Invest4 Grant Funding

Invest4 grant funds are available to both pre-start and to growing established businesses. The type of grant fund offered is known as ‘match-funding’, where a business must agree to provide 60% of the required investment to which the funding body will then ‘match-fund’ the 40% balance. Business grants from £2,000 to £170,000 can be secured and will be awarded through the Invest4 program managed by Brighton & Hove city council. You can contact the fund manager to request an application form at invest4@brighton-hove.gov.uk. 

For full details about the Invest4 grant fund guidelines, you can download the application and guidelines document.

Future Fund announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20^th April - now open

The Future Fund uses an online platform for applications, which today publishes its set of standard terms and eligibility criteria forborrowers, investors and solicitors to view in advance of opening for applications from Wednesday.

The new Future Fund will support innovative UK companies with good potential, that are essential in ensuring the UK retains its world leading position in science, innovation and technology. These companies typically rely on equity investment and are currently affected by Covid-19.

Until now these companies have been unable to access other government business support programmes because they are either pre-revenue or pre-profit. The financing supports companies facing a significantly extended length of time between funding rounds, due to the impact of the current economic situation.

Developed by government and delivered by the British Business Bank, the Future Fund will help these companies through the current period of economic disruption and recovery, so they are able to continue their growth trajectory and reach their full economic potential.

How it works:

• Open for applications from Wednesday 20^th May.
• Scheme operates on a commercial basis to deliver an initial commitment of £250m of new government funding.
• Financing will be unlocked by additional third-party investment on a match funded basis.
• Applications submitted via an online platform based on a set of standard terms and eligibility criteria.

Eligibility criteria:

• Companies must be UK-incorporated and if part of a corporate group, only the parent company is eligible.
• Companies in receipt of the loans will be required to have previously raised at least £250k in equity investment from third party investors in the last five years.
• Only eligible companies that can attract at least 50% of third-party investment will receive funding.
• Companies cannot have any of their shares traded on a regulated market, multilateral trading facility or other listing venue.
• The company must have been incorporated on or before 31^st December 2019.
• At least one of the following must be true for the company:
• • Half or more employees are UK based;
  • Half or more revenues are from UK sales.

For more information on the Future Fund eligibility criteria and applications process, see attached factsheet. Or visit the Future Fund webpages here.

Worthing’s Assembly Hall transformed into PPE distribution centre during Covid-19

A team of volunteers from Worthing has set up a makeshift base at Worthing’s Assembly Hall to make and distribute PPE plastic visors to frontline healthcare workers in Sussex. 

Joining forces with national volunteer-run project 3DCrowdUK, volunteers coordinated by Transition Town Worthing are helping to plug the gap in PPE supply.

With the support of Adur & Worthing Councils, the team are using 3D printing technology to make and distribute protective eyewear to local hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Sam Bailey from Transition Town Worthing and co-ordinator of the Sussex hub for 3DCrowdUK, said: “It all began with an email to the Transition Town Worthing Repair Cafe from Keith Colin at Sustainable Sussex asking how we could best put our skills and resources to use during the crisis.

“We considered various options, from producing parts for ventilators to making scrubs and masks.  But as the urgent need for eye protection became clear, and we saw how the 3D printing world was rising to the challenge, we jumped at the chance to join the movement and support our local NHS workers.”

From his home in Worthing, Sam launched the operation with four printers, two loaned by Worthing Borough Council’s creative hub Colonnade House and another two supplied by members of the community.  

He then set about teaching himself how to use a 3D printer having never previously used one. Before long he had printed and dispatched his first batch of 60 3D printed frames to one of the national distribution centres. 

Then at the end of April, with the help of Adur & Worthing Councils and a team of fantastic volunteers, an area of Worthing Assembly Hall was transformed into a distribution hub for 3DCrowdUK to serve the NHS in Sussex.

Sam said: “Since launch, we’ve assembled and distributed 810 face shields to hospitals and health care centres in Brighton, and we still have thousands more orders to fulfil. We don’t see the demand letting up any time soon.”

The project has also been supported by Worthing Community Chest and Worthing Small Change which have helped to fund local efforts, in addition to Design Packaging Ltd, which donated all the packaging materials for distributing face shields to the frontline.

You can find out more about 3DCrowdUK on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. You can also donate to 3DCrowdUK at 3dcrowd.fund or by emailing  sponsors@3dcrowd.uk. 

West Sussex County Council Survey

West Sussex County Council Survey are launching a survey to gather your views and to assess the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on your lives.

Tell them how your lives have changed, how you are coping and what your thoughts are on life after this crisis. Your answers will help to shape their response to the current crisis as well as their plans for the future.

Please take 10-15 minutes out of your day to complete this very important survey by Sunday 31 May 2020.

Worthing High School celebrates successful Ofsted inspection

Worthing High School is celebrating following a highly successful Ofsted inspection. Back in march 2020, just before all school went into lockdown due to the Covid19 outbreak.

Worthing High School, part of the South Downs Education Trust, has been on a strong positive journey of school improvement since becoming an academy in 2012.

Pupils at Worthing High School make "good progress" according to the inspection report following Ofsted’s visit which took place on 10^th and 11^th March 2020

Worthing High School is delighted to have a judgement of Good and to have achieved it within a year with very difficult and challenging circumstances associated with the Covid19 outbreak is not to be underestimated.

The Headteacher and CEO, Pan Panayiotou, along with all the staff, Governors, and Trustees are delighted with the result. Mr Panayiotou said “our Ofsted report clearly shows the progress pupils are making and the high quality of teaching and learning which we offer. We are determined to continue in on our journey to provide the best education possible for all boys and girls in the Worthing area which is underpinned our strong Core Values of Resilience, Respect, Integrity, and community. The report also highlighted the pupils' confidence in their learning and the calm and orderly environment for learning.

“The SDET Trustees are really proud of the work that the school have done in meeting the standards set out by Ofsted and maintaining our rating of being a Good school given the bar has been raised to still achieve this. Particularly pleasing is the recognition of the safe and nurturing environment we offer, and that our students are given excellent opportunities for interesting and exciting experiences outside of the standard curriculum.” – Rosanne Fleming, Chair of Trustees

“On behalf of the governing body I would like to congratulate the whole school staff who should be very proud of this report.” – Tony Cohen, Chair of Governors

Chief Executive Officer & Headteacher, Pan Panayiotou said:

 “We are thrilled that Ofsted have recognised the impact the school has made and the journey it has been on. The report shows clearly the hard work and dedication by all staff and demonstrates the schools core values and ethos. I am really pleased with the report, as it comments on our curriculum being robust and broad and this is even more so with the new Ofsted framework.  We are determined to continue our drive so that the progress of pupils is sustained and continues to improve.”

Office available to rent in Worthing

157 square feet Office available in Worthing. 

Rent - £350 per month which includes Broadband, heating and electric. We also have a meeting room which is available for a small cost on an as needed basis.

Office will be available from middle of next month on a 12 month license with 3 months’ notice

For further details contact Tony Hedger A & T Business Associates Limited Telephone: 01903 602211

Worthing Theatres and Museum announce unique contemporary collecting project Cutting Edge

Worthing Theatres and Museum are seeking potential donations of high street or home made clothing from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s to join the museum’s nationally recognised costume collection as part of a unique contemporary collecting project called Cutting Edge. 
 
Cutting Edge is a National Heritage Lottery Funded, year long collaboration that sees curators from WTM working with a group of students from Shoreham Academy to research, identify and source items that have had the greatest impact on fashion during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. 
 
This includes high street favourites such as Red or Dead, Benetton, Chelsea Girl, Freeman Hardy & Willis, C&A, Ben Sherman, Kangol, Tammy Girl, Warehouse and Diesel, to name a few. 
 
WTM's costume collection tells the story of everyday fashion and how it has changed over time. It reflects the clothing of real people - the average person on the street. At the moment the collection contains limited pieces from the 1980s and 1990s and almost nothing to represent the 2000s! Cutting Edge seeks to remedy this. 
 
The Cutting Edge team are asking for donations of clothing, accessories, footwear, hats and bags from these decades and the history associated with them - whether it's a photo of the piece being worn, or a story of how the owner came by it. We will select a number of donated garments to include in the costume collection. 
 
If you have an item you would like to be considered please complete the google form available on the WTM website, with as much detail as possible including photographs, and the Cutting Edge team will respond via email. 
 
Perhaps you have an outfit or item/s of clothing that you raved in at Sterns or The Haçienda; a fabulous dress and heels that you discoed in at Rutherfords or Liquid Lounge in the 2000s and photos of you wearing them, associated gig tickets, flyers and stories? If so, we want to hear from you! 
 
If you have a cherished piece from these decades gathering dust, we would love you to consider donating it for future generations to enjoy and study at our state of the art Costume Research Centre. 
 
The museum is closed during the Coronavirus lockdown, so please DO NOT bring or leave items outside as we cannot acquire anything without prior assessment. 
Find out more about the project and submit your items for consideration on their website at wtam.uk/stories/cutting-edge/.

Adur & Worthing Business Awards 2020 - Cancelled

It is with great disappointment that the Organising Committee have taken the decision to cancel the Adur & Worthing Business Awards for 2020 due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

As we’re sure you're all aware, whilst lockdown restrictions might be relaxed over the coming weeks, the annual business awards is an event that requires a great deal of forward planning and effort. With so much uncertainty surrounding the situation, we felt it was impossible to continue with the planning and delivery of the 2020 event. Additionally, we are aware that businesses will be feeling the negative effects of the pandemic and they will need to prioritise their focus accordingly.

We very much hope that Adur & Worthing businesses will come back bigger, better and stronger for 2021. In the meantime, we send you all our best wishes during this trying time and look forward to working with you again next year. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding and we hope to update you soon with news of a new date for the 2021 event.

Coronavirus – what’s the best financial support for my business?

Local businesses navigating funding options support during the Coronavirus pandemic need to do their homework to help them gain access to the schemes best suited to their needs.

Sussex-based chartered accountants and business advisers, MHA Carpenter Box, say that too many companies are unsure as to which scheme is best for their business. They find businesses also hit the buffers early in the application process because they haven’t got everything to hand at the outset. 

The firm launched a new Funding Team last year and, along with its dedicated Coronavirus resource hub, is now providing independent advice on the finance options available. The team can help, whether it’s the new interest free small business loans backed 100% by government, Business Interruption Loan Schemes, corporate financing facility, grant funding, the Coronavirus Future Fund or loans and grants from Innovate UK.

Charlie Eve, the Business Services Partner leading the team, commented: “The government is providing unprecedented support for business during this crisis, but it is vital that directors and company owners not only fully assess which schemes are best suited to their needs – and prepare what is needed for the application – but that they also understand any personal and business obligations they are entering into.

“It can be easy to make mistakes under pressure – and having access to independent, expert advice can help not just in selecting the best support option but in collating and presenting the information needed for the application process.”

This can include cashflow, profit and loss and balance sheet forecasts, historic trading performance and perhaps a business plan. 

“It’s also very important that directors and business owners are aware of the guarantees and liabilities linked to any of the funding facilities, including specific criteria such as matched funding and loan conversions to equity as well as interest rates,” said Charlie.

“These are generous support programmes and many companies need access to them quickly to ensure business continuity, but at the same time it is important to enter into these arrangements with eyes wide open.”

For further information please refer to MHA Carpenter Box’s dedicated Coronavirus business information hub on its website available via www.carpenterbox.com/coronavirus .

British Chambers Quarterly Economic Survey Q2 2020

The QES carried out by the British Chambers is the largest independent business survey in the UK and a significant economic indicator.

This will be the first QES since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK and the subsequent lockdown. While our weekly tracker data already demonstrates a very clear decline in business activity when compared against QES historical data, this will be the first major real comparison. Our data will mark the clear shift from pre-Coronavirus conditions to the current situation and will form a significant part of the historical record.
 
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 policy at the Bank of England and central Government.
 
We encourage you to take 5 minutes to complete this extremely important economic survey.
 
Once you click the link, make sure to select ‘South East: Sussex’ from the ‘Which Chamber’ section.

Click here to complete the survey