We are delighted to announce the launch of our new website – do check it out – we hope you like it. www.egba.co.uk
We have incorporated a members forum which we hope will be useful and will encourage members to debate and discuss issues affecting local businesses. Members will be receiving their passwords to use this facility shortly.

The AGM will be held at Alexander House Hotel from 6-9m - and we hope as many members as possible will attend.  We will review what we have achieved thus far over the last year since the merger with the Chamber of Commerce. Much has been achieved, and we wish to keep all members informed of what has have done and where we have been involved.

It will be an opportunity for members to tell us what they want from the association going forward. It is therefore vital that as many members as possible attend so that we get a representative view to develop for the future.

We will be looking and discussing the agenda of the association, the services we provide and also the structure and the staffing.

New Committee Members
We need to appoint 3 new executive members – as one committee member for each section from retail, service and business parks, steps down each year.  We therefore need to have nominations for new committee members to be with us by 1st November. If you would like to stand or wish to nominate someone please contact caroll.everest@egba.co.uk.

 Make a note in your diary - we hope to see you there.

The scheme is now launched with over 100 commercial participating entities - with offers published on the Town Council website. Not all are yet displaying their membership discs on their doors or making their offers as prominent as they might, and this inevitably reduces the impact of the scheme within the town as a whole, which is a pity. However, those who have entered wholeheartedly and made a successful choice of an initial offer are reporting a very positive response, lifting their sales figures back to somewhere nearer those of this time last year. However, it will need more effort to keep the scheme live over the weeks leading up to Christmas, particularly with renewal of offers and the prominent availability of cards on shop counters. 

To view the various participating entitties and their oromotions go to  www.eastgrinstead.gov.uk then click on 'Keep it Local' under Whats New on the home page.

Their are some fantastic promotions available.  If you are a retailer or wish to be part of the scheme or wish to update your offer contact caroll.everest@egba.co.uk in the first instance.

Members responses to our request for their views on the issues they felt should be included in an EDS for the District was rather disappointing.   However, those that were received reconfirmed the findings of last year and so the view from East Grinstead put forward to the Alliance, in priority order, was as follows:-

1. Relief of Traffic Congestion on the A22 through the Town.
2. Car Parking – management of the council car parks with properly structured input from all relevant interest groups, making their informed input through structured meetings ahead of decisions being made
3. Promotion of Inward Investment by taking the necessary steps to attract the right kind of businesses into the town, and by developing the environment they need to be attracted here in the first place.
4. Public Transport – progressively develop an integrated public transport system after conducting an informed review of “best practice” by others.
5. Actively promote the Town as an historic place to visit, and as an attractive place to shop. This will require an integrated set of promotional activities based on best practice that has been developed elsewhere.
6. Develop and implement a small business support capability that provides for the encouragement, incubation and development of small businesses within those sectors particularly suitable for this locality.
7. Find and implement ways of working positively with local educational establishments and organisations to cultivate the skills of the future workforce required by the growth sectors of our market place.

This set of priorities was to be set alongside those from Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill, and a composite list produced reflecting the priorities of businesses across the District for discussion with MSDC. 

The Alliance of Business Associations (which consists of East Grinstead, Haywards Heath & Burgess Hill) has agreed meetings with the Leadership of MSDC at which the priority concerns of our membership regarding the management of the Council car parks can be raised, and it is hoped that constructive consultation will result, allowing the interests of both the Council and of “Business” to be better realised.

The meeting held at the Ashdown Park Hotel was attended by thirty members, potential members and quests to hear Dee Blick speaking on “Marketing on a Shoe String”. As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, a journalist, a writer of a current best seller who runs her own marketing business, Dee is remarkably well qualified to give advice to managers of small and medium sized businesses on how to market effectively without spending large sums.  She held her audience with ease because of her hands-on personal experience, and because of her entertaining and intimate speaking style, which let to a lively discussion at the end of the meeting, and which continued on in the bar afterwards.

We are delighted with the new programme which is now published and covers events from October to March 2010.  If you have not received your copy please let us know. Details are also on the new website.

If you have any suggestions for topics/speakers that you would find helpful/beneficial – please let Caroll Everest know on caroll.everest@egba.co.uk.
We wish to ensure as large a turnout as possible for our meetings and to ensure that the topics and speakers are what you want to hear about – so let us know what you want.

To download a copy of the programme click here

A stakeholder event will be held on 21st October 2009 at Avisford Park Hotel, Yapton Lane, Walberton, Arundel BN18 0LS at which the proposed Policy direction will be explained and group discussions held to solicit the views of businesses.  If your business suffers from waste disposal problems and the cost associated with it, then this is an event you shouldn’t miss.

Honeywell UK in Burgess Hill is currently undergoing a restructuring process, and as a result a number of employees are facing redundancy and will be looking for alternative employment. If your business has need of high calibre skilled and semi-skilled staff contact Michelle Munden of “Right Management” at nextmove.honeywelluk@right.com or phone 01444 230300 x 3488

East Grinstead’s twin towns offer our members access opportunities into five major EU countries.  If you would like to establish contacts or make enquiries in any of these towns, members should write to Ken Averill, Chairman of the EG Town Twinning Association at The Bungalow, Peradur, West Hoathly Rd. East Grinstead RH19 4NF.

University of Sussex is a leading graduate employer and has an annual recruitment fair, GradFair, on Wednesday 4th November 2009, from 12 – 3 pm.

They have over 3,300 students graduating in 2009 and this event will be an excellent and cost effective opportunity to promote your company and its graduate and vacation opportunities directly to a large number of our highly capable and motivated students.

If you would like to discuss or require further information, please contact Jocelyn Owen, or Andrea Wall on 01273 678429 or email: jocelyn.owen@sussex.ac.uk or andrea.wall@sussex.ac.uk.

The local schools are actively trying to assist school leavers and have a variety of events planned that you/your staff may like to consider. Volunteering opportunities appear on www.wsxebp.org.uk which includes flyers with extra information that you / potential volunteers can download. Details for the first event is:

Careers Speed Dating Challenge, Oriel High School, Crawley
Thursday 5th November 2009, 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m.
200 x Year 9s students (aged 13- 14)
The aim of the activity is to enable students to learn more about the world of work and about the types of jobs available to them when they leave education. Business volunteers will be quizzed by the students about their work/jobs. It is a great opportunity to promote your business and encourage these students to apply for jobs with your company in the future!
 

A great networking opporotuntiy to meet iwth members and business colleagues. This month being held at the New Evergreen Chinese Restaurant, London Road, 6pm.

Cost £10.00 members; £15 non-members.

Our Xmas Party this year will be held at the Felbridge Hotel on 15th December from 12-2pm.  We hope you will be able to make this great event to mingle with colleagues and celebrate the festive season.  Tickets will be at the fantastic price of only £28.00.  Make a note in your diary now - booking form details will be sent out next month.

We will also be having our annual raffle - if you would like to donate an item for this please contact caroll.everest@egba.co.uk.  All proceeds will go to our nominated charity.