SBT POWERED BY:
ISSUE 472
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CARPENTER BOX CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS 2023 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO SUSSEX...AND BEYOND
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SHARING SUSSEX BUSINESS STORIES SINCE 1975
All business is symbiotic in nature. You can be inspiring your peers one day, learning from them the next. In the end, people buy people. That makes sharing our stories the most compelling way to connect with one another.
What’s needed is a platform to embrace and empower our regional business ecosystem. Where varied backgrounds and perspectives provide new context. Harnessing potential, enabling growth. And at the heart of it, a dedicated term of curators unlocking insights for the good of us all.
So we’re changing the way people think of connecting. Because we believe in self-reflection, rather than self-promotion. By demystifying the art of storytelling, we deliver authentic thought leadership through events, publishing and broadcast media.
We come together to discover, share and grow. But we won’t be limited by geography, or our imagination. Instead, we’ll seek out local leaders, visionaries and experts, wherever great businesses thrive. Growing communities, in partnership with the businesses that power them. And nurturing the enterpreneurial spirit in everyone.
2 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
SBTWelcome
W E LCO M E
Welcome to another issue of SBT
It’s a wonderful time of the year to support local good causes. That’s
our front cover. The business is celebrating its centenary - 100 years
why, during the season of goodwill, we once again shine a light on the
of service to Sussex. We chart important milestones in the firm’s
many, often overlooked, charities and non-profit organisations making
long history and outline what it is doing to support the community.
a real difference to people’s lives across Sussex.
Its content in this issue also includes a complete run-down on the Autumn Statement.
I hope you will take the time to read more about who they are and what they do - and consider one of them for a charity endeavour or
In addition to local business news, we have legal and finance features
corporate sponsorship in 2024.
designed to help you save money and time.
When everything in life is ticking along nicely, it is easy to forget that
If you are looking to sneak in some extra networking before the close
not everyone is so fortunate. From children with disabilities to those
of 2023, don’t miss news from the Big Business Breakfast Club and
suffering the heartbreak of stillbirth, an army of volunteers are working
discover what Best of British Events has been staging.
hard to provide much-needed support. Of course, much of this work goes unseen but its positive impact benefits not just families but the
Finally, I must mention a well-deserved trio of awards for Rivervale
wider community too.
Group. You can learn more about those in the motoring section.
Without the generosity of people just like you and me, many of
It’s that time… Thank you for being part of the Sussex Business Times’
these fantastic good causes simply wouldn’t exist. 2023 has been
community. Myself and the team would like to wish you and yours a
an especially difficult year, with rising prices and inflation impacting
wonderful Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
donations as well as running costs. Sam Thomas, Managing Director As the year draws to a close, it is fitting to feature Carpenter Box on
VALUE ADDED PARTNERS
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Issue 472
SBT POWERED BY:
ISSUE 472
FREE
CARPENTER BOX CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS 2023 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO SUSSEX...AND BEYOND
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 1
SHARING SUSSEX BUSINESS STORIES SINCE 1975
06
Monthly News
08
Valued Added Partner Spotlight
09
Guess the VAP
Cover 472
Joint Managing Director/Publisher Sam Thomas sam@thebusinessgroup.co.uk 07894 762304 Joint Managing Director Lee Mansfield lee@lifemediagroup.co.uk Production & Design Kim Butler kim@lifemediagroup.co.uk Accounts Clare Fermor clare@lifemediagroup.co.uk Published by The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Licenced to TBG by Pixel Publications Ltd Unit 1a Swan Barn Business Centre, Swan Barn Road, Hailsham, BN27 2BY Printed by Gemini Print Group 1A Dolphin Way Shoreham-by-Sea West Sussex BN43 6NZ 01273 464884 www.gemini-print.co.uk
All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The views expressed in Sussex Business Times Magazine do not necessarily represent the view of The Business Group Sussex Ltd. Every care is taken in compiling the contents but the publishers of Sussex Business Times Magazine assume no responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from the participation in any offers, competitions or advertisement contained within Sussex Business Times Magazine. All prices featured in Sussex Business Times Magazine are correct at the time of going to press. Copyright The Business Group Sussex Ltd. 2020 ©
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10
Learn about the impact of AI on programmatic advertising and how community groups can get a share of a £40,000 funding pot.
County Business Clubs Sussex throws the spotlight on Emma Draper, founder of Velvet Stores Limited.
Here’s your chance to put a name to some faces and win a massage for two.
Finance
Carpenter Box explains the key announcements in the Autumn Statement. Meanwhile, Plus Accounting gives its space to highlight the success of Bare Biology, a wellness brand that is growing by 60 per cent a year.
14
Legal
18
Cover Story
24
Christmas Charity Special
48
Networking & Events
54
Motoring
56
Lifestyle
58
Wine of the Month
Mayo Wynne Baxter outlines top tips for avoiding stress when moving and Cognitive Law reflects on 2023.
Carpenter Box marks its centenary with a very special feature, charting its successes from 1923 to 2023.
Meet the charities working tirelessly across Sussex to improve lives.
The Big Business Breakfast Club Christmas extravaganza, Body Fixers, Best of British Events and more.
All the latest news from Rivervale Group, including major awards recognition.
Carole Gilling-Smith reflects on a milestone year for The Agora Clinic
Michael Yeoman shares his top tipple for County Business Clubs’ December Wine of the Month. Don’t miss this if you have yet to stock up for Christmas.
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contact@h2productions.co.uk 01273 094371 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 5
MONTH LY N E WS SP ON S OR
The impact of AI on programmatic advertising, productivity and sustainability With the rapid advancement of technology in recent years, the advertising industry has undergone a major transformation. The use of Artificial
Monthly News
Intelligence (AI)
in programmatic
advertising has altered the way brands reach
their target audience and helped to boost productivity. As businesses begin to
adopt to new guidance on AI and data rules, data and programmatic expert
Crimtan discusses the benefits of AI in
programmatic and the positive impact it will have on the industry.
A study by Accenture claims that AI
will increase productivity by 40% and
in turn boost profitability by an average of 38%. AI has the ability to gather
purchases, and any previous interactions
processing loads by 80% and cut CO2
vast amounts of data in a small amount
with similar ads.
emissions by 40 kilograms per day. This
ad-buying and placement processes,
Andy Houstoun, Chief Commercial Officer
placement, where AI optimises processes
AI algorithms, brands can analyse data
programmatic advertising will be significant
consciousness and responsible control.
the best time and place to display ads.
will not only enable brands to reach their
Houstoun concluded: “The use of AI in
employees and businesses to focus on
boost productivity by automating the ad
revolutionise the way brands reach their
of time, allowing brands to automate
suggests a transformative future for ad while maintaining environmental
saving time and money. With the help of
at Crimtan, said: “The impact of AI on
on consumer behaviour to determine
and AI-powered programmatic advertising
This in turn frees up valuable time for
target audience more effectively, but also
programmatic advertising will continue to
optimising campaigns.
buying and placement process.
target audience and embracing it not only
Marketers can optimise results in
“As the advertising industry continues
to a sustainable and environmentally
algorithms have the ability to adapt to
advertising will only become more
non-AI algorithms. With AI algorithms
to encourage them to embrace this
Intelligence Opportunities and Positive
performance, brands can quickly make
advantage in the marketplace and be
Planning, Attribution and Measurement
enhances efficiency, but also contributes
programmatic by using AI, as AI
to evolve, the use of AI in programmatic
conscious advertising landscape.”
any new patterns they encounter, unlike
prevalent. We work with our clients
Houstoun is speaking on ‘Artificial
constantly analysing campaign
technology in order to have a competitive
Disruption: Driving Efficient Marketing
adjustments to their ad creatives,
better equipped to reach and engage
through AI’ at the Martech Summit,
targeting, and bidding strategies to
with their target audience.”
London on 17 November.
return on investment. For example, AI
Additionally, multiple players in the ad
To read more about AI and the
insights by taking into account a wide
the power of AI for sustainability gains.
produced a free whitepaper, which you
browsing history, apps, previous
differences, AI has the capacity to reduce
com/AI-whitepaper.html
improve performance and maximise
algorithms can deliver more accurate
placement bid stream have harnessed
programmatic landscape, Crimtan have
range of factors, such as a consumer’s
By incorporating regional and channel
can download here: https://lp.crimtan.
6 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
MO N TH LY N EWS SP O N SO R
Community groups in Newhaven urged to apply for £40k funding pot Newhaven Enterprise Zone is appealing for community groups in Newhaven to apply for £40,000 of funding to enrich residents’ lives during the cost-of-living crisis. Groups should
Monthly News
apply via the
Sussex Community Foundation, which manages the
Community Fund on behalf of the
Enterprise Zone. The deadline for the first round of funding applications is Friday
5th January 2024, with decisions made on chosen recipients in March 2024.
Two further rounds will follow in 2024, with deadlines for groups to apply for
funding on Friday 3rd May and Friday 6th September.
Corinne Day, programme director at
Newhaven Enterprise Zone said: “As the cost-of-living crisis continues, we know our community groups need a cash
boost to support their important work now more so than ever.
“The fund is here to support charities
and not-for-profit organisations which
benefit the Newhaven area. We would particularly love to hear from groups
which encourage a sense of place and build on the thriving community.
“Groups which encourage community
participation, address inequality, raise aspirations and develop opportunities for people in Newhaven to be more
actively engaged are also high on our list of priorities.”
Amongst the groups to benefit last year was the Denton Community
Challenge, a much-loved feature on
the Newhaven social calendar which
has grown to provide almost 70 stalls since it began in 2012.
It received £1,000 towards the cost of
the event by the grants we receive.
activities together with rosettes and a
“I would encourage any local group or
staging the affordable day out of sports burger for children taking part.
charity to apply for this funding. It is
Tricia Gostock, secretary of Denton
an amazing community event - and
easy to do and it really helps us provide
Community Challenge Committee, is
they could too.”
“We would like to thank Newhaven
Groups which are invited to apply include
so grateful for all donations we receive,
training, education, employment and
urging local groups to apply. She said: Enterprise Zone for their support. We are
those which create opportunities for
no matter how big or how small.
enterprise, improve life skills, employability
“The money we receive in grants enables
quality of the local environment and shared
with activities such as a bouncy castle,
assets and resources, encourage the use
a fraction of the normal cost.
deliver initiatives for improved quality of
and develop aspirations, improve the
us to subsidise the day for local families
public space, enhance shared community
climbing wall and bungee trampolines at
of sustainable transport and promote and
“The grants also go towards all the basic
life, including health and wellbeing.
running costs of the event, such as hire
Last year’s recipients also included
licences and insurance.
Newhaven Arts Project (£3,314) and
of the community hall, bar and music
“We have had over 200 children take part
Denton and District Cricket Club (£3,000), Newhaven Families Forum (£3,600).
in the ‘challenge’ on the day in the last
To find out more and download
young children entertained all day for very
sussexgiving.org.uk/named_funds_
few years. It is somewhere you can keep
the application form visit: https://
little expense, due to the subsidising of
posts/newhaven-ez-community-fund/
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 7
VAP S POTL IG HT S P ON S OR
Value Added Partner Spotlight This month, the County Business Clubs Sussex Value Added Partner spotlight falls on Emma Draper, of Velvet in Hove. VAP Spotlight
Tell us about the
What has been your
Limited story.
challenge to date?
Velvet Stores
My story is about
resilience, staying power and sheer
determination. But it is also a tale of
how to find the utmost pleasure from the most important things in life; a business built with passion and dedication, the
joy of family life even during the hardest times, and staying true to your own
beliefs, goals and never losing sight of the road ahead.
My primary business is Velvet - a large two-floor, award-winning independent retail store in the heart of Hove. We sell a fantastic range of women’s
fashion, delightful and affordable
homeware and gifts. We really are
a destination store for many of our
customers, some of them travelling
across the country to visit us. I started Velvet in the year 2000, after a move to the South Coast.
The secret of our success at Velvet
isn’t anything magical, just adhering to our principals and empowering our colleagues to achieve greater
biggest business
After many ups and downs, including
recessions, those
dreaded lockdowns,
illness and many other
challenges, we enjoyed our busiest ever year
in 2022/23. I am lucky enough to have three
fabulous teenage boys. So I would say, being a
single mum, it has been extremely challenging
to balance the demands of motherhood with the pressures of running a successful high street business, but I have
come through it stronger
than ever and even more determined to push on and achieve greater things.
people this year to discuss issues and ideas with, and also be inspired by.
Tell us a story/fact about yourself that
What has been your greatest or
people might not know.
to date?
Velvet has always been my overriding
Winning The Dynamic Business Woman
we have grown our profit base, I have
against some incredible competition – I
and now have a burgeoning property
proudest business achievement
passion in my business life but, as
of the Year Surrey and Sussex 2023
looked around for a way to invest
was absolutely thrilled!
portfolio of local, high-end flats, plus
remembering that we are a customer-
What type of clients do you
startups and SMEs. My businesses
nothing at all without them. All of our
you looking to meet?
I am also now looking to expand
We are lucky enough to have an
knowledge and experience to others
marketing team and I are always
by speaking at events and imbue them
it’s been great to meet other business
pursue their own goals and dreams.
things every day. We have a fabulous team of eighteen women, including a management team of five. The most important aspect of what we do is facing business and we would be
team are laser focussed on ensuring
our standards and service are delivered to the highest degree. We always strive to go one step further to make our
customers feel valued and welcome and that is our guiding principle.
8 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
currently work with and who are
I have invested in some other local give me great joy and satisfaction.
my horizons and hopefully offer my
enormous customer base, but the
in business, start ups and students
working on growing this. For myself,
with the confidence and courage to
Win a massage for 2! This month’s prize is kindly donated by Little Jasmine Therapies and Spa.
How to enter For your chance to win a massage for 2 at Little Jasmines, simply email your answers along with your details to Jackie at sbt@countybusinessclubs.co.uk
Congratulations! to Kathy Taylor who won the last guess the vap, the only person to correct all 7 correctly. Kathy wins afternoon tea for 2 at the Grand Hotel, Brighton.
Then... Take a look at these youngsters! Which County Business Clubs Sussex Value Added Partner do they look like to you?
A
C
B
D
Now... Oh, how they’ve grown! Now decide which letter and number belong together.
1
2
3
4
Emma Draper Entrepeneur, Owner of Award Winning Retail Store - Velvet, Property developer, Buy to Let Business. Business Woman of the Year 2023 Surrey and Sussex
Gary Peters Founder ICP search/ love local jobs.com/love local jobs foundation/authentic resilience
Kiki Hood Senior Sponsorship & Hospitality Exec | Sussex Cricket
Kyriakos Baxevanis Founder | Investor | Mentor | Lifelong learner
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 9
Autumn Statement 2023: the key announcements A full round-up from Carpenter Box.
Finance
The Chancellor
Business tax
introduction of ‘full expensing’ of
his speech by
Cash basis
new plant and machinery (P&M) for a
Jeremy Hunt started claiming he was
bringing forward
capital expenditure by companies on
The Autumn Statement announced that
three-year period from 1 April 2023 to
2024/25: unincorporated businesses of
now made this ‘permanent’, which
default method of computing their profits.
revenue in the short term but is shown
the turnover limits will be removed for
31 March 2026. The Chancellor has
any size will use the cash basis as the
makes little difference to government
Interest of any amount will be eligible
as a £7.5 billion reduction in 2026/27.
exclusively incurred for the purposes of
Research and development (R&D)
business to opt to use traditional accruals
intention to merge the two schemes for
is the case at present for rental income.
periods beginning on or after 1 April
Hunt, with an explanation of what they
Capital allowances on plant and
the changes would apply for expenditure
personal finances.
The Spring Budget included the
110 growth measures to back British
business. He did not list them all in the speech, but there is no doubt that the
documents released online when he sat
down contained a mass of detail – some specific rule changes coming in on
particular dates, and some plans that are being considered for later.
In this article we summarise the main
tax changes that were announced by Mr are likely to mean for your business and
10 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
for deduction, as long as it is wholly and the business. It will still be possible for a
The government has confirmed its
accounting rather than the cash basis, as
SMEs and large companies for accounting
machinery
2024. It was previously announced that incurred from 1 April 2024; the revised
implementation date will avoid the issue
F I N A N C E SP O N SO R
of having to make claims under two
different regimes for expenditure in the same accounting period. The rate of
credit under the merged scheme will
be the current RDEC rate of 20%. The
notional tax rate applied to loss-making companies will be the small profit rate
of 19%, rather than the 25% main rate currently used in the RDEC.
Construction Industry Scheme
From 6 April 2024, VAT obligations are
added to the statutory compliance test
for being granted (and for keeping) gross payment status (GPS). The measure also extends one of the grounds
for immediate cancellation of GPS.
HMRC can withdraw GPS if they have
reasonable grounds to suspect that the
GPS holder has fraudulently provided an incorrect return or incorrect information
in relation to a list of taxes which will be extended to include VAT, Corporation Tax Self-Assessment (CTSA), Income
Tax Self- Assessment (ITSA) and PAYE. Business rates
The small business multiplier will be
frozen in 2024/25 for a fourth consecutive year at 49.9p, while the standard
multiplier will be uprated by inflation to 54.6p. In addition, eligible retail,
hospitality, and leisure businesses qualify for 75% business rates relief, capped at
£110,000 per business and extended for a year from 2023/24 to 2024/25. Energy saving materials
The installation of energy saving materials currently qualifies for zero-rating for VAT. This relief is to be extended with effect
from February 2024 to new technologies, such as water-source heat pumps, and also to installations in buildings used
solely for a relevant charitable purpose. Personal tax Dividend income
The dividend allowance, below which
no tax is paid on dividends, will fall from
£1,000 in 2023/24 to £500 in 2024/25. The
will increase by 8.5% in April 2024
£2,000 for several years up to 2022/23)
earnings, rather than the lower figure
assessment tax returns to settle what will
amount of £221, pensioners will receive
reduction in this allowance (which was
based on the increase in average
will require many more people to file self-
for price inflation. At the new weekly
often be a relatively small tax liability.
nearly £900 a year more than in 2022/23.
National Living Wage (NLW)
Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings
those aged 21 or over (currently 23),
ATED applies to residential property
£11.44, with comparable increases to
through companies and other corporate
workers and apprentices.
a relief. The rates automatically increase
National Insurance Contributions (NIC)
6.7% from 1 April 2024, in line with the
From 1 April 2024, NLW will apply to
(ATED)
and will rise from £10.42 per hour to
worth above £500,000 that is owned
the other rates that apply to younger
structures, unless the situation qualifies for each year with inflation and will rise by
The largest tax cut announced in the
September 2023 Consumer Prices Index.
billion in 2023/24, is a cut in the rate of
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax
the lower and upper earnings limits from
A number of points have been confirmed
January 2024 and will save up to £754 in
documentation. Firstly, those with gross
£50,270 or above).
income) under £30,000 will not be
Self-employed people have for many
be kept ‘under review’. The requirement
which have conferred entitlement to
Statement (EOPS) has been removed;
4 NICs. These are both cut with effect
‘Final Declaration’ process. The reporting
Autumn Statement, amounting to £8.7 employee NICs on earnings between
Self-Assessment (MTD ITSA)
12% to 10%. This will take effect on 6
regarding MTD ITSA in the accompanying
a full tax year (for an employee earning
income (self-employed and property
brought into MTD ITSA, although this will
years had to pay flat rate Class 2 NICs,
for taxpayers to file an End of Period
State pension, and profit-related Class
instead, the EOPS will be merged into the
from 6 April 2024:
of quarterly information will become
•C lass 2 NICs will not be required to
quarter’s figures. This change should
above £6,725, saving £179.40 a year
as taxpayers will be able to correct any
for anyone earning less than that to
rather than resubmitting past quarters.
•T he rate of Class 4 NICs on profits
Get in touch
reduced from 9% to 8%, saving up
and reassess your plans in light of any
cumulative, rather than just reporting that
secure benefits for anyone earning
make amendments easier to deal with,
– they can still be paid voluntarily
errors in their next quarterly update,
maintain a full contribution record;
between £12,570 and £50,270 will be
We will be happy to help you adapt
to £377.
upcoming changes. Please get in touch
The combined saving is up to a
com or visit www.carpenterbox.com
maximum of £556.
for more information.
State pension
*Information correct as of 22 November 2023.
with us via email at info@carpenterbox.
The State pension will continue to be uprated in line with the ‘triple lock’
commitment. This means that the rate
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 11
Bare Biology: A wellness business that aims for longevity Bare Biology is 10 years old and growing 60% yearly, without investors and with core values that get stronger by the day. In the now ultra-
Finance
competitive world
of wellness, where trends often come
and go, Bare Biology
stands out as a brand grounded in authenticity, transparency, and a
steadfast commitment to health. The story behind Bare Biology isn’t just
about crafting quality supplements; it’s a tale driven by passion, integrity, and a deep belief in the benefits of pure, potent ingredients.
12 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Bare Biology’s origins can be traced
back to a defining moment in the life of
Melanie Lawson, the founder and CEO. Frustrated by the lack of clarity and
effectiveness in the supplement industry,
Lawson set out to redefine the standards. With a marketing background and a keen
interest in health, she aimed to establish a brand that embodied her ideals, providing consumers with the best supplements. The journey began with thorough
research into omega-3s, the foundation
of Bare Biology’s product line. Lawson was determined to source the purest
and most sustainable fish oil available. This commitment led her to Norway, where she established partnerships with manufacturers who shared
her dedication to environmental responsibility and quality.
The result was Life & Soul (originally
called Lion Heart), the flagship product, a premium omega-3 supplement that
quickly gained acclaim for its purity and
F I N A N C E SP O N SO R
efficacy. The company’s commitment to using only wild-caught fish and
sustainable practices, coupled with thirdparty testing and complete transparency,
set it apart in an industry where shortcuts and compromises are common.
What distinguishes Bare Biology is
not just the quality of its products but the passion that underlies every step of the process. Lawson’s personal
commitment to health and wellness propels the brand, resonating with
consumers seeking products aligned with their values.
As Bare Biology flourished, it expanded
its product line to address various health needs. From prenatal supplements for expecting mothers to vegan-
friendly options, to marine collagen
and high-strength vitamin D, the brand diversified without compromising its
core principles. Each product undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it meets
high purity and potency standards,
reflecting Bare Biology’s dedication to transparency and quality.
The success of Bare Biology in the
competitive wellness market can be
educational initiatives, Bare Biology has
attributed not only to its exceptional
cultivated a loyal following.
honest approach to business. Another
As the business grows, Bare Biology
term relationship with accountants,
The commitment to quality, transparency,
Biology’s accountants for the last 9 years.
an industry often clouded by hype and
Plus Accounting provided invaluable
increasingly discerning about product
to one support to working closely with
supplements that meet the needs of an
products but also to its refreshing and part of its success is down to its long
remains true to its founding principles.
Plus Accounting, who have been Bare
and sustainability serves as a guide in
misinformation. In a consumer landscape
advice in the very early days, from one
choices, Bare Biology offers a range of
their Finance Director on the annual
ever more cynical group of consumers.
to the great systems that have been
Looking ahead, Bare Biology has
are confident in the finances and allow
in product offerings and global reach.
positioning of the brand.
organically funded with no investors
The brand leverages relationships
that allows the founder and employees
health professionals, a select group
central to the way the business is run.
Whole Foods and Planet Organic,
For more information, visit
accounts which run like clockwork, due put in place to ensure that the team
ambitious plans for expansion, both
them to make decisions about the
Profitable from year 1, the brand is
with Nutritional Therapists and
of retailers, including Selfridges,
digital platforms and e-commerce
or debt. Sustainable, healthy growth
to have a healthy life/work balance is
www.barebiology.com
to connect directly with consumers, fostering a community that goes
beyond transactions. Through valuable
content, social media engagement, and
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 13
Why moving home can be stressful and how to keep your emotional health in check Mayo Wynne Baxter offers 11 stress-relieving tips to make your move go smoothly. Moving house is a
Logistical challenges
work, hiring movers, packing materials,
that will create
The logistical aspects of moving are
contribute to the stress. The fear of
From organising belongings and
budget can add an extra layer of anxiety.
legal paperwork and address changes,
Time pressure
be overwhelming. The fear of forgetting
Moving often comes with time
unforeseen challenges adds to the
deadlines, lease expirations, or
Lawyer to assist in reducing the stress.
to complete the move within a set
the familiar and venturing into the
Financial concerns
making the process feel rushed and
discomfort. To avoid this you must arrange
The financial aspects of moving,
Legal
significant life event a mixed bag of
emotions. Here are
some proven tips on how to make these emotions positive.
Change and uncertainty Moving entails a major life change,
and change, even positive change, can be a source of stress. The
uncertainty that comes with leaving unknown can trigger anxiety and
the most appropriate support for you.
14 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
enough to make anyone’s head spin. coordinating with movers to dealing with the sheer number of tasks involved can
and potential unexpected expenses,
financial strain or the unknowns of a new
something crucial or encountering
constraints, whether it’s due to work
stress. It is important to instruct a good
other commitments. The pressure
including the costs associated with legal
timeframe can heighten stress levels, chaotic. An experienced Lawyer will help you to be organised and give guidance on timings.
L EGA L SP ON SO R
all, choosing someone with the right qualities that will enable
you to build a rapport and trust is invaluable. Speak to family and friends who have moved to obtain a recommendation
from them. Also check google
reviews that endorse the Lawyer for the right reasons. Plan and organise
Nadine Ashford
Another key to a successful and
less stressful move is meticulous
throughout the moving process.
checklist of tasks, including packing,
Moving in – have a plan to make it easy
address. Breaking down the process into
Make your new space feel like home
of being overwhelmed.
first, such as bedding, toiletries,
Seek support
comfortable and functional living space.
Moving doesn’t have to be a solo
familiar decorations or scents, can help
Finding a good lawyer
family to share the load, both physically
environment feel welcoming.
Choosing the right lawyer when moving
can provide encouragement, practical
Conclusion
legally sound transition. The hallmark of a
during a potentially stressful time.
Moving house is undoubtedly a complex
they will keep clients informed about the
Declutter mindfully
right mindset, lawyer, and strategic
complex terms in a clear and easy to
Take the opportunity to declutter and
and transformative experience. A good
responds promptly to client enquiries,
of sorting through belongings with
stress and how to implement practical
processed in a timely manner, and keeps
joy and letting go of the rest. Donating or
help, you can turn the chapter of moving
legal work on a regular basis.
only lighten the physical load but also
Embrace the change, seek support, and
planning. Start early by using a detailed notifying utilities, and updating your
manageable steps helps reduce the feeling
endeavour. Enlist the help of friends or
house is pivotal in ensuring a smooth and good lawyer is effective communication; legal aspects of the move, explaining
and emotionally. Having a support system assistance, and a sense of camaraderie
from the start. Unpack essential items and kitchen essentials, to create a Adding personal touches, such as
ease the transition and make the new
and challenging process, but with the approach, it can also be a rewarding
understand manner. A good Lawyer
simplify your life. Approach the process
Lawyer understands the sources of
ensures that all necessary documents are
mindfulness, keeping items that bring you
strategies to navigate them; with their
the client updated on the progress of all
selling unneeded possessions can not
into a pleasurable and fulfilling adventure.
bring a sense of fulfilment.
enjoy the journey. The journey is just as
A good Lawyer pays meticulous
important as the destination!
attention to every aspect, from reviewing
Take breaks and practice self-care
that could affect the client legally,
Moving can be physically and
your move easier and less stressful
to take breaks and prioritise self-care.
on nashford@mayowynnebaxter.co.uk
and schedule moments of relaxation.
Nadine Ashford - Partner
contracts to identifying potential issues financially or emotionally.
emotionally demanding, so it’s crucial
Never choose a lawyer on price
Ensure you get enough sleep, eat well,
Too many people choose their Lawyer
Balancing productivity with self-care is
on price – whilst price is important to us
For a Copy of our Checklist to make please contact Nadine Ashford by email
key to maintaining a positive mindset
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 15
LEGAL S PO NS O R
Reflecting on the past year at Cognitive Law As we approach the end of 2023, and the festive season is nearly upon us, Lucy Tarrant, solicitor and Managing Director at Cognitive Law, shares her reflections of 2023. I’m always staggered
Legal
by how quickly a year passes. My
daughter tells me that is because I am old,
but I prefer to think it’s because of how much we pack into it.
We kicked off the year by welcoming St Barnabas as a new charity partner for
the firm. St Barnabas is very close to my heart and, having used their incredible
service, I know all too well how wonderful they are. The support they provide to
their patients and families is invaluable.
Our charity efforts started by taking part
in the Step Challenge where we pledged to walk 7,000 steps a day. Happily, we successfully achieved this and more! This year St Barnabas celebrated 50
years of loving care for the community in Worthing, Adur, Arun and Henfield areas and it has been a pleasure to support
them along the way and we look forward to continuing doing so next year.
16 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
This year also bought an exciting change to the networking lunch club that we run
on a not-for-profit basis for professionals in Brighton and Hove. The First Friday Lunch Club is one of the longest
established lunch clubs in Brighton,
and we were delighted to partner with
Whitespace at the beginning of the year to manage and run the club. The First
Friday Lunch Club was rebranded, and
a dedicated website built to enhance the experience for the Club’s members. We are thrilled to have sourced brand-new
venues this year, and next year is looking bigger and better than ever. So do keep your eyes open as we’d love to see you along to one of the lunches soon.
As a firm we, love to share our knowledge, and help to support our clients and those in the industries we specialise in. As
such, we ran several seminars and were delighted to have been invited to speak at a number of events throughout the
year. Our later life team partnered with
Benchmark and Scarlet Monday to
hold a seminar on succession planning and wealth management for business owners and due to its success, we
hope to run a series of seminars on this subject next year.
Personally, I was thrilled to be invited back to The Recruitment Agency
Expo in London as a guest speaker
to discuss the legal requirements of
running a recruitment business, an area
I specialise in. I was also delighted to be on the panel at the hugely successful
Directors Forum event alongside other business experts from Rubix VT, Knill James, Extech Cloud and Preston Insurance Brokers.
In other events we were delighted to host several breakfasts at Sussex Innovation, where our Head Office is based. We
really enjoy getting to know our business neighbours, and hosting a number of
events for the other members has been
L EGA L SP ON SO R
a fantastic way to form new connections amongst the business community we have at Sussex Innovation.
June saw a shift back to our charity
efforts when Richard Bates took on The Starr Trust’s Bike Ride Challenge. The
epic challenge saw Richard join a team of (crazy!) cycling enthusiasts to cycle from Bristol to Brighton, via the Isle of
Wight in 3 jam-packed days. The Starr
Trust is another one of Cognitive Law’s official charity partners, and one that Richard is a Trustee off. The charity,
also based in Sussex, has a mission to remove roadblocks for young people
and to help them succeed and thrive in whatever they put their minds to.
At the time of writing this we’ve just
enjoyed a fantastic evening celebrating The Starr Trust at this year’s Winter
Extravaganza. An evening of music,
laughter and of course fundraising – a
whopping £50,000 was raised in total! It was an honour for Cognitive Law to be
part of the show as a Pop Partner. What a
fantastic way to kick off the festive season!! On the business front, one of the key areas we wanted to focus on this year was to
look at the way we provide legal services
to our clients. We took time to listen to
appointments of David Watson and Mandy
of their needs in terms of how they want
running. We are thrilled to have them on
legal landscape is changing and will
for next year – keep your eyes peeled!
our clients with exactly what they need,
Lastly, I can’t finish without the
suit our clients’ needs we have developed
year. In May I was delighted to be
This means commercial clients can
as Lawyer of the Year and more
requirements at a price point they are
the Professional Service category at
on demand, as and when they need it.
can’t tell you what an honour it is just
and therefore our packages come in
competition, and I am so proud to be
to the business. We hope this offering will
and collaborative business community.
with the knowledge they can have access
As they say, there’s a lot more in store
our clients and build an understanding
Tourle who have absolutely hit the ground
legal services delivered. We know the
board and are excited about further growth
always strive to ensure we are providing when they need it. Therefore, to better
mention of our awards success this
a number of legal retainer packages.
shortlisted in The Dynamic Awards
pick a package that suits their business
recently awarded ‘One To Watch’ in
comfortable with and enjoy legal advice
this year’s Sussex Business Awards. I
Of course, all businesses are different
to be shortlisted amongst such tough
different sizes and can be made bespoke
part of such a fantastically supportive
alleviate the stress on business owners,
to legal advice when they need it, and with
for next year, and I can’t wait to see
a payment plan everyone is happy with.
what 2024 brings.
We’ve also seen a year of growth for
By Lucy Tarrant,
solicitors to the team. David Lawrence
www.cognitivelaw.co.uk
the firm and welcomed new consultant
Solicitor and Managing Director
joined us earlier in the year and has
fast become an asset to the team with his expertise and knowledge in the
commercial property sector. The later life team has also expanded with the
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 17
Carpenter Box centenary celebrations 2023 This year, Sussex-based accountancy and business advisory firm Carpenter Box is proud to be celebrating 100 years since its formation! To mark this
Cover Story
momentous
milestone, the firm decided to make
local charities a focal
point of 2023 by setting a target to
raise £50,000 for the Carpenter Box Charitable Foundation (CBCF). The
charity supports small, local voluntary and community groups that are active in the Sussex area.
18 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
100 years of service to Sussex...and beyond Carpenter Box has its origins in Worthing in 1923, when Robert Carpenter agreed to go into partnership with Harold Box and together they opened an office at 8 Liverpool Gardens. Fast forward 100 years and the firm now has five offices, 18 Partners and a team of over
220 staff supporting clients ranging from start-up businesses to large international corporations.
Message from Alan Edwards,
Carpenter Box Managing Partner We are drawing to the end of our
Centenary Year at Carpenter Box
and what a year it’s been! My sincere thanks go out to all our people for
C OV ER STO RY SP ON SO R
their hard work, effort and creativity in
making 2023 a fitting celebration of this significant milestone for our business. As a firm, our ethos is about
being positively engaged with our
A Century of progress 1923:
Robert Carpenter agrees to go into
partnership with Harold Box. Harold opens a Worthing office at 8 Liverpool Gardens.
stakeholders – with our customers,
staff, suppliers, associates and local
communities. Over the last 12 months, we’ve had a lot of fun, but we also
wanted this special year to make a
difference beyond our office network.
1939:
Gordon Child is appointed as Partner. The
Lancing office opens at 1 Drayco Buildings, South Street. WWII starts, with some staff
So, I’m delighted to report that through
called up for the duration.
the commitment of our people and
the activities they organised, we have exceeded our initial target of raising
£50,000 for our Carpenter Box Charitable Foundation, which supports small
charities in Sussex and the South East.
1960:
The new decade begins with the
Partnership comprised of Reginald Methold, Kenneth Mashford, Fred Webber and Roger Williams.
These funds will make a real difference to the work of the community groups that do so much to help vulnerable people of every age live their best
possible lives. You can read more about these charities in this special feature.
1982:
The first computer is purchased at a cost of £16,000.
This year has also been one of reflection. I’ve been privileged to see much of
the development of the firm first hand,
having joined Carpenter Box in Worthing
as a trainee in 1993. At that time, we had 42 employees and six partners; today
1985:
The Worthing office is moved to
15 Grafton Road, after 62 years at Liverpool Gardens.
we have over 220 staff and 18 partners spread across five offices in the south. Our success has won us national,
regional and local awards, but I prefer to measure our achievements in the value
2002:
we create for our clients, everyone who
Carpenter Box launches its first website on the domain www.c-box.co.uk. This is
changed to www.carpenterbox.com in 2006.
works for us and the wider community.
Now we look to 2024 and the promise of more exciting chapters in the Carpenter Box story.
Here’s to the next 100 years!
2005:
John Billings becomes Managing
Partner, later handing over to Alan
Edwards, leading the next two decades of exciting growth along with a great partnership team.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 19
COVE R STO RY S P ON S OR
A year of fundraising
2008
Carpenter Box Financial Advisers is
Launch event
Box Wealth Management).
The scene was set at a launch event at the
founded (originally known as Carpenter
Carpenter Box Head Office in Worthing
2009:
Carpenter Box Charitable Foundation is launched by staff and Partners to help local grassroots charities and community projects.
in March, with special guests including Worthing MP Sir Peter Bottomley and CBCF Gold sponsors, who have generously donated to the Foundation. Local organisations which have benefited from CBCF support also attended, among
Sam Uwins, who later becomes the
2011:
youngest ever Partner at the firm, begins
working with influencers. He later launches the StarBox brand. The Worthing office is
moved to Amelia House, which remains our current Head Office.
them Red Balloon, Turning Tides, West Sussex Mind and Crawley Open House. The Foundation’s year-long events programme received enthusiastic support from staff working groups set up at Carpenter Box to organise
2014:
fundraising activities...and have lots of Gatwick office opens at the Beehive in
fun in the process!
The headcount at Carpenter Box is 115.
May: Sports and Social Working Group
City Place, and quickly doubles in size.
The events programme got underway
2019:
Brighton office opens at The Projects
in the Lanes. Carpenter Box is named the national winner at the British
Accountancy Awards as the Mid-Tier Innovation Firm of the Year.
in May with a 100-year celebration staff party at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. At the party staff paid to take part in a classic game of ‘Heads or Tails’, with the winner receiving a luxury hamper. Later the same month, four of the
2020:
Carpenter Box team embarked on the Chichester office opens at Rume2 on Crane Street.
2021:
Carpenter Box joins PrimeGlobal, an international association focused on
member firm collaboration. Firm rebrand aligns all three businesses under a common identity.
challenging Mountbatten’s ‘Walk the Wight’, covering the 26 miles coastto-coast. Among the most popular May events was the opportunity to ‘lob’ a wet sponge or dump a bucket of water over one of the Carpenter Box Partners. Together with competitions such as the ‘best drawn cartoon’ and ‘best paper aeroplane flight’, May bowed out having raised £1200.
2023:
London office opens on Hanover Street. Carpenter Box celebrates centenary.
June: LGBTQIA+ Working Group June kicked-off with a bang, with Carpenter Box proudly hosting its first-
20 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
C OV ER STO RY SP ON SO R
ever LGBTQIA+ public speaking event.
September: Sustainability
The Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
Working Group
speaker, Michael C Wearing, took centre stage, sharing his personal journey and inspiring a full house with his inspiring stories and knowledge. Throughout June, the group sold Carpenter Box Pride lanyards, which served as a symbol of support and inclusivity, and on 22nd June, staff members from the Worthing, Crawley, and Brighton offices came together for a day of friendly competition and camaraderie at the LGBTQIA+ “Gaymes Day”. July: Mental Health Champions In July, the firm’s Mental Health Champions rolled their sleeves up and got their cleaning products ready, as they organised a highly popular car washing service exclusively for Carpenter Box staff. On 2nd July, staff members laced up their shoes and hopped on their bikes to participate in the Inter-Office walk/ cycle/run, with routes from London, Gatwick, Brighton, and Chichester all leading to Worthing, followed by much-needed pizza! It was a celebration of achievement, teamwork, and most importantly, a united effort to make a positive impact on the local community, raising an impressive
September ushered in the Sustainability Working Group to take the fundraising reins. This team is the driving force behind the sustainability initiatives at Carpenter Box, working tirelessly to integrate sustainable practices into the firm’s day-to-day operations and nurturing a culture of environmental consciousness among all staff and clients. The main event for the month was a ‘book swap’, which allowed team members to exchange their favourite reads and reduce paper waste. They also arranged a plant sale, sold some vegan ice cream on a hot sunny day and organised a ‘Bargain Box’ where staff could buy and sell pre-loved items, promoting a culture of re-use and recycling.
October: Your Voice The final fundraising month of the year belonged to the ‘Your Voice’ Working Group, comprising staff who discuss ideas to improve and enhance the business. Their objective is to harness the collective insights of the employees, focusing on staff well-being, professional development, and the overall growth of the organisation. This group plays a pivotal role in translating these ideas into actionable and effective strategies that enhance the business. The group organised a range of fun events for staff, the highlight of which was a lunchtime digital quiz where teams across the firm competed to vie for ultimate glory. The quiz brought together Carpenter Box staff from various offices, with 50 intriguing questions spread across 5 rounds. The group also ran Halloween themed sweepstakes for sweet treats!
Our support for local communities The Carpenter Box Charitable Foundation (CBCF) is the charitable arm of Carpenter Box and Carpenter Box Financial Advisers. It was set up in 2009 as part of the firm’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) with the aim of supporting smaller locally-based charities and community groups.
Since its inception, CBCF has raised
over £350,000 to support the work of these vital organisations.
£1,648.84 in the process.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 21
COVE R STO RY S P ON S OR
How fun translated into fundraising Thanks to the amazing teams who arranged and took part in the fundraising events across the year, Carpenter Box staff and partners, together with the support of our generous sponsors have exceeded the initial target of £50,000 by raising a total of £82,000 for the Carpenter Box Charitable Foundation – all of which will be funnelled into local charities and good causes. Supporting the work of local community groups
skills they need to return to education or prepare for work or further training.”
and support it offers, the charity aims to improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing and strengthen their self-
CBCF has a proud history of supporting
esteem and confidence.
vulnerable people by a range of dedicated,
Debbie Watkins, Communications
the vital work provided to communities and locally-focused charities. The main
beneficiaries for this year’s fundraising are:
Crawley Open House
& Fundraising Manager at West
Sussex Mind, commented: “We rely
Crawley Open House is a year-round
on the generosity of our donors and
comprehensive support to 55 people in
would like to say a big thank you to
residential homeless shelter providing
fundraisers for much of our work and
and around Crawley.
Carpenter Box for their kind donation –
Red Balloon
Ian Wilkins, Head of Fundraising &
within the charity.”
Worthing-based Red Balloon helps
enjoyed a good relationship with the
from education, whether as a result of
many years and we are thrilled that they
an alternative to school, helping students
in their centenary year.
their confidence and self-esteem through
“Their generosity makes an important
provides services for single homeless
providing the accommodation, food
supporters, 300 volunteers and 140
experiencing homelessness and severe
individuals and organisations who work
Relationships, commented: “We have
young people who are self-excluding
Gatwick office of Carpenter Box for
bullying, anxiety or trauma. It provides
have decided to support local charities
to re-engage with education and build
it is very much appreciated by everyone
Turning Tides Turning Tides is based in Worthing and
social and wellbeing activities.
contribution towards the costs of
people in West Sussex. It has over 5,000
Nick Munday, a Trustee of Red Balloon,
and support which we offer to those
staff and brings together compassionate
charity has received: “The donations
hardship locally 24/7 365 days a year.”
tirelessly to transform the lives of people
is very appreciative of the support the
provided by Carpenter Box have enabled
perceptions of homelessness.
us to purchase a laptop charging
station for 20 of our laptops and replace worn out carpeting at our premises
in the local community and to change
The charity provides a warm, safe
in Worthing. Carpenter Box has also
West Sussex Mind
reception area following a refurbishment
West Sussex Mind is an independent
pathways out of homelessness.
their staff volunteered for two days’
mental health support hubs in Southwick,
We are thrilled to have been able to
supports people across West Sussex with
charities, with an additional 25
donated good quality furniture for our
space to listen to anyone who is
looking for help and provides real
at their offices. In addition, a group of
local charity based in Worthing, with
painting and gardening at the charity.
Littlehampton and Midhurst. The charity
donate £30,000 to these four fantastic
“Their engagement is very much
their mental health, provides specialist
charities also receiving donations.
at Red Balloon and helps us support
services and promote understanding of
To find out more, please visit our website
appreciated by everyone who works
training and campaigns to improve
vulnerable children in developing the
mental health issues. Through the advice
22 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
www.carpenterbox.com
ADVISORY / TAX / AUDIT
Celebrating 100 years of Carpenter Box Serving Sussex since 1923 Are you looking for an innovative firm of accountants, auditors or tax and business advisers who can improve the performance and profitability of your business? Then look no further. Carpenter Box is a large accountancy firm based in Worthing which offers a wide range of services from specialist accountants and tax advisers. Take a look at us and discover how we can help your business grow.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 23
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
For once – Rubix does things by half! Rubix VT is proud to be the headline sponsor for the 2024 Brighton Half Marathon.
Charity
As the headline
a charity, find incredibly important.
Every year 10,000 runners flock to
three years, Rubix
“For the race team, this partnership is a
seafront course. In 2024 the Rubix
race, and it provides a fantastic platform
feature a wheelchair race, a one-mile
sponsor for the next VT believes the new
partnership provides
the perfect opportunity to give back
to the local community in supporting
runners and their fundraising efforts. As well as supporting the official partner
charity, the Sussex Beacon, Rubix will be donating race places to The Starr Trust. Martin Harrigan, Rubix VT Brighton Half Marathon Race Director, said:
“It’s incredibly exciting to announce
that Rubix VT will be our new headline sponsor for the next three years.
“I know Nick and the team at Rubix
VT have a real passion for running and
have shown their support for a range of community initiatives across Sussex –
values which we, as an event owned by
24 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Brighton to enjoy the fast, flat 13.1mile
big vote of confidence in our plans for the
VT Brighton Half Marathon will also
to enable us to continue to develop the
youth race and new this year, a charity
event over the next three years.”
relay race.
Nick Poyner, Managing Director at
As well as headline charity partner The
Half Marathon is a fantastic community
over 30 other charities. General
fundraising and charity very much at
are available now from The Rubix
Sussex Beacon and all the other amazing
however organisers advise runners to
Rubix VT, commented: “The Brighton
Sussex Beacon, runners can support
event with an incredible heritage with
entries and charity places for 2024
its core. An opportunity to support The
VT Brighton Half Marathon website,
charities that participate in the event was
enter soon before the race sells out.
such an easy decision to make.”
Go to www.brightonhalfmarathon.com
Taking place on Sunday 25 February 2024,
for more information and to sign up to
in its 34th year, is a UKA-certified event
facebook.com/BrightonHalfMarathon
one of the UK’s most vibrant cities.
(formerly Twitter).
the Rubix VT Brighton Half Marathon, now
the race, join the Facebook page www.
that features a stunning seafront course in
and follow @BrightonHalf on X
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
Rubix in the community 2023
A round-up of how the business has helped The Starr Trust and other local charities.
It’s been quite a year
Charity
at Rubix VT.
• The size of the team has tripled – from 6 to 18
• The turnover has doubled
• And the business has contributed over
£100,000 to charities and good causes
Managing director of Rubix VT Nick
Poyner said: “It’s in my DNA to want
to help children and young adults who need a helping hand in life.
“Since escaping poverty myself and as a father, I want to give back and make
people’s lives better. It’s that ethos that I’ve carried with me into Rubix VT.
“It’s important for other company leaders to consider that giving back to their local
community is good business too. People want to work for companies that make a real difference, so I would urge other
business leaders to think about what that they can do to help others.”
Over the past year Rubix VT’s donations
Boat House and several other charities
including its headline charity partner The
spokesperson for Chestnut Tree House
have benefited a variety of causes
including Chestnut Tree House. A
Starr Trust which received £25,517.
said: “Rubix VT have been a huge
The charity supports young people aged
2023 and we look forward to working
who are from or have links to the greater
to come. They are helping to make
difficulties in their lives, have emotional,
families in the local community and we’re
supporter of Chestnut Tree House during
10-25, from a low-income background,
with them hopefully for many years
Brighton area and are experiencing
children’s hospice care possible for
physical or learning challenges or are
extremely grateful for all that they do.”
achieving their goals.
Rubix VT’s next programme of charity
Rob Starr, co-founder of the Starr
as Headline Sponsor for The Big Hoot, a
a remarkable year for The Starr
staged by local children’s hospice
facing a roadblock that is stopping them
activity is well underway after signing up
Trust, commented: “It has been
public art trail in Chichester and Arundel
Trust, and I’d like to express our
charity, Chestnut Tree House.
its unwavering support. Rubix VT’s
Rubix VT is planning to hire a dedicated
into 2024 promises a bright future for
initiatives next year to build on its
profound gratitude to Rubix VT for
commitment to continue this support
employee to spearhead its charitable
our charity and the lives we touch.”
support for its local community.
Donations also went to Rockinghorse
For more information, visit: https://
Children’s Charity in Brighton, The Old
www.rubixvt.com/
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 25
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
12 Days of Christmas to 12 Years of Fundraising
The remarkable story of how Search Seven raised £100,000 for charity – by being a purpose driven business that is focused on charity giving all year round, not just at Christmas. 3
2
2017
2015
1
2014
4
2017
Search Seven was
Charity
founded in 2011
with the intention to
fully embrace ‘giving back’ as a core part
of who we are and what we stand for,
with our new slogan ‘Search Marketing for Social Good’ the ethos at the heart of our business.
In October 2023, at our first-ever Search
Seven Charity Ball, we celebrated raising over £100,000 for charities chosen by
the Search Seven team. With over 220 people in attendance, we managed to raise a further £11,000 on the night,
bringing our fundraising total to £120,000. It’s been 12 years of bringing the
community together to make a difference through the 23 events that we have
hosted and as it’s Christmas, we thought we would share our 12 favourite images from our fundraising to date, helping to bring to life what we have achieved.
2014 - Our first fundraising event back in 2014 was a charity football match
at Shoreham Football Club. The “Ted’s Trophy” - dedicated to raising money
for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity in
honour of Gavin’s godson Ted - was a real success, raising over £4,000 for charity.
26 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
2015 – The first ever Search Seven Charity Golf Day was held at Mid Sussex Golf Club, with 12 teams battling it out for
‘Ted’s Trophy’ yet again. This was the start of a regular event in our events calendar. 2017 – Founder Gavin and his wife
Catherine visited Uganda to meet Allan and the Nkuringo School, who Search Seven has supported since 2015.
Search Seven donated water tanks,
paid for Allans yearly tuition fees and even funded lifesaving eye surgery
for Gilipina who had a tumour behind
her eye. We also held our first charity football match at the AMEX stadium. 2018 – We launched the #share7
campaign, hosting three fantastic
events that raised £20,000 in one year,
including a football match at the AMEX Stadium, a golf day and a quiz night.
Through #share7, our aim was to raise
£17,000 in one year to match what we’d achieved in our first six years! That
year we also won the Best Corporate Fundraiser Award at the Brighton & Hove Business Awards.
2019 – Another Golf day in 2019 plus we supported the RISE Superheroes Run.
We won the CSR Excellence Award at the Brighton & Hove Business Awards.
2020 – During the pandemic, and just
days after launching our new #share77k charity campaign, we had to postpone
several events, like many other charities did too, yet we pivoted quickly, hosting
an online Quiz night by the end of March 2020, followed by other events, both offline and online, during the year, to continue to make a difference.
During the pandemic, we had to
postpone several events and instead, decided to continue hosting them
online. By the end of March 2020, we’d hosted an online quiz night followed by other offline and online events to show that a small business can make a big difference in tough times.
2021 – We hired out ‘Network My Pub’
for the evening, turning it into ‘S Pub 7’ – our first ever VIP virtual Pub Quiz It was a fantastic event, raising over £2,000. By the end of 2021, and to celebrate
our 10th birthday party in style, we hit
our £77,000 on the night itself through
a charity raffle. Here we are celebrating with a few of our chosen charities that came along to celebrate with us.
2022 – In 2022 we launched our #S7100 campaign, with the aim to increase our fundraising to £100,000 by the end of
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
5
2018
7
2019
6
2018
9
2020
8
2021
10
2022
12
1123
2023
20
2023. The Search Seven team kickstarted individual challenges to walk ‘100 Miles
in August’ to raise money for their chosen charities as part of the #S7100 Charity Campaign. This was our first big team event, where we met up in London for a London Landmarks Half-Marathon
spanning 13 miles. We match-funded
everyone’s individual fundraising, bringing the total raised to a whopping £5,000. 2023 – We held our first ever Search
Seven Charity Ball at The Grand Hotel in Brighton in October 2023, raising
£11,000 on the night. It was a great
way to celebrate reaching our £100,000 fundraising target with all our clients,
partners, colleagues, supporters, charities, friends and family in attendance.
Our purpose has remained strong for 12
years. There have been several changes
in how we raise money and how we
have launched a new campaign and a
of our 7% charity pledge has remained a
the target of increasing our fundraising to
involve the team, but the core principle
new goal - the #share177 campaign - with
constant throughout.
£177,000 by the end of 2026.
Since our first ever event back in 2014,
If you are looking to improve your PPC
to fundraising, creating campaigns that
be better, orif you are after some tips
a team a focus and something we can all
your business - get in touch to book
builds on the success of the previous
gavin@searchseven.co.uk
since the business was founded.
If you like the sound of our events and
We have now helped support 48 different
email to events@searchseven.co.uk
we have hosted and organised, setting
our website.
we have grown in terms of our approach
performance, feel that your SEO could
have a target attached. This gives us as
on how to embed a CSR strategy into
work together to achieve. Each campaign
in a FREE discovery call – just contact
one, to increase our overall fundraising
charities through 23 charity events that
would like to get involved, send an
or/and subscribe to our newsletter via
ourselves a new target to keep us motivated to ‘give back’ more!
With our 15th birthday on the horizon, we
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 27
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
‘Loneliness is something that affects us all - people are the solution’ The CEO of Together Co knows connection and community are key to solving loneliness Watching people
Charity
eating together and
realising she had no one to have dinner
with is what spurred
April Baker on to make changes to her
life and seek the connection she craved. The CEO of Brighton loneliness charity
Together Co was in her 20s, single, and living in a house share with people in
London when she realised, she needed to make changes for her own mental health. From the outside she appeared young
and carefree, with a successful career in the charity sector.
In reality, she was lonely and dealing with daily panic attacks, and felt like she was
dipping in and out of other people’s lives with no sense of where she belonged. When agoraphobia stopped her from using public transport and left her
struggling to open the front door, April knew things had to change.
28 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Working in hostels she saw the need
environments for people to thrive,
as how important it was that everyone
transformative power of strong
for connection and community as well
not just survive, and recognise the
should have a roof over their head.
relationships and social connections.
She said: “In our society we are so
city for over 20 years, connecting
They have been working across the
focused on working with the individual.
communities, so everyone has someone.
and how we can connect people again.”
Together Co offers volunteering
April now works as CEO for Together
difference to someone experiencing
We need to look at the social element
opportunities which can make a huge
Co which helps thousands of people in
loneliness and isolation.
and social prescribing.
In that time, they have seen loneliness
She believes that in a crisis we
simple power of human connection.
pulling together to help each other out.
If you, or someone you know is affected
She said: “I don’t want us to stop talking
would like to talk to Together Co about
attached to it. It’s ok to talk about
business, you can find out more about
that affects us all, but it is people who
or email hello@togetherco.org.uk.
Brighton and Hove through befriending
automatically look for connection,
eased and lives changed, all through the
by loneliness or social isolation, or you
about loneliness because of the stigma
how to develop connection in your
mental health. Loneliness is something
Together Co’s services at their website,
are also the solution.”
Together Co is dedicated to creating
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
Helping families through the challenges of caring for children with disabilities Meet The Children’s Respite Trust, wich explains all about its work and the positive impact it has on the families it helps. At the Children’s
Charity
Respite Trust we
provide essential respite care for
families facing the
extraordinary challenges of caring for children with disabilities.
Beyond providing care, we strive to
create a compassionate community
where both children and their families
find the support they so rightly deserve.
We understand that each family’s journey is unique, and so are the needs of
their children. This means we tailor our
services to meet the specific challenges they face across our different groups: Little Stars, Superstars and All Stars.
The impact of our care is best measured in the star stories of the families we support like Poppy and her parents. When she
was born, Poppy had to undergo multiple surgeries for abnormalities that were not detected through pregnancy.
Facing this shock, her parents were continuously given a bleak outlook
from professionals all offering the worst
Our care is vital for so many families and
guidance. The family were even told that
but in the impact we make. However, to
support’ despite having severe learning
we must continue to fundraise.
case scenario with little to no advice or
success is measured not in financial gains
Poppy was ‘not disabled enough for
provide the care that we do free of charge,
disabilities and being non-verbal.
Attending events like our upcoming
When a health visitor directed them
Comedy Night on the 23rd February or
Mum said: “The focus was suddenly
will make a massive difference to the
changed to what her needs were and
fundraising and challenge events will
a break for a few hours.”
school service, the Milky Way Club. Both
Since accessing our services, they have
overwhelming demand for respite care in
towards the Children’s Respite Trust,
our new Summer Soiree on 18th May
away from Poppy’s diagnosis and
work we do. Regular giving, community
how she’d be supported while giving us
fund more support workers and our after
these projects are designed to combat the
joined a community where they can share
Sussex and therefore help more families.
as well as benefit from respite.
The Children’s Respite Trust is more than
For many families in this situation,
fuelled by the passion and commitment
simply not accessible resulting in
you would like to be a part of that please
Parents, children and siblings at CRT all
more information.
their experiences and support each other
an organisation; it’s a collective effort
mainstream services and events are
of our team, volunteers, and supporters. If
feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
visit our website www.crtcharity.org for
benefit from knowing they are no longer the odd one out and are in fact a very valued member of the Trust.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 29
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
Over 370,000 children supported by Rockinghorse during 2023 Since the beginning of the year, Rockinghorse has supported an amazing 380,000 children throughout Sussex.
For the last 56
Charity
years Rockinghorse
Children’s Charity has been supporting sick
and disabled children
across Sussex. It supports babies,
children and young people, along with their families, at The Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and The Trevor
Mann Baby Unit in Brighton and all of
30 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
the specialist children’s wards and baby units throughout Sussex.
And during the last year the charity has supported 380,000 children across the county.
This figure includes 30,000 children who have been to the Accident and Emergency department throughout
the year who have benefitted from
toys and games in the waiting areas
to help pass the time, 3D goggles and
interactive technology to distract them from a painful procedure, or support
from the Rockinghorse funded Youth Worker for young people struggling
with their mental health and wellbeing. It also includes the 725 premature
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
babies who have been supported with specialist medical equipment such
as the Rockinghorse funded neonatal ventilator which prevents babies
having to be transferred to London for the treatment they need.
And it includes the 68 individual projects that the charity has funded.
Projects like toys, books and craft
materials that offer children a distraction
how more personalised medication can
person who has taken part in any
better help control their symptoms.
fundraising during the year.
It also includes funding people with
Rockinghorse CEO Donna Holland said:
specific, additional skills to a hospital
Rockinghorse during the last year has
for children and families that the NHS
doctors, nurses, support staff and project
a specialist Oncology Psychologist to
babies, children and young people with
specialist skills who can provide
“What the local community has done for
team or department, can help fill a gap
been absolutely amazing. It’s meant that
simply aren’t able to provide, such as
organisers have been able to provide
support young cancer patients.
the support they need to thrive, be happy and enjoy being children.
from scary procedures, a relief from
Thank you
long time, or a way to just feel like their
But absolutely none of this help, none
opportunity to thank all the businesses
of this life-saving equipment, and none
participants and individuals who have
there if it weren’t for the support that
help support us this year.”
supporters within the local community.
www.rockinghorse.org.uk
the boredom of being in hospital a normal selves again.
Equipment like Dinamap monitors that let staff easily and accurately
assess patients’ blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and temperature. Activities like sea swimming and art therapy courses that help children
manage their feelings around a longterm health condition.
And ground-breaking research into how genetics play a part in how children
with asthma respond to treatment and
“So, we would like to take this
of these life-improving activities, none
and community groups, challenge
of these life-changing people, would be
taken so much of their time and effort to
the charity receives from thousands of
This means individuals, schools,
community groups and local businesses
fundraising in hundreds of different ways from netball matches to sponsored
walks, Easter Egg donations to rubbish collections. This list is endless, like the charity’s appreciation of every single
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 31
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
2023 in the world of Dad La Soul Dad La Soul charts another year full of activity, adventure and awards.
From launching new
Charity
events with an array of different partners
in a host of different locations to being
recognised in the corridors of power,
it’s been an eventful 12 months on our
mission to battle social isolation in dads. Our Worthing playdates for dads and their kids have continued to grow, as have the dads-only night time events. We’ve also
added another dads-only meet-up in Hove with Freedom Works, and in Brighton in
association with Propellernet and the Early Birth Association. In addition, this autumn
saw us complete our first year of Brighton playdates at Plus X, which have proved a huge success.
During the summer, Dad La Soul
partnered with the Baton of Hope, the
32 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
UK’s biggest ever suicide prevention
gender equality and engaged fatherhood.
school playdate and even opened the
Interest also came from Sussex University,
initiative. For that, we hosted an afterdoors to mums for the first time!
In June, we received a letter from
Number 10 Downing Street to tell us that the Prime Minister had chosen
Dad La Soul to receive a Point of Light
award. Rishi Sunak wrote: “Through Dad La Soul, you have built a community of dads with global social impact. Congratulations, and thank you.”
But it wasn’t only the PM’s office
that we infiltrated in Westminster. In
November, our founder Dan Flanagan attended the House of Lords for a review of the State of the World’s
Fathers report. It was a proud moment
to have Dad La Soul take its place as a
credible part of global conversations on
with whom we worked on a research project case study that used us as a
model of a successful social enterprise. Online, we launched a new podcast,
Dad La Soul Extra Time, which provides listeners with chat topics to take to the pub or drop into the WhatsApp chat. And our Dad La Soul Sessions live
stream included a powerful and funny
interview with journalist Sam Delaney as well as chats with a self-defence expert, a comedian who jokes about his mental health, a man who takes on extreme challenges to raise money to save
babies’ lives and many many more. All in all, 2023 has been a riot. Here’s to more of the same in 2024.
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
Supporting families through cancer and beyond With bespoke support, WOLO brings Sussex families together for friendship and so much more. Wolo Foundation (We
Charity
Only Live Once) helps to improve the quality
of life of families living in Sussex on their
cancer journeys. The bespoke support they offer includes practical help and
emotional support, wellness opportunities and family experiences. They work with local businesses and communities to offer all family members a wealth of
services to support them through their diagnosis, treatment and beyond.
Co-founders Fler and Justin faced their
own cancer journey in 2018. They found
out the hard way that there wasn’t much help out there for families.
Wolo focuses on making connections
and bringing families together - not only to share their challenges but to form
lifelong friendships. Free family events, walks, talks, running groups and more,
provide families with the opportunity to
meet others on similar cancer journeys, breaking the feelings of isolation. The
empathy, shared experiences and
events planned for 2024. Their unique,
support network, so families know they
run in September is the first charity
understanding, result in a strengthened
once-in-a-lifetime Africa 100-mile trek/
are not alone on their journey.
event of its kind in the world. 10 days,
The impact of a cancer diagnosis extends
with the release of a vulnerable species
has a huge effect on mental wellness
please see their website https://
100 miles in the South African bush,
beyond physical effects. Cancer also
in the local area. For more information,
too. Wolo offers various therapies to help
wolofoundation.org/wolo-africa-100
and children. They have also developed
The Wolo 100 Club is an exciting
exclusively for the Wolo community.
make a difference to local families
Wolo’s impact is measured not just
the benefits of joining and to make
of lives. They are proud to share that
website. https://wolofoundation.org/
the whole family; the patient, partner a new, bespoke wellness course
initiative aimed at businesses to help affected by cancer. To read more about
in numbers but in the transformation
a difference locally, please visit their
100% of families feel significantly
wolo-100-club
the Wolo community. Every connection
Statistics show that 1 in 2 people in the
contributes to a community supported
with cancer in their lifetime. Life is
more supported as a result of joining made and every shared experience
UK born after 1960 will be diagnosed
on every level.
precious - we need to make the most of
Wolo is busier than ever, with the
number of families reaching out for help
quickly rising. They have lots of exciting
it - we only live once - Wolo!
contact@wolofoundation.org www.wolofoundation.org
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 33
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
Meet Eastbourne based charity Muma Nurture Founded in 2017, the community interest organisation supports people affected by infertility, perinatal mental health and baby loss. This is what Trustees want you to know. Muma Nurture is
Charity
a small volunteer
and community led Eastbourne based charity providing
support for people in Sussex affected
by infertility, perinatal mental health and
baby loss through specialist counselling, holistic therapies, support groups and community events.
Providing a place to belong for those
experiencing these unfortunately common and often overlooked struggles before,
during and up to a year after pregnancy. We offer a free initial consultation and
invite clients to donate whatever they can
afford (or not) for further therapy to ensure we don’t exclude anyone financially.
Often people are unaware of these
issues until personally affected. Of an
estimated 19,462 Sussex pregnancies in 2016; 2385 ended in abortion, 2785
in miscarriage and 67 in perinatal death. These, plus the 86,315 struggling with
34 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
fertility issues are our community. Our
beyond the therapies and support
approximately 55% of people are
relationships and improving wellbeing
very conservative statistics suggest
offered by the charity, building strong
affected by infertility, perinatal mental
within the community:
these issues are surrounded by shame
“It helped me to understand I was not
may not be aware.
this had happened to. The therapists
In addition to the emotional struggle,
really helped, but more than that I
health and baby loss, although often and secrecy and those around them
alone and I was not the only person are brilliant and the sessions I had
there are other adversities to overcome:
made friends.”
fertility treatment are totally ignored by
To date, we have supported over 200
there is full entitlement to maternity
reported an increase in emotional
are real disadvantages at an already very
services. Those who came for
Those who never get pregnant or have legislation. For stillbirth after 24 weeks
clients. Each and every one of them
leave and pay, before that none. These
wellbeing through accessing our
vulnerable time.
workshops all reported an increase
The most common feeling our clients
information. A significant amount of
we provide the opportunity to be part of a
reported improvements as mentioned
can accept and understand your
belonging and gratitude for a space to
in knowledge and learning of new
report to us is isolation. At Muma Nurture,
anecdotal feedback underpins the
new community where everyone involved
above but also a general feeling of
experience and thoughts and feelings
feel normal, accepted and understood.
made within the centre extend far
https://mumanurture.org/
associated with that. Connections
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
Sussex to get boost from Coronation Food project The Coronation Food Project was launched to mark His Majesty The King’s 75th birthday on 14th November.
Charity
The Coronation Food
people access vital frontline services.
& Surrey commented: “We are delighted
new initiative to save
The Coronation Food Project will help to
Food Project. It will enable us to access
gets surplus food to where it is needed
otherwise be going to waste. In the last
King Charles III Charitable Fund whose
of food and an increase in demand
sustainable communities.
groups we work with. This food is a
Project represents a
and circulate surplus food and use it for
social good and will provide a much-
needed boost to charities and people in need across Sussex and Surrey.
The project, which was inspired by The King, aims to create a fairer and more
sustainable future by redistributing more
food and supercharging food distribution through centres across the UK. In Sussex and Surrey, food is
redistributed by FareShare Sussex & Surrey, part of a nationwide network operated by FareShare, the UK’s
biggest charity using the power of food to bring positive change to people
and communities. FareShare Sussex
& Surrey serves 153 frontline charities
across the region, all of which use food to strengthen communities and help
to be supported through The Coronation
enhance and scale the infrastructure that
an increased level of food which would
most. It is being coordinated by the
year we have seen particularly low levels
mission is to transform lives and build
from the local charities and community
As part of the project, senior figures from
starting point to help bridge that gap.
the food industry, both major retailers
“We want to encourage food suppliers,
under a new model to save even more
are able to help in the same way.
the charity sector.
helps to feed hungry people, rather
and manufacturers, have joined forces
big and small, to get in touch if they
waste and generate additional food for
Ensuring that this good-to-eat food
Through the Alliance Manufacturing
than heading to waste.”
programme, they aim to utilise surplus
For more information on the Coronation
food, packaging, labour and capacity
kccf.org.uk/coronation-food-project/
people in need.
For more information on FareShare
Dan Slatter, CEO of FareShare Sussex
faresharesussexandsurrey.org.uk/
and donated resources of any kind -
- to produce more nutritious food to help
Food Project, please visit: https://www.
Sussex & Surrey, please visit https://
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 35
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
Search is on for new corporate sponsors in 2024
A mental health charity offering support to families whose children are struggling with their mental health has seen a huge take-up of their services.
Holding Space is the
Charity
only East Sussex charity offering
Parent Peer Work –
parents with real-life
experience always on hand to support
mums and dads with children struggling with mental health issues.
The charity has helped over 800 parents, carers and young people through
activities such as low-cost counselling, yoga sessions, coffee mornings and education programmes.
Chief Executive Hansa Raja explained
that the best advice and guidance always
came from parents who had lived through the trauma and pain of a child in distress.
“Parents with lived experience can share a journey and understanding with the people we support,” Hansa said. “It
is empowering to know that someone
understands and ‘gets it’. We help them get their voice heard and listened to.”
Hansa said that latest statistics indicated
36 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
an incredible one in four children
a mentally ill child and finding no
prospect of NHS support is currently
space for families to come together. It
struggle with their mental health, but the
support. The charity provides a safe
standing at two to three years.
believes that no parent should struggle
“This is just not good enough,” she
the voice of the parent is paramount.
are vital. We cannot wait until children
Services offered include:
Government support and an NHS
• Face-face monthly parent coffee
said. “Early intervention and support reach a crisis point. We need proper
alone when caring for a child and that
and social services that receives the
mornings Face-face monthly parent
funding it needs.”
coffee mornings and evenings with
Holding Space finds itself having to
• Online parent coffee evenings
and corporate support. “My team
parents/carers undertaken by parent
significant amount of time exploring
• 1:1 low-cost counselling for parent or
hugely grateful to our corporate
• Weekly yoga for parents
Sussex businesses to consider
• Monthly creative sessions for parents
rely on fundraising, grant applications of volunteers and I are spending a
ways of making ends meet. We are
invited speakers
• 1:1 Telephone/ wellbeing support to peer support workers. child/young person
sponsors and I would urge other
• 1:1 yoga sessions for teenagers
adopting us as their charity in 2024,”
• Educational programmes empowering
Hansa said.
parents with skills and knowledge to
Holding Space was founded by Hansa
• Parent peer support
own journey trying to cope with
https://www.holdingspace.org.uk/
in Eastbourne in 2019 following her
support their children
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
The Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation – moving into the heart of Brighton This December, the Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation moved away from the Amex Stadium and into a new office near Queen’s Park.
Who is the BHAFC
Charity
Foundation? It’s
the official charity
of Brighton & Hove
Albion FC, the city’s
local Premier League football club.
The BHAFC Foundation’s mission is to change lives through the power
of football. They do this by helping
thousands of people in Sussex to get active, live well, and learn new skills. You may already be familiar with the foundation’s work; the charity has
operated in Sussex for more than three decades, supporting several different generations of local children.
In 2022 alone, the BHAFC Foundation
supported more than 20,000 people in
35 towns and cities across Sussex. Every single week, their sessions support over 5,000 children and young people.
After being based at the Amex Stadium
for years, the Foundation has decided to
new skills. Whether that’s through their
– their new office is just a stone’s
lessons, their healthy eating workshops,
and Kemptown - to be closer to the
lessons, they provide a great deal of
move their HQ into the heart of Brighton
football-themed literacy and numeracy
throw from Queen’s Park, Whitehawk,
their after-school clubs, or their PE
communities that they serve.
support to schools in Brighton & Hove.
It has moved into a new office on
It also runs free football sessions for
used to be The Cuthbert pub. The pub had
Kicks programme; they have sessions
Foundation hopes to revitalise a treasured
and Manor Gym.
memories for many people in the area.
CEO Matt Dorn says: “We’re proud to
Just as the pub building was once a place
we’ll be looking to do even more in and
Freshfield Road – into the building that
local kids through the Premier League
been closed for years, and the BHAFC
nearby at Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre
building that no doubt holds treasured
make a genuine impact in the city, and
for local people to gather, locals will once
around Whitehawk once we’ve moved in.
Part of the new office development will
“We’d love for you to come down to meet
again be able to meet at The Cuthbert. include a football-themed community
us, and find out all about who we are.”
and enjoy a coffee together.
www.bhafcfoundation.org.uk
café, where locals will be able to come
The BHAFC Foundation works in dozens of schools across the city, helping
youngsters to get active and learn
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 37
No young person chooses to be homeless
At the Clock Tower Sanctuary, we provide practical and emotional support to help young people to move from crisis to stability. We are the only drop-in day centre in Brighton & Hove for 16-to-25 year olds who are experiencing homelessness. We want Brighton
Charity
and Hove to be a city where young
people’s experience of homelessness is
rare, brief and non-recurring.
For young people experiencing
homelessness in Brighton and Hove, Christmas can be very tough. While
38 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
some will have access to emergency
or emergency support in a crisis.
the uncertainty of rough sleeping.
Kurt talks about their experience: “I was
accommodation, many will be facing
For these young people in vulnerable
situations, the drop-in centre is a safe
place, somewhere to escape loneliness and isolation, where there are hot
meals, showers and laundry facilities. There’s also advice on benefits,
accommodation, budgeting and more,
15 when my grandfather died. I missed him so much, and turned to drink and weed to drown out my feelings. In no time, I was taking heavier drugs.
“My relationship with Mum became
volatile, so when she decided to move up
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
north, I stayed in Brighton, mostly sofa surfing, but also living on the streets. “With support from my boss, I
started the 12-Step Programme. But
recovery was very up and down, made worse by a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2020. I received
chemotherapy during the pandemic,
and thankfully managed to stay clean, recovering from the cancer.
“The stress of being ill, as well as
centre. But when I finally returned, no
me back to the drugs. But I’d had
and given a proper meal after days of
trauma from my early childhood, drove
one judged. I was shown kindness,
enough, and sought help from the
going without.”
Clock Tower Sanctuary.
With your help, we can keep the
“It felt like normality – somewhere to
doors to our drop-in centre open this
clothes, as well as receive support
person experiencing homelessness,
have a meal, shower and wash my
December, and give another young
with rehab.
like Kurt, the emergency support
“Recovery has not been
£20,413 a month to make this happen.
Christmas last year, and felt too
here: https://www.thects.org.uk/
they often desperately need. It costs
straightforward. I relapsed over
If you can help, you can donate
ashamed to come to the drop-in
christmas/
If you can help, or you want to find out more about us, just scan the QR code.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 39
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
7 steps towards a suicide safer business and community
Grassroots Suicide Prevention explains why everyone in Sussex needs to be aware of its work. Sussex consistently
Charity
has amongst the highest rates of
so we can start to build a suicide safer community in Sussex.
suicide in England. On
3. D ownload our pioneering and award-
die by suicide in Sussex each year. This
Alive onto all your work devices. It’s free
average 186 people
is 20% higher than the national average and rates are on the increase amongst those aged 10 – 24. Every suicide
is a tragedy which has a devastating and long-lasting impact on families,
to download, available in 14 different
2006. We empower people to help save
tools and resources for those at risk and
educating, and campaigning. We need
lives from suicide through connecting,
people supporting them.
your help to create a suicide safer
suicide. We can provide specialist
1. O ffer training that will help your
colleagues to look out for risk factors,
understand myths and spot signs that someone is at risk, as well as gaining the knowledge and skills to support someone who is in crisis.
2. Join our Champions programme. We are encouraging every organisation to have a suicide prevention champion
40 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Sussex-based charity, founded in
languages, and includes life-saving
by suicide is estimated at £1.8 million.
a difference?
in one of our challenge events!
Grassroots Suicide Prevention is a
4. R eview your well-being or mental
So, what can businesses do to make
fundraising event, or perhaps participate
winning suicide prevention app, Stay
colleagues and the whole community.
The financial impact when a person dies
work we do, get involved in organising a
community in Sussex.
health policies in relation to
If you can support our work then we
advice regarding your policies in
contact Carrie, to discuss ways we
relation to suicide.
5. Partner with us on an awareness campaign to help end the stigma around reaching out for help.
6. Become a corporate partner and
help raise funds so we can continue
building the range of support we offer. 7. Ask your staff to volunteer or fundraise. You could use your
knowledge and skills to support the
would love to hear from you. Please
can work with you on carrie@preventsuicide.org.uk
If you are struggling yourself or
worried about someone else then
you can find crisis resources at www.
stayalive.app or call our friends at the Samaritans on 116 123.
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
The WayfinderWoman Trust – helping women take control of their lives WayfinderWoman Trust is a female-run charity, based in Eastbourne, which empowers women across Sussex to gain the confidence, skills and strength to take control of their future.
We are a volunteer-
Charity
led charity and, in
recognition of this,
we had the highest
honour of receiving
the Queen’s Award for Voluntary
Service in 2019. Our drop-in information hub is the nerve centre of the charity, where we provide free peer support
appointments, office work experience for our volunteers and run our grantfunded workshop and courses.
“The workshop has changed my life, I
was too scared to leave the house before and it was a huge deal for me to even walk through the door, and now I can
walk around town confidently and live my life again. I can’t thank you enough.” Jay We welcome women regardless of circumstance and background
Those coming to us may be feeling
isolated, fearful of meeting others,
the charity could offer.” Ayesha
responsibilities, believing that they
It is thanks to our volunteers, who
with the discrimination and prejudice
in the last year, that we are able to
out on their own, to create the life they
turn, our hub volunteers gain huge
may be in work but feel unworthy;
too. Improving confidence, and
don’t believe in. It’s not simple to get
other women in the process. Thanks
other organisations to be the best they
and support; during the summer three
Work and Wellbeing Day is one of the
employment. The hub offers a warm
out of work through ill health or caring have no skills. Others are frustrated
have given over 4,500 hours just
holding them back, desperate to step
help women like Jay and Ayesha. In
deserve but they don’t know how. They
benefits from volunteering with us
imposters navigating a career they
developing skill sets whilst helping
that balance right, so we also help
to our success in providing training
can be in nurturing women. Our annual
of our volunteers found permanent
ways we do this.
welcome, and an opportunity to enjoy
“I found myself somewhat “lost”, having
laughter and friendship.
been made redundant last year and
In 2024 we have plenty of wonderful
employment. One day on my way
email volunteering@wayfinderwoman.
WayfinderWoman and from that moment,
with us and keep an eye on our social
with a couple of bouts of unsuccessful
events planned, so do get in touch,
to the job centre, I stumbled across
com to find out more about volunteering
I felt encouraged by how much support
media channels to get involved.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 41
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
Opera Brava: Britain’s largest professional outdoor touring company
Did you know, Opera Brava is based in Sussex? Here, the company explains what it has to offer.
With almost 35
Charity
years experience, we perform full
operas with some
of the most talented
artists of today. Both amazing singers
and players. We perform with our OBE (Opera Brava Ensemble) or with piano
in accessible and intimate productions sung in English.
We have worked in schools with our unique and inspiring educational
workshops. It’s all about introducing
primary school children to this amazing art form while creating a participative and fun environment for both pupils
and teachers. Over the years, we have worked with over 25,000 children and
helped to create ‘children of today into the artists of tomorrow’.
We provide the perfect corporate event for businesses, tailoring each event to
your particular needs. Whether to help with fund-raising for a charity event or
simply adding sparkle with ‘The Magic of Opera’ galas to a business dinner – we
42 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
have all that you need. Clients include:
without them realising it. The team was
Electric, Lloyds TSB Corporate, Unilever,
imagined the benefit or the fun – if we
Prince Charles’s Charities, General
absolutely fantastic. We could not have
Nestle, and many others.
hadn’t tried it!
Venues we have worked in include:
I would recommend this for any
Museum, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Spencer
different that will leave the team bonded,
The Globe Theatre, The Natural History
organisation looking to do something
House, The Mandarin Hotel. So,
uplifted, motivated and laughing!” -
wherever you need us – we will travel.
Claire Cater, CEO of The Social Kinetic.
We can also provide team building events
Opera Brava have worked all over the
for your staff and even your clients!
UK, from Berwick upon Tweed down to
Become an opera singer for a day! Step
heart and soul into it,
out of the boat and sing on water!
Exeter. Whatever we do – we put our
“They will enthral, inspire and encourage
We offer a range of fun and entertaining
you to go that extra mile.”
your team, improving creative
For more information, contact:
ultimately boosting your business results.
Bronek & Mandy Pomorski on admin@
“The power of opera is nothing short
operabrava.co.uk
managers not only engaged, but inspired
Bronek 07831165161
takes people out of their comfort zone
Registered Charity No: 328417
opportunities, revitalising and refreshing cooperation, building confidence, and
of unique. We had the most senior
weeks after the event! Their approach
operabrava.co.uk or mandy@
Mandy 07887737923
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
Sussex Cancer Fund’s triple make-overs for patient areas in three hospitals Alongside their general work of providing additional equipment, patient services and research, Sussex Cancer Fund’s emphasis in recent months has been on improving patient facilities and comfort. The Sussex Cancer
Charity
Fund transformed
three patient areas across Worthing
Hospital, The Princess
Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath, and
The Sussex Cancer Centre, at The Royal Sussex County Hospital Brighton. Part
of their ethos is to make patients feel as comfortable as possible while waiting for appointments or treatment. The
environment in which patients wait can have a big impact on anxiety levels. One of the make-overs was at the
Amberley Chemotherapy Unit at Worthing Hospital, part of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. The
Amberley Unit is a fantastic new facility
but the waiting room was very cold and
unwelcoming. The Sussex Cancer Fund transformed the room, from a stark and
clinical area to a relaxing and comfortable space. Complete with a refreshment
station providing a selection of free hot drinks to patients.
The second of the makeovers was the
The Susssex Cancer Fund haven’t
Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards
yet and are working on two projects
garden and patio area at Hurstwood Park
and at the Preston Park Breast Centre,
Poo Patio, to Peaceful Patient Parlour. A
of January 2024.
garden furniture and a garden tidy-up.
Please see www.sussexcancerfund.
The next make-over in the triple line up
work of the SCF throughout Sussex.
Cancer Centre. Much of the furniture had
Who are the Sussex Cancer Fund
and unfriendly. With a lick of paint,
The Sussex Cancer Fund works
created a space that not only generated
patients in Sussex – providing
it, making it more welcoming
tangible difference for patients who
The Sussex cancer Fund would like
journey. They also selectively fund
some of the Finance Team from Virgin
research programs that contribute
Tesco and M&S, Holmbush, for the
improved outcomes for patients.
Patient Patio clean-up, Hurstwood Park,
finished with their refurbishments plans
Heath. Transforming, a tired and unloved,
across St Richards Hospital, Chichester
Chemotherapy Suite. It went from Pigeon
which should be complete by the end
good clean and paint, coupled with new
was the main waiting room at the Sussex become tired and the layout awkward
co.uk for more information about the
some new furniture and faux plants they
to help make life better for cancer
space for more patients but also softened
equipment and services that make a are often on a difficult and stressful
to thank all their volunteers including,
and enable Sussex based cancer
Atlantic and TCS. Also thank you to
to the understanding of cancers and
donation of the faux plants.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 43
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
Russell Martin Foundation - delivering a positive impact on the community 2023 has proved to be a great year for Russell Martin Foundation (RMF), the registered charity was recognised for the positive impact it is having on the local community.
Back in May, RMF
Charity
was a finalist for ‘Best Football Community Scheme’ outside of
the Premier League.
This category included all 72 Football
League Clubs as well as independent football charities similar to RMF. Last week this national recognition was
followed up locally with RMF being
awarded ‘Highly Recommended’ in
the ‘Community Hero’ category at the Sussex Business Awards.
44 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
The organisation, which became a charity in 2017, was set up by current manager of Southampton Football Club, Russell Martin, who wanted to give something
back to the community in which he grew
up. However, what started out as delivering football at after school clubs and holiday camps in Brighton and Hove, has now
grown beyond recognition as provision has now not only widened geographically, but also in range of provision.
One of the highlights for 2023 was
the girls’ football tournament which took place in June with a record of
over a thousand participants. This is
estimated to be one of the biggest of its kind in the UK.
The football provided for the boys
included fixtures against professional clubs with similar age groups as well participation in the Gothia Cup (Gothenburg) which is the
world’s biggest community football tournament.
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
Another area of success this year has
who help deliver our programmes.
football programmes which are delivered
However, perhaps not so well known is
been the development of the pos-16 at Varndean College and Shoreham
Academy. The well-developed Varndean programme continues to perform
well in national tournaments whilst
the Shoreham programme, now in its
second year, has grown significantly in number of students taking part.
In order for RMF to be sustainable,
the charity has to rely on a range of
income. This year we were delighted to receive support from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) as
recognition for the work we do in
the local community. RMF currently
employ four ex-professional footballers
the alternative education provision that RMF delivers across Sussex called the Extra Time Project. This vital work is
mainly based on helping 11—14 year
olds cope with mainstream education. The 12 week programme hopes to
identify what are often complex issues, and then offer appropriate support and solutions to the young children and their families.
The first centre for this project was set up in 2019 in Brighton but this year
now works with pupils from over 40
secondary schools across Sussex with more planned for the future.
Founder Russell Martin, expressed
his amazement at the success RMF
has had in 2023, when he said: “The charity has grown way beyond what I imagined 6 years ago when it was first set up. And now to get local and national recognition through
different award organisations shows the incredible impact we are having
to help residents of Sussex. I am so
proud of what we have done so far.”
RMF has also been delivering in centres in Chichester, Crawley, Newhaven
and Worthing. For this project RMF
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 45
CH A RITY S PO NS O R
Cameron’s Orphanage Project
Amanda Jayne explains a remarkable link between Sussex and an orphanage in Zambia.
What has a tiny
Lifestyle
orphanage 7000
miles away got to do with Sussex?
Cameron Forster was a Sussex boy.
Born in Danehill and raised in Burgess Hill, with an easy charm and mop
of ginger hair, he bore more than a
passing resemblance to the character Ron Weasley. Embracing life to the
fullest, he played rugby for Haywards Heath Colts and was the lead oboist
for the Brighton Youth Orchestra. After
leaving Hurstpierpoint College, he went on to fulfil his dream of becoming an RAF fighter pilot.
46 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
And this is where the fairytale ends, and Cameron’s Orphanage Project
began. At the age of just 21, Cam was
tragically killed, along with a colleague, in a flying accident.
Nothing in life can prepare you for the
death of a child but, from the ashes of
such gut wrenching loss, I was compelled to do something positive in his name, and Cameron was not the sort of person you could commemorate with a tree.
That summer I travelled to a remote
Zambian village called Mkushi. Several thousand people lived there, in simple brick huts with tin roofs, with no
electricity or running water and living off the food they could grow or forage. In
Zambia two thirds of the population lives
on less than £1.60 a day, the international poverty line. You really need to read that sentence twice, it’s unimaginable. Whilst there I helped repair a tiny
charity-run school, which provided a
free education to over 400 orphans or vulnerable children in just six simple
classrooms. With nothing more than
a chalkboard and a few desks, most
children sat on the floor. Some shared a treasured pencil stub and wrote on
scraps of paper. Having walked barefoot for up to two hours to attend, what
C HA R I TY SP O N SO R
struck me was how much they valued an
education and how happy they appeared; with their filthy clothes, empty bellies and
evidence of much sickness and untreated injuries, they were making the most of an opportunity, without a hint of self-pity.
Orphans are the norm in much of rural Zambia. Diseases go unchecked and
abject poverty puts a price on human
life; some children are simply abandoned as parents migrate to seek work. As
I stood watching the huge red sun fill the entire sky with the deepest pink
as it slipped in silence over the dusty
littered with the ruins of well-meant,
adults; teachers, nurses, etc, with a
but unsustainable, intentions. Local
sense of community and responsibility.
benefit in some way too. So along the
It costs £60 per month to care for each
expanded and equipped the school, built
offer sponsorships, and encourage
small shop and a chicken farm. We have
their beneficiary’s upbringing. The
people and a committee of local volunteers
with regular updates and also send
communities need to feel ownership, and way, we have drilled boreholes for water,
child. To help meet these costs we
toilets, a pre-school, teacher housing, a
sponsors to take an active role in
provided employment to many local
children are keen to provide sponsors
manage the orphanage and school.
messages via the orphanage phone. Not
The task now is to develop projects that
helps to develop their self-esteem.
it finances itself. One of these is our farm
We understand that giving to charity
will be growing crops for food and the
donors exactly how their money will be
like this will mean long term security
administrative costs ourselves, so that we
their home. Most have heart-breaking
goes directly to the orphanage projects.
Nema, had been sold to an older man.
expedition to Zambia, our supporters can
been to school and Cam’s Orphanage
will make a massive difference to some of
provide an income for the orphanage so
only does this improve their English, but
venture. We have a small plot of land and
can feel impersonal and so we tell our
excess will be sold at the market. Projects
spent. We also pay any bank charges or
for the children who call Cameron’s
can guarantee that every penny raised
backgrounds. Our newest resident,
By donating money or joining us on an
Like some of the others, she had never
get personally involved with projects that
has provided their first sense of family, a
the poorest people in the world.
means no longer going to bed hungry.
In Zambia, a few pounds goes a long
and philanthropic adventure seekers. In
The gang at Cameron’s Orphanage
a real and positive change. And for me,
12 children in a building designed for 8!
More importantly, they finally have a
a mother to my beautiful boy Cameron.
for a fulfilled future, as we are committed
on forever.
education and appropriate nurturing, it
For more information and to follow
those who follow, to become successful
camsorphanage.org.
scorched horizon, it felt like the easiest and most natural decision I have ever made; to donate Cameron’s estate to
build an orphanage for the village and to help the school in whatever way I could.
To many, this may sound like a ridiculous fantasy. I was, after all, nothing more than a teacher, but I believed it was
possible and couldn’t just walk away from such a desperate situation.
Over the following years I took several
teams of volunteers to Mkushi to help with
construction projects; students, colleagues 2021, Cameron’s Orphanage opened, with
Living in Poverty The aim of course, was not to throw
money at a far-off problem and then
walk away; Third World countries are
chance to feel loved and cared for, and
chance to dream of a better life and hope to breaking the poverty cycle. Through
is intended to enable these children, and
way, so everyone has the power to make Cameron’s Orphanage is my final gift as Because a life that touches others goes
our progress, please visit www.
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 47
N ETWO RKI NG & EVE NTS S P ON S OR
Big Business Breakfast Club - supporting Off The Fence in Christmas extravaganza A big thank you goes to the final breakfast sponsor of 2023 - Lanton maintenance.
After a year of sold-
Networking & Events
out events, we end the year with one
final showstopper at The Sussex Cricket
for Small Business’, some annual
awards and the business card draw. December’s charity partner is Off The
For over 20 years, Off The Fence’s vision has been to see an end to social and
spiritual poverty in Brighton and Hove.
Fence. Please show your support and
In 1993, CEO Paul Young responded to
purchase your ticket, which they’ll
to get off the fence and do something
make a generous donation when you
the question: “When are Christians going
get directly.
about social poverty?”
Business Breakfast Club (BBBC) event.
Our sponsor - Lanton Maintenance
This was when he and his wife, Wendy,
2023 has been quite a year for the
Lanton Maintenance is a multipurpose
streets of Brighton and Hove to help
the residential and commercial sectors.
in the city.
service delivered by sister company AMS
We look forward to seeing you all on
with a team of 11, it understands that it’s
out so book in advance. Christmas fancy
Ground on Friday 15th December. This event is kindly sponsored by Lanton
Maintenance, a second time this year
that the business has sponsored a Big
BBBC. We have welcomed 1,400
attendees over 12 dates and 9 fantastic venues and raised a incredible £2586 for local charities. It’s official, we are
Brighton’s Biggest networking breakfast and that’s down to you.
We have a cracking guest speaker
lined up, we don’t want to spoil any
surprises - bound to turn heads! You
might recall, December 2022, we had our attendees singing and dancing
with Charlie Ohh La La and her silent
disco - this year, something completely different, along with Alex Ryan
(Marketing 101) regular slot ‘Big STeps
48 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
maintenance company that works within It also offers a top-quality decorating
made the decision to go out onto the
the most marginalised and vulnerable
decorating. As a family run business
Friday 15th December. Tickets will sell
imperative, along with great tradesmen,
dress is a must!
your journey from start to finish. Lanton
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/
to have a positive experience throughout has a back office support team available
bigbusinessbreakfastclub/1025727?
and to ensure your experience is as
If you are interested in learning
to answer any questions you may have smooth as possible.
more about becoming a sponsor
Sponsor’s Nominated Charity – Off
touch with the team at team@
The Fence
of the BBBC then, please get in
bigbusinessbreakfastclub.co.uk
N ETWO R K I N G & EV EN TS SP O N SO R
Body coach Gavin Walsh whips breakfast networking event attendees into shape Read all about it below - from the Body Fixer himself. Gavin Walsh here
Networking & Events
from Body Fixers,
where we’ve been stirring up the
wellness world with
our unique approach. Recently, we had
the pleasure of guiding the Big Business Breakfast Club (BBBC) members through a transformative 28-day
wellness challenge, and the results were nothing short of extraordinary!
Our mantra is simple yet powerful:
personalised fitness and nutrition plans, woven into the fabric of your daily life. It’s not just about workouts; it’s about embracing a lifestyle that celebrates health and wellbeing. One standout
story from the BBBC challenge was a
member who incredibly shed 28 pounds! This is the kind of life-altering change we’re talking about.
Each participant embarked on a journey tailored to their individual needs. Our
approach combines personalised
– with a kick up the backside or hearty
workouts – whether it’s lifting, yoga, or
praise, depending on the day.
guidance that doesn’t shy away from the
This hands-on, personalised approach
life without a bit of pudding, right?
but has also been making waves in
But we don’t stop there. Our
Challenge is transforming workplace
and guides. We’ve created a thriving
a happy and productive one.
where members cheer, motivate and
As we look back on a month filled with
this sense of camaraderie that turns
drenched mornings, it’s clear that the
delightful adventure.
crew was more than just a challenge.
The leader board, a friendly yet
when you mix health and fitness with a
something in between – with nutritional occasional indulgence. After all, what’s
commitment extends beyond just plans community within our group chats,
has not only been a hit with the BBBC the corporate world. Our Employee
wellness, proving that a healthy team is
sometimes gently rib each other. It’s
triumphs, laughter, and a few sweat-
the (sometimes) gruelling journey into a
Body Fixers’ journey with the BBBC
It was a celebration of what happens
competitive twist, adds that extra bit of
personal touch.
to the top; it’s about surpassing your
Join us, and let’s embark on this
spice too. It’s not just about climbing
own expectations. And when it comes
wellness adventure together.
we’re not shy about dropping in-app
To learn more, visit:
to keeping everyone on their toes,
messages or the occasional phone call
www.mybodyfixers.com
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 49
N ETWO RKI NG & EVE NTS S P ON S OR
Alfie Pyle makes debut for England Sussex D40 player Alfie Pyle made his debut for the England Learning Disability team this week, becoming the 43rd player in the country’s history to receive an England cap. Alfie became the first
Networking & Events
ever Lord’s Taverners Super 1s participant to go from a hub
setting, through the
county system and then on to represent England. The remarkable achievement
caps off what has been an exceptional couple of years for the local batter.
Alfie was first part of history when he and his Sussex D40 side took part in
the first ever disability cricket fixture at a
professional cricket venue, when Sussex D40 hosted Surrey D40 at The 1st
Central County Ground in June 2022. On that afternoon, over 300 spectators witnessed Alfie smash his way to 162 runs, helping Sussex to a 118-run victory over Surrey at Hove.
Since then, Alfie has been recognised
for his nationally for his efforts, when he recently won the 2023 Variety Disability
participants can enjoy themselves as
Sports Awards Rising Star award.
“The profile of our County Disability
Alfie is now part of the touring
continues to rise and by having England
in South Africa, where England are
models, we hope they will inspire more
hard to empower all the young people
South Africa and Australia. England
join our Super 1s programmes or join a
Programme through community Cricket.
Teams & Disability Cricket in general
they learn, develop and thrive!
England Learning Disability squad
players such as Alfie acting as role
“Together our two organisations work
taking part in a tri-series against
participants with disabilities to either
on the Super 1s Disability Cricket
have begun the series in fine form,
local club in Sussex.”
Today we celebrate one of our own
against the other two nations.
Mark Curtin, CEO of Lord’s Taverners,
Gary Wallis-Tayler, Community Cricket
fantastic achievement for a very talented
Foundation, said: “We are all incredibly
model for so many young people.
become the first ever Super 1s
“Lord’s Taverners is proud to partner
in Sussex, visit https://sussexcricket.
country is a proud moment for everyone
Foundation who create such an impactful
disability-cricket
winning both of their opening games
Director for the Sussex Cricket
proud of Alfie’s achievements. To
added: “Congratulations to Alfie, a
To find out more about Lord’s Taverners,
young Cricketer, who is also a great role
about-us/
participant to go and represent their
with our friends at Sussex Cricket
connected to Sussex Cricket.
environment, ensuring that Super 1s
50 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
reaching the pinnacle of the game!”
visit https://www.lordstaverners.org/
Or, to find out about Disability Cricket co.uk/sussex-cricket-foundation/
N ETWO R K I N G & EV EN TS SP O N SO R
Sussex Cricket Foundation walking cricket tournament debuts at Lord’s
On Friday 20th October, a squad of eight players from the Sussex Cricket Foundation Walking Cricket Hubs from across the county participated in a newly formed Walking Cricket tournament held at Lord’s. Taking place in the
Networking & Events
Indoor Cricket Centre, Sussex played five
matches during the day against teams
from the MCC, Epsom, Old Woking CC & Pirbright CC and Notts CCC.
Walking cricket is a very sociable format of the game and, although it was the first time that the players had played
together as a squad, it didn’t take them
long to form a great team spirit ready to take on the challenge ahead.
The newly appointed Sussex Cricket
Walking Captain Baz Weston lead his
team out onto the hallowed astroturf of the Indoor Cricket Centre for the first
time against an experienced Epsom side and Sussex narrowly lost by 11 runs.
Across the first round of matches, it was an opportunity for all participants to get any
nerves and excitement out the way playing at such an historic and iconic venue.
After a quick post-game debrief with
his players, Baz and the team agreed
specific tactics for the remaining games and the plan to keep the batting order
the same so players felt familiar in their roles definitely paid off.
During the course of the next match
against an MCC side the batting was very consistent with the approach
remaining the same which was to build partnerships with each pair, hit the bat
into gaps along the floor and to lose as few wickets as possible.
Victory was followed by a
famous Lords buffet lunch which was very kindly
provided for players and
umpires by the hosts the
MCC. With an extra spring in their step Sussex put in strong performances and
had wins against OWCC/ PCC and another MCC
team meant a final round match against unbeaten
tournament leaders Notts
Although Sussex showed glimpses of
CCC would determine the overall winners.
the form that proved successful in earlier
In the last game, Notts CCC batted first
Sussex to win the game and remain
matches, Notts CCC managed to restrict
and put on a commanding score due
unbeaten throughout the day.
the field Sussex gave a good account of
After a short presentation during which
to some smart and powerful batting. In
themselves with some tidy ground fielding.
Notts CCC were crowned champions,
Mick Millyard’s spectacular catch in the
Coach and tournament organiser) took
the day and it was appreciated by all the
of Lords which included many of the
Harry Thompson (MCC Community
deep was one of the many highlights from
all the players on a guided Stadium Tour
spectators on the viewing balcony above!
famous locations including home and
Thanks to their efforts in the field,
and the Media Centre.
distance of Notts CCC at the halfway
Overall Sussex won 3 out of 5 games
first over from the Notts CCC opening
runs but more importantly a great day
put Sussex on the back foot.
plenty of memories and friends made
Sussex managed to stay within chasing
away changing rooms, the Long Room
stage of the game, however a strong
during the day scoring a total of 431
bowler taking the wicket of Clive Hayton
was had by all the players and with
Having travelled down four hours
by Minibus on the morning of the
along the way!
Many thanks to Harry Thompson and
tournament demonstrated Notts CCC
the MCC for hosting the tournament.
they bowled and fielded with plenty of
More information on how to join our
run outs by the same fielder.
can be found on our website.
enthusiasm for their Walking Cricket and energy which included three direct hit
Walking Cricket Hubs across Sussex
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 51
N ETWO RKI NG & EVE NTS S P ON S OR
£28,000 raised at Best of British Events’ comedy gala dinner At the end of November, 400 guests attended the Best of British Events’ Gala Dinner at The Grand Hotel, Brighton, with leading comedian Rob Beckett.
Rob Beckett is
Networking & Events
a popular British comedian, who
rose to prominence
through appearances
on TV panel shows like ‘8 Out of 10
Cats’, ‘Mock the Week’ and ‘Would I Lie to You?’.
He gained widespread recognition as the co-host of the ITV2 show ‘I’m a Celebrity: Extra Camp’ and later as
a team captain on the comedy panel
show ‘8 Out of 10 Cats’ and its spin-
offs. Beckett’s engaging and energetic personality has made him a popular
figure in the UK comedy scene, and he’s known for his quick wit and infectious
enthusiasm both on stage and in hosting various television programs.
52 www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk
Guests included leaders from a range
lasting change to people’s lives.
Solutions, Loch Associates, MSC
With the support and generosity of
of local businesses including, GAP
Cruises, Seico Insurance & Mortgages,
guests and sponsors, this event raised
and Webtrends Optimize.
£28,000 on the night.
This prestigious black tie ball was
Ryan Heal, CEO of Best of British Events,
registered charitable organisation, and
Comedian Rob Beckett join us for the
With its vision to connect customers,
Brighton. Thank you to our sponsors and
everything it does, Focus Foundation was
hilarious evening with fantastic company
in aid of the Focus Foundation – a
said: “It was an honour to have leading
the philanthropic arm of Focus Group.
Best of British Gala Dinner at The Grand
people and communities at the heart of
guests, who helped us raise £28,000. A
established in 2021 to support UK-based
and all for a great cause.”
two main themes, mental health charities
Best of British Events hosts a range of
underprivileged children or young people.
fundraisers across Sussex and London.
communities and make a positive and
https://bestofbritish.org.uk
charities and social enterprises across
and initiatives and socially or economically
leading business networking events and
Its principal ambition is to connect
For more information please visit:
N ETWO R K I N G & EV EN TS SP O N SO R
Best of British Events – giving back to the community During 2023, a staggering sum of more than £120,000 has been raised for good causes thanks to unwavering support. Best of British Events
Networking & Events
is a multi awardwinning events
company in Sussex, specialising in
corporate fundraising lunches and dinners. Guest speakers include A-list stars from
the world of sport, and broadcasting, as well as stage and screen who, coupled
with exceptional MCs, create memorable and entertaining events.
Best of British Events attracts leading
professionals from local businesses who utilise this leading platform to entertain
clients, reward employees, and endorse their philanthropic initiatives.
This year, events were hosted in
London, Brighton, Gatwick, Eastbourne, Tunbridge Wells, and Goodwood.
Since 2009, Best of British Events have raised over one million pounds for a
range of worthy causes. This year, with the support of guests and sponsors,
they raised over £120,000 for charities
including Care for Veterans, Taylor Made Dreams, Focus Foundation, Chailey
Heritage Foundation, Children’s Respite
Trust, Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity, St Barnabas House, and The Starr Trust.
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s events.
Next years events include:
Best of British Brighton Friday 31st May 2024
Best of British London Friday 5th July 2024
Best of British Tunbridge Wells Friday 11th October 2024 Best of British Gatwick
Friday 1st November 2024 Best of British Gala Dinner
Thursday 21st November 2024 For more information, visit: https:// bestofbritish.org.uk
Interested in attending next year? Tables are now available for:
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 53
MOTO RI NG N E WS S P ON S OR
BMW i4 - a Sseek EV with exciting performance If you like performance, style and a great electric range, look no further than the BMW i4, says Rivervale.
Its primary
Motoring News
competitors are
the Tesla Model 3,
Volkswagen ID.5 and
the Hyundai IONIQ 6.
With competitors like these and BMW’s attention to detail, this vehicle clearly holds its own in the electric coupe
market. But what makes it special? Introducing the BMW i4
Hosting the same driving appeal of the classic BMW 4 Series, in an all-electric
form, the i4 comes in 3 trims that increase in price and specification respectively: BMW provide plenty of power in the
performance of this vehicle. The top-
spec M50 model has an acceleration of
3.9 seconds (0-60mph) and a top speed of 140mph. With great suspicion and
grip, this car ensures a fun performance The i4 has an excellent rapid charge
time of 30 minutes (10%-80%) and a
standard (22kW) charge time of 8 hours. However, with an impressive official
range (WLTP) of 365 miles, you won’t
run out of charge during daily journeys. Read more about why electric range isn’t always important. Exterior
This compact gran coupe has 5 doors,
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yet still possesses a sporty and elegant
on the road than looking for the map on
with 12 colour options including
the i4 has a wireless phone charger
blue metallic; the number of colour
My BMW App.
With the option of up to 20” alloy wheels
BMW provide their Driving Assistance
still have a huge road presence. If you
This includes lane keep assist, rearview
out the Electric BMW iX1 SUV.
These features are accessed via the
Interior
Model Y, rather than buttons. The i4 also
design that stands out. The i4 comes
the infotainment screen. Additionally,
‘Aventurin red metallic’ and ‘Portimao’
built in and, of course, usability with the
options varies between each trim level. on the M50 model, this smaller EV can
Professional Package with this vehicle.
want something larger, why not check
camera, cruise control and much more.
infotainment screen, similar to the Tesla
There is still plenty of leg and headroom
includes a holographic heads-up display
passengers, making it an enjoyable ride
sign recognition, speed limit recognition
has a modest 470 litres of boot space,
getting caught out!
within the cabin for the driver and
(HUD) on the dash which includes traffic
for those longer journeys. The car also
and your current speed to stop you from
more than the Polestar 2.
Overall
This is BMW’s first vehicle to use the
The BMW i4 is an exceptional electric
called iDrive 8. The system operates with
style, and range. With impressive
hosts a 12.3-inch infotainment panel.
attention to detail, the i4 sets itself apart
The high-resolution infotainment and
an excellent option for those seeking an
infotainment and connectivity software
gran coupe that combines performance,
a 14.9-inch touchscreen display that
features, advanced technology, and
in the electric vehicle market, providing
digital dash displays are fast acting and
electrifying driving experience.
instantly connecting to your mobile via
Excited by the idea of electric
even set up your Apple or Google Maps
offers for this vehicle, or if you have any
allowing the driver to concentrate more
or visit rivervaleleasing.co.uk.
reliable. The vehicle has no issues in
Apple Carplay or Android Auto. You can
performance? Take a look at our leasing
app to be used in the digital dash HUD,
questions, get in touch at 01273 433480,
MOTO R I N G N EWS SP ON SO R
Rivervale celebrates triple success at Leasing Broker Federation Awards Rivervale is celebrating after winning not one, not two, but three accolades at the Leasing Broker Federation awards! Here, the team reflects on its huge success. The awards,
Motoring News
collected by Director
of Fleet Management Services, Jaymie Stanbrook and
Group Marketing Director, Bud Johnston, were:
• Best Medium Leasing Broker Customer Service Award
• Best Fleet Management Service • Highly Recommended: Best Medium Leasing Broker Award
Winning the Best Medium Leasing
Broker Customer Service Award is an
immense honour for us. It highlights our collective commitment to going above and beyond, ensuring exceptional
service that makes a difference in our customers’ experiences.
Securing the Best Fleet Management
Service Award speaks volumes about our
team’s dedication and innovative approach to tailoring bespoke fleet solutions. This recognition reaffirms our efforts to meet diverse client needs continuously and stand out in a competitive market.
Additionally, being ‘close second’ in the Best Medium Leasing Broker Award
category is a testament to our collective dedication and places us among the industry’s esteemed leaders.
These awards go out to the remarkable
for business and individual customers alike. Their hard work remains the
cornerstone of Rivervale’s success,
driving us to deliver exceptional service and innovative solutions.
We would like to extend our gratitude to our business and individual customers
across the nation. Your trust in Rivervale for your car, van, or minibus needs is
the backbone of our motivation. Your support is invaluable, inspiring us to continue to enhance our offerings
and elevate the standards of service
excellence. Your confidence in us means everything, and we’re honoured to be your trusted vehicle provider.
Rivervale team, whose relentless efforts and unwavering dedication consistently strive to Make Motoring Manageable
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LI FE STY L E S PO NS OR
Bringing joy and happiness in time for Christmas
Reflecting on 2023 not only fills me with joy, but also a great deal of emotion! It has been quite a special year for the Agora Clinic in more ways than one, writes Carole Gilling-Smith. Back in January we
Lifestyle
said goodbye to our old clinic in Hove,
which had been our home for over 15
years and where we had brought joy to over 4,500 families. They say moving
house is very stressful but, believe me,
moving a whole IVF clinic is on another
level altogether! Imagine the complexity of moving thousands of little frozen
embryos, tucked up safely in their liquid
nitrogen storage tanks, by convoy along the Old Shoreham Road, following the extremely strict regulation required by
our industry. I am so grateful to those in
my team who planned and executed the
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whole move with such military precision. Everything arrived at 138 Dyke Road
safe and sound, and we officially opened with our first egg collections on the
18th January and completed the last
embryo transfer at our old clinic in Hove on the 20th January, closing our doors for the final time.
We celebrated our move with a Grand Opening event where 28 lucky Agora
children conceived through IVF at our
old premises were invited back to visit
where they had been made. Our young visitors and their parents were given a once in a lifetime chance to meet the
doctors and scientists who had helped
create them and get a behind the scenes look at all the fascinating equipment and techniques we use. The older children
were very curious to find out more about how babies are conceived and meet
other IVF-conceived children, and one
of our teenagers, Albi, was featured on ITV Meridian News speaking about his experience. The children all received
a signed certificate of their visit and a personalised video as a keepsake of
how they and other Agora children were made, including some very special and emotional staff testimonials.
In our new clinic we have continued
to do what we do best, make babies!
L I F ESTY L E SP ON SO R
Over two thirds of our patients received
their treatment fully funded by the NHS, but in contrast to other NHS provision,
their experience has been on a par with private healthcare - all our patients are seen within 2 weeks of being referred
and experience no waiting time to start their treatment. We receive so many
lovely testimonials each week, but a
common theme prevails; the kindness,
compassion, and professionalism of our team, whatever the outcome.
So far in 2023 we have seen tiny little beating hearts on 225 of our early pregnancy scans after successful
treatment. So, a very exciting Christmas ahead for so many of our patients who
started the year desperate to be able to realise their dreams of having a family. We have also been able to help 33
people diagnosed with cancer to freeze
their eggs or sperm urgently before they
started their chemotherapy, and 22 trans folk preserve their fertility before starting
gender affirming hormones and over 200 more patients entrusted us to help them preserve their fertility for other reasons.
We have also continued to be the leading
provider of fertility and reproductive health education in the South-East by offering
free seminars in schools, the workplace
and at national conventions such as the Modern Family Show in London.
All praise to my team of doctors, nurses, scientists, and admin staff who have
continued to live our vision and values
Day. As I write, we have a number of
the beating heart of our successful
full training for their Santa Dash on 9th
say we enjoy one of best workplace
again on the fundraising front!
healthcare sector. Look after your staff,
Our belief in nurturing and creating
your patients! Alongside the state-of-
regardless of their background, goes
that helps us create life in our laboratory,
chose to support a small orphanage
to making our patients feel they are not
Orphanage. Between us, we sponsor
whatever that journey may look like.
rebuild of the charity’s website earlier
As a fertility clinic, we believe in
clinical room for the orphans when they
long after the moment of conception
collect unwanted toys and story books
every single day this year. They are
very excited team members who are in
fertility service, where I am proud to
December, where we hope to smash it
cultures and wellbeing programs in the and rest assured they will take care of
a loving environment for every child,
the-art medical expertise and science
beyond borders, which is why we also
every member of my team is committed
in rural Zambia called Cameron’s
alone on their journey to parenthood,
two of the little orphans and funded the this year as well as helping to fund a
supporting parents and their unborn child
become unwell. Our current project is to
which is why we are so committed
to send out there in time for Christmas.
as they grow and develop into adults
So, all in all, a great year for the Agora,
This year, one of the charities we pledged
exciting projects for 2024!
provides vital resources, equipment,
The Agora Clinic is committed to
vulnerable children in Sussex, whatever
all walks of life, regardless of their
March, we were proud to be the Headline
background, or religious beliefs, fulfil
Glitter Ball, where over 58K was
have clinics in Brighton, Eastbourne
Headline Sponsor for their Glitter Ball
our website agoraclinic.co.uk
to supporting children and teenagers through our ‘giving back’ charity work. to support was Rockinghorse, which
and I will soon be revealing some of our
and professional help to the most
helping individuals and couples from
health hurdles they have to overcome. In
gender, sexual orientation, ethnic
sponsor for the Annual Rockinghorse
their dreams of starting a family. We
raised and we are delighted to be the
and Worthing. To find out more, visit
again in 2024! We also raised funds for
Rockinghorse during our Grand Opening as well as supporting their Making
Herstory Event for International Women’s
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 57
W I N E O F TH E MO NT H S P ON S OR
County Business Clubs’ Wine of the Month December 2023 For December, I have chosen the new release of Breaky Bottom Sussex Sparkling Wine from 2018, which was the best vintage for over 25 years. This is the first Blanc De Noir that Peter Hall has ever launched, so I was excited to try this as our Christmas choice - the perfect accompaniment for Christmas morning or dinner. Peter has been producing wine for
nearly 50 years in a little fold of the South Downs near Rodmell and
Northese, near Lewes. Peter sells his wines across the globe and is
recognised as one of the UK’s best
winemakers, producing consistently high quality sparkling wines using
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and the rarely planted Seyval Blanc. Blanc de Noir typically have more
nanny, a wonderful sweet natured and
very French carer who I still remember
well. She fell in love with George Glede the delightful farm worker (who still
ploughed with horses!). They married, and after the war moved to France.
Long after, George, who had a superb Gloucestershire accent, used to write to me saying he still couldn’t speak a word of French!”
fruit on the nose and palate than a
3,572 bottles produced ABV: 12%
often called a Blanc de Blanc. I use
This Pinot Noir and Meunier
Spirit of the Downs Brandies as they
Michael’s Tasting notes –The wine
Chardonnay based sparkling wine
Peter’s grapes to create two of my
are of the highest quality, perfect for making brandy.
Wine of the month for December 2023:
has fine bubbles with enticing fruit
and a little white pepper on the nose. On the palate, we have richer fruit
than a typical glass of Breaky Bottom bubbles with mouth watering acidity. We have lots of red berries and
Michael Yeoman, Founder of
is the perfect wine with salmon and
Spirit of the Downs
for the roast turkey at Christmas.
Michael Yeoman specialises in working
“This was the only year to produce
Where to buy?
around Sussex and the South Downs.
Blanc de Noirs. A real ‘one-off’ with soft
To buy this wine you can buy directly
Wine Club and also creates a range of
purchase at many local wine merchants
spirits through his brand Spirit of the
2018 Blanc De Noir Cuvée Noella Launched mid December 2023 Peter’s comment on the new release
sufficient black grapes to make a 100% minerality and lovely autumn fruits.” On the the naming of the wine, he
explains: “My elder brother, Rémy, and I were born during the war at our Irish
granny’s house, Rangeworthy Court in Gloucestershire. Noella was our first
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cranberry on the lingering finish. This eggs in the morning or as an entrée
Brighton and Hove Wine Club and
with small batch wine producers in and He originally founded Brighton and Hove
online from Peter at Breaky Bottom, or
small batch Sussex Brandies and Grape
or at Steyning/Shoreham/Arundel
Downs www.spiritofthedowns.co.uk
Farmers Market with pricing between £33 and £35 a bottle. Enjoy and cheers!
www.sussexbusinessgroup.co.uk 59
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