University of Chichester recognised for outstanding student retention

THE University of Chichester has for the second time in four years gained national recognition for its outstanding achievement in student retention.

Chichester has been named as the ‘University of the Year for Student Retention’ for 2017 by the Good University Guide from The Times and Sunday Times newspapers.

The award is based on the drop-out rates of undergraduates against a predicted annual figure.

Good University Guide editor Alastair McCall said that supporting students through their enrolment to graduation is an underestimated quality but one which the award specifically recognises.

He added: “Students who drop out represent not only a waste of public money but, more importantly, each case can represent a personal disaster for those involved.

“Chichester provides an environment where students thrive and prosper, where their skills are encouraged and honed, and where, equally importantly, they have a good time in fine surroundings, enjoying the full support of the University’s excellent staff.”

The University of the Year award was presented to Chichester for having the largest gap between its expected drop-out rate - around 12 per cent - and its actual figure of 5.7 per cent.

It concludes a successful 12 months for the institution which was recently rated as one of the best in the UK for teaching satisfaction by the Times Higher Education.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Clive Behagg said that winning the accolade twice in four years is extremely gratifying and demonstrates the University’s commitment to creating a student-centred experience in a community atmosphere.

He added: “This is testimony to the work that our entire staff put in day after day to support our wonderful students - many of whom tell me they feel part of the Chichester community from the very first day they arrive.

“This award is a significant step towards achieving our vision that - by 2020 - we will be internationally-recognised as a beacon of good practice for high-quality, student-centred higher education within a supportive community of learning.”

The University has recently announced significant investment into its Chichester and Bognor Regis campuses which includes the development of a multimillion-pound Engineering and Digital Technology Park to provide an additional 30 degree courses.

Dr Mark Mason, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience) at the institution, said that students’ experience of university is now more important than ever before.

He added: “The new structure for university fees means that students are rightly concerned about value for money and access to high quality facilities – we have invested substantially in our campuses in recent years and I believe this partly explains our success.

“But the main reason for our success is in the caring learning community created by our staff.

“This combination of excellent teaching informed by research and wonderful support by staff gives our students a real sense of belonging and encourages them to participate, grow in confidence, and exceed their expectations regarding what they can achieve.”

To find out more about how the University of Chichester provides an inclusive and enriching experience of higher education for its students go to www.chi.ac.uk/about-us.

Alternatively for more about the University’s student retention ranking within the Good University Guide go to www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/gug.

A Demonstration of Xero Cloud Accounting System 

Join Bespoke Accounting Wednesday 14th December 2016 at 10.00 am for a live demonstration of how Xero can help your business. This is a Free webinar. 

Xero is an amazing way to streamline your financial systems. But this is only the start: there's a whole marketplace of Xero Apps providing cloud tools, business solutions and ways to tailor your system to the needs of your business.

Work in the cloud - With Xero you work in the cloud, from any device. So you're not tied to the office, or your laptop. Check your balance from your smartphone, send an invoice from your tablet or pull up your key numbers while sat in the local café.

Real time numbers - You see your business information in real time with Xero. So your figures are always current, with your bank account balances and transactions pulled in through a direct feed.

Clear reporting and business dashboard - Xero's dashboard gives you a great view of your cash flow, your outstanding invoices and any bills you need to pay. It's simple, clear and keeps you on top of those numbers.

Online invoicing and payment - Forget about paper invoices and use Xero's online invoicing to email bills straight to your customers. And get paid online too through payment gateways such as PayPal.

Bob Stebbings and Corinne Marsh from Bespoke Accounting will demonstrate what Xero can do for your business in this live webinar.

Click here to book your place

Gatwick Airport Interim Results: Airport sets new world records and announces biggest-ever annual development investment of £250m 

Gatwick Airport results for the six months ending 30 September 2016 

Gatwick Airport today reinforced the vital role it plays in the local, regional and national economy as it announced its biggest-ever annual investment in development projects at the airport.

The investment of £250 million for the forthcoming financial year is part of the airport’s £1.2 billion transformative capital investment plan to be spent over five years on projects including:

Today’s results show that Gatwick continues to further increase its lead as the World’s busiest single-runway airport, with passenger numbers +6.3% on last year.

Long-haul routes grew 21%, versus the same six months last year, with North Atlantic routes +40% on the previous year, as WestJet’s new routes to Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, St John’s started. Meanwhile, Norwegian started a new route Oakland San Francisco which contributed to a more than doubling of their passengers from Gatwick.

Gatwick’s vital role within the UK economy was demonstrated by growth on domestic routes of +7%, as passengers took advantage of the regional services available from the London airport best connected to the rest of the UK.

Already the second half of this financial year has seen new connections to business destinations including Hong Kong and Moscow start. While some of the routes already announced for upcoming months include Thomas Cook’s route to Cape Town and Tianjin Airlines’ service to Xian, China, the UK’s only direct route to the home of the Terracotta Army.

Stewart Wingate, CEO of Gatwick Airport, said:

“Gatwick represents the changing face of aviation – demonstrated by today’s results. We continue to grow strongly breaking records as passengers respond to the variety on offer at the airport, low-cost, charter airlines and full services airlines. All now flying more passengers on more flights to more global destinations than ever.

“Our long-haul routes have grown 21% with the very latest of these British Airways’ new route to Cape Town starting today. Meanwhile, next summer Gatwick will start the UK’s only direct route to Xi’an China – home of the Terracotta Army.

“This year destinations in China, Peru, Canada, Costa Rica, Nigeria, as well as the US have been added to the airport’s line-up of long-haul routes whilst The Airport Council International have recognised that Gatwick is one of the fastest growing airports in Europe.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates Gatwick’s ongoing commitment to our development and growth, maintaining our vital role within the UK economy as we continue to offer the UK Government a credible and deliverable option for runway expansion.”

Unprecedented growth

New airlines and routes

-       WestJet to Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and St John’s (28 weekly flights)

-       Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong

-       Norwegian to Oakland San Francisco

-       Norwegian to Las Vegas

-       Tianjin Airlines to Xi’an, providing the UK’s only direct route to the city home of the Terracotta Army

-       British Airways to Oakland San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale

-       Thomas Cook to Cape Town

Airline Moves

Community Works building on the great work of our Voluntary & Community Sector Development in Adur and Worthing

A strong and vibrant community voluntary sector is very important to Adur and Worthing Councils.  Our places are fortunate to have a great mix of voluntary and community organisations who provide an important service, from befriending and working with older residents, young people, families, those with disabilities, refugees, and so much more.

Following a tendering process earlier in the year, Adur & Worthing Councils awarded a new contract to Community Works to provide sector leadership, networking and development support for the Community and Voluntary Sector locally.  This is jointly funded by West Sussex County Council.

Community Works will build on the good work in place and are currently developing a number of new relationships with the voluntary and statutory sectors and local businesses.  Central to their offer will be the development of groups around key issues (starting with health, Wellbeing, and young people and families) and guidance and support for local groups to help them grow and thrive to meet the needs and wants of local communities.

Community Works officially started in July 2016 and have since been busy in meeting local groups and recruiting key staff.

Previously, both Voluntary Action Worthing and Adur Voluntary Action delivered this service on behalf of the Councils and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their efforts over the years.

Community Works Chief Executive, Sally Polanski adds, “We are delighted to have this opportunity to work with the local community groups and voluntary organisations to support them in developing their plans and achieving their goals.

We encourage anyone to get in touch to tell us what support they need; we will aim to shape our services in response.   There is already a wealth of information from the consultation the Council’s undertook last year on the sector’s support needs which we are using to inform our setup and priorities. To stay in touch and find more about what’s on offer, groups are invited to sign up to our newsletter where all our future activities will be advertised”

Councillor David Simmons Adur District Council Executive Member for Wellbeing adds “I am pleased to say that Community Works have hit the ground running and are already providing essential support to some of our communities. I look forward to working alongside them as a local Councillor in developing a vibrant, inclusive and effective community across Adur.”

Councillor Val Turner Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Wellbeing says  “I look forward to working closely with Community Works as the role of the voluntary and community sector is vital for Worthing and our role in helping communities to flourish.  We have made great efforts over the last few years to ensure that our support for the sector is strong and having a top class group to continue this work really matters.” 

Worthing is turning the tide on sustainable fishing with a successful grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund 

This month We Are Food Pioneers CIC, a local social food enterprise and part of the Worthing Borough Council led Sustainable Fish Group, has been awarded funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to preserve our town’s unique fishing heritage.  

Over the next two years, “The last fisherman standing” project will uncover the history of fishing in Worthing, organise and run boat building and net mending workshops as well as a series of talks, fish cookery courses and work with different communities across our town to bring fisheries back to our seaside. An outreach programme by Creative Waves CIC will also take the maritime theme to a group of Worthing schools, with net making sessions and paper mache fish on the menu from next year.

Anne Weinhold, Director of We Are Food Pioneers CIC, said: “I am delighted with the outcome of the Heritage Lottery Fund application and very much look forward to bringing Worthing’s rich fisheries heritage and small scale sustainable fishing back to the heart of our town. As the last full time fishermen have now left Worthing’s beach it is more urgent than ever to preserve and share our town’s fishing history. To enable a future for our fishermen, we also need to reconnect locals with a community that has one of the most dangerous but potentially also most rewarding livelihoods in the country.”

Cllr Bryan Turner, Executive Member for Regeneration at Worthing Borough Council, said:

“It’s fantastic that funding has been attracted to preserve an industry that has a long heritage in our community. Worthing is one of the few towns with a rich maritime history despite not having a harbour. It’s important for generations to come that we continue to teach these traditions.”

The project is now looking for volunteers keen to find out more about the local fishing history, help with the running of events, learn how to cook with fish and support with our cookery sessions. All volunteers will be trained up in the relevant skills needed for each of these tasks, and outings to other towns nearby with a rich fishing heritage will be part of the volunteers’ involvement in the project.

If you want to be part of planting small scale fishing firmly in the Worthing of today and register your interest to volunteer please contact info@foodpioneers.org.uk

Thanks go to the Heritage Lottery Fund for providing the funding for this exciting project, and to Worthing Borough Council’s Sustainable Fish Group for their continued advice and involvement. Special thanks go to the Proto Restaurant Group and Andy Sparsis for their fantastic support from the beginning of Catchbox in Worthing to where we are with the project today.

Beyond the Heritage Lottery Fund project “The last fisherman standing”, the Sustainable Fish Group will also be looking to bid for additional funds in the future to improve the fishing infrastructure along the coastline.

New property investment website launches

With their unique locations nestled between the iconic Sussex coastline and picturesque South Downs National Park, Adur and Worthing are becoming increasingly popular places to live, work and visit.

With demand for housing and employment space at an all time high, Adur & Worthing Councils have launched a new website to showcase the potential sites that could be redeveloped to meet this growing need.

InvestAW offers the latest information and prospects of sites such as Teville Gate multi-storey car park, Union Place which used to home Worthing’s Police station, and the former Council offices in Adur.

With land supply restricted by the coast and national park, vacant brownfield sites like these provide key opportunities to create new developments in central locations, not only to offer housing and office space, but to provide new retail and leisure facilities in these growing towns.

Cllr Bryan Turner, Executive Member for Regeneration at Worthing Borough Council, commented:

“Worthing shares the same challenges that many coastal towns face. But uniquely we have some major opportunities within our borough to invest into the expanding retail and leisure offer for residents and visitors, whilst providing new town centre living to meet the growing housing need.”

Cllr Brian Boggis, Executive Member for Regeneration at Adur District Council, added:

“Adur has a rich maritime history, with the port in Shoreham and River Adur running through the heart of our district. Following the evolution of industries related to this coastal nature, Adur is now attracting businesses of all varieties, from small startups to nationwide brands. Adur has not only become a place popular to work, but an increasing housing need indicates it’s a place where people also wish to live.”

To find out more about Adur and Worthing, plus keeping up to date with latest development news and opportunities, visit www.investAW.co.uk.

Royal Marines Band to Raise the Roof at Worthing’s Assembly Hall!

The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines (Collingwood) will be in concert in Worthing’s Assembly Hall on 2 December, to raise funds for the maritime welfare charity Seafarers UK.

Under the direction of Major Jon Ridley, the band will perform popular tunes, Christmas carols and stirring drum, bugle and trumpet arrangements.

Proceeds from the concert will go to Seafarers UK, to support seafarers in need and their families across the Merchant Navy, Fishing Fleets, Royal Navy and Royal Marines. Formed in 1917 as King George’s Fund for Sailors, the charity will next year be celebrating its centenary.

Tickets for the concert in Worthing’s Assembly Hall at 7.30pm on Friday 2 December are available from the Box Office, phone 01903 206206, website http://worthingtheatres.co.uk/band-of-hm-royal-marines/

Free parking in Worthing Town Centre this Christmas!

Worthing Borough Council is kicking off the festive season by announcing free parking over the Christmas and New Year period.

Following last year’s success, free parking provision will be made available at the Councils three multi storey car parks across the town, providing residents and visitors a great opportunity to ice skate, visit Panto, enjoy one of our two cinemas, eat out in one the town’s many varied restaurants or shop at the January sales.

All three multi-story car parks; Buckingham Road, Grafton and High Street, will be free on;

Christmas Eve - Saturday 24th December - after 6pm

Christmas Day - Sunday 25th December - all day

Boxing Day - Monday 26th December - all day

New Year's Eve - Saturday 31st December - after 6pm

New Year's Day - Sunday 1st January - all day

Councillor Clive Roberts, Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Environment adds “Worthing is one of the most vibrant, diverse and exciting towns in West Sussex and no more so than at this time of year.  We hope people will make the most of visiting Worthing and our centrally located car parks.

Good, safe and clean parking facilities are essential to the success of any local economy and being able to provide this facility for free over a festive period, is even better.”

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas markets!

Shopfronts are being decorated, lights installed in town centres and festive adverts appearing on our screens; Christmas is well and truly on its way.

With less than 5 weeks left until the holidays, the time for Christmas shopping has fast approached and with that, market season has begun in Adur!

Right up until Christmas weekend there are a range of festive markets taking place across the district, beginning in Shoreham next weekend. From 25th to 27th November, the popular Shoreham Artisans Market will getting in the festive spirit alongside an exciting line up of activities.

On the Friday evening, Shoreham will be open for late night shopping whilst East Street is buzzing with fairground rides and entertainment until 8pm. A Christmas market will also take over Coronation Green under a marquee, with live music from 5.30pm.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without carol singers, and you will find plenty of festive cheer and hymns in East Street on the Saturday morning, whilst the market on Coronation Green will stay open throughout the weekend.

Elsewhere in Adur, the Southwick Christmas Festival will take place on 3rd December with a host of stalls offering the best local Sussex produce - the chance to buy unique Christmas gifts that have been made closer to home.

Later in the month Lancing will host its own Christmas Festival. On 17th December, the usual Village Market will transform Littlecroft Car Park into a festive festival.

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter feeds for the latest info, or you can find the full market listings by visiting www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/markets.