Monthly News

Eastbourne Car Auctions (ECA) held a charity golf day last month at the Royal Eastbourne Golf Club, raising £25,000 for the Trevor Mann Baby Unit in Association with the Early Birth Association. A total of 96 golfers competed during the day, with IEP Financial finishing as the overall winners and Caffyns A finishing as close runners-up. Following the main event, 120 people sat down for a dinner and charity auction. They were entertained by sporting impressionist and comedian Arron James. Raffle prizes included a Brighton and Hove Albion T-shirt signed by the players, a stay in a luxury villa in Marbella, a sunset beach cruise and many more. The Trevor Mann Baby Unit is a based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and is a specialist department for premature and sick new-borns and is a charity close to ECA’s heart. Jon Mitchell, Managing Director at ECA, found himself at the special care unit after his twin daughters, Amelia and Eleanor, were born prematurely at 30 weeks. Both girls received lifesaving neonatal care and now, aged 18, are fit and healthy - and looking forward to starting university in September. Jon said: “This was our first charity golf day, and it was a huge success. We are so pleased to have raised such a large

amount of money for the Trevor Mann Monthly News Unit and we would like to thank all of our sponsors and all those who attended for their generosity. “Claire and I are so grateful for the support we received from the Special Care Unit when our girls were born 18 years ago. We hope that these funds can help the Trevor Mann unit to continue to care for other families who find themselves needing support.” Over 600 babies are treated at the Trevor Mann unit every year. To find out more about the work the unit is doing, visit:

To find out more about the Early Birth Association, visit: https://www. earlybirth.co.uk/.

Long Man Brewery, based in Litlington, East Sussex, has won six major honours at this year’s World Beer Awards, including the ‘World’s Best Beer’ for its Old Man premium bitter for the second time. Three beers from the Long Man range have won a combined six awards in the Taste category, which featured over 500 of the finest beers and ales from across the globe. Duncan Ellis, Co-Founder of Long Man Brewery, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that our Old Man premium bitter has been crowned the World’s Best Beer for a second time. Achieving six awards at this year’s World Beer Awards is an incredible feat, and I’m immensely proud. These accolades are the wellearned recognition our brewers deserve

for all the hard work and attention to Monthly News detail they put into crafting our naturally excellent beer.”

• World’s Best Dark Mild Beer 2022 • Gold Winner (UK) • Country Winner (UK), Dark Beer

• Gold Winner (UK) • Country Winner (UK), English Style

Pale Ale

• Bronze Winner (UK), Lager Helles/

Münchner

The World Beer Awards, which returned this year following a pause during the pandemic, was judged by a leading panel of industry experts. There were several stages of blind tasting before the judges crowned the winning beers.

Adrian Tierney-Jones, Chair of the World Beer Awards, said, “Once again, the winners in the World Beer Awards show an exciting snapshot of some of the best beers being brewed across the globe today. Naturally, I would like to congratulate the winners, but I would also like to thank the many judges who have applied themselves to their tasks with diligence and great professionalism.”

This latest batch of awards takes Long Man Brewery’s total to almost 50 since it started brewing from its converted flint barn in the heart of the South Downs National Park in 2012. The Old Man premium bitter is the Brewery’s most decorated beer, with 16 individual awards, including World’s Best Beer in 2017 and 2022.

Creative Pod was recognised during an awards ceremony at Buxted Park Hotel last month.

The event was staged to celebrate the success of local businesses over the last year, with categories focusing on equality, sustainable business models and community engagement - to name just a few.

The full-service marketing, design and print agency was singled out for recognition for its exceptional levels of growth with a strong plan for sustainable financial performance.

Having grown from nine employees in 2020 to now 25, the company has almost tripled in size, as well as actioning internal promotions, dealing with mergers and acquisitions, and working with more businesses than ever.

This award is seen as another achievement to add to other accolades. It won the ‘Creative Design and Marketing’ award in March at the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards, was County Business Clubs’ ‘Sales and Marketing’ award for two years running and become a Drum Recommended marketing agency this year too.

Matt Turner, CEO of Creative Pod, said: “We’re delighted to have won the Rapid Riser award from the Sussex Chamber of Commerce. This achievement is a testament to our growth - in employees, in clients, in achievements, and financially too. It feels wonderful to be recognised by such a prestigious body and to be highlighted for the hard work the team puts in. A huge thanks to the chamber for this accolade!”

Creative Pod is based in Crawley and is celebrating its 16th year in business.

From L-R this is Chris and Elaine Goodman (Co- Founders and Trustees), Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex Juliet Smith, and David Hill (Director of E3 Events).

At a glittering event, held at the Malmaison Hotel, the foundation’s team was joined by friends, supporters and local business leaders to celebrate its successful launch and highlight how the Brighton Christmas Festival partnership will amplify its efforts to support local grassroots charities, young people in the community and those suffering with their mental health. Focus Foundation is a fundraising and grant-giving charity, and the philanthropic arm of Focus Group - a leading Sussex-based provider of essential business technology. Its main ambition is to connect communities and make a positive and lasting change to people’s lives. With Focus Group covering the running costs of the foundation, the charity is able to ensure that all the donations received go directly to the beneficiary charities. Chris Goodman, founder and trustee at Focus Foundation said: “Our partnership with the Brighton Christmas Festival is an incredible opportunity for us to raise our foundation’s profile, enabling us to develop our connections with local charities and community groups, but also to help highlight our work and the importance of grant-making foundations in directing money to some of the lesser-known charities in and around our county.”

David Hill, founder of E3 Events, added: Monthly News “Brighton Christmas Festival is a citywide event with a traditional Christmas Market, festive shows and all the unique attractions that our city is famous for. It will significantly boost the local economy over the winter period, and we have partnered with the Focus Foundation so we can help the local community through its grant program. “As our official charity partner, the Focus Foundation will ring fence any money raised from our festival and use it for community and charity grants within the city.” The Brighton Christmas Festival runs from November 18 to December 24.