Small & Home Based Business - Working Group Campaigns

The group has a diverse membership, comprising people who run their own small and home-based businesses, as well as representatives from agencies such as Sussex Enterprise and Worthing CVS. This diversity is one of our core strengths, giving us a thorough insight into the small business community in the area – both from business people on the ground to those with a wider overview of the practical needs and requirements of local enterprise.

Our primary objective is to help develop and support the wealth of small and home-based businesses operating within Worthing, which make a significant contribution to the local economy. Part of this strategy is to identify potential areas for small and home-based business growth, working closely with the council and the Masterplan to establish business opportunities which not only benefit individuals, but the town as a whole.

Key to this is having an eye on the town’s shifting demographic, in order to keep ahead of changing demands. This helps us to identify the kinds of smaller businesses the town will need in the future, from the perspective of both user and owner.

Our largest project to date has been the commissioning of a survey to gain a clearer picture of exactly what type of smaller businesses we have operating in the town. This has been undertaken with the specific aim of establishing if there is a requirement for start-up business units to enable businesses to grow. The study is also looking at exactly what type of units and facilities would be required, should a need be identified.

We are also run the small business fair 'MicroBiz' every year. This provides an opportunity to showcase local small and home-based businesses, as well giving new and existing companies access to training and other tools vital to the development of their particular enterprise.

Medium & Large Enterprise - Working Group Campaigns

The Medium and Large Enterprise Group is chaired by Chris Coopey, Practice Director of Carpenter Box and was set up to provide a forum for companies employing more than 50 staff in the area to meet and communicate their concerns and expectations. Originally focused on the activities surrounding the Town's Industrial Estates, it quickly became the channel through which the larger employers in the area could informally share ideas.

This group is the natural arena for organisations such as the local NHS Trust, the Tertiary college sector as well as the major employers in the town to input their thinking on the legislative process - with the power of the Town's economic partnership underpinning it. Organisations such as SEEDA, West Sussex Economic Partnership and Sussex Enterprise will also input at this level.

The intention is to work predominatly through the medium of this website to enable key players in this field to exchange ideas in the Medium and Large Enterprise forum and for the meetings that result to be fully informed by these discussions in advance. It is important for Worthing's significant employers to be seen to be contributing to the economic development of the hinterland they inhabit. As employers, they have a responsibility for the economic wellbeing of their staff; as major business organisiations they have access to resources and thinking that smaller businesses do not; as visible peaks on the business terrain they fulfil an ambassadorial role in the wider region. Businesses outside the area will look to them as exemplars.

This group seeks to provide the means to do this. We intend to meet for lunch at key times of the year when informal discussion can take place in convivial surroundings - and at the same time go on the record. And in so doing, make a difference.

Workforce & Development - Working Group Campaigns

This working group, focusing on Workforce Enterprise and Recruitment.

The core strength of the group lies with the diverse skills and experience of the group members, who are largely representative of businesses in Worthing, along with individuals who have a desire to help shape opportunities for Worthing people.

At the heart of the groups focus, is the ideology that by raising awareness of ideas and successes, and sharing knowledge between business and Government funded enterprises, it is possible for Worthing to lead the way in generating opportunities for individuals to have challenging and rewarding work lives, and employers in Worthing to benefit from the skills that exist in the town, and reduce the war for talent and the need for individuals to leave Worthing to find “ well paid” work.

Preparing our next generation for work is also high on the agenda for the group, and one of the successes so far has been to bring together various inter-dependant groups in Worthing to establish the existence of a database with which schools can access for work-experience placements.

Looking to the future, the group recognises the continuing need to capture individuals who are entering and exiting the workforce, and this area of employment, combined with the high profile introduction of legislation in the U.K lends itself to on going projects for the group.

Marketing & Inward Investment - Working Group Campaigns

The work of the Marketing Group, chaired by Patrick Molloy, is primarily a support function to all other Working Groups as well as maintaining the profile of Worthing First as an organisation.

Members meet bi-monthly to discuss opportunities for PR, promotional material to recruit new members and identify ways of attracting inward investment into Worthing.

During the first year, the Marketing Group identified 5 core areas where immediate attention was required to provide a foundation for future activities.

• Create a mission statement for Worthing First

• Increase the profile of Worthing First and the overall aims and objectives of the group by communicating the mission statement

• Explore ways to attract new businesses and provide visitors to the Plenary with frequently available and updated visual material

• Manage the build of the website as a first point of contact for new members and businesses investigating the area ensuring it is updated regularly

• Maintain consistent visual communications which project Worthing First as a professional organisation striving to achieve its mission

• Investigate, analyse and evaluate the profiles of Worthing First members annually to ensure that all sectors of businesses are represented and member’s views are considered
Our first year has been busy and very successful, where many of the achievements below have been accomplished by the dedication and contribution of Marketing Group members who have donated their own valuable time and resources:

• Worthing First logo and branded stationery

• Provide a website to enable members, new members and visitors to the town to access an information point carrying news and information on Worthing First.

• Leaflets to facilitate existing Worthing First members to communicate the Worthing First mission and recruit new members

• Two exhibition panels used as a mobile recruitment tool at partner organisations’ exhibitions, events and meetings, as well as for use at plenary sessions.

• Created media coverage and encouraged attendance at the plenary sessions, from local journalists representing Worthing media.

• Adopted a members’ questionnaire to analyse and investigate current membership.
A strategic report for year one is soon to be available.

Transport - Working Group Campaigns

This working group deals with the issues that effect the town and local businesses. Its aim is to take local issues, present solutions and lobby for relevant changes.

Transport issues are perhaps the most visible of all things affecting the town and the one that probably affects every individual in some way.

What are the issues and how can we achieve them?

Simply commenting that the A27 is the problem is not enough. Asking for a bypass, whilst desirable for many, is simplistic and not addressing the entire problem. There are many issues that affect the town as well as the A27 Presenting solutions, short and long term will be the aim.

Other issues include parking, safety, the school run, health and the ambiance of the town.

Compromises will need to me made by one and all to achieve any desired improvement.

The Working Group will liaise with other interested groups so that we can, where applicable, combine our efforts in order to present a unified campaign.

In this age of increasing car use and limited public transport options, the right to drive is not denied, the right to arrive in a safe and timely manner and then to park is our concern.

Tourism - Working Group Campaigns

What is VisitWorthing?

VisitWorthing is made up of members with an interest in tourism within the town.

The group’s mission statement is as follows: ‘To enable and promote sustainable tourism growth for Worthing and the surrounding areas’.
Visit Worthing is a public / private partnership that actively engages in tourism promotion and product development.
 
VisitWorthing sits within the umbrella of Worthing First, the business partnership for Worthing. Tourism is just one of a number of working groups, made of interested business people from the town. Other working groups include Creative, Small and Home-based Business, Marketing and Communication, Transport and Workforce and Recruitment.
 
Worthing First and Worthing Borough Council have set up the Visit Worthing Tourism Working Group to become the lead forum for the forming, consultation and delivery of all future tourism policy within the borough.
 
The group is looking to expand the membership of this group to any business that has an interest in the sector.  This includes hotels, guest houses, restaurants, bars, attractions, language schools, event co-ordinators, leisure businesses, and a vineyard.
 
The current Chair of the group, Keith Gallis of Theatrical Experience, has lived in Worthing for many years and works in a proactive way but he will need your support in this vital work for Worthing. 
 
With his background in event organising, stage productions and travel and tourism, he is well placed with vast technical know how to publicise the group and to use his independence of both the tourism industry and the local council to lend a listening ear to all views.
 
Jason Nicholls, who is treasurer for VisitWorthing, commented, “The tourism sector has been a key component to the local economy for many years and much of Worthing's future regeneration will hinge on getting the towns approach to tourism right. 
 
“I would like to encourage anyone with an interest in Worthing Tourism to become a member because Visit Worthing is the way forward for tourism in the town and the more inclusive Visit Worthing is, the more we can achieve together.”
 
If you would like to know how you can get involved contact janice.fraser@worthing.gov.uk

Web Development - Working Group Campaigns

Well, if you read down this far, I'm impressed.

The web development team is responsible for keeping the Worthing First website, fresh and up to date. Keeping it professional, yet sexy and fun.

What you see currently is just phase one of a megasite, which will be the envy of all techies. We already have ecommerce, which allows us to sell tickets and products, weither that be, an exhibition stand at a MicroBiz... A sponsorship in the business awards, or even a Worthing First tee-shirt ;)

We are currently developing a searchable directory and a members area with loads of useful tools to make the site 'sticky'.

The site is built using a 'mistore' system (donated free of charge) - which benefits from regular updates from the developers. We're currently waiting for a 'search' facility which will be here any day now.

If you know anything about 'code' or are an avid copywriter, then get in touch - we need you.