Local Business Network
2009 AGM Report for Crowborough Partnership on Wednesday 10th February 2010
The Primary Objective of the Local Business Network (Crowborough Partnership)
To provide
networking opportunities
business related information
promotion of local training
organisation of events
a contact point
proactive and reactive two way communication ensuring local business people can have a local voice and opportunities to try to exercise some influence over authorities and agencies
within the content, context and spirit of the
1) Crowborough Partnership’s Constitution
2) Crowborough Community Healthcheck and
3) Local economy priority issues and needs that arise throughout the year
Action during 2009
The Local Business Network fulfilled each key aspect of it’s Primary Objective throughout 2009. Reports were made to that effect to Partnership’s Executive Management Board meetings. These reports were circulated to those on the Partnership’s e-mail distribution list by the Secretary in advance of meetings and were also posted on the www.crowborough.biz website.
Highlights included:
• Over 70 attended a business lunch at Buxted Park Hotel
• Attendance at the monthly business breakfasts often exceeded 25
• 3 successful early evening events were held at local venues
• 25 attended a Speed Networking event at Barnsgate Manor
• Crowborough Retailers Association’s Family FunDay attracted circa 3500 to their 2nd town centre event, another is being planned for 2010 and the CRA continues to develop
• 2 non retail businessmen have devoted a great deal of time to supporting the CRA
• Business related information continues to be distributed with a wider range of topics included relating to the economic downturn
• More local businesses supported more local organisations than before
• A Local Training providers page has been included on the crowborough.biz website
• Local businesses and the Local Business Network contributed to some of WDC’s initiatives to address the impact of the economic downturn, Corporate Plan and Local Development Framework
• Contribution made to Visioning project
• Membership of the Local Business Network increased
• Press/Crowborough Directory coverage continued
• Active support from Hilary Lyon, Chris Grose, Dudley Hutchings (Partnership), Jenny Rickwood (CRA) and Cllr Richard Stogdon (ESCC). The Town Council team also provided support, as did Peter Griggs (WDC Head of Public Health and Community Development).
Downsides included:
• Effort, time and funding put into trying to smarten up the empty shops did not match expectations but 4 empty shops participated
• Action resulting from WDC’s Retail Impact Study has been delayed yet again
• Further restructuring of EDEAL/Business Link seemed to do little to enhance local business support on the ground
• Business Lunch with Charlie Lant CEO WDC) as speaker promoted via LBN, WDC and FSB cancelled through lack of interest by business people
• Offers by local businessman as well as a Senior Valuation Officer to help and support Retailers, many of whom expressed concerns with Business Rates queries etc., were not taken up by Retailers
• Although helpful involvement and responses are forthcoming from Retailers face to face, Retailers generally are reluctant to use e-mails to communicate
Action being planned for 2010
In addition to addressing each of the 6 key aspects outlined in the Primary Objective of the Local Business Network (supported by local business people), some priority/time will be given to
• Investigating the need for and provision of Planning related information
• Endeavouring to persuade WDC to
o recognise the importance of ‘homebased businesses’ and the potential they could bring to the local economy and
o accept that identification of primary and secondary areas (as advocated in Govt Guidelines) within Crowborough town centre may help with the retention and attraction of independent traders that would supplement the 5 local supermarkets
• Acquiring funds to conduct some form of feasibility study into exploiting the potential of homebased businesses in north Wealden, if ESCC are unable to allocate funds from their 2010/2011 budget
• Investigating developments in collaborative communications tools such as e.g. Google Wave and the benefits it could offer to the Local Business Network operation (cross between email, instant messaging and forum board which also has potential for surveys)
• Investigating the viability and practicalities of holding ‘Business of the Year’ Awards
General points
The available ringfenced balance for subsidising Local Business Network activities, PC support and admin for 2010 is circa £300. This may prove inadequate and if so, a case will be made for consideration to transfer funds from the Partnership’s general balances.
Tony Slack Chairman Local Business Network (Crowborough Partnership) 19.1.2010
PLEASE SPEND A FEW MINUTES READING THROUGH THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE WEALDEN SKILLS CENTRE THAT FOLLOWS AS IT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE FROM CROWBOROUGH & THE HINTERLAND
Wealden Skills Centre
Annual Report for Crowborough Partnership January 2010
Local business activities
1. WSC Business Courses are continuing to attract delegates. The offer is growing to include broader safety training and management training alongside the current offer. The new programme for 2010/11 will be published in March 2010.
2. Open Morning planned for business users on 3rd March 2010 8-10.30am. This is an opportunity for local businesses to visit the centre, see the facilities and meet and talk to the business course tutors.
3. Newcep ‘back to work’ project continues to be based at WSC. They offer one-to-one advice for local unemployed people plus a fortnightly job-club.
4. July 2009. Several local businesses sponsored our Celebration Evening by supplying tools for award winners and attending to present them. Businesses involved were: T&T Plant Hire, MW Engineering, Travis Perkins, Martin Storey Engineering, Drapers Tools, HB Ingredients. Best Wishes.
5. July 2009. Management of the Skills Café passed to WSC after being operated for one year by Sussex Downs College. The service continues to be popular with the public, many of whom are now confirmed regulars. The Café will also provide catering for meetings held at the Centre, and external catering for local businesses.
6. Local employers Morgan Est and Rydon have taken several of our Diploma students on work experience. This is a continuing programme.
7. Nigel Bullock, who was instrumental in setting up WSC when at Beacon CC, has come out of retirement to work with the Centre Manager one day a week with the specific brief to develop Employer Relations. Nigel has negotiated the work experience programme mentioned above and is visiting local employers to develop links with WSC.
8. WSC continues to be represented at the Uckfield Chamber of Commerce and at Crowborough Local Business Network meetings.
Courses
9. Student numbers at WSC continue to grow. We now have 174 14-16 year olds and 114 students over the age of 16. Open Evenings for prospective students are imminent: 25th January for 14 year olds and 3rd February for Post 16 students. It is anticipated that numbers will rise again in September 2010 across both age groups.
10. WSC now offers two of the new Diploma qualifications, namely Construction and the Built Environment and Hair & Beauty and a third – Hospitality - will be added in September 2010. We now have 80 students studying diplomas and indications from recent school open evenings are that numbers will continue to rise. Wealden’s significant increase in Diploma numbers bucks the national trend: our success is attributable to an extensive programme of information, advice and guidance within the schools which helps young people and their families to make informed decisions.
11. Fifteen young people who are not in education or employment are currently attending an e2e (Entry to Employment) course at WSC. The course introduces them to construction skills as well as sessions in Maths and English and various activities to enhance their self esteem and teamwork skills. Some places have been taken by young people from the Eastbourne area as local recruitment has not filled all available spaces.
Development
12. Over Summer 2009 a major building programme to install a hair salon and beauty salon was completed in eight weeks, significantly ahead of schedule. The salons now have 36 Hair & Beauty Diploma learners plus 22 hairdressing students. The salons will open to members of the public in 2010 and will run as commercial operations, giving a realistic working experience to these students.
13. The LSC bid to extend the building to provide additional training rooms, a resource centre, student room and a second IT suite is currently on hold pending a spending review by the government.
14. ESCC have supplied funding for the installation of a lift to make the building DDA compliant. This project will be completed by summer 2010.
15. A Lead Learning Mentor was appointed in September 2009 to co-ordinate the work of the school learning mentors. This has proved a successful in improving the support given to students and subsequently on their performance.
Funding Awards
16. Funding raised by students following a successful bid to the Youth Opportunity Fund was used to erect a recreational space with football and basketball nets. This is popular with all students and has added a much needed facility to the centre.
Students are now looking at other projects they wish to bid for in 2010: and extension of the café to provide more seating areas, a rigid canopy over the front of the building to provide outdoor shelter and a secure bicycle parking area are some of the projects that have been suggested.
Community Activities
17. For a third year, WSC was the major venue for the Uckfield Art Trail, part of the annual Uckfield Festival in June 2008. Over 50 artists exhibited for two weeks including weekends. WSC also hosted the opening event of the festival which attracted over 300 people.
18. Skills Café continues to host exhibitions by local artists which change on a monthly basis. All art is available for sale and several pieces have been sold over the year.
19. Over 50 children and their parents took part in a Christmas Crafts workshop in December, sponsored by the Lions Club of Uckfield who also supplied a surprise visit by Father Christmas.
20. Adult courses had dwindled during 2009 as a result of the recession but numbers have picked up in early 2010 and two evening courses in Carpentry and brickwork are currently running, plus a daytime IT course for beginners. We will continue to publicise a programme of adult courses and hope to see more course running over the coming year.
Lin Lucas Centre Manager of Wealden Skills Centre 25.01.2010
