Chamber Connect Magazine Issue 26

GET ON BOARD

Why you need to come to the Chamber AGM this year (on page 6)

HOW TO BE A CLIMATE POSITIVE COMPANY

Easy ways to make a difference (page 13)

WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS

Hear from four fantastic female Chamber members (on pages 22 and 23)

Welcome to issue 26

We’ve had a fantastic start to the year, with many of our events selling out, as well as a hugely successful launch of BetterBizFest! It was an amazing event, packed full of inspiring speakers, motivational sessions and informative workshops – look out for this event coming back next year!

We have also just launched the stand bookings for the Better Business Show, this is our biggest event of the year and certainly one not to miss! Find out more on 8 and 9.

Recently, we’ve been thinking a lot about the future of the Chamber, our local economy and how things such as skills shortages, climate change and a variety of other factors may affect business. Our job is to beat the drum for businesses and create opportunity for growth for all. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but more often than not, we can put you in front of someone who may at least have some of the answers! We see our role as being a conduit for businesses, local authority and education providers and we want to encourage collaboration between all these sectors. Watch this space!

Worthing and Adur Chamber is always here to support businesses who are navigating the complexities of running a business in the current climate, you can get in touch with us by emailing info@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk or visit www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

The Chamber Team

PUBLISHERS:

Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce

Tel: 01903 203484

Info@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

CONNECT EDITORIAL TEAM:

Lauren Martin-Grieveson, Tracie Davey, Kelly O’Haire

Contact: info@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

Photography: www.seasidecreative.co.uk

The President’s Column

Tony Hedger, Director at A&T Business Associates and President of Worthing and Adur Chamber.

My first article of 2023 after a fantastic start to the year for the Chamber with lots of new members but just as importantly many members renewing.

We had a very interesting and lively breakfast meeting in January with James Appleton updating us on planning within Worthing and Adur with a full house for breakfast. Our sold out February breakfast was just as interesting as we got to hear about the journey of three of the winners of the Adur & Worthing Business Awards.

The team in the office have been working hard on our first BetterBizFest which had some amazing speakers and break out workshops, another great success!

The start of the year is so important for many business owners and given the number of new members we have seen so far this year, the desire to be an entrepreneur in Worthing and Adur is still very strong. The Chamber can really help you with all aspects of your business, be it your new start up or your established business, we offer much more than just being connected through our networking events. The team in the office are always there to support you and keep you informed, so don’t hesitate to contact them if you need to help with your business journey.

Running a business sometimes requires additional training for you or one of your team, our training events are very informative and great value for money.

I am sure that 2023 will be an interesting year with lots of opportunities but also challenges for us all but the Chamber will always be there to help you with the ups and downs of your journey and to share

your successes. Don’t forget to make the most of your membership, if you aren’t already a member, I’d highly recommend getting involved and giving it a go, there really is something for everyone and every business! You can contact Heidi, our Membership Executive for more information

heidi@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

Tony Hedger Chamber President www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

Meet the team

Tracie Davey, Chief Exec

I started with the Chamber in 2008 whilst still running my own retail business. I started as Admin Assistant, then Operations Manager and now I’m very proud to be Chief Exec.

I’m passionate about local business, my role is to help the Chamber grow and support the team to make that happen. My dream is to double the membership and build a strong and brilliant future for Worthing and Adur, its businesses and its future generations.

I know first-hand how hard it can be being a business owner and the Chamber are here to support you in whichever way we can. Fun fact: Tracie is a trampolining judge and still jumps from time to time!

Heidi Jones, Membership Executive

Coming from a sales and marketing background, I joined Worthing & Adur Chamber in November 2022 as Membership Executive and feel very proud to be part of the team.

My role consists of promoting the Chamber and developing links with new members whilst also connecting with our existing membership base. I enjoy attending our networking events to catch up with you all but am always happy to meet one-toone for an informal chat to discuss your business requirements and our many Chamber benefits. Fun fact: Heidi is a keen marathon runner and especially loves running the trails up on the South Downs, taking in the beautiful scenery.

Lauren Martin-Grieveson, Marketing & Events Manager

I started working at the Chamber when I was just 18 years old as a Level 3 Digital Marketing Apprentice, I then went onto complete a Level 4 Marketing Executive Apprenticeship and I am now very happy to be the Marketing and Events Manager. My role is developing the Chamber’s marketing plan and working alongside Emma to implement it as well as planning and managing the variety of events the Chamber offers. I’m so proud to see how the Chamber has developed and grown over the years and feel so lucky to be part of such a lovely and hard working team.

Fun fact: Lauren used to go to trapeze lessons in London.

Emma Davis, Office Administrator

In my part-time role as Office Administrator, I create content and engage on social media, maintain membership information and support Lauren with marketing and the website. As a previous business owner, I have an insight into the challenges our members face and I am proud to be part of a team that support them.

Fun fact: Emma is a passionate baker and cake decorator and have been known to take over a week to create a masterpiece!

We have a great team of people here in the office to support you and your business in any way that we can.

Call to Annual General Meeting

We are changing things up this year!

This year’s AGM will be in the form of an annual celebration of the Chamber and it’s members incorporating the formal AGM proceedings. We want this event to be a celebration of all members, the successes in our area and our achievements.

This event will be held on Wednesday 17th May at 5:30pm at Rooms Worthing.

As a Member, you are invited to attend the AGM and be a part of key Chamber decisions. 2023 is an important year for the Chamber with big growth plans and we’d love for you to be involved!

This year we are including some fun awards to recognise members who have engaged in a variety of ways, these will be revealed on the night!

However, we need your help for one of these awards… we are looking for nominations for a member who has gone over and above. This could be a member who has made you feel welcome at an event, introduced you to a new client, supported you or your business in some way. We are open to suggestions, if you feel if someone is worthy of this award, please email info@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk with a brief explanation.

The annual celebration is also a great opportunity to come along and meet with the local business community and get to know them over a drink and some snacks.

The formalities are always dealt with swiftly, there will be summaries from the current President and Chief Exec of the Chamber, along with an update from Catherine Howe, Chief Exec of Adur & Worthing

Councils, who gave a really honest and inspirational talk last year.

We will be introducing the Executive Board for 2023/2024. The Executive Board consists of a team of volunteers who give their time and expertise to support and guide the Chamber in line with the strategic plan. Each Executive Committee member has their own specialist area to oversee, which usually includes a Working Group. These Working Groups are also made up of volunteers who meet on a regular basis with the aim of delivering the Chamber’s goals and vision.

The Chamber welcomes volunteers for any of the groups and would encourage you to get in touch if you’d like to get involved.

To book to come along to the AGM or to find out more visit www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk/ chamber-events

Executive Board Vacancy for 2023

This year there is a vacancy for a new member to join the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee are voted in for a three year term and at the end of the three years they can re-stand for election or stand down. The Executive Committee meets once a month and each Executive Committee member leads or is part of a working group which also consists of Chamber Ambassadors and volunteers.

If you’d like to be considered for nomination to the Executive Committee please email tracie@worthingandadurchamber.co.uk

Better Business Show stand bookings now open!

Thursday 21st September | 10am - 4pm | Worthing Leisure Centre

As businesses we are constantly looking at ways to make our business stronger, clearer and more profitable. The Better Business Show is the perfect place to showcase your business to potential customers and gain invaluable contacts.

The Better Business Show is back and you need to be there! Having a stand on the day is a great way for you to show off what your business has to offer and make new contacts.

Price Freeze

We are pleased to announce that this year the Better Business Show stands are on a price freeze. Meaning, we haven’t increased any of the stand prices this year, in order to support businesses, especially during these tricky times!

Package A

2m x 2m stand

Early Bird Booking: £239 + VAT (book before 16th June to secure Early Bird Rate)

Standard Booking: £269 +VAT

Package B

3m x 2m stand

Early Bird Booking: £289 + VAT (book before 16th June to secure Early Bird Rate)

Standard Booking: £319 + VAT

All stand packages include:

• Support and pre event updates

• Pre and post show social media promotion

• Listing in printed show guide

• Listing on the online exhibitor list

• Links to your website and social media

• Media pack to assist you with show promotion

• Pre-ordered lunch boxes

• Tea, filter coffee and water voucher

• Exhibitor name badges

Package C

4m x 3m stand

Early Bird Booking: £369 + VAT (book before 16th June to secure Early Bird Rate)

Standard Booking: £399 + VAT

Start-Up Stands

We have a limited number of heavily subsidised stands allocated for startup businesses, who are in their first 18 months of trading. We are able to offer these 2m x 2m stands for just £99 + VAT.

If you would like to book one of these stands email lauren@ worthingandadurchamber.co.uk To

Expecting the unexpected

How the insurance industry reacts to global risk

Expecting the unexpected probably comes with life experience but even after the pandemic, this time last year few thought Putin would really be mad enough to invade Ukraine and start a ‘full-scale’ war.

One year on, we

are still feeling the effects, particularly with gas and fuel, although with wholesale gas and oil prices now below pre-invasion levels, the invasion seems to have conveniently hidden, at least in part, the effect of the government’s lockdown policies. Inflation was already a problem before Putin made it worse.

On the insurance front, Insurers reacted to the invasion in their tried and trusted way when faced with a global risk that can break or seriously dent their balance sheets, and generally excluded all war cover in the area. As insurance policies, other than marine and aviation, generally exclude war risks this would have had little or no effect to most UK businesses. Once insurers had time to assess the situation, cover then became available for certain ‘safer’ areas of Ukraine subject to prior notification, although Government sanctions prevented insurance cover being provided on virtually all assets owned or in use in the Russian area.

Prior to the invasion few of us knew of our reliance on Ukraine for many basic food stuffs and essential commodities, and the potential loss of the Ukraine

grain harvest hit the headlines when it was deemed a possible humanitarian crisis. Part of the problem was arranging insurance for the shipments from Ukraine and Lloyds of London stepped in to provide up to $50m cover for the grain to be shipped through the UN negotiated Black Sea corridor.

The other big talking point in insurance circles has been the claims in the aircraft leasing sector.

Government sanctions prohibiting insurance on assets owned by Russian entities or in use in Russia were imposed two days after the 24 February invasion and required leases with Russian airlines to be terminated by 28 March. As Russian companies leased over 500 aircraft with an estimated value exceeding $10 billion from Western Countries, Putin decided to get in first and on 14 March put into law that the aircrafts were Russian.

As war risks include confiscation or seizure by the order of government, many leasing companies have submitted claims for either theft or confiscation but insurers are refusing to pay, and various court cases are pending with a number of areas of dispute.

The main issue is whether there is an ‘irretrievable deprivation of possession’ as the aircraft may be returned when the war is over but there is also an

argument that the ‘loss’ is due to the actions of the Russian lease companies rather than the Russian government, albeit with government encouragement.

There is also the question of whether some insurers had cancelled or restricted war cover before the ‘loss’ occurred, so the date of loss is also disputed. The other points will generally relate to the exact wordings of the leases and policies but one of the main obstacles to a pay-out is whether it would be lawful under the sanctions. All very interesting and few will predict how this will play out in the courts. What I have also found interesting is there has been no expectation of insurance cover for the damage to businesses due to the hikes in fuel and energy costs following the invasion. That is in stark contrast to the criticism faced by insurers for the lack of COVID business interruption cover relating to a worldwide pandemic involving a previously unknown virus.

There is of course a difference in that many policies included cover for infectious diseases but, policies for smaller business were only ever designed for localised outbreaks of diseases like TB affecting a small area rather than regional, let alone national lockdowns. Insurers provided cover on the expectation of the authorities following conventional wisdom (and their own pandemic planning) of isolating the infected, not locking down the uninfected and policies that were forced to pay claims by the courts only did so because of poorly drafted policy wordings.

That said, some big businesses did have the foresight (and funds) to buy ‘proper’ pandemic insurance, the Wimbledon Tennis Championship being the highprofile example, in the same way that big businesses have been able to ‘hedge’ against the worse extremes of the energy crisis.

www.nsure.co.uk

Mental Health in the Workplace

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that the leading causes of absenteeism at the moment is anxiety, stress and depression1.

According to a report2 up to 300,000 people with mental health challenges leave their job every year, due to reasons such as lack of support, feeling pressured or as though they cant do their job effectively any more.

A report produced by Deloitte3 found that poor mental health costs employers up to £56 billion a year… this isn’t something any of us want for our business along with the increased risk of employment tribunal claims and damage to your reputation.

With only a small minority - 13% of employees saying they’d feel comfortable discussing their mental health challenges with colleagues or employers there’s a strong indication that there’s still a significant stigma with employees feeling that being open about their struggles may have negative implications for their careers.

1 www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/dayslost.htm

So what can you do about it? Here are my top 4 tips:

• Develop a mental health strategy

This should facilitate the development of awareness among employees and be nurtured by information, tools and support.

• Improve communications

Facilitate open conversations about mental health and support available, including during the recruitment process and regularly throughout the employee life cycle.

• Provide mental health training

Remove the stigmas. Make sure managers know how to approach subjects and how to offer support, helping to pick up concerns early. Even consider a Mental Health First Aider for additional support.

• Review working conditions

Consider adjusting roles, look at workloads, offer flexible working, hybrid working etc. Work with your teams.

Remember people won’t remember what you do. They won’t remember what you say. But they will remember how you made them feel.

If you or another small business owner would like to ensure their culture supports and values good mental health practices then please let’s have a chat. Taking action proactively will help to reduce the need to react down the line.

Article by Theresa Cooper MCIPD, Managing Director of CooperativeHR Ltd www.cooperativehr.co.uk

2 www.gov.uk/government/publications/thriving-at-work-a-review-of-mental-health-and-employers

3 www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/press-releases/articles/poor-mental-health-costs-uk-employers-up-to-pound-56-billion-a-year.html

When you’re running a tight ship, with the current economic constraints we’re all facing, it can cause you a real problem when someone calls in sick.

Step by Step Guide to Taking Climate Action

Step 1: Calculate your carbon footprint

The first thing to understand is the level of emissions your business emits. This is measured as tons of carbon (CO2e). Accurate measurement should include scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

Start by calculating emissions for the last 12 months. It’s not critical to get this 100% right but be as accurate as you can with estimatations if needed. The Carbon Trust have a handy tool for SMEs to use to calculate the carbon footprint of your office.

To calculate total emissions you will need to use a more detailed framework like the GHG Protocol. If this feels overwhelming, then working with a third party carbon auditor can help. Hope Solutions are our recommended partner for this (IEMA accredited).

Step 2: Reduce your carbon emissions

Minimising your emissions is the most important action to take. Start with the easiest things to change.

• Switching to a renewable energy supplier and looking at ways to reduce air travel will have a big impact.

• Install energy-efficient lighting, heating and building insulation for offices.

Most of your emissions will be in scope 3 and so it’s important to look hard at your supply chain including banking and investments like pension plans. Engaging your colleagues in emission reductions is key to taking effective action.

Many things you can do to reduce emissions also help you save money, so it can be winwin. Small99 have created a library of tips for how small businesses can reduce their carbon footprint

Step 3: Invest in accredited carbon offsets

There is likely to be carbon in your business even after taking action to reduce emissions to a minimum. Furthermore, you cannot reduce historic emissions. This is where carbon offsetting comes in... Carbon offsets or “credits” should be purchased from accredited projects like Gold Standard.

Natural climate solutions are a great option as they have the added benefits of restoring biodiversity and natural habitats aswell as capturing carbon. The most effective natural offsets include tree preservation and planting.

Look to invest in projects in the developing world to add the further benefit of supporting local communities with jobs and income. Other types of offsets include investing in renewable energy and innovation in carbon capture technology. Our chosen partner for business offsets is ecologi.

For more information visit www.lowcarbonleaders.org

Low Carbon Leaders have written a simple guide to help you start your journey to become a climate positive business.

Year end tax review and planning ahead for 2023-24

In 2022-23 we have had four different Chancellors of the Exchequer and three Prime Ministers. There were three Government fiscal statements in autumn alone and we expect another series of announcements in the spring, with the next Budget scheduled for 15 March 2023.

Stealth tax rises and allowances cut

In the first of the Autumn fiscal statements the rates of all classes of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) were cut by 1.25 percentage points, from 6 November 2022. However, almost all the thresholds for both NICs and income tax have been frozen until April 2028. With inflation running at over 10%, this freeze will pull a lot of earners into the

higher tax bands as their salaries or business profits rise; this also has a knock-on effect on the amount of personal savings allowance (PSA) available to set against income such as interest. Income within the PSA is taxed at a nil rate. Once into the 40% band, the PSA is cut from £1,000 to £500 per year; it disappears completely for anyone who pays income tax at 45%. In fact, the 45% threshold will be cut to £125,140 from 6 April 2023, which means many more people will lose their PSA.

What else to expect from April 2023:

• Dividend allowance will be cut to £1,000 in April 2023, having been £2,000 for several years, and cut again to £500 from April 2024. This means more dividend income will be taxable each year, although the tax rates applicable to dividends are not changing in 2023/24.

• The annual exemption for capital gains tax will be slashed from £12,300 to £6,000 in 2023/24 and then halved to £3,000 in 2024/25. The combination of the allowance cuts and threshold freezes will affect the tax and NICs payable by directors and shareholders of family companies.

• The Corporation Tax rate will increase to 25% for companies with profits over £250,000 from April 2023.

• The annual investment cap for the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) will be raised from 6 April 2023, when there will also be a relaxation of qualifying conditions for those companies.

With the end of the tax year looming, Stuart Noakes, Partner and Head of Tax at Carpenter Box summarises 2022-23 and outlines what to expect in the financial year ahead.

Stuart Noakes, Partner and Head of Tax, Carpenter Box

• All employers need to budget for increases in the rates of National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage from 1 April 2023.

Between now and the end of the tax year (5 April 2023) is a good time to assess whether you have claimed all the relevant allowances and are as well defended against high tax charges as you can be.

Year end action points:

• Check if you have used all your basic rate band and dividend allowance for 2022/23.

• Check which benefits are tax-free for 2022/23 and, to avoid P11D issues on other benefits meet the deadline for making good the benefit.

• Consider the tax incentives for electric or hybrid company cars.

• Consider carrying back charitable donations when completing your next tax return.

• Can you incur qualifying R&D expenditure by 31 March 2023, before the tax relief is reduced?

How we can help

The personal circumstances of each individual must be taken into account in deciding whether any particular plan is suitable.

If you would like more detailed one-to-one advice, get in touch with one of our friendly advisers on 01903 234094 or visit www.carpenterbox.com

Drilling down your expertise

What are you really best at?

Fast forward to today and Seaside Creative now has over a dozen construction clients from across the South East and is looking to expand further.

“We still have some clients who are not from construction,” says Kelly, “and specialising has taken a lot of hard work but now we’re really starting to see the benefits. We’re more confident in our offer and we achieve more positive outcomes for our clients too.”

Top tips for establishing your niche:

1. Analyse your current services and client base

Marketing agency, Seaside Creative, asked themselves this question during the first lockdown and concluded that they needed to shout more about what they really loved doing.

Seaside Creative began as a small agency offering full service marketing expertise, mainly to SMEs in the local area. The company worked for a wide variety of clients covering; retail, care, restaurants, hair and beauty, pharmaceutical, property and construction.

This was mainly because the Seaside Creative team provided different services to different industries - such as photographing a production line and then writing technical articles for construction firmssometimes on the same day!

Although lockdown was very hard, with many clients pausing services for significant amounts of time, it gave agency founders, Martin Bloomfield and Kelly O’Haire, the chance to really assess what worked best for them.

“We realised that the industry where we had supplied the widest variety of expertise and achieved the most success for clients was Construction.” says Kelly. “It was also one of the few industries that continued to thrive during the Pandemic and so we decided to focus our efforts on becoming known as a specialist in marketing for companies involved in the Construction industry.”

What service/product is making the most money?

What do you most enjoy doing?

2. Look at the current market

Can you see any opportunities?

3. Research specialist events and networking opportunities

Where can you shout your specialism from the rooftops?

4. Reframe your offer

Produce information that outlines your new specialism

Send it far and wide via the channels that work best for your specialism.

For more information on what Seaside Creative does for Construction clients see:

https://seasidecreative.co.uk/construction/ and https://seasidecreative.co.uk/2022/02/11/why-welove-the-construction-industry/

Setting up a Lasting Power Of Attorney

How Bennett Griffin can guide you through the process.

At Bennett Griffin, our Lasting Powers Of Attorney process will help you make new Lasting Powers of Attorney (‘LPA’).

We realise that, for some, making an LPA can be a daunting experience.

That’s why when you choose to work with us, our dedicated specialists can offer advice and support every step of the way.

What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?

A Lasting Power Of Attorney is a legal document which creates a special power of attorney called an LPA.

It allows you to choose someone (the Attorney(s)) that you trust to make decisions on your behalf at a time in the future when you either lack the mental capacity or no longer wish to make those decisions yourself. The document remains effective until you die or decide to revoke your LPA(s).

There are two types of LPA, one for property and financial affairs and one for personal welfare.

Property and Financial Affairs LPA

This LPA allows you to appoint Attorney(s) to manage your property and finances.

It may be needed for practical reasons. For example, if you’re out of the country for an extended period or fall ill.

Health and Welfare LPA

This LPA allows you to appoint an Attorney(s) to make decisions on your behalf about your health and welfare.

It can only be used once registered and when you lack the capacity to make decisions yourself (unlike the property LPA which can be used once registered).

This may be needed for giving or refusing consent to particular types of health care, such as life-sustaining treatment. Also, if you need to move into a residential home and require assistance choosing the right facility for you.

Setting up a Lasting Power Of Attorney: our process explained

We aim to make the whole experience of making an LPA as effortless as possible.

No one likes to discuss the inevitable, but with our expertise, we will guide you and help tailor your needs. So, how does the process work?

Initial contact

You can contact our Wills Trusts and Probate Services team by telephone or email to arrange a convenient appointment.

We will write to confirm your appointment and enclose our LPA Guide, together with our ‘LPA Questionnaire’ for basic details.

First meeting

This will be your opportunity to provide us with your wishes. Our lawyer will guide you through your options and confirm our charges.

Following the meeting, we will draft your LPA(s) and send it to you within 7-10 working days.

Once you receive the draft LPA(s) you will need to check your details and provide us with any further information as requested. We will then arrange a convenient appointment to meet again.

Follow up meeting

We will review your LPA(s) at our next meeting and ensure it meets your wishes.

You will then sign your LPA(s). We can act as your witness and Certificate Provider if you haven’t appointed us attorneys.

Following our meeting, we will write to your Attorneys and send them your LPA(s) to sign.

Once all your Attorneys have signed the LPA(s), we will forward it to the Office of the Public Guardian (‘OPG’) for registration.

The OPG will write to you and your Attorneys to confirm they have received your LPA(s).

There is a four-week waiting period when the OPG wait to see if there is any reason for your LPA(s) not to be registered.

Once this period has expired and no objections are received, the OPG register your LPA(s). We will place your original LPA(s) in our safe storage facility, free of charge, and forward you a copy.

Summary

At Bennett Griffin, we know how vital Lasting Powers Of Attorney can be.

We also appreciate that the process can initially seem daunting. But our expert team will be able to guide you every step of the way, and happy to answer any questions you may have.

As well as LPAs, we also specialise in Wills and provide tailored advice.

Setting up a Lasting Power Of Attorney with Bennett Griffin

Our specialist team would be delighted to answer any questions you might have about LPAs

For further information, you can contact us by email info@bennett-griffin.co.uk or by calling 01903 229999

www.bennett-griffin.co.uk

My business, my story

In this issue we talk to Stella & Gemma, Owners of Two Faced Twins Gallery

When did you start your business and how has it changed?

We started our business in 2017. We had never created a piece of artwork together before setting up our business and it ended up taking an entire year to create a piece of art that we actually liked. Whilst experimenting with different styles of art, we began building our brand and developing our style of artwork to what it is now.

We then took on the challenge of taking on an empty shelter on Worthing seafront and transforming it into an amazing contemporary art gallery. It is now a successful and profitable business, selling artwork in our gallery, on our website and through social media.

How did you grow your business?

We have gradually grown our business over a period of about six years. When we started our business we focused on creating a memorable, striking brand that stands out from the crowd and excites people. We put a lot of time into creating visually pleasing photographs and videos of our artwork and products to showcase our work online, as well as building a strong social media following on Facebook and Instagram.

We often host exciting events in our art gallery to celebrate print launches, product releases and gallery anniversaries, which helps spread brand awareness and build the business organically.

What challenges have you faced?

The main challenge we faced when we first started our business was turning our passion into a profitable art business. Firstly, we were figuring out how to create artwork as a collaborative team, which was very tricky because previously we had never created a piece of artwork together and we both have very different creative skills. Secondly, we had to figure out a style and theme of artwork that people would actually want to buy. Thirdly, it was a challenge to find avenues to sell our artwork and work out how to spread brand awareness.

Is there a particular project of which you are most proud?

We are very proud of creating a funky, recognisable brand that brings colour and joy to people’s lives. If we were to think of a particular project that we are most proud of, it would be a very special piece of artwork that we created for Holding Hands charity. The large piece of artwork depicts an elderly Worthing couple’s hands, who sadly passed away from covid a few days apart. We were contacted by their granddaughter, who asked us if we would create this piece of artwork. We decided to create it for charity and it ended up appearing on television and we managed to raise over £2,000. We donated the artwork to Worthing hospital where it is now displayed on the wall in the covid department.

What’s one piece of business advice you would tell your younger self?

When we started our business, we spent a lot of time finding an art style that would satisfy us creatively, as well as being commercial enough to sell and turn into a profitable business. We would have advised our younger selves to carefully research the market and find out what is currently in fashion within the art and interior design world.

Email address: info@twofacedtwins.com

Phone number: 07957280389

www.twofacedtwins.com

Women in business breaking down the barriers

Worthing & Adur Chamber is all about supporting women in business! As a team we are made up of four women who strive for the success of the Chamber and it’s members. We are also incredibly lucky to be surrounded by hundreds of inspirational business women who are members of the Chamber.

We asked a few of our members “what’s one barrier you have overcome as a woman in business?”

Jo Hunter, Piglets Pantry said: My biggest barrier is having faith and belief in what I do. I am a perfectionist, always striving to be the best and to make Piglets a shining star, this is both a blessing and a curse. Luckily I have a very supportive partner who keeps me grounded and always make sure that we congratulate ourselves on our fantastic achievements with maybe even a glass of fizz occasionally!”

www.pigletspantry.co.uk

Theresa Cooper, CooperativeHR said: “One barrier I’ve overcome has been the fear of failure. Starting and running a business is daunting but failing at business and then in turn feeling like I’ve failed my children and family was always a concern. Many people said, ‘you shouldn’t leave a steady job, think of your family’ or ‘what are you playing at?’. I wasn’t playing at anything, I was building a business for my family to feel proud of and despite initial doubts from myself and many others, with my drive and determination to never give up even when I got knockbacks and rejections and surviving through a pandemic, I think I can say that barrier has been broken! Onwards and upwards!

www.cooperativehr.co.uk

Kelly O’Haire, Seaside Creative said: “When I first started as a junior exec working at a specialist building services PR firm, I worked with a lot of men and came up against a huge amount of sexism, patronisation and outright misogyny (I could tell you some stories!). I took a lot of stick for not standing for it then and was glad to be labelled as a ‘feisty redhead’ as I could use it to tell men exactly when I thought they were being out of line. Now as a society where, for the majority of people, it’s second nature to think about how their actions make others feel and that’s a really good thing. This is not always the case and it’s a shame that we are still fighting equality battles but sometimes I do feel like we are starting to get there too.”

www.seasidecreative.co.uk

Lou McArragher, Conscious Connections said: “As I developed my business around my young children, I found that the child/housecare responsibilities that I had picked up during maternity leave stayed with me, making my workload double that of my husband. I’m not talking simply about the practical doing of it all, but the mental health load that comes with it. It wasn’t until I began my own self-development journey training as a Personal and Business Transformation Coach that I started to realise that it doesn’t all sit with me. I explored the ‘stories’ I had told myself, took responsibility for what I had created and gave myself permission to level the playing field. Duties are now divided up equally, and everyone pulls their weight. Not only does this have a huge impact on my wellbeing and energy, it also enables me to show up fully for those that I serve, and it models that everyone’s needs matter equally (and everyone has a contribution to make!).

www.cconnections.co.uk

Rachael Dines, Shake It Up Creative said: “The barrier I overcame is being taken seriously as a business owner when working as a freelance marketer at the beginning of my self-employed journey. I had a meeting with a local businessman once who sat in front of me and said he ‘liked to support local stay at home mums to earn a bit of pocket money’. I was already a Chartered Marketer with 10 years marketing experience and found this so condescending, I chose not to follow-up with him. Right there and then I decided that the quality of my work would speak for itself and that my personal circumstances should not affect the perception of what I could achieve. I still see him around and I wish he knew the business I’ve grown.”

www.shakeitupcreative.com

Real expertise. Real results.

We provide solutions to create, preserve and recover value across a range of complex situations.

What we do

Our strategic business advisers help clients create, preserve and recover value. No matter how complex the situation, we’ll be with you every step of the way.

We get under the skin of businesses in complex and difficult situations. With over 520 people including 78 partners, we have a deep understanding of why crises happen and how to find a way out.

Specialising in forensics, corporate finance, debt, restructuring and pensions, we deliver strategic solutions across a broad range of situations. Our five pillar services complement each other. We draw on experts within each of our service areas to put the best people in place for each circumstance.

Working across the board, from multinational organisations to small enterprises, we develop effective strategies for all kinds of businesses. Every situation is tackled with FRP’s honest, clear and considered approach.

For us quality and focus are important and doing the right thing will always be our priority.

Phil Harris Restructuring Advisory

Corporate Finance

Debt Advisory

Pensions Advisory

Forensic Services

Restructuring Advisory

We’re honest, clear and considered.

Giving you the clarity to understand all possible outcomes

Business is personal. When businesses face difficult times, the impacts can be life changing. We’re here to find solutions and explain the implications, so you have all the information you need.

Our Partner-led team gives clear and honest advice. It’s what we’re known for. Our highly skilled experts have hands-on experience handling the difficulties you face. So, whatever the situation, we can address issues efficiently and sensitively.

Wherever you are in the restructuring process, our team-approach draws on our breadth of services to manage risk, preserve and recover value. With a range of expertise at hand, we have the right people for every step and see matters through from start to finish.

Our advisers will explain the short and long-term implications of all your options, so you have straightforward advice you can rely on when you need it most.

80 Partners nationwide

520 Team members

26 UK locations

+44 (0)1273 916 694

+44 (0)7712 653 402

phil.harris@frpadvisory.com

Steve Baluchi Director

Restructuring Advisory

+44 (0)1273 916 676

+44 (0)7759 537 285

steve.baluchi@frpadvisory.com

When businesses face challenges, we unravel the complexities, solve problems and aim to protect value.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a new version of the popular GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) language model developed by OpenAI.

In plain English, that’s the artificial intelligence that sits behind chatbots and other natural language interfaces such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Home. ChatGPT was launched over the past few weeks and was specifically designed for chatbots and conversational AI applications.

You may already be familiar with the Turing Test – a psychological test applied in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics to identify whether a computer can “pass” as a human. ChatGPT certainly meets many of the benchmarks for this which has caused alarm bells in schools and universities where students may be tempted to use the free tool to generate assignments and homework answers.

One of the main advantages of ChatGPT is its ability to generate human-like responses in a conversation. This is achieved through its use of a transformer architecture and pre-training on a large dataset of human conversations. The model is able to understand the context of a conversation and generate appropriate responses, making it a useful tool for building chatbots that can engage in natural and coherent conversations with users.

In addition to its ability to generate human-like responses, ChatGPT also has a number of other useful features. The program has the ability to keep track of information mentioned earlier in a conversation and use it to inform its responses later on. This makes for a much more human approach to a conversation with the ability to respond not just to the last thing that was said, but based on the conversation as a whole. It can also handle multiple turns in a conversation, allowing it to have a more complex conversation with a user or even make recommendations based on several ideas.

One of the key applications of ChatGPT is in customer service chatbots. These chatbots can handle a wide range of enquiries and requests from customers, freeing up human customer service representatives to handle more complex or time-sensitive issues. ChatGPT can also be used to build chatbots for other applications, such as providing information or assisting with tasks.

One of the challenges in building chatbots with ChatGPT is ensuring that the responses generated by the model are accurate and appropriate. This can be achieved through careful training and fine-tuning of the model on a dataset of high-quality, humangenerated conversations. It is also important to monitor the performance of the chatbot and make adjustments as needed to ensure that it is able to provide useful and relevant responses to users.

Article by Holly Billinghurst, Director of TeachAllAboutIt Ltd

www.TeachAllAboutIt.uk

Spotlight on: Vertex Joinery Limited

How are you developing your business this year?

What’s your ‘elevator pitch’?

Vertex Joinery provides high quality, hand crafted timber windows, doors and joinery across the south coast and beyond. Having built up a good reputation, we are proud of the quality of the work we provide. As a company our ethos is simple. To provide high quality timber products at a fair price, on time and on budget. We like to work with the clients to ensure there is good communication between all parties involved and that expectations are aligned and met.

What’s the best part about your job?

The best part is seeing the end result of the process. When you start with a pile of timber and create something beautiful, it makes all the hard work worthwhile. Every day is different, so even when we are thrown a curveball, it’s good to see how we pull together to overcome the challenges posed. The customers like what we do and whether it be private customers or commercial clients we get some great feedback. Even from established contractors we sometimes get a wow!

Who is your dream client?

Every client and job is different. They all bring their own opportunities and challenges. Each one teaches us something. From listed period properties to new build developments we enjoy them all. Our dream client is, I suppose, someone who we can build a relationship with, who is easy to work with and cares about the property. And our repeat customers of course.

This year is already opening up lots of exciting opportunities. It sees us expanding further, opening up a new range, investing in some new equipment and then hopefully increasing staffing. Networking is going to be key for us this year. Getting ourselves ‘out there’, advertising and having a higher social media presence is high on our agenda. Relationships are better made face to face. We like to meet people so if you are interested, we would love to come and see you.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

5 years is a long time in today’s market. By continuing to improve, develop our processes and expand our ranges, we aim to build on our reputation for providing excellent workmanship. Respect and trust come hand in hand. We aim to continue to grow in knowledge and numbers and continue to challenge ourselves to produce beautifully crafted and innovative products.

www.vertexjoinery.co.uk

t: 01903 256159

e: info@vertexjoinery.co.uk

Wellbeing assessments in the workplace

Support your staff to keep healthy and well. Adur & Worthing Wellbeing is giving free Wellbeing Assessments to employers and staff in the Adur and Worthing area.

Adur & Worthing Wellbeing offers a free service to support you to improve the health of your workforce.

Benefits for employers:

• Increased productivity

• Less absence

• Fewer workplace injuries

• Greater staff retention

Benefits for employees:

• Better physical health

• Better mental health and wellbeing

• Early detection of health issues

• Less sickness

Our trained Advisors use accurate body analysis scales to calculate your BMI, hydration and visceral fat amongst other things. We offer a free one-toone consultation to identify small changes that can make a big difference such as losing weight, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol and getting more active.

Employee wellbeing has become a key issue for employers as organisations face the costs and potential impact of high absence levels and employee ill-health.

If you would like to arrange for a Wellbeing Advisor to visit your workplace visit www.adur-worthing.westsussexwellbeing.org.uk

Success story – Cedar Garage

With the help of an Adur & Worthing Wellbeing Advisor, staff who work at Cedar Garage have been given free well-being check-ups as part of a drive to improve health and wellbeing in the community.

The one-to-one wellbeing assessments evaluate the worker’s emotional health, activity levels, hydrations levels and weight.

The owner of Cedar Garage, Kevin Pearce is confident that by focusing on the wellbeing of his employees, his business is fitter as a result.

“Our technicians need to be on the ball, physically and mentally, so it makes good business sense for us to prioritise employee wellbeing”.

Kevin Pearce, Owner of Cedar Garage

What is sustainable marketing?

Addressing your environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives are key in today’s business world and will add value to your business. Ensuring your marketing supports and communicates these values is vital.

Marketing is very much part of your entire business, it should never be seen as a standalone function because marketing is the conduit between your customer and your business; it should champion your customer; have a hand in new product development, shape services, raise brand awareness, create goodwill, secure new customers, and ultimately drive profit, so spanning every area of your business.

Sustainable marketing works because it promotes the core ESG values that your business has decided to adopt, be those environmental issues; reducing waste and water; social values; advocating a healthy work/ life balance and supporting your local community or governance plans.

Good communication of your company’s commitment will help your business stand out and will earn the loyalty of your customers, which creates a competitive advantage.

Studies show that consumers are more likely to purchase a locally sourced product and prefer to work with businesses that are environmentally conscious. So, there are many approaches your business could take to becoming more sustainable, such as sourcing environmentally conscious packaging, adopting more efficient recycling, assisting employees with options for green travel or donating to sustainable causes.

However, never underestimate the commitment needed to support your initiatives. Sustainable

marketing simply won’t work if your marketing is based on buzz words or hot topics – the ethos must come from a deep foundation within to want to change the way in which you work and improve the prospects for future generations.

When you are considering adopting a sustainable marketing strategy consider creating an overall sustainable vision that can run through the heart of your business. Look for areas of improvement, think ahead and build long term value for your customers which reduce environmental impact; and plan consistent objectives to create communications that show your customers how working with you contributes to a broader goal.

Once you consider the wider impact of your actions, incorporate a sustainable ethic into your business and engage in sustainable marketing you could see a new, really great way forward for your company – and for the planet!

To find out more or discuss your next campaign please email sheryl@tiptonmarketing.co.uk

Sheryl Tipton FCIM Chartered Marketer, Tipton Marketing www.tiptonmarketing.co.uk

Sustainable marketing is communicating your commitment to sustainability to your customers, your suppliers, your employees and to those in your community.

Why join Worthing & Adur Chamber?

Promoting, supporting and connecting local businesses.

We are here to promote, support and connect our members, who are a diverse mix of large and small businesses all with the same aim – to succeed.

There are so many benefits to being a member, whether you want to raise your profile, accelerate your business growth, connect with your business community or simply just be part of it. The Chamber’s purpose is to support businesses, big or small to ensure and encourage success.

• Great choice of quality business networking and social events

• Member to member introductions

• Annual headline events including the Better Business Show, AGM & Chamber Summit

• Exclusive member only events

• Promotion of members events

• Topical forums - have your say

• Discounted rate at Sussex Chamber Events

• Digital marketing opportunities via Chamber website, social media and e-news

• Sponsorship opportunities for events, website and business enews

• Promotional opportunities in Chamber Connect Magazine

• Member listing on the Chamber website and member links

• Access to LinkedIn group

• Annual social media shoutouts

• Promotion of member offers

• Save money with member to member offers

• Chamber member logo to download and display

• Corporate rate for FIT4 membership to all chamber members details here

• Leadership opportunities as an Ambassador, Executive Committee member or on a working group

• Affiliated to Sussex Chamber with access to Westfield health plan, AA Roadside Assistance, AXA health at Hand, Moneycorp Foreign Exchange

• Business advice and information including funding

• Quarterly Chamber Connect magazine

• Access to Sussex Chamber International trade events

• Be part of the local business community

• Access to local authorities and Government

Together business is stronger

The Chamber offers an excellent opportunity to keep up to date with current and local issues, find out about the local and national grants and changes that affect businesses.

It was a no brainer to become a Chamber member when I started my business!

Worthing & Adur Chamber have been nothing short of fantastic. The communications, training, events and opportunities that are on offer have been supercharged in both quantity and quality.

• Access to preferential rates on Chamber Academy training workshops

• Opportunity to deliver training session in your specialist area

• Share your expertise with a growing group of local professionals

• Discounted rate on Sussex Chamber training courses

• Exclusive Peer Mentoring programme to develop your business

• Set business aims with a FREE 3 hour annual business workshop

Got a funny story about your job?

Why not use it to engage young people about work!

As many of you know, links between colleges and local businesses are important to help young people understand how the world of work operates. Joint interaction helps young people apply curriculum learning to the real world as well as understand how they fit into employment.

In the coming months, we are really hoping to build on work that has already been done (for example by local schools/colleges and businesses) and use this as a foundation to encourage more employers to help influence our local workforce of the future. Your anecdote could inspire a young person’s career!

Adur & Worthing Councils, in collaboration with the Coast to Capital LEP Careers Hub/Careers & Enterprise Company and local businesses have developed a fun, easily repeatable programme called Fit 4 The Future. The programme has been designed with ease and accessibility in mind, taking into account time and resource demands of businesses.

The programme is a series of interactive presentation slides, with the whole session led by the teacher. The session can be delivered over 1 hour or 3 bite size sessions of 20 minutes.

Businesses complete a number of slides, providing photos of their industry as well as a few details about a job role (usually the employee presenting). The programme elicits a number of factors including details about the industry, jobs within the industry, an opportunity to promote your business (a chance to tell your funny story!) as well as the skills and qualities needed within your workplace. Young people have the chance to ask you questions as well as learning of any job opportunities you might have now or in the future.

We’ve had great feedback on the programme and any employee from your business can take part. We are now ready to roll this out across our local area.

Steve Gardner who owns The Factory Live, a local live music and performance venue in Worthing, has been helping to shape the programme and says “Our team have found the programme a great way to connect with young people and tell them about our local business and the opportunities within our sector. We were proud to be part of the design process and the end result is a programme which is very rewarding for minimal effort. Its very inclusive and any staff member can take part”.

If you would like to know more, we are holding an information session on Thursday 29th March from 9.30 - 11.30 at Worthing Town Hall in Committee Room 2. This session is open to anyone who is interested in seeing the programme and understanding how they can get involved. For more information, please email angela.crane@adur-worthing.gov.uk

www.adur-worthing.gov.uk

Recent data from the Bank of England indicates the UK is set to enter recession this year but it will be shorter and less severe than previously thought. As a result, the BoE believes fewer people are likely to lose their jobs, but the economy remains fragile. Inflation now appears to be falling, but warned there are still “big risks out there” which could continue to impact on the economy.

To understand the risks to our local landscape, Adur & Worthing Councils ran an engagement exercise with businesses and business organisations to gain greater insight into how local businesses were fairing with the challenging economic conditions.

The evidence would suggest a mixed picture. Furthermore, consumer confidence plays an important part when economies are fragile. The severity of recessions can be talked up or down and this can have a direct effect on how the consumer spends their money.

Therefore, there is a balancing act, to both protect businesses from a shrinking economy as well as stimulating growth where growth might occur. Adur & Worthing Councils have therefore been exploring how and where they could focus support to help our local economy.

A few strands have emerged…

The below is a list of areas where we think businesses might welcome support - but have we got this right?

1. Sustainability

2. Innovation

3. Digital & Creative

4. Recruitment

5. Buy Local

Furthermore, how best could any support package be delivered and what does that actually look like in practice. Workshops? Mentoring? Discounted or fully funded consultancy?

The next two years will be critical for our economy. Government and Local Authorities play a role in helping to navigate this unsteady trading period.

Let us know what would be useful to you by emailing economyteam@adur-worthing.gov.uk

www.adur-worthing.gov.uk

How do we get growth in our local area, whilst supporting businesses at a tricky time?

Designed to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to survive, thrive and build resilience now and for the future.

innovate, Connect, grow

Barclays Eagle Labs is a national network of incubator spaces designed to help entrepreneurs and ambitious businesses to innovate and scale.

Barclays Eagle Labs is a national network of incubator spaces designed to help entrepreneurs and ambitious businesses to innovate and scale.

With a number of Eagle Labs across the country, our focus is to help accelerate UK scale-ups, promote collaborative innovation and enable access to new and emerging technologies.

With a number of Eagle Labs across the country, our focus is to help accelerate UK scale-ups, promote collaborative innovation and enable access to new and emerging technologies.

We provide business incubation, growth programmes, mentoring and co-working and office space for ambitious high-growth businesses, as well as learning and insight expertise.

We provide business incubation, growth programmes, mentoring and co-working and office space for ambitious high-growth businesses, as well as learning and insight expertise.

Eagle Labs is one of the largest networks of tech-focussed, start-up incubators in the UK, supporting more than 30 locations physically as well as providing UK-wide virtual support through our events and business growth programmes.

Eagle Labs is one of the largest networks of tech-focussed, start-up incubators in the UK, supporting more than 30 locations physically as well as providing UK-wide virtual support through our events and business growth programmes.

We started by taking over under-used spaces from the Barclays estate but have evolved to working with partners who share our vision to

We started by taking over under-used spaces from the Barclays estate but have evolved to working with partners who share our vision to

create a progressive business community and have extended our reach beyond Barclays’ spaces by partnering with organisations such as CodeBase, Avenue HQ and Tramshed Tech, to name a few.

create a progressive business community and have extended our reach beyond Barclays’ spaces by partnering with organisations such as CodeBase, Avenue HQ and Tramshed Tech, to name a few.

We’re delighted to be working with Freedom Works and supporting entrepreneurs and founders from all over Sussex, providing access to technical expertise, business growth programmes, mentoring and connections.

We’re delighted to be working with Freedom Works and supporting entrepreneurs and founders from all over Sussex, providing access to technical expertise, business growth programmes, mentoring and connections.

To find out how we can support you and your business, get in touch with Ecosystem Manager, Claire Johnson.

To find out how we can support you and your business, get in touch with Ecosystem Manager, Claire Johnson.

Further information, including how to connect Claire, can be found at: labs.barclays/locations/crawley labs.barclays/locations/hove labs.barclays/locations/worthing

Further information, including how to connect Claire, can be found at: labs.barclays/locations/crawley labs.barclays/locations/hove labs.barclays/locations/worthing

Keeping it Special!

Did you know that Worthing and Adur has specialised in a huge variety of things across thousands of years? Kelly O’Haire celebrates 3 of them below:

Stone Age Specialists

Did you know that thousands of years ago the flint mined in the Downs surrounding Worthing and Adur was considered to be some of the highest quality in Britain? There is evidence that our flint was of such high quality that it was traded all over the UK. Some of the oldest mines are up near Cissbury ring near Findon and are thought to date from between 4-5000 BC. It’s thought that there were between 100 and 200 mine shafts at Cissbury at the height of this period. The picture (thanks to Worthing Museum) shows Worthing amateur archeologist, John Pull (far right) when he excavated the neolithic flint mine at Black Patch hill in 1922.

Health Specialists

Did you know that modern Worthing made its name over 200 years ago in the early 1800s with two royal visitors? First, Princess Amelia chose to convalesce in the town due its ‘good air’ then, a few years later, Princess Charlotte visited and stayed in Warwick House. Her brother, the Prince Regent, apparently rode his horse along the coast from Brighton to visit her. This created a whole new tourist and health industry, with hotels and apothecaries popping up and sea bathing machines (pictured) being introduced. The centre of Worthing rapidly grew from a tiny fishing village into the town centre we know today, where the road layout is still fairly similar.

Food Specialists

Did you know the reason Worthing has 4 train stations is because the town was famed for its salad crops and especially tomato growing. Acres of greenhouses covered what are now housing estates and Worthing tomatoes were taken by train from West Worthing station up to Covent Garden and shipped all over the world. The picture shows West Worthing station in 1905 with what looks like a delivery barrow in the foreground. Today, Worthing’s food industry is having a resurgence, thanks to people like Kenny Tutt opening eateries in and around the town.

NEW FLUX PIERCING

ACUMEN LAW

We are Business Law specialists who quote fixed fees at the outset and advise clients from all over the world. Democratically run by all, with no secretaries, letters dictation or pretension- just modern, approachable, smart lawyers and top notch support of a different kind.

www.acumenbusinesslaw.co.uk

AMBER CELEBRANCY

Every person, every couple, every story and every family is unique. A bespoke ceremony by LesleyAnne Lloyd at Amber Celebrancy is completely focussed to that uniqueness and creates a reflection of your love and your life.

www.ambercelebrancy.com

CRE COMMUNICATIONS

Our goal is to provide you with a combined telecommunications solution that grows with you. From the very beginning, you’ll speak to a CRE representative that will be devoted to making your life easier

www.crecomms.co.uk

ECE ARCHITECTURE

ECE Architecture is an AJ100 award-winning architecture practice dedicated to the successful design and delivery of projects that exceed expectations in the widest sense. www.ecearchitecture.com

FIRE, SALT & SEA

Fire, Salt & Sea is a wood-fired sauna pop-up sited on the pebbles of Worthing beach.

Our Finnish-style sauna is converted from a vintage horsebox and features a genuine 200kg woodfired stove. With unbroken views out to the sea, you can relax and recharge immersed in nature

www.firesaltsea.co.uk

Award winning Flux Piercing Studio is Worthing’s longest standing purely piercing studio. Providing a fully insured piercing, consultation and aftercare service, delivered by experienced piercers. Flux stocks the highest quality titanium and gold jewellery from reputable award winning jewellers

www.fluxpiercing.co.uk

JAMES TURNER (AMANDA REDMAN FINANCIAL PLANNING)

A Financial Adviser operating around Worthing and Adur districts covering all areas of financial services from retirement planning, to investment, to protection for you and your family.

james.turner@sjpp.co.uk

JG CARE MANAGEMENT

HSE guided delivery of healthcare courses for care homes specialising in first aid at work, administration of medicine, manual handling and all other mandatory care courses. Certificated awards delivered on site or at an agreed venue.

www.jgcaremanagement.co.uk

LQS HEALTHCARE SERVICES

LQS Healthcare Services Ltd is a home care provider based in Lancing. We provide quality care to clients within their own homes. All our staff are dependable and adapt to clients’ changing needs.

www.lqshealthcareservices.co.uk

MARLOWE MARKETING

At Marlowe Marketing, we help service businesses win the clients they want with an amazing digital brand. By integrating a customer focused content marketing approach with SEO and digital marketing best practice, we’ll create tailored strategies for your business.

www.marlowemarketing.com

We would like to welcome our new chamber members and thank the renewing members for their continued support!

MONTAGUE GALLERY

We are an art gallery with a difference, formed by an artist and photographer.

Our mission is to offer a professional gallery space in the centre of Worthing to showcase and sell the work of over 40 local artists and makers.

www.montaguegallery.co.uk

MORE RADIO

More Radio is the only independent commercial radio station that covers the whole of Sussex, More Radio Worthing is available on 107.7FM and on DAB. With thousands on listeners tuning in every day we are the perfect platform to help market your business across Worthing

www.moreradio.online

RENEW-U

renew-U offers an opportunity for individuals, teams and organisations to gain an understanding of themselves and each other in order to develop a “tool box” of coping strategies around change, anxiety management and developing resilience.

www.renew-u.uk

SHEAR ARCHITECTURE

Our mission is to translate your dream into reality. It all starts by listening, then finding thoughtful ways to inspire, create and enhance your way of living. We ensure that you are listened to at all times while simplifying the technical challenges of architecture.

www.architecturaldesign.co.uk

TERRE DE SIENNE

Terre de Sienne is a microbatch bean to bar chocolate factory and shop, created in 2019 by French pastry chef Audrey Dufay. “We create chocolate bars from organic and ethical cacao beans, while respecting the environment and everyone involved in the production from the cacao plantation to the shop.

www.terredesiennechocolate.com

THE JOYFUL ACADEMY

The Joyful Academy is a place for business owners, entrepreneurs and creatives to bring the joy into work and life. Our workshops, courses, events and community are all about forgetting everything we’re told we ‘should’ be doing and focusing on what actually brings us joy.

www.thejoyfulacademy.thinkific.com

TRANSWORLD BUSINESS ADVISORS

We are your local business broker with the largest national and international network of existing buyers and investors always on the lookout for good businesses.

www.tworldba.co.uk

WHITEHEAD ROSS

Whitehead-Ross Education and Consulting (WREC) is an education and social welfare organisation. Founded in 2012, we deliver a variety of high-quality skills-related programmes and social services provision

www.wrecltd.co.uk

RENEWING

505 DIGITAL

We are a digital marketing agency based in the Worthing area, providing our clients with digital marketing solutions to help drive sales, phone calls, store visits or simply raise awareness of your brand.

www.505digital.com

A & T BUSINESS ASSOCIATES

Commercial Finance Broker & Business Consultant. Funding SMEs using a range of funding options to get the correct funding in place. business planning for start ups and established businesses as well as business development and strategic planning.

www.atbusinessassociates.co.uk

RENEWING A GREENER ALTERNATIVE

We install and service renewable heating systems. We are experts in ground and air source heat pumps, biomass heating through wood pellet, wood chip and log, MVHR, solar, underfloor and skirting heating and state of the art gas, oil and electric boilers.

www.agreeneralternative.co.uk

ADUR COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST

Community Land Trusts are a form of community owned housing and act as long term stewards of property ensuring rents are based on what people actually own in their area and that properties are owned by the community, for the community in perpetuity.

www.acclt.org.uk

ANDY’S ANGELS

Grief Play Café - Providing a free safe space for children and their families who are navigating their way through their grief journey after losing a loved one.

www.andysangels.org.uk

BALD DESIGNS

Probably the best bald graphic design agency based in Worthing and the south coast, supporting all local businesses with their brand identity, brochures, exhibition materials, marketing, SquareSpace websites and corporate reporting requirements.

www.balddesigns.com

BOUNDARY IT SERVICES

Boundary IT Services have been providing high quality IT, telephony and network solutions to businesses in the South East for over 10 years. With our team of enthusiastic and highly skilled IT professionals we pride ourselves in delivering robust, high quality services to suit all sizes and budgets.

www.boundaryitservices.co.uk

BRIANT BROADBAND

Discover the best with a small, customer service focused business can do with our friendly team at Briant Broadband: a fibre-fast broadband provider that connects you to what matters, from a local provider that values you as a person, and cares about being there when you need us.

www.briantbroadband.com

CARE FOR VETERANS

Supporting physically disabled ex-Service personnel of the past, present and future. Providing residential nursing care, rehabilitation, respite and end of life care to physically disabled ex-Service personnel and their families

www.careforveterans.org.uk

CARMEN CALVO

Legal services and Spanish law, with a focus on cross-border and international cases

www.carmencalvo.co.uk

DMCA ARCHITECTS

Located in West Sussex, DMCA Architects is a RIBA Chartered Practice providing contemporary designs for bespoke commercial and residential projects, under-pinned by in-depth research, conscientious planning and rigorous detailing.

www.dmca-architects.com

EGALITE CARE

Egalité are a multi award-winning family run care agency who are rated by CQC as Outstanding and voted Best Care Employer in the South East in 2022. Providing home care/domiciliary care to adults in and around Worthing and Adur.

www.egalitecare.com

ENGAGE WEALTH MANAGEMENT

We are independent financial planners. Based in Worthing and Hove, we advise business owners, those approaching retirement, and senior executives. We focus on lifestyle financial planninghelping our clients truly live their desired lifestyle.

www.engagewm.co.uk

EXPERT VA SERVICES

At Expert Virtual Assistant Services Ltd we are here to be an extra pair of hands for your business to help save you time, money and stress. With us, you only pay for the work that gets done!

www.expertvaservices.co.uk

FIZZ CREATIONS

Here at Fizz our aim is to design fun, innovative and quality lead products. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of our design and concepts to provide a fresh look within the gift industry.

www.fizzcreations.com

FREEDOM WORKS

Modern and fresh co-working & collaborative office rental in the heart of Worthing. Freedom Works offers ‘open plan’ and ‘private offices’ aimed at individuals and companies who want to work in a flexible and creative environment with like-minded folk.

www.freedomworks.space

GLIDE TRAINING

Glide Training is a specialist provider of IT training with a focus on the end objectives of the individual, the team and their organisation. We have a unique requirements-led approach.

www.glidetraining.com

GUILD CARE

We are a Worthing based charity providing care homes, respite care, home care, dementia respite support, and services for people with learning disabilities. Supporting people to live well, enjoy life, and love every day.

www.guildcare.org

GWCA

GWCA Solicitors provide legal services for individuals and businesses, with offices in Arundel, Broadwater, Goring, Hove, Lancing Rustington, Steyning and Worthing. We take pride in offering a professional service at affordable rates.

www.gwca.co.uk

HARGREAVES

The Hargreaves Group is a private property business. We have built and retain over 2 million square feet of commercial property offering high specification space in all sectors and specialising in offices, logistics, retail warehouse, industrial and trade counter premises.

www.hargreaves.co.uk

HR DEPT

The HR Dept provides outsourced HR services to SMEs. We do everything an in-house HR Dept would do but at a fraction of the cost. With offices in Chichester, we also cover Bognor Regis, Arundel, Worthing, Shoreham and Horsham.

www.hrdept.co.uk/sussex-by-the-sea

INGRID SBONGK-SKONDERFELD SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPIST

Female sports massage therapist based in WestWorthing with over 20 years experience as a mental health worker. Well aware of the importance of physical wellbeing with relation to good mental health.

www.sportsmassage-worthing.co.uk

IT’S PZAZZ

If you’re looking for a way to ensure your business is visible online then social media is the way to go! We work with businesses to ensure they are visible to their target market, through regular social media posting, social media management and social media advertising.

www.itspzazz.com

JACQUI MOORHOUSE - FACILITATOR & TRAINER

Facilitator for Chamber Peer Mentoring groups. Also, Personal development and positive wellbeing trainer; group facilitation; action learning sets.

JJ + H ACCOUNTING SERVICES

Offering accounting services and compliance advice to solicitors and legal firms. Helping legal firms simplify their finance processes, allowing them to focus on their core business.

www.jjandh.co.uk

RENEWING

LANCING BUSINESS PARK

Lancing Business Park is the 2nd largest business area in West Sussex, with over 250 businesses and 3000 employees based on the park. The park is ideally located with direct connectivity to Worthing, Brighton, London and Europe through major road and rail networks.

www.lancingbusinesspark.co.uk

LES ALDEN FOUNDATION

Les Alden Foundation is a local charity managing Worthing Food Foundation and Worthing Uniform Centre. Both are run entirely by local volunteers and supported by a combination of grants and donations, either in kind or financial.

www.lesaldenfoundation.org.uk

MILLER PARRIS SOLICITORS

Miller Parris is a long established and friendly law firm in Broadwater, Worthing. Our experienced legal professionals provide advice on a wide range of personal and business legal matters.

www.millerparris.co.uk

MINT DESIGN STUDIO

For businesses and professionals who want to impress, inform and attract customers with a well designed website, distinctive branding and impressive promotional materials.

www.mintdesign.studio

MOMENTUM BUSINESS SUPPORT

Established in 2013, we pride ourselves on being ‘the original remote workers’, expertly curating the perfect teams and individuals to support you and your business.

www.momentumbusinesssupport.com

SJM ELECTRICAL SERVICES

SJM Electrical Services Ltd are your trusted, multi award winning family run electrical company situated in the heart of Worthing West Sussex. We specialise in all aspects of electrical work in the commercial, domestic and industrial sectors.

www.sjmelectricalservices.co.uk

SOMPTING ESTATE

Sompting Estate comprises about 7 square kilometres of countryside in the heart of the Sussex Downs, between Worthing and Steyning, at the narrowest point of the South Downs National Park.

www.somptingestate.com

SPRATT & SON

Chartered Surveyors & Estate Agents. We have an in-depth knowledge of all property matters relating to commercial sales and lettings, surveys and valuations, residential lettings and management, leasehold block management and commercial property management.

www.sprattandson.co.uk

ST BARNABAS HOSPICE

We care passionately about the difference we can make, and always place patients at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to provide dignity, comfort and choice for adults who need our specialised, supportive care.

www.stbarnabas-hospice.org.uk

ST OSCAR ROMERO CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Our aim is simple, we want to be the best school in the country. This means that we can ‘hand on heart’ say that our students get a better deal than if they attended another school.

www.stromeros.co.uk

SURGICAL SENSE

Our consultancy services focus on our clients most critical needs in the Health Care space. With over 50 years’ experience we have a wide knowledge of the market and can support customers with sales, marketing, export, mergers and acquisitions and much more.

www.surgicalsense.co.uk

THE BRAND SURGERY

I’m Vicky Vaughan (FCIM FInstLM) and I am a Creative Chartered Marketer specialising in branding, rebrands and brand refreshes with a difference – my client’s brands all have brand soul and shine from the inside out.

www.thebrandsurgery.co.uk

THE MARTLET PARTNERSHIP

The Martlet Partnership LLP is a thriving and rapidly growing Worthing based firm of Chartered Accountants serving the local business community in all aspects of their day to day business and taxation affairs.

www.martletpartnership.com

TIPTON MARKETING

Tipton Marketing is a local, bespoke marketing and training consultancy, founded and managed by Sheryl Tipton FCIM. Services include: marketing strategy and planning, digital campaigns, public relations, content management and in-house and virtual training.

www.tiptonmarketing.co.uk

UNIVERSITY OF CHICHESTER

We believe our university is enriched by having students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds. Higher education should be open to everyone who has the ability and potential to benefit from it, regardless of age, ethnicity, disability or family background.

www.chi.ac.uk

VERTEX JOINERY

Our innovative and forward thinking team at Vertex Joinery specialise in manufacturing high quality and beautifully crafted timber windows doors and joinery. Keen to build on our good reputation, we pride ourselves on both customer service and the quality and attention to detail of the work we provide.

www.vertexjoinery.co.uk

VICKI LUISA

You will find a wide range of bespoke hand crafted jewellery of many styles. From fine sterling silver egyptian style pendants, necklaces to glass pieces. All my jewellery is totally unique hand crafted pieces that are impossible to replicate.

www.vickiluisa.com

WALL BROS

Wall Bros are your independent award winning flooring experts! We supply and fit a huge variety of beautiful carpets, wood floors, waterproof vinyl and laminate, for domestic and commercial settings. Whatever your floors need we have it covered. Visit our Worthing or Storrington stores or call to discuss your needs today.

www.wallbrosforcarpets.co.uk

WOODSTOCK DAY NURSERY

Day Nursery open all 52 weeks Monday to Friday 7.30am to 6pm for children aged between 6 weeks and 5 years. Situated close to Worthing beach in a detached house with a large, safe garden. Highly qualified team of practitioners, including four early years teachers.

www.nestledownchildcare.co.uk

Upcoming Chamber Events

Come and join us at our vibrant events and let us take the hard work out of networking. Build your connections, collaborate and drive your business forwards.

First Friday

Friday 14th April | 12:30pm – 2:00pm

Venue: The Burlington Hotel, Worthing

Free to attend

First Friday is a networking event which is held on the First Friday of each month. These networking events have been going since 2009 with around 10 to 20 businesses attending each month.

These events are organised by Tony Hedger from A&T Business Associates. and co-promoted by Worthing & Adur Chamber. Click here to book.

Chamber Hub

Thursday 20th April | 12:30pm – 2:00pm

Venue: Lancing Manor Leisure Centre

Free to attend

Join fellow members for our popular Chamber Hub networking session. This is a relaxed and informal networking session where you can meet like-minded businesses and build on your connections. Click here to book.

Adopting sustainable business practices – Networking Breakfast

Friday 28th April | 7:30am - 9:00am

Venue: Moes Coffee Bar, Portland Road, Worthing

Cost: Members: £15 + VAT | Non-Members Taster Ticket: £20 + VAT

Duncan Anderson, Chief Exec of South Downs Leisure will be joining us to talk about how South Downs Leisure developed their sustainability strategy. As well as sharing top tips for small and medium sized businesses to take away and implement into their businesses. Click here to book.

Networking Lunch with the Bank of England

Friday 1st June | 12:00pm – 2:30pm

Venue: The Burlington Hotel, Marine Parade, Worthing

Cost: Members: £26 + VAT

*Members Only* Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to hear from The Bank of England’s Deputy Agent for Central Southern England, Florence Hubert who will be giving an update on the The Bank of England and the UK economy. Click here to book.

To book please visit: www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk/chamber-events

Sponsored by Carpenter Box

Sponsored by Carpenter Box

Learn from the experts and improve your knowledge with the Chamber Training Academy

Peer Mentoring Taster Session

Date: Friday 24th March | Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm

Venue: The Sphere Business Centre, GB MET College, Broadwater Road, Worthing

Cost: Free to attend

Have you ever thought about how Peer Mentoring could help you and your business? The Chamber has been successfully running a Peer Mentoring programme for over 8 years, it is something we always recommend to our members to consider.

The Peer Mentoring Groups consist of 8-12 business owners from different business areas who are willing to learn from and support each other by sharing their expertise and varied skill sets in a confidential environment.

Expert Hour: How your eco and social value credentials can win new business

Date: Tuesday 28th March

Time: 10:30am – 11:30am

Venue: Online via Zoom

Cost: Members: Free |

Non-members: £5 + VAT

Organisations are being increasingly required by law (Companies Act 2006) to ensure they meet specific standards in environmental and social governance. We are hosting an Expert Hour with Clive Bonny from Strategic Management Partners who will be running a online session on zoom and will be running through the importance of environmental and social values in your business and how it can help you win more business in the future.

Assertiveness Training

Date: Friday 21st April

Time: 9:30am – 3:00pm

Venue: The Sphere Business Centre, GB MET College, Broadwater Road, Worthing

Cost: Members: £85+VAT | Non-members: £175+VAT

Do you have trouble saying “no”? Do you wish you had the confidence to deal with difficult situations at work effectively and assertively and without causing conflict? Would you like to be able to present your ideas and opinions in ways that enable you to feel heard and respected? This one day module will provide you with the tools to change.

To book please visit: www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk/chamber-training-academy

For more information or to book visit: www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk/chamber-training-academy