At last... a chance to become more successful and profitable for FREE!

Imagine how much more successful your business would be if 20 of the region’s leading entrepreneurs gave up their time freely to help you to drive it forward. 

Imagine how much easier and quicker it would be to solve problems and capitalise on opportunities if you could tap into the experience and expertise of other business

leaders and professionals across the UK.

And imagine how much more profitable yourbusiness would be if you were supported in all of this by some of the world’s leading business thinkers and writers.

Well, now at last you can do all of this and much, much more.

Let me explain...

We are launching a completely new type of executive forum for business leaders like

you. Called the Business Success Forum (‘BSF’) it makes it possible for you to:

• Meet and network with many of the region’s most successful entrepreneurs
  
• Learn their success secrets – and use them to make your business more
  
• successful
  
• Discover practical solutions to business problems
  
• Build up an encyclopaedia of practical business growth tools and resources, and
  
• Create an action plan for building your business profitably
  
• The BSF is a self-help group for forward thinking business leaders.
  

 So, rather than bringing in expensive outside business gurus, the BSF makes the most of the best consultants in the world for your business.... YOU, and other business leaders just like you.

People like you and me who really understand what business is about. People like you and me who have faced and overcome every challenge in the book. People like you and me who get results and make things happen.

And, most importantly, people who are willing to get together for two hours every month to share ideas and insights to help each other become even more successful.

(Don’t worry, though, you’ll never have to do anything uncomfortable like making a speech – since that’s not how the forum works).

Facilitated by our team, who use their experience and insights to kick-start

proceedings, each BSF workshop will address the issues that you tell us are most important to the success of your business.

It all starts at 5:30pm on Tuesday 28^th June 2016 at the Sphere Business Centre – and will finish by 7.00pm

Tickets for individual Business Success Forums are usually £27 plus VAT.

But for all business users of the Sphere, members of the Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce and clients of Bespoke Accounting they are completely FREE.

I am so convinced that you will find the launch meeting a hugely valuable and enjoyable use of your time that I will also provide FREE guest places for a senior colleague or business associate to come with you.

So if you would like to confirm those places, please contact Jarrad Gilbertson on 08008 620 950 or by email at jarrad@bespoke.accountants.

St Barnabas House and Chestnut Tree House in Sussex are proud and delighted to announce the appointment of Henry Fitzalan-Howard, Earl of Arundel, as the new President of the charity. Lord Henry succeeds the late Lady Sarah Clutton as honorary President of the hospices.        

Lord Henry’s appointment to the role comes at a key time as both hospices are on the brink of exciting developments to introduce new innovations and services, bringing hospice care to many more local children, adults and their families.

Lord Henry, aged 28, is the eldest son and heir of the Duke of Norfolk, England’s premier Duke, and has many local Sussex connections through his family home, Arundel Castle. Dividing his time between work in London and family in Sussex, Lord Henry enjoys skiing, golf and tennis and has a passion for motorsports having been a well-known presence on the Formula Three racing circuit.

There are deep family links with the hospice movement through the late Lady Sarah Clutton and also Lord Henry’s paternal grandmother the late Anne, Duchess of Norfolk CBE.

A leading figure in the early days of the British hospice movement, Anne, Duchess of Norfolk founded the charity Help the Hospices – now Hospice UK – in 1984 and became its first Chairman and then in 1998 its President. In addition, Lord Henry’s maternal step-grandmother is Mrs Kathy Gore OBE DL, chair of Friends of Sussex Hospices and a Patron of Chestnut Tree House.

Hugh Lowson, Chief Executive of St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House said:

“We were delighted when Lord Henry expressed an interest in becoming our President and invited him to visit the hospices to see for himself what wonderful places they are and how much our care means to the adults, children and families we support.

“On Tuesday 23 February, an Extraordinary General Meeting for Trustees and Members of Association was convened to ratify Lord Henry’s appointment as President of St Barnabas Hospices.

“In this honorary role, Lord Henry will continue Lady Sarah’s wonderful legacy to provide the very best hospice care locally for everyone who needs it. He is a remarkable young man with a great insight into the hospice movement and wonderful compassion for adults and children facing all the challenges that living with a life-shortening condition brings and I know that his support will be invaluable to our charity.”

Lord Henry, who will take on the role of President with immediate effect, said:

“I am very much looking forward to taking up the role of President of St Barnabas Hospices. Both hospices are amazing and the care they provide is second to none. I was very humbled when I visited to see how much their care means to the children and adults who use St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House and what a difference this specialist care and expertise makes as they face the most difficult time in their lives. I am honoured to be the charity’s President and I take the responsibilities of the role very seriously and pledge to help this wonderful local charity to the best of my ability.”

Local Councillor Diane Guest (Heene Ward Worthing) is staging a Birthday Picnic party to celebrates the Queen’s 90th birthday on Saturday 11th June.  It is open to all and is being held at Steyne Gardens  in the town’s centre from 12 noon to 3.00pm.  Everyone is invited to bring along their own picnic and enjoy many of the free activities available.

Councillor Guest adds “I thought it was crucial that all the residents of Worthing could join in and celebrate the Queen’s birthday without it being expensive.  I also planned the Party so all the kids who come along are kept busy and active, be it football or hula hooping, for three glorious hours of outside play!

The local business community have been magnificent in sponsoring this event, and their generous  contributions have helped keep costs very low.  Big thanks especially to Worthing Scaffolding, Key2Security, Arrow Taxis, Simba Arts, Circus Seen and More Radio.

I have also arranged for the first 100 people who show up on the 11th, will receive a free Union Jack and will be featured in a group photo to commemorate the day.”

Activities during the day include Circus Seen teaching circus skills, live music, free drum lessons from Simba Arts, a Mad Hatter's Tea Party and free crown making led by Interesting Arts.

For further details on this and other local Queen’s Birthday celebrations please visit the Adur & Worthing Councils website and if you have 'a not for profit event' planned to celebrate the Queen 90th, please email the details to news@adur-worthing.gov.uk and it will be also be added for all to see.  

http://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/queens-90th-birthday-events/

Chamber member, Kelly O'Haire from Ask for the Moon is working with Adur and Worthing Council to help them find corporate supporters for the fantastic UK Street Velodrome event which is once more being held in Beach House Park on July 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. 

Races are held on each day for all abilities from Olympic riders to children's races and maybe even one featuring you!

Last year's inaugural event saw over 10,000 people visit each day and generated huge amounts of TV and National Media coverage as well as massive social media engagement.

This year, flexible packages are being offered so that companies can choose exactly how they want to be involved. Whether it's having a team on the track or simply a trade stall - supporting the Street Velodrome can be done in a way to suit you. Prices start from only £125.

For more information call Kelly on 07814015188 or email kelly@askforthemoon.co.uk  

On Friday 20th May, at a full Mayor Making ceremony in Worthing Town Hall, Councillor Sean McDonald and Councillor Vicky Vaughn were sworn in as the new Mayor and the Mayoress of Worthing.  The new Mayor announced he would be supporting three local charities during his term in office; St. Barnabas Hospice, Coastal West Sussex Mind and Worthing Samaritans.

Councillor Sean McDonald, Mayor of Worthing added "I am deeply honoured to have been selected as Mayor and I will work hard to promote Worthing.  I am also delighted to represent the Northbrook ward and I am really looking forward to what will surely be an exciting year ahead."

Councillor Vicky Vaughan, Mayoress for Worthing said “I have had the privilege of being Deputy Mayoress for the past 12 months and have particularly enjoyed  discovering the hidden gems that Worthing has to offer.  I am thrilled to now be Mayoress and to serve the town for another year.”

  

Biogs:-

Sean McDonald grew up in Hove and completed his education at Northbrook College in Worthing.  He retired  from Sussex Police with 30 years pensionable service in 2012 and in 2014 was successful in being elected to represent Northbrook, the ward in Worthing he has lived in for 30 years.

Vicky Vaughan moved to Worthing from Surrey in 1995 and has been running a successful marketing business, The Brand Surgery, since then.  She was first elected as a Councillor in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014. She is also a keen swimmer and swims 5.5 miles per week.

New Deputy Mayor and Mayoress for Worthing:  Alex Harman and Fran Bull outside Worthing Town Hall on Friday 20th May 2016.

On 23 June the UK will vote to decide whether to remain in or leave the European Union in a once in a generation referendum.

For those already registered, Polling cards are being delivered to local households.

If you are not already registered to vote, you must register by 07 June to have a say in the EU Referendum which takes place in just four weeks time.

To register to vote online takes just a few minutes using a simple form.  All you need to provide is your National Insurance number, your date of birth and addresshttps://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

It is now just a matter of weeks before the Queen celebrates her 90th birthday and events are being held all over the UK on Friday 10th, Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th June as the nation celebrates also.

Adur & Worthing Councils have dedicated a page on their website to promote local events being put on to celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday in June.

They would like all organisations, group and charities to email news@adur-worthing.gov.uk  or by posting details on their Facebook page.  The Councils website can also offer great advice on hosting public events.  All events must be not for profit to be listed.

Please send in your info, with a picture or poster if possible.  

We also invite everyone to check all the details on our website to check what events are going on in the area and to share in the fun by attending one (or two) or all of them!.

Website - http://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/queens-90th-birthday-events/

Facebook -  fb.me/AdurandWorthingCouncils

 

Her Majesty the Queens  90th Birthday Celebration  June 8th  With the celebrated Tony Strudwick Band playing tunes from the reign of her Majesty and our menu celebrating fayre from United Kingdom and the  Commonwealth

MENU A duo Inverawe Scottish and Canadian smoked salmon  .. A duo of Roast leg of British & New Zealand slowly braised shoulder of lamb or Southern Indian Vegetable & Coconut Milk Curry (v)  .. Warm treacle tart and clotted cream  .. A selection of Welsh and Irish cheese .. Freshly Ground Jamaican Coffee Fortnum and Mason Chocolates  £39:00 per person Time of dining 7:30pm Dress: befitting of the occasion! Please pay upon booking Seating will be social unless requested Non refundable

Coast to Capital Region Business Growth Grants

The Coast to Capital Region Business Growth Grants Programme has launched and we are looking for Small and Medium (SME) sized businesses that want to grow and to create new jobs. £2,457,000 is available for this financial year.

The programme is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) from Small and Medium (SME) sized businesses that are looking to expand and to create new jobs but not finding it easy to source the finance required. Grants of up to 40% of a total project cost can be provided to applicants that meet the eligibility criteria, are located within the Coast to Capital Region and can demonstrate how the investment will lead to job creation and growth.

Applications from all sectors are welcome but the programme particularly would like to see applications from companies in the following sectors, which have been identified as key sectors for the Coast to Capital region:

    Advanced Engineering
    Manufacturing
    Environmental Technologies, Goods and Services
    Creative, Digital and IT
    Healthcare, Medical Technology and Life Sciences

The programme is inviting start-ups, existing businesses and social enterprises to apply. The proposed new activity must be additional to existing business activity. Businesses must be able to incur the total project costs in full by 31 March 2017 and the grant may only be used for capital items.

Applications for Expressions of Interest are now open and will remain open until 12 noon on 30 September 2016 or until the amount of funding available is awarded, whichever is the earliest. This programme will only fund new activity and therefore retrospective costs are not eligible. For the purpose of this programme new activity is defined as that happening after the EOI has been approved and this has been communiced to the applicant.

Eligibility Criteria

    Grants of between £15,000 and £100,000 are available for capital expenditure only.
    Businesses must be able to incur the total project costs in full by 31 March 2017. Expenditure incurred means that the goods, works or services have been received by the business within that period and an invoice has been approved for payment.
    Businesses must demonstrate how the grant will lead to new jobs and meet the minimum cost per job figure of £10,000. For every £10,000 provided as a grant we would expect at least one full time job (30+ hours per week) to be created.
    It will be a contractual requirement that the investment and any job created through it must be sustained for at least two years.
    Businesses must show other investment alongside the grant- we will provide up to 40% of the project costs as a grant and you will need to provide the remaining 60%. Other forms of investment (match funding) could include retained profits, loans, equity finance or investment funds.
    Show how the project will have a positive impact on the local economy and how it will benefit local community and the local environment.
    Applications have to show how the jobs created are new and do not merely displace those in similar businesses.
    Applicants must be planning at least one of the following:
        To introduce new goods or services or other innovations
        To exploit leading edge and emerging technology
        To break into new markets, both in the UK and overseas.
    Business must have premises in or be planning to create new jobs in the Coast to Capital areas; West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Lewes, Croydon, Epsom and Ewell, Reigate & Banstead, Mole Valley and Tandridge.

What the grant can be used for

Because the Local Growth Fund is in the form of a capital grant, it may only be used to fund the acquisition, enhancement or creation of capital assets which have a useful life for at least 12 months. Eligible expenditure items include but are not limited to the following:

    Machinery
    ICT equipment and infrastructure
    Building works- refurbishment and remodeling
    Business vehicles
    Furniture and fitting and storage equipment
    Tools and other essential equipment
    Plant and essential building services
    One-off security equipment
    Commercial catering equipment and plant
    Retail fittings and point of sale equipment

Applicants wishing to apply for activities related to Research, Development and Innovation, for example software development, development of new products and prototype development and testing (this list is not exhaustive) should note that these types of projects are likely to involve substantial expenditure that is unable to be classed as capital expenditure and will need to be considered on a case by case basis to gain clarity and agreement on eligibility. Therefore applicants for this type of project should email the Programme Team at ASAP.

Other project costs such as salaries for new staff, rent and rates for new premises that are not included in this list may be met by the applicant’s match funding but will not be eligible for grant funding from this programme.

Applicants may include any eligible expenditure from the date that we receive the EOI. But this will only be funded if the business is successful in securing the grant funding. Businesses incurring expenditure prior to approval do so entirely at their own risk. Funding will not be provided for expenditure incurred on unsuccessful applications.

Contact us:
If you would like any further information please contact the Programme Team at businessgrants@westsussex.gov.uk

How to Apply:

For information on how to apply click here.

Miller Parris Solicitors are delighted to confirm that Vicky Bates will join them as partner as of May 1st 2016.

Vicky will lead the Business Client department and will continue to work on a wide range of commercial matters.

A property solicitor with over 10 years experience working in the City of London, Vicky has a wide range of knowledge and expertise in all aspects of commercial property including investment acquisitions and disposals and lettings and management work.  Vicky is also able to advise on the acquisition and disposal of small businesses and their property related matters.

Vicky said “"I'm really proud to be offered a partnership in a firm which I have found not only has a great reputation for its high quality of advice and service but which is also devoted to providing a high level of client care. It is a very pleasant environment to work in and I hope to use my experience and skills to add value and enhance the firm's ongoing success."

Mike Metters commented “Vicky has already shown herself to be a huge asset to our team with her commercial property experience and friendly and approachable manner and we are delighted that she has accepted a partnership with us.  We look forward to her input in continuing the growth of the business and ensuring that our clients remain our priority in everything we do”.

In addition to dealing with commercial property matters, Vicky also regularly acts on residential property acquisitions and disposals.

 

For further information please contact Vicky at vickybates@millerparris.co.uk