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ARCHIVE
LOCAL NEWS - Aug 2007
SUSSEX
NEWS
Free Business Reviews
Sussex’s small businesses are entitled to productivity
reviews from Business Link. The small business review
is designed to help streamline processes, improve business
plans and free up management time to grow the business.
The service is being offered by Business Link - an organisation
sponsored by the South East Economic Development Agency
(SEEDA).
Eligible businesses can come from
any sector, but must employ between one and five staff
and have been
trading for two years or more. More information is
available on 0845 600 9 006 or visit the website at http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/sussex
Source: West Sussex County Times, 12 July 2007
RDAs to Increase Delegation to Local Government
National government’s Review of Sub-national
Economic Development and Regeneration was published
recently, and made it clear that Regional Development
Agencies (RDAs) are expected to delegate responsibility
for spending to local authorities as far as possible.
Also funding for most education and skills programs
for 14 to 19-year-olds will move to local government
from the Learning and Skills Councils.
Unitary and county councils will be expected to carry
out local economic assessments, which may be written
jointly with other authorities with a view to forming
multi area agreements working across boundaries. These
assessments would then underpin regional strategies,
local sustainable community strategies, and targets
set for sub-regional bodies with the costs met by central
government.
The review intends that the
Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
will work with the Local
Government Association to create a ‘concordat’ governing
relations between councils and central government.
The review also promises to reform the Local Authority
Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) [see earlier story
in Knowledgebase - Council gives LABGI funds to Business]
scheme to ensure that more of the proceeds are directed
into assisting with business growth.
Source: http://www.brightonbusiness.co.uk, 20 July
2007
New Chemo Prescription Computer System
Hospitals within the Sussex Cancer Network are introducing
a new system to speed up the issuing of chemotherapy
prescriptions. The Chemocare Oncology Electronic
Prescribing system will allow consultants at The
Conquest Hospital Hastings, Eastbourne General Hospital,
The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Royal Alexandra
Hospital and Worthing Hospital sites to enter patient
information and cancer treatment details directly
into the system, rather than wait for paper-based
records to be entered later. The issue of the prescription
to pharmacists and nurses is instant, and the possibility
of data entry error is reduced as it is done by the
cancer consultant, not by a less medically trained
intermediary.
The system will be fully installed by March 2010,
across the whole of Sussex Cancer Network (SCN), which
brings together many organisations, professional groups,
and commissioners. There are over 6000 new cancers
a year within the SCN.
Source: Hastings Observer, 12 July 2007
Care Homes Cruise the Med
Residents of over 100 care homes run by Sussex-based
BUPA, including Ancaster Court Nursing Home and Grosvenor
Park Nursing and Residential Home, will be taking
part in an innovative cruise in the home experience
this summer. Each home will re-create a passenger
cruise ship environment for a six week period, during
which the ‘passengers’ will voyage through
the Mediterranean.
Care home staff will bring
the cruise ship experience to life with activities
including deck games such as
quoits, putting, and shuffle board; music and live
entertainment performances connected to the chosen
ports; language lessons; themed meals and a gala dinner
complete with captain’s table.
National activities manager
of BUPA Care Homes, Tim Brooke, said: "The majority
of our residents are unable to go abroad so we thought
it would be a good
idea to create a holiday atmosphere within the homes.
By giving our residents the opportunity to experience
the cultures of different Mediterranean destinations,
we hope to engage them and their families in an enjoyable
and stimulating summer activity."
Source: Hastings/Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 12 July 2007
Youth Services Budget Under the Microscope
West Sussex’s Youth Service is facing significant
financial pressures. The Children and Young People’s
Select Committee recently heard that new salary scales
have added £100,000 to the operational bill,
and that some external funding sources are coming to
an end. Without a major cash injection, the service
will be faced with making tough choices about what
and how it can deliver to the county’s 64,320
13-19 year olds.
At present the service believes
it reaches about one in three young people within
its age remit, at a cost
of £216 per head. The Youth Service budget in
2006-2007 was £4.5m (just under 1% of the total
education budget), putting West Sussex’s Youth
Service funding at 100 out of 132 local authorities
nationally. The county also reported a £400,000
reduction in the budget for the Connexions service.
Source: Chichester Observer, 16 July 2007
Growing Interest in Nursery Open Days
The West Sussex Growers Association (WSGA) members
are planning to throw open the gates of many of their
nurseries to the public on 23rd September. West Sussex
consumers are being invited to look behind the scenes
at 15 of the county's horticultural businesses. More
than 15 growers and nurseries will open their gates
to the public on September 23 to show how the county's
produce is grown. The event is a perfect opportunity
for anyone considering a career in horticulture to
see how things are done and speak to horticultural
business owners and workers. The open days are aimed
at all ages, and reflect WSGA’s aims to raise
awareness of the role of horticulture. The organisation
has issued a challenge to schoolchildren to grow
a pot of chrysanthemum to enter into a competition
with prizes being presented by Blue Peter gardener,
Chris Collins.
WSGA is a specialist branch
of the National Farmers’ Union
(NFU), which is primarily involved in raising positive
public relations for the horticultural industry, and
campaigning on behalf of horticulture within the NFU
and with government agencies.
Source: Chichester Observer, 16 July 2007
Chichester, Midhurst and Petworth Business Awards
The Observer Business of the Year Awards have just
been launched with the support of the Observer series
of newspapers. The awards are designed to honour
businesses that really put the customer first; show
a real commitment to their staff; and take pride
in being a major player in the community. There are
12 awards for companies and individuals, including
3 categories of Business of the Year (up to 5 employees;
6-10 employees and more than 10 employees) and categories
to reward key business sectors; innovation; environmental
efforts; young achievers and lifetime achievers.
Entry to the awards competition is free, and there
is no limit to the number of categories entered. Entry
packs can be obtained from the Observer series of newspapers,
or by clicking here http://www2.chichestertoday.co.uk/pdf_advert/boty.pdf,
and completed applications will be accepted up to December
31, 2007. Judging will be undertaken by an independent
panel of business leaders. Awards will be presented
at a black-tie ceremony scheduled to take place at
the end of February at Goodwood Racecourse.
Source: Chichester Observer, 20 July 2007
International Baccalaureate Comes to West Sussex
It has been announced that Chichester High School for
Boys will become the first school in West Sussex
to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) exam.
Around 24 sixth formers are expected to embark on
this new programme of study from September 2008,
as an alternative to A-levels. The course requires
students to study six subjects, all to be examined
at the end of the two-year course, and leads to more
UCAS points than four A-level passes. IB students
will also undertake voluntary work, writing an extended
essay and taking a theory of knowledge exam.
The school will receive £26,000
funding from the Learning and Skills Council to cover
the costs
of accreditation and staff training.
Source: Chichester Observer, 18 July 2007
Bognor Shopmobility Marks 1st Decade
To mark its tenth anniversary, Bognor Regis Shopmobility
has made its founder, Kate Allen, its life president.
The charity helps nearly 1000 residents and visitors
to get around the town, and recorded 12,500 hirings
of its 70 scooters, wheelchairs and powered wheelchairs
during 2006/7.
Source: Bognor Regis Observer, 18 July 2007
Radio Awards for Chi Students
Chichester College Media 1st Diploma students recently
won awards in the UK Skills Challenge for their radio
production. A gold award went to Amy Louise Slade
and James Thomson for their half-hour children’s
production The Jumping James and Amazing Amy Show.
A silver award went to Alex Clifton and Ani Dominique
Abello for ‘Double A Show’, a gossipy
women’s magazine show.
Source: Chichester Observer, 16 July 2007
Learning about Wood Recyling for Businesses
Aldingbourne Country Centre’s Wood Recycling
Project has been working with businesses across the
area to collect leftover and unwanted wood since December,
creating real employment for people with learning disabilities.
The business has become commercially viable by charging
businesses a small fee to collect wooden waste, which
is more competitive than commercial landfill fees.
Wood is sorted and has nails etc removed before going
into the centre’s workshops or being sold back
to the public through the centre’s shop, for
DIY projects or as firewood and kindling. The workshops
make a range of goods, including composters, bird tables
and bird houses for the shop, while learning new practical
skills.
The centre's general manager
Peter Stanley said: "We
offer real work opportunities for people here …Unfortunately
it's still very difficult for people with learning
disabilities to get into proper employment, and we
act as a stepping stone … We have about six clients
working there who do lots of jobs. They are learning
to paint, use tools and they are getting a range of
experiences and skills." Although the scheme is
still young, the centre is thrilled with its success,
and has plans to establish similar workshops in other
areas such as Pulborough.
Source: Midhurst and Petworth Observer, 5 July 2007
Citizens Advice Relocation
Midhurst’s Citizens Advice Bureau has relocated
from the former resource centre to the Grange Centre
in Bepton Road, without the feared break in service
reported in the last bulletin. The last session at
the resource centre in North Street was held on Friday
13th July and without a hitch, the outreach service
was ready to operate its next session on Friday 20th
at the Grange. Relocation to a busy building means
that it is possible to operate with a single adviser,
reducing costs and securing outreach service to Midhurst
for the foreseeable future.
CAB sessions will take place at the Grange Centre,
Bepton Road every Friday from 9.30am to 3pm.
Source: Midhurst and Petworth Observer, 18 July 2007
Green Activities Week
Midhurst Grammar School’s Year 9 Activity week
took a green and eco-friendly theme this year. 13 cross-curricular
activities offered included using sustainable products
to build bird feeders, making a willow figure, and
revamping clothes and fabrics for sale to students.
Students made presentations at an assembly at the end
of the week, culminating in a dance routine from an
eco-music and drama workshop.
Source: Midhurst and Petworth Observer, 10 July 2007
Worthing Bus Service Threat
Bus operator Stagecoach claims that if a £2 million
funding shortfall is not addressed immediately, service
cuts are necessary as it is being forced to heavily
subsidise the free travel scheme for those over 60
due to the high elderly population in the town. The
national government scheme to provide free travel for
the over-60s should see operators reimbursed for fares
they would otherwise have received. However, Stagecoach
says that they are only getting 42p back from the County
Council for every £1 it actually costs them,
due to a population size system used to calculate funding,
which does not take into account the demographics of
the local population. Worthing has at least 1.25 times
the UK average of people over 60, and this proportion
is predicted to grow by around 10 per cent by 2016.
The first service cut (from 6th August) is the number
8 service from Worthing to south Ferring. However,
fellow operator Paleobus is coming to the rescue of
Ferring residents. Other cuts include reduced frequency
of the no. 10 from Worthing to Maybridge and Boxgrove
and the no. 1, which takes children from a school in
Midhurst home to Worthing.
Source: Worthing Herald, 27 July 2007
New Plans Afoot for Shoreham Harbour
Shoreham Harbour could become one of the South East's
biggest building sites, if a brownfield development
of up to 6,000 homes, offices, shops and a marina
get underway. South East England Development Agency
(SEEDA) and Shoreham Port Authority have drawn up
new plans for the Shoreham Maritime project, replacing
all previous plans for the redevelopment of the area.
SEEDA and the port authority are not yet revealing
the detail of the plans, but have confirmed that 4,000
to 6,000 high-quality, sustainable homes were planned
for the site in the next 15 years. The development
agency is leading the project and has begun a feasibility
study into the costs and economic viability of the
plan. Public sector investment and infrastructure needs
will be key to the plans.
Source: Shoreham Herald, 19 July 2007
Arundel,
Steyning and Lewes are Not ‘Natural
Beauties’
The current proposal for the South Downs National Park
leaves Arundel, Steyning and Lewes outside of the park
boundaries, despite their inclusion in the original
2002 blueprint. The reason for these towns’ exclusion
from the park is their failure of the public inquiry’s ‘natural
beauty’ test. These towns may be historic, but
the countryside around them is not deemed to have high
enough merit to warrant inclusion in a national park,
and the protection this would bring. However, Arundel
Castle and its grounds have snuck into the latest proposals
due to their inclusion in the existing South Downs
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It had been hoped locally
that Arundel would become the ‘gateway’ town for the national park,
but the town’s exclusion from the park boundary
may put this at risk.
The inquiry report supports the case for a national
park to be created. Councils, other organisations and
the public were given until August 13 to make their
comments, before the recommendations are referred to
government for consideration.
Source: Worthing Herald, 12 July 2007
Community Hospital Still on the Cards
A statement from John Wilderspin, chief executive of
West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) has raised hopes
that Littlehampton's Arun Community Hospital will
be built. Although no final decision can be made
until after the Fit For the Future consultation on
major NHS reorganisation across West Sussex, Mr Wilderspin
indicated that there will be an emphasis on ‘locally-based
facilities’. A public meeting of the Joint
Eastern Arun Area Committee on 7th August was scheduled
to debate the hospital issue with PCT representatives.
Source: Worthing Herald, 27 July 2007
Arun Area Construction Debts
Arun District Council is using debt collectors to recover
hundreds of thousands of pounds owed by unscrupulous
developers that have failed to pay the fees imposed
as a condition of planning approval. The total amount
(owing £1,420,445) is equal to just under £21
for each of the area’s 68,009 council tax payers. £414,664
should already have been paid, with the rest due when
work starts on specific schemes or when key milestones
have been reached.
The outstanding section 106 agreement payments date
back up to nine years, and are supposed to go towards
supporting services such as libraries, schools and
play areas which will come under greater demand as
a result of increased housing.
Source: Bognor Regis Observer, 18 July 2007
Tourism Group for East Grinstead
Local businesses have recently come together with council
representatives in East Grinstead to form the Tourism
and Business Working Group (TBWG), replacing to old
tourism working group. The aim is to promote tourism
in and around the town, and enhance business prosperity
through local spending by visitors. The group is encouraging
members of the public to attend the group’s meetings,
and a conference about the extension of the Bluebell
Railway and its potential impact on tourism is planned
for the autumn.
Source: ic surrey online, 11 July 2007
European Market Success
East Grinstead shoppers were eager to sample the tastes
of Europe at the town’s European Market in
the privately-owned Queens Walk shopping parade on
the first Friday in July. So successful was the event
with stall holders from France to Poland that the
market may become regular event and attraction. As
well as many luxury food items, stall holder also
brought ranges of leather goods, fabric and clothes.
Source: East Grinstead Observer, 11 July 2007
Well Signed Industrial Estate
Burgess Hill's main industrial estate on London now
has much clearer signs, to help delivery drivers
from out of town. New direction-signs have been erected
by the Burgess Hill Business Parks Association at
the main entrances, to help to distinguish this site
from the Victoria Business Park. The new signs, designed
at Quentin Press, are based on the logo colours of
the Burgess Hill Business Parks Association. The
importance of these signs aiding to local trade was
underlined by Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames, who
performed an unveiling ceremony.
Source: Mid Sussex Times, 18 July 2007
Lindfield Speakers Fly to Far East Music Lovers
Believe it or not, a Mid Sussex firm is having great
success exporting electronics to the Far East. While
the UK imports vast numbers of mass market electronics
including speakers, Lindfield-based Harbeth is marking
30 years exporting in business with buoyant exports
to the Far East. Harbeth was set up by a former BBC
engineer, and prides itself on traditional high sound
quality and craftsmanship, and it now struggling
to keep up with global demand. The hand-crafted speakers
are not cheap and tend to be bought by discerning
customers, including musicians and record producers.
Harbeth's MD Alan Shaw is keen to point out the double
irony of his business exporting speakers to markets
that supply such large volumes of affordable electronics
to the UK, and that it should be a thoroughly British
brand that is doing so, while most UK-based speaker
brands have fallen into foreign ownership. Source:
Mid Sussex Times, 10 July 2007
Horsham District Housing Strategy
Horsham District Council's cabinet states that a strategy
will be developed with Action in Rural Sussex, to
help address housing concerns such as young people
and essential workers not being able to afford to
live locally. Parish councils and local communities
will be consulted with during the drafting of the
document, to take account of he sensitivities of
swamping rural areas with new housing and avoiding
the potential stigma of 'affordable housing'. The
Horsham district rural affordable housing strategy
is due for completion in autumn 2007.
Source: West Sussex County Times, 16 July 2007
Gatwick-Horsham Bus Link
Horsham now has a new direct bus link to Gatwick Airport,
bringing a new affordable transport option to the
town for holiday-makers and airport workers. Metrobus’ route
200 is supported by BAA, and will be north Horsham’s
first Sunday and public holiday bus link to the airport.
The service runs hourly on
weekdays from 3.58am to 7.14pm, from Horsham Hospital
via Holbrook, North Heath
and Roffey to Manor Royal, in Crawley, and Gatwick
Airport. It will provide an earlier morning service
from Roffey to Horsham Train Station than has previously
been available, opening public transport access to
the station for early trains. Visit the Metrobus website
for Route 200 timetable information http://www.metrobus.co.uk/timetable.php?route_id=9&type=week .
Source: West Sussex County Times, 12 July 2007
Christ’s
Hospital Head Retires
Dr Peter Southern retired at the end of the summer
term after 11 years as headmaster of the high-profile
co-educational independent school, Christ's Hospital
School, south of Horsham. The Merton College, Oxford
graduate who undertook research at Edinburgh University
arrived at Christ’s Hospital to teach History
at the unique school, where the uniform still consists
of a distinctive Tudor-style blue coats or ‘housey
coats’ with yellow stocking.
The headship of the boarding school with more than
450 years history as a charitable educator now passes
to Australian born and educated John Franklin who is
currently headmaster of Ardingly College, near Haywards
Heath. Dr Southern believes that the school chose his
successor 'wisely'.
Source: West Sussex County Times, 13 July 2007
Summer Special Shopping Offers
Horsham Traders’ Guild members around the historic
Carfax area are organising a series of mid-week events
for shoppers, including a mid week market, special
offers and even free parking when Summer Special Wednesdays
begin in August. The Carfax market will run each Wednesday
from 9am to 3pm, featuring a varied selection of stalls,
together with added attractions on selected days.
More than 15 local traders
are already planning 'Blue Balloon' offers. Participating
shops will also stamp
a ‘Blue Balloon Passport’, and collection
of four different stamps will entitle shoppers to free
parking in Swan Walk between 10am and 4pm on a Summer
Special Wednesday.
Summer Special Wednesdays will run on August 1, 8,
15, 22, 27 and September 5.
Source: West Sussex County Times, 17 July 2007
New Corporate Responsibility Report
BAA Gatwick recently published its Corporate Responsibility
website and report, detailing environmental, economic
and social performance during 2006 – 2007.
This is the first year that BAA has moved away from
publishing a paper-based Corporate Responsibility
report, in favour of a more environmentally approach – download
from the company’s website. The report reviews
progress made against performances on 12 key issues:
air quality, biodiversity, climate change, noise,
surface transport, waste, water, ‘our people’,
health and safety, security, local communities and
Gatwick’s role in the local economy. Performance
is independently audited and verified by environmental
consultants Environmental Resources Management Limited
(ERM).
Source: www.gatwickairport.com 4 July 2007
Airport Crime Watch Scheme
Businesses within Gatwick Airport are joining with
Crawley’s Business Watch scheme to create one
of the first Airport Watch schemes in the country,
to promote crime reduction. Membership of the scheme,
supported by BAA and Sussex Police, will enable members
to share information on crime and criminals, especially
shoplifters and anti-social behaviour, with access
to photos to aid identification. A secure radio system
(supplied by Steyning-based Adur Radios Limited)
will allow members to alert each other and the Police
to crimes in progress, potential offenders and suspicious
activity. Ultimately, the scheme will help to make
the airport an even safer place to work in or travel
through.
Source: www.gatwickairport.com 17 July 2007
Busy Summer Student Hosts
Gatwick airport is estimating that more than half a
million passengers will have uses the airport during
the first weekend of the school summer holidays (Friday
27 through to Monday 30 July). To help passengers
navigate the busy airport, BAA Gatwick has employed
a team of young people from local schools and colleges
to work as ‘Welcome Hosts’. The hosts,
dressed in distinctive bright yellow t-shirts will
act as mobile information points across the land-side
areas of the airport. They will be helping passengers
with any queries or directions to find their check-in
area, onward travel connections and other airport
facilities. This is the fourth year that young Welcome
Hosts have been recruited by the airport.
Source: www.gatwickairport.com, 25 July 2007
Gatwick Airport Meet the Buyers Event
For the sixth year running, BAA Gatwick hosted a Meet
the Buyers event at the Gatwick Hilton Hotel, for
local suppliers. 150 supplier representatives met
with 28 buying organisations from around the airport,
including construction, transport, cleaning, security
and catering businesses. The event has the support
of West Sussex County Council, Crawley Borough Council,
Business Link and South London Partnership, recognising
the importance of the airport to the regional economy.
Last year’s event generated more than £2
million of new business for the local economy.
Source: www.gatwickairport.com, 28 June 2007
Gatwick Day on BBC Southern Counties Radio
Gatwick, the UK's busiest single runway airport, opened
its doors to a BBC local radio station for a behind
the scenes on July 18th, meeting those who make it
work and looking into its future. Andy Flower, Managing
Director spoke to radio reporters, answering listeners’ questions
about a range of issues including security regulations
and plans for a second runway. The day also took
a look at the retinal scanning technology that is
now available at both North and South Terminals on
a voluntary basis.
Source: BBC online, 18 July 2007
Gatwick-Horsham Bus Link
Horsham now has a new direct bus link to Gatwick Airport,
bringing a new affordable transport option to the
town for holiday-makers and airport workers. Metrobus’ route
200 is supported by BAA, and will be north Horsham’s
first Sunday and public holiday bus link to the airport.
The service runs hourly on
weekdays from 3.58am to 7.14pm, from Horsham Hospital
via Holbrook, North Heath
and Roffey to Manor Royal, in Crawley, and Gatwick
Airport. It will provide an earlier morning service
from Roffey to Horsham Train Station than has previously
been available, opening public transport access to
the station for early trains. Visit the Metrobus website
for Route 200 timetable information http://www.metrobus.co.uk/timetable.php?route_id=9&type=week .
Source: West Sussex County Times, 12 July 2007
Stock Market Virgin?
Britain’s second largest airline, Crawley-based
Virgin Atlantic, could soon be floated on the stock
market if Singapore Airlines sells its 49 per cent
stake in the business. Industry analysts are valuing
the airline at between £1.5 billion to £2
billion if it was floated. However, it is widely thought
that majority shareholder Richard Branson would prefer
to keep the airline in private hands, and that a private
equity deal may be considered. Virgin Atlantic employs
more than 8,500 people globally and about 3,000 at
Gatwick.
Source: The Argus, 17 July 2007
Printer That Cuts Waste
A Sussex company claims to have the solution to the
volume of computer printouts that go uncollected,
wasting money and resources. Safecom, from the Manor
Royal Industrial Estate in Crawley, manufactures
and sells a gadget that can be fitted to any office
printer to delay printing until the user walks up
to the printer to activate it with an electronic
card carrying their details. An approach that was
designed initially for document security reasons,
but that also brings significant environmental benefits.
This mechanism should prevent
the familiar backlog of discarded or forgotten printed
items that may get
thrown in the bin, not even recycled. If a job hasn't
been printed out after a specified time – a working
day – an administrator can simply delete the
document from the printer queue.
Source: The Argus, 17 July 2007
Safety Award for TNT Express
Crawley-based delivery firm TNT have received a national
health and safety award. TNT Express Services based
at Newton Road, on the Manor Royal Industrial Estate,
picked up the coveted Safety Operation Award at the
Motor Transport Awards 2007, as a result of their
10 per cent reduction in vehicle collisions along
with a Fleet Safety Audit rating where at least 85
per cent of all TNT locations achieved a 'four star
plus' grading. TNT has won 24 Motor Transport Awards
over the past 21 years, more than any other organisation.
Source: Crawley Observer, 19 July
Unilever Offices to Close in South East and London
Unilever will close three Sales and Marketing offices
in the South East region, leading to the loss of
up to 350 jobs. The offices in Walton-on-Thames in
Surrey, Kingston-upon-Thames in south west London
and Crawley, in West Sussex are due to close by the
end of 2008. 40 senior management jobs and 260-310
other jobs will be lost. There will be a new merged
operation in Leatherhead, Surrey. The changes are
part of a restructuring programme that has been progressing
over the last two year to improve Unilever’s
performance.
Source: BBC online, 16th July 2007
Skills Shaping for Secondary Pupils
Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and local education consultancy
Magnified Learning are seeking to help young people
to prepare for the world of work with the help of local
business volunteers. A scheme with part-funding from
Barclays is delivering programmes in local secondary
schools to help young people to gain a deeper understanding
of business and the economy, improve their financial
capability as well as develop some key employability
skills - communication, leadership, risk-taking and
creativity.
Tailor-made days are offered to schools to assist with
generic skill development, and profiling the range
of opportunities a career in the business world can
offer. For more information about enterprise programmes
contact Ten Sixty Six Enterprise – 01424 205500.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 19 July 2007
Bid for Foundation Status
East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust's public consultation
into its proposals to become an NHS Foundation Trust
have been met positively by the public, more than
40 local people have volunteered to public members
of the NHS Foundation Trust in just one week. Membership
of the NHS Foundation Trust is free, people can become
as involved as they wish. Members will be kept up-to-date
on news and developments at East Sussex Hospitals
NHS Trust; be consulted on future plans and services;
and have an opportunity to stand for, and vote in,
the election of the Council of Governors.
The public consultation continues until 29th September
2007, to seek the views of local people and staff on
the arrangements for public and staff membership, the
Council of Governors and the name of the new organisation.
The proposals are outlined in a
public consultation document, available at local hospitals
and clinics,
through the NHS Foundation Trust Office at Eastbourne
District General Hospital, telephone 0845 2233099 or
available online from the Trust's website http://www.esht.nhs.uk/ft.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 21 July 2007
Funds Secured for Eastbourne College Expansion
£
92 million pounds has been committed by the Learning
and Skills Council for Eastbourne College’s Station
Plaza expansion development. This latest funding pledge
puts the final piece into the puzzle before building
work can begin. Development will begin almost immediately,
as the funding conditions mean that completion must
be reached in time to open to students in September
2009.
David Smith, area director
for Sussex at the Learning and Skills Council, said: "This
massive capital investment will lead to a new college
on the south
coast that will draw attention from the UK's learning
community. When we conducted the review of post-16
education in Hastings and Rother, all the findings
pointed towards the need for a radical overhaul of
further education in the area. It has been a difficult
and tough journey for many, but we are on course for
something that will deliver an academic and vocational
revolution in this part of East Sussex."
Source: Eastbourne Herald, 19 July 2007
Improved Facilities Following Marina Buy-out
Sovereign Harbour’s new owners, Premier Marinas
Ltd, have promised to invest in improving its facilities,
and installing more berths to attract more boat enthusiasts
to Eastbourne. The company bought the marina from Carillion
early in July. Premier has been operating since 1988
and owns marinas in Brighton, Chichester, Falmouth,
Gosport, Port Solent, Southsea and Swanwick. Tim Mason,
managing director of Premier, said, "The marina
is now owned by a marina operator rather than a property
developer so we will focus more on the users' needs.
We are looking to develop and enhance the facility
for customers with a marina slant".
Source: Eastbourne Herald, 22 July 2007
Adult Learning Inspection Finds Improvements
Ofsted inspectors have given East Sussex County Council
a grade 2 'good' for its Adult and Community Learning
service, an improvement of two grades since last
year’s disappointing inspecting. The county
is also felt to be in a good position to make further
improvements, highlighting the Council's strong management
and leadership. The report also says that the authority
provides good support to the people it works with,
targeting to 'under represented' groups including
groups in areas of social deprivation. In delivering
the family learning part of the service, the inspectors
identified three key strengths: good development
of confidence and skills; good teaching and learning;
and strong management of family learning.
Source: Rye and Battle Observer, 21 July 2007
Excellence Day for Hospital Catering
Catering departments at East Sussex Hospitals recently
celebrated the Hospital Caterers Association’s
National Service Excellence Day with display stands
in staff restaurants and the main entrance of Conquest
Hospital. Initiatives already introduced to enhance
patients’ meal services include Protected Meal
times, Snack boxes, Special Dietary menus and food
services training. HCA and East Sussex Hospitals’ catering
departments recognise the importance of nutrition
in the recovery process of patients, and aim to tackle
any failings within the food service chain. Other
initiatives being considered include the benefits
of playing music at ward level during meal times
and staging theme meal occasions to celebrate social
events.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 21 July 2007
Foster Carer Awards
A special awards ceremony was held at the start of
July for more than 200 foster carers from across
East Sussex, providing East Sussex County Council
with the opportunity for their dedication and commitment
to young people. Prizes at the ceremony held at Barnsgate
Manor near Crowborough were awarded by ice-skating
star and TV celebrity Jayne Torvill. The events rewarded
full-time foster carers, and people who help young
people through the county's Children's Disability
Short Break and Fostering service. Many of the award
winners were nominated by the children and young
people they have cared for.
The East Sussex Foster Care Association Award was
this year given to two social workers, Martin Bellamy
from Eastbourne and Anne Buchan from Hastings, for
their services to children.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 13 July 2007
Little Common Farmers' Market
Little Common's own Farmers' Market has got off to
a flying start despite the recent rains. Regular
monthly markets will be held on Thursdays in St Martha's
Church Hall. Fresh produce was joined by locally
produced products such as pies and rolls. Most of
the traders from Bexhill’s successful farmers
market will attend the Little Common markets, which
have been set up by the council in response to public
demand. Farmers markets give people a chance to buy
local produce direct from local producers, and give
local farmers and crafts people the opportunity to
sell direct to the public, without seeing their profits
slashed by middle-men.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 18 July 2007
Arab Technical Training Awards
HRH the Duke of Kent handed out awards to graduating
students at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Technical
Training Project/UK, in Bexhill, and opened the new
Fitness Centre. The training project began in 1992
with 200 students attending Hastings College, and
has grown in scale to more than 1,500 students attending
colleges and universities throughout the UK, particularly
to undertake studies in aerospace, electrical and
marine engineering and telecommunications.
The UAE project expresses
its thanks to the people of East Sussex through significant
charitable donations.
The project is also one of the area’s largest
employers, with approximately 50 local people employed
in a variety of roles.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 18 July 2007
Staff Pull School Out of Special Measures
Bexhill’s St Peter and St Paul Church of England
Primary has impressed Ofsted inspectors, coming out
of special measures and gaining two ‘outstanding’ and
four ‘good’ grades. The turnabout has been
clearly attributed to the new leadership of headteacher,
Richard White, and the hard work of his staff. Now
Ofsted says: "This school has come a long way
since its last inspection when it was taken out of
special measures. The school set very ambitious targets
for its 2007 Year 6 national test results and it is
on track to achieve them.”
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 13 July
Plans for Eastbourne Town Centre Revealed
An artist’s impression of the £190m regeneration
plan for Eastbourne town centre has been revealed.
Residents can look forward to up to 40 new shops, restaurants
and leisure facilities and associated new jobs, by
2013. The Arndale centre will be extended, and pedestrian
access from the railway station will be improved by
the scheme. The current bus precinct is earmarked for
pedestrianisation, and the ring road along Ashford
Road will be re-routed if the entire plans are accepted
following the public consultation. Plans can be viewed
at an exhibition in the Arndale Centre.
Comments can be made at the exhibition or via www.futureeastbourne.co.uk.
This informal consultation will be followed by the
submission of detailed plans to the Council.
Source: BBC online, 22 July 2007 & Eastbourne Herald,
20 July 2007
Successful Tennis Tournament May End
Following the withdrawal of £350,000 sponsorship,
the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has announced that
the future of Eastbourne's international ladies tennis
tournament is in severe jeopardy. Despite this year’s
event hitting record attendance figures of more than
36,000, £650,000 was required from the LTA. The
pre-Wimbledon tournament is popular with the public,
but is short on commercial viability as it is much
harder to attract corporate investment to. Derek Draper
of the LTA also said that “Eastbourne is always
battling against the stereotyped image. When people
think of Brighton they think it's a cool and trendy
town but unfortunately Eastbourne does not have that." The
loss of the eight day event will be felt keenly by
local businesses including hotels, restaurants and
taxi firms if no rescue package can be secured.
Source: Eastbourne Herald, 27 June 2007
Let's do Business 2007
Planning for this year’s Let’s do Business
exhibition is moving a-pace, with exhibition space
selling strongly. The business-to-business exhibition
will take place at The Hastings Centre on 15th November.
Local organisations can exhibit at the event for as
little as £100 + VAT, and can reach more than
1,100 business owners, directors and key decision makers
from across East Sussex and beyond during the one-day
event. 86% of last year’s exhibitors told organisers
that they generated new business directly on the day
of the event itself. 99% of attendees also rated the
event as either excellent or good.
More information about attending or exhibiting at the
event can be found on the website http://www.letsdobusiness.org
Source: Hastings Observer, 19 July 2007
eBiz Club Gets Business Reps on their Toes
Representatives from more than 50 local businesses
took part in the latest round of eBiz Club meetings
in Bexhill, Hastings and Rye, with the Bexhill meeting
so popular that it was standing room only. Ed Clarke
from the eBiz Centre took the floor to lead a debate
about online payment systems, in particular the battle
emerging between new-kid-on-the-block Google Checkout
and the long-established PayPal. Guest speaker Paul
King from Concise CRM Solutions Ltd went on to give
an outline of the benefit of using a web based Customer
Relationship Management system.
The next round of the free eBiz
Clubs meetings will take place in September. For more
details visit http://www.ebizcentre.co.uk/events.
Source: Hastings Observer, 18 July 2007
Plumpton
College Winery
Wine expert Jancis Robinson recently visited Plumpton
College to open its new winery. With English wine
production going from strength to strength over recent
years, the college has invested in viticulture activities.
Former students of the college who have gone on to
work at some of the world's finest vineyards and
wineries returned to attend the ceremony, and sample
the college's 2007 award-winning wines with canapés
and lunch.
The winery took two years to develop and was supported
by the East Sussex Economic Partnership, University
of Brighton, Learning and Skills Council, and the Worshipful
Company of Vintners. The college offers a wide range
of part-time wine-related studies, two Foundation Degrees
(Wine Business and Wine Production) and a Bachelors
degree in Vitculture. Click
here for course details.
Employment of School Children
Child employment officers from Brighton & Hove
City Council marked national Child Employment Week
(6-10 August) with a series of unannounced visits to
employers across the city to ensure that children below
school leaving age who are engaged in employment kept
safe and within the law.
Child employment officers play a vital role in making
sure that employers understand the laws affecting the
employment of schoolchildren. Their first task should
be to review and approve applications for work permits
for school children (within the Employment Act 1933)
and issuing employment cards to employers and employees.
They also offer advice on the law and safety of young
employees, and where necessary, investigate any infringements
of legislation.
Child employment officer
Dave Noble said: “Most
of the time, when we find problems it’s because
employers are not aware of their responsibilities.
Once we make them aware of the laws on child employment
they’re generally only too keen to work with
us to change things for the better. It’s in their
interests to do so – employers who consistently
flout child employment regulations can face fines of
up to £5,000 per week per offence.”
Long Awaited Falmer Stadium Decision
After many years of wrangling, new Communities Secretary,
Hazel Blears, has finally given approval for all
four planning applications pertaining to the proposed
22,000-seater stadium for Brighton & Hove Albion
at Village Way North in Falmer. Relief has been expressed
by many, including the City Council, University of
Brighton and City College Brighton and Hove. However,
legal objections cannot yet be ruled out, given the
sustained opposition from Lewes District Council
and Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.
Full-blown celebrations will wait another six week
until the window for appeals has passed. Most involved
remember the elation felt two years ago when former
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott approved the
scheme, only to feel it ebb away when the High Court
overturned the decision a few months later.
Work on the £50 million
stadium is expected to begin next Autumn, and take
two years to complete.
Perhaps 2010 will see the Seagulls nesting in a permanent
home after 13 years camping out at Withdean, or ground-sharing
at Gillingham.
Along with the stadium, Falmer
will see major transport improvements, including £5
million improvements to roads and paths, opening
up acres of land for possible
development. South East England Development Agency
(SEEDA) Chairman James Braithwaite said that the project
would provide jobs and reinvigorate the area's economy.
Nearby Wollards Field could be used for East Sussex
County Council's archive centre and the Southern Water
site for offices. Mr Braithwaite mentioned the importance
of this investment scheme to East Brighton (one of
the poorest parts of the country), and the possibility
of creating 500 to 1000 jobs and training opportunities.
City College Brighton and Hove has much to gain from
the approval of plans at Falmer, the East Stand will
house classrooms and facilities for 550 students. An
application has already been submitted to the Learning
and Skills Council for a grant for this work, in conjunction
with redevelopment of its existing sites within the
city. The existing study support centre located at
the Withdean Stadium would move to Falmer, and courses
running at the stadium will be associated with the
employment and work experience opportunities presented
there, including catering, hospitality, media and journalism.
Source: The Argus, 20 & 25 July 2007
Aldi Purchase London Road Site
It has been announced that German discount supermarket
chain Aldi has bought the old Sainsbury’s store
in London Road. However, the store is not expected
to create many new jobs as most Aldi stores operate
with between four and ten staff. The chain also keeps
its operating costs down by presenting goods directly
off pallets on the floor to reduce labour intensive
shelf stacking, and charging for carrier bags.
Local traders are optimistic
that a major food retailer returning to London Road
will attract shoppers back
to the area, and their own shops, which have seen trade
slump since Co-op and Sainsbury left. A spokeswoman
for Somerfield in London Road said the Aldi store would
be a competitor, but added: "It's unlikely they'd
be attracting the same demographic as us."
Source: The Argus, 19 July 2007
Another 1,000 Sussex Graduates
University of Sussex graduations took place at the
end of July, bringing more than a thousand graduates
and their families back to the city for formal ceremonies
and informal celebrations. The university’s
chancellor Lord Richard Attenborough was a top attraction
for parents attending ceremonies at the Dome. This
annual event brings a mini boom to the city’s
restaurants, hotels and B&Bs as proud parents
flock to see their offspring’s studies rewarded
and lavish treats upon them.
Source: The Argus, 19 July 2007
Call Centre Recruiting or Sacking Confusion
A call centre operator in Queen Square, Brighton, has
been accused of recruiting new staff while 250 of
its current employees are facing the sack after Inkfish
lost its contract with the Post Office. Many call
agents, administration staff and team leaders have
been given the choice of taking redundancy or being
transferred to Northern Ireland, but it is claimed
that active recruitment was also underway for up
to 150 posts associated to other contracts.
Inkfish has confirmed that a number of new jobs would
be available in Brighton soon and that it remains committed
to Brighton.
Source: The Argus, 19 July 2007
£140m
for Construction Training
ConstructionSkills (the Sector Skills Council for
Construction) has revealed that four out of five
construction firms
in the South East are failing to take advantage of
money available for workforce training. This year,
a record £140 million is being distributed
through Construction Skills, and South East building
firms are urged to apply for a share.
Consultation showed that construction firms favoured
a longer-term approach to training, so grants have
been designed to stretch over several years. Money
to support apprenticeships has also been significantly
increased to help recruit and train the next generation
of construction workers.
Brighton and Hove expects
to see the value of construction work to exceed £2.2
billion in the next ten years, thanks to major projects
including the New England
Quarter, Frank Gehry's proposed King Alfred tower development,
an international arena at Black Rock and a football
stadium at Falmer.
For full details of the grants visit http://www.cskills.org/grant.
Source: The Argus, 17 July 2007
North Street Record Shop in Jeopardy
The joint administrators and receivers of independent
music retailer Fopp have cut around 700 jobs nationally
and are seeking buyers for its stores, including
one in Brighton’s North Street. The job cuts
will also be felt at Music Zone outlets bought by
Fopp after that chain fell into administration in
January. These cuts are clearly part of a trend in
high street music and DVD retailing, facing declining
sales and diminishing profit margins in the face
of increased competition from supermarkets, internet-based
retailers and download sites. Music retailer HMV
recently announced that its pre-tax profits had more
than halved from £98 million to £48 million
in the year to April 28th.
Source: The Argus, 4 July 2007
Sussex Printing Shake-Up Continues
Archant Life South East, publisher of Sussex Life has
announced that sister-publication Brighton and Hove
Life will be dropped this month, and the city glossy
will be incorporated into the long-established county
magazine. Suzanne Heaven, managing director said
that the popularity of Sussex Life in the city prompted
the decision, to avoid duplication of costs and to
strengthen the city sales of Sussex Life.
Brighton and Hove Life was founded by businessman
Leonard Stall, whose own publishing and design company,
MediaLab (publisher of Metro and several other well
known titles), went into voluntary liquidation recently.
Sussex Enterprise is inviting proposals for the supply,
design and most of the content production of its Business
Edge magazine for members. Business Edge is published
ten times a year and has a print run of 10,000 per
issue.
Source: The Argus, 10 July 2007
Business Barter Scheme
Sussex businesses are discovering a new bartering system
for businesses.
More than 90 firms including Shoreham-based airline
SkySouth and Gordon Ramsay-championed Brighton restaurant
Momma Cherri's are signed up.
Satachi Trade Exchange, started
just under two years ago following a model that has
been used in North America,
Canada, Australia and many parts of Europe for many
years. Basically, members exchanging goods and services
instead of using cash. This allows them to reduce their
operating costs, expand their customer base, improve
their cash flow, thereby increasing profits. As it’s
highly unlikely that two businesses will want to do
a straight exchange of goods or services of exactly
the same value at exactly the same time, trade exchanges
create a commodity exchange using the exchange’s
own currency - Satachi pounds (S) – which is
recognised by Excise and Revenue. The exchange is a
third-party record keeper, tracking all transactions
and helping members find new trading partners, for
a small monthly fee and commission.
Hotels, restaurants, taxi and vehicle hire firms are
trading spare capacity through Satachi, taking advantage
of the exchange being locally-based.
Source: The Argus, 3 July 2007
Free Business Reviews
Sussex’s small businesses are entitled to productivity
reviews from Business Link. The small business review
is designed to help streamline processes, improve business
plans and free up management time to grow the business.
The service is being offered by Business Link - an organisation
sponsored by the South East Economic Development Agency
(SEEDA).
Eligible businesses can come from
any sector, but must employ between one and five staff
and have been
trading for two years or more. More information is
available on 0845 600 9 006 or visit the website at http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/sussex
Source: West Sussex County Times, 12 July 2007
RDAs to Increase Delegation to Local Government
National government’s Review of Sub-national
Economic Development and Regeneration was published
recently, and made it clear that Regional Development
Agencies (RDAs) are expected to delegate responsibility
for spending to local authorities as far as possible.
Also funding for most education and skills programs
for 14 to 19-year-olds will move to local government
from the Learning and Skills Councils.
Unitary and county councils will be expected to carry
out local economic assessments, which may be written
jointly with other authorities with a view to forming
multi area agreements working across boundaries. These
assessments would then underpin regional strategies,
local sustainable community strategies, and targets
set for sub-regional bodies with the costs met by central
government.
The review intends that the
Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG)
will work with the Local
Government Association to create a ‘concordat’ governing
relations between councils and central government.
The review also promises to reform the Local Authority
Business Growth Incentive (LABGI) [see earlier story
in Knowledgebase - Council gives LABGI funds to Business]
scheme to ensure that more of the proceeds are directed
into assisting with business growth.
Source: http://www.brightonbusiness.co.uk, 20 July
2007
New Chemo Prescription Computer System
Hospitals within the Sussex Cancer Network are introducing
a new system to speed up the issuing of chemotherapy
prescriptions. The Chemocare Oncology Electronic
Prescribing system will allow consultants at The
Conquest Hospital Hastings, Eastbourne General Hospital,
The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Royal Alexandra
Hospital and Worthing Hospital sites to enter patient
information and cancer treatment details directly
into the system, rather than wait for paper-based
records to be entered later. The issue of the prescription
to pharmacists and nurses is instant, and the possibility
of data entry error is reduced as it is done by the
cancer consultant, not by a less medically trained
intermediary.
The system will be fully installed by March 2010,
across the whole of Sussex Cancer Network (SCN), which
brings together many organisations, professional groups,
and commissioners. There are over 6000 new cancers
a year within the SCN.
Source: Hastings Observer, 12 July 2007
Care Homes Cruise the Med
Residents of over 100 care homes run by Sussex-based
BUPA, including Ancaster Court Nursing Home and Grosvenor
Park Nursing and Residential Home, will be taking
part in an innovative cruise in the home experience
this summer. Each home will re-create a passenger
cruise ship environment for a six week period, during
which the ‘passengers’ will voyage through
the Mediterranean.
Care home staff will bring
the cruise ship experience to life with activities
including deck games such as
quoits, putting, and shuffle board; music and live
entertainment performances connected to the chosen
ports; language lessons; themed meals and a gala dinner
complete with captain’s table.
National activities manager
of BUPA Care Homes, Tim Brooke, said: "The majority
of our residents are unable to go abroad so we thought
it would be a good
idea to create a holiday atmosphere within the homes.
By giving our residents the opportunity to experience
the cultures of different Mediterranean destinations,
we hope to engage them and their families in an enjoyable
and stimulating summer activity."
Source: Hastings/Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 12 July 2007
Youth Services Budget Under the Microscope
West Sussex’s Youth Service is facing significant
financial pressures. The Children and Young People’s
Select Committee recently heard that new salary scales
have added £100,000 to the operational bill,
and that some external funding sources are coming to
an end. Without a major cash injection, the service
will be faced with making tough choices about what
and how it can deliver to the county’s 64,320
13-19 year olds.
At present the service believes
it reaches about one in three young people within
its age remit, at a cost
of £216 per head. The Youth Service budget in
2006-2007 was £4.5m (just under 1% of the total
education budget), putting West Sussex’s Youth
Service funding at 100 out of 132 local authorities
nationally. The county also reported a £400,000
reduction in the budget for the Connexions service.
Source: Chichester Observer, 16 July 2007
Growing Interest in Nursery Open Days
The West Sussex Growers Association (WSGA) members
are planning to throw open the gates of many of their
nurseries to the public on 23rd September. West Sussex
consumers are being invited to look behind the scenes
at 15 of the county's horticultural businesses. More
than 15 growers and nurseries will open their gates
to the public on September 23 to show how the county's
produce is grown. The event is a perfect opportunity
for anyone considering a career in horticulture to
see how things are done and speak to horticultural
business owners and workers. The open days are aimed
at all ages, and reflect WSGA’s aims to raise
awareness of the role of horticulture. The organisation
has issued a challenge to schoolchildren to grow
a pot of chrysanthemum to enter into a competition
with prizes being presented by Blue Peter gardener,
Chris Collins.
WSGA is a specialist branch
of the National Farmers’ Union
(NFU), which is primarily involved in raising positive
public relations for the horticultural industry, and
campaigning on behalf of horticulture within the NFU
and with government agencies.
Source: Chichester Observer, 16 July 2007
Chichester, Midhurst and Petworth Business Awards
The Observer Business of the Year Awards have just
been launched with the support of the Observer series
of newspapers. The awards are designed to honour
businesses that really put the customer first; show
a real commitment to their staff; and take pride
in being a major player in the community. There are
12 awards for companies and individuals, including
3 categories of Business of the Year (up to 5 employees;
6-10 employees and more than 10 employees) and categories
to reward key business sectors; innovation; environmental
efforts; young achievers and lifetime achievers.
Entry to the awards competition is free, and there
is no limit to the number of categories entered. Entry
packs can be obtained from the Observer series of newspapers,
or by clicking here http://www2.chichestertoday.co.uk/pdf_advert/boty.pdf,
and completed applications will be accepted up to December
31, 2007. Judging will be undertaken by an independent
panel of business leaders. Awards will be presented
at a black-tie ceremony scheduled to take place at
the end of February at Goodwood Racecourse.
Source: Chichester Observer, 20 July 2007
International Baccalaureate Comes to West Sussex
It has been announced that Chichester High School for
Boys will become the first school in West Sussex
to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) exam.
Around 24 sixth formers are expected to embark on
this new programme of study from September 2008,
as an alternative to A-levels. The course requires
students to study six subjects, all to be examined
at the end of the two-year course, and leads to more
UCAS points than four A-level passes. IB students
will also undertake voluntary work, writing an extended
essay and taking a theory of knowledge exam.
The school will receive £26,000
funding from the Learning and Skills Council to cover
the costs
of accreditation and staff training.
Source: Chichester Observer, 18 July 2007
Bognor Shopmobility Marks 1st Decade
To mark its tenth anniversary, Bognor Regis Shopmobility
has made its founder, Kate Allen, its life president.
The charity helps nearly 1000 residents and visitors
to get around the town, and recorded 12,500 hirings
of its 70 scooters, wheelchairs and powered wheelchairs
during 2006/7.
Source: Bognor Regis Observer, 18 July 2007
Radio Awards for Chi Students
Chichester College Media 1st Diploma students recently
won awards in the UK Skills Challenge for their radio
production. A gold award went to Amy Louise Slade
and James Thomson for their half-hour children’s
production The Jumping James and Amazing Amy Show.
A silver award went to Alex Clifton and Ani Dominique
Abello for ‘Double A Show’, a gossipy
women’s magazine show.
Source: Chichester Observer, 16 July 2007
Learning about Wood Recyling for Businesses
Aldingbourne Country Centre’s Wood Recycling
Project has been working with businesses across the
area to collect leftover and unwanted wood since December,
creating real employment for people with learning disabilities.
The business has become commercially viable by charging
businesses a small fee to collect wooden waste, which
is more competitive than commercial landfill fees.
Wood is sorted and has nails etc removed before going
into the centre’s workshops or being sold back
to the public through the centre’s shop, for
DIY projects or as firewood and kindling. The workshops
make a range of goods, including composters, bird tables
and bird houses for the shop, while learning new practical
skills.
The centre's general manager
Peter Stanley said: "We
offer real work opportunities for people here …Unfortunately
it's still very difficult for people with learning
disabilities to get into proper employment, and we
act as a stepping stone … We have about six clients
working there who do lots of jobs. They are learning
to paint, use tools and they are getting a range of
experiences and skills." Although the scheme is
still young, the centre is thrilled with its success,
and has plans to establish similar workshops in other
areas such as Pulborough.
Source: Midhurst and Petworth Observer, 5 July 2007
Citizens Advice Relocation
Midhurst’s Citizens Advice Bureau has relocated
from the former resource centre to the Grange Centre
in Bepton Road, without the feared break in service
reported in the last bulletin. The last session at
the resource centre in North Street was held on Friday
13th July and without a hitch, the outreach service
was ready to operate its next session on Friday 20th
at the Grange. Relocation to a busy building means
that it is possible to operate with a single adviser,
reducing costs and securing outreach service to Midhurst
for the foreseeable future.
CAB sessions will take place at the Grange Centre,
Bepton Road every Friday from 9.30am to 3pm.
Source: Midhurst and Petworth Observer, 18 July 2007
Green Activities Week
Midhurst Grammar School’s Year 9 Activity week
took a green and eco-friendly theme this year. 13 cross-curricular
activities offered included using sustainable products
to build bird feeders, making a willow figure, and
revamping clothes and fabrics for sale to students.
Students made presentations at an assembly at the end
of the week, culminating in a dance routine from an
eco-music and drama workshop.
Source: Midhurst and Petworth Observer, 10 July 2007
Worthing Bus Service Threat
Bus operator Stagecoach claims that if a £2 million
funding shortfall is not addressed immediately, service
cuts are necessary as it is being forced to heavily
subsidise the free travel scheme for those over 60
due to the high elderly population in the town. The
national government scheme to provide free travel for
the over-60s should see operators reimbursed for fares
they would otherwise have received. However, Stagecoach
says that they are only getting 42p back from the County
Council for every £1 it actually costs them,
due to a population size system used to calculate funding,
which does not take into account the demographics of
the local population. Worthing has at least 1.25 times
the UK average of people over 60, and this proportion
is predicted to grow by around 10 per cent by 2016.
The first service cut (from 6th August) is the number
8 service from Worthing to south Ferring. However,
fellow operator Paleobus is coming to the rescue of
Ferring residents. Other cuts include reduced frequency
of the no. 10 from Worthing to Maybridge and Boxgrove
and the no. 1, which takes children from a school in
Midhurst home to Worthing.
Source: Worthing Herald, 27 July 2007
New Plans Afoot for Shoreham Harbour
Shoreham Harbour could become one of the South East's
biggest building sites, if a brownfield development
of up to 6,000 homes, offices, shops and a marina
get underway. South East England Development Agency
(SEEDA) and Shoreham Port Authority have drawn up
new plans for the Shoreham Maritime project, replacing
all previous plans for the redevelopment of the area.
SEEDA and the port authority are not yet revealing
the detail of the plans, but have confirmed that 4,000
to 6,000 high-quality, sustainable homes were planned
for the site in the next 15 years. The development
agency is leading the project and has begun a feasibility
study into the costs and economic viability of the
plan. Public sector investment and infrastructure needs
will be key to the plans.
Source: Shoreham Herald, 19 July 2007
Arundel,
Steyning and Lewes are Not ‘Natural
Beauties’
The current proposal for the South Downs National Park
leaves Arundel, Steyning and Lewes outside of the park
boundaries, despite their inclusion in the original
2002 blueprint. The reason for these towns’ exclusion
from the park is their failure of the public inquiry’s ‘natural
beauty’ test. These towns may be historic, but
the countryside around them is not deemed to have high
enough merit to warrant inclusion in a national park,
and the protection this would bring. However, Arundel
Castle and its grounds have snuck into the latest proposals
due to their inclusion in the existing South Downs
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
It had been hoped locally
that Arundel would become the ‘gateway’ town for the national park,
but the town’s exclusion from the park boundary
may put this at risk.
The inquiry report supports the case for a national
park to be created. Councils, other organisations and
the public were given until August 13 to make their
comments, before the recommendations are referred to
government for consideration.
Source: Worthing Herald, 12 July 2007
Community Hospital Still on the Cards
A statement from John Wilderspin, chief executive of
West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) has raised hopes
that Littlehampton's Arun Community Hospital will
be built. Although no final decision can be made
until after the Fit For the Future consultation on
major NHS reorganisation across West Sussex, Mr Wilderspin
indicated that there will be an emphasis on ‘locally-based
facilities’. A public meeting of the Joint
Eastern Arun Area Committee on 7th August was scheduled
to debate the hospital issue with PCT representatives.
Source: Worthing Herald, 27 July 2007
Arun Area Construction Debts
Arun District Council is using debt collectors to recover
hundreds of thousands of pounds owed by unscrupulous
developers that have failed to pay the fees imposed
as a condition of planning approval. The total amount
(owing £1,420,445) is equal to just under £21
for each of the area’s 68,009 council tax payers. £414,664
should already have been paid, with the rest due when
work starts on specific schemes or when key milestones
have been reached.
The outstanding section 106 agreement payments date
back up to nine years, and are supposed to go towards
supporting services such as libraries, schools and
play areas which will come under greater demand as
a result of increased housing.
Source: Bognor Regis Observer, 18 July 2007
Tourism Group for East Grinstead
Local businesses have recently come together with council
representatives in East Grinstead to form the Tourism
and Business Working Group (TBWG), replacing to old
tourism working group. The aim is to promote tourism
in and around the town, and enhance business prosperity
through local spending by visitors. The group is encouraging
members of the public to attend the group’s meetings,
and a conference about the extension of the Bluebell
Railway and its potential impact on tourism is planned
for the autumn.
Source: ic surrey online, 11 July 2007
European Market Success
East Grinstead shoppers were eager to sample the tastes
of Europe at the town’s European Market in
the privately-owned Queens Walk shopping parade on
the first Friday in July. So successful was the event
with stall holders from France to Poland that the
market may become regular event and attraction. As
well as many luxury food items, stall holder also
brought ranges of leather goods, fabric and clothes.
Source: East Grinstead Observer, 11 July 2007
Well Signed Industrial Estate
Burgess Hill's main industrial estate on London now
has much clearer signs, to help delivery drivers
from out of town. New direction-signs have been erected
by the Burgess Hill Business Parks Association at
the main entrances, to help to distinguish this site
from the Victoria Business Park. The new signs, designed
at Quentin Press, are based on the logo colours of
the Burgess Hill Business Parks Association. The
importance of these signs aiding to local trade was
underlined by Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames, who
performed an unveiling ceremony.
Source: Mid Sussex Times, 18 July 2007
Lindfield Speakers Fly to Far East Music Lovers
Believe it or not, a Mid Sussex firm is having great
success exporting electronics to the Far East. While
the UK imports vast numbers of mass market electronics
including speakers, Lindfield-based Harbeth is marking
30 years exporting in business with buoyant exports
to the Far East. Harbeth was set up by a former BBC
engineer, and prides itself on traditional high sound
quality and craftsmanship, and it now struggling
to keep up with global demand. The hand-crafted speakers
are not cheap and tend to be bought by discerning
customers, including musicians and record producers.
Harbeth's MD Alan Shaw is keen to point out the double
irony of his business exporting speakers to markets
that supply such large volumes of affordable electronics
to the UK, and that it should be a thoroughly British
brand that is doing so, while most UK-based speaker
brands have fallen into foreign ownership. Source:
Mid Sussex Times, 10 July 2007
Horsham District Housing Strategy
Horsham District Council's cabinet states that a strategy
will be developed with Action in Rural Sussex, to
help address housing concerns such as young people
and essential workers not being able to afford to
live locally. Parish councils and local communities
will be consulted with during the drafting of the
document, to take account of he sensitivities of
swamping rural areas with new housing and avoiding
the potential stigma of 'affordable housing'. The
Horsham district rural affordable housing strategy
is due for completion in autumn 2007.
Source: West Sussex County Times, 16 July 2007
Gatwick-Horsham Bus Link
Horsham now has a new direct bus link to Gatwick Airport,
bringing a new affordable transport option to the
town for holiday-makers and airport workers. Metrobus’ route
200 is supported by BAA, and will be north Horsham’s
first Sunday and public holiday bus link to the airport.
The service runs hourly on
weekdays from 3.58am to 7.14pm, from Horsham Hospital
via Holbrook, North Heath
and Roffey to Manor Royal, in Crawley, and Gatwick
Airport. It will provide an earlier morning service
from Roffey to Horsham Train Station than has previously
been available, opening public transport access to
the station for early trains. Visit the Metrobus website
for Route 200 timetable information http://www.metrobus.co.uk/timetable.php?route_id=9&type=week .
Source: West Sussex County Times, 12 July 2007
Christ’s
Hospital Head Retires
Dr Peter Southern retired at the end of the summer
term after 11 years as headmaster of the high-profile
co-educational independent school, Christ's Hospital
School, south of Horsham. The Merton College, Oxford
graduate who undertook research at Edinburgh University
arrived at Christ’s Hospital to teach History
at the unique school, where the uniform still consists
of a distinctive Tudor-style blue coats or ‘housey
coats’ with yellow stocking.
The headship of the boarding school with more than
450 years history as a charitable educator now passes
to Australian born and educated John Franklin who is
currently headmaster of Ardingly College, near Haywards
Heath. Dr Southern believes that the school chose his
successor 'wisely'.
Source: West Sussex County Times, 13 July 2007
Summer Special Shopping Offers
Horsham Traders’ Guild members around the historic
Carfax area are organising a series of mid-week events
for shoppers, including a mid week market, special
offers and even free parking when Summer Special Wednesdays
begin in August. The Carfax market will run each Wednesday
from 9am to 3pm, featuring a varied selection of stalls,
together with added attractions on selected days.
More than 15 local traders
are already planning 'Blue Balloon' offers. Participating
shops will also stamp
a ‘Blue Balloon Passport’, and collection
of four different stamps will entitle shoppers to free
parking in Swan Walk between 10am and 4pm on a Summer
Special Wednesday.
Summer Special Wednesdays will run on August 1, 8,
15, 22, 27 and September 5.
Source: West Sussex County Times, 17 July 2007
New Corporate Responsibility Report
BAA Gatwick recently published its Corporate Responsibility
website and report, detailing environmental, economic
and social performance during 2006 – 2007.
This is the first year that BAA has moved away from
publishing a paper-based Corporate Responsibility
report, in favour of a more environmentally approach – download
from the company’s website. The report reviews
progress made against performances on 12 key issues:
air quality, biodiversity, climate change, noise,
surface transport, waste, water, ‘our people’,
health and safety, security, local communities and
Gatwick’s role in the local economy. Performance
is independently audited and verified by environmental
consultants Environmental Resources Management Limited
(ERM).
Source: www.gatwickairport.com 4 July 2007
Airport Crime Watch Scheme
Businesses within Gatwick Airport are joining with
Crawley’s Business Watch scheme to create one
of the first Airport Watch schemes in the country,
to promote crime reduction. Membership of the scheme,
supported by BAA and Sussex Police, will enable members
to share information on crime and criminals, especially
shoplifters and anti-social behaviour, with access
to photos to aid identification. A secure radio system
(supplied by Steyning-based Adur Radios Limited)
will allow members to alert each other and the Police
to crimes in progress, potential offenders and suspicious
activity. Ultimately, the scheme will help to make
the airport an even safer place to work in or travel
through.
Source: www.gatwickairport.com 17 July 2007
Busy Summer Student Hosts
Gatwick airport is estimating that more than half a
million passengers will have uses the airport during
the first weekend of the school summer holidays (Friday
27 through to Monday 30 July). To help passengers
navigate the busy airport, BAA Gatwick has employed
a team of young people from local schools and colleges
to work as ‘Welcome Hosts’. The hosts,
dressed in distinctive bright yellow t-shirts will
act as mobile information points across the land-side
areas of the airport. They will be helping passengers
with any queries or directions to find their check-in
area, onward travel connections and other airport
facilities. This is the fourth year that young Welcome
Hosts have been recruited by the airport.
Source: www.gatwickairport.com, 25 July 2007
Gatwick Airport Meet the Buyers Event
For the sixth year running, BAA Gatwick hosted a Meet
the Buyers event at the Gatwick Hilton Hotel, for
local suppliers. 150 supplier representatives met
with 28 buying organisations from around the airport,
including construction, transport, cleaning, security
and catering businesses. The event has the support
of West Sussex County Council, Crawley Borough Council,
Business Link and South London Partnership, recognising
the importance of the airport to the regional economy.
Last year’s event generated more than £2
million of new business for the local economy.
Source: www.gatwickairport.com, 28 June 2007
Gatwick Day on BBC Southern Counties Radio
Gatwick, the UK's busiest single runway airport, opened
its doors to a BBC local radio station for a behind
the scenes on July 18th, meeting those who make it
work and looking into its future. Andy Flower, Managing
Director spoke to radio reporters, answering listeners’ questions
about a range of issues including security regulations
and plans for a second runway. The day also took
a look at the retinal scanning technology that is
now available at both North and South Terminals on
a voluntary basis.
Source: BBC online, 18 July 2007
Gatwick-Horsham Bus Link
Horsham now has a new direct bus link to Gatwick Airport,
bringing a new affordable transport option to the
town for holiday-makers and airport workers. Metrobus’ route
200 is supported by BAA, and will be north Horsham’s
first Sunday and public holiday bus link to the airport.
The service runs hourly on
weekdays from 3.58am to 7.14pm, from Horsham Hospital
via Holbrook, North Heath
and Roffey to Manor Royal, in Crawley, and Gatwick
Airport. It will provide an earlier morning service
from Roffey to Horsham Train Station than has previously
been available, opening public transport access to
the station for early trains. Visit the Metrobus website
for Route 200 timetable information http://www.metrobus.co.uk/timetable.php?route_id=9&type=week .
Source: West Sussex County Times, 12 July 2007
Stock Market Virgin?
Britain’s second largest airline, Crawley-based
Virgin Atlantic, could soon be floated on the stock
market if Singapore Airlines sells its 49 per cent
stake in the business. Industry analysts are valuing
the airline at between £1.5 billion to £2
billion if it was floated. However, it is widely thought
that majority shareholder Richard Branson would prefer
to keep the airline in private hands, and that a private
equity deal may be considered. Virgin Atlantic employs
more than 8,500 people globally and about 3,000 at
Gatwick.
Source: The Argus, 17 July 2007
Printer That Cuts Waste
A Sussex company claims to have the solution to the
volume of computer printouts that go uncollected,
wasting money and resources. Safecom, from the Manor
Royal Industrial Estate in Crawley, manufactures
and sells a gadget that can be fitted to any office
printer to delay printing until the user walks up
to the printer to activate it with an electronic
card carrying their details. An approach that was
designed initially for document security reasons,
but that also brings significant environmental benefits.
This mechanism should prevent
the familiar backlog of discarded or forgotten printed
items that may get
thrown in the bin, not even recycled. If a job hasn't
been printed out after a specified time – a working
day – an administrator can simply delete the
document from the printer queue.
Source: The Argus, 17 July 2007
Safety Award for TNT Express
Crawley-based delivery firm TNT have received a national
health and safety award. TNT Express Services based
at Newton Road, on the Manor Royal Industrial Estate,
picked up the coveted Safety Operation Award at the
Motor Transport Awards 2007, as a result of their
10 per cent reduction in vehicle collisions along
with a Fleet Safety Audit rating where at least 85
per cent of all TNT locations achieved a 'four star
plus' grading. TNT has won 24 Motor Transport Awards
over the past 21 years, more than any other organisation.
Source: Crawley Observer, 19 July
Unilever Offices to Close in South East and London
Unilever will close three Sales and Marketing offices
in the South East region, leading to the loss of
up to 350 jobs. The offices in Walton-on-Thames in
Surrey, Kingston-upon-Thames in south west London
and Crawley, in West Sussex are due to close by the
end of 2008. 40 senior management jobs and 260-310
other jobs will be lost. There will be a new merged
operation in Leatherhead, Surrey. The changes are
part of a restructuring programme that has been progressing
over the last two year to improve Unilever’s
performance.
Source: BBC online, 16th July 2007
Skills Shaping for Secondary Pupils
Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and local education consultancy
Magnified Learning are seeking to help young people
to prepare for the world of work with the help of local
business volunteers. A scheme with part-funding from
Barclays is delivering programmes in local secondary
schools to help young people to gain a deeper understanding
of business and the economy, improve their financial
capability as well as develop some key employability
skills - communication, leadership, risk-taking and
creativity.
Tailor-made days are offered to schools to assist with
generic skill development, and profiling the range
of opportunities a career in the business world can
offer. For more information about enterprise programmes
contact Ten Sixty Six Enterprise – 01424 205500.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 19 July 2007
Bid for Foundation Status
East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust's public consultation
into its proposals to become an NHS Foundation Trust
have been met positively by the public, more than
40 local people have volunteered to public members
of the NHS Foundation Trust in just one week. Membership
of the NHS Foundation Trust is free, people can become
as involved as they wish. Members will be kept up-to-date
on news and developments at East Sussex Hospitals
NHS Trust; be consulted on future plans and services;
and have an opportunity to stand for, and vote in,
the election of the Council of Governors.
The public consultation continues until 29th September
2007, to seek the views of local people and staff on
the arrangements for public and staff membership, the
Council of Governors and the name of the new organisation.
The proposals are outlined in a
public consultation document, available at local hospitals
and clinics,
through the NHS Foundation Trust Office at Eastbourne
District General Hospital, telephone 0845 2233099 or
available online from the Trust's website http://www.esht.nhs.uk/ft.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 21 July 2007
Funds Secured for Eastbourne College Expansion
£
92 million pounds has been committed by the Learning
and Skills Council for Eastbourne College’s Station
Plaza expansion development. This latest funding pledge
puts the final piece into the puzzle before building
work can begin. Development will begin almost immediately,
as the funding conditions mean that completion must
be reached in time to open to students in September
2009.
David Smith, area director
for Sussex at the Learning and Skills Council, said: "This
massive capital investment will lead to a new college
on the south
coast that will draw attention from the UK's learning
community. When we conducted the review of post-16
education in Hastings and Rother, all the findings
pointed towards the need for a radical overhaul of
further education in the area. It has been a difficult
and tough journey for many, but we are on course for
something that will deliver an academic and vocational
revolution in this part of East Sussex."
Source: Eastbourne Herald, 19 July 2007
Improved Facilities Following Marina Buy-out
Sovereign Harbour’s new owners, Premier Marinas
Ltd, have promised to invest in improving its facilities,
and installing more berths to attract more boat enthusiasts
to Eastbourne. The company bought the marina from Carillion
early in July. Premier has been operating since 1988
and owns marinas in Brighton, Chichester, Falmouth,
Gosport, Port Solent, Southsea and Swanwick. Tim Mason,
managing director of Premier, said, "The marina
is now owned by a marina operator rather than a property
developer so we will focus more on the users' needs.
We are looking to develop and enhance the facility
for customers with a marina slant".
Source: Eastbourne Herald, 22 July 2007
Adult Learning Inspection Finds Improvements
Ofsted inspectors have given East Sussex County Council
a grade 2 'good' for its Adult and Community Learning
service, an improvement of two grades since last
year’s disappointing inspecting. The county
is also felt to be in a good position to make further
improvements, highlighting the Council's strong management
and leadership. The report also says that the authority
provides good support to the people it works with,
targeting to 'under represented' groups including
groups in areas of social deprivation. In delivering
the family learning part of the service, the inspectors
identified three key strengths: good development
of confidence and skills; good teaching and learning;
and strong management of family learning.
Source: Rye and Battle Observer, 21 July 2007
Excellence Day for Hospital Catering
Catering departments at East Sussex Hospitals recently
celebrated the Hospital Caterers Association’s
National Service Excellence Day with display stands
in staff restaurants and the main entrance of Conquest
Hospital. Initiatives already introduced to enhance
patients’ meal services include Protected Meal
times, Snack boxes, Special Dietary menus and food
services training. HCA and East Sussex Hospitals’ catering
departments recognise the importance of nutrition
in the recovery process of patients, and aim to tackle
any failings within the food service chain. Other
initiatives being considered include the benefits
of playing music at ward level during meal times
and staging theme meal occasions to celebrate social
events.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 21 July 2007
Foster Carer Awards
A special awards ceremony was held at the start of
July for more than 200 foster carers from across
East Sussex, providing East Sussex County Council
with the opportunity for their dedication and commitment
to young people. Prizes at the ceremony held at Barnsgate
Manor near Crowborough were awarded by ice-skating
star and TV celebrity Jayne Torvill. The events rewarded
full-time foster carers, and people who help young
people through the county's Children's Disability
Short Break and Fostering service. Many of the award
winners were nominated by the children and young
people they have cared for.
The East Sussex Foster Care Association Award was
this year given to two social workers, Martin Bellamy
from Eastbourne and Anne Buchan from Hastings, for
their services to children.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 13 July 2007
Little Common Farmers' Market
Little Common's own Farmers' Market has got off to
a flying start despite the recent rains. Regular
monthly markets will be held on Thursdays in St Martha's
Church Hall. Fresh produce was joined by locally
produced products such as pies and rolls. Most of
the traders from Bexhill’s successful farmers
market will attend the Little Common markets, which
have been set up by the council in response to public
demand. Farmers markets give people a chance to buy
local produce direct from local producers, and give
local farmers and crafts people the opportunity to
sell direct to the public, without seeing their profits
slashed by middle-men.
Source: Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, 18 July 2007
Arab Technical Training Awards
HRH the Duke of Kent handed out awards to graduating
students at the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Technical
Training Project/UK, in Bexhill, and opened the new
Fitness Centre. The training project began in 1992
with 200 students attending Hastings College, and
has grown in scale to more than 1,500 students attending
colleges and u
