Kreston Reeves shortlisted as ‘National Firm of the Year’

Accountants, business and financial advisers Kreston Reeves has been shortlisted in the ‘National Firm of the Year’ category at the prestigious British Accountancy Awards 2019.

The tough category is awarded to firms with a turnover exceeding £25m that can demonstrate how they have added significant value to its clients and across all service areas. 

Kreston Reeves has been shortlisted for its strategic planning, profitability and growth, professionalism and their value and investment in people and their community. 

The accolade follows the firm being shortlisted, at the end of May, for three separate awards in the annual Accounting Excellence Awards 2019 - ‘Large Firm of the Year’ award, ‘Client Service’ award and the ‘Investing in People’ award.

Andrew Griggs, Senior Partner at Kreston Reeves said: “We at Kreston Reeves pride ourselves on ‘Knowing our clients’, ‘Knowing each other’, ‘Knowing our expertise’, ‘Knowing our communities’ and ‘Knowing and using technology’ and we have been working hard to build our foundations for the firm’s future development.

“To have been shortlisted for four separate awards across two award programmes in one month is a terrific achievement for us.  Everyone across the firm should be enormously proud of their achievements and we look forward to the awards ceremony later this year.”

MHA Carpenter Box shortlisted for four Accounting Excellence Awards!

Sussex-based chartered accountants MHA Carpenter Box have been named as a finalist in no less than four categories of the 2019 accountingWEB Accounting Excellence Awards.

Now in their ninth year, the awards celebrate brilliance and innovation across the British accounting profession, with recognition given to individuals, firms and their supporting technology.

After an overwhelming number of entries for this year’s awards, MHA Carpenter Box has been nominated as a finalist in the Large Firm of the Year and Innovative Firm of the Year categories of the awards, reflecting the growth and success of the firm over the last year, as well as the innovative practices they have implemented to make a difference to their clients, staff and community.

The introduction of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for business on 1 April 2019 gave MHA Carpenter Box the opportunity to focus on the benefits of cloud adoption and to grow its national cloud expertise. The firm developed its own dedicated technology, cloud team and MTD bridging software and is now able to offer clients an end-to-end service from software recommendations, systems reviews, training and implementation.

The judges were also impressed by the exciting innovations and successes of Nathan Keeley, Partner and Head of Cloud Accounting at MHA Carpenter Box, who has also been named a finalist in the Software Pioneer and Practice Pioneer categories of the awards.

Nathan has worked hard to facilitate efficiency within the firm through the adoption of new and existing technologies. He has run many sessions for accountingWEB’s Practice Excellence website on the subject of cloud software and has spoken at cloud technology events including Xerocon, QuickBooks Connect and Accountex; he has also been a keynote speaker at the annual conference of the firm’s national association MHA, made up of eight of the best independent regional accountancy firms in the UK.

Nathan commented: “Being shortlisted for the awards both personally and for the firm is a great achievement and means that we are well placed at the forefront of the move towards a more digital economy. It also shows that we are in a strong position to service our clients both existing and new.

“None of the award nominations could have been possible without the great team we have here at MHA Carpenter Box and it’s an achievement for all who have been involved both in the past and more recently.”

MHA Carpenter Box now has to wait until 12 September 2019 to find out the results at the Accounting Excellence Awards ceremony, which will be held at The Brewery in Central London.  

www.carpenterbox.com

Image of Nathan Keeley attached.

PING! Bounces into Worthing

Free ping pong is bouncing into Worthing this month in time for local residents to enjoy summer in the great outdoors.

The Ping! team have shared table tennis tables and equipment, placed in popular public places so people of all abilities and ages can pick up a paddle and give the game a go.

The launch at Denton Gardens in Brighton Road, Worthing, at 1pm (23rd June) is an open invitation to the local community. This first occasion kick starts a series of games and tournaments at Denton Gardens, Victoria Park and Homefield Park. Included in the matches is a celebration of National Table Tennis Day with taster coaching sessions at Denton Gardens.

The aim of the Ping! Project is to remove barriers to sport and physical activity, giving everyone a chance to play one of the world’s most popular activities.

To mark the 10th anniversary of Ping! Table Tennis England is joining forces with Adur & Worthing Councils and local club Worthing Ping United to bring the concept to the area.

Councillor Val Turner, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Health & Wellbeing, said:

“This is a great opportunity for people in our community to increase their health and wellbeing and it’s another great reason to get out and enjoy our lovely parks and open spaces. Ping! has a track record of removing barriers and encouraging people of all ages to get active.”

Ping! Began in 2010 as a six-week London street ping pong festival, and has evolved into a year-round collection of projects taking ping pong to the people.

Now in its 10th year, thousands of tables are now available in public and community spaces for people from all walks of life to enjoy with an estimated two million people playing the sport in these locations in the last year.

The scheme is being driven by Worthing Ping United, who currently run sessions for all levels and ages at Sidney Walter Centre on Saturdays and Mondays during slots when it was previously closed.

David Scurr, who recently co-founded Worthing Ping United with friends Cedric Scrivani and Naqeeb Saide, said:

“We believe that table tennis is a great leveller, a lot of fun and can foster strong community engagement. We plan on organising a variety of fun events over the summer to encourage everyone to be more active, try something different and feel part of something fresh and exciting in the local community. Worthing is the perfect place to do this!”

Wellbeing MOT’s Take Place at Worthing Garage

The tables have turned for staff at a Worthing garage as they became the subjects of their very own wellbeing MOT.

Mechanics, administration staff and managers at Cedar Garage were all given a free check-up by Adur & Worthing Councils as part of a drive to improve health and wellbeing in the community.

The garage in Tarring Road has become one of the first businesses in the local area to take part in the Councils’ workplace MOT’s programme.

After the check-up, garage staff are urging other companies to sign up for this free service which delivers real benefits to employees of all ages.

Rob Mansfield, a manager at Cedar Garage for five and a half years, said: “Everyone I have spoken to has said it was worthwhile, and they were glad they’d done it.

“It’s definitely inspired people to adjust their diet, and adjust their calorie intake from sugary drinks.

“I have personally started riding to work, I’ve cut down on smoking, I’ve cut down on coffees, I’ve had no chocolate in a month. It’s made a big difference to me and it has had a positive impact on everybody who’s had a chance to go through it.”

A Wellbeing MOT is a free resource which usually takes around 30 minutes to complete. The process evaluates a person’s health, including their hydration levels, emotional health, activity levels, lifestyle impacts, weight and internal fat.

The visits to Cedar Garage have been carried out by wellbeing advisor Tyler Slade to coincide with Men’s Health Week, which begins today (10th June 2019).

Tyler said: “I think what really works is that we’re coming to them, they’re not having to make an appointment.

“So rather than having to think about taking time away from their work, or think about it as an extra thing that they’ve got to book themselves in for, we’re coming to them to provide them the service on their doorstep.”

Tyler and his Wellbeing Advisor colleagues offer talks with small groups at a workplace and also hold one to one sessions. These confidential appointments allow staff to check up on their physical and mental health.

Tyler added that it’s never too late to make small changes that end up making a big difference.

He said: “Just jump on- if there is a campaign, put a poster up in your staff room, get your team to go out and raise money for something together, because the more you can do together, the less it becomes a taboo and it becomes more of something that people generally do to support each other in life.”

Councillor David Simmons, Adur District Council’s Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “Employee wellbeing is a key issue for employers as organisations face the costs and potential impact of high absence levels and employee ill-health. These free Wellbeing MOT’s are invaluable, they support local employees, and in turn support local businesses.”

Councillor Val Turner, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “If talking about wellbeing can make a difference to someone’s health, then that is a conversation that is worth having. It’s great to see the proactive outreach that’s had a successful impact on a thriving business, and I look forward to seeing the results of the continued work supporting the local business community and their staff. ”

Trampolinist Max Calaf Sevé brings spectacular outdoor show Dip to Worthing as part of Worthing Theatres Summer of Circus
 
rampolinist extraordinaire Max Calaf is joined by his musical, acrobatic friends for this light-hearted, breath-taking performance in a show that celebrates how humans find and connect with each other. There will be two free performances of Dip outside the Pavilion Theatre on Saturday 3 August, at 11:00am and 2:00pm as part of Worthing Theatres Summer of Circus!
 
Dip in an ode to celebrate how we find each other. Jonah, Oliver and Max met and decided to embark on a quest to learn about and get to know each other. The challenges that face them and bring them together, and in exploring these ideas give new life to everyday objects and conventional instruments. Light heated, breathing taking air twisting tricks and funky tunes, the show interrogates in a key of humour relationships in a society of overconsumption. In a world of increasing isolation, Dip explores, with a poetic touch, the themes of cooperation, acceptance and serendipity.
 
Dip brings something new unique to the British circus and outdoors arts scene. The project has a circus nature, however the language used in the work of the company is very close to the language of dance, dance theatre and physical theatre. All the collaborators and artists have some contact with the dance world, have been dance practitioner themselves. They look to blur the boundaries between circus, dance, theatre and visual art.
 
Max Calaf Sevé is a contemporary company, performing Europe-wide, creating indoor and outdoor performances. He is has been touring extensively outdoors with his show ‘anyday’ since 2013. Max is the lead artist in the creative process developing Dip, and will perform alongside Jonah Russell a versatile dance-acrobat and Oliver Presman a level-3 trampoline coach and classically trained musician. The combination of three performers and the diversity of their skills, ranging from acrobatics, free running, music, dance, juggling and comedy are brought together in an exciting and unique piece.
 
Please note that this is a free event, but we recommend booking a ticket so we can keep you up to date if anything changes about the show -ie weather, time change etc.
 
Tickets for Dip are free, booking is recommended and can be done through the Worthing Theatres box office on 01903 206 206 and online at worthingtheatres.co.uk.

Annual Day Trip to Worthing for WWII Veterans

Every year since 1948, the Taxi Charity has been bringing veterans to Worthing for the day, to spend time with their friends and enjoy seaside favourites, fish and chips and ice cream.

This year’s outing is only a week after many of the veterans spent a week in Normandy with The Taxi Charity for D Day 75, remembering the friends they lost.

Over 60 Kind-hearted volunteer London cabbies will pick up nearly 200 veterans and their carers from their homes across the South East on Tuesday 18 June and take them for a much-loved day trip to Worthing.

After a pit stop at South Holmwood Village near Dorking in Surrey, for home-made sandwiches, cakes and refreshments the taxis will travel in convoy along the A24 to Worthing. Once in Worthing, the veterans will enjoy a fish and chip lunch with the Mayor of Worthing, Councillor Hazel Thorpe on Worthing Pier. The Mayor, veterans, cabbies and invited guests will hear from guest speaker Paul Raison. National Secretary of the Parachute Regiment Association and enjoy musical entertainment, as well as having the opportunity to catch up with old friends, take in the sea views and grab an ice cream.

WWII Veteran, Bill Gladden, 6^th Armoured Recce Regiment RAC, says,

“I have been going on outings with the Taxi Charity for many years. The recent trip to Normandy for D Day was particularly poignant as I laid a wreath at the memorial service in Ranville and then met a comrade from my old regiment who I had not seen since June 1944. We both thought we were the only one left! The Worthing outing is a money can’t buy experience where I can meet up with an amazing group of old boys and be taken door to door by one of the volunteer London black cab drivers.”

Graham Pike, one of the London cabbies taking part, and a committee member of the Taxi Charity, said: “Our annual Worthing trip is something we look forward to all year. It’s a pleasure to treat these ladies and gents to a trip to the seaside as a way of saying ‘thank you’ for all they’ve done for us.”

One To One Financial Planning Clinic

David Baldry, director of DJLB Wealth Management Ltd, cordially invites you to a one to one financial planning clinic at the Sphere Business Centre, Northbrook College, Broadwater Road, Worthing. The clinics will be held from Tuesday the 2^nd of July until Friday the 5^th of July and each confidential session will last an hour and allocated on a first come first serve basis. Appointments can be made by calling our office on 01903 681966.

We can help to create a tailor-made financial plan for you using Voyant financial planning software.  Voyant is an intuitive forecasting tool that can help you forecast and visualise your possible financial future, liabilities and assets in both pre and post retirement based around your individual circumstances. Voyant can also utilise given What-If scenarios to instantly demonstrate the financial impact of key decisions and life events, small changes could make a large impact.

Your Voyant Financial plan will be produced at no obligation.

For illustration purposes only

For illustration purposes only.

Learn more about David Baldry here https://djlbwealth.co.uk/davidbaldry.html

DJLB Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website
www.sjp.co.uk/products. 

Better Business Summit coming soon!

Make your business FIT for the future

The Chamber has some exciting news to share … The inaugural Better Business Summit is coming soon!

Date: Wednesday 11^th September
Time: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
Venue: Field Place Manor House & Barns

The day will focus on ‘Making your business FIT for the future’, looking at futuristic, innovative trends.

We have plenty of ideas, a schedule for the afternoon and a host of business specialists keen to be involved encouraging a productive, healthy and happy workplace.

The afternoon will offer:

• Networking Lunch
• Two Keynote speakers
• Breakout sessions with a choice of masterclass workshops to attend

The afternoon starts with arrivals from 11.45am followed by a buffet lunch and plenty of networking opportunities. You will hear from keynote speakers; Gill Fielding from Fielding Financial and Chamber Patron and Elena Kerrigan from Think Productive. The afternoon also includes a selection of masterclass workshops that you will select workshops at the point of booking. Don’t miss this inspiring programme, there will be something for everyone and a great chance to mix with like-minded business people.

The opening keynote speaker Gill Fielding, CEO of Fielding Financial and Chamber Patron. A self-made millionaire with a no-nonsense, positive approach to finance, Gill is on a personal mission to educate the nation in managing and improving their own financial position. Gill is the process of writing her 4^th book “Solving the Business Success Puzzle”

The closing keynote speaker Elena Kerrigan, Managing Director of Think Productive, has been instrumental in the introduction of the four-day week for her whole team. Elena will wrap up the afternoon inspiring the delegates to ‘make space for what matters’ and how to successfully work a four-day week. Something many people would like to achieve.

The breakout sessions are planned to offer a choice of workshops to inspire you, develop you, train you and push you out of your comfort zone leaving you top tips to take away and use in your plans.

Breakout sessions include:

• Masterclasses
• Debate an issue
• Mastering your customer’s experience 
• Business reviews including Business Growth Mapper
• Speaking with confidence
• Make your business purpose led to grow, thrive and shift with the times
• Work-life balance
• Ensuring the wellbeing of your employees
• Fitness and wellbeing assessments

This is an afternoon NOT to be missed with limited numbers book early to avoid disappointment.

Look out for the early bird price Chamber members £49 + VAT, non-members £75.00 + VAT
Tickets go on sale soon!

Heene Community Association receives the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service

Heene Community Centre, in Heene Road, Worthing, have been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The Heene, a busy thriving Community Centre, is open 7 days a week and offers a wide range of facilities, such as room hire, various leisure classes, an IT Suite and a highly regarded Café, all bringing people together in a modern welcoming environment.

The Heene also hold two fayres for the community during the year, both free entry. The Summer Fayre is on Saturday 22nd June, and the Christmas Fayre is on Saturday 7th December, both events run between 10am and 3pm. There is live music, entertainment, gift and craft stall, tombola, grand raffle, refreshments by Café one22 and lots of fun stalls and children’s activities.

Joanna Barden, Centre Manager, and Kate Henshaw, long-term volunteer and Vice-Chair of Trustees from Heene Community Association attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May, along with other recipients of this year’s Award.

Heene Community Association is one of 281 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups and just 5 in West Sussex and the only 1 in Worthing, to receive the prestigious award this year. The number of nominations and awards has increased year on year since the awards were introduced in 2002, showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.

Representatives of Heene Community Association will receive the award from Mrs Susan Pyper, Lord Lieutenant of Sussex later this summer.

Heene Community Association’s Centre Manager, Joanna Barden says:

“I am delighted! It is a wonderful honour for the Centre to be recognised for the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. I would like to thank every single volunteer for their time, hard work and commitment, as without their efforts this award would not have been possible. They have contributed towards making Heene Community Centre - the heart of the community. They should be very proud of themselves.”

A seminar for Sussex Charities

25 June – 2pm – South Lodge Hotel, Horsham

Accountants, business and financial advisers Kreston Reeves is holding a charity seminar for charity trustees, finance directors and chief executives. 

The Sussex seminar will cover a broad range of topics including:

• Changes at the Charity Commission and the challenges it faces in regulating the not-for-profit sector;
• Cybercrime and how charities can mitigate the risk of fraud threats;
• A tax and finance round-up of the latest news and updates impacting charities;
• Digitisation. In an era where so much emphasis has been put on a digital presence you will discover how to achieve a website presence for your charity that delivers your key messages, attract and trigger responses.

Speakers at the seminar include:

• Susan Robinson, Partner and Head of Charities at Kreston Reeves;
• Mark Spofforth, Partner and charities expert at Kreston Reeves;
• Alex Douglas, Digital Engagement Manager, Barclays;
• Managing Director Matt Saunders and Chief Technology Officer Ben Harvey, Storm21;
• Carol Curtis, Senior Manager in the Charities team at Kreston Reeves.

The seminar is free of charge to attend and starts at 2pm and will finish with networking and drinks at 4.30pm.

To find out more about the free seminar or to attend visit https://www.krestonreeves.com/news-and-events/07/02/1995/sussex-charity-seminar

Additional events will be held in Kent (4 July) and London (9 July). Visit www.krestonreeves.com/news-and-events for more information.