“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.

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

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.”

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’.

Lots of New Member to Member Offers now on the website

We have just upated the members offer page with lots of exciting new member to member offers.

Did you know as a member of Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce you can get discounted rates offered from fellow members on the following services

For more details please visit  www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk/member-offers

• Alarm Response
• First Aid Courses
• Furniture Supplies & Design
• Massage
• Cinema Tickets
• Hosted Telecoms
• Letter Before Action
• Promotional Products
• Hypnotherapy
• Broadband
• Life Coaching
• Website Design
• Insurance
• Advertising
  
• ID Cards
• Business Health Check
• Complimentary Health
• Marketing
• Design & Print
• Legal Services
• Accountancy

Please support your fellow members where you can. If you would like to submit your own member offer please follow the instructions here: http://www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk/How-to-submit-a-members-offer

Local Network invite you to the next

NETWORKING BREAKFAST MEETING

 

Wednesday 12th August 2015

Luna Restaurant, 10 Montague Place, Worthing BN11 3BG

7am start - 8.45am

 

••••••••••••••••••••

 

A G E N D A

 

7am  ARRIVALS & GREETINGS

7.10am  BE SEATED FOR BREAKFAST

7.15am  WELCOME FROM GROUP LEAD

7.20am  60 SECOND PROFILES

 

7.40am PRESENTATION BY: Guildcare

 

8.05am  NETWORKING

8.25am  ROUND THE TABLE NEWS ROUND UP

8.45am  meeting closes

 

••••••••••••••••••••

Worthing Churches Homeless Projects: 

Community Events Coming Up For The Rest Of The Year 

Car Boot Sale Broadwater Green

Saturday 22^nd August

Shoreham Riverfest

Saturday 29^th August- Sunday 30^th August

We are very fortunate this year to have been chosen as one of the charities to benefit from the collection. If you would like to help us collect on this evening please call 01903 286480 or email helping@wchp.org.uk.

Auction

Saturday 26^th September

Auction of services and goods at the Old Barn, Goring. More details to follow.

Murder Mystery Evening

Saturday 24^th October

Old Barn, Goring. Join us for a meal and a murder mystery, if you dare!

Littlehampton Bonfire Night

Saturday 31^st October

We are very fortunate this year to have been chosen as one of the charities to benefit from the collection. If you would like to help us collect on this evening please call 01903 235208 or email helping@wchp.org.uk.

Henfield Christmas Market

Saturday 14^th November

A festive stall at this delightful annual village Christmas Market

Ice Ball

Saturday 14^th November

On Saturday 14^th Novemeber please join us at the Dome in Worthing for a 3 course meal and to dance the night away to music by the Soul Smiths followed by a DJ. Starting at 7pm and carriages at 1am. Tickets £39.50 and are avaliable from the office on 01903 227829.

Quiz Night

Saturday 28^th November

Join us for our annual quiz and ploughman’s supper at River of Life Church. Tickets will be available in our shops nearer the time

Christmas Tree Festival

Saturday 5^th December – Sunday 6th December

A display of trees decorated by local businesses, individuals and community groups at St Mary de Haura Church in Shoreham. If you would like to decorate a tree please call 01903 286380 or email info@wchp.org.uk

For further details of any of our events please contact the Fundraising Team on 01903 286480 or email info@wchp.org.uk

If you would like to help at any of our events please contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01903 227825 or email help@wchp.org.uk

Please visit Worthing Churches Homeless Project's website for more information 

www.wchp.org.uk

The British Gas Energy Efficiency Fund is designed to help micro-businesses manage their energy costs in the long-term, by providing free expert advice and energy efficiency measures.

The fund has been created by British Gas as part of the settlement of an investigation by Ofgem, concluded in April 2014, into British Gas’ breaches of its Standard Licence Conditions 14 (1), 14(3) and 7A. More information about the investigation and breaches can be found on the Ofgem website.

Eligible businesses will receive a free on-site energy survey, as well as fully-funded installations of energy saving measures valued up to £6,000 per business, helping you save money on your energy bill. 

Site surveys will be carried out by trained professionals and will identify the right range of measures that can be delivered at your site – this could include new LED lighting, a boiler replacement, new insulation or other methods to control your energy use.

Eligibility

Any micro-business can apply.  A micro-business is defined as a company with:

• an annual consumption of electricity of not more than 100,000 kWh (estimated £10,000 electricity spend)

                                                                   or

• an annual consumption of gas of not more than 293,000 kWh (estimated £9,000 gas spend)

                                                                   or

• Fewer than 10 employees (or their full time equivalent); AND an annual turnover or annual balance sheet total not exceeding €2 million.

 

To qualify for the Energy Efficiency Fund, you must be on a Non-domestic tariff if you’re a home business.

Register your interest

You can register your interest in the fund using the form below. We’ll call you back within 5 working days.

HUNDREDS of new homes and jobs are on the cards after a housing developer snapped up a sought after site.

Social housing provider Hyde Group is overseeing Ropetackle North – the second phase of a major waterfront regeneration scheme in the heart of Shoreham.

The redevelopment of the three-hectare brownfield site, with views of the River Adur, follows on from a successful first phase by Adur and Worthing Councils and Berkeley Homes.

The vacant site north of the town centre has long been earmarked for redevelopment as it has stood unused for many years.

Hyde Group is working with Adur and Worthing Councils to build “high quality” family houses and flats, apartments, shops, offices, new public open spaces and improved riverside walks.

The firm is also working with HGP Architects, the same company that led the design of the Gunwharf Quays development in Portsmouth - which includes the Spinnaker Tower.

David Gannicott, Hyde Group business development director, said: “Boosting housing supply and stimulating the local economy is a priority for the Greater Brighton City region and these schemes will provide hundreds of new homes for all sections of the community.

"We also aim to maximise their social value, creating hundreds of jobs and apprenticeships during construction.

“The Greater Brighton region is set to become one of the highest performing urban economies in the UK.

"Construction on these, and a number of other projects across the region, is due to start in 2016 and we look forward to working with our partners to make a significant contribution to delivering the homes and jobs the area needs to underpin growth.”

Councillor Neil Parkin, leader of Adur District Council, said he was “delighted” to see an organisation with a track record like Hyde’s investing in the town.

He added: “Delivering new commercial premises and housing in Adur is a key priority for our ambition to grow our local economy.

“As one of the largest social landlords in the South East, Hyde's commitment to building affordable housing and sustainable communities is well established. Their plans to deliver new homes will play an important role in helping the council meet housing needs in Adur.”

Helping to grow the economy: The CWS Partnership has been recognised as a Coastal Community Team by the Department for Communities and Local Government. Earlier this month Coastal Communities Minister Mark Francois gave his support to CWS and more than 100 other new teams that will help revive England’s seaside towns and decide where investment goes.

CWS will receive £10,000 of government funding to invest in our local seaside towns. The partnership will be able to use the funding to help bring jobs, growth and prosperity to our beach towns. For the full story, please follow this link:

http://www.coastalwestsussex.org.uk/cws-partnership-recognised-as-a-coastal-community-team/?utm_source=Coastal+West+Sussex+News&utm_campaign=b270c63866-CWS_Summer_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1c1a791ae1-b270c63866-66630013