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News & updates 

Regular news and updates from the Chamber, our members, local Councils and other relevant business news will be posted regularly here. 

Don't forget, as a member one of your many benefits is being able to submit your press releases and news for inclusion here as well as on either the members or business news emails and social media. Please submit to lauren@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk 


  • 02 September 2016 12:06 PM | Deleted user

    Worthing Chamber of Commerce BREXIT speech sparks new business relationship

    Tony met Gill over a cuppa at a local business event and the opportunity was perfectly timed.

    Triggered by her speech on the EU referendum at the Worthing Chamber of Commerce AGM, patron Gill Fielding and Tony Hedger struck up a conversation about the impact to local business and their ability to sustain a healthy and vibrant local economy.

    The result is a new business relationship and Gill joining the board of Peer Funding Limited with a focus to generate a national peer to peer marketplace with a local heart, based in Chichester, West Sussex.

    Peer Funding, due to launch in September 2016, is one of only nine peer-to-peer platforms in the UK fully authorised by the FCA.

    The concept of peer to peer business lending emerged out of the last financial crisis as an effective method of directly funding quality credit worthy businesses where high street banks were dragging their heels. Following the Brexit vote, it’s unlikely the banks will speed up their lending practices, so it’s a win-win for investors and business borrowers, where local businesses get the funding required exactly when they need them and investors stand to get a return better than they would in a normal savings account.

    Peer Funding will offer a range of short term to long term business finance products where investors can build a balanced portfolio around their risk to reward appetite, to include:

    Business Loans

    6 - 60 months

    Secured Business Loans

    12 – 60 months

    Selective Invoice Finance

    30 - 120 days

    Selective Debtor Finance

    30 – 120 days

    Property Bridging Loans

    3 - 12 months

    Property Development Loans

    3 - 18months

    Peer Funding is currently running a pre-launch ‘Early Bird’ incentive for interested investors’ and is actively looking for local businesses to support. More information can be found at https://peerfunding.co.uk/

    Commenting – Tony Hedger, Channel and Commercial Director says: “This just shows the power of local networking and the benefits of being a chamber of commerce member”

  • 30 August 2016 2:47 PM | Deleted user

    West Sussex Superfast Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme    

    Businesses in West Sussex are invited to apply to a new scheme that supports the installation of superfast broadband.

    The West Sussex Superfast Broadband Connection Voucher scheme will help improve connectivity for small and medium enterprises that do not have access to superfast broadband and are based in an area not covered by the planned BDUK superfast infrastructure rollout.

    Eligible businesses can apply for a Connection Voucher to provide capital funding of £3,000 or up to 40% of the overall project cost, whichever is lower.  The scheme runs until 1 February 2017 or until all the funding is allocated.

    Funding comes from the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership under their ‘Growth is Digital’ priority project.  The Connection Voucher scheme has been developed by the Rural West Sussex Partnership, South Downs National Park Authority, Gatwick Diamond Initiative and Coastal West Sussex Partnership with the delivery body, West Sussex County Council.

    Coast to Capital Chief Executive, Jonathan Sharrock, says:

    It is essential that our rural businesses have access to superfast and ultrafast broadband using the latest digital technologies. Through our Growth Deal, the West Sussex Superfast Broadband Voucher scheme supports small and medium enterprises with the capital cost of access to superfast connectivity. I urge them to find out more about the scheme.”

    Eligible businesses and broadband infrastructure providers are invited to find out more about West Sussex Superfast Broadband Connection Vouchers at a workshop on the afternoon of Friday 9 September 2016 at the South Downs Centre in Midhurst.

    To find out more and to register interest in attending the workshop, please email grants@c2cbroadbandgrants.org.uk

    More information, including guidance notes and an application form, can be found at http://www.coast2capital.org.uk/helping-business-growth/grant-funding

  • 23 August 2016 9:24 AM | Deleted user

    Asda to sell loss-making photo division

    Asda to sell loss-making photo division

    Supermarket giant Asda has agreed to sell its loss-making photo division to a listed group in a deal worth up to £6m.

    Photo-Me is to buy the division which consists of 191 photo centres, as well as 172 self-service kiosk sites located in Asda stores.

    These businesses will be managed by Photo-Me under a ten-year concession.

    As part of the acquisition the employees of the photo division will transfer across to the group.

    Serge Crasnianski, chief executive of Photo-Me, said: "This is an interesting opportunity to significantly expand our UK business in a strong set of locations and increase our market share in the digital photo printing market, which we believe has growth potential in the digital age.

    "Photo-Me is the leader in its field with a wide range of attractive and innovative products which we plan to introduce into the Asda stores as soon as possible, and we believe will improve the level of trading and overall performance over the next two years and beyond."

    The consideration for the photo division is £3.35m, subject to downward adjustment in certain circumstances.

    Photo-Me has also agreed to buy the inventory available at each photo centre at the date of completion, as well as central consignment stock, estimated at £2m.

    The total consideration to be paid is currently estimated at £5.35m and is capped at a maximum of £6m.

    In the calendar year 2015, the photo division generated unaudited sales of circa £19.3m and made an unaudited loss of £3.4m. 

    Click here to read more on this article from Insider Media Limited

  • 23 August 2016 9:19 AM | Deleted user

    £20,000 of new outdoor gym equipment for Victoria Park, Worthing

    Councillor Clive Roberts, Executive Member for Environment Worthing Borough Council visited newly installed outdoor gym equipment in Victoria Park Worthing yesterday (Thurs 18th August).  

    He adds "It is great to see this equipment in place and our continued investment in outdoor gym equipment being enjoyed by our residents.  I have seen lots of young children all over it this afternoon, and I have been just been told that lots of our more elderly residents from the nearby Melrose Care Home regularly use this outdoor gym equipment too.  Just what we wanted.  

    The many benefits of encouraging greater levels  of fitness, healthier lifestyle choices and regular active exercise are all very well documented and the Council continue to invest in making this equipment available as widely as possible to encourage healthy, active and fun pursuits in our parks."  



  • 19 August 2016 2:18 PM | Deleted user

    Shoreham Remembers - Marking the Minute – Monday 22nd August

    Monday 22nd August marks the first anniversary of the tragic events at the Shoreham Air Show 2015.   

    As previously reported, Adur District and Worthing Borough Councils will fall silent at 1.22pm – the exact moment in 2015 when the tragedy started to unfold.

    In Shoreham the bells of St Mary da Haura will begin to peel at 1.20pm and fall silent at 1.22pm. At 1.23pm, there will be 11 individual rings symbolising the 11 men who lost their lives.
    In Worthing, maroons will be set off from the beach to signal the start and finish of the minute.

    Members, officers and the community will gather outside of the Shoreham Centre, Pond Road, and Worthing Town Hall, Chapel Road, to share the minute of silence together, remembering not only those who lost their lives, but also the heroic actions of the emergency services at the scene and the community in the days, weeks and months which followed.

    Flags on Adur District and Worthing Borough Council buildings will be flown at half mast for the day.

    West Sussex County Council will mark the minute’s silence across all of its offices and fire stations, and flags will be flown at half-mast at council buildings.

    Shoreham Remembers Website                                      http://shorehamremembers.org/

    Just Giving Page  page https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/sussexgiving/shorehamairfund


  • 19 August 2016 9:02 AM | Deleted user

    Worthing Sundowners

    Family Friendly Street Food and Live Music

    For those with a sweet tooth, Charlene's Chocolate Factory were there with chocolatey treats.Sundowners was back in its new home of Beach House Grounds on Friday 12th August with some great live bands, singers and fun for the kids... as well as our usual amazing street food, from the likes of Salsa Viva, Gone Global and more.  

    Sundowners will be on again in September (Friday 9th) and don't forget SunUppers - its sister event for street food breakfasts, with live acoustic jazz - will be held on Sunday 28th August and (as part of the Worthing Food Festival) on Sunday 25th September.

    To keep up to date on what's what and who's who, visit the Sundowners Worthing Facebook page -  here

  • 10 August 2016 3:08 PM | Deleted user


  • 09 August 2016 1:52 PM | Deleted user

    METALL launches with a sell-out first event


    Over 30 manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses, who between them employ over 5,000 skilled people within the Gatwick Diamond, have helped launch a new association for the region’s manufacturing, engineering and technology industries. 

    The companies attended the first meeting of METALL (Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology Alliance) at Roffey Park, Horsham, to hear from experts in innovation. The event was hosted by Sussex and Gatwick-based chartered accountants, Carpenter Box, together with fellow sponsors asb law and recruitment agency, CBSbutler.

    Keynote speakers Dr Robert Pearson of Cobham Antennas and Dr Zoe Webster of Innovate UK, each did a fantastic job of explaining what innovation looks like, how it can be achieved and how it can be funded.

    The meeting discussed how ‘passion’ to solve a problem and provide a solution, when harnessed effectively can become a massive and unstoppable force. They also spoke about the power of collaboration among smaller businesses, who have the agility to develop big ideas quicker than their larger counterparts. Sources of funding for innovative ideas were also discussed, with the meeting hearing about the various signposting services available for grant funding, which can sometimes make the difference between an idea that doesn’t progress and one that does.

    Chris Coopey, Head of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Group at Carpenter Box, commented: “I was delighted with the response to this first event. The audience were keen to listen to our speakers as well as share their own thoughts and ideas with the group. Inevitably, the possible effects and challenges of Brexit were also discussed at the meeting, but the consensus was that it was far too early to predict how the sector would be affected. There were concerns about currency fluctuation, possible trade tariffs and the difficulty of finding skilled and motivated staff if restrictions on recruitment from overseas becomes a reality, but we will have to wait to see what the outcome will be. The reality is that we will have to trade our way out of whatever problems Brexit creates and in relation to that, we hope METALL can have a really positive effect.”

    METALL is a forum for manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses based in Sussex and Surrey. It aims to provide a networking opportunity for these businesses and to signpost growth opportunities, whilst allowing them to discuss issues affecting their business. Over time, a strong cohort of members will build relationships between businesses, education, Local Enterprise Partnerships and local government to help business grow in efficiency and profitability.

    www.metall.org.uk


  • 03 August 2016 4:45 PM | Deleted user

    Northbrook College Apprenticeship Levy Newsletter - Aug

    Business Solutions Apprenticeship Levy Newsletter

    Movers & Shakers

    • Skills Funding Agency (responsible for apprentices) moves to Department of Education (DFE) from Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)
    • Rt Hon Justine Greening MP is the new Secretary of State for Education
    • Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP — Minister for FE, Skills & Apprenticeships within his portfolio as a Minister of State at the DFE (yet to be confirmed)  

    Developments this Month

    • Government intend to proceed with apprenticeship reforms post EU referendum — but awaiting new time frames
    • Apprenticeship Funding Guidance for April 2017 delayed again — Due June 16, promised July 16 — expected September 16  

    Links to Follow

    Previous Apprenticeship Levy Newsletters


  • 28 July 2016 2:23 PM | Deleted user

     Creative Cultural Partnership update    and networking - 28 July

    Please come along to St Paul's on Thursday 28th July at 7pm to hear the update on the Cultural Strategy and the initial plans of the Cultural Partnership. Great chance to share your own projects and network with like-minded CREATIVES.


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