ACTION 2008: WSEP's RESOLUTIONS
Continuing its ten years speaking up for the West Sussex economy, WSEP will focus in 2008 on influencing public policy and investment decisions on behalf of business to modernise our transport infrastructure and to develop the agenda for higher skills so desperately needed by the local economy... READ MORE

THE YEAR OF THE RAT(E) FOR WEST SUSSEX?
I-SIGHT asked two senior leaders from the professional services sector to look into their West Sussex crystal ball for 2008;Malcolm Preston, Senior Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Gatwick office and Cavan Kane from Allied Irish Bank (GB) give us the business view of the year ahead... READ MORE

MAKING PROPERTY WORK IN 2008
A Commentary on the Commercial Property Market Prospects in Surrey & Sussex for 2008 by David Hadden MSc FRICS ACIArb Managing Director, Stiles Harold Williams

"Developers who can bring commercial properties already 'in the pipeline' to market should benefit in 2008", says David Hadden MSc FRICS ACIArb, Managing Director of Stiles Harold Williams. "As we enter 2008, last autumn's 'credit crunch', with its consequent economic and financial turbulence, is still fresh in our minds.  However, the banks and other lending institutions are not insolvent or lacking liquidity; rather they are simply reluctant to part with their hoards of cash, except to sound borrowers... READ MORE

COOL HEADS ON THE ECONOMY
With the Treasury's forecast of forecasts reporting almost every economic measure on slow for 2008, from GDP to consumer spending, plus concerns about the sub prime hangover, it's time for cool heads when working out the way the economy will go in 2008.  It looks unlikely to be a recession in store for the UK economy, rather a slow down with a soft landing. With overall performance in the South East over the past few quarters, the chances were always for a slowdown after the five upward interest rate hikes. The touch on the tiller back downwards was not surprising given the combination of slowdown and financial market turbulence.  RBS said that they expect two more pretty rapid cuts in the early months of 2008 but did not get the first in January. The hope must be for as much stability in the economy as possible with the worst of the slowdown mitigated and the turbulence in the world's financial markets in the process of subsiding.

BUSINESS NEWS: WS BUSINESS FLYING HIGH
Chief Executive of Chichester based quantity surveyors Boxall Sayer, Clive Sayer, has merged his company with two other practices in Dorset and Liverpool, to create the AIM listed BAQUS. Other practices across the country are being invited to join the group to provide a competitive national quantity surveying service. Clive will be Chief Executive of the new company.  MELROB SERVICES, chemicals distributors, based in Crawley made their second appearance in the Sunday Times/Virgin 100 Fast Track achieving 15th place with growth of 144 per cent in the past year. Suppliers of 200 chemicals to 500 manufacturers in the medical device, contact lens, polymer, oil and acrylic sectors, the company is now looking to expand into supplying the paint and printing markets and the motor and aerospace sectors.  The Lancing based self-adhesive products manufacturer and distributor, PARAFIX, won the Learning Pays and Best Manufacturer prizes in the 2007 Sussex Business Awards.  ROLLS ROYCE MOTOR CARS, in Chichester, has reported four figure annual sales for 2007, with 1,010 cars being sold - an increase of 25 per cent over 2006, the fourth successive year of growth.

COASTAL BRIEFS
Shoreham Economy Boost
Small businesses have rushed to buy new freehold commercial units at Shoreham G3, a new development by Glenbeigh Properties. 11 out of 12 of the units, for light industrial and office use, had already been sold when the development was opened and Glenbeigh are planning to offer more premises for companies to buy during 2008 to meet the growing demand.

New Park Co-ordinator at Lancing
Mike Botting has been appointed Lancing Business Park Coordinator as part of the Better Business Park project run by WSEP. He will be involved in promoting the proposals for the Park to become a Business Improvement District (BID). Mike's job involves identifying the issues businesses want sorted - and to develop a business plan to ensure these are tackled. Businesses then vote in March 2008 to decide whether they support implementing the plan. BIDs are fast becoming the preferred solution to tackling issues in retail centres and business parks. WSEP is organizing an event on 13th February at the Hilton Hotel, Gatwick. For further details

CLICK HERE.

£100m Regeneration Deal For Bognor
In December, Arun District Council and St Modwen Properties PLC signed the Development Agreement which targets a £100m regeneration of two key town centre sites in Bognor Regis. The seafront Regis Centre site and inner town centre Hothamton site, will provide over 18,500 sq m (200,000 sq ft) of leisure and retail, 4,645 sq m (50,000 sq ft) community uses, 2,787 sq m (30,000 sq ft) offices, around 300 residential units and extensive public realm landscaping. A key aspect of the proposals is the Entertainment Centre; a 'destination' film and performance venue, including a cinema and flexible performing arts space.

VILLAGE SHOPS CAN HAVE A FUTURE
With Post Office closure again a real threat and village store viability a constant challenge, communities are looking again at whether they can maintain the village shop as a community enterprise.  Consultant Alan Wyle, who used to run a local shop in West Chiltington, is working with the Sussex Rural Action Team to advise villages such as Lodsworth (where the last shop owners were Petula Clark's parents) and at Kirdford on how they could make it work. READ MORE

GATWICK DIAMOND UPDATE
Business Leaders back Gatwick Diamond
Executives from some of the leading companies in the Diamond area met public sector Leaders to discuss how to achieve the vision of becoming 'a world-class international business location' at two dinner events held recently. There was general agreement that the excellent transport corridor and hub at Gatwick was the key asset that needed continued investment to maintain the competitiveness of the area. The area also needs to raise its game in terms of education, skills development and forming stronger links between businesses and higher education. The lack of a university facility based in the Diamond area was a particular weakness to be addressed. Feedback after the event indicated a strong desire for the public and private sectors to continue to work together.

Diamond Vision
The Gatwick Diamond partners have agreed that to commission a study by London-based consultants GHK to flesh out what is needed to make the Gatwick Diamond a world-class business region centered on a major international airport. The study commences this month and will report before the summer.

Executive Co-ordinator for Diamond
Jill Armstrong has been appointed as Executive Coordinator for the Gatwick Diamond, joining at the end of January; her role will be to work with public sector partners and service providers to drive forward the economic strategy delivery across the area. She comes to this post, which is funded by SEEDA, having been working for them based at Sussex University compiling a Directory of Research Excellence in the South East.

FE Plus FE = Better Skills
Central Sussex College and East Surrey College are working together to develop a coherent pathway for training across the Gatwick Diamond. The Colleges are developing a skills escalator programme so that young people, adults, employees and employers are offered and have access to flexible learning pathways from entry level right through to further and higher education and skilled employment.

EVENTS
Commercial Property Seminar, 22nd January 2008, 4 pm Unit E2 Yeoman Gate, Yeoman Way Worthing
WSEP's Sites and Premises Task Group are holding a seminar at Yeomans Gate, the new flagship development in Worthing to debate current issues in commercial property including the new rating charge on vacant commercial property from April. Speakers will come from commercial property specialists and West Sussex County Council.

Understanding BIDs: 10.00am on 13th February 2008 at Hilton Hotel, Gatwick
A half-day workshop to examine the benefits of creating a Business Improvement District for a retail centre or business park. A series of speakers will highlight what needs to be considered before embarking to achieve a BID with business speakers on why they see this as the right solution to dealing with their site issues. For further details, CLICK HERE.

Village Shop Convention, 6.30pm 17th March 2008, West Dean College, Chichester
Chichester District Council is running a convention to discuss how to keep village shops alive. With more Post Office closures expected and village shop revenues difficult to sustain, the meeting, to be addressed by speakers who have experience of making a success of the village store, making it profitable and remaining at the centre of village life.

Big Skills Breakfast: 7.00am till 9am on 25th April 2008 at Arora Hotel, Crawley
Simon Woodroffe, of Yo Sushi and Dragons Den fame, will provide an inspirational insight on why people skills and training are important for your business. For further details, click here.

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