Worthing Chamber Blog

Will Worthing be next for car parking price reductions?

One of the Sunday papers this week, highlighted exactly the problem that we have in Worthing - high twon centre car park prices.

The article highlights the issue of town councils that have increased car parking prices, which has had the direct effect of driving shoppers out of the town centres. These same town councils that thought that they could increase their coffers at the expense of the shopper's pockets are now starting to back track on their decisions.

Have you been shopping in Worthing on a Saturday recently? There is no way the car parks should be half empty, leading up to Christmas, but they are! And who can blame the shoppers? There is absolutely no incentive to come into Worthing to shop.

A recent study of 700 town centres revealed that 13% of high street shops are closed or vacant, while the retail parks, with free parking are still managing to ride out the recession.

While other town centres around the UK are now getting parking reductions, free evening parking and free Sunday parking, what is Worthing and NCP going to do to encourage shoppers back to Worthing Town Centre?

Worthing is a great shopping town, but the shame is, that other towns in West Sussex are simply doing more to attract the customers.

What do you think?

Sail on over to our Networking Event at the Sussex Yacht Club

FREE Mini Workshop followed by Chamber Chat Networking with a light buffet.   New Venue: Sussex Yacht Club Brighton Road Shoreham by Sea BN43 6RF (Why not bring a guest from this area!)    Wednesday 4th November 2009 Registration and Networking from 5pm Workshop from 5.30pm Networking and Buffet from 6.30pm   Workshop: Writing a Press Release  with Catherine Kelly of Primary PR What makes a good Press Release? Learn how to write it and get it into print. This will be an interactive workshop and we plan to produce a Press Release from a topic to be chosen on the night.   Parking is available on the site.     Members: £10.00 Non Members: £14.00 Member & Guest: £16.00 Booking essential as numbers are strictly limited, reserve your place now See www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk for more details

**** Important Information ***   We have now switched the event booking to our new website www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk   To the right is a view of what you will see on our website. If you are a current member and this is the first time you have logged on to the new site, in order for you to book the event as a member you will need to enter your email address and click on forgot password. You will be emailed a link to enable you to change your password for future use.   You will then be able to log in as a member and book the event. This will only have to be done once and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.   If you have any queries please email us     Many Thanks Tina Tilley CEO

At last, some falling business figures in Sussex! Recovery maybe?

This quarter has seen the third successive fall in the number of Sussex firms struggling in the recession. suggesting some confidence is returning to our local economy.

A total of 5,015 Sussex businesses showed signs of financial difficulty during the past three months, according to Begbies Traynor’s Red Flag Alert system, which tracks company data including winding-up petitions and other court actions and orders.

The figure is a fall from 5,741 during the previous quarter. So does it suggest that while companies are still finding it tough, things are getting better?

There is a reality check from Mark Froud, chief executive at Sussex Enterprise, he said: “It’s encouraging to see these figures, which show that the number of businesses experiencing financial difficulties is falling. We are also seeing a similar trend among the businesses we work with at Sussex Enterprise. Companies are telling us they are feeling more confident about the future, although there are still significant challenges to overcome. In a recent survey, 45% of Sussex firms told us they were optimistic about the future, compared with only 24% at the end of 2008."

He continued, “This economic period is like a hotel bath – there are steep sides with a sharp leveling out, including the bumpy bits, along the bottom. We are now bouncing along the bumpy part of the bath, with a strange combination of good news and bad news on a day-to-day basis."

And his finish is still very sober, “Businesses should be prepared for a slow, steady recovery and we still have a long way to go.”

Learn why apprenticeships are the way forward

Booking now open for FREE Networking Evening Apprenticeships - The proven way to train your new workforce   Wednesday 28th October 2009 4.30pm - 7.30pm (Registration 4.30 - 5.15)   Sponsored by: West Sussex County Council   Venue: Lancing College, Lancing Speaker: Rod Kenyon - Centrica   Worthing & Adur Chamber of Commerce supported by W. Sussex County Council and their strategic partners would like to invite you to an information and networking evening where there will be a presentation on apprenticeships. This event is FREE but booking is essential as numbers are limited. Light refreshments will be served.    "What do Jaguar, Land Rover, Mulbery and Tesco have in common?  The answer is that, along with many small and medium-sized companies, they are expanding their Apprenticeship programmes, even in these uncertain times.  Why? Because they understand that a skilled workforce can help them weather tough market conditions and emerge stronger when the upturn comes. In fact, businesses that invest in training are far more likely to survive a downturn than those that don't." (LSC, Apprenticeships, September 2009)  Booking essential as numbers are strictly limited, reserve your place now

 

Important Booking Information

We have now switched the event booking to our new website www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk   To the right is a view of the log in box on our website you will need to use to book the event.   If you are a current member you will need to enter your dedicated email address and click on forgotten password you will then be emailed your password and can log in.  You will need to use this email address and password for all future log-in and bookings. If you experience a problem trying to log in please check the dedicated email address against your company entry at www.worthingandadurchamber.co.uk  you will need to use the listed email address at all times. If you have any queries please email events@worthingchamber.co.uk   Many Thanks Tina Tilley CEO

The Worthing B2B Exhibition 2009 - The Business Workshops

The year the Worthing B2B Exhibition, takes place at the Charmendean Centre on September 8th. This year there is an interesting array of workshops that are worth considering attending:

Business 2 Business Exhibition 8th September 10 am - 3 pm  Charmandean Centre FREE entry! FREE parking! FREE workshops!   Speed Networking Lunch!

 

Workshop and Event Schedule   10.20 - 10.35am Workshop 1      Top Tips for business growth. Presented by Paul Trew of Northbrook College. 11.00 - 11.15am Workshop 2      The 15 minute Sales Strategy All the key points you need to consider to ensure you have a sales strategy that works and wins you business. Presented by Clifford Thomas of Business Development Consultancy   11.30 - 11.45 am Workshop 3      Effective presentation skills - you don't get a second chance to make a first impression Presented by Paul Trew of Northbrook College 12.00 - 12.15 am Workshop 4      How social networking can help develop your business using Twitter Presented by Andy Headworth of Sirona Consulting 12.30 - 1.30 pm      Speed Networking Lunch. Numbers are strictly limited so booking is essential, £5.00 per head with all proceeds going to the Worthing Hospital CT Scanner Appeal. Buffet lunch to be provided by Northbrook College Go to www.sussexnewspaperevents.com  book your place now, numbers limited. or email events@worthingchamber.co.uk   2.00 - 2.45 pm      Guest speaker - Gill Fielding Gill Fielding, founder of The Wealth Company is a successful entrepreneur, business owner and highly respected commentator in the business arena.    Gill has presented at the Business Start Up show at Olympia, is one of Channels 4's 'Secret Millionaires', has appeared as a business advisor on both BBC and ITV and has been seen as one of the experts on the 'Apprentice - You're Fired' show on BBC 2.

 

 

The Worthing B2B Exhibition 2009 - Are you going on the 8th September?

Chamber Chat Twitter for Business Workshop slides

For those of you that came along to the presentation by Andy and Sara Headworth on Tuesday 2nd September, as promised here is a copy of the slides for Twitter for Business.

Twitter For Business

View more presentations from Andy Headworth.

Also if you would like a copy of the handouts given out after the presentation then click on the link below to view and download a pdf version:

Download Twitter for Business Handout

Download SironaSocialMedia Pricing Handout

Twitter for Business Workshop

Last Chance to BOOK NOW

for our next

FREE Mini Workshop

with more in depth information on

'How to use Twitter for your Business'

followed by  Chamber Chat networking

  with a drink and light buffet

 

Wednesday 2nd September from 5pm

Skylight Suite, Nsure House, 93 Rowlands Road,

 Worthing, BN11 3JX

(Parking at the back of the building)

 

The phenomenon of Twitter is growing at an incredible rate, there are many ways to use twitter for you to increase business awareness and even win orders, you just need to 'think outside the box' and our workshop will help you to do just that.

Ten reasons to use TWITTER for business
1. Branding
2. Hiring people
3. Traffic
4. Networking
5. Notify customers / Job seekers
6. latest news
7. Find prospects
8. Get feedback
9. Make friends with peers
10. Track your competitors

 

This workshop run by Andy Headworth, is a follow up to the hugely successful workshop we ran in March and he will be taking us through more in depth use of Twitter and some top tips for using twitter for your business.

Registration and networking from 5pm
Free Mini Workshops starts at 5.30pm

If you just want to join us for the networking and not the workshop this will start from 6.30pm but please still book your place.

 

Members: £10.00

                           
Non Members - £14.00

Member & Guest - £16.00

  

**Due to the popularity of this event we will have to charge for any no-shows on the day or cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.

for more information visit www.worthingchamber.co.uk

Worthing Birdman 2009 in film

For all of you that attended the Worthing Birdman, we think you will agree that it was a great event. For those of you who weren't there, or if you wanted to relive some of the moments, then these excellent videos by Hot Dog Media will remind you of the event.

Worthing Birdman Part 1

Worthing Birdman Part 2

And as a little bonus, the Worthing Birdman made it onto the BBC Sports News....of course!!

Click the link here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8219525.stm

International Worthing Birdman to be worth £500k to Worthing business!

Half a million pounds!! That is what Sharon Clarke, the Worthing Birdman organiser says it is worth having the event in Worthing.

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Worthing this weekend for the second annual Birdman Rally. She also said that it generated at least £260,000 worth of free worldwide publicity for Worthing.

And with decent weather forecast, Mrs Clarke hopes the rest will be spent in cafes, restaurants, pubs and shops as up to 20,000 visitors pack the seafront to watch the rally. She said £500,000 was an excellent return for the £50,000 it cost to stage the event.

But where are the advertising banners Sharon? Surely we could have put a few up to advertise the event even more, and generate more business for Worthing?

Mrs Clarke said: “Over the weekend seafront businesses will see a 100-150% increase in trade. “I am getting so many phone calls, especially from seafront traders getting themselves prepared.”

What do you think? Is this a realistic figure for Worthing, or do you thing it will be greater than the £500k Sharon is predicting?

(Just out of interest, how will we know the value of the event? What measures are in place?)

Let's just pray that we get a better weekend of weather than last year!! Good luck all you flyers!