1st June - Meet & Eat at La Farola, Spanish Restaurant - 6.00pm
17th June - Tiffin Time, 12-2pm at the Nizam restaurant, EG.
24th June - Business Exhibition with Presentations at Chequer Mead - 9.00am to 5.30pm
6th July - Meet @ Eat at the Felbridge Hotel - 6.00pm
21st July - Breakfast Meeting at the Ashdown Park Hotel - 7.00am
Speaker John Jory - Chief Executive of Mid Sussex District Council
29th July - Tiffin Time at the Nizzam Indian Restaurant, 42 High Street - 12.0 noon till 2.00pm

The EGBA inaugural exhibition is only now 3 weeks away. We are delighted with the variety of exhibitors although there are still a few places left, so if you have not yet booked and would like a stand – let me know asap.  There is a diverse range of businesses who are exhibiting, providing an interesting source of information.

In addition, there will be 7 seminars running alongside the exhibition from 9.30 to 3.30pm which we believe will be of interest to many of those living and working in and around East Grinstead as well as the wider business community. We hope you will come along and support this event and spread the word to all your colleagues and contacts.

The seminars include speakers from the QVH, Bluebell Railway, Town Regeneration, as well as business related sessions on Managing the cash in your business through difficult times, Business Strategies for Survival, Mediation in the Business World and Using Social Media to grow your business.

We hope there will be something of interest for everyone. Plus, the Chequer Mead is in a central location in East Grinstead, has ample car parking directly outside and superb catering facilities – so you can stop and have coffee or even lunch if you have the time.

We hope you will be able to attend and support this event either as an exhibitor or to visit the exhibition and seminars.
If you can help promote this event by putting up a poster – lest me know and I will send you one. Or you may be able to put on your website, in your newsletter or to your contacts. We hope to see you there. It promises to be a great day.

Caroll Everest, Administrator, EGBA; 01342 324353 0794 1969 401
www.egba.co.uk    em: caroll.everest@egba.co.uk
 

It was agreed to place an order with a member company, circlesquare, for an up-grade to the Association’s web site which will include a forum/bulletin board section with sub-forums for each of our three sections augmented by forums for common interest groups such as news,business support, events and training. We want to make the forum is a place where EGBA members can discuss topics, find information and get to know each other.

Progress in setting up section sub-committees was reviewed. The retailers could report the formation of their sub-committee and the calling of their first sub committee meeting at which to refine and agree their action agenda for the immediate future.

The service sector section could also report progress, and have the agreement of a nucleus of sub-committee members, with another three or four members willing to support action agendas once they are agreed. it was only the business parks who have yet to generate momentum in this direction, and this was anagreed priority for May and June.

The successful launch of the monthly “Tiffin Time” lunch events with the Nizzam Indian restaurant was commended with over sixty members and non-members attending the first two events
 

Jeremy Taylor, the Chief Executive of Cadia (Gatwick Diamond Business Association) gave a lively and most informative up-date on the planned multi-million pound capital investment programme for the airport. North Terminal will have a new multi-storey car park and a new entrance gateway. The departures concourse will be substantially expanded and the inter-terminal transit is being replaced.

South Terminal will have a new entrance from the forecourt and work carried out to de-clutter the check-in areas and bring in more natural light. The airfield will have new stands and there will be further work to the roadways.

Gatwick station will get a further £43 million development involving a new platform 7 to service fast trains to/from London with a new access from the airport forecourt.

He also updated the meeting on the University of Brighton’s Expression of Interest for a new University Centre which is still likely to be located in the Central Sussex College tower in central Crawley, but this is subject to LSC funding of the college rebuilding programme.
 

This Partnership coordinates the work of all the agencies that operate within Mid Sussex and includes the Police, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Primary Care Trust, WSCC, Town and Parish Councils and the Voluntary Services. They have developed a Sustainable Communities Strategy for the District which is structured in four sections, namely a) environment, b) safety in the community, c) economic vitality and d) health.

The EGBA Chief Executive sits on this board as one of two “business” representatives.

Economic vitality is the section that primarily effects “business” and within this section of the strategy, a careful process of consultation has refined everyone’s priorities down to five key problem areas that need action namely:-
a) there is no economic strategy for the district
b) it is not clear which are the key economic growth areas for Mid Sussex
c) business start-ups need clearer information and support
d) current economic conditions could have a negative impact on development
e) Mid Sussex needs promotion for inward investment

It is proposed that a “working party” is set up with representatives of business to implement these actions, and the first step is clearly to start an ongoing and meaningful consultation process between the Council and “business”, recognising that there are three disparate towns with separate characteristics, and that there are at least three different types of business each with different priorities. Meetings will start in July.

The first target will be an agreed “economic development strategy” by the end of this year, out of which it is intended to identify the clear priority actions needed to be implemented by “business” and the “Council” working together in partnership over say a five year period. Work this year will already have started on items b) to d) above.

The meeting was primarily concerned with identifying the issues of concern to retailers and establishing whether there was general agreement on how to take each issue forward. These included:-

a) Empty Shops
With the number of shops closing down now significantly on the increase the depressing effect of empty shop fronts on shoppers and visitors to the town needs to taken in hand. Other communities are finding ways of tackling this problem with the cooperation of landlords and now that the government may shortly make some funding available. Filling the windows with attractive posters of Sussex scenery, or tasteful advertising are being developed.

b) Car Parking
There has clearly been a significant fall-off in usage of the town’s car parks since the new meters were installed and since the 40% uplift in overall charges in April. It was agreed that EGBA should seek responsible and informed consultation with MSDC well ahead of next April and any changes to the management of car parking in the town.

c) Town Signs
The meeting considered Town Council suggestions that Chequer Mead should feature on the proposed “Historic East Grinstead” signs at entry points to the town. The retailers felt strongly that “history” was the town’s strongest attraction for visitors and much though Chequer Mead was valued, they didn’t feel that it didn’t had an historic dimension.

d) Future Promotional Events
Discussions identified a real difference between the bigger retailers and the smaller independents about what style of event best suited their businesses and the town. The smaller independents strongly favoured this year’s “Spring Event” that didn’t involve road closures, whereas the larger retailers favoured the road closures and funfairs of past Christmas and May Day events. Discussions continue.

 

The West Sussex EBP Grow Your Own event on Thursday 11th June at Virgin Atlantic's 'The Base' in Crawley.

Grow Your Own is an event aimed at bringing business and young people together. Hosted by Virgin Atlantic at their exciting venue 'The Base' in Crawley and starring keynote speaker Ruth Badger star of TV's 'The Apprentice', the event not only promises to be an excellent networking event for West Sussex businesses, but will give delegates the chance to take part in bespoke business workshops including:

Virgin Atlantic Customer Service team; 'How to deliver exceptional Customer Service'
Business Link: 'Survive and thrive in tough times'
Raj Anand (Business Week's Young Entrepreneur of the Year 07): 'How to grow your business using Social Networking

Businesses will also be introduced to the many ways, and many benefits, of working with their local schools and colleges.

Attendance is free, but spaces are limited, so any businesses interested in attending the event should contact:

Mandy Saunders at the West Sussex Education Business Partnership  mandy.saunders@westsussex.gov.uk (01903) 703550

Through this Leadership & Management programme, owner managers and company directors have a great opportunity to apply for funding to help develop business leadership skills.

This offer is available to companies in the South East with 5-249 staff

Independent and impartial advice – at no cost or obligation.  A qualified and experienced Leadership & Management specialist adviser will help you identify your own personal training and development requirements; and offer a choice of flexible, tailored learning solutions to suit your individual and business needs. As part of the application process, you will be provided with a complimentary, tailored Personal Development Plan.

Up to £1000 to help develop your business leadership skills.

Your learning programme can be funded up to a maximum contribution of £1000.
• The first £500 is available to managing directors, owner managers, and company directors and does not need to be matched and/or
• A further grant of up to £500, which must be matched funded, is available to senior managers or the management team or MD, owner managers & Directors.

This money can be put towards one or a combination of training solutions to benefit you and your business.
All training must have started and the grant claimed within 90 days of the grant being approved. All grants are exclusive of VAT.
Previous beneficiaries of Business Leader funding are not eligible to apply.

Call 07894 608520 or e-mail jilly.bayford@traintogainse.co.uk to arrange an appointment with Skills South East. our independent and impartial Train to Gain Skills Brokerage. Registered Address: Greenacre Court, Station Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9DS

A free seminar in which Business Link will show you how to push your website to the next level.
Discover SEO 2.0! and Analytics to unleash the full potential of your website.

Nick Stocks and Charles Ward will give you the ability to optimise your website for maximum efficiency and effectiveness, making customers return time and time again.

Topics include:
• Getting your website visitors to help you!
• Obtaining optimised inward links
• Harnessing the power of social media, such as Blogs, Twitter and Facebook
• Correct implementation of Google Analytics
• Understanding the data
• Essential top tips

This seminar has been designed for business owners, senior managers and those responsible for the positioning and optimisation of your website.

Registration and refreshments from 3.45pm, seminars run from 4.15pm to 6.00pm, networking and close at 6.15pm. There will be an opportunity for questions at the end of each presentation.

Dates and Venues:
Tuesday 9th June – The Business Centre, Green Park, Reading, Berkshire
Thursday 11th June – Brighton Racecourse, Brighton, Sussex
Tuesday 16th June – Ramada Hotel, Maidstone, Kent
Thursday 18th June – Hilton International Hotel, Cobham, Surrey
Tuesday 23rd June – Oxford Centre, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Thursday 25th June – The Rose Bowl Cricket Club, Southampton, Hampshire

To book your FREE place call 08454 58 85 57
Or click on www.innovationevents.co.uk for online booking and further information

A ticket and map will be posted on receipt of your booking, you will also receive further joining instructions a few days before the event.
 

This Seminar has been designed and funded by WSCC, BAA, Crawley BC, Business Link and MSDC to increase awareness of how business is placed by the region’s public sector purchasers and their wider supply chain, and how you can access these opportunities.

Your attendance at this free seminar will allow you to:-

• Increase your understanding of complex public sector bodies, their supply chains and the efficiency savings that are driving their purchasing agenda.
• Benefit from a unique insight into local Council’s procurement and how to successfully win new contracts.
• Increase your likelihood of winning new business in the public sector supply chain.
• Understand how you can increase the sustainability of your business.

The numerous opportunities within the £multi-million supply chain to the public sector in West Sussex will be revealed at this event. Do not miss your chance to benefit – respond now – places really are limited.

Further information: Angela Sobers, Business to Business Tel 020 7700 0008; Fax 020 7700 0061 E-mail: angela@btob.co.uk