CPJ Field provides a green way to make the final trip

CPJ Field provides a green way to make the final trip

Family-run funeral director CPJ Field has invested in an electric hearse to offer its clients an environmentally friendly option that is also lower cost. The car, which is a modified Nissan Leaf, is the first electric powered hearse to be available in Brighton. It is now being offered alongside CPJ Field’s more traditional modes of transport and the business aims to switch the rest of its fleet to electric vehicles by 2024.

Electric hearses, which help reduce emissions and protect air quality, are just one step in CPJ Field’s drive to make responsible changes in light of climate change. The company already offers green funerals and alternatives to timber coffins, such as those made with wool, as well as only using wood from sustainable sources. What’s more, £25 is donated to Groundwork UK whenever a standard funeral service is conducted that could create any CO2 emissions.

Electric hearses have benefits for customers too. As the costs to run them are notably lower than a traditional hearse, the savings are passed onto customers with lower hire fees. Customers can hire the Nissan Leaf for £395, compared to £478 for a traditional hearse.

The car, commonly known as the ‘Eco-Hearse’, has a sleek design and is coloured in a traditional black. With the passenger’s side doors being replaced by glass, bystanders have full visibility of the coffin and flowers as with a traditional vehicle. It is also near silent in operation.

Charlie Field, Deputy Chairman at CPJ Field comments: “We’re pleased to now offer a much needed eco-friendly alternative to the traditional hearse. As a 300-year-old family business, we take a long-term view in everything we do and have a responsibility to future generations, as well as caring for the living and the dead now. We’re always looking to innovate and give our clients choices that enable them to fully reflect the values of the person who has died."

2,000 workspaces available for lease at Edward Street Quarter development

2,000 workspaces available for lease at Edward Street Quarter development

2,000 workspaces have been made available to lease in the largest commercial development in central Brighton in the last 25 years, Edward Street Quarter. The 150,000 sq ft commercial element due to be on site this year will include 110,000 sq ft of office space.

Edward Street Quarter is the £120 million redevelopment of the former AMEX House in Brighton.

Designed by BuckleyGreyYeoman, Edward Street Quarter is inspired by Brighton’s eclectic street scene and will introduce a new high-quality public realm, with three new public spaces created by renowned landscape designers Spacehub.

Mixed-use developer First Base and Patron Capital have announced the appointment of Cushman & Wakefield, CF Commercial and SHW as agents for the development.

Cushman & Wakefield and SHW have been appointed as office agents for the scheme, which will deliver 110,000 sq ft of flexible space for Brighton’s burgeoning media and creative sectors and wider corporate community, making it the largest provision of workspace to be delivered in the city since 1993.

SHW and CF Commercial will lead on the marketing of 40,000 sqft targeting food and beverage, gyms, cinemas and retail units.

Edward Street Quarter will also comprise 168 new homes, comprising a mix of private and affordable units to meet local demand.

Demolition of AMEX House is complete, with construction set to commence in early summer 2019.

Steve Eccles, Project Director at First Base, commented: “The growth of Brighton’s creative sector has been frustrated by a shortage of quality workspace, so we anticipate strong demand for the space we are delivering at Edward Street Quarter. We look forward to working with our agents to create an exciting mix of businesses, cafes and restaurants at this new neighbourhood in central Brighton.”

Gavin Stewart, Executive Director, Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said: “It’s no secret that Brighton and Hove is in desperate need of additional housing as well as Grade A office space to support many of the 16,000 businesses that exist in the city. This development delivers just that along with a range of additional enhancements that will support the local community to the East of Brighton for generations to come.”

Circular Brighton & Hove launch best practice event

This seminar will bring together strategic leaders of the Circular Economy and local area practitioners to help the audience understand the basic concepts of Circular Economy and how it is actually being delivered on the ground.   

Circular Economy is a relatively new concept to many people and this session will allow both the uninitiated and converted to expand their knowledge of new ways of approaching business and utilisation of the resources around us and to learn about the local delivery of Circular Economy.  We will be referring to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) definition of Circular Economy.

The ‘Brandwatch journey’ Lunch - How a Brighton company took on the world

The ‘Brandwatch journey’ Lunch - How a Brighton company took on the world

The world’s leading social listening and analytics tech companies was born right here in Brighton - Brandwatch has built intelligent software solutions that meet the needs of over 1,200 business across the globe, including Unilever, Whirlpool, British Airways, Walmart and Dell. With offices in New York, Berlin and Singapore … and an impressive collection of awards, they have come far since their inception in 2007.

On Wednesday 27 February Brighton Chamber is hosting founder and CEO Giles Palmer at Malmaison for a business lunch event.

At The ‘Brandwatch journey’ Lunch Giles will take attendees through the highs and lows of scaling up a small tech company to a global business in seven international cities. He’ll reflect on the challenges and insights he has gained through this considerable growth story and explain why organisations need to find and understand actionable insights from social data and share the right insights with the right people throughout the business.

Join Brighton Chamber for a delicious two-course lunch and glass of wine at Malmaison, with plenty of time for networking and questions with Giles.

Book your place here

To keep up to date with future Chamber events, sign up to our mailing list

SHOREHAM PORT UNVEILS NEW VISITOR CENTRE FOR HIRE

SHOREHAM PORT UNVEILS NEW VISITOR CENTRE FOR HIRE

There are exciting times ahead for Shoreham Port in 2019, as it expands its bank of commercial property available for hire, which will benefit local businesses and the wider community. Following on from the successes of the fully serviced office centre, Maritime House, Shoreham Port are now unveiling their recently renovated Visitor Centre for hire at flexible hourly and day rates from January 2019.

The Port’s fully serviced and self-contained Visitor Centre boasts an open-plan event space with seating for approximately 30 delegates, as well as a break-off meeting room. The bright, airy modern space is located on the ground floor of the Port’s head office, Nautilus House, reached via a private entrance which is fully wheelchair accessible. The venue also offers a kitchen with full amenities.

The Port’s Visitor Centre is ideally located, just a four-minute walk away from Southwick Railway Station and a one-minute walk from the 700 Stagecoach bus stop. By opening up the Visitor Centre to stakeholders and the local community, the Port aims to support local businesses who are struggling to find affordable meeting space. The space is already being utilised by local charity As You Are, once a week for their Systemic Family Therapy that began this month. Mentoring and coaching has also taken place in the Visitor Centre, along with yoga classes and training workshops.

Tim Hague, Director of Property and Development commented “We’re very pleased that renovations on our Visitor Centre are complete and that the space can be used for the benefit of our stakeholders and the local community. Affordable space is at a premium in the local area and we hope that by opening up our doors we can support local businesses who are in need of a fully accessible, modern and professional space for their meetings and events.’’

Rowena Tyler, Community Rail Developer at Sussex Community Rail Partnership who recently hired the Visitor Centre commented “It was fantastic to be able to book out Shoreham Port's Visitor Centre for our Annual General Meeting. The space was perfect for our 30 guests and we even managed to turn the meeting room into a buffet space! Thoroughly recommend to anyone in the area looking for a fuss free venue to hire.”

To enquire about booking the Visitor Centre, please email visitorcentre@shoreham-port.co.uk or call 01273 598100 for further information.

The Race Is On For Solar In Sussex

The Race Is On For Solar In Sussex

Despite widespread public approval for renewable energy, the UK Government recently announced that it will be ending all subsidies to new solar power projects from April 2019.

The Feed-In-Tariff scheme, which rewards solar panel owners for the clean energy they produce, has supported nearly 1 million solar installations since it began in 2010.

Community energy groups are furious at the decision and are scrambling to complete as many solar projects as possible before the window closes forever.

Kayla Ente from local non-profit Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-op (BHESCo), said “This is a major blow for community energy, and is shocking when you remember we were told just a few months ago that the world has until 2030 to avoid the worst effects of climate change.”

BHESCo have launched a ‘Solar For Sussex’ campaign to fundraise £50,000 for eight new community solar projects before the Feed-In-Tariff closes.

Investors will receive a 5% annual return and join a thriving movement that is standing up to climate change.

For more info visit https://bhesco.co.uk/investment

Fully-funded (FREE!) Energy Audits

Fully-funded (FREE!) Energy Audits  

Apply for an Energy Audit through our ongoing UTILISE PLUS PROGRAMME, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 

WHAT IS AN ENERGY AUDIT?
An Energy Audit provides you with an impartial, expert assessment of how energy is used at your premises and makes recommendations on how to reduce your energy consumption and save money on your energy bills. 

A qualified Energy Assessor will review your organisation's energy data and building information and then visit your premises to undertake a thorough survey and see how energy is being used - this a visual inspection, so not invasive of the structure of the building. These visits usually take around 2 hours and the Assessor will need to be accompanied at all times.

After the site visit, you'll receive your unique Audit Report detailing all the energy saving opportunities for your organisation. 

HOW CAN I BOOK ONE?
To book an Energy Audit, simply register your interest on our website. We'll get in touch with you as soon as possible to collect information on your organisation and your energy use. Once we have everything we need, we can book a date for the audit at a time that's convenient for you.

ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for a free energy audit, you must be a small or medium sized enterprise (SME) based in the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership area. Read the full eligibility criteria on our website.

Beating January blues could cost more than a week in paradise

People are at risk of losing thousands to villa scams, according to new data from Barclays. The data revealed that more than a third of reported villa scams result in losses of over £1,000.

To help holidaymakers stay safe this January, Barclays is issuing a new warning against the dangers of villa scams – where criminals hijack the details of overseas villas, or use fake details to dupe unsuspecting tourists.

Research suggests that all consumers need to take greater care when booking accommodation online to help prevent them from losing their holiday fund. One in seven of those surveyed (14 per cent) admitted they would still book holiday accommodation despite knowing there is a risk of being scammed, and a quarter (26 per cent) would be prepared to put themselves at risk just in the hope of bagging a summer bargain.

Barclays has identified that there are several warning signs people are ignoring when booking their holiday. Research shows that 43 per cent would not hear alarm bells if they were asked to pay for a holiday via bank transfer, and less than half (45 per cent) would check their booking is with a member of a trade body or consumer protection scheme such as the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), leaving them susceptible to less protected companies.

In addition, more than half (55 per cent) would not be put off booking a holiday, even if it seemed ‘too good to be true’.

Ross Martin, Barclays Head of Digital Safety, said: “Trying to escape the January blues may seem like an appealing prospect, but fraudsters are preparing to take advantage of sun-seekers at this time of year. We must all be aware of the risks and make sure we are carrying out proper safety checks to ensure our online security and enjoy a scam-free holiday.”

Barclays top tips for staying safe while booking holidays this January:

1. Is the offer too good to be true?

Do your research. If a villa is advertised at half the going rate and has great availability in peak season when everywhere else is full, this should tell you something. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is

1. Do an internet search on the location

If the villa in question appears to be advertised by other companies under another name, this may also be a warning sign. Be sure to do thorough research before making any booking

1. Are they asking you to pay by transfer?

Scammers love bank transfers. The money goes straight from your account to theirs and then they take it straight out and it disappears. By the time you realise that something is wrong, they are long gone

1. Look for companies that have a real location and real phone numbers

Be suspicious of businesses that will only communicate via email and mobile phones. It’s worth checking the address or even looking at the location through an online street map. Make sure you check that the travel agent and website is certified, and that your payment is going to the right people

1. Before you commit to anything, stop and take time to think

If it is a legitimate company, five minutes isn’t going to make any difference – and it could save you thousands of pounds and untold heartache.

 For more details on how to stay safe, visit www.barclays.co.uk/security

Barclays backs Take Five to Stop Fraud – a national campaign from UK Finance and Government offering straight-forward advice to help everyone prevent financial fraud.

Over £16,600 raised by Brighton’s community for Burning the Clocks 2018

Over £16,600 raised by Brighton’s community for Burning the Clocks 2018

www.samesky.co.uk/events/burning-the-clocks

https://www.facebook.com/burningtheclocks

Same Sky, the community arts charity behind Burning the Clocks, today announces that £16,689.95 was raised for the annual winter solstice parade. 

John Varah, Same Sky artistic director, said: “We would like to thank everyone that helped make Burning the Clocks such a success, in a very special year that celebrated the event’s 25th anniversary and Same Sky’s 30th birthday. It was incredible to see so many people taking part and the thousands of onlookers lining the streets to watch the lantern parade.

“We would also like to say a massive thank you to all those that put money into the collection buckets on the night, those who supported our crowdfunder and our event sponsors ARKA Original Funerals and The Chilli Pickle - Burning the Clocks simply wouldn’t happen without them. Through a huge community effort, we raised just over £16,600,” added Varah.

The volunteer-led bucket collection on the night of Burning the Clocks raised £5,846.95 and the event’s crowdfunder exceeded its target and raised £5,055 from 57 individuals.

Brighton’s business sponsors contributed £5,788 to the cost of the event. ARKA Original Funerals donated £4,000 by paying for 25 ‘In Memory’ lanterns. The lanterns were made by friends and families in group workshops and were carried in the parade to remember a loved one who had recently died. Local restaurant, The Chilli Pickle, and their customers raised £1,788 from donations by diners throughout December.

For the latest information and opportunities to help with Burning the Clocks 2019, visit https://www.facebook.com/burningtheclocks.

She Deserves Fairtrade. She Deserves a Living Income. Fairtrade Fortnight 2019

She Deserves Fairtrade. She Deserves a Living Income. Fairtrade Fortnight 2019

The Brighton & Hove Fairtrade Steering Group would like to encourage all organisations in the city to take part in Fairtrade Fortnight, which runs from 25th February to 10th March 2019.

In 2019, Fairtrade Fortnight will focus on cocoa. Farmers of this iconic Fairtrade product have seen prices crash to crisis levels in the last few years, particularly in West Africa where most cocoa is grown. The situation highlights in stark terms the scandal of unfair trade. We have a choice about whether we take a stand against this.

Many farmers – both men and women – are underpaid and exploited. That means they can’t earn enough for the basics many of us take for granted, including food, education and housing, because they don’t earn a living income.

It’s even worse for the women who work in the fields and in the home. Despite the hard work they put in, they’re often overlooked and under-represented, and usually see even less of the money for their crop. They deserve more.

So, we’ll be featuring the voices of women cocoa farmers at the heart of Fairtrade Fortnight to help us spread the message next year. By recognising those special women around us during Fairtrade Fortnight, we can create a platform for the amazing and inspiring women farmers across the Fairtrade network. They are leading the way in changing attitudes, behaviours and, ultimately, their communities.

Let’s get more people choosing Fairtrade chocolate and signing our Fairtrade Fortnight petition to support them.

Activities:

Could you bake – or find someone else to bake – delicious Fairtrade chocolate treats to share? You can create many kinds of events or photo opportunities around this. Is there a woman – or group of women – you can celebrate with your chocolate creation?

Bake-off competitions, coffee and cake events and photos capturing the moment of appreciation are ways we can take this serious and complex problem and make it relevant for our communities.

Share on social media with the #shedeserves hashtag.

International Women’s Day falls during Fairtrade Fortnight, and Mother’s Day shortly after, so there are great hooks to pin your activities on.

There are plenty of ideas and resources available on https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/fortnight to bring a Fairtrade theme to your activities during Fairtrade Fortnight.

Let us know if you are planning a Fairtrade event and we will help to publicise it on our website, Facebook page and Twitter feed. Photos and updates would be great!

From the Fairtrade Steering Group

Coast to Capital Escalator Pilot Programme Launches

The Escalator Pilot Programme is a dedicated support opportunity for scaleup businesses. The programme will consist of the following:

• Membership for the cohorts will be by application form and panel approval

•      peer-to-peer learning through monthly meetings

•      delivered over 6 months with a focused session each month on a barrier to growth with a solution driven outcome

•      5 cohorts of 8 businesses

•      expert facilitation by MD Hub

•      50% match funded by Coast to Capital LEP (cost to business is £100 per month)

This model of peer-to-peer roundtables and a professionally delivered programme is widely recommended by the ScaleUp Institute and scaleup business community. 

Why should businesses join now?

A good reason for joining this programme now is to gain funded support, help with recognition of barriers to growth, have access to solution providers and be given a provision of solutions, experience controlled accelerated growth, and benefit from involvement in the wider business community. Businesses develop and grow by learning from other business leaders experiencing the same issues; there are currently a lot of economic uncertainties that concern UK businesses. This programme seeks to address a current gap in service provision and positively impact a group of non-engaged and economically significant businesses.

Who Are We Looking For?

The businesses who will want to attend this programme are those that have been running for a number of years and now want to accelerate their business growth, need support with their ambition to grow and want to positively impact the increase in the culture for business support. In addition, businesses that now want the opportunity to create a network of growth businesses and have access to a unique, likeminded business community in a confidential, enclosed environment. This is an intensive support programme that is not time demanding; however, there is a vigorous process by which scaleups are selected. Business who complete the cohort programme will have access to dedicated resources and specialist account management; this will become an important stream of referrals for future businesses for the cohort.

Ideally we are looking for enterprises with average annual growth in employees or turnover greater than 20 per cent per annum over a three year period, and with more than 10 employees at the beginning of the period.

However we know that there are scaleups out there that that do not quite fit that scaleup definition and so we will also consider those that have the greatest growth potential and have the leadership with the desire to achieve scaleup growth in the short term. These owners exhibit a “can do” attitude with a real appetite to learn. They will be enthusiastic for this type of support and ready to share success stories.

We will be looking for the following

•        Businesses with sales and growth potential

•        Business Leaders with the ambition to grow

•        Owners who demonstrate leadership skills

•        Businesses with scalability

•        Leaders who want to own future growth

 To get involved, contact: Lou Williams at lou.williams@c2cbusiness.org.uk.

LAST CHANCE TO VOTE FOR YOUR SUSSEX FOOD & DRINK HEROES

LAST CHANCE TO VOTE FOR YOUR SUSSEX FOOD & DRINK HEROES

Over 12,000 votes have already been counted for Sussex Food and Drink Awards 2019 Finalists, which is seeking the best food and drink producers, farmers, butchers and places serving and selling local produce. With just a few days left, organisers are urging people to vote for their favourites by midnight on 17 January 2019 at www.sussexfoodawards.biz.

Said Paula Seager, co-director of Natural Partnerships CIC, who runs the awards, “It is fantastic to see so many people voting and giving our superb food and drink producers in the region the recognition that they deserve, which is what these awards are all about.

“Businesses from across the county have made it onto the list including 37 from West Sussex, 15 from East Sussex and five from Brighton and Hove. Please do go online and vote for your favourite to win, it’s really quick and easy and could make all the difference, as the competition is incredibly tight this year. The public vote will help our expert judges to select the top three Grand Finalists 2019 in each category, who will be announced in March.”

Sussex is renowned for its innovation in making artisan food products and this year's Sussex Food Producer of the Year category, sponsored by Southern Co-op, represents so much of what is special about the region. The impressive finalist line up includes an award-winning charcuterie, mouthwatering cheesemakers, organic farm produce, brilliant bakers, indulgent chocolatiers, specialist ice cream makers, delectable preserve producers and expert fish and meat smokers.

Farmers Markets are a familiar fixture in many of the towns and villages across the county and have grown enormously in popularity over the last decade. They are one of the best advocates in supporting local and regional food and drink producers and offer a great opportunity to sample some of the very best that Sussex has to offer. Seven of the best Sussex Farmers’ Markets have made it through as finalists for this category sponsored by Harvey’s Brewery.

From traditional family butchers who have passed down their skills from generation to generation, to resourceful outlets who specialise in locally sourced meats or farm shops that have managed to diversify and build a reputation in quality and zero carbon footprint, they are all well represented in this year’s Sussex Butcher of the Year category sponsored by RP Meats Wholesale Ltd.

Sussex Food Shop of the Year sponsored by Sussex Food and Drink Network presents a delightful spread of both new and old from across the region, each offering its own unique take on bringing plough to plate. Some familiar names as well as some exciting new can be found on the shortlist this year.

Residents of Sussex have an outstanding choice of where they choose to dine out from Michelin star restaurants, country pubs, elegant fine dining, trendy city establishments and gastro pubs, all of which are reflected in the finalist line up in this year's Sussex Eating Experience of the Year category, sponsored by Natural Partnerships CIC.

The Sussex Drink Producer category, sponsored by Natural PR, not only offers some of the county’s, but the country’s very best wine producers, brewers, non-alcoholic drink producers and specialist gin and spirit makers so make sure your favourite Sussex tipple makes it through to the final round. 

Three other categories also remain open for entries until 17 January 2019, including Young Sussex Farmer of the Year, seeking a farmer aged 35 or under, who is making a real difference on their own or on someone else’s farm, sponsored by the South of England Agricultural Society in association with Farmers Weekly; and Sussex Newcomer of the Year sponsored by SRC-Time, which could be any new food and drink business doing something special in Sussex.

Top chefs aged 16 to 25 are being encouraged to enter the Sussex Young Chef of the Year sponsored by Blakes Foods and participate in a cook off in March 2019 at the Gallery at the Greater Brighton Metropolitan College. Nationally acclaimed chef, Matt Gillan from Pike and Pine/Red Roaster, Brighton and Electro Pirate will head up a new panel of judges which includes fellow Michelin star chefs George Blogg from Gravetye Manor near East Grinstead and Tristan Mason from Restaurant Tristan in Horsham; Daniel Clifford from the renowned two Michelin star, Midsummer House in Cambridge; Fran Villiani, Food Blogger and designer in Brighton; and sponsor and former restaurateur, Adrian Burr from Blakes Foods.

As well as earning the huge respect and recognition that these awards now carry, Grand Finalists from all ten categories will be invited to attend a BAFTA-style ceremony on 15 May 2019 at the Amex Stadium in Brighton, where the winners will be revealed and 400 guests will enjoy a seven-course Sussex produce banquet, hosted by awards patron Sally Gunnell OBE and Danny Pike from BBC Sussex. 

Vote for your favourite now by visiting www.sussexfoodawards.biz

SHOREHAM PORT BIDS FAREWELL TO LONG STANDING BOARD MEMBER AND WELCOMES SIR ALAN MASSEY TO THE BOARD

SHOREHAM PORT BIDS FAREWELL TO LONG STANDING BOARD MEMBER AND WELCOMES SIR ALAN MASSEY TO THE BOARD

As we stride into 2019, Shoreham Port bids farewell to Stuart Nicholls, who has been on the Board for six years. Stuart joined the Board in January 2013, with over 25 years of experience in shipping and marine services. In 2016 Stuart chaired a new subcommittee of the Board – the Compliance Committee. His maritime and safety expertise made Stuart the ideal candidate to lead this Committee and to question and challenge the Port’s safety culture.

Stuart said “It’s been a privilege to serve on the Board at Shoreham Port and to see the Port go from strength to strength over my tenure. I wish the Board and team at Shoreham much success over the coming years and look forward to hearing of the Port’s continued growth and development.”

Replacing Stuart, Shoreham Port has welcomed Sir Alan Massey to the Board. Alan has extensive maritime experience, having served for 33 years in the Royal Navy before taking over as Chief Executive of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) in 2010. As a naval officer, he commanded an impressive number of major warships, including the aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious and HMS Ark Royal, later sitting for five consecutive years on the Admiralty and Navy Boards. Sir Alan Massey’s naval career culminated as Second Sea Lord and Commander-in-Chief, Naval Home Command.

In his eight years with the MCA, Alan led a fundamental transformation of HM Coastguard Service, introduced an all-new fleet of UK Search and Rescue helicopters under MCA control, and modernised the MCA’s vessel survey, inspection, regulatory and ship registration functions.

Alan commented “It is a great honour to join the Board at Shoreham Port. I am very much looking forward to bringing my experience to a new environment and to working with the current Board and leadership team. The Port has ambitious plans for the future and I relish the opportunity to see these come to fruition.”

Amber Foster, Chair of the Board commented “On behalf of the Board I would like to offer Stuart my sincere thanks for his significant contribution to the Board. Stuart brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board and added considerable value to the Port’s drive for high safety standards and compliance. I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to Sir Alan Massey who we all look forward to working with.”

Merry Christmas from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS).

Merry Christmas from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS).

It’s that time of year when everyone’s busy having fun – and we are here to help you with that!

We’ve got some great prizes lined up in our free monthly draws as well as all kinds of vouchers and discounts.

It’s all part of Brighton Tribe – our way of helping ensure that everyone in the area has great nights out – and in – but safely.

All you have to do is sign up to join Brighton Tribe and agree to receive occasional messages from ESFRS – but don’t worry, we won’t bombard you!

Just go to https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BrightonTribe complete the short form and wait for the offers to arrive. You can also forward this link to a friend and they can benefit from the rewards as well.

Major artists rally to support crowdfunding campaign for region’s young musicians.

Major artists rally to support crowdfunding campaign for region’s young musicians.



https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bottega-rooms

Major artists Rag’n’Bone Man and Rizzle Kicks have pledged their support to a crowdfunding campaign for a community space to support young musicians across Sussex.

The campaign is being run by AudioActive, a Brighton-based charity which supports over 1000 young people a year across the region. It aims to raise money for a community base with facilities and equipment where young people can develop their skills, build networks for the future and have access to opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have. The charity has set a target of £27,000 to reach by 21 December. So far, over £10,000 has been raised through donations.

AudioActive have been running projects in Sussex since 2000. Hip hop duo Rizzle Kicks launched their careers after attending AudioActive’s rap and performance workshops and the Hip Hop Foundation project.  The charity currently works from multiple locations, usually from community rooms hired by the hour across Brighton, Hove and Sussex. They are now looking for a base where the community can develop and thrive from a sense of place and identity. To put this into action, the charity has invited professional artists to set up their own studios in the space. They will be given a discount on their rent of the space and in return, they will open their doors, once a week, to provide a free masterclass where young people can get involved or collaborate.

The space is currently an empty shell but comprises 13 soundproofed rooms including; rehearsal spaces, class rooms, an office, a presentation space and studios just sitting there waiting to be equipped and used. The money raised through the crowdfunding campaign will help transform the run down dead-space into a beacon of hope for talented, often marginalised young people.

In the longer term, the charity aims to establish a Centre for Excellence in Sussex. They now have support from Arts Council England and expect to realise the centre in the next 2-3 years. In the short term, the Bottega Rooms will be a ‘meanwhile space’ providing a base for the AudioActive community and a proof of concept for the Centre of Excellence.

The charity’s Patron, Rory Graham aka Rag’n’Bone Man has leant his support to the campaign, saying: “AudioActive are doing something to ensure that regardless of wealth or background, young people get a chance to be creative. I can’t support that enough. This campaign is a real opportunity to help people at the grassroots of our community and I encourage everyone to get behind it; all donations big and small will help.”

Adam Joolia, CEO of Audio Active, said: “The support so far has been amazing and we’re really grateful to all those who have donated to the campaign. Music has the power to change lives and the money raised through this campaign will have a direct impact on the lives of young people living in Sussex.  “We’ve been offered a fantastic opportunity to take over and breathe new life into a large disused space in Brighton. We want to revive it as a hub for young people, music and social innovation and we need your help. With just two weeks to go, the clock is ticking and we need as many people as possible to join us and help us reach our target. Please dig deep.”

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/bottega-rooms

NEW JUDGING PANEL ANNOUNCED FOR SUSSEX YOUNG CHEF OF THE YEAR

A new and exciting, first-class line up of judges for the prestigious Sussex Young Chef of the Year 2019 competition has been announced this week, who are seeking top Sussex chefs aged 16 to 25 years to submit their entries before they close on 17 January 2019 at www.sussexfoodawards.biz.

Nationally acclaimed chef, Matt Gillan from Pike and Pine/Red Roaster, Brighton and Electro Pirate will head up the new panel which includes fellow Michelin star chefs George Blogg from Gravetye Manor near East Grinstead and Tristan Mason from Tristan's in Horsham; Daniel Clifford from the renowned two Michelin star, Midsummer House in Cambridge; Fran Villiani, Food Blogger and designer in Brighton; and sponsor and former restaurateur, Adrian Burr from Blakes Foods.

Said Matt, “I think the Sussex Food and Drink Awards are simply great and I am really excited to be returning to judge the Sussex Young Chef of the Year for the third year and joined by some of my close colleagues and leading chefs in the UK.  This competitive category gives such a fantastic opportunity and platform for young chefs to put their own thoughts down on paper and bring them to life. It’s so important that we keep inspiring the next generation and with limited opportunities to have that sense of ownership and achievement at a young age, this competition really does have a huge impact on them.”

This popular category, sponsored by Blakes Foods, is always bursting with talent and those making it through to the shortlist from their written application will have to prepare and produce a full three-course menu in a MasterChef style cook off, which takes place in March 2019 at the Gallery at the Greater Brighton Metropolitan College.

Adrian Burr, Director of Blakes Foods, “As suppliers to the Sussex catering industry, we at Blakes are thrilled to be part of this prestigious and established award category. It’s vital we recognise the talent of young chefs who really understand working with seasonal fare and who can produce incredible dishes with local ingredients. I am really looking forward to the cook off to see what our top young talent can achieve.”

Two other categories remain open for entries until 17 January 2019, including Young Sussex Farmer of the Year, seeking a farmer aged 35 or under, who is making a real difference on their own or on someone else’s farm, sponsored by the South of England Agricultural Society in association with Farmers Weekly; and Sussex Newcomer of the Year sponsored by SRC-Time, which could be any new food and drink business doing something special in Sussex.

The public can also vote online until midnight on 17 January for their favourite Sussex Food Producer of the Year sponsored by Southern Co-op; Sussex Farmers Market of the Year sponsored by Harvey’s Brewery; Sussex Butcher of the Year sponsored by RP Meats Wholesale; Sussex Food Shop of the Year sponsored by Sussex Food & Drink Network; Sussex Drink Producer of the Year sponsored by Natural PR and Sussex Eating Experience of the Year sponsored by Natural Partnerships CIC.

Paula Seager, co-director of Natural Partnerships CIC, who runs the awards as a not-for-profit scheme to boost the local and artisan food and drink industry said, “A record 15,000 votes were received for the Sussex Food and Drink Awards last year and we really want to beat that again this year. Sussex is blessed with a wealth of amazing food and drink and we want everyone to get out there this Christmas and support our local farmers, food and drink producers and the outlets that use and sell this superb local fare and most importantly vote for your favourite to win, it only takes a few minutes.”

As well as earning the huge respect and recognition that these awards now carry, Grand Finalists from all ten categories will be invited to attend a BAFTA-style ceremony on 15 May 2019 at the Amex Stadium in Brighton, where the winners will be revealed and 400 guests will enjoy a seven-course Sussex produce banquet, hosted by awards patron Sally Gunnell OBE and Danny Pike from BBC Sussex. 

For more information and to vote for your favourites visit www.sussexfoodawards.biz

Brighton Technology Company Wins International Business of the Year

Brighton Technology Company Wins International Business of the Year

Brighton-based global technology company, Paxton, is celebrating being awarded International Business of the Year at the Sussex Business Awards. The company, who design and manufacture security systems within Sussex, export their products to over 60 countries worldwide, including France, Middle East, Scandinavia and South Africa.

Celebrating thirty years in 2018, the Sussex Business Awards are the most sought-after accolade by organisations from every sector in Sussex. This year saw a record-breaking number of nominations for each category, with representatives from sixteen towns across Sussex making the shortlist of fifty-one finalists. Judges had an enormously difficult task, as the entries were of such a high standard.

Commenting on the win, Dan Drayton, Paxton’s International Sales Manager, said: “We are delighted to have been named International Business of the Year at the Sussex Business Awards. It’s a fantastic achievement to be recognised among some of the best businesses in Sussex for our continued global presence within the security market.

“Paxton’s success to date has largely been due to our commitment to our installers who buy and work with our products. Our goal is to provide a consistent world-class experience for our customers wherever they are located around the world. We’re incredibly proud of our Sussex roots and the global impact we have had on the security industry over the last 30 years.”

Chair of the judging panel, Mike Herd, said: “Each year the standard of entries gets better and better and this year was no exception. This year’s finalists are a stimulating mix of established businesses and new entrepreneurial ventures with a common thread running through them all – resilience and determination to succeed. Congratulations to all the winners!”

Employing over 300 people globally, Paxton’s headquarters are located in the Home Farm Road Business Centre, just off the Lewes Road in Brighton, and all products are manufactured locally at its facility in Eastbourne. Paxton was established in Lewes in 1985 and moved to its current location in 2004.  The company focus on the research and development of their products. This has seen Paxton feature in this year’s London Stock Exchange 1000 Companies to Inspire Europe Report and the 2017 Financial Times Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies list.

To find out more about Paxton’s award successes please visit: http://paxton.info/3713

Unblocking the Croydon bottleneck - public consultation in Brighton

Unblocking the Croydon bottleneck - public consultation

Network Rail are developing major proposals to upgrade the Brighton Main Line – one of the most congested routes in the country –  to provide more reliable, faster and more frequent services on the line and its branches.

Key to the upgrade are proposals to remove the most challenging bottleneck on Britain’s railway network at the ‘Selhurst triangle’ and East Croydon station as part of proposals for the East Croydon to Selhurst Junction Capacity Enhancement Scheme.

To check out the plans, the Brighton consultation will be on:

Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 December 2018 - The Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YD, 4.00-8.00pm. �

The proposals

To unblock the Croydon bottleneck and provide more reliable, more frequent and faster services we are developing proposals to provide:

An expanded and enhanced East Croydon station

A rebuilt station with two additional platforms, a larger concourse with improved facilities for passengers and better connections with the town centre and other transport links, supporting the ongoing regeneration of central Croydon. These new station works would also be designed to allow for new offices and homes to be built above the new station in the future.

‘Selhurst triangle’ remodelling

We would improve track layouts north of East Croydon station and remodel the junctions at the ‘Selhurst triangle’, by removing the existing junctions and building new flyovers and dive-unders.

Lower Addiscombe Road/Windmill Bridge reconstruction

To remodel ‘Selhurst triangle’ junctions and provide more platforms at East Croydon station we would need to expand the railway from five to seven tracks north of East Croydon station. This would require the current bridge over the railway to be rebuilt to provide space for the two additional tracks.

Other proposed work

Our proposals for the ‘Selhurst triangle’ and East Croydon station (East Croydon to Selhurst Junction Capacity Enhancement Scheme) would support planned works. This includes works at Norwood Junction station to reconfigure the tracks to enable more trains to run, increase station capacity and provide step-free access to all platforms at the station.

Please note that we are not consulting on planned works to the existing railway.  These works are within the railway boundary and will be carried out under existing permitted development rights.

What are the benefits?

More reliable journeys

By improving track layouts, remodelling the ‘Selhurst triangle’ and constructing two new tracks and two new platforms at East Croydon station, we would remove the bottleneck which causes delays and disruption, improving the punctuality of services.

Faster journeys

More tracks and remodelled junctions would also mean we would be able to speed up some services through the area.

More services

Once we deliver our proposals to unblock the Croydon bottleneck to improve the reliability of existing services, we would then be able work with train operators to consider running more trains.

A boost to the regional and national economy

As the main route connecting the capital with Gatwick Airport and the south coast improving the Brighton Main Line will provide a significant boost to the regional and national economy.

An expanded and enhanced East­ Croydon station

We would increase concourse space, provide new entrances and transform passenger facilities.  The work would allow above the station to be developed in the future.

Benefits of our wider plans

While we are not consulting on our plans for Norwood Junction station, as these proposed works are within the railway boundary, we would deliver more train and passenger capacity and step-free access to all platforms at the station as part of our wider plans.

Transport & Works Act Order (TWAO)

Our proposals for removing the Croydon bottleneck as part of the East Croydon to Selhurst Junction Capacity Enhancement Scheme requires work to take place outside the railway boundary.

Where we are proposing to use land or build outside the railway boundary, we must prepare an application for a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) from the Secretary of State for Transport. If permission is given we would have the necessary powers to undertake the work.

We are now consulting with the public, stakeholders and the wider rail industry and the feedback will help inform our proposals.  We will then seek permission to deliver our proposals through a TWAO application.

Work taking place within the railway boundary, including works at Norwood Junction station, would be constructed by Network Rail under our permitted development rights.

Contact us

For more information on the proposals you can e-mail at CARS@networkrail.co.uk

You can also call Network Rail’s National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or contact us @NetworkRailSE

Brighton Based Fugu nets three awards in one night

Fugu nets three awards in one night

www.fugupr.com

Brighton’s PR and communications consultancy Fugu has won three awards at the Chartered Industry for Public Relations (CIPR) South of England PRide Awards.

Fugu’s work with Brighton & Hove’s community bike scheme BTN BikeShare scooped two gold awards, being named Transport Campaign of the Year and taking the overall prize for Regional Campaign of the Year. The company’s A-Level results day project for the UK’s largest online student community, The Student Room, was also given the silver award for Low Budget Campaign of the Year.

Fugu’s community-focused campaign for BTN BikeShare was commended for earning the scheme a place in the city’s conscience and helping it become the UK’s most successful bike share scheme outside of London.

This follows a recent national Mark of Excellence for Fugu’s work with BTN BikeShare in June with what the CIPR judges described as: “A well thought-out campaign that made real considerations for the regional market the client was trying to engage with. A wonderful mix of creative ideas and careful planning helped to deliver a stand-out campaign that produced some stunning results for the client and demonstrated real ROI.”

Fugu specialises in creative campaigns that help brands connect with their customers and communities.

Fugu MD Vicki Hughes said: “In our first year of submitting our campaigns for an industry award, we are overwhelmed to have won three - two golds and a silver. I am extremely proud of the team for getting us here and thankful to our clients for trusting us with the creative freedom to deliver great results.”

ARKA Funerals sponsor Burning the Clocks 2018 with ‘In Memory’ lanterns

ARKA Funerals sponsor Burning the Clocks 2018 with ‘In Memory’ lanterns

http://samesky.co.uk/events/burning-the-clocks/arka-original-funerals/

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/burning-the-clocks-2018

ARKA Original Funerals has announced its support of Brighton charity Same Sky and this year’s Burning the Clocks. For the third consecutive year, the local funeral provider is offering 25 ‘In Memory’ lanterns to be carried during the parade on 21 December. The special commemorative lanterns and participation in the parade are for anyone mourning someone who has died in 2018 and can be applied for via the website.

Taking place from 6.30pm on Friday 21 December 2018, Burning the Clocks parade runs from New Road to the seafront, with around 2,000 participants and more than 20,000 onlookers expected.

Each ‘In Memory’ package supplied by ARKA includes a lantern decoration session with Same Sky and two places to walk in the parade, followed by a name reading at the bonfire on the beach at the end of the evening.

Cara Mair, director of ARKA Original Funerals said: “Burning the Clocks is a very special event that brings the whole city together on the winter solstice. To support Same Sky for the third year running means a lot to us – just as our lanterns mean something to those who want to celebrate the life of those who have died in the past year.”

John Varah, artistic director at Same Sky added: “We’re hugely thankful to ARKA for their continued support, which gives 25 families the opportunity to commemorate the life of someone special. Having the help of local sponsors like ARKA, as well as that of the public, is the reason we are able to put on Burning the Clocks each year. We’d encourage anyone who’d like to support us and keep this tradition alive to donate through our Crowdfunder and also to put a few pounds in the buckets on the night.”

The crowdfunder can be found at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/burning-the-clocks-2018

Those wanting an In Memory Lantern should contact Burning The Clocks and provide details via: http://samesky.co.uk/events/burning-the-clocks/arka-original-funerals/