Rampion ‘Meet the Buyer’ event
For: Onshore Cabling and Onshore Substation Suppliers

Date: 29th January 2015 From 10am – 3pm
Venue: TBC, between Worthing and Shoreham

E.ON will be hosting a 'Meet the Buyer' event on Thursday 29th January 2015 from 10am - 3pm for local suppliers who are interested in supplying products and services specifically to support the construction for the ONSHORE CABLING and ONSHORE SUBSTATION elements of the Rampion Wind Farm project.

There will be two additional events focused on Offshore Balance of Plant and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) later in 2015.

Make sure you are registered on the Sussex Wind Energy website http://www.sussexwindenergy.org.uk/company_database/register/ in order to receive details of the future events. This series of events will be limited to companies based in Sussex, Kent, Surrey and Hampshire.

Delegates attending this first event will hear presentations specific to the construction of the onshore cabling and substation activities, from E.ON’s contract managers and their lead suppliers and installers. Lunch will be provided and there will be opportunities to network during the event.

Draft agenda (subject to change):
10:00 Introduction and purpose – Rampion Development Manager
10:10 Rampion Supply Chain Work Programme - Marine South East
10:30 Rampion Project update – E.ON Project Manager
10:50 Onshore cabling and substation design – E.ON Contract Manager
11:10 *** Coffee Break ***
11:30 Cabling supplier presentation
11:50 Substation supplier presentation
12:10 Q&A
12:45 *** Lunch ***
13:45 Focus Groups (A Onshore substation B Cabling

To register your free place at this event please go to: http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/make_booking/?id=3428

For more information please visit http://www.sussexwindenergy.org.uk/

Supporting Evidence for Gatwick Airport Second Runway

Worthing and Adur Chamber has supported the campaign for the second runway at Gatwick Airport. Below is a copy of speech given by Jeremy Taylor as the business representative for our area.

Witness Statement for Airports Commission – 16th Dec 2014

Jeremy Taylor

I am Chief Executive of Gatwick Diamond Business.  We have 350 member businesses who employ around 50,000 staff.  Earlier this year we consulted with our own membership and found that 92% were in favour of the second runway.  

This organisation started 60 years ago on Manor Royal Business Park.  This was the catalyst for the development of probably the first airport economy in the world and the Gatwick Diamond.  The large businesses that moved here in the 1950’s developed a supply chain within and close to Crawley.   As Manor Royal and Gatwick Airport expanded, that supply chain attracted further businesses and now we have a £21bn sub-regional economy (the Gatwick Diamond), centred on the largest business park in the UK.

Within the region, there are a large number of business representation organisations, so I also speak today on behalf of a number of these and can supply a list of those to you (*see below).  Between them they represent in the region of 10,000 businesses and an employee workforce in excess of 200,000.  These organisations’ research shows a similar level of support for the second runway at Gatwick as within our organisation. 

Naturally there are some businesses with questions and concerns and I shall return to those later.

In our view, an Airport brings Economic diversity and this is very well evidenced at Gatwick.  In terms of our membership, only 12% are in the aviation, airport or tourism related industries.  The area boasts many household name companies that choose to be here as a result of the communications (air, rail and road) and skilled people in the region. 

The Gatwick Diamond is home to 45,000 businesses with an employee workforce of 400,000, and has six industry sectors which are particularly strong.  One sector is related to aviation, the others are:
•    Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering,
•    Financial and Professional Services,
•    Life Sciences, Health Technologies and Medical Devices,
•    Environmental Technologies
•    Food and Drink

One major employer in Medical Devices, Elekta, has recently committed to investing tens of millions into a global centre for research, creating hundreds of high-end manufacturing and research jobs.

The other leading company in this field, Varian, is also based in Crawley.  They are both here because Gatwick and the surrounding infrastructure brings them closer to their supply chain and their clients. 


There is no question that the second runway will bring an increase in Employment levels, particularly as Gatwick has a real impact on the local economy; 43% of Gatwick’s operational spend is with local suppliers. 

There is understandably some concern how these jobs will be filled. 
We have already seen the plans to develop public transport and the road infrastructure around Gatwick, which will allow other areas to rightly benefit.  We can see employment opening up for those who live in real disadvantaged areas along the coast and into London.  And while those employees are working here they will in turn spend money in the local area.
Furthermore, the Gatwick Diamond currently has a daily outflow of 110,000 commuters who work elsewhere.  We are sure that a significant proportion of those would rather work locally than have to travel.

I would now like to talk about Competition and demonstrate why growing Gatwick is better, not just for the region, but for the Country.

One of the key benefits to come out of the sale of Gatwick in 2009 has been the increase in competition on routes. 
This can be shown in the price differential achieved between Heathrow and Gatwick on the Moscow Domodedovo Route. 
A search for a 4-day return direct ticket in early February, with luggage and reserved seats showed £138 from Gatwick versus £1,198 from Heathrow.  As a business person looking for new opportunities, the majority of SMEs will choose the former price.
In a similar search for tickets to San Francisco from Heathrow, there was only a £70 differential between competing airlines at the same airport.

I am not here to attack individual airlines, but to demonstrate that should the next runway be built at Heathrow, airlines will congregate and there would be less competition; the price of trading internationally will rise.

Creating capacity at Gatwick will also bring better and more affordable connectivity to the regions.  Air connectivity to London is vital to those further parts of the country where road and rail travel are impractical and more expensive.  Even at the maximum of £15 per passenger, the relative difference in landing charges means that Gatwick will still be affordable for domestic airlines, and far more affordable than Heathrow.


Resilience
In business, it is important to have a capacity to cope, particularly when things go wrong.  By expanding Heathrow, the airport capacity will be concentrated in one place.  By developing Gatwick, there will be enhanced resilience in the London network with two world class airports where competition means lower costs and higher standards for the customers.

Travel costs
Travel costs to the departure point are of great interest to the business community, as they are to the leisure traveller.  I would like to illustrate this by referencing one of our businesses that has a French parent and so travel to and through Paris is a necessary part of their business. Only this year we have seen Paris back on the Gatwick route map.  Previously, this company had spent over £130,000 in travel costs reaching Heathrow.

With more routes coupled to the improvements in public transport access to Gatwick, then the costs of travel to Gatwick are coming down while the convenient ‘travel to airport’ footprint is expanding. 


Affordability
The Gatwick option is the most affordable for the country.  We also speak as taxpayers, and let’s not forget that the business community is an enormous contributor to the Exchequer. 
If there was a simple choice between a scheme that could cost £billions of public money when a privately funded alternative is available, then it does not make sense, especially in these difficult times, to pursue the one that will be funded from taxation. 
Gatwick have assured us on many occasions that it is self-financing and that there will be no cost to the taxpayer.


Future of Aviation
As has been made quite clear in the Commission’s findings, the future of aviation growth is hard to measure.  In 2003, Lo-Cost aviation was seen as a blip yet we now see that EasyJet and Norwegian carry the vast majority of Gatwick passengers, while some Charter airlines are pursuing a lo-cost model of operation. 
Most interestingly for me, is how business travellers have increased their use of Gatwick, an airport that used to be called a ‘bucket and spade’ airport.  But no longer; in only 4 years, we have seen an increase where 20% are business travellers, which in real numbers is now 7.6m. 
The future of the ‘Hub’ model is also under question as aircraft manufacturer order books show a far higher interest in aircraft that will serve two points directly.  The idea of London maintaining itself as a hub is diminishing and, with only 14% of London’s travellers using it as a hub, why should aviation policy be structured around the convenience of those few?


As I stated earlier, there are Questions to be addressed.
Around 250 businesses are likely to lose their premises.  We have been working with the Airport to address this and it is encouraging to see that Gatwick is looking to support any business that has to relocate. 
We do expect the Airport to provide on-campus office and other employment space, but there will be a question over leasing rates, particularly for some of the warehouse and storage businesses that are in the currently safeguarded land. 
We would encourage the Airport to work with Local Authorities and other developers to find alternative and affordable sites for those businesses as they are an important part of the local economy.

There is also a concern on the impact on skills availability.  We can see that there are a number of initiatives that should address this and look forward to greater detail should Gatwick be taken forward. 
As I mentioned earlier, there is a good opportunity to change local people’s commuting habits and so fill a number of these jobs from those who already live here.

In terms of the construction workforce itself, the large new development at Westfield Croydon will just be finishing as Gatwick’s construction work starts.   Those builders, engineers and other construction professionals could then move to the Gatwick site almost immediately.


Our final question is for the Commission itself as we can see that the impact of a second runway means different things to different people subject to their location.  Whilst we fully understand and empathise with the relatively small number of people that will be affected by noise, there is a much, much wider area and population that will benefit economically.  We feel it is important that the economic impact is taken across an area measured by a 90 minute travel zone.

Thank you for the opportunity of speaking


* I have agreement to speak on behalf of
Battle Chamber of Commerce
Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership
Burgess Hill Business Park Association
Chichester Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Crawley and Gatwick Chamber of Commerce
Croydon Business Improvement District Company
Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce
East Grinstead Business Association
Federation of Small Business (Regional)
Gatwick Diamond Business
The Gatwick Diamond Initiative
Hailsham Chamber of Commerce
Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce
Haywards Heath & District Business Association
Lewes Chamber of Commerce
Newhaven Chamber of Commerce
Peacehaven Chamber of Commerce
Seaford Chamber of Commerce
Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce

Be The Business
Second round of funding now open ‐ Deadline 22nd January 2015 at 5pm ‐ APPLY NOW

As the full allocation was not committed in round one we are accepting applications for a second round of funding. There is £180,000 available for businesses in West Sussex to bid for.

Be the Business was launched in 2013 as part of West Sussex County Council's commitment to supporting businesses.
A fund of £180,000 is available for businesses in West Sussex.

    The maximum grant that can be requested for any individual project is £25,000
    The maximum grant that can be requested for a consortium bid is £75,000
    Applicants are required to provide at least 50% of the total project costs as match-funding.


This programme is for start-ups, early-stage companies (1-2 years) and for established and growing businesses in West Sussex.

Businesses planning to relocate in West Sussex are also eligible but if successful, the grant will only be paid after relocation has taken place.

For an application form and guidelines for the Be the Business Start and Grow Grants 2014-15 please click here.

Riverside Carpark, Shoreham to fully reopen for business

Now that the construction work on the Adur Ferry Bridge is completed, Riverside carpark is going to fully reopen on 19th January 2015, from which time parking charges will apply.

Parking charges in the Riverside carpark were suspended in the summer of 2012 as a large part of the carpark was needed for the storage of building materials and equipment.  However, now that the Ferry Bridge is complete, all of the parking spaces will be reopened and the parking charges will come back into force.

Councillor Keith Dollemore, Executive Member for the Environment at Adur District Council, says: "The car park was closed to assist the building of the new Adur Ferry Bridge as part of Adur’s contribution to it. When the bridge was finished, it was intended to redevelop the car park and surrounding area. This has not happened, but we do need to bring the car park back into regulated use and available for all, for the benefit of everyone including local businesses. I sincerely hope the redevelopment will progress later in the year."

The pricing structure for the Riverside Carpark remains unchanged and is as follows:

Pay and display Monday to Saturday inclusive, excluding bank holidays:

Up to 30 minutes - 25p

Up to 1 hour - 50p

Up to 2 hours - £1.00

Up to 3 hours - £1.50

Up to 4 hours - £2.00

Up to 8 hours - £3.00

Navigator scheme provides funding and advice to new café

Starting a new business is hard enough, let alone sourcing funding and advice to help it flourish.  One local café has taken advantage of the support offered by the Business Support Navigator scheme: a one-year pilot project supported by the Regional Growth Fund and managed by Coast to Capital and Worthing & Adur Council.  The project signposts local businesses towards grants, funding and guidance. 

Tom Foolery is a new coffee shop and cafe situated on Shoreham’s high street, which opened in May 2014.  The café has a superb view across the River Adur waterfront, and prides itself on its coffee as well as food created from local produce.

Bob and Vanessa, the cafe’s owners, took full advantage of the support offered by the Navigator project.  Working with Business Navigator Tom Kenny, they are developing the business through funding and advice they might not have otherwise accessed.  “Applying for funding can be time-consuming,” says Bob, “but it is well worth it in the long run.  Business owners like us can reap tremendous rewards.”

So if you are thinking of starting a business, or you already have one and need advice, support or funding, get in touch with a Business Navigator. 

Worthing & Adur Business Navigator Tom Kenny can be contacted at tom.kenny@c2cbusiness.org.uk or on 01403 333840.

Business Support Navigator pilot helps ETI demonstrate its low carbon credentials

Worthing Business of the Year 2014, Electronic Temperature Instruments Ltd, is just one of the local firms benefiting from funding accessed via the Business Support Navigator Project.  ETI manufactures and supplies digital thermometers and temperature sensors to a wide variety of industries, including the catering sector, in the UK and beyond.

ETI was keen to refurbish its Worthing factory with energy efficient LED lighting, to save money and reduce carbon emissions.  Worthing Business Support Navigator Tom Kenny helped the company navigate the grant system, identifying eligibility for a £5,000 Low Carbon Workspaces grant.  The process was speedy – the initial online application was approved the following day.

The company had to provide energy Performance Certificates for the building and a quote for the cost of the light fittings and labour.  ETI was given three months to complete the project, but has since been given an extension to the end of February 2015 given the extent of the upgrade.

Erika Marsh, ETI’s Company Accountant says, ‘Our next initiative is to get a grant towards IT equipment from Sustainable Routes to enable our less local employees to work from home, saving on commuting cost, time and carbon emissions.  We’ve found the Business Support Navigator scheme invaluable to access opportunities about which we’d otherwise be unaware.’

Tom Kenny, Worthing & Adur Business Support Navigator, can be contacted at tom.kenny@c2cbusiness.org.uk

E.ON announces final 116 turbine design for Rampion Offshore Wind Farm

Press Release from Eon:

E.ON has announced the final design for the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm project, after receiving consent from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in July this year.

Situated 13km off the Sussex coast at its nearest point, the 72km2 final wind farm
would feature 116 turbines, each measuring around 140m high to tip. It would
have the capacity to generate 400MW of electricity, enough to supply the
equivalent of up to 290,000 homes(1) and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 600,000
tonnes(2) a year.

Chris Tomlinson, E.ON Development Manager for the Rampion Wind Farm, said: “Our final proposed wind farm design seeks to optimise the scheme in the best seabed conditions as part of our continuing drive to reduce the costs of offshore wind. We’re now finalising our construction plans and moving closer to being
able to secure jobs during both construction and operation. We look forward to
moving the project forward and to generating large scale renewable energy
helping to secure future electricity supplies.”

Chris Todd, spokesperson for Friends of the Earth, said: “This is really good news as it brings us another step closer to reducing our carbon emissions here in
Sussex. We also welcome the fact that E.ON has altered the size and layout of the
wind farm which will dramatically reduce the visual impact from the Heritage
Coast and the wider South Downs.”

Peter Davies, Development Director of Shoreham Port said: “We welcome the final proposals which ensure the Port’s future as Rampion will no longer affect its
anchorage and will maintain straight passage for ships into and out of the port.”
In reaching the optimised wind farm design(3), E.ON has reviewed the results of
extensive on and offshore engineering surveys and their associated technical and
cost implications, alongside commercial and environmental considerations raised
by stakeholders during the examination of the development consent order
application.

During the proposed 3 year offshore construction period it is estimated that 250
to 300 jobs would be created and local vessels would be utilised, with 40 roles
being based at the project management facility in Newhaven Port. It is envisaged
that a workforce of up to 100 would be working on the onshore cable route while
around 40 to 60 people would be employed at the onshore substation during the
proposed 2 year onshore construction. It is estimated that up to 65 full time
permanent jobs would be created at the operations base in Newhaven Port once
the wind farm is commissioned and fully operational.

E.ON will continue to keep the local community informed on the project’s progress and will be working hard over the coming months and years to make sure they are aware of the onshore and offshore activities associated with building the wind farm. The Rampion project remains set to become the first offshore wind farm off the south coast of England. A final timetable for construction is yet to be finalised.

Final Site layout map.

Trunk road not forgotten in Government investment announcement

Significant improvements to the A27, directly benefitting Adur and Worthing, are to be made in the “biggest upgrade to roads in a generation”, under plans announced today by the Government.

A constant source of frustration to residents and businesses alike, the A27 has long been cited as a barrier to economic and social growth in the south east – issues felt no more keenly than by the residents and businesses of Adur and Worthing.

Today, however, the Government has pledged to invest £350million into the A27 in a move designed which will deliver the world class infrastructure required to support growing local communities and economies.

Neil Parkin, Leader of Adur District Council, says:
“I am delighted by the fact that £350million will be invested in the A27 in a series of much awaited upgrades.  As someone who drives for a living, it’s all too obvious how below standard infrastructure adds unnecessary time and expense to simply getting about – whether for business or for pleasure.  I very much look forward to seeing the planned improvements and how they will benefit Adur residents and businesses.”

Leader of Worthing Borough Council, Paul Yallop, adds:
“I very much welcome the news that Worthing is going to benefit from this significant investment in a road which has caused so much frustration.  The Government talks about developing world-class infrastructure – I am convinced that, when completed, the improved A27 will support our local priorities as being world class places to live and work.  The detail surrounding the improvement works will make interesting and, I hope, inspiring, reading.”

The impact of significantly improving the A27 will be felt by businesses throughout the South East, as Andrew Swayne, Chairman of the Adur and Worthing Business Partnership, comments:

“The Adur and Worthing Business Partnership is delighted to hear the news that the A27 Action campaign has successfully made the case for a coherent set of improvements along our key trunk road. Reduced congestion and smother traffic flow are good for the environment and the economy.

“We look forward to seeing detailed plans in the coming months and the series of junction improvements being implemented quickly in an organised manner. We will be actively involving our membership and working with other partnerships to ensure an excellent scheme is delivered.”

More information on the improvements to the A27 will be made available by the Department for Transport in the coming months.

Regeneration of Worthing’s derelict Aquarena site

You are no doubt already aware of the proposals for a £40million redevelopment of the derelict Aquarena building on Brighton Road. The site has been empty since April 2013 and has been designated a key regeneration site in Worthing Borough Council’s core strategy. This development is Phase 2 of the Masterplan for this site to pay for the fantastic new Splashpoint swimming and leisure facility.

Roffey Homes are proposing to rejuvenate the site to create a quality landmark development that will be a positive sign of Worthing’s prosperity as a vibrant town and tourist destination, helping to stimulate growth and attract further investment. It would include 147 new homes (a third of which will be affordable or low-cost), open public spaces, a new 77-space public car park for Splashpoint and seafront users, and a rejuvenated seafront area both surrounding the site and extending westwards
past Beach House Gardens.

The project will generate additional business for shops, cafés, restaurants and other small businesses on nearby Brighton Road and across the town, both during and post-construction. The three-year construction is expected to support as many as 100 new jobs at any one time, with around half going to local workers who in turn will spend their earnings in the town.

A number of local business people have already expressed their support. Restaurateur Andy Sparsis says, “the development would be good news for shops, cafés and restaurants,” and hotelier Michael Clinch says, “I’m glad Roffey Homes is willing to invest to support Worthing’s economy”.

Roffey Homes would really value the support of businesses and their staff from across the town that would benefit from the development.

To formally register your support, visit the council’s planning website http://planning.adur-worthing.gov.uk/online-applications/  and use the application number AWDM/1636/14