Following an audit by the SSAIB, Littlehampton based security provider, Avantguard Security Ltd, have been awarded Approved Contractor Status by the Security Industry Authority. 

As part of the audit process, they were assessed over 89 performance indicators and their final score was just 11 points short of putting them within the top 25% of small business security providers in the country, with Approved Contractor Status. Their innovative workflow management reporting system, Guardtools®, was even noted as a best practice.
 
“We have to thank our team as a whole, as this achievement is testament to a team that consistently delivers the highest standards in security to our clients” commented Tony Woolcott, Managing Director of Avantguard. “Every person in our team is both pro-active and re-active in providing and enhancing the bespoke security services that our clients receive”.

The ACS scheme was developed to help security buyers in choosing a company which is “demonstrably committed to customer service and the compulsory licensing of their staff” say the Security Industry Authority. By choosing an ACS accredited supplier for your security provision, you “can be confident that the employment practices of the supplier have been extensively assessed” and that your security service “more closely reflect(s) your precise requirements”.

The status of the ACS is recognised by the police and offers the potential for enhanced working relationships. The aim is to provide practical benefits through 'joined-up' police, business and community initiatives.

Avantguard provide managed security services across Sussex including security officers, mobile patrols and keyholding and alarm response.

LAST CHANCE TO GRAB GOVERNMENT’S MATCH-FUNDING!!!

October this year sees the deadline for the 'Community First' endowment match funding and, as far as we know, there is no equivalent match-funding scheme on the horizon. £1000 becomes £1600!

Just to summarise, for all donations over a minimum of £500 to the Worthing & Adur Fund at Sussex Community Foundation, the government will add a further 50 % and Gift Aid if applicable. For example, once Gift Aid and match funding is factored in, a donation of £1,000 will add over £1,600 to the Fund, at a net cost after tax to a 40% taxpayer of only £750!

MILLER PARRIS SOLICITORS SUPPORT LOCAL FUND
Miller Parris Solicitors, based in Broadwater, Worthing, recently donated £1,000 to the Worthing and Adur Fund.
Mike Metters, Partner of Miller Parris said “We are delighted to be able to donate to this worthwhile fund.  As our business grows we are pleased to be able to support the community that we are part of.  The Worthing and Adur Fund has already been able to make such a difference to so many local groups that we are proud to be associated with it.”

The fund was set up in partnership with Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce and is supported by local people and businesses keen to help build a permanent endowment fund. Founder Donor Karen Simporis said  “This is very much a local Fund which supports lots of smaller voluntary groups that may find it hard to access other grants-and the application process is quick and easy”.

The Worthing and Adur Fund is thrilled to receive Miller Parris's donation. Caroline Nichols and Karen Simporis have generously made further donations  which along with the money raised by the Golf Day, Chamber quiz and raffles has now boosted the fund to over £70,000.We’re hoping that with your help we can reach £100,000 and make even more of a difference to our local community.
So don’t miss out on that Government money!

Where will my money go? - To your local community!

The Fund will be paying out again and applications need to be made by October 10th ( more information on the website www.sussexgiving.org.uk/apply-for-grants/)

Applicants must be from Worthing and Adur-here are the successful applicants from October 2013. Annual grants from the income of the Fund were awarded at the end of last year, with four community groups sharing more than £3,400 including:
•     £1,700 for Sussex Sailability, a voluntary group based in Shoreham which teaches sailing to young people aged 14+ with a range of disabilities.. The grant was awarded to support instructor fees and expenses, fuel and room rent
•    £670 for Worthing CAP Debt Centre which provides advice for low income individuals and families facing a cash crisis. - the grant supported office equipment
•    £600 for activities run by Worthing Kids and Dapper Snapper, a parent led  group for children with disabilities providing support, friendship, activities and outings such as swimming, signing and singing, music and fun exercise.
•    £466 for Electric Storm Youth in Lancing which aims to educate challenge and focus the energy of young people aged 11-18 in the Adur district . The grant was given to support young members taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

Worthing’s fledgling firms offered support during the first year

A NEW initiative aimed at supporting fledgling firms through their first year of business is being launched in Worthing.

The Start-Up Hot House programme will provide specialist advice to new entrepreneurs over a twelve month period, starting with an intensive two day boot camp and backed up by specialist knowledge workshops, peer group reviews and one to one coaching.

The sessions are led by the University of Chichester in conjunction with Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce and the boot camp will take place in Worthing on Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th September.

Tina Tilley CEO Worthing and Adur Chamber commented “we are pleased to be able to support delivery of this program which we feel has been missing in our area for some time. If you are in the early stages of a business this support is crucial to future success”

Paul Dallibar, Programme Manager at the University, said: “If someone has an idea for a business, or has recently started a new company in the Worthing area, our programme can provide the expertise to successfully guide them through that difficult first year.”

“We were keen to provide a programme based in Worthing because of its entrepreneurial population. The district is home to a highly skilled workforce and this along with other factors has  led to Worthing being ranked highly for business competitiveness.”

The boot camp is aimed at providing a clear focus for the business with the knowledge workshops providing information on a range of disciplines including; the legalities of running a business, raising finance, tax and national insurance, marketing, digital media and building a team.

The Hot House programme is supported by Regional Growth Fund (RGF) money which allows this level of support to be provided at a 90% discount to the market price.

 Mr Dallibar added: “Whatever the idea, the Hot House programme includes a range of stimulating and challenging business and personal development activities that are ideal for people from all work and educational backgrounds.
  “Whether you are in the early stages of running a business or thinking of starting one, this is the ideal opportunity to shape your ideas without the pain of writing a detailed plan.”

Applications for a place or more information on the Start-Up Hot House programme are available at www.chi.ac.uk/hothouse.
Or contact Paul Dallibar at p.dallibar@chi.ac.uk or call 01243 793 528

Don’t miss this opportunity to join this Chamber initiative to support you and your business!

Come to the FREE TASTER Thursday 18TH September 9.30am-12.30pm.

Following the success of the Peer Mentoring Programme which supported over 50 local businesses owners we are ready to start GROUP SIX!!!! Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting and beneficial programme.

The Mentoring groups will consist of 10-12 like-minded business people all keen to share their business expertise and willing to learn from and support each other.

What will you gain?

•    Thinking time to work on (rather than in) your business
•    The opportunity to explore projects in a confidential environment
•    A diverse pool of wisdom and expertise to draw on
•    A unique blend of challenge and support from your peers
•    Think tank for practical solutions to specific problems
•    Ideas for new products and services
•    Develop your management skills
•    Build relationships, trust and mutual  understanding


The group will be selected from the applicants to ensure there is a wide variety of skill sets to share.

They will meet once a month for twelve 3 hour sessions with an experienced and qualified facilitator to guide and support the group. Also bespoke workshops will be provided as identified and requested by the group.

 Spaces are limited to only 10-12 per group so please contact the Chamber office for more information or to secure a place! Email: info@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk or call the office on 01903 203484.

Adur and Worthing Business Awards 2014

Don't miss out on a great opportunity. Don't miss this deadline. It will enhance your business, encourage your customers and your clients, and energise you to do better. And it doesn't cost you anything – except your time your efforts and your. We're talking about entering you and your business into the business awards for 2014. It's not too late.

This is what you have to do.

1 Read this article, decide to take up the challenge and how much you want to improve your business potential.

2 Download the application form and read the rules. There are no great catches or tricks to look out for but the winners of these awards in the past have benefited in many ways. One of the chief benefits is that they have motivated their customers and their clients to appreciate their service and their products that their business offers. You can do the same.

3. Choose the category that you want to enter. There are many different classes and kinds of business into which you can enter. You can enter in up to 3 categories. Choose with care.

4. Draw up a list of all your customers and clients who are likely to provide you with glowing references and testimonials. Contact them individually. Ask them for their opinions on your service. Sometimes the truth can hurt but often there is a pleasant surprise and a reassuring result.

5. Why not nominate some of your own clients for awards? Be proactive. Encourage others.

6. The process so far will make you look at your business as a customer or client. It will make you concentrate on success.

7. If you have staff, involve them at every level and you will find them invigorated and motivated. The impact on the firm as a whole – whether or not you win – will be beneficial.

8. Once you are nominated then it is a matter for the judges. However there are usually several businesses nominated in each category. If you are nominated go to the business awards dinner. It is a celebration of business and a recognition that without business in the community there would be no wealth and no prosperity.

9. If you are not nominated but you do not win, the process will have been good for you and your staff and your customers. Your profile will be enhanced.

10. If you win then you and your business will have recognition. "Recognition is what babies cry for and what soldiers die for". You will be able to use the award in your marketing strategy and in your marketing literature. It will be worth a lot to you.

So don't prevaricate. Go ahead and do it. It's not too late. Good luck!

There is still time to apply for the Be the Business Start-up and Grow Grants 2014-15. The deadline for the fund is 15th September 2014 at 5pm.
 
A pot of £600,000 is available to help businesses to start-up and to grow in West Sussex.
 
If you would like more information about the grants you can attend one of our FREE information workshops being held in August (to book your place click here) or of you need help developing your bid you can book a FREE 1-2-1 session with one of our qualified business advisers. To book a 1-2-1 session please email info@bethebusiness.org.

This programme is for start-ups, early-stage companies (1-2 years) and for established and growing businesses in West Sussex where, if applicable, the business rates are/will be paid. Businesses planning to relocate in West Sussex are also eligible but if successful, the grant will only be paid after relocation has taken place. The programme is open to micro and Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs) in West Sussex.
 
Applicants will be required to provide at least 50% of the total project costs as match-funding. The business proposal must be linked to the creation or safeguarding of jobs in West Sussex.
 
This year, 50% of the funding available will be dedicated to specific sectors we wish to encourage to come forward with their ideas, particularly to submit bids with other businesses in the same sector to address problems they have in common.
 
These sectors are:
•Manufacturing, particularly linked to healthcare, aviation or marine industry
•Low carbon and renewable technologies
•Tourism and local food
•Care
•Land based businesses
 
The remaining 50% of the fund will be open to applications from all sectors.
 
The maximum amount of grant that can be requested for any individual project is £25,000.  The maximum amount that can be requested for any sector project submitted in consortium is £75,000.  Only sector projects can be submitted in consortium.
 
For full details including eligibility criteria, guidelines, application form and grant agreements please visit www.bethebusiness.org/grants
 
Please feel free to circulate this information to anyone you think it may be of interest to.

New Tourism Launch for Worthing and Adur – On Your Doorstep

Reclaiming Childhood
13 September until 24th January 2015
In the Art Gallery at Worthing Museum
Through portraits, sounds and stories, painter Claire Phillips gives a powerful insight into the lives of children who have had to sacrifice a portion of their life working in desperate conditions, for nothing in most cases.  Many of the children have been removed from their families by traffickers with undelivered promises of a better life and education.
These are not the stories of children from the UK but those of children who are just a few out of 50 million in India who are losing their childhood to unjustifiable conditions.
This exhibition presents some of their stories, their drawings and depicts their characters through the stunning portraits that Claire painted during, and after her work, with the children’s charity Bachpan Bachao Andolan, a charity dedicated to rescuing children from slavery.
Claire’s aim is to ‘show the very nature of the child – playful, mischievous innocent and vulnerable ‘.
‘The children represented in these portraits are reclaiming their childhood from conditions that no adult should endure, let alone a child of 9 or 10 years old.  The gentle nature of the portraits is juxtaposed against the stories of their experience told from their own words and soundtracks from the journey to meet them.’ Claire Philips
This striking and emotive exhibition will be challenging audiences in Worthing following its recent premier at the Oxo Gallery, London.

Worthing remembers with pride the great sacrifice made
by residents during the Great War of 1914 to 1918

On Sunday 3rd August at 11am a special Drumhead Service will be held in front of the Town Hall, Chapel Road, to commemorate the 100 years since the commencement of hostilities in World War One (WW1)

The Drumhead Service will be conducted by Revd David Farrant, Chaplin to the Worthing Combined Ex Service’s Association (CESA) and Revd Andrew Fadoju, Chaplin to the Mayor of Worthing.

In attendance will be Worthing Mayor Vic Walker, Deputy Lieutenants for West Sussex, Worthing Councillors, Honorary Aldermen, Youth Councillors and Officers as well as the Police, Fire Service, Army, Sea and Air Cadets and the Worthing Combined Ex-Services Association Veterans and Standard Bearers.

This Service will follow the format of the Solemn Commemoration on the Centenary of the Outbreak of the First World War to be held in Westminster Abbey on Monday 4th August.

The public are requested to be there by 10.45am as it is anticipated that the Commemorative Service will be very popular.

Complimentary refreshments will kindly be provided afterwards by The Worthing Tabernacle in Chapel Road.
 
Major Tom Wye, Vice President of CESA, says: “It is so important that the terrible lessons learned during the carnage of the Great War are never forgotten. It is equally important that the tremendous sacrifice made by the residents of Worthing is properly commemorated. I look forward to seeing a really great turnout from our town and surrounding areas.“

On the same day at 1pm the Worthing Mayor, Vic Walker, will unveil a stained glass window installed on Worthing Pier, commemorating Worthing’s war dead from the Great War . This window has been commissioned and sponsored by Paul Holden owner of the Worthing Journal.

Students from Worthing Davison C of E High School for Girls have also created their own WW1 Project which will be displayed in the Worthing Town Hall foyer from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August 2014.  This exhibition is open to the public, so please pop in and take a look at their artwork.

All events are open to the public.

The Social Enterprise Fund 2014-15 has launched!

The Social Enterprise Fund was established in 2011/12 as one of a number of initiatives to support the social enterprise sector in West Sussex and to promote social enterprise throughout the county. This year the SEF is offering two streams of grant funding as a means of investing in the social enterprise sector for the longer term. These are:

Stream 1: Social Enterprise Early Stage Development Grant to support social enterprise at earlier stages of development.

Deadline: 12th August 2014, 5pm

Up to £50,000 is available to fund up to 10 organisations that want to undertake a piece of work to explore their idea for social enterprise. The maximum grant that may be awarded to an individual or organisation is £5,000. This grant scheme is to help individuals and organisations who have an idea for a social enterprise business and who wish to explore and investigate this further so as to be able to assess whether it is a viable business proposition. Any proposal must be a business idea linked to clear social objectives. We anticipate that the fund will support a wide range of proposals.

Stream 2: Social Enterprise Main Grant scheme for social enterprises at the point of delivery of new products or services.

Deadline for Expression of Interest Form: 14th August 2014, 5pm

Deadline for Full Bid Application Form: 18th November 2014, 5pm

Up to £275,000 is available from the SEF for individuals or organisations to deliver new products or services as a social enterprise. The maximum grant that may be awarded to an individual or organisation is £25,000. Any proposal for funding must be a business idea, linked to clear social objectives working to achieve social impact when delivering services and products as a social enterprise.

You can apply for either Stream 1 or Stream 2, not for both.
Please ensure you read the guidelines and eligibility criteria before applying.

Application forms, guidelines and other documents related to this grant fund are available to download here