Thursday, 10 November 2016 from 17:00 to 20:30 (GMT)

Worthing Assembly Hall
Stoke Abbott Road BN11 1HQ Worthing
United Kingdom
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The main theme of this year’s conference is local sustainable transport and will explore what we can do together in the community to improve things on a very local level to achieve better social, economic and environmental sustainability in our transport networks. In particular we plan to look at cycling, walking and public transport as an alternative to the car and find out what the barriers are to choosing alternative means of transport. We’ll also look at the future of local transport and find where the opportunities lie. Travel doesn’t need to be so expensive, frustrating,  time consuming or confusing so come along and work with other partners to try and make some waves, and improve local transport and travel for everyone in and around Adur and Worthing.

Click here to book the conference. 

Upcoming Gender Pay Gap regulation 

Have your input...

Acas helps HR professionals and managers keep up-to-date with employment law and how to get the best from staff through good workplace practices.

Acas are requesting your help in developing advice and guidance on Gender Pay Reporting

The Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Section 78 Regulations are expected to come into force in April 2017. These regulations will require employers in Great Britain with 250 or more employees, to calculate their gender pay gap.

Acas are currently producing new guidance on gender pay gap reporting and we are interested in getting your views. We are also interested in finding out what you already know about the upcoming regulations. Your feedback will help us create better guidance and resources which will help employers prepare for the introduction of this new legislation.

Acas have produced a short survey that we would appreciate you spending a few minutes filling in.

View the survey here

Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Newsletter - October 2016

Construction work on the Rampion project is now well underway and inside this newsletter you will find updates, including news about the progress of the onshore and offshore works, new apprentices and community support activities.

Click here to download Rampion Offshore Wind October Newsletter

Latest News from Gatwick

Gatwick have submitted new evidence to all members of Cabinet sub-Committee on airports.  Momentum appears to be building for a possible Government announcement on

 the runway this month.  As the sub-Committee starts to consider where to expand aviation capacity in the South East, Gatwick’s new report contains substantial additional analysis – including information obtained under FOI request – that supersedes the now discredited Airports Commission Final Report.  Once corrected, analysis shows that the benefits of Gatwick expansion exceed those of either Heathrow options.  The second runway is low risk and delivery can be guaranteed quickly – by 2025.  Read More 

New route to Moscow to start from Gatwick Airport - Aeroflot, the national flag carrier of Russia launches a daily service to Sheremetyevo from London Gatwick on 15 November 2016.  Another great route launched as one of the 20 new long-haul routes from Gatwick Airport this year. Read More

Gatwick recognised for positive biodiversity impact - Gatwick Airport has scooped two prestigious awards for its commitment to protecting and enhancing the natural biodiversity of the local greenspace surrounding the airport.  The airport has retained its Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark Award (an independent verification of Gatwick’s biodiversity programme) for the third year running and, for the first time, been awarded a CIRIA Big Biodiversity Award.  Gatwick’s biodiversity greenspace includes 75 hectares of thriving woodlands, grasslands and wetlands, inhabited by hundreds of species of mammals, insects and bees, many of which are rare or protected, now flourishing as a result of Gatwick’s biodiversity programme. Gatwick’s biodiversity team works collaboratively with a wide range of organisations and external experts to ensure it follows best practice while working closely with conservation organisations and local experts, ably assisted by an active programme of volunteers and community groups. Read More

Spofforths Kreston Reeves Extends October Finance Focus Seminars 

Further seminars provided on recent business, tax and wealth developments for company directors and financial controllers

Accountants and financial advisers Kreston Reeves has extended its programme of popular Finance Focus updates, with six seminars taking place across the South East during the month of October.

This enlarged event programme comes in light of the recent merger between Kreston Reeves and Spofforths, creating one of the largest accounting and financial advisory firms in London and the South East.

Over its 20-year history, Finance Focus has become well-established within the business community as a valuable source of information to help businesses grow and plan for the future.

Aimed at company directors, business owners and financial controllers, the 2016 season of Finance Focus seminars will take place between 4^th and 20^th October with each half-day session covering a range of topics. 2016 topics include tax efficient profit extraction, updates on VAT and financial reporting changes, raising business finance and pension developments all of which will be referenced to the likely impact of Brexit on SME businesses.

Richard Spofforth, Partner, comments, "Kreston Reeves has been running Finance Focus successfully across Kent, London and Sussex for two decades and feedback gathered during this time shows how much those attending value the expertise and experience shared by our speakers. We very much look forward to another series of well-attended events as the uncertain economic climate continues to grow."

If you are interested in attending a Finance Focus seminar, please visit http://www.krestonreeves.com/news-and-events/type/events or contact Rachel Pritchard at events@krestonreeves.com or call +44 (0)330 124 1399.

THL Offering FREE 1 hour Tax Surgeries

Did you know that over 80 new businesses are starting up every hour in 2016? It's a mind-boggling fact which means a much greater percentage of the population is going to be dealing with their own taxation. 

Tax is a huge subject and one that can be both complex and confusing. This is why we're offering free 1 hour individual tax surgery appointments this Autumn. Our tax expert, Hayley Sengebusch, will go through your issues and problems and see how we can help.

Appointments are available on 20 October and 4 November and each one will be completely confidential and last for an hour.  It's all part of our #talktoTHL service, just call 01903 300230 or email info@thlaccountancy.co.uk today.

Picture caption: Hayley Sengebusch from THL will be on hand to deal with all your tax issues at THL’s free tax surgery appointments.

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

Click here to download the Digital Connectivity Grant Information Sheet

Triple success for Adur & Worthing at planning awards 

Last night there was huge success for Adur & Worthing Councils at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) South East Awards for Planning Excellence.

The local authorities on the West Sussex coastline took home 3 awards, including the Overall Regional Winner for Meadow Road in Worthing.

The project, in partnership with Worthing Homes, replaced 48 sub-standard 1950’s bedsit flats with new high quality social housing. The scheme received the award for Planning Excellence in Housing Delivery, before being named Overall Regional Winner.

Speaking after the event, Cllr Vicky Vaughan, Vice Chair of Worthing Borough Council’s Planning Committee, commented:

“It's fantastic to see Meadow Road gain recognition like this, as it's providing housing for some of the most vulnerable people in our community. The project demonstrated an excellent working relationship between the Council and local housing association.

“It's also a really good example of how consultations with residents can lead to the co-creation of a sustainable design, that the community can be proud of. We would like to encourage as many people as possible to get involved with consultations. As this scheme has proved, together we can reach some really innovative outcomes and achievements."

Cllr Kevin Jenkins, Chair of Worthing Borough Council’s Planning Committee, also added:

“We’re delighted that planning in Worthing is getting this recognition. To also be awarded as Overall Regional Winner too is not only a great achievement for this scheme, but also for our commitment to delivering a high standard of both social housing and private housing, which is strengthening our local communities.”

Among the other winning developments was The American Express Elite Football Performance Centre, Brighton & Hove Albion’s state of the art training ground in Lancing. 

With a project team led by DMH Stallard, the centre took home the honour for Excellence in Planning for Community and Wellbeing. 

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Cllr Brian Boggis, Executive Member for Regeneration at Adur District Council, said:

“This award demonstrates that by working together, the Council’s planning team and the developers have been able to deliver superb facilities that are enhancing our community. It’s provided a unique opportunity for Lancing not only to make a positive impact on the community’s health and wellbeing , but to also offer regenerative benefits to the local economy.”

METALL #2 ‘takes innovation to market’

Following the successful launch of the new Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology Alliance (METALL) in July, the latest event, METALL #2 also received a very good response from local manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses. They joined hosts Gatwick and South Coast based accountants and tax advisers Carpenter Box, solicitors asb law and recruitment agency CBSbutler for the event at the Roffey Park Institute near Horsham.

The event gave a fascinating insight into the ways in which two very different local innovative manufacturing businesses have brought new products to market, as the attendees heard from Bruce Girvan of Horsham-based Ceres Power and Kevin Brown of Crawley-based Elekta.

Elekta and Ceres Power may be in very different fields, but both demonstrated how innovation – the seed of an idea – could be developed from conception to market. With Elekta, the case study revolved around how the MR-linac - a brand new concept in radio-therapy was developed and commissioned, and with Ceres Power, how their new fuel cell technology has come to market and is set to revolutionise perceptions around home power generation.

Elekta, with a team of around 900 at their expanding Manor Royal site in Crawley, is the world’s second largest supplier of radio-therapy equipment. Ceres Power is a relatively new company and  much smaller, but has already developed a production line capable of delivering around 8 million of their fuel cells a year.

METALL #2 also heard from Professor Seamus Higson, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Chichester. Seamus updated METALL attendees on the new Engineering and Digital Technology Park on the university's Bognor Regis Campus, where construction of a landmark building is about to commence which will open in 2018.

METALL facilitator Chris Coopey, ex-engineer and Head of the Manufacturing Group at Carpenter Box, explained: “I am delighted to report that the first two meetings of METALL have proved to be very popular with many manufacturing and engineering businesses. The audiences have been keen to listen to our speakers as well as share their own thoughts and ideas with the group. Both Bruce and Kevin provided a number of thought-provoking ideas that the audience will hopefully be able to adapt for their own businesses. It was also great news to hear from Seamus that the new Technology Park is looking to deliver 500 new science, technology, engineering and mathematics students per annum in Bognor Regis by 2021 – this is just what the sector needs!”

(Image of Bruce Girvan (left) of Ceres Power and Kevin Brown from Elekta)

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.”