forward to the opportunity to generate new investment which will provide jobs as well as more homes in our area.”

Positive Step Forward for Adur Local Plan

A blueprint to guide development in Adur aimed at building hundreds of homes while protecting the environment has taken another step forward.

More than 1,000 people have had their say in the drawing up of the Adur Local Plan so far.

Adur District Council used these comments to help produce a blueprint aimed at balancing the need to build new homes and employment space while protecting the environment.

After submitting it to the government, the local authority received a letter this week informing it that the Government appointed Planning Inspector had produced his preliminary findings, which supported much of the work.

Local authority experts will now look at the feedback and consult on the Inspector’s suggested modifications before submitting a final plan.

The hope is that the Local Plan will be approved and fully adopted by the end of this year.

Martin Randall, Adur & Worthing Councils’ Director for the Economy, said:

“It’s always tricky to get the balance right when it comes to development.

“I’m pleased that the Inspector has recognised the local authority’s commitment to supporting the creation of new homes and workplaces while protecting the special and unique environment across the Adur District.”

The Local Plan will be used by the Council’s planning team to guide development across the area until 2032.

Key targets in the Plan include building approximately 3,700 homes and a minimum of 41,000 square metres of employment-generating floor space.

Within the letter sent this week, inspector David Hogger recommended a number of alterations to the Local Plan.

But the Inspector’s modifications did not refer to the allocation of any other land for development, apart from the sites already proposed by the Plan .

This means sites such as the Shoreham Gateway, near the A27 flyover; Mill Hill in Shoreham; and Old Salts Farm and New Salts Farm, both in Lancing, are not earmarked as areas to build on.

While the Plan has not been officially adopted yet, it has some weight in guiding decisions made by the local authority’s planning department.

James Appleton, Adur and Worthing Councils’ Head of Planning and Development said:

“It is very positive to hear that the Planning Inspector has supported the Council's future strategy for meeting development needs.  

"Although a number of modifications have been recommended to address issues raised by the Inspector and other interested parties at the Examination in Public, the overall approach to accommodating extra homes and jobs has been endorsed.

"Consultation on the main modifications to the Plan will be undertaken during the summer so that the Inspector can complete his final report and the Council can hopefully move to adopt the Plan later in the year.”

Greater Brighton building a bright new future for the construction trade

The next generation of construction workers are set for a bright future thanks to the work of the Greater Brighton Economic Board (GBEB).

Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and plasterers are among the trades to be taught at the new £9 million Trades and Construction Centre in east Brighton.

The building has been made possible by local growth deal funding, secured by Greater Brighton through the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, as part of a drive to boost skills in the wider area.

Ahead of the hub being opened to students in September, GBEB chairman Dan Humphreys was given a tour of the site in Wilson Avenue by Nick Juba, CEO of Greater Brighton Metropolitan College (the MET).

Speaking after the visit, Cllr Humphreys, who is also leader of Worthing Borough Council, said:

“Greater Brighton was formed three years ago as local authorities, businesses and education providers realised we could do more by working together.

“We want to combine our skills and resources to boost the local economy, boost jobs, boost productivity and boost quality of life for people living across the region.

“This amazing new centre is a perfect example of what difference Greater Brighton can make, giving people the skills to thrive in the 21st century economy.”

The centre is just one of a number of projects which has received support from the GBEB.

Cllr Humphreys heard how trades were previously taught on three different sites at City College Brighton & Hove before the further education college merged with Northbrook in Worthing and Shoreham to form the MET.

The £9 million of funding secured from the LEP allowed the construction of a new hub in east Brighton to expand the college’s courses in construction and trades.

The hub will be a base for 500 students a year across the Greater Brighton area, which stretches from Worthing across to Newhaven, Brighton up to East Grinstead. Students and apprentices from Worthing will continue to be able to access local construction courses at other MET campuses in the Greater Brighton region.

External construction work was completed in April, a week ahead of schedule.

Those at the college are now working with students and staff to develop a kit list to ensure it is fully kitted out in time for the new autumn intake.

Cllr Humphreys also heard how the development was one that was literally created in the Greater Brighton region: Sussex-based HNW Architects designed the new building, while property consultancy practice NorthGates, which work from an office just outside Shoreham, oversaw the project management.

Mr Juba, CEO of the MET, said:

“I want to say thank you to the Greater Brighton Economic Board and the local enterprise partnership for all their support.

“I am a board member of both and being involved in both of those organisations has given the MET a chance to thrive while thinking about how we organise our courses and provision to support local communities

“That investment that both organisations have made in this facility is very much appreciated and I know our students will be saying the same thing.”

Ransom attacks - what should you do? - Active IT 

You will no doubt have seen or heard of the high-profile attack that has affected the NHS and tens of thousands of organisations globally. It’s a ransom attack by malware called WannaCry which encrypts all the files on a computer and demands a ransom payment before allowing access again.

This particular attack has been carried by a worm, which means that once you have an infected machine within an organisation it will hunt for other machines to infect on the same network, rapidly spreading itself to bring a whole network to a halt.

The threat of attack is real for all of us, no-one is 100% safe. There are steps that can be taken to minimise the risk though; we urge you to be aware and ensure that you are as protected as possible.

1.     Backup – when did you last actually check everything was backed up and could be restored?

2.     Anti-virus software is not enough – the sophisticated attacks now occurring require additional security software to protect against some types of ransomware attack.

3.     Software Updates – ensure your software is updated, this applies to all software, not just Windows! Older computers are especially vulnerable if they have out of date software such as Windows XP.

4.     Firewall – block network based attacks by refusing entry onto your computer, don’t rely on a network firewall.

5.     Vigilance – don’t just click on links in emails without checking they are genuine first, if you get an instruction or request to do something in an email then verify it first, don’t trust anything!

6.     Mobile devices – all devices are at risk of either being infected or acting as carriers of infection, minimise the risk by protecting mobile devices and ensuring that non-protected (personal) devices are segregated and not allowed onto a business network.

By Active IT - Professional IT and Broadcast giving peace of mind to you and your business http://www.activegroup.co.uk/

Guide to Kahoot!

We're looking forward to our fun-packed Kahoot evening with Freedom Works & Tipton Marketing next week, Wednesday 17th May.

What on earth is Kahoot?

Kahoot is an interactive quiz that groups of people can play collectively via their tablet or phone.  The quiz’s will be pre-prepared and each question is shown on a large screen. Players then connect into Kahoot using the App and answer each question either individually or as part of a team through their individual devices.  The Quiz’s are all multiple choice but speed counts for everything!

I’m not very technical – will I be able to play?

Yes! It’s very simple once you have downloaded the App and we will give full instructions on the night.  Kahoot does not affect any other programs or App’s on your device.

Is this a business event or just a social?

Both!  There will be the opportunity for networking throughout the whole evening and we already have a large guest list confirmed.  We will start with networking and time for everyone to get Kahoot organised on their devices, then will host a trial quiz before the actual quiz begins.  We will break throughout the evening for more networking and our friends at Fernando’s will be supplying a light supper.  We’ll be providing the wine and beer, and of course some good prizes!

Can I bring a guest?

Please do, the more the merrier.  The world record is over 1000 people playing at once, we’re just planning on filling the room.

For more information and to book please visit the event listing page here

Worthing leaders working hard to bring forward town centre redevelopment

Worthing Borough Council leaders are pledging to keep on doing all they can to bring forward a major redevelopment of a town centre site.

Teville Gate is a major gateway site within a few minutes walk of the central train station and just off the A24.

Despite a number of attempts by developers to take proposals forward on the privately-owned plot, it remains a brownfield site in need of regeneration.

It was bought by Mosaique Global Investments Ltd in December 2015 with those behind the firm promising to deliver a “world-class development’ with both residential and business use.

After the firm delayed a proposed consultation with the local community, Worthing Borough Council says it is doing all it can to work with the developer to ensure firm plans are brought forward.

As part of the local authority’s commitment to the site, the council has secured a £5.6 million Local Growth Fund grant distributed through the Coast To Capital LEP towards the redevelopment of the centre of Worthing. This includes the Teville site.

It is now up to the owner of the site to draw up and submit detailed plans.

Cllr Bryan Turner, Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for regeneration, said:

“The Council is working closely with the owner of Teville Gate to ensure that its draft plans for the site are progressed and a detailed planning application is submitted as soon as possible.  

“The public consultation exercise originally planned for February has been delayed by the site owner as further negotiations are underway between the landowner and prospective occupiers of the proposed mixed use scheme.”

Teville Gate is one of the sites listed on the InvestAW website, which has been created by Adur & Worthing Councils to be the dedicated portal to bring investment into the area.

According to the website, Teville Gate offers potential to create a new mixed-use neighbourhood comprising residential, retail, leisure and other commercial uses.

It could also support a new public space creating new pedestrian walkways between the town centre and railway station.

A detailed planning application will have to be submitted which will include a further public consultation.

Cllr Turner made the comments in response to a written question from councillor Edward Crouch at at a recent full council meeting of the local authority.

Cllr Turner said:

“The developer has already undertaken a number of detailed site investigations and is keen to progress with the development on the basis that planning permission can be secured later in the year.

“At the same time negotiations are continuing with the owner of Teville Gate House to ensure that this is developed, ideally simultaneously with the main site, to secure the wider regeneration benefits of an enhanced route from the railway station to the town centre.  

“The award of over £5.5 million from the local growth fund to progress the redevelopment of brownfield sites in Worthing Town Centre has helped these negotiations to secure a more comprehensive redevelopment of the site.”

The ‘Shark’ focuses the mind at BITE!

Who better to speak at the BITE 2017 event in Brighton than one of the world’s most famous ‘sharks’?

Marnus Broodryk stars in ‘Shark Tank’ - the South African equivalent of Dragon’s Den – and took centre stage at BITE 2017, hosted by Sussex-based MHA Carpenter Box at the Amex Stadium, and provided a fascinating insight into the mind of a highly successful entrepreneur.

Marnus started his first business at the age of 14 and became a self-made millionaire by the age of 24, building one of the most valued and successful accounting firms in South Africa – ‘The Beancounter’. He explained how adopting a positive mind-set every day is fundamental to spotting new opportunities…and he urged both the delegates and exhibitors to enjoy the daily challenge of developing their businesses.

The event also provided insight from a panel of experts into the growing range of alternative funding options available for businesses of every size – from crowdfunding and business angel finance through to single invoice discounting.

Nathan Keeley, Partner at MHA Carpenter Box and the driving force behind the BITE (Business, Information, Technology & Efficiency) event, commented: “Marnus was an inspirational speaker and his involvement, together with some very practical advice from break-out sessions and exhibitors, created a real buzz throughout the day.”

Our picture shows Marnus Broodryk (centre), with MHA Carpenter Box Practice Director Chris Coopey (left), and the inspiration behind BITE, MHA Carpenter Box Partner Nathan Keeley.

Colourful way to help visitors discover a new side of Worthing

Visitors to Worthing are being urged to try out something new in the the town this summer.

With more than four million tourists a year, the south coast borough is already one of the most popular places to be in Sussex.

In a drive to help those visitors do more during their stay, Adur & Worthing Councils have produced a new leaflet packed full of events and useful information.

Music festivals, farmers markets and top-notch theatre all feature in the seasonal showcase, which is a one-stop shop for everyone who wants to know what’s going on in the Worthing.

Judy Fox, Visitor Experience & Marketing Officer of Adur & Worthing Councils’ tourism team, said:

“There really is something for everyone and this guide will ensure visitors don't miss out on key events.

“For those who haven’t visited the area in a while, they may be in for a pleasant surprise - there is a growing number of quirky independent shops, a thriving arts and cultural scene and top quality cafes and restaurants.”

The colourful new events leaflet, which opens out to become an easy-to-read A3 size calendar, will be made available at various venues throughout the town in the coming weeks.

It features a range of events, including food and drink markets in the town centre; music festivals and shows; urban arts trails, such as Worthing Artists’ Open Houses; and family friendly events, such as the children’s parade.

Summer will also see an emphasis on sporting extravaganzas, with the StreetVelodrome, Beat The Tide and Worthing 10k among the headline events.

The Events Calendar also forms part of plans to boost tourism in Worthing and is part of the new Discover Worthing campaign to encourage new visitors to the town.

The leaflet, which also includes events in Adur, will be distributed into neighbouring areas as part of a wider plan by the Council to boost visitor numbers from those living within an hour and a half of the area.

It will also form part of the events section of the new Discover Worthing website, which is due to launch at the end of this month.

Let's Do Business B2B Exhibitions 2017