I just wanted to thank you for your response to our request for member input on the proposed Aquarena site development.

Unfortunately due to the small divided response received, the chamber Executive determined that we could not give a definitive response, for or against , to the planning application  in order to be  truly  representative of our membership.

Therefore we will not be responding at the meeting this evening at the Assembly Hall at 6.30pm.

We do appreciate your input.

#StartUpTuesday - Develop and Plan

You have researched your market, now is time to develop and plan......

Develop and change your idea based on what you’ve found out about your customers’ needs before investing. Deal with any problems you’ve found with your product or service, including the way you’re planning to make and sell it.
Go back to your customers and test again.
Keep doing this until you’re confident that they’ll be willing to pay what you’re asking, and that you’re meeting their needs.
If there’s no real demand for your idea, think about changing it completely. Is there another product, service or market that uses your skills and resources in a different way?

Write a business plan

A business plan is a good way to sum up:
the customer need you’re aiming to meet
how your business will meet that need while making a profit
It should clearly show the results of your customer research, and that you’re able to explain how you can turn your idea into a viable business before you invest lots of time and money.
Your plan can also be a very helpful tool to convince other people of the value of your business. This includes potential partners and sources of funding.
Watch a video on understanding cash flow.

Read More here: https://www.gov.uk/starting-up-a-business/develop-and-plan

See you next Tuesday for another #StartUpTuesday

Worthing & Adur Chamber are excited to announce the launch of a new Business Hub and we need your help with a name.

This new and exciting project is supported by Adur & Worthing Council and Northbrook College and will be located on the Northbrook College campus in Broadwater.

We need your suggestions .... what should we call the Business Hub?

What is a Business Hub?

• Mixed office space, a combination of dedicated offices, open plan hot desking and a meeting room

• Business support and training
  
• Modern hi-tech premises
• Training room facilities

The name needs to capture the essence of the above. To boost your creativity there is a prize of a bottle of Champagne!

Please email your suggestions to info@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk by Wednesday 23rd September

Time is running out - make sure you get your nominations in for the Adur & Worthing Business Awards 2015

Time to embrace the success of our businesses
 
Don't miss this years deadline
entries close on Wednesday 23rd September

Held at the Worthing Pavilion Theatre on Friday November 13th, this year’s awards ceremony promises to be one of celebration for all involved, as businesses successfully complete their ride on the crest of the economic wave.

Once again, Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce members will be out in force with many hoping to receive awards before automatically going straight into the running for the Southern Business Awards in 2016. Judging will be undertaken by an independent panel of judges representing the business community.

Categories this year include:

•     Overall Business of the Year
•     Start-Up
•     Small Business
•     Medium Business (10 to 50)
•     Manufacturing & Construction
•     Business Personality
•     Lifetime Achievement
•     Outstanding Contribution to the Community
•     Young Achiever
•     Large Business (50+)
•     Green Business
•     Innovation
•     Retailer
•     Customer Service
•     Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure
•     Training & Development
•     Place to Eat and/or Drink

If you would like to experience winning an award and the benefits it can have on your business, or if you believe another business deserves this success then log on to www.jpsouthevents.co.uk and fill in a nomination form online. And remember this year you can only enter 3 categories so choose carefully and submit an entry for each one!!

These are our top tips to consider when entering:

• Read the category criteria you are entering
• Explain why you believe you should be awarded the title of the category you are entering.
• Explain what your company does and what it has achieved overall.
• Describe: Your company objectives, How you achieved them, The problems you encountered, How you tackled these problems
• Explain your core values and describe how these are reflected in your current and future vision for your business.
• Can you demonstrate improvements in the quantity or quality of services offered during the last 12 months?
• How does your business add value to the local community?
• Any major contracts recently obtained, can you demonstrate evidence of turnover, growth, profit etc
• Supporting Evidence and testimonials from Customers and suppliers, make it known you have been nominated and would appreciate your customers support. (maybe nominate them as well)

Download our tips for entering here

Leading businesses call on University expertise to upskill employees

A trio of leading West Sussex employers have called on the expertise of the University of Chichester’s Business School to identify which areas of their businesses require additional skills.

The companies, URT Ltd and Heirlooms-Linens Ltd both from Bognor Regis and ADF Milking based in Slindon, joined together for a pioneering programme at the University’s Business School’s Bognor Regis campus aimed at upskilling their employees.

URT, ADF and Heirlooms worked with the Business School to identify their main skills and development priorities and highlighted Operations Management as one key area. 

The programme, which was delivered over four days was tailored to each of the employers, who were keen to ensure their employees could react to changing markets at home and abroad and maintain their long-term competitive position.

Andrew Adams, Business Development Manager at the University’s Business School said:

 ” Firstly we work closely with you and your team to identify what is needed and how this fits with your organisation’s goals.

“Next comes how best this can be delivered: on-site, at the University, run over several months, or as an intense course, with or without a qualification”

“Companies from different sectors working together can stimulate new ideas, identify different approaches and ways of working which can boost performance and maintain competitiveness.”

The programme included to the development of skills which could be immediately applied in the workplace including inventory planning, planning and control, quality and project management as well as best practice in operations management. - Kevin Emmett Director URT Ltd 

“A highly interactive, innovative and engaging classroom training programme, supported with books and material for in-depth reading.

The effective management skills developed throughout the modules will increase staff confidence and provide our organisation with immediate benefits.” 

- Robert Hogg, Laminating Supervisor URT Ltd

“The course opened my eyes to approaching tasks and man management in an analytical and more productive manner, overall a very enjoyable and useful course. “

- Harry Dixon, Trim & Assembly Shop Supervisor URT Ltd

“I thoroughly enjoyed the course and found it be very informative.  I feel it let me understand how to better manage my time and the time of others and in doing so helped to make the workplace more efficient and smooth running.”

- Ruth Douglas, General Manager, Heirlooms-Linens Ltd

- Niki Holcombe, Production Supervisor, Heirlooms-Linens Ltd

“I thought the course was exceptionally helpful to enable me to further understand current manufacturing techniques and to get the best out of our current systems and processes. I am currently working on some of the plans created during the course which will improve our workflow and efficiency thereby saving on costs.”

- Maureen Baxter, Production employee, ADF Milking

“I could see where I could put things into practice. I would be interested in coming together later to see how everyone is getting on in implementing their systems.”

All three companies plan to meet again together later in the year to discuss how they have each implemented the tools and techniques outlined in the programme.

The University of Chichester’s Business School also offers programmes in other areas such as Coaching, Strategic Management, Team Building, Marketing, Supply Chain/Purchasing, and Performance Management on which other companies may like to work on staff development; individually or together. 

If you feel your business could benefit from this exciting approach, or you would like to talk to any of the participating companies please contact: Andrew Adams at a.adams@chi.ac.ukat the University of Chichester’s Business School for an informal discussion.

Shoreham Airshow Crash

Our thoughts are with those who have been lost or injured, their families and friends and all those who have been affected by the events. 

Sussex based Digital Services company? Interested in selling to Local Government & UK Public Sector?…

Sussex based Digital Services company? Interested in selling to Local Government & UK Public Sector?

Brighton & Hove based Public Sector Procurement Specialists and G-Cloud Consultants Advice Cloud are delighted to host this event aimed at demystifying Public Sector procurement for local SME’s.

Come and meet with the Director of Digital & Resources Paul Brewer & the Head of Digital & Design, Dave Briggs at Adur & Worthing Councils as they explain the current & future opportunities for Local SME Digital Services business within their authority and local government as a whole.

Also speaking will be Warren Smith of the Government Digital Service (GDS) who will talk through the procurement opportunities at a national & local level, specifically around the redesigned Digital Services Framework (DS3).

More information & Agenda below

There is a revolution taking place within the UK Public Sector. The October 2015 spending review will devolve more powers upon Local Government, however these powers come at a cost. Less Central Government money available to spend on services.

This means that an ever increasing number of services are having to be transformed using digital techniques. How can Local Government and the UK Public Sector as a whole do this quickly whilst reducing risk to the most vulnerable in our society and keeping services available?

This seminar will outline some of the progress made in transforming local government alongside explaining the future strategy. It will also clearly make the case for more local business involvement. Government procurement is no longer solely the preserve of Large Systems Integrators. With the success of G-Cloud (over £300m of business to SME’s in 3 years) and the redesign of the Digital Services framework on the horizon now is one of the best opportunities an SME business will have to do business with Government.
Agenda

–          2.00 doors open, welcome drinks & networking

–          2.30 Welcome and introductions – Chris Farthing Director Advice Cloud

–          2.45 Digital Marketplace (Digital Services & G-Cloud frameworks). Warren Smith (GDS)

–          3.10 Being digital – progress at Adur & Worthing by Dave Briggs, (Adur & Worthing Councils)

–          3.30 The local government Digital challenge inc Adur & Worthing digital strategy. Paul Brewer, (Adur & Worthing Councils)

–          4.00 Q&A panel discussion

–          4.30 Summary & Close – Chris Farthing (Advice Cloud)

           Networking till 5.15

–          Maybe move to a local pub for more networking!

Please note that priority will be given to local SME businesses for this event. If you are not an SME or located in the BN1, BN2, BN3, BN7, BN11 or BN41 postcode areas you are welcome to attend but we reserve the right to re-allocate your tickets to a company that is if there is demand.

Book here: http://brightondigitalfestival.co.uk/event/digital-services-in-government-meet-the-buyers/

The Picnic

Sculpture by Tana Jackson on display in Worthing Museum & Art Gallery garden

Exhibition of sculpture in the garden of Worthing Museum and Art Gallery from 8^th September until 17^th October

Winner of one of the Adur & Worthing Arts Trust grants 2015, the sculpture has been made using shop mannequins covered in clothing that has been treated with Paverpol, a fabric hardener. The sculpture has also been covered with yacht varnish in order to protect it from the elements.

The mannequins are weatherproof and have been strapped to plastic pallets that are covered with Astroturf.

Tana Jackson is a local artist and sculptor belonging to the Sunny Worthing Arts Group (SWAG) and her studio and sculpture garden are a venue in the Worthing Art Trail each year.  Tana is also the creator of ‘The Flock of Seagulls’ previously exhibited in the Red Telephone Box on the corner of Steyne Gardens which was the smallest art gallery in Worthing.

When creating ‘The Picnic’, Tana wanted to invoke the sense of a bygone era when life was somewhat simpler and people did not live with the demands of modern technology and a family picnic in the park, on the downs or on the beach was a regular summer family recreation.

The launch of the sculpture will take place on Saturday 12^th September, 13:00 to 16:00pm at Worthing Museum and Art Gallery, Chapel Road, Worthing where visitors will be invited to enjoy a free cup cake and take a seat next to the purple frisbee and have their photo taken with Alastair, Jan and little Susie Carter. Free postcards of the sculpture will also be available.

The sculpture will be exhibited in the Worthing Museum and Art Gallery garden from 8^th September to the 17^th October. Entrance to The Museum and this exhibition is free and opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm. This exhibition will be seeking a permanent indoor or outdoor home from the 17^th of October onwards. Please contact Tana at info@tanajacksonarts.co.uk on 07732 382513 or 01903 695593 if you have any ideas.