Sussex Virtual Business Expo

Date: Wednesday 28th April 
Time: 10am - 12pm. 2pm - 4pm
Cost: £10 for both sessions 

Bringing Sussex businesses together

• Open networking 
• Panel discussions 
• Live Q&A's 
• Exhibitors 
• Giveaways 

2 hours in the morning with a speaker and 2 hours in the afternoon with a speaker

For more information contact mike@sussexbusinessexpo.co.uk or call him on 07885490266 

Worthing Theatres and Museum receive a grant of £1,834 from the Theatres Trust: Theatres Reopening Fund.

Worthing Theatres and Museum has received a grant of £1,834 to aid in preparations for reopening all venues later this year. WTM have done everything possible with the resources available to ensure audiences still have access to arts and creativity during a time when it is needed more than ever. This funding will further support the WTM staff team in working safely on and off site to create and curate work for their in-person and digital audiences; and allow the organisation to purchase additional equipment to ensure the safety and confidence of their audiences as the venues reopen.

Last autumn Worthing Theatres and Museum successfully trialled the gradual reopening of all its venues. Including the reopening of Worthing Museum, a fantastic season of stand-up comedy, stunning Screen Arts line-up and a magical family Christmas show. Additional measures and safety procedures already introduced include socially distanced seating; PPE for all staff; ensuring hand sanitiser is available throughout their venues; clear signage displaying Covid-19 safety messaging; using electronic ticketing in place of paper tickets; one way systems and exits; and offering audiences the opportunity order refreshments through an app and that refreshments are delivered directly to their seats.

The support from the Theatres Reopening Fund, administered by the Theatres Trust, will allow WTM to further prepare for a full reopening funding additional equipment to keep our team and audiences safe and connected. Including Perspex screens to allow staff to work safely within the venues, an additional fogger and the necessary antibacterial spray solution that ensures we are able to reopen multiple venues, have multiple performances at a time and continue our rigorous cleaning and disinfecting procedures and LED screens used to display essential safety information and Covid-19 messaging in a variety of formats so that audiences can see and understand messaging.

CEO Amanda O’Reilly says ‘We are looking forward to reopening and welcoming our community back into the venues as soon as we are able to do so. The support of the Theatres Trust will aid in preparations for reopening, facilitating additional measures that will help ensure the safety of our audiences and the WTM team.’ 

As a charitable organisation WTM rely on the support of audiences and the community to develop our programme on stage and screen, in our museum, and within the community. If you would like to find out more about supporting WTM, you can at www.wtam.uk/support. 

The Theatres Reopening Fund is administered by the Theatres Trust with the aim of supporting theatres with reopening following several months of closure. Helping cover costs such as building improvements and purchasing equipment that will support the theatre to be able to open viably and safely.

Theatres Trust Director Jon Morgan comments, ‘While not all theatres are able to open right now, Theatres Trust is pleased to be able to help more theatres to prepare for a time when they can welcome audiences back into their buildings, safe in the knowledge they are providing Covid-safe spaces for people to enjoy the live entertainment that has been so missed in 2020.’ 

For more information on how you can support WTM and the safety measures in place for reopening visit www.wtam.uk. 

Free rapid lateral flow coronavirus tests for your employees

Workplace testing: Register interest by 31 March to access regular free workplace testing: All businesses regardless of size are now able to register to order free workplace testing kits for their employees who are unable to work from home. As around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus do not have symptoms, regular testing will be vital to support the gradual easing of restrictions. Businesses can register here for tests – all businesses, including those that are currently closed, need to register by 31 March 2021.

https://www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests

Apply for a grant to help small and medium-sized businesses new to importing or exporting

The SME Brexit Support Fund could give you up to £2,000 to help with training or professional advice, if your business has up to 500 employees and no more than £100 million annual turnover.

What you’ll be able to use the grant for

You can use the grant for training on:

• how to complete customs declarations
• how to manage customs processes and use customs software and systems
• specific import and export related aspects including VAT, excise and rules of origin

It can be used to help you get professional advice so your business can meet its customs, excise, import VAT or safety and security declaration requirements.

Who will be able to apply

Your business must:

• be established in the UK
• have been established in the UK for at least 12 months before submitting the application, or currently hold Authorised Economic Operator status
• not have previously failed to meet its tax or customs obligations
• have no more than 500 employees
• have no more than £100 million turnover
• import or export goods between Great Britain and the EU, or moves goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Your business must also either:

• complete (or intend to complete) import or export declarations internally for its own goods
• use someone else to complete import or export declarations but requires additional capability internally to effectively import or export (such as advice on rules of origin or advice on dealing with a supply chain)

How to apply

Applications will close on 30 June 2021 or earlier if all funding is allocated before this date.

Apply online through PwC.

STEP-UP Programme - the final opportunity for SMEs to sign up 

Applications to Step-Up are currently scheduled to close at the end of April 2021. However, places are filling up fast, so please apply soon if you would like to take part.

Step-Up is a new internship and training programme for SMEs in the C2C Local Enterprise Partnership region, where you can access talented graduates to help sustain and grow your business through fully-funded graduate internships.

By joining Step-Up you will benefit from expert-led masterclasses, the opportunity to build relationships with the universities of Brighton and Sussex, and recruit a fully-funded graduate intern for six weeks in summer 2021 - all at no cost to you.

Our offer to you …

• Access to join up to four free online SME masterclasses, which can be attended by any staff member. (Additionally, there will be two recorded sessions we will send you to watch in your own time.)
• Access to 300 of the brightest, self-motivated final-year students, who will have completed an SME-focused employability skills training programme.
• Following the masterclass series, you can recruit a fully-funded graduate intern for six weeks in summer 2021.

We have recently updated our SME offer to ensure the Step-Up programme is easily accessible, flexible, and time-efficient for your business.

Please visit www.brighton.ac.uk/step-up or email the Step-Up team at stepup@brighton.ac.ukfor more information. Alternatively, you can attend one of our webinars to find out more.

The STEP-UP Programme is co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. Grant Reference: 04S18P02524

West Sussex COVID-19 - Roadmap out of lockdown

The infection rates in West Sussex continue to drop. View our data dashboard here.

At the same time, more than half a million COVID-19 vaccinations have already been given to protect people across Sussex in the most vulnerable groups.

We’re now reviewing the government’s lockdown exit plan and the implications this has on our services.

Dr Tony Hill, West Sussex County Council’s Interim Director of Public Health, said: “As more and more people receive their vaccinations, each one takes us a step nearer to coming out of lockdown.

“I’m pleased to see the cases in West Sussex fall, but COVID-19 is still present in our community and numbers will rise again if we don’t stick to the rules.

“We must continue to keep West Sussex safe by following the current guidelines, washing our hands regularly, wearing face masks whenever necessary and keeping a social distance from those outside of our households.”

Amanda Jupp, Cabinet Member for Adults & Health and Chair of the Local Outbreak Engagement Board, said: “The pandemic has been a difficult time, especially for those who have lost loved ones, battled coronavirus themselves or who have suffered hardship.

“The lockdown exit plan, along with the ongoing vaccination programme, hopefully offers some optimism for the coming months.

“However, it is still vital that we all play our part by following the rules to make sure everyone’s efforts to get us back to normal have not been in vain.”

Gatwick publishes 2020 annual results, with renewed optimism for international travel to return in Summer 2021 whilst maintaining its financial resilience

• The year 2020 was heavily impacted by significant global drop in passenger and air traffic numbers due to COVID-19
• Swift action was taken to reduce operational costs and capital expenditure as well as to secure additional liquidity whilst the airport continues to remain open throughout the pandemic
• Renewed optimism as a result of the UK Government’s COVID-19 response road map – in anticipation of international travel starting again in May 2021
• Focus remains on safety and wellbeing of passengers and staff

Despite an encouraging start to 2020 passenger numbers at Gatwick fell 78% in the year ended 31 December, 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19. The airport remained open throughout the pandemic, however all revenue streams were impacted and the collapse in passenger demand led to a £465.5m loss for the twelve-month period and negative EBITDA at -£25.1m.

Decisive and swift action was taken to protect the financial strength of the business.  A strategic reduction in capital expenditure resulted in the deferral of over £380m from the investment originally planned in 2020 and 2021. Operating costs were reduced by over £140m in 2020 through a variety of actions including restructuring and reducing staffing levels by over 40%, renegotiating contracts and consolidating all air traffic and passengers into one terminal. 

To improve liquidity, in April 2020 Gatwick secured a £300m loan with a consortium of banks and the company has drawn £250m under the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility. The group has been granted a waiver to address breaches in Financial Covenants at 31 December, 2020.  As of December 2020 Gatwick had available liquidity of £573m to meet its operating cashflows, planned investment levels and interest payments for 2021.

A priority continues to be protecting the health and wellbeing of employees and passengers with new staff COVID-19 testing measures being implemented alongside one of the UK’s first airport NHS testing sites in 2020 and walk-in and drive-through private testing facilities also being made available at Gatwick for staff and the public.

Gatwick Airport, Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Wingate said:

“It will come as no surprise that, like any other international airport, the negative impact of COVID-19 resulted in a financial loss for the business last year which sadly also saw us need to reduce our workforce by over 40%.   I would like to thank all our staff, including those that have left us, for all their hard work and determination throughout these difficult times.

“Despite the immediate challenges I remain optimistic that Gatwick will recover and retain its position as one of Europe’s leading international gateways and an economic driver for the UK’s south east region.  Due to our swift actions the business remains resilient and robust with our focus on ensuring we are best placed to take advantage of a return to international travel this summer.

“We are heartened by the UK Government’s COVID-19 response plan and look forward to working with the Global Travel Taskforce to develop a framework that can facilitate greater international travel as soon as possible.  This will require the UK Government working with other Governments, to ease the current crippling travel restrictions and ensure a consistent, reciprocal approach for all travellers in time for this summer.  Restoring passenger confidence and offering COVID-19 safe air travel while minimizing the need for cost prohibitive testing and disruptive quarantine measures is vital.  Before air travel recovery begins, and in order for the industry to continue to protect as many jobs as possible, we also need the UK Government to provide further support by extending the furlough scheme for a few more months and providing business rate relief, as airports in Scotland have been afforded,  for the current financial year.”

Worthing council approves 2021/22 budget

A balanced budget to help Worthing continue to grow and thrive post-COVID has been agreed by councillors.

Worthing Borough Council approved spending plans for the next financial year last night (February 23, 2021), pledging to maintain services, support residents in need and invest in the town.

The budget will also help deliver a series of long-term ambitions, including the regeneration of the town centre, the rollout of gigabit broadband and sustainability measures to respond to the climate emergency.

To ensure a balanced budget and ensure the Council can support communities bounce back from the pandemic, a 2% rise in council tax - which equates to an extra 9p a week for a Band D household - was agreed.

The spending plans include providing a range of services to support those impacted by COVID, such as wellbeing MOTs, council tax support, homelessness outreach, home adaptations and employment coaching.

Parks and open spaces will receive major investment, funding will support leisure provision and culture, and plans to create a new NHS health hub on the civic centre car park will progress.

To increase revenue and improve efficiencies, the authority will continue its digital transformation programme, expand its commercial activity and make prudent commercial property investments.

Cllr Daniel Humphreys, Leader of Worthing Borough Council, said: “This budget provides certainty in a year of uncertainty. 

“COVID has presented real challenges to all of our residents while hitting the Council’s finances hard. Despite this, we have worked with communities to respond to the pandemic, continued to provide all of our services and made real progress on delivering our long-term ambitions.

“This balanced budget will help us continue down that path, supporting the regeneration of our town centre, deliver new high-quality NHS healthcare facilities and help us become net zero carbon by 2030.

“We remain mindful of the financial pressures on residents which is why we have kept council tax as low as possible. 

“The agreed budget will allow us to continue to deliver our ambitious programme ensuring that post-COVID our communities are healthier and more prosperous.”

To view the budget papers and watch the meeting visit here.

Business start-up support from West Sussex Library Service

From Spring 2021 West Sussex Libraries will be part of the British Library Business and IP initiative

We will be working with Brighton and Hove libraries to offer lots of new, free to access business resources from library computers, including company and market research databases.

The range of business databases available through West Sussex Libraries now includes:

• COBRA  - Complete Business Reference Advisor is a continually expanding business database with information about starting and running a wide range of small business types. It provides access to around 4,000 factsheets, market reports, contacts, funding resources and help and support.
• EMIS - Emerging Market Information Service provides a unique blend of analysis, data and news on companies, industries and countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. EMIS licenses content from leading sources of company and industry intelligence, combined with a database of over 6.6 Million companies, M&A information, and country level research.

• Kompass EasyBusiness contains information on over 43 million companies across 71 countries worldwide. You can use it to target prospects with precision, using over 100 search and selection criteria. Search locally or globally, expanding growth potential across the UK and 70 countries worldwide.

• IBIS World provides industry market research for the UK, Ireland and general global reports featuring industry risk ratings and analysis of hundreds of industries including risk scores and revenue forecasts. It is searchable by UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes.

• Grantfinder is a database for all types funding including loans, awards, and grants to help local companies succeed and grow. Local entrepreneurs can search independently through the thousands of funds available to them. These include government and regional schemes, local authority funds and prestigious business award competitions.

During lockdown you can contact West Sussex Library Service to find out more about these databases, via:

Email:   enquiriesteam@westsussex.gov.uk

Web:     https://arena.westsussex.gov.uk/web/arena/currentoffer/business

The Business Hothouse support - Raising finance within your business

It is a free, confidential, 1-2-1 (via phone, or Zoom) with any business owner across Coast to Capital region.  This session can be to discuss the questions related to business financing options, grants, support with the grant applications, support with business plan and cash flow, etc.  Event description and booking link is here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/raising-finance-within-your-business-1-2-1-sessions-tickets-108842855912