Coast to Capital's 2016/2017 Business Plan has now been published and sets out the activities and resources for the following financial year. It should be read in conjunction with the strategy for growth (Strategic Economic Plan SEP) which sets out the long term vision, strategic objectives and goals. The SEP is due to be refreshed in the near future. Click here to read more.
|
|
|
|
New Growing Places Investment
|
|
|
We are pleased to announce a further loan investment of £1.25m from our Growing Places Fund to BCMY LTD based in West Sussex, one of the UK’s leading recycling businesses for used printer cartridges and mobile phones. Our funding will help BCMY acquire the freehold of a new site and enable relocation of operations to another facility in Littlehampton. This will create 25 new jobs over a five-year period. Click here to read more.
|
|
|
|
|
We have produced a new report which highlights why the rural economy is vital to the growth and prosperity of the region. The Rural Statement, produced in conjunction with the LEP and key partners, stresses the importance of the rural area to the future success of the Coast to Capital region.
|
|
|
Julie Kapsalis, Coast to Capital Board Member and Chair of its Rural Economy Committee, said: “The rural economy contributes £13 billion or 27% of our area’s output annually. It’s the people who are the key asset to any economy and which attract so many businesses to locate here. Our rural residents tend to be highly skilled and qualified. They also tend to be more entrepreneurial with large numbers of home-based businesses and significantly higher rates of self-employment than in urban areas, although if female self-employment rates in rural areas were the same as male rates, there would be another 17,000 jobs.” Click here to read more and download the full report.
|
|
|
Green Light for New Engineering and Technology Park
|
|
|
|
A landmark decision to build a multi-million pound Engineering and Technology Park on the University of Chichester’s Bognor Regis Campus, providing opportunities for thousands of young people, has been approved by councillors. Coast to Capital supported the project by contributing £8m of funding and planning permission was recently granted unanimously by Arun District Council Planning Committee.
|
|
|
Jonathan Sharrock, Chief Executive, Coast to Capital said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the region. Not only has it been estimated that it will boost the local town economy by an extra £5m per year, but more importantly it means that employers in the area will soon be able to gain access to young people with the right skills in the local labour market.” Click here to read more.
|
|
|
Shoreham Flood Alleviation Scheme
|
|
|
We have reached an important milestone with one of our Growth Deal projects – the Shoreham Adur Tidal Walls (SATW) scheme which we contributed £6m towards. Shoreham-by-Sea is particularly vulnerable to flooding from the River Adur, so the improved flood defences will provide vital protection to properties and businesses. Flood defences are a major piece of infrastructure and therefore amongst the hardest to get underway. However we are pleased to announce that construction work will begin in August. A new website has been launched which will include all the latest updates on the progress of the scheme and there will also be a visitor centre openings soon. Click here for more information.
|
|
|
Students from Sir William Perkins School, Chertsey, won the Coast to Capital STEM Club of the Year award, at the recent Big Bang South East Fair after two teams from the school submitted projects. Jonathan Sharrock, Chief Executive of Coast to Capital, said: “It was great to be able to support such as inspiring event which encourages thousands of young people to explore and enjoy science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). This will help towards our goal of closing the skills gap we have in our region so our businesses will have a wealth of home-grown talent to recruit and train in the future.” The fifth annual Big Bang South East fair and the regional Young Scientists and Young Engineers Competition were organised by STEM Sussex, the outreach support department of the University of Brighton. Click here to read more.
|
|
|
One of our growing places loan recipients, Dearman, has made a significant step in the development of its clean cold and power technology business. The company recently announced that a zero emission transport refrigeration unit (TRU), powered by a Dearman Engine, has gone on trial for the first time with Sainsbury’s. From day one it will be helping the environment. During the initial trial, with just one vehicle operating for three months, it will save the same amount of CO2 as a car driving 14,500 km.
|
|
|
|
|
We have waved goodbye to Alicia Burnett our Communications Officer intern as she returns to her final year at the University of Sussex. Zak Clisby from the University of Chichester has joined Coast to Capital on a 12-month internship as Business Support Officer.
In September we will be welcoming Tony Middleton as our new Chief Operating Officer. Tony has over 30 years of experience running major property and regeneration projects.
|
|
|
If you’d like to contact us or join the debate on issues which matter to our region, why not keep in touch via social media? Follow us on Twitter or on LinkedIn.
Want to know more about the views of our Board Members and team? Take a look at our Blog Page.
|
|
|
|
|
