Valley Garden's Feb 2019 Update Newsletter
The latest newsletter about the Valley Gardens Improvement Project has just been published. To view it, please click here.
Brexit & Brighton
Brexit & Brighton
The UK’s housing market and the construction industry, initially appeared relatively unaffected by the 2016 vote to leave the EU, despite a short pause after the surprise referendum result as householders took stock. But now with departure from the EU fast approaching in March 2019, it seems as if the uncertainties surrounding Brexit are weighing heavily on the property market.
Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, stated in September that a disorderly no-deal Brexit could see a drop in house prices by a third. Whilst he added that this most likely to impact the capital. Mr Carney’s warning did represent an extreme scenario, and the specifics of any deal ‘finally’ agreed by the government will of course affect the outcome and how the economy as a whole performs post Brexit.
There are many factors for households to consider when deciding whether Brexit should affect their decisions on house purchases and sales.
Housing markets in London have certainly slowed: with prices in London falling by 0.7 per cent in the past year, according to the Office for National Statistics. Transaction levels in the capital have also dropped 20 per cent on the same period from last year.
Moving away from the capital you can see clear evidence that average house prices remain on the rise. House prices overall in England increased by 3% in the year to September 2018, with Wales and Scotland both seeing increases of 5.8% over the same period.
Brighton itself was one of the areas that voted most overwhelmingly in favour to remain at almost 70%. Only 8 areas (outside of London boroughs) of a total of 400 had a higher remain percentage.
Tom Sleven of Graves Jenkins commented “We have noticed that as Brexit approaches most buyers are choosing to take a ‘wait and see’ approach regarding their sale or purchase. This is having a slowing affect on the marketplace but could rapidly change post Brexit. That being said the market has continued to remain active in Brighton with us agreeing multiple deals in the first weeks of January, which bodes well for the belief in the market from buyers”. Adding that “rather than wait sellers should consider marketing their property now, as there is so little housing stock available and still so many buyers on the lookout that you are likely to have a better chance of securing a sale at a good price”.
Our firm is an estate agency with a reputation built on total commitment to customer service and expert local knowledge. For over 25 years we have been helping people secure the best price in the shortest time for their home.
Should you wish to take advantage of their expertise, please call Tom Sleven on 01273 601060, to book your appointment.
Tom Sleven Head of Residential; Graves Jenkins
Military spouses face discrimination when applying for jobs
Military spouses face discrimination when applying for jobs
• Barclays research shows that four in ten say that having a partner in the military has prevented them from being offered a job interview
• A fifth of military spouses have hidden their military connection from potential employers
• A third say that their spouse’s career has meant that they’ve had to leave a job or take reduced hours
Military spouses are hiding their military connections when applying for jobs, a new study from Barclays has revealed.
The research from the Barclays AFTER (Armed Forces Transition, Employment & Resettlement) programme shows that partners of military personnel face a number of career challenges, with as many as four in ten (39 per cent) believing that they haven’t progressed through a job application because of their partner’s career choice. A fifth (18 per cent) believe this has happened on multiple occasions.
A significant number of military spouses think there is an underlying bias against hiring military spouses, with four in ten (38 per cent) believing that employers would be put off hiring someone if they knew that their partner was in the military. It does not come as a surprise therefore that a fifth (19 per cent) of spouses have hidden the fact that they are a military partner from a potential employer.
Kevin Gartside, Director of the AFTER programme at Barclays, said: “Our Armed Forces are well known for their dedication and it’s important to remember that, behind the scenes, they’ll often be supported by an equally committed partner. Today’s research reminds us that this commitment can lead to military spouses having to make sacrifices in their own careers or, even worse, being potentially overlooked by employers.”
Career barriers
Two-thirds (66 per cent) of military spouses feel that having a partner in the Armed Forces has negatively impacted their career in some way, with many having to sacrifice their own careers to accommodate their partner’s. A third (33 per cent) report they have had to leave a job or take reduced hours because of it, while 15 per cent have had to take a job below their level of experience.
As well as a perceived bias amongst employers, many military spouses report wider barriers that hold them back when it comes to their career. The majority of military spouses (55 per cent) say their careers do (or did) take second place to their partner’s, while half (50 per cent) think they could have been able to focus more on their career if their partner was not in the Armed Forces.
Supporting military spouses
Perhaps reflective of the nature of military life, half of military spouses (50 per cent) say they’d benefit from a job that allowed flexible working – allowing them to keep working in the same job regardless of where their partners are posted.
In addition to this, 37 per cent say they’d like more support with finding work placements, while 28 per cent say practical advice on writing CVs and attending interviews would help them to achieve their full career potential.
Kevin Gartside adds “With the right support in place, employers of all sizes can help military spouses to find rewarding, challenging careers that suit their lifestyle – whether that’s offering flexible working or supporting them through the job application process. At Barclays, we’re committed to supporting military families and offer targeted support for spouses whose partners are in the Armed Forces, by offering work experience and CV support.”
Helen, a military spouse from Barclays’ office in Glasgow said: “I’ve often hidden my military connection from past employers, as I didn’t want to be seen as asking for special treatment or allowances.
“For me, one of the most challenging aspects of being a military spouse is balancing a young family and a full-time career when, often, my husband’s working schedule has to take priority. In previous jobs, I have felt that not being able to travel or work longer hours has hindered my career.
“It wasn’t until I became enrolled in the Barclays AFTER programme that I felt comfortable talking about my personal circumstances with my employer, however now I feel like I can have a transparent conversation with my colleagues and arrange my work around the needs of my family.”
DON’T WANT TO LIVE IN LONDON? BRIGHTON IS ONE OF THE BEST CITIES TO DEVELOP A CAREER IN DIGITAL
DON’T WANT TO LIVE IN LONDON? BRIGHTON IS ONE OF THE BEST CITIES TO DEVELOP A CAREER IN DIGITAL
• Monster.co.uk releases its Digital Cities Ranking highlighting the top 10 cities in the UK for developing digital careers outside of London
• Monster.co.uk analysed digital economy growth, available digital jobs and quality of life
• Created a Digital Cities Hub where candidates can find and apply for jobs outside of London easily: https://www.monster.co.uk/digital-cities.
United Kingdom – Monster’s Digital Cities highlights the top 10 cities outside of London to develop a digital career. To create the ranking Monster analysed a variety of factors across cities in the UK, including digital economy growth, available digital jobs and quality of life to create an overall score. The full rankings and corresponding information, including digital jobs available in these areas is available on Monster’s new Digital Cities Hub.
Louise Goodman, Marketing Director at Monster.co.uk, comments: “Our first Digital Cities ranking shows the digital industry is thriving all over the country, not just in London. With London fast becoming unaffordable for the majority of young people starting out their careers, we hope this ranking will give them confidence that there are exciting opportunities in their home or university cities. You don’t have to move to London to make it in digital!”
Birmingham topped the list thanks to the availability of over 437 digital jobs, combined with 33% industry growth YoY and average salaries of over £43,000 alongside average costs of £638 to rent a one bed home and £4 for a pint.
Leeds saw higher average earnings (£50,041) and lower cost of living, but had slightly fewer jobs than Birmingham available (310) granting it fourth spot on the UK wide ranking.
Edinburgh, seventh in the ranking of best places outside the capital to work, saw the highest average wages (£53,019) and eighth place Belfast saw the lowest rents (£528.5) combined with the largest digital growth with 37%.
Monster Digital Cities ranking:
For more information on each of these top Digital Cities and how to apply for digital focused jobs in the area head to: https://www.monster.co.uk/digital-cities.
New rules on street fundraising in Brighton & Hove
New rules on street fundraising
A new street fundraising agreement covering responsible face-to-face fundraising in Brighton & Hove comes into force today (Monday 28 January).
The agreement between the council, the Brighton City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and the Institute of Fundraising (IoF) covers the whole city.
The agreement limits fundraising to a number of streets in the city centre and sets controls on when fundraising can take place, the number of fundraisers in a location and the frequency of visits a week.
The aim of the ‘Site Management Agreement’ (SMA) is to provide a balance between the duty of charities as they raise vital funds and the rights of the public not to be put under undue pressure to give.
• Read the Brighton & Hove Site Management Agreement in full (PDF 816KB)
Getting the balance right
The decision to review the city’s SMA was made at the Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities & Equalities committee on 3 December 2018 following concerns raised about street fundraising in George Street in Hove.
The new agreement means no street fundraising activity will take place in George Street.
Councillor Emma Daniel, chair of the council’s Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities & Equalities committee, said:
“Street fundraising is an important way for charities to garner support, but we’ve listened to concerns that it has caused problems in some areas. This new site management agreement will help us get the balance right across the city. I‘m very pleased that we’ve been able to work with the Institute of Fundraisers and the Brighton BID to move so quickly on finding a solution.”
Gavin Stewart, Chief Executive of the Brighton BID said:
“It’s great to be working closely with partners to ensure that charities have the visibility they need to raise funds, while balancing the needs of businesses and the public. We have worked with the IoF for many years now and welcome this new site management agreement, which I’m sure will deliver a better city centre experience for all involved.”
Alex Xavier, Director of Membership, Compliance and Professional Development at the IoF, said:
“I’m pleased that the IoF is working with Brighton & Hove City Council and the city centre Business Improvement District, Brilliant Brighton to further improve the level of excellent fundraising in the city centre. Face-to-face fundraising and the work charities do to reach supporters in the Brighton & Hove area is vital to raise important funds for the causes the community cares about.
“The fundraisers you meet on the street are there to have a personal, one-to-one conversation with members of the public to make a connection with a charitable cause. However, it’s important that these encounters are regulated and are pleasant experiences for the public.”
Street fundraising conditions
As well as setting controls on street fundraising, the new SMA also reiterates the Code of Fundraising Practice and the Street Fundraising Rule Book, which reinforce the rules that all fundraisers in the UK should follow.
The IoF will support their members operating in Brighton & Hove through a programme of spot checks and continued co-regulation with the council partner. Breaches of the conditions of the SMA attract penalty points under our penalties and sanctions regime.
SHOREHAM PORT WELCOMES NEW MARITIME 2050 STRATEGY
SHOREHAM PORT WELCOMES NEW MARITIME 2050 STRATEGY
A new long-term maritime strategy has been launched by the Department for Transport this week, outlining a range of proposals for the next 30 years. Titled Maritime 2050, the initiative aims to ensure that the UK remains a world-leader within the maritime industry and continues to flourish. The strategy covers a range of topics including future economic trends, technology, environment, trade, safety and security, the future of work and infrastructure.
The port-specific aspects of Maritime 2050 will also be collated into a separate Ports Action Plan. This will include a range of research projects, environmental initiatives and a plan to develop a Maritime Innovation Hub in a UK port by 2030.
Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling commented “Maritime is a vital UK industry, bringing in £14 billion to our economy as well as providing thousands of new and exciting careers for people across the country. This strategy is a clear message to the world – we will continue to be a leading maritime nation for the next 30 years and beyond.”
There are also plans to broaden the existing promotion of diversity in the maritime sector. It is hoped that the already established Women in Maritime Taskforce, of which Shoreham Port’s Director of Corporate Services is a part of, can gather pace and tackle gender equality and diversity within the sector.
The Maritime 2050 strategy has been welcomed by Shoreham Port, whose own 2019-2023 strategy plan mirrors that of the Department of Transport, with aims to protect local amenities and the environment, providing sustainable careers, and enhancing diversity at the Port.
Rodney Lunn, Chief Executive at Shoreham Port commented “The Maritime 2050 initiative is vital to Shoreham Port. Not only are we at the heart of our local community, but we are attracting new diverse recruits for the future. We take our responsibility for the local environment incredibly seriously, so much so, we will be appointing a Climate Change Director at the beginning of February.”
Government Announces Additional Funding for England’s Business Districts
Government Announces Additional Funding for England’s Business Districts
The Business Improvement District (BID) Loan Fund has been established to assist with the development of new BIDs in town and city centres in England. BIDs are business-led partnerships which are created to deliver additional services and upgrade the environment for local businesses.
The Fund will support the development of new BIDs, in recognition that some prospective BIDs can encounter prohibitive start-up costs during their development phase.
Loans are repaid from levy receipts and, as repayments are made, further tranches of loans can be made available. Due to this recycling nature of funds, the provider has just announced the next tranche of funding has opened and applications are being encouraged.
The Fund has an overall budget of £500,000 and loans of between £10,000 and £50,000 are available, with £33,000 being the average offered to individual areas. The funds are to be used exclusively in the development of new BID proposals, which allow communities to come together to deliver additional local services and upgrade commercial areas.
High Streets Minister, Jake Berry MP, said:
"BIDs have a proven track record of upgrading commercial areas to enable business owners and entrepreneurs in our town centres and high streets to thrive. Our Loan Fund is designed to provide them with the means to drive regeneration forward and meet local needs.”
Professor Christopher Turner, British Bids Chief Executive said:
"Business Improvement Districts have been shown to be hugely successful in regenerating town centres. There are now over 300 BIDs across the UK and the Loan Fund that the government set up has been vital in helping key BIDs to emerge."
Expressions of Interest for the eleventh tranche of the Fund are being invited until 5pm on Friday 8 March 2019.
Local Businesses Receive Funding Boost
Local Businesses Receive Funding Boost
Coast to Capital recently approved four Growth Grant Applications from the 201819 Growth Grant Programme. In addition to the two applications approved in September 2018, the programme has now awarded growth grants to six businesses across the Coast to Capital area. The programme provides match funded grants to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises in the Coast to Capital area. The funding comes from the Local Growth Fund and aligns with the new strategic economic plan, ‘Gatwick 360˚’.
We are delighted to announce that the following four businesses were awarded Growth Grants:
• Wildtrax Electronics in Littlehampton were awarded a grant of nearly £50,000 to support production productivity enhancements through the upgrading of their surface mount printed circuit board assembly equipment and Industry 4.0 ‘smart’ component feeders. • The Chichester Biltong Company were awarded a grant of £135,000 to purchase new packing machinery for their expansion project. • Roscomac Ltd in Worthing are approved for a grant of £170,000 to support factory modernisation by purchasing 5 new 5-axis CNC milling machines. • Gemini Print Southern Ltd in Shoreham-by-Sea were awarded a grant of £105,100 to purchase a new high-speed print folder that will increase outputs and efficiencies. The programme is not currently accepting applications, however, we encourage eligible businesses in the Coast to Capital area that want to discuss the potential for grant funding from April 2019 to get in touch with the Growth Hub. More details on the programme and eligibility documents can be found on our website.
Jonathan Sharrock, Coast to Capital Chief Executive said:
“We are thrilled to be able to further support our economic area by funding innovative and high growth projects. This programme compliments our already successful Growth Hub service and the new Coast to Capital Escalator Programme.”
Mark Bullen, Managing Director of Wildtrax Electronics said:
“We are incredibly excited about winning this grant as it will enable us to move towards our goal of being Industry 4.0 ready; with significant technological upgrades in machine automation and intelligence. Leading to a step-change in productivity enhancements throughout Wildtrax and GB Electronics group.”
Simon Smith, Managing Director of The Chichester Biltong Company said:
“The Coast to Capital experience has been surprising. The interest and effort shown to us by the late Amanda Geel and her colleagues goes above and beyond
what we ever expected. They tirelessly guided our efforts without hesitation to enable us to apply and successfully attain a £135k grant award. This award enables us to expand into our second factory and buy the much needed automated packing line that we otherwise could not achieve in the time frame required. Coast to Capital are true small business champions. I recommend this program wholeheartedly.”
Joseph Martello, Managing Director of Roscomac Ltd said:
“Roscomac manufactures a wide range of components and subassemblies using the latest CNC technology. This award is great news for Roscomac, its staff and customers, helping us stay at the forefront of machining technology.”
Steve Cropper, Managing Director of Gemini Print Southern Ltd said:
“It was a challenging process applying for the Growth Grant programme, but their input and guidance was invaluable, and such a thorough due diligence process by experts is a really positive thing for any company. The grant has allowed us to invest in leading-edge, world-class technology to achieve costeffective, high-quality results for our clients.”
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:
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
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
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
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
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