Coast to Capital launches new Business Plan

Coast to Capital are delighted to share our Business Plan 2021-22 with you. Along with other LEPs across England, we have a crucial role to play in helping to support economic recovery and new business realities. As a region which has always made a significant net contribution to national prosperity, Coast to Capital has a lot to offer.

In our new business plan, we have refocused the role of our LEP to add value to regional growth. This includes building even stronger relationships with our key businesses and sectors. We will be concentrating on the most important opportunities to sustainably grow our business base, attracting investment, and generating jobs. As an ambitious organisation, we aim to pioneer what an effective LEP looks like to support our local authorities, businesses and voluntary & community sector in delivering their wider priorities. 

Click here to read the Business Plan

Bid to restore climate tackling seabed kelp forest gets government seal of approval with major grant

An innovative plan to restore a kelp forest off the coast of Sussex has resulted in Adur & Worthing Councils being awarded a government grant for major schemes tackling climate change.

Working with the Sussex Kelp Restoration Project, neighbouring local authorities and other partners, the Councils want to support work to restore natural kelp forest in the seas out to 4km off the coast between Selsey and Shoreham.

Coastal kelp beds help combat climate change by drawing down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reduce coastal erosion by absorbing wave energy and provide a haven for wildlife. Eventually the hope is that a Sussex Bay marine park can be created across the entire county coastline.

Now the scheme has been given a government seal of approval with the award of £79,000 from government department Defra and the Environment Agency to invest in the project. It is one of 27 schemes across the country to be awarded funds from the ground-breaking £10 million Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund.

Funding has been awarded to environmental groups, businesses and local authorities to invest in a broad range of projects that deliver environmental benefits while also demonstrating a wide range of innovative approaches to generating revenues from ecosystem services.

The Councils are in talks with The Crown Estate to become the first in the UK to lease the seabed for this purpose, in a pioneering project to invest in climate change measures and restore marine habitat.

This would allow the authorities and their partners to create a trial ‘kelp blue carbon investment product’ as well as exploring the value of other ‘ecosystem services’. The project could provide Government bodies such as the Environment Agency, water companies and other companies a platform to invest in kelp forests to help in their own bids to become carbon neutral.

Earlier this year the Nearshore Trawling Byelaw, which protects more than 300 square kilometres of seabed off the Sussex coast from trawling, was introduced by Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (Sussex IFCA). It followed effective lobbying by the Help Our Kelp partnership led by the Sussex Wildlife Trust SWT). Both groups partnering Councils in the new initiative.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said, ‘Given the scale of the environmental challenges we face, including climate change and biodiversity loss, it is crucial that domestic natural environment projects are able to attract private investment alongside support from the public sector.

‘Unleashing innovation and developing new sources of finance, such as through the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund, are fundamental for delivering nature recovery and developing nature-based solutions to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.’

Leader of Adur District Council, Cllr Neil Parkin, said, ‘There has been a tremendous response to the kelp forest project and indeed the idea of Sussex Bay. This government grant is another endorsement of this vital and innovative scheme.’

Leader of Worthing Borough Council, Cllr Daniel Humphreys, said, ‘This is great news. This partnership work on Sussex Bay has the potential to help us cut carbon emissions, restore our marine ecology and attract investment to support the creation of a marine park.’’

Rampion 2 wind farm expansion project opens public consultation

A nine-week public consultation on proposals for the expansion of Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, which could power over one million homes1 in the UK and reduce carbon emissions by around 1.8 million tonnes2 per year, opened at Rampion2.com [14 July to 16 September].

An ‘Area of Search’ eight miles off the Sussex coast has been assessed by renewable energy producer RWE for a maximum of up to 116 turbines, the same number as the existing Rampion Wind Farm but using the latest turbine technology, so that the Rampion 2 Wind Farm could create up to three times the amount of power. An underground cable route is proposed to carry the power under Climping Beach to Bolney Substation in Twineham, to connect to the National Grid via a new substation required close by.

“We encourage people in Sussex to visit Rampion2.com, where you can take a tour around a virtual exhibition, explore our detailed proposals with maps and videos, sign up to attend a public forum with the project team, and complete our questionnaire,” said Chris Tomlinson, Development & Stakeholder Manager, Rampion 2, RWE.

Technical and environmental surveys and a four-week informal consultation earlier this year have helped to establish the proposed cable route, undergrounding the cables in short sections. Directional drilling would take them under Climping Beach, railways, major roads such as the A27, the River Arun, Washington Recreation Ground and other key areas, to minimise environmental impacts and disruption to local communities.

Rampion is committed to full reinstatement of the land, so that it is returned to its former state or better along the whole cable route and the successful reinstatement of the Rampion 1 cable route demonstrates this commitment. Since January, possible sites for the new substation have been reduced from three to two in the Twineham area following further development work and consultation with the local community.

Continued Chris Tomlinson, “We will consider all the consultation feedback alongside the results of technical and environmental surveys, to further refine our proposals and select construction methodologies and environmental mitigations that reduce impacts to a minimum. We will submit our final proposals to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in early 2022.

“Rampion 2 is the only wind farm proposal off the UK’s south coast, where much of the country’s energy demand is. Should the project achieve consent, construction could start around 2025/26 with the wind farm fully operational before the end of the decade, contributing to Government targets to secure clean, green energy supplies and tackle climate change.”

Discussions with local authorities, MPs, parish councils and experts on wildlife, environment, transport, geology, archaeology, business and fishing will continue throughout the consultation and beyond.

UK wind energy context:

The cost of offshore wind has halved in just two to three years and is now cheaper than nuclear and coal, while the industry is creating tens of thousands of jobs nationwide. The UK leads the world in offshore wind and the Government is committed to quadrupling offshore wind capacity to 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. Rampion 2 can make a major contribution to this target.

Spectrum Racing for Autistic racing drivers

Six racing drivers under the age of 21, including Corey Chapma a karter aged ten, and multiple kart race winner Jack Ferguson.

Three of the six are on the Autistic Spectrum. (Autism, or autism spectrum condition, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication.)

All highly talented, dedicated, and determined. All proven race winners. We need your help to get them on track.

We have supplied the cars, commercial partners have helped  and these drivers have the chance they want. We need them to top up the funding.

We will not detail the drivers yet and they will introduce themselves when they feel comfortable to do so. You will have plenty of chances to meet them all eventually.

We have two endurance specification Citroen C1s, ready to race. We also have two BMW 116i Trophy cars in build, scheduled for completion at the end of August, subject to funding.

In addition to developing the drivers, we are raising funds and encouraging donations to the Norwich Foodbank, while raising awareness of homelessness through Shelter. 

Our target is to raise £5000, to be split between the race costs, entry fees, etc and the charities.

Big or small, all donations will be very gratefully received. Each supporter will receive regular newsletters, and those over £15 will receive a signed photo.

Over £50, and we'll give you two race tickets, and if you’re able to contribute £500, you can drive the cars at the end of the season.  If you're able to contribute £1000, you can be in the driving seat yourself at the end of the season!

Three drivers per car for the following events:

• Pembrey 11 & 12 Sept 2 x 3-hour races
• Oulton Park 23 October 1 × 3-hour race
• Brands Hatch 13 November 1 x 3-hour race

Apprentice Incentive Scheme Ends This September 

Time is running out for your chance to get up to £4,000 for taking on a new apprentice.

If your new apprentice joins your organisation by Thursday 30 September, and they start their training before Tuesday 30 November, you can still be eligible to: 

• Receive £3,000 for apprentices of any age (if they start their apprenticeships between 1 April and 30 September this year). 
• Plus, receive £1,000 for hiring any apprentice between 16 and 18 years old or under 25 with an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) or who has been in care. 

Don’t miss out. Contact us: employers@ccgtraining.ac.uk or book an online appointment, and we’ll help you to find the right apprentice for your business. We can also offer our expert advice on grants and funding.  

Non-Executive Directors Vacancies at Shoreham Port

Non-Executive Director 

Role summary 

To be a Trusted Custodian of Shoreham Port.

Execute the responsibilities of a Non-Executive Director according to lawful and ethical standards and the Nolan Principles, in addition to upholding the requirements of the Shoreham Harbour Revision Orders, The Ports Good Governance Guidance and the latest Department for Transport Trust Port review.

To adhere to the Port’s values and to ensure behaviour and contributions reflect these values.

Deputy Chair 

Role summary 

Click here to view the full description 

Click here to view the NED recruitment pack

Women in Business Networking for Sussex and Kent 

This will be a fun interactive 1 hour of Women in Business Networking in partnership with the NatWest Business Banking and Entrepreneurship team and Innovate UK Edge.

Innovate UK EDGE will be presenting on how they enable ambitious and innovative SME`s to scale and grow, by helping them to exploit innovation, source funding and enter new markets.

Over the past 12 months online networking has become more important than ever.

Networking is a huge part of building your personal brand. But with face-to-face events currently out of the question, it has been necessary to forge new connections online. Remote networking covers a host of different activities, from building followers on social media to attending live webinars and virtual events, and from joining themed Facebook groups to posting articles on LinkedIn.

Women in Business networking provides an opportunity for women to meet, educate, inspire and support each other in a safe environment.

This event will be on the virtual platform Zoom for business owners that are looking at getting started in business or looking to take their business to the next level.

Click here to book your  free ticket

Worthing Youth Mayor joins anniversary celebrations for award winning local Educational business

Founded in 2017, Worthing based TeachAllAboutIt opened their Worthing Centre in Tarring Road a year ago this week and to mark the occasion they held their first Open Day on 20^th June 2021. Among their visitors were Worthing’s Youth Mayor, Will Nyss, and Deputy Youth Mayor, Henny Sonnemann-Petty. As this was their first public engagement in person, this year, they were thrilled to connect with people and actually see, first-hand, what this Tuition Centre does.

Will Nyss, Youth Mayor for Worthing, said after his visit,

“I’m hugely impressed by how unimaginably creative, independent and resourceful this business has been over this Covid year and I am sure that their approach will continue to be of benefit to many learners long into the future.”

Deputy Mayor, Henny Sonneman-Petty, added,

“I really didn’t realise that something like this existed. It gives access and flexibility, which creates a certain freedom online, which is manifested here in the Centre, outside the traditional classroom setting.”

TeachAllAboutIt is a Tuition Centre offering 1-2-1, Group and Distanced Learning from KS3 to Adults, online and more recently, due to the lifting of restrictions, face to face. The Lockdown meant they were able to continue to support students online whilst helping other teachers and tutors to access and develop their own tutoring using modern technology.

Originally, Founder and Chief Tutor, Holly Billinghurst only offered Computer Science but, as demand has grown, she has taken on more tutors and now offers ICT, Maths, English, Business Studies and Science, working with children from across the UK and as far as the Middle East.

Recently, they have developed new initiatives running Worthing Home Ed Discovery Club on Tuesday afternoons, and DnD Club for budding wizards every Wednesday. The popularity of their courses has allowed them to open a KS3 Computing Group and  a second GCSE Computer Science Group from September and there are plans to deliver Functional Skills and open a new Gaming Club too.

Commenting on the day, Holly said,

“We were thrilled to see so many familiar and new faces throughout the day. The ability to showcase how far we have come in just the first year of physical premises was testament to the hard work and effort from every member of our team. We can’t thank our learners and their families enough for supporting us in taking on this new challenge and because of them we’ll be starting back in September with even more opportunities for young people to access education without limits.”

Throughout the afternoon, there was a constant stream of visitors from parents and children to local businesses, greeted on stilts by local circus performer, Nick Cook, who presented them all with a balloon animal of their choice. Inside was the opportunity for children and adults alike to play Minecraft using Pitops, experience the Banana piano and play with a range of Maths toys.

TeachAllAboutIt also offer bespoke training and offer their space for hire to businesses, and STAR Training were on hand to share details of their upcoming courses being run from the Tarring Road site from September. A franchise of the company, TeachAllAboutItFilm, who offer GCSE Film Studies, invited Sussex based actress, Caitlin Cameron (What Happened to Monday, Betrayed), to talk to visitors about her career and answered questions from budding actors.

Caitlin enthused,

“It was great to chat to people about acting and the different routes they can take into the industry. It’s so great that TeachAllAboutIt is here to support this, as well as other career paths. I wish there had been something like this when I was at school!”

Notes for Editors:

1. Founded in 2017 by Holly Billinghurst, TeachAllAboutIt Tuition has focused on access to education for all. Initially created for Computer Science tuition, TeachAllAboutIt has expanded to supporting students in a variety of subjects.

• Since the introduction of social distancing, Holly and her team have been working hard to produce a set of online masterclasses covering both Maths & Computer Science to allow GCSE & A Level students to continue accessing their high-quality tuition at an affordable price tag. Based in West Worthing, the centre has been specifically designed to support students and independent tutors within an adaptable and comfortable environment that encourages progress and independence for all learners.

1. TeachAllAboutIt was awarded 2021 UK Enterprise Awards Best Educational Resource and Private Tuition Provider in West Sussex by SME News.

1. TeachAllAboutIt was awarded Sussex New Business of the Year in 2020 by Sussex University Business School at the Gatwick Diamond Awards.

1. Holly was picked as one of Digital Women’s 40 Women to Watch 2020.

1. For more information, or to book a place on a course, please contact Debbie Bird, Administrator, at 0800 357 9129 or debbie@teachallaboutit.uk

1. To see our courses and training offers from TeachAllAboutIt, please visit our website at www.teachallaboutit.uk

1. Follow us on Social Media:

• https://www.facebook.com/TeachAllAboutIT https://www.linkedin.com/company/teachallaboutit
• https://www.instagram.com/teachallaboutit/
• https://twitter.com/TeachAllAboutIT

Adur & Worthing Business Awards 2021 – Official Launch Event

There was a buzz in the room at the Shoreham Centre on Wednesday 21^st July, as businesses from Adur & Worthing gathered to hear about this year’s business awards.  Having been postponed due to the pandemic in 2020, the Adur & Worthing Business Awards are back and the search has begun for top companies and individual business people across the region.

The evening launch event, held in conjunction with Worthing & Adur Chamber and kindly sponsored by SJM Electrical Services, was a huge success and marked the start of this year’s entry process which is open to businesses of any size operating across the region.  The venue, generously supplied by Adur Council, allowed the organising committee to welcome guests including sponsors, partners, judges and previous winners.  Attendees enjoyed a glass of fizz and light bites while networking in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere before taking their seats for an informative presentation and Q&A session.

Peter Webb MBE DL – Chairman of the Adur & Worthing Business Awards and Managing Director of ETI Ltd said: “After such a turbulent time for businesses, it is only right that we shout about the triumphs, recognise the resilience and celebrate the innovation and dynamic economic growth which has taken place within the different sectors and among businesses of all shapes and sizes.  Now is the time to shine the spotlight on businesses that have been exploring new opportunities, creating wealth, employing more people and contributing to the local economy.”

Chay Took – President of Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce and Partner at Kreston Reeves commented: “It’s been an incredibly challenging period for businesses as they’ve been forced to adapt during Covid-19 but the innovation, flexibility and determination shown by companies in Adur and Worthing has been astonishing. There is no doubt that Covid has placed a huge strain on the local economy but, in such hard times, the resilience shown by so many companies has been truly remarkable and if ever there was a year to celebrate success and showcase the best of our business community, this is it!”

The Adur & Worthing Business Awards have grown in prestige and importance and have become a well-established platform to champion business excellence. Offering 18 separate categories, businesses are invited to enter these awards which are all designed to recognise success and achievements across various industries.  In recognition of the pandemic, some of the category criteria’s have been adapted and we have included a COVID-19 Response award this year, but many of the event’s traditional categories, will remain. 

Full details on the categories available and how to enter the awards can be found on the Adur & Worthing Business Awards website www.awbawards.com  Entries are now open and the winners will be announced at a glittering black-tie awards ceremony to be held at The Pavilion, Worthing on Friday 12^th November 2021.  

Advice for Landlords on ‘Making Tax Digital’

Landlords looking for tips on tax and how to prepare for incoming Making Tax Digital (MTD) rules are being invited to an online event on July 22 with specialist advisors from Carpenter Box.

MTD will have a significant impact on landlords with annual profits exceeding £10,000, with HMRC requiring individuals to use electronic accounting records and submit quarterly returns detailing income and expenditure from April 2023.

“MTD will require a significant change in both processing financial information and providing data to HMRC. Although the start date is some way off, landlords will need time to implement new accounting systems and get used to the new system well before the deadline, “ said Karen Thomas, a Tax Associate within the Private Client Services team at Carpenter Box, and one of the speakers at the event.

“We will also give some additional tax tips for landlords at the event and there will be plenty of opportunities for them to ask questions and clarify any burning issues they may have.”

To register for the event, go to:

https://www.carpenterbox.com/event/making-tax-digital-for-landlords/