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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 


  • 19 August 2015 12:20 PM | Deleted user

    A global broker is in talks to buy Bristol-headquartered Jelf Group, the £83m-turnover provider of insurance, financial and employee benefit services.

    The listed company confirmed that it has opened discussions with Marsh about a possible deal.

    In a statement, it said talks were at an "early stage" and that there was "no certainty that any offer will ultimately be made for Jelf or as to the terms of any such offer".

    Marsh, a subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, employs more than 27,000 staff and operates in 130 countries worldwide.

    It is required to submit a formal offer for Jelf no later than 16 September 2015.

    Jelf, which is being advised by Fenchurch Advisory Partners, said it would issue a further statement when appropriate. Its market capitalisation is currently about £175m.

    The group recently acquired Hertfordshire insurance broker Libra Insurance Services for an undisclosed sum.

    Jelf reported turnover of £43.7m in its interim results for the six months to 31 March 2015, up on £39.3m in the same period of 2014.

    Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, amortisation and exceptional costs (EBITDAE) also rose to £7.3m from £5.9m, while pre-tax profit increased from £2.3m to £2.8m.


  • 12 August 2015 2:20 PM | Deleted user
    Set within 8 acres of beautiful grounds, Field Place is one of Worthing’s most prestigious venue.
    • Flexible, multi-purpose spaces
    • Free WiFi throughout
    • Top-of-the-range, audio visual equipment
    • On-site catering options
    • Ample on-site parking
    Are you Interested? A professional team are on hand to help.
    For more information call
    01903 905050 (option 3) 


  • 12 August 2015 12:54 PM | Deleted user

    Do make sure that you get your nominations in for The Adur & Worthing Business Awards 2015.

    The Deadline is 23rd September 2015, so make sure to get voting!

    Please visit : http://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/adur-and-worthing-business-awards/ for all the details

  • 12 August 2015 11:35 AM | Deleted user


    Every local authority is required to have a Development Plan that sets out the policies and proposals for the development and use of land in their area. The current Development Plan for Worthing is the Worthing Core Strategy which was intended to cover the period to 2026. However, since the adoption of the Core Strategy in 2011 there have been significant changes made to the planning system at the national level. The requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), in particular how local authorities need to plan for housing, has had implications for planning at the local level. As a consequence, and to ensure that the Council has a Development Plan in place that conforms to higher level plans and guidance, a full review of the Council’s adopted Core Strategy and the development of a new Local Plan is now required.In response to this, the Council updated its Planning Policy work programme within a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) which was published in the spring. This established a timetable for the production of a new Local Plan and includes key milestones to inform peoplwhen there will be opportunities to be involved in the Plan making process. Given the statutory requirements to collect appropriate evidence and consult widely at each appropriate stage, it is estimated that it will take approximately three years to get a new Plan in place. Before policy and development options can be drafted for consultation it is vital that the Council has an up-to-date evidence base in place to ensure that decisions are informed by robust information. A key housing study has been completed (see right) and further work is now being advanced to assess the local economy. A landscape and biodiversity study is also being progressed which will assess sites that have been promoted for development around the Borough.

    The findings of these studies will be reported later this year and it is expected that the Council will be in a position to consult with all interested parties in spring 2016. When adopted,the new Local Plan will become the primary basis upon which planning decisions are made. It will contain a development strategy, development management policies and site allocations (if required) to meet future needs over the next fifteen years.


  • 12 August 2015 10:36 AM | Deleted user

    A new commercial unit and three new housing properties have been created along a busy parade near to Worthing station, thanks to hard work and negotiation between its owners and Worthing Borough Council.

     

    Having recently returned an empty property to use in partnership with YMCA DownsLink, Worthing Borough Council are delighted to have another success story under their belt, with bigger transformations and results than ever before.

     

    In recent years, 20 South Farm Road attracted many complaints due to its appearance and increasing levels of neglect - the property had a large van parked in front the majority of time to hide its decline into ruin. With no internal floors, roof in disrepair and the shop front below in danger of collapse, the property seemed almost beyond salvage.

     

    Following intervention from Worthing Borough Council’s Private Sector Housing team and the Empty Property Officer, Helen Stevens, negotiations were made with the mortgage company who agreed to take back control of the property after seeing its deterioration. After a short time being marketed by a local estate agent a sale was quickly completed in September 2014 to Chesters Gorman Properties who were quick to see the potential.

     

    In pursuit of making this shell into habitable environment, teams of local experts fitted new electrical and plumbing systems, working hard to strip, build, sand and repair the former empty property into three new much needed homes including a studio flat, a one bedroom flat and a two bed maisonette as well as the commercial unit space on the ground floor.

     

    In little under a year, Worthing Borough Council and the property’s new owners have been able to offer homes to three people or families as well as a business opportunity in a prime location to any budding  businessmen/women.

     

    Councillor Dr Heather Mercer, Executive Member for Customer Services at Worthing Borough Council, said:

     

    “I am delighted that we’re pressing ahead to proactively bring empty properties back into use - especially when they’re as run down and dangerous as this one was.

     

    “Not only have the new owners created smart new homes for local people, but they have also given a local business fresh, modern, premises to work from.  Supporting local people, making local communities more pleasant and growing the local economy - this is a success story from every angle.”

     

    Sven Chesters, Partner at Chesters Gorman Properties adds:

     

    “We have been delighted to work with the Borough Council on this project.  The South Farm Road property was in a terrible condition, but in a prime location with plenty of potential.  We believe in  creating top quality homes for people to build their lives from, and hope that the people who move into the South Farm Road property will fall in love with it.”

     

    If you know of an empty property which could be returned into use for a local family, please contact Worthing Borough Council’s Empty Properties Officer on 01273 263034.

  • 12 August 2015 10:02 AM | Deleted user

    WE ALL love ‘Sunny Worthing’, but
    ‘God’s Waiting Room’ could have
    been a term that stuck...
    Worthing had to decide whether
    it was just a town by the sea or an
    actual seaside town.
    Luckily, the consensus seems to
    be that we’re a seaside resort!
    With our beaches, the pier and
    a range of art-deco buildings to
    arouse envy in many other towns
    – along with Worthing’s inherent
    quirkiness – the backdrop was
    set for a resurgence in its tourism
    fortunes.
    Over the past two years, there’s
    been a quiet revolution on the
    seafront, with a variety of lively
    bars and quality restaurants
    popping up, complementing the
    developing programme of music,
    theatre, water-sports and events.
    Worthing is fast becoming one
    of the key destinations for short
    breaks by the seaside.
    Some examples... The Beach
    House, opened by Tim and Matthew
    Taylor in 2014, is a bar giving an
    almost Mediterranean feel to eating
    out, with outdoor seating and good
    food, cooked with simple, quality
    ingredients.
    What made them choose
    Worthing? “We felt that the town
    and the seafront location offered
    a real opportunity to give people a
    unique bar experience.”
    Another slow-burn success
    are the Sundowners and
    SunUppers street food events,
    taking place monthly throughout
    the summer. Organiser Jonathan
    Nulty, is quick to point out that this
    is not big-budget tourism.
    “It’s a low-key thing, but the
    atmosphere is like nowhere else –
    great food, music and fun, looking
    out over the sea.”
    The bigger draws are coming
    soon too the annual Birdman
    competition at the Pier, the
    new Street Velodrome cycling
    competition and a month-long
    celebration of music with Worthing
    Live. Tourism and leisure-related
    businesses – both home-grown
    and those coming in to the area –
    should catch the wave and invest
    in a seaside town that’s going
    places.

  • 12 August 2015 9:59 AM | Deleted user


    “THIS period of nought per cent
    interest will come to an end.”
    That was the clear message from
    Chris Piper, Bank of England
    Agent for Central South East
    England, who joined Worthing
    and Adur Chamber of Commerce
    members for another sold-out
    Networking Breakfast.
    Mr Piper opened by saying:
    “I’m delighted to have been
    invited along and to see such a
    happy friendly networking event
    my update is serious... I hope
    I won’t take away from such a
    positive – atmosphere!”
    He added: “After a low of six or
    seven years things are starting to
    turn back to normal. Where we
    need to be guarded is in a period
    of normalisation that then sees
    interest rates starting to rise.
    “However we are still some
    way from the times of five per
    cent interest and two per cent
    inflation.
    “It’s anticipated inflation will
    start to move later this year. The
    price shocks that occurred last
    year will begin to fall out of the
    measure.
    “One of the effects on inflation
    is the supply market. Supply has
    been in excess of demand. Many
    businesses are now working near
    to full capacity. This is easy to
    observe in the labour market
    figures.
    “The level of employment
    participation over the last few
    years has been significantly
    higher – particularly older
    employees remaining in the
    workforce. Participation is now
    fairly stable, but may change as
    the economy improves.
    “Another puzzle of the past five
    years is how weak wage growth
    has been. When I look at the
    exuberance in this room, it brings
    to mind that when in a period of
    low inflation, we are inclined to
    put up with lower pay rise.
    “The risk at the moment is that
    lower pay rises will remain for a
    prolonged period.
    “Pay issues, however, are
    now building and this will pick
    up further as recruitment gets
    harder. This will be crucial when
    interest rates do rise.
    “For the recovery, there is a
    certain dependency on domestic
    demand – consumer spending
    which contributed to growth of
    2.7 per cent in 2014. Most of the
    recovery in the economy has
    come from people dipping in to
    their savings, which is leading
    to the savings ratio dropping
    (currently below five per cent).
    Around six per cent would be a
    stable ratio.
    “Business investment is
    coming through steadily. Credit
    conditions and access to finance
    take a long time to recover from
    financial crises – it is getting
    there and when there are better
    conditions in economy, there
    is better incentive to invest in
    equipment, technology and
    modernisation. In recent years,
    the focus has been more on the
    workforce itself.
    “Small businesses are now
    looking to access crowd funding
    and alternative funding... some
    even state that banks are out of
    fashion. Internationally, recovery
    will come through - but more
    slowly. At the moment, a stronger
    Sterling against a weaker Euro
    means export products are less
    competitive.”
    The Bank of England is
    attentive to developments in
    Greece; however the bigger
    issue is the slowdown in China’s
    growth rate, and banks are far
    more exposed in the Chinese
    market than in the Greek market.
    Mr Piper has journeyed around
    the South East listening to firms
    who share many positive stories
    about export, particularly to
    China. The Bank is also still
    stress testing the UK banking
    system to ensure it can weather
    any potential crises in the futureincluding
    a housing market crash
    and a failing Chinese economy.
    To close, Chris summarised
    that outlook for growth will stay
    positive at around 2.5 per cent a
    year. “Prepare for rates rising,”
    was his closing message.

  • 12 August 2015 9:57 AM | Deleted user

    GREAT news …… Adur and Worthing
    Council has awarded Worthing and Adur
    Chamber of Commerce £70,000 towards
    the provision of an Innovation Hub at
    Northbrook College.
    The plans for the Innovation Hub were
    formally presented at a breakfast launch
    to VIP’s and local business owners
    recently, and the project team that have
    been involved outlined their vision for
    the new facility.
    This new facility will be focused
    around a vibrant, modern, digitally
    enabled, hi-tech working environment
    comprising one, two and three-person
    office space, co-working areas, hot
    desk areas and meeting rooms. The
    innovation hub has been designed to
    provide practical high spec working
    space for start-up and early growth
    businesses. There was enthusiasm for
    the project from the council from the
    start. Businesses based in the hub will
    benefit from business support, peer to
    peer mentoring, business training and
    networking, alongside support from the
    Chamber and Northbrook College.
    The project will be formally monitored
    and is being viewed as a pilot with the
    prospects of an extended offer in the
    near future should it be prove to be
    successful.
    James Appleton, Head of Economic
    Growth for the Council commented
    “This is clearly an exciting project and
    it will be important for the Council to
    continue to support the project and hope
    that this award of funding will be the
    first step towards the delivery of a first
    class Innovation Centre which helps to
    support fledgling businesses”.
    If you are interested in being

  • 12 August 2015 9:54 AM | Deleted user
    EAST WORTHING and Shoreham
    MP Tim Loughton used a
    breakfast briefing to the Worthing
    and Adur Chamber of Commerce
    at Shoreham Airport to call for the
    roll-out of open access public wi-fi
    across Worthing.
    He was given unanimous
    support for the campaign by all
    the chamber members present.
    The MP had been invited to
    give a talk on the Government’s
    economic growth programme, the
    latest developments with the A27
    upgrade and the EU Referendum
    Bill.
    He gave a rundown of how the
    local economy was faring well
    compared with the rest of the
    country with unemployment in
    the South East now standing at
    4.1 per cent compared with 5.5 per
    cent nationally.
    Mr Loughton praised the
    dramatic fall in those local
    young people not in education,
    employment or training which
    in 2010 stood at 490 but is just 110
    today.
    He said: “While there is
    still a long way to go with the
    national economic recovery, local
    businesses are doing particularly
    well and unemployment rates are
    very reassuring, especially among
    young people.
    “Our local business parks are in
    a particularly healthy state with
    Lancing Business Park, the second
    largest in West Sussex, almost at
    capacity.
    “While we cannot be
    complacent, it is clear that
    businesses see Adur and Worthing
    as a good place to invest and the
    changes to the A27 can only help
    that appeal.
    “I have been impressed by the
    determination of senior council
    officers and councillors to drive
    forward a technology revolution
    which must include rolling out
    public access wi-fi as rapidly as
    possible.
    “I will be speaking to both the
    chief executive and the leader of
    the council to see how quickly we
    can make Worthing one of the
    first public wi-fi accessible towns
    in the UK.”
  • 12 August 2015 9:52 AM | Deleted user



    ONCE a photographer, always a
    photographer – it’s certainly a
    maxim you can use to describe
    Martin Bloomfield. He has spent
    his entire career doing what most
    keen photographers do for fun.
    Martin began his photographic
    career in 1978 at Allphotos in
    Worthing’s Tarring Road.
    From there he moved to Robin
    Cook Film Laboratories where he
    worked with, and learned from,
    renowned local photographers such
    as Steve Davis, Jack Burke, and
    Steve Forrest of Elmcroft Studios.
    In 1987, Martin moved to the
    public sector when he began
    working with Sussex Police.
    He started in the photography
    department before moving to
    the job that would make him
    a contender for the Chamber
    award (if one existed) for ‘Most
    Interesting Job Before Striking
    Out On Your Own’ – police forensic
    photographer. By the time Martin
    left in 2012, he was head of imaging
    and crime lab services.
    In 2013, after working with
    the Home Office as a consultant,
    Martin set up Bloomfield Digital
    with son Ollie.
    Bloomfield Digital specialises
    in creating imagery and video,
    and helping businesses with their
    social media needs as well as
    building websites.
    In 2014 Martin became certified
    by Google as one of its ‘Trusted
    Photographers’. This means he can
    help businesses build their online
    presence using Google Business
    View – a 360° virtual tour – that
    Martin describes as, ‘taking Google
    Street View into your business
    premises’.
    One of the first steps Martin took
    in setting up Bloomfield Digital
    was to join Worthing and Adur
    Chamber of Commerce.
    Since joining, Martin has become
    an active consumer of Chamber
    initiatives such as networking
    events and training workshops.
    “I have found being a member
    of the Chamber so useful,” said
    Martin. “Coming from the public
    sector I had no idea of the issues
    start-up businesses face.
    “The Chamber’s networking and
    training events helped me a lot;
    through these I have made many
    new contacts, learned many new
    skills, and built my reputation.”
    Martin is an active Chamber
    member in other ways
    having become a member of
    the Chamber’s Marketing
    Communications Group.
    One result of this is his
    photography regularly features on
    the Chamber’s Facebook page.
    Later this year Martin also plans
    to run a Chamber workshop on
    how to use Google My Business,
    something Martin describes as ‘a
    small but powerful tool that every
    business should use’.

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