Worthing & Adur Chamber appoints new Chief Exec!

At the 84^th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 18^th of May at Rooms Worthing it was announced that Tracie Davey, previous Operations Manager for the Chamber will be taking on the role of Chief Exec of Worthing and Adur Chamber effective immediately.

Tracie started at the Chamber 14 years ago, working just 2 hours a week alongside running her own retail business. Tracie became an integral part of the team and after selling her business 11 years ago, became the Operations Manager. Since then, Tracie has been working hard with local businesses, understanding the local business support available and communicating that to the members. Tracie has played a key part in developing the Better Business Show over the past 8 years into the success it is today and is something she is particularly proud of. During lockdown, Tracie worked hard to adapt the Chamber’s services to a virtual world, introducing many different types of online events and support workshops. The success of this is reflected in the positive feedback from the Members, Ambassadors and Executive Committee.

Tracie’s aims and ambitions for the Chamber are to continue the growth of membership, regularly reviewing and developing the membership benefits, providing an increased variety of networking opportunities and events. To look at how the Chamber can continue to evolve, stay fresh and bring in new and relevant ways of engaging with our members. The Chamber is all about collaborating, highlighting strengths and opportunities and championing its members. Her vision is for the Chamber to be the first organisation businesses turn to for support locally.

Tracie commented “I’m really looking forward to be taking on the role of Chief Exec, it’s a really exciting time for the Chamber. With an increased team, we will be able to build on the great work we have done over the past two years and ensure the Chamber continues to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of our amazing local business community.”

www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

Sponsorship Request for Worthing College STAR Awards

Would you like to sponsor one of Worthing College's STAR Awards?

We feel our students and staff deserve a celebration event which raises the profile of their hard work and achievement – especially given the trials and tribulations associated with the Covid-19 pandemic over the last year. The event will also provide an opportunity to showcase the work of our students through fantastic displays and performances.   

We are asking for £40 per award to cover the cost of engraving a trophy for the winner to keep. In return, sponsors’ logos are printed in the programme and they will also feature in external PR and social media posts about the event and in a STARS board that will be located in the Reception of each college through to the end of the Autumn Term 2022.   

The Worthing College STAR Awards events is being held on Thursday, 30^th June from 7.15-9.00 pm at the Sealight Theatre, Worthing College, 1, Sanditon Way, Worthing, BN14 9FD. 

Should you wish sponsor one or more of the awards a formal invitation to the event will be sent to you. During the event you will be seated with the winner of your award and members of staff from the curriculum area.   

 If you are interested in this fantastic opportunity to show your support and promote business links please get in touch with c.riley@worthing.ac.uk

New Free Leadership & Management Programmes

The Business Hothouse

Demands on leaders and managers are changing faster than ever – from supporting hybrid, multi-generational workforces, to navigating human resources challenges, to developing a more connected leadership style, the 21st Century workplace is a dynamic space that demands equally dynamic executives.

Our four free leadership and management programmes:

• How to Lead & Manage Teams
• How to Lead More Effectively
• Key HR Practices Every Business Should Have
• Strategic Human Resources Management 

are aimed at anyone - business owner or employee - who wants to develop the knowledge, techniques, and strategies to lead and manage in modern organisations.

Here are the courses near you

How to Lead & Manage Teams: Horsham 21st July

How to Lead & Manage Teams: Chichester 10th August

How to Lead More Effectively: Brighton 8th September

Key HR Practices Every Business Should Have: Worthing 20th September

For more course locations follow The Business Hothouse on eventbrite here

Sussex Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey is now LIVE

Since the COVID-19 crisis, the QES has consistently demonstrated the scale of impact on UK businesses. The survey has been essential in understanding the short and longer-terms impacts on businesses of different sectors and sizes.

The QES carried out by the British Chambers (BCC) is the largest independent business survey in the UK and a significant economic indicator. We are asking all Sussex businesses to complete the survey. 
QES findings are vital in the BCC’s and Sussex Chamber’s lobbying efforts because they are broken down to individual accredited chamber-level, making sure your voice is properly heard both nationally and locally on the issues that matter.
 
The results of the QES are published in advance of official figures and other private surveys and it consistently mirrors trends in official data. The results help influence the Bank of England and central Government.
 
We encourage you to take just a couple of minutes to complete this extremely important economic survey.

All data is treated as strictly confidential and will not be passed on to a third party.

Once you click the link, please make sure to select ‘South East: Sussex’ from the ‘Which Chamber’ section.

Click here to start the survey

Citizens Advice are looking for Trustees - Advert

Citizens Advice in West Sussex are looking for motivated and committed Trustees to join our charity, so we can continue to build and deliver greater impact to help our communities become stronger and thrive. 

We believe in a community free of inequalities where residents thrive through high quality advice and advocacy delivered together, in a system which works. Our charity is led by a Trustee Board who provide strategic direction so our organisation is run efficiently and delivers all our goals.

As we look to the future, we are recruiting additional volunteers to join our Board and help us with the new challenges. We want to reflect our community and are looking to bring more diversity to our team.

We’re particularly looking for people with knowledge or lived experience in commissioning, social welfare law, local government and HR.

Learn more about being a Trustee at: www.advicewestsussex.org.uk/about-us/trustees/

If you have any questions or would like to send your CV and covering letter to the team, please email: busres@westsussexcab.org.uk

4 Tips for Maintaining Brand Consistency by Momentum

Making sure your branding is consistent is key when it comes to building and maintaining an easily recognised business. Consistency solidifies the image of a brand in the mind of the public, presenting a single, unified identity and personality. This is important, as an output that has a different tone, writing style or visual style can quickly distort the perception of a business, making it seem less trustworthy and credible. Here are our top 4 tips for maintaining brand consistency:

• Use the right tone – The tone of voice used in content is often overlooked, but it is an important part of consistent branding. Tone can reinforce ideas behind your company and products in a subtle way; if your product or service is unusual or caters to a niche market, then a humorous or unusual tone of voice may fit your business – for example, Old Spice uses a unique style to catch attention. Conversely, if your products are powerful or serious, then a strong or proud voice may be right. Think motoring brands like BMW or Harley Davidson.

• Create branded graphics – Visual communication is very important with branding. Colour, for example, is one of the simplest elements you can use, but can be very powerful. The red and yellow of McDonalds is instantly recognisable, and the multi-coloured Google branding is commonly seen online. Fonts are also a simple yet effective way for branding to remain consistent across different content; cursive fonts give an elegant and carefree feeling, whereas blocky sans-serif text gives a more straightforward impression. Logos are another more obvious way to imprint branding into communications – when included tastefully, they provide an unambiguous identification of your brand.

• Make the most of your slogan – Not every brand has to have a slogan, but it is a useful way to convey what the company does, as well as establish an identity in a couple of words. “Just do it” or “Every little helps” are instantly recognisable and give a good idea of a brand’s values. Slogans can also be used for individual products or lines as a way to differentiate from the competition. Finally, to really utilise that slogan why not turn it into a branded hashtag? Just make sure that there’s no hidden meanings or existing uses for your hashtag – such mishaps are more common than you think!

• Vocalise your values – Let your audience know what you stand for! Ad campaigns aren’t exclusively for products or services, they are also a great way to show a company’s values and actions. You could draw attention to switching to recyclable packaging, or any partnerships or fundraising efforts. In recent years, some ad campaigns have seemingly deliberately featured controversial topics to draw attention, for example Gillette’s “we believe: the best men can be” ad which tackles toxic masculinity, and Nike’s ad featuring Colin Kaepernick, an American football player who has advocated against racial inequality.

We hope you’ve found this short read helpful.  If you’d like to chat through your own ideas or need any help getting them implemented, get in touch with Momentum Business Support Ltd

E: makeithappen@mbsmih.com   T: 01903 688789

Adur & Worthing Business Awards Launch 

Businesses interested in nominating or entering themselves for the 2022 awards are invited to attend the official launch event, which will take place on Wednesday 15th June from 5.30-7.30pm at The Marine Gardens Restaurant. 

This event is free to attend but as places are limited, we ask you to register via our website here 

Now in its 14th year, the organising committee are delighted to announce the launch of The Adur & Worthing Business Awards 2022 and the search will soon begin for the region’s top companies and business individuals. Whether large, small, new, or established, this prestigious awards programme is an opportunity for local businesses to demonstrate why they are leaders in their field and how they excel through hard work, determination, innovation, and creativity.

With a wide range of categories on offer, our 2022 Business Awards will offer recognition to a range of sectors all of which contribute to driving forward growth and investment across the area.  

James Stoner – Business Development Director at JSPC Computer Services and AWBA Judge said – “Adur & Worthing has a great deal to boast about when it comes to business. Not only does winning an award turn the spotlight on your business and all the great things that you do, it’s also a chance to come together, make those all-important new connections, and strengthen our sense of community. I’m already looking forward to reading this year’s entries and learning about what businesses are achieving in the area”.

Tracie Davey Operations Manager at Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce and AWBA Judge commented “Every year, we are overwhelmed by the inspiration and talent from the individuals and businesses within the Adur & Worthing area and it’s my privilege to once again be involved with these awards. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the amazing number of successful businesses that we have right here on our doorsteps and a reminder that Adur & Worthing is a great place to do business”.

 Special thanks to SJM Electrical Services for sponsoring this event.

Andy’s Angels Grief Play Cafe Charity is looking for people to join their Trustee Board 

They are looking for the following volunteer roles: 

> Fundraising and Events (Role share) -planning, overseeing and attending fundraising events and external events. 

> Advertising and Marketing- Supporting with Social Media, written, print, radio, community communication, corporate communication. 

If you have any of these transferable skills that suit either of these roles and have the time to commit to supporting this developing Worthing based charity, please email Info@andysangels.org.uk to find out more. 

Mayo Wynne Baxter completes merger with Ampa to support expansion in South East

Leading Sussex law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter has today completed its merger with national legal and professional services group, Ampa, to enhance its ambitious plans for growth.

The firm is now the group’s South East legal anchor brand and is proactively looking to recruit talented people and teams across the region, including in Sussex.

Mayo Wynne Baxter, founded more than 150 years ago in Lewes, will continue to operate as a separate LLP retaining its brand and growing its market position as it continues to deliver legal services for businesses, people and their families throughout the South East.

There have been no redundancies and Mayo Wynne Baxter is looking to bring in an additional 35 – 40 lawyers in the immediate future. No money has been exchanged as part of the merger. The firm’s equity partners have now merged into Ampa’s membership.

Mayo Wynne Baxter’s move to join Ampa is part of a wider strategy shared by the businesses for growth, collaboration and combined infrastructure, as well as shared values supporting clients and the community.

Dean Orgill, chief executive partner at Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: “As Mayo Wynne Baxter looks forward to the future, we are excited to be joining a group which shares our ambitions and values.

“Clients will continue to enjoy our commitment to exceptional service, but that will now be available across the hugely enhanced breadth and depth of skills and expertise that Ampa can offer.”

Dean will sit on the Ampa group board while also working with the firm’s partners to steer the growth of Mayo Wynne Baxter as a regional anchor brand for the group.

Joining Ampa will enable Mayo Wynne Baxter to increase its service offering for clients, tapping into more than 900 experts across the group of brands and Ampa’s group London hub.

The firm’s personal injury and clinical negligence teams will join Ampa’s existing national consumer-focussed law brand Lime Solicitors, with full continuity of service for clients, adding around £1.2m additional turnover to Lime Solicitors.

The merger was agreed in December 2021 and has now completed.

CEO of Ampa Sarah Walker-Smith said: “We’re delighted that Mayo Wynne Baxter will officially join the group from today.

“Transition for clients will be seamless as Mayo Wynne Baxter remains a standalone LLP in the group, however, clients will benefit from access to experts from our other brands including legal and non-legal teams.”

The merger brings Ampa to a turnover above £100m in the next financial year and a group of more than 1,200 people.

Ampa, which has pending B Corporation status, also includes cyber security company CSS Assure and uninsured loss recovery experts Corclaim as well as Shakespeare Martineau LLP, Marrons Planning and its consumer brand Lime Solicitors. All Ampa brands are recruiting lateral hires and teams, and the group is proactively looking for like-minded businesses to join the group.

St Oscar Romero's Event Support Request

They are looking for local businesses to get involved in these upcoming events and support the future workforce.  A fantastic opportunity to build social responsibility and enhance staff development.

Thursday 16th June 2022 - In person support  between 9am - noon

Year 10 Interviews. Each year 10 student gets a chance to have 20 minute interview slot talking abut their skills development

Monday 20th - Friday 24th June 2022 - Year 10 Work Experience Places Needed

This is  great opportunity for the the students to experience the real world of work. 5 days out of school working access many different industries.  Can you offer a place?

Tuesday 28th June 2022 - Year 8 Build and Bake Business Enterprise event - in person support

This yearly event helps to build entrepreneurial mindsets by tasking student teams to make a product and sell it. We are looking for willing partners to help support the day (in person) or sections of it. 8.40am to 3pm. This would be a great opportunity for staff development. 

Wednesday 29th & Thursday 30th June 2022 - Project Creation & Development Support

This is an introduction to the World of SCRUM teams who work with clients solving problems and creating products and services. You would need you to think up a project and do a 2 or 3 minute film, then be in contact via Zoom/phone etc as they develop their projects over the two days. 

For more information and to get involved, please email Phil Dean, Extended Learning Leader pdean@stromeros.co.uk