Worthing Theatres and Museum are excited to announce their bi-annual Open competition is open for submissions
 
WTM’s bi-annual Open exhibition invites amateur and professional artists from Worthing and the wider Sussex community to submit a digital image of their work to the Museum, for the chance for their artwork to be displayed in the Studio Gallery space.
 
Due to the current situation holding the Open20 in the usual format just isn’t possible so this year WTM will be holding the Digital Open20. They are inviting anyone of any ages who lives or works in East or West Sussex to submit an entry via the Digital Open entry form, which you can find at wtam.uk/Open20. There is no specific theme so the subject matter is completely open to artistic interpretation!
 
Entries close 5pm Wednesday 2nd December 2020.
 
The team at WTM will be short listing entries to feature in an online exhibition on their website, where the public will be invited to vote for their top 25 pieces - which will then feature in an exhibition in Worthing Museum’s Studio Gallery between January and March 2021. If you’re successful you’ll need to deliver your original artwork to the Museum, both 2D and 3D works are welcome but please check the conditions of entry for information regarding technical restrictions and limitations.
 
WTM wants to ensure Digital Open20 reflects the work of local amateur artists, communities and professional artists, of all ages and backgrounds. Anyone who lives or works in East or West Sussex is welcome to apply with artwork in any medium.
 
Find out more and submit you work at www.wtam.uk/Open20.   

Vision 21 (V21) at St Oscar Romero’s

Vision 21 is a virtual student support program being held at St Oscar Romero Catholic School in Worthing. Phil Dean the Extended Learning Leader is working with a group of business, industry, FE and HE providers to help and support the students future and progress. 

We are looking for willing Partners that can help support and grow this initiative and  hopefully build strong links for the students to help them feel more confident about their future during these troubled times.  

There are a number of virtual initiatives being discussed including: 

• Reverse Interview - Where students investigate and interview Partners in order to select their ‘Chosen One’. 
• Partner Mentoring (groups or Individual). 
• Experience of work (individual or group projects).  
• Baked - A business enterprise day with virtual advisers.
• Challenge 21 - Weekly group tasks set by our Entrepreneur Partners to find the new generation of Business leaders of the future

Yes, Indigo are open for business!

Simon Magoroli, Director of the Indigo Restaurant has provided the below update. 

"Indigo has its very own carefully selected “Christmas hamper of top Quality entertainment and delicious food”…….
 
There is something special for everyone!
I am very proud of the Christmas line up, I think it is unparalleled in variety and quality to anywhere in Sussex!  

West end stars – TV stars – Guinness Book record holders – Royal family private entertainers …..I am/ we are here absolutely determined to make this a Christmas for you to remember……
 
So what does this mean for all at Indigo??
 
After a lot of thought we have decided that we will not be defeated and CARRY ON  but in the same breath say that we will tread forward with due caution; As a consequence of the new guidance and the limitations imposed, I am sure you are not surprised to be told that numbers attending some of the events have understandably diminished since the announcement which makes them potentially not viable!
So in short …… if you are planning on coming to Indigo please book NOW

Which will help enormously in organising this challenging month We all need cheering up and I think we are offering just the right HAPPY MEDICINE. We will  rest assured be open for all dates as listed on the website but not necessarily with performers, just call to check how things are progressing 

We are abiding by all covid regulations of that you can be confident and assured
 
To view all  our fabulous events for December Click here
 
Private Dining
Please remember we have some intimate private dining rooms all decorated festively that can comfortably seat family and bubble guests all in accordance with covid guidance.

Christmas Gift vouchers
We sell £’000/s of gift vouchers which we can personalise with a message and send either through the post or by email
You don’t have to do a thing! Just call us or email…..

• Who is the lucky recipient
• How much (£) value
• A message
• The address

Could not be easier! And already this year we have guests taking friends as a Christmas present to one of the shows as a Christmas present!  what a great idea!
 
I am still trying to arrange a Christmas carol concert for the Mayor's local charities as we have done for many years but this time it will be recorded and will be delivered with a Christmas afternoon tea and of course a carol sheet to sing along! I will keep you posted!
 
I really hope that you join us in December. The stage/ lighting and music PA is being set up on Sunday in readiness for our first performance.
 
With my warmest seasonal greetings….. and just one more time please book!"
 
Simon Margaroli
Director

Zen to launch Gigabit speed broadband services over CityFibre’s networks

• Zen becomes CityFibre’s third national consumer ISP to offer full fibre services to consumers
• CityFibre’s Gigabit speed consumer broadband products will underpin Zen’s major customer acquisition targets
• Initial launch over four cities with plan to extend service across CityFibre’s footprint of up to 8m homes

Zen Internet, the UK’s largest independently owned telecommunications and technology service provider, has announced today that it will be joining CityFibre’s rapidly expanding national open access networks to bring reliable, full fibre broadband services to homes and businesses across the country. CityFibre, the UK’s third national digital infrastructure platform, is currently engaged in an up-to-£4 billion Gigabit City Investment Programme and Zen will be the latest consumer internet service provider to join its networks.

The first locations set to enjoy access to Zen’s competitively priced 1Gbps services will be Newcastle upon Tyne and Worthing, where the first customers are expected to go live in January. Ipswich and Leicester will be launched later in 2021 with further locations to be announced in due course. Alongside the delivery of home broadband services, CityFibre and Zen will work together to develop an extensive wholesale business service across CityFibre’s national network footprint.

Complementing its market leading growth in ultrafast sales and service delivery, Zen’s new speed service is made possible by using CityFibre’s reliable full fibre network. It will be amongst the fastest broadband services available to any home in the UK, providing customers with 1Gbps of bandwidth when both downloading and uploading. The service will transform customers’ digital capabilities, providing sufficient bandwidth to unlock the full potential of every smart device in the home and providing a solid platform for smart home applications of the future.

Paul Stobart, Chief Executive Officer at Zen, said: ““Full fibre is set to be the backbone of the UK’s connectivity for years to come, so we’re excited to be able to offer a market-leading gigabit speed service to tens of thousands of new broadband customers over CityFibre’s network. We will also be offering this service through our network of 700 channel partners many of whom are operating in these cities, so they too can make the most of FTTP and the move to ultrafast.

“More urgently, UK consumers need a service provider they can trust that offers a reliable and customer-first approach, and we’ve been delivering that for two and a half decades now, introducing industry-first initiatives such as our lifetime price guarantee. We’re eager to show what we can do for customers in these initial cities in a world where households are more dependent than ever before on broadband that connects them to the outside world – including school, work, family and friends. We look forward to further expansion as the partnership develops.”

Greg Mesch, Chief Executive Officer at CityFibre, said: “We are delighted to welcome Zen onto our networks, and to support their exciting Gigabit-speed home broadband service. Their strong reputation and award-winning services make them a perfect partner and we look forward to helping even more homes and businesses to take advantage of the huge benefits that full fibre has to offer.

“With build or mobilisation already underway across 67 towns and cities, and plans to reach up to 8 million premises, CityFibre is fast creating a nationwide world-class wholesale full fibre platform for our current and future customers. In doing so, we are also playing our part in providing the UK with the digital infrastructure needed to support its economic recovery and long-term success.“

For more information, please visit: www.zen.co.uk/cityfibre 

Aldingbourne Trust WorkAid looking for office space

WorkAid are looking for a small office to rent in the Worthing area. They require:

• A private office
• Wifi
• Parking would be useful but not essential. 

If you do have an office available please contact juliap@aldingbourne.org 

Pilbeam Construction have been awarded a Sussex Heritage Trust Award for the construction of the Lady Bee Enterprise Centre in Shoreham Port. 

The complete redevelopment of a reclaimed parcel of land with the brief to create a flagship project which provided small business units for local companies to rent. The centre comprises three two-storey buildings with a contemporary interpretation of an industrial building creating a benchmark for future architecture in and around Shoreham Port.

The annual awards ceremony which was due to take place in the summer, was delayed to 25^th November and had to move on-line due to the pandemic.

The Sussex Heritage Trust Awards recognise and reward the highest quality conservation and restoration, and the design of newly built projects, recognising the use of traditional skills and crafts.

Simon Pilbeam, MD of the Sussex based contractors said “We have been supporters of the Sussex Heritage Trust for a number of years and we are delighted that Lady Bee has received recognition for the quality and craftsmanship of the work that we deliver.”

Tim Hague, Director of Property and Infrastructure at Shoreham Port said ‘We are delighted that Lady Bee Enterprise Centre has brought well deserved recognition for those responsible – ECE and Pilbeam. As the client, we couldn’t be happier. This development became the template for further commercial developments of exceptional quality and sustainability standards completed across our estate over the last 18 months”.

www.pilbeamconstruction.co.uk

Heaton House turns summerhouse into visitor centre to keep relatives in touch during Lockdown 2.0

A local Worthing care home has come up with a creative solution to ensure residents can still have safe visits from loved ones during lockdown. Heaton House, a CQC Outstanding rated care home in Reigate Road, has turned its summerhouse into an outdoor visitor centre which facilitates safe visits whatever the weather!

The home was already hosting outdoor Covid-safe visits in the summerhouse and virtual visits via its laptops and iPads. This was fine when the weather suited, but as the seasons changed and the temperatures dropped, a new solution needed to be found. 

Registered owner, Sally Neil-Smith said, “It’s vital that we can offer visits to everyone who wants to come during this new lockdown period. So we have been prepared to do whatever we can. I can’t praise my team enough for all the extra miles they have gone! For visitors who are happy to come inside the home, we now have a designated visitor area in the home where the visitor is separated from the resident by an extra large clear screen. We have also purchased comfy headphones and microphones so that any hearing difficulties can also be overcome.

‘Keeping in touch with elderly loved ones is so important in normal times, and this has only increased with the new lockdown. We felt we had to do what we could to make sure all types of visits could go ahead’.

To find out more about Heaton House, visit https://heaton-house.net/ or call 01903 700251 and speak to Sue the Registered Manager or Sally Registered Provider/Manager. If they are not available when you call the carer-team will be able to help and Sue or Sally will call you back.

Reminder: Tier 2 'High Alert' rules now apply across West Sussex

• Mixing indoors only with people in the same household or bubble

• Sticking to the rule of six outdoors (including private gardens)

• COVID-secure businesses can re-open

• Spectators will be allowed to watch sport, with a maximum crowd capacity outdoors of 50% of the capacity of the stadium or 2,000 people, whichever is smaller. Indoors, the maximum capacity is 1,000

• Indoor entertainment venues, such as cinemas, casinos and bowling alleys, can open, but must close at 11pm

• Everyone who can work from home should do so.

From today, Wednesday 2 December, England’s new three-tier system comes into effect and the national lockdown has been lifted.

West Sussex has been placed in Tier 2.

The new restrictions include:

Please familiarise yourself with the full list of new restrictions by visiting the GOV.UK website.

Brexit deadline: too many UK companies are in denial – MHA Carpenter Box comments

With less than two months until the Brexit deadline, Dan Hobbs, tax partner at MHA Carpenter Box, believes trading with Europe after Brexit, deal or no deal, will be more challenging than many businesses are currently willing to admit:

“Due to COVID-19 the majority of British companies involved in exporting to Europe have not been able to give Brexit the attention they should and unfortunately some are in denial about the scale of the challenge. While there are a number of solutions available to facilitate EU trade, it is not as simple as getting an EU EORI number* to solve all supply chain challenges.

“The problems Brexit will throw up are surmountable, but they also require a long-term strategy to adjust to new trading arrangements and regulatory issues. The lack of preparedness is very understandable given the pandemic, but businesses now need to act promptly and get in the right mindset to see Brexit through over the next five to ten years.

“It is crucial to realise that although a deal will bring great relief to businesses and their bottom line by removing the cost of duty tariffs, the legal and regulatory as well as administrative costs will remain. For example, customs declarations cost money, irrespective of any actual duty being charged. As an estimate, if a company has 2,000 declarations to make it could cost potentially £50,000 to employ an agent to handle this volume of paperwork. Being unprepared and getting caught out will cost even more; if goods turn up at the border without the right paperwork they will just be stuck in the port.

“Due to COVID-19 and the misconception that a deal means trading will continue as normal we have sleepwalked into a situation where, less than two months away from the biggest change to the UK’s trading relationships in our lifetimes, many businesses are unprepared. It is not too late for companies to get their house in order but for many this will have to entail looking beyond specific fixes, like hiring a customs agent or thinking about a subsidiary in Europe, important though these steps are.”

MHA Carpenter Box has set-up a Brexit Hub to support businesses through the Brexit transition period and beyond. The firm is also holding a Brexit webinar: Are you ready? On 25 November; details of both the Brexit Hub and the webinar can be accessed at the following link: 

www.carpenterbox.com/brexit

 *An EORI number, or Economic Operators Registration and Identification number, is needed to move goods between the UK and non-EU countries.

West Sussex will be in Tier 2 from next week

New local restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus will come into effect next week. The government has announced that from Wednesday (December 2), West Sussex will be in Tier 2. This is for areas with a higher or rapidly rising level of infections, and some additional restrictions will need to be in place.

You can find a full breakdown of the new restrictions here.

National restrictions continue to apply until December 2.