8 business matters
Nick Handley
Chairman of Sussex Chamber of Commerce and Managing Director of Marketing Leadership
Brighton welcomes new owners for Re-Launch of office Sales and Lettings veterans, Rob Palmer and Terry Gill are preparing to take over and re-launch their Martin & Co office. Rob who previously managed property sales and lettings in Spain and Terry who has a lifetime of experience in property sales, maintenance and customer services, are both excited to begin trading as Martin & Co in the vibrant city of Brighton & Hove. Terry believes that his strong emphasis on customer service and continued client support will help develop the branch into Brighton’s first choice for lettings and sales. Rob and Terry’s ambition is to open further offices in the next five years and they are eager to show clients the dedication and quality of service that the office applies to every sale and tenancy. Brighton, widely regarded as the “Queen of watering places” boasts glittering nightlife, thriving industry links and iconic scenery. All this is some of the reasons why it has retained its popularity with day trippers and residents alike for almost 200 years. Home to Universities and numerous tourist attractions, it proves an undeniable lure for property investment for both student and high end clients, with many choosing to make Brighton a base for commuting to London. With its close proximity to the capital, without the pollution and overdevelopment, Brighton still offers a lively atmosphere and property wise, there is no avoiding the more ‘bang for your buck’ factor, endlessly improving commuters quality of life. Terry and Rob, believe it’s a great place for landlords, new or experienced to invest in. They commented “with the vast number of opportunities to generate income from both student and regular lettings business
business edge january/february 2015
is a huge lure. The high demand for lettings property is currently not being answered and it could prove a fantastic investment for a driven individual”. The dynamic duo took over the existing Brighton Martin & Co branch, after a considering a multitude of different franchise business opportunities. They explained what made them choose to re-launch an existing Martin & Co office “having spoken to others in the letting industry, the benefits of investing in Martin & Co were evident. The support that we can offer our clients through the network is great. The brand values that they promote for value of service really resonate with our own”. Rob & Terry assure existing clients that their continuous custom will not be affected by the change in ownership, they explain that the consolidation of existing business and new clients, is highly important to the office. Any existing customers should expect the same high levels of care, service and expert advice that the office have become known for. If you have any property enquiries or want to find out more about sales and letting in Brighton, please contact Rob, Terry and the team on 01273 571252 or visit www.martinco.com/lettings-agents/ brighton
A New Name for the Most Influential Business Membership Organisation in Sussex As we celebrate our 70th Anniversary in 2015, we also celebrate a major change as we change our name from Sussex Enterprise to Sussex Chamber of Commerce. The original company Sussex Engineers & Manufacturers Association (SEMA) based in Brighton was incorporated on 19th July 1945. We then became the Federation of Sussex Industries and after further name changes, we became known across Sussex as Sussex Enterprise. Over time, a number of issues became clear. Although we had become an accredited chamber of commerce, the name Sussex Enterprise gave no clue as to who we really are. More recently, we thought it would be smart to align our branding with the British Chambers of Commerce brand because we are a member. And we want to remind businesses that we are the accredited chamber for the whole of Sussex. We are one of 52 chambers of commerce accredited to the BCC. This not only ensures that our members receive the highest quality of services but allows our members to communicate their business needs through us and on to government through the BCC. But critically, with a new Chief Executive and exciting new plans for our members across Sussex, we wanted to create a fresh new brand that would position us more powerfully and get us noticed. A brand, after all, is the most important and sustainable asset owned by any organisation. Ana and the team at Sussex Chamber of Commerce have exciting plans for 2015. These include new style networking events, a calendar of sporting events, the development of a Sussex Business Manifesto (in the run up to the General Election) and a longer list of products and services to provide our members with even greater support and cost efficiencies. We also want to work closely with the town chambers across Sussex. To find out more please visit our new website www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk or email ana.christie@ sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk