Worthing First News

The latest news from Worthing First....

Worthing First - The Future 24/11/2007

Worthing First has a new structure, some new faces and some new fresh ideas and projects.
 
The focus however remains unchanged. Worthing First’s key aim is to gather the views from different sectors of the Worthing business community and provide a central voice.
 
As the only all-inclusive business partnership for Worthing, Worthing First currently has more than 200 members within a wide range of businesses, both in size and categories.
 
In the past three months, the group leaders have agreed to a new structure.

 
The eight groups still remain:
 
• Medium & Large Enterprise
• Small and Home Based Enterprise
• Worthing First Creative
• VisitWorthing (Tourism)
• Marketing Communications and Inward Investment
• Transport & Infrastructure
• Workforce Development and Recruitment
• Website Development
 
There has also been a subgroup set up to organise the Worthing Business Awards run by Worthing First and taking place in October.
 
It has been agreed that role of chairman is now shared amongst the leaders of the eight working groups.
 
It was felt by all the current group leaders that the strength of Worthing First lies within in the working groups.
 
With this in mind, the Worthing First board is now made up of all the group leaders on an equal standing.

 
To help with running board meetings, the ‘chairing’ of group leaders meetings will be shared on a rotational basis.
 
We have also agreed that a second member from each working group will attend the board meetings. However there will only be one vote per group on decisions being made.
 
So far, this has worked very well.
 
So that is the future structure of Worthing First. But why should the business community in Worthing get involved with Worthing First?
 
Firstly, membership is free. It takes two minutes to register your business organisation on the Worthing First website – www.worthingfirst.org.uk .
 
Secondly, Worthing First does have a voice. Not only, is it supported by Worthing Borough Council, but community and business leaders from Worthing and the wider region want to know Worthing First’s views on things. This week the group leads have been invited by the new mayor Councillor Dr Heather Mercer to discuss a closer tie-up with the Mayor’s office.
 
To have a range of specialist groups and sectors within a business centre like Worthing enables us to understand the key issues at ground level.
 
This specialist knowledge in the key business sectors allows the groups to set their own agenda then take action on their own specific needs and requirements.
 
Worthing First also acts a safety net for businesses. If you are a small business and no-one will listen to you please contact Worthing First. Through our free membership system, we offer working groups which are totally inclusive. We are confident there is a working group to suit everyone.
 
The power of Worthing First lies within the working groups. And who sets the agenda for the working groups? You do!
 
Please encourage your customers, suppliers and business colleagues to get involved in Worthing First. We want to grow membership and increase the volume of the business voice for Worthing.
 
Worthing First is all about businesses within Worthing working together to help each other. Joining should be common sense – just visit www.worthingfirst.org.uk.