Exciting New Business Show launched for local businesses…

A great opportunity is coming to West Sussex in the form of a new business to business exhibition, to benefit small and medium sized businesses.

The inaugural West Sussex Business Expo is being organised by Mike Monk from Monk Marketing who recently partnered with the Basingstoke based events firm, Memo Events, who founded the nationwide network of business expos back in 2011.

The event will feature a packed exhibition hall with over 70 stands, Network Fontwell Breakfast meeting, Keynote speakers, Free seminars, and endless Networking Opportunities.

Event Organiser and local entrepreneur, Mike Monk ran the successful Brighton Expo last October and has decided to launch the Expo in West Sussex as he feels there is a requirement for this type of event in the area.

The premier business show, which will take place on May 25^th at Fontwell Park Racecourse, will benefit all types of businesses in the region and local firms are encouraged to get involved. We are delighted to be involved as a partner of this exhibition. Chamber members are being offered an exclusive 10% early booking rate on stands. If you would like to find out more about the event please visit www.b2bexpos.co.uk/westsussex  or call 01273 286133.  It’s going to be an unmissable event for local businesses, so don’t leave it too long to book your stand or get the date in your diary – we’ll see you there!

Take off 2017 - Growing your business abroad

Gatwick Airport has once again teamed up with the Department for International Trade’s Exporting is GREAT campaign to bring you TAKE OFF 2017: Growing Your Business Abroad. Taking place at Gatwick on the morning of 30 March 2017 the event will bring together a host of established exporters, government figures and support organisations to provide a mixture of practical advice and inspiration, covering the following topics:
 
1. Brand Britain: Harnessing the UK’s reputation to grow your business 

2. Taking off: Overcoming the barriers to first-time exports 

3. Scaling up: Growing your export programme 

4. Ecommerce: Navigating technology to reach new markets 

5. USA: How to break into the market

 
Hosted by Michael Hayman MBE, co-founder of PR firm Seven Hills and co-author of Mission: How the Best in Business Break Through, delegates will enjoy a series of fast-paced speeches and interactive panel discussions as well as superb networking opportunities.
 
Confirmed Speakers Include:  Michael Hayman MBE, Co-founder of Seven Hills, author of  Mission: How the Best in Business Break Through   Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer, Gatwick Airport.   Will King, Founder of King of Shaves  Carrie Bates, Founder of the Little Coffee Bag Company  Tamara Roberts, Chief Executive of Ridgeview Wines  Eva Gustavsson, Director Government Relations, PayPal  Judith McElhinney, Senior e-Commerce advisor, Department for International Trade  David Budd, Partnerships Manager at Funding Circle  Matt Wood, VP Network, Norwegian Airlines  Lesley Batchelor OBE, Institute of Export
 
Who should attend? The event is targeted at small and medium sized business owners and executives from London and the South East and anyone looking to expand their business to overseas markets. 
 
REGISTER FOR A FREE PLACE AT: TAKEOFF2017 eventbrite.co.uk 

Adur & Worthing Business Awards 2017 - ‘The awards organised by businesses for the businesses’ 

The new organising committee of the Adur & Worthing Business Awards are delighted to confirm that the awards will now be independently run and organised under the umbrella of the Adur & Worthing Business Partnership (AWBP) as a ‘Not-for-Profit’ business model.  James Stoner, a member of the existing committee and category sponsor recently commented “Going forward the awards are to be organised by the businesses for the businesses and by working together with the AWBP, we look forward to the continued success of one of the most prestigious events in the local business calendar”.

The AWBP plays a pivotal role as an independent partnership working on behalf of the Adur and Worthing business community and Adur and Worthing Councils.  The AWBP is seen as the ideal vehicle to take the Adur & Worthing Business Awards forward, securing the longevity and the future success of the event.  Peter Webb MBE a member of the AWBP commented, “In recent years the Business Awards have gone from strength to strength and looking ahead, our main priority is to continue this momentum.  I believe now it is the right time to move the awards forward and develop a not-for-profit model under the stewardship of the AWBP”

Now in its 10th year, the organising committee are proud to announce the launch of The Adur & Worthing Business Awards 2017. The awards continue to grow and establish a solid reputation within the local business community and serve to showcase and celebrate the excellent business people and organisations we have here in the Adur & Worthing district.

Businesses are invited to enter these awards which offer sixteen separate categories, all designed to recognise successes and achievements across various industries.  The judging panel will be led by a number of local business figures, representatives from Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce and Adur & Worthing Council who themselves, bring a wealth of industry knowledge to the awards.

To get the Awards off to a flying start, please join us at the official launch which will run in conjunction with Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce - Chamber Chat event.  Hear more about how you can get involved in one of the biggest business events in the area by joining us for drinks, light bites and networking from 5.30pm on Wednesday 7th June at Worthing Pier, Southern Pavilion.

You will hear about new sponsor, award categories,  our chosen charity for this year and how to enter. Sponsors and previous winners will be on hand to tell you about how getting involved benefits both your business and your team and of course there will be lots of networking opportunities too!

Full details on the categories available and how to enter the awards can be found on the new Adur & Worthing Business Awards website www.awbawards.com which is now live.  The winners will be announced at a glittering black tie awards ceremony to be held at The Pavilion, Worthing on Friday 10th November 2017.  Please keep visiting the website for more information and regular news updates. 

For all enquiries about this event please enquires@awbawards.com

Ex-editor bounces back as council PR chief for former patch

A former regional daily editor is taking up a new job as a PR chief for two councils on his former patch.

Mike Gilson, left, has been appointed head of communications at Adur & Worthing Councils, in Sussex, after impressing the authorities’ chiefs with his “significant” newsroom experience.

Mike left Brighton-based daily The Argus, whose patch includes the Adur and Worthing areas, in December after two years at the helm.

His new role will see him take responsibility for communications at the councils, which have operated together under a joint management structure since 2008.

Alex Bailey, chief executive officer for Adur & Worthing Councils, said: “After a highly competitive recruitment process, I’m very pleased to be welcoming Mike to the Councils at a key point in our development.

“Mike’s significant experience running busy newsrooms will be invaluable in telling the stories of the communities within Adur and Worthing, and the Councils’ place within those narratives.

“We have set ourselves a significant agenda for the next three years and great communications will be at the heart of how we inspire conversations and actions on important issues throughout Adur and Worthing, and beyond.”

Mike will begin his new job on 27 March.

Before joining the Argus in 2014, he edited the Belfast Telegraph for five years, during which time it won the UK Regional Newspaper of the Year award in 2011, and he has also edited three Johnston Press owned titles – The Scotsman, The News, Portsmouth and the Peterborough Telegraph.

Mike was replaced at The Argus by Lucy Pearce, who herself quit just weeks into the job to move to the role of communications and engagement manager with financial services giant Legal and General.

Arron Hendy has since taken up the Newsquest-owned newspaper’s editorship.

More at: http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2017/news/ex-regional-daily-editor-takes-up-new-role-as-councils-pr-chief/

Spring Budget Summary from MHA Carpenter Box

The top seven implications of the Spring Budget for SMEs by Kreston Reeves

To help understand the first Budget from Chancellor Philip Hammond, Laurence Parry, Tax Partner, detailed the seven key implications small and medium sized businesses should know below:

Apprenticeship levy

The largest single change affecting businesses from 5 April has already been announced. The new apprenticeship levy will be charged on firms with total annual payroll in excess of £3 million. In fact those not obliged to pay this new levy are the ones most likely to benefit by achieving a reduction in their training costs. The Government has pledged to pay 90% of apprenticeship costs for small businesses.

Business Rates

Rate relief will be 100% from April 2017 based on a rateable value of up to £12,000, tapering to £15,000. This will benefit those where property values have risen the most. However, the overall revenue take of the latest revaluation, which is based on 2015 property values, is not altered, meaning some will still face significant rises, mainly in London and the South-East. A review of Business Rates is promised to level the playing field with digital commerce, which largely avoids it.

In addition, there will be a discount for pubs, caps for those moving out of Small Business Rate Exemption and a discretionary fund for local authorities to apply.

Digital tax

The Making Tax Digital start date for businesses with a turnover below the VAT threshold has been delayed. Those with turnover between £10,000 and £83,000 (the current VAT threshold) will now not be required to report digitally until 6 April 2019. This will be welcome news to smaller businesses, the self-employed and landlords.

Education

Increased technical training will be welcomed by business. However, one of the throwaway comments in the Budget speech was for a compulsory three month ‘quality’ secondment – this will have a cost effect on business. Questions remain: Will businesses be able to use the apprenticeship levy to cover these costs? Is there capacity for businesses to take on 630,000 students (of level 2 and above) each year?

Allowances

The new dividend tax-free allowance of £5,000 is to be reduced to £2,000 from 6 April 2018. The personal allowance is to be increased by more than inflation increasing it by £500 to £11,500

Avoidance

Personal service companies supplying those in the Public Sector (technically those entities covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000) – which includes the BBC, Transport for London, or even your local dentist – will have potentially increased costs from 5 April. The Government has widened the hybrid rules to limit perceived tax avoidance by multinationals.

Consultations and imminent changes

Some thirty future changes were listed as proposed or to be consulted on. Some of these may well have significant effect, such as changes to the taxation of partnerships and valuation of benefits. Important changes already announced and due in force imminently include: abolition of salary sacrifice arrangements; penalties for enablers of tax avoidance arrangements; restriction of interest relief – potentially applicable where group interest charge is over £2 million pa; more flexibility on use of losses brought forward within companies.

Click here to read more from Kreston Reeves

The top five personal finance implications from the Spring Budget by Kreston Reeves

To help understand the first Budget from Chancellor Philip Hammond, Bryan Elkins, Partner and Head of Taxation details the five key implications for personal finances.

National insurance changes

National Insurance contributions (NIC) for the self-employed are set to increase with Class 4 NIC rising from 9% in 2017/18 to 10% in 2018/19 and to 11% a year later. Although Class 2 NIC will be abolished from 2018/19 this will only save £146 per year. Self-employed individuals with profits of £40,000 will be paying an additional £319 of Class 4 NIC in 2018/19 and £638 in 2019/20.

Childcare

A new tax-free childcare scheme giving a contribution of up to £2,000 per child (up to the age of 12) towards childcare costs was confirmed. The scheme gives basic rate tax relief on payments made into an on-line account. For every £800 paid in by claimants the government will add a further £200 up to a maximum of £2,000 per child.

The scheme is open to all working parents except where one earns more than £100,000. In addition, free childcare for three and four year olds will be extended to 30 hours per week with effect from September.

Social Care & NHS

An additional £2 billion will be made available to Local Authorities (of which half will be in 2017/18 year) to fund care packages and care services. In addition, targeted measures will be introduced to assist those authorities facing the greatest challenge. The objective is to facilitate transfer from hospitals to social care services to free up much needed hospital beds. A further £100 million will go to the NHS to invest in A&E departments to fund more on-site GP triage facilities.

Allowances

The new dividend tax-free allowance of £5,000 is to be reduced to £2,000 from 6 April 2018. The personal allowance is to be increased by more than inflation, increasing it by £500 to £11,500.

Education

The government confirmed it will invest £320m to help fund 140 free schools in addition to the 500 previously announced. 30 of these schools will open by September 2020. In addition, a new T Level will focus on technical qualifications, replacing some 13,000 vocational qualifications with a system graded like A levels.

Click here to read more from Kreston Reeves

Sir Robert Woodard Academy Annual Dance Showcase

Local artists spring forward with their first exhibitions

Bright colours and bold shapes are on view at Colonnade House from a trio of artists who have just put the finishing touches to their first public exhibitions.

Recent graduates from Northbrook College, Shelley Bock (ceramics) and Jennifer Churchward (painting) are showing their work together in the main gallery. They have looked at this show as an opportunity to further explore their creativity and launch themselves into the professional world of fine art.

Jennifer’s work is primarily about colour, texture and the aesthetics of chance. She says:

‘My paintings are essentially abstract by definition, however the viewer may detect a connection with the landscape genre through my choice of colours.’

Shelley’s work explores the changing natural environment, and the delicate balance between man and nature.

She says:

‘The techniques I employ involve ceramics, glass, printmaking and photography. Outcomes using these chosen processes and materials are unpredictable, often with a high element of risk.’

There is an opportunity to find out more about their work as both artists will be taking turns at invigilating the exhibition.

Jane Inglefield is a self-taught artist who is compelled to paint. Her work is inviting, uplifting and vibrant. Drawn to depict both sea and landscape, Jane predominantly works in oil, utilising a variety of painted textures to guide the viewer around her work.

Jane says:

‘Generally, I like to use bright uplifting colours that have clarity. This exhibition is a celebration of the beautiful natural world all around… I like to make all the colours ‘sing’ together & enjoy the play of ever changing light on water, especially the layers of colour on the horizon line. The sheer abundance, generosity & diversity of nature inspire me constantly with a desire to paint & create.’

Jane Inglefield’s work, including a selection of cards can been seen in the Studio Gallery.

The way that Colonnade House is flourishing as a creative hub in the heart of Worthing is delighting Cllr Dr Heather Mercer, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Customer Services. She says:

“These artists bring very different approaches to their practice. I’m pleased to see how well the space in Colonnade House is working for them and their exhibitions are a testament to the creative teaching at Northbrook College, Sussex.

“Colonnade House is quickly becoming known on the South Coast as a platform for interesting new work to emerge and be seen by the public - testament to a great location, a fabulous building and a clear focus on supporting arts in the town.”

Both exhibitions are open Tuesday - Saturday 10-5pm until 18th March.

Links:

http://colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/nature-inspired-jennifer-churchward-shelley-bock/

http://colonnadehouse.co.uk/event/new-horizons-jane-inglefield/

For more information contact clare.halstead@adur-worthing.gov.uk / 01903 221142

Colonnade House is Worthing’s creative hub and is managed through a partnership between Worthing Borough Council and Adur and Worthing Trust

National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage

National Minimum Wage

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) is the minimum pay per hour most workers are entitled to by law. The rate will depend on a worker's age and if they are an apprentice.

The National Living Wage

The Government's National Living Wage was introduced on 1 April 2016 for all working people aged 25 and over, and is currently set at £7.20 per hour. In April 2017 it will go up to £7.50. The current National Minimum Wage for those under the age of 25 still applies.

Key points

• Most workers over school leaving age will be entitled to receive the NMW.
• The NMW /NLW rate is reviewed annually by the Low Pay Commission.
• HM Revenue & Customs (HRMC) can take employers to court for not paying the NMW/NLW.
• There are a number of exemptions to those who receive the NMW/NLW. These do not relate to the size of the business, sector, job or region.
• The compulsory National Living Wage is the national rate set for people aged 25 and over.

Rates of pay

It is important to note that these rates, which came into force 1 October 2016, apply to pay reference periods beginning on or after that date.

The rates from 1 October 2016 are:

• £7.20 per hour - 25 yrs old and over
• £6.95 per hour - 21-24 yrs old
• £5.55 per hour 18-20 yrs old
• £4 per hour - 16-17 yrs old
• £3.40 for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over who are in the first year of apprenticeship.

The rate will then change every April starting April 2017. The rates from 1 April 2017 will be:

• £7.50 per hour - 25 yrs old and over
• £7.05 per hour - 21-24 yrs old
• £5.60 per hour - 18-20 yrs old
• £4.05 per hour - 16-17 yrs old
• £3.50 for apprentices under 19 or 19 or over who are in the first year of apprenticeship.

Click here to read more...