‘Economy’ aims, projects and plans - Local Business Network
Overall Economy aim
To make Crowborough a vibrant and progressive town
in which to work, shop, visit, do business and receive effective business support
Specific aims:
Promote Crowborough as a business centre for the area
Provide business support to Crowborough and its hinterland
Increase range of skills in area (Note Wealden Skills Centre update at end)
Increase use of e-commerce
Retain, attract and develop diverse range of businesses but especially in the town centre
Broaden range of employers offering local jobs
Working in partnership with all agencies and authorities is a specific essential requirement as is the attraction of funding
2007/08 (to end of March 2008) plans and related projects
Develop Local Business Network brand
Purchase a database of local businesses beyond TN6 and promote the Local Business Network throughout North Wealden
Carry out premises audit in Crowborough and the surrounding area
Continue with providing a range of local networking opportunities and business information
Help small businesses improve their use of e-business
Act as joint hosts with WDC Regeneration for their October ’07 Business Breakfast
Related and significant reactive projects during 2007
Supported WDC Planning Officers at a Public Enquiry in their unsuccessful quest to retain Feedback Ltd (100 employees) in the town. (Dec 06/Jan07)
Member of small project team with Broadband East Sussex, WDC and local businessman working to provide professional flexible working spaces (FWS) to support local access to business services, an increase in tele-working and the growing self-employed population by exploiting wireless broadband. This has now developed into exploring the feasibility of incorporating a FWS into a purpose built Business Centre. (April 07 and ongoing)
Working with and supporting retailers in the town in order to bring more people into the town and particularly in the town centre. Chris Grose has also devoted a great deal of time to this. (May ’07 and ongoing)
Contested planning applications that threaten further loss of commercial and retail premises in the town (May & Oct.Nov 07)
Fire Safety Order seminar held in June ’07 at Crowborough Fire Station
Contributed to the local economy aspects of WDC’s Local Development Framework consultation (July ‘07)
Contributed and robustly challenged the East Sussex Economic Development draft Strategy (July/Aug ’07)
Progress made with 2007/08 projects
Develop Local Business Network brand
o Funding in place. (Thanks to WDC)
o Logo created by local designer. Included on e-mails created / flyers issued
o Letter headings and business cards under production
o Known expenditure within budget
o On target for completion provided www.crowborough.biz site can be developed to accommodate weblinks as an alternative medium in order to dispense with use of attachments
Purchase a database of local businesses beyond TN6 and promote the Local Business Network throughout North Wealden
o Funding in place (Thanks to Nat West)
o Business database for all Sussex addressed businesses in north Wealden purchased (Multiple use available for a 12 month period)
o Wadhurst Business Association agreed to be included in mail shot
o Local Mailing House quotation accepted
o Local printer producing Letter headings with Nat West logo for approval
o Expenditure within budget
o Mail shot to 1700 businesses planned for Autumn ’07 to be undertaken early in 2008
Carry out premises audit in Crowborough and the surrounding area
o Delayed due to other more pressing priorities including the Flexible Working Space pilot project and the possibility of a purpose built Business Centre being located at The Grampian Site south of Crowborough/ north of Uckfield
Continue with providing a range of local networking opportunities
o Business Lunches held in January and September
o Evening networking event held in May; another in December
o Informal Business Breakfasts held monthly
o All other networking events and local seminars organised by other agencies and organisations publicised through the Local Business Network
o Over 100 business related e-mails issued to the local network during 2007 (224 members)
Help small businesses improve their use of e-business
o Project for pilot Flexible Working Space and potential Business Centre contributes towards this
Act as joint hosts with WDC Regeneration for their October ’07 Business Breakfast
o WDC had to change theme for the October ’07 Business Breakfast but will want to jointly host a Spring 2008 event at a North Wealden venue with the Local Business Network
Local Business Network’s Plans for 2008/09
To continue to hold a range of affordable networking events, to promote the Local Business Network and increase its membership in North Wealden
To continue to circulate business related information to the network of local business contacts
To continue to work with any organisation that has a business support and/or training brief and promote relevant seminars, events and any appropriate information
To actively pursue the aims of the ‘economy’ Healthcheck aims and action plans, and to ensure that priorities are identified and driven by local business needs
To contribute to ensuring the projects under way currently are progressed / completed, namely:
o Flexible Working Space pilot (linked potentially to a purpose built Business Centre in/around Crowborough)
o Retailers have a degree of support and priority that their commitment requires
o Depending upon the outcome of the FWS/Business Centre and the intent of Locate East Sussex, to undertake the premises audit postponed from 2007/08
o To jointly host the Spring 2008 Business Breakfast with WDC
Wealden Skills Centre’s key role in achieving Increase range of skills in area.
Achievements in 2007 and Plans for 2008
• During August 2007, WSC expanded to occupy the entire site – an increase of another 12,500 sq’ plus an increase in outdoor space.
• All workshops enhanced.
• Teaching kitchen installed.
• New student café open.
Post 16 courses started in September 2007
• Full time Painting & Decorating
• Full time Carpentry
• Full time Motor Vehicle Maintenance
• Full time Maintenance Skills
Apprenticeships:
• Motor Vehicle
• Carpentry
• Maintenance Skills
Adult Learning
• Free taster sessions in September 2007 attracted over 80 adults.
Courses included:
Plastering
Tiling
Brickwork
Carpentry
Edible table decorations
Marzipan Modelling
Belly Dancing
Ballroom Dancing
• Two Saturday colleges have run successfully & more are planned.
• Longer evening classes starting in January 2008 – carpentry, brickwork confirmed with more to follow. Also shorter sessions in plastering & tiling confirmed.
• Business use of Centre on increase – more training & meeting rooms are available as a result of the expansion.
• WSC brochure available shortly & will be sent to local businesses.
• Adult & child holiday courses introduced & larger programme being complied.
• Family Learning courses to run in Feb & May 2008 – Financial Awareness, Healthy Cooking, IT awareness.
Plans for 2008:
• Opening of Public café
• Progression courses for current post 16 students
• Continuous recruitment to established courses.
2007 Annual Report from Local Business Network and Wealden Skills Centre
Tony Slack and Linda Lucas 20.11.07
