Member News

For those interested in a career in accountancy, Sussex and South East firm Carpenter Box is holding a Trainee Scheme Open Evening in November at their main office in Crescent Road, Worthing.

Mayo Wynne Baxter’s trusts and tax team has doubled in size in the past 30 months – reflecting the increasing demand for specialist legal services across the South East and strengthening the full-service law firm’s ability to provide tailored advice to its growing client base.

We are looking to grow our team! We are a young, fast-growing and dynamic charity, having a huge impact on people’s lives.

People are being encouraged to ‘Make a Difference’ in their communities by embarking on a rewarding career with their local council.

Have you checked your signs for wind damage? It is every business owners responsibility to check signage is safe following storms and high winds to ensure their customers and staff can safely enter the building.

The web is a very competitive place, where most of us are fighting to stand out from the crowd. There is also a level of distrust, afterall it is easy for scammers to set up a website or social media account, so building trust with your audience is essential. Users will also, typically be in a rush and spend only a matter of seconds scanning a product or service page, so it becomes even more essential to quickly make a good impression so they hang around and consider buying from you.

A new Housing board is being set up to give Wealden tenants a greater voice.

Local charities and support organisations in Sussex are urged to apply for funding from the Gatwick Airport Community Trust which is now open again for applications. 

Reacting to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said:  

Funding is to be used from the Homelessness Prevention Grant to help people find housing in the private rented sector across Wealden.

In recent years, Sussex has become an increasingly popular destination for commuters seeking a balance between city work and country living. The county's picturesque landscapes, historic towns, and excellent transport links to London have made it an attractive option for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital.

As demand for sustainable gardening solutions continues to rise, CoirProducts.co.uk by Salike® Limited has emerged as the trusted choice for growers and gardeners, offering the UK’s most extensive range of carbon-neutral coir solutions. With a steadfast commitment to people and the planet, CoirProducts has grown in popularity, becoming the go-to choice for home gardeners, professional growers, and retailers seeking eco-friendly, high-performance solutions for everything from planting to soil preservation and erosion control.

Sussex and Surrey manufacturers looking to grow overseas benefited from advice from one of the UK’s leading international trade experts at the latest meeting of METALL, the forum for the region’s manufacturing, engineering and technology businesses.

-52% of UK exporters say Britain's brand helps boost their sales: More than half see their association with Britain as a key driver of growth.  -1/3 of consumers seek out British brands: Despite global competition, the desire to buy British remains a draw for a good portion of the public.  -43% rise in Brand Closeness: Brands tapping into British associations see a 43% increase in consumer connection, proving the power of national ties.  -Brand Britain is seen as traditional, enduring, and witty: Despite challenges, these traits continue to define Britain in the minds of consumers. 

-BCC’s Trade Confidence Outlook for Q3 2024 shows a dip in SME exporters already poor performance on overseas sales.   -Under a quarter of exporting SME firms (22%) saw their overseas sales rise in Q3, compared to 27% in Q2.         -More than half of all SME exporters (54%) saw no change in overseas sales, and 24% reported a decrease.      B-CC’s SME export sales indicator has consistently underperformed compared to domestic sales indicators since the pandemic. 

We are proud to announce that The Sussex Sign Company has won the Roll-out Award at the UK Graphic Awards 2024! This prestigious honour acknowledges our outstanding work in delivering large-scale signage solutions across Sussex and reaffirms our position as a leader in the signage and graphics industry.

. Salike’s gardening for children’s range was initially introduced back in September, 2020.  A carbon-neutral company, this eagerly anticipated new range reaffirms Salike’s unwavering dedication to sustainability and education through GrowWithCoir. 

Join our workshops and learn how to tackle your unique challenges with AI.

Responding to the latest ONS labour market statistics, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:  

Sussex law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter has further expanded its growing family team with the appointment of experienced partner Marie Stock.

Reacting to news of the launch of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: 

-The proportion of firms attempting to recruit new workers falls to its lowest level in three years at 56%.  -There are significant sectoral differences with transport (73%), hospitality (70%) and construction (67%) most likely to be attempting to recruit.   -Of those attempting to recruit 76% faced difficulties, up from 74% last quarter.  -Construction (85%), manufacturing (80%) and hospitality (76%) firms are the most likely to be facing recruitment problems. 

Responding to the latest ONS data on trade, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:

Responding to the latest ONS data on GDP, David Bharier, Head of Research at the BCC, said:

Responding to the unveiling of the Government’s legislation on employment reform, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the BCC, said: 

Brighton’s biggest business networking event, the Brighton Business Expo, sponsored by EDF Energy is fast approaching. The free to attend event will be held at Brighton Racecourse, on Wednesday 16th October, from 10am to 2pm. ​​​​​​​

Small and independent retailers in Crawley can apply for a Shop Front and High Street grant of up to £5,000 to spruce up their shop front and help entice more customers.

Employ Crawley successfully hosted its first jobs fair at the new Town Hall. With over 200 live vacancies on offer, around 300 jobseekers were able to speak directly to employers to discuss the various roles available in the local area.

Labour facing shortfall of workers to build 1.5m homes

In a world where automated responses and impersonal interactions often dominate the customer experience landscape, it’s refreshing to encounter companies that truly prioritise the needs and satisfaction of their customers.

• Following improvements to business conditions in the first half of 2024, key indicators stalled or declined in Q3 – with manufacturing suffering the most. • Taxation is now more of a concern than inflation for business, cited by nearly half of firms (48%). • Business confidence has declined slightly, with 56% of firms expecting an increase in turnover in the next twelve months. • The proportion of firms expecting to put up prices has levelled off (39%) after falls earlier in the year. • Most firms (77%) are still not increasing levels of investment.

Driven by purpose, at CoirProducts of Salike®, we believe in using our platform not only to provide eco-friendly products but also to make a meaningful impact on our community and those who need our support. That’s why we are proud to announce our partnership with Save a Warrior UK, a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders suffering from trauma-related issues. This collaboration reflects a shared passion for helping those who have given so much in service to their country, yet often face overlooked challenges in civilian life.

A career in accountancy continues to be a popular choice for many school and college leavers, university graduates and career changers, with Sussex and South East accountancy firm Carpenter Box announcing the recruitment of 26 new trainees – a record intake for the firm.

Demand for residential property is expected to boom in Brighton & Hove by 2040, according to Sussex law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter, following a major report, which predicts a surge in first time buyers, despite the challenges around affordability.

Sussex and South East-based accountancy firm Carpenter Box has been named a finalist In two categories of the prestigious Accounting Excellence Awards 2024.

Eastbourne DigiFest 2024 opens its doors at The Kings Centre, Eastbourne, at 8.45am on Thursday 10th October and the team couldn’t be more excited to welcome everyone.

UK’s leading coir portfolio, Salike®’s story is one rooted in a rich heritage of sustainability, innovation, and community. Having grown in popularity over the years, today Salike® continues to serve its customers with purpose, bringing an unmatched range of sustainable coir products for all. Crafting its products with care, directly from nature’s own resources, Salike is more than just a brand. Driven by an unwavering commitment to foster a greener and kinder future, the company’s mission is to inspire a movement of conscious consumers who believe that small actions lead to big impact. With coir being a natural, biodegradable, peat-free, and organic resource, Salike® takes pride in knowing that every product returns to the earth, decomposing seamlessly and leaving nothing but nourishment for future growth.