In Joint Venture with the Town Council and the Courier/Observer newspaper the EGBA has launched a Loyalty Card scheme to encourage residents of the town to “Keep it Local”. Over 100 of the Town’s retailers have already joined the scheme supported by other retail outlets, restaurants and coffee shops taking participants to over 130. We hope that trades such as local builders, plumbers and electricians will also see the benefits and come aboard

Each outlet will offer incentives appropriate to their own business and not necessarily a percentage discount. It could be giveaways when spending a certain amount, free delivery locally, invitations to special events – all sorts of offers that may well change from month to month. East Grinstead Town Council will have a dedicated page on their website with details of which businesses are participating and the details of their current offers.

Distribution of the cards started on 3rd August from outside the Sainsbury’s and Waitrose stores, and from the participating outlets in the town. Take up by the public outstripped all expectations with all 10,000 cards distributed in the first week, and another 10,000 ordered for distribution from the last week of August. The aim is to have all the participating shops and businesses identified by stickers in their windows, their card dispensers on their counters, and their current “offer” clearly displayed for all to see and included on the Town Council website.

The aim is to sustain the town’s declining retail and business activity through the current recession, and hopefully generate greater vitality in our high street until plans for revitalisation of the town centre can be realised.  If you wish to be part of this scheme contact Caroll Everest at caroll.everest@egba.co.uk
 

Our members identified in late 2007 that they had two over-riding priority issues of concern. One was the absence of any kind of economic development strategy for the town, and the other was the identification of a viable solution to the town’s endemic traffic congestion.

The Westminster government has now identified that all districts should have in place a realistic development strategy that identifies the areas of pressing need within the local economy and the actions necessary to deal with them.

The District Council has appointed a business development team to develop in consultation with business an “economic development strategy” by the end of 2009, and their press release included within this newsletter underlines their clearly stated intentions to engage with business and give the development of the local economy a higher priority in the future.

Meetings to develop this strategy are being set up, and we will be asking members for their views on the issues considered to have priority for inclusion within it. We anticipate serious discussions between the Council’s economic development team and representatives of each of our three sections in the formulation of this strategy.
 

Mid Sussex as a district is blessed with advantages that many envy.This is one of the most affluent parts of the country with one of the lowest levels of both unemployment and crime, however, we also have the disadvantage of being something of an artificial creation that geographically and socially doesn’t hang together very naturally. This makes us a difficult district to administer dominated as we are by three rather different and separate towns.

In an attempt to bring the business elements of these towns closer together, and to assist our district council in its current intention to develop an “economic development strategy” for Mid Sussex in consultation with businesses, we have initiated discussions between the business associations of the three towns. These have led to the identification between us of many common concerns as well as one or two differing priorities that reflect the different characteristics of each town.

It has been agreed to form an informal “alliance of business associations” so that we can compare and coordinate our views in a way that will make working together with our District Council easier and more constructive. Whilst the primary aim from our perspective is in promoting the interests of our members, and being able to take up their concerns with local government more effectively, we very much hope that it will be of real help to MSDC in their desire to create real and constructive dialogue with the businesses of all three towns.
 

 Our Retail Section have advised the Association’s Executive Committee that they need serious dialogue with the District Council on the administration of the town’s car parks in view of their dramatic under-utilisation since parking fees were restructured in April. This, on top of the effects of the worst recession in a lifetime, is seriously impacting the businesses of many high street retailers.

As a consequence, we are seeking to engage the District Council in positive and constructive consultation on how the income requirements of the Council from parking can better be integrated with those the needs of the town’s retailers and the businesses that depend on enlightened parking management for the town.

It transpires that this is an issue on which the other two Mid Sussex towns have views that are very much in common with our own, but we are all agreed that solutions acceptable to the Council, to businesses and to residents can only come about through carefully structured and professionally conducted consultation ahead of any future decisions being made.  We are hopeful, and have reason to believe, that such “partnership working” will be welcomed by the Council.
 

The next round of consultation on the District Council’s Core Strategy proposals is due to start at the end of September and the three town councils of Mid Sussex will then have an opportunity to make their views known to the County and District Councils through November and December.

The most sensitive issues would appear to revolve around the scale of housing development that the town can sustain over the next twenty years, dictated largely by the degree to which the infrastructure services can be sufficiently developed to sustain an increased population, with management of traffic congestion perhaps being the most critical.

Our members identified in 2007 the extent to which “traffic congestion” had become an increasing blight on “inward investment” in the town, and therefore we anticipate that members will have strong views on these issues which will be welcomed by our Town Council.

The Association’s Executive Committee is keeping in touch with both the Town Council and the Post Referendum Committee (PRC) who represent the residential groupings of the town and its surrounding districts, so that where there is commonality of views, these can be represented in the consultation professionally and with evidential support.  At the point in time when the issues can be clearly defined, your Executive Committee will be seeking the views of members in an informed and structured way so these can be represented in the debate.
 

 In response to our members concerns about the lack of any apparent and plausible solution, either long or short term, to the blight on inward investment caused by chronic traffic congestion on the A22 through our town now that a “relief road” solution, funded by a major housing development, has been accepted as unviable in the current economic climate, we have opened discussions with WSCC on the issue.

In that this is a crucial element to any consultations on a future “Core Strategy” for our town and the size of any future housing development that it can sustain, we have made our concerns known to the County transport planners that the improvements to the five junctions between Felbridge and Moat Road, that are the subject of the two latest Atkins studies which they have commissioned, in our view will in no way provide a solution either now, let alone for the future.
 

Planning for the future with business in mind

Mid Sussex District Council recently agreed a new Economic Development Action Plan, including plans to support the local economy, and closely involve businesses.

Earlier this month, the Council Cabinet agreed to a new Economic Development Action Plan, outlining two key objectives. Firstly that the Council should actively champion local business concerns, by increasing engagement with the business community, giving a clear understanding of the needs of business, and working proactively on behalf of business to help those needs to be met. Secondly, the Council should ensure the voice of local business is heard in its planning and decision-making processes and work with other agencies in bringing about effective engagement with business, based on up to date evidence and data.

These objectives reflect the aims of the recently published Sustainable Communities Strategy, particularly the theme of promoting economic vitality. The Economic Development Action Plan complements the work of the Mid Sussex Partnership.

With an action plan now formally in place, the Council is already taking steps to increase engagement with the local business community. The Council’s Economic Development Officer Steve Tilbury is working with various business groups, supporting local business events like the recent ‘Meet the Buyers’ exhibition and looking at other ways in which the Council can work with local firms to support the economy.

“It is vital to the health and development of the economy in Mid Sussex that we work closely with recognised business groups,” said Cllr Seward, Cabinet Member for Economic Investment and Regeneration. “The strength and success of the District and therefore the people living within the area is linked closely with the health of our local economy. That is why we are determined that any new strategy, policy or procedure must be considered in light of the impact it could have on the local business community.”

The Council’s Performance and Scrutiny Committee will monitor the new Economic Development Action Plan from the start of September.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the Council's plans for helping local businesses and the economy should contact Steve Tilbury, Economic Development Officer for Mid Sussex District Council on 01444 477347 or email SteveT@midsussex.gov.uk.
 

The AGM will be held at Lingfield Park on Tuesday 17th November and will include a review of the activities and achievements of the Association over the past year, ahead of an open discussion in which members will be invited to make their views known on what the Association has been trying to achieve on behalf of its members, and any changes of direction or policy they would wish to see in the coming year.

In that the Association only exists to serve the interests of its members, the Executive Committee needs the direction of its membership as to what services they wish it to provide, and what issues they wish it to act upon. This meeting provides the best forum in which to hear the views of other businesses and in which to express your own views on what you feel your Association should be aiming to achieve in the coming year.

It is also necessary to appoint three new Executive Members, one from each of our three Sections (Retailers, Business Parks and the Service Sector). Nominations need to be made to Caroll Everest our Administrator by email or in writing (see the website) by November 1st, and in the event of more than one nomination for each position an election will be held by a show of hands at the meeting.
 

This will be held on 15th September at the Ashdown Park Hotel at 6.00pm and the speaker will be Dee Blick of The Marketing Gym Ltd. Her subject for the evening is “Powerful Marketing on a Shoe String” and this is the title of her recently published book which is an absolute “must” for any small business.

She has been described as being dynamic, passionate and a successful business woman who is both sassy, stylish and feminine. The evening will be both entertaining and useful as an eye opener into dynamic and cost effective marketing for small businesses.

The Healthy Mid Sussex Partnership is delivering a workplace health project aimed at small to medium sized businesses to raise awareness of the benefits of making a positive change in the workplace towards physical activity and health programmes to reduce absenteeism, staff turnover and the costs of both sick pay and temporary staff cover. It provides:

• Free and confidential on line health and well being audit,
• Free training opportunities
• Funding to kick start an active and healthy workplace service
• Free consultation service and ongoing support

Contact: Elizabeth Carter – Healthy Mid Sussex Co-ordinator on 01444 477047, or Elizabeth@midsussex.gov.uk
 

In tough times, bidding for public sector contracts can offer you an excellent way to increase your opportunities and win new work. Business Link is running two half-day workshops designed to give businesses in West Sussex the best chance of winning London 2012 or Public sector contracts.

i) Bid Writing and Tendering Workshop - Monday 14th September, Crawley.
You will leave this “free” workshop with a greater understanding of how to complete “Prequalification Questionnaires”, “Intentions to Tender”, “Expressions of Interest” and all tender documents, and better equipped to avoid typical mistakes and learn best practice.

ii) Quality Management Statement Workshop - Tuesday 20th October, Burgess Hill.
To bid public sector contracts you will need to have a “Quality Management Statement” in place, and if you attend this 'free' workshop you will leave with a professional “Quality Management Statement” for your business.

 Call Business Link on 0845 600 9006 and quote “Gatwick and Crawley Meet the Buyer Workshops".

Following the first “Meet the Chambers” event in Crawley supported by members of eight neighbouring Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations last month another eight will be supporting the second even bigger networking event at the Dome in Brighton on 8th October from 12.30 till 3.30pm in the Foyer Bar.  Make a note of this date, and we will give you more details in the September newsletter.

Sussex Enterprise are promoting this business networking event in the Brighton Centre on 13th October at which already over 900 businesses have booked places. This is all part of building a strong business community and developing a better business environment in Sussex for businesses to flourish in.
Contact: Gill.Edinburgh@sussexenterprise.co.uk
 

8th September 2009 - The Priory, Haywards Heath

Business Scene are organizing ‘Sussex Connections’ in aid of St Peter & St James Hospice with Keynote Speaker, Benjamin Bonetti who is a professional speaker and Harley Street Hypnotherapist. He will share some of his strategies for success and invite you to take participate in part of one of his well respected workshops. He will use the very latest in mind recoding techniques to make positive change happen, taking you on a brief journey you’ll never forget.

Event includes:
• FREE entry for Business-Scene premium members
• Glass of bubbly on arrival
• Superb buffet
• Exhibition of local businesses
• Keynote Speaker - Empower your Life "Strategies for Success"
• Charity Raffle - terrific prizes
• A Goody-Bag when you leave

Event Opportunities:
• Exhibiting opportunities - present your products or services to an audience of around 200 local Sussex Businesses. Contact lynn.tulip@business-scene.com for more details
• Raffle Prizes - why not donate a raffle prize and promote your business into the bargain? Raffle tickets are priced at £1 each (£5 per strip). Please send details of your prize (an item or service), and a pdf file of your logo to lynn.tulip@business-scene.com
• Include an item in our Goody Bags - each attendee could walk away with a gift/promotional item from your company in their goody bag at the end of the event.
 

 For further details and to register: www.business-scene.com/sussexevent.