Since I’ve been busy working on the Getting to Know You exhibition, this month’s newsletter is slightly shorter than normal, but still packed with goodness! Don’t forget, you can keep up to date on a daily basis with everything that’s going on throughout Arun on your Partnership website (and while you’re there, make sure that you register your details so that everyone knows that you exist!).
First, and most excitingly: Getting To Know You!
Yes, it’s Getting to Know You time again! For the uninitiated, Getting To Know You is being held on Wednesday 9 July at Fontwell Park Racecourse. While it’s too late to book a table space, it’s never too late to turn up on the day – it’s completely free and a really great way of meeting your Arun Business Partnership colleagues.
We’ve got a really exciting line-up of companies coming along on the day – so make sure that you’re there to network, do business and generally have a great afternoon!
Dreams and Teams
Rachel Mackinney from Bognor Regis Community College is leading on the ‘Dreams and Teams’ initiative, which links the College with a school in Mauritius. Sports leadership is the catalyst for this relationship, and the College is hoping to exchange a number of students (temporarily!) with students from Mauritius to deepen their learning and understanding of the other culture.
To do this, the College naturally needs to raise significant funds and, while the Year 11 students are doing as much as they can, it would be greatly appreciated if Arun Businesses would like to help contribute to this exchange.
Wheels
Wheels – Sussex’s newest and most exciting motor show – is rapidly approaching! Held in Littlehampton between Friday 8 and Sunday 10 August, it’s the place to be to see new cars, classic cars, stunt teams and more! It’s completely free to get into as well so have a look at the website and make sure that you’re there! Quite a number of Arun companies are getting involved as well, so take the opportunity to say hello!
New Energy Legislation affecting small businesses
As of 1st July, the Government’s Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are going to apply to commercial premises over 2,500sqm – a fact which many businesses don’t seem to be aware of!
The EPCs apply to all commercial buildings being built, sold, rented or modified and there are quite steep penalties for not having one. The point behind them is to try and reduce the carbon footprint of industry in this country.
For more information about how this affects your business, visit Direct.gov. The Argus also has a useful article on this topic (please be aware that the Argus website has been experiencing a range of difficulties at the moment and may not load correctly first time - but keep trying.
Awards
In the meantime though, why not whet your appetite with the Start Up Awards 2008 for businesses which have been operating for less than three years and employ fewer than 60 people.
If you’re one of Arun’s female entrepreneurs, why not enter the NatWest everywoman awards ? There are a range of different categories and the awards are now in their 6th year – so why not go for it this year? You have to be in it to win it!
If you’re not sure why entering awards of any sort is a good thing, then perhaps Gareth Sear’s article on just this subject will clear the way a bit. Arun’s got world-leading businesses across a huge variety of industries – so shout about it! Forget British reserve and tell everyone how brilliant you are!
Until the next monthly newsletter – have a great July and we’ll see you at Getting To Know You !
