Business Support and Development

Newhaven Chamber of Commerce
Newhaven has a strong local Chamber representing one in three local businesses and looking to work in the future with both Seaford and Peacehaven. The Chamber works to support and promote the businesses of Newhaven and has close links with Sussex Enterprise, Business Link and other organisations.

The Chambers' primary aims are to enhance and encourage the development of trade and tourism in the area, re-establish and maintain premier status for Newhaven within Europe and provide a focal point for business support for new and existing enterprises.

They hold regular business breakfast and training events.

Tel: 0800 107 0709
www.newhavenchamber.co.uk

Newhaven Community Employment Partnership (NewCEP)
NewCEP offer a local community based solution for helping people marginalised in the labour market to find suitable work and increase their skills through training. They also offer people support, advice and information and volunteering opportunities.

NewCEP have strong links to local businesses to address issues of recruitment and retention. They provide support for employers to maximise access by clients to local vacancies, short term work placements and follow up support.

More information is available through Newhaven Community Development Association (NCDA).

Tel: 01273 612 539

www.ncda.org.uk

Enterprise Works
Enterprise Works Ltd is a private, not for profit business with two major objectives:

• To help new and second phase manufacturing businesses develop and grow successfully
• To contribute to the regeneration of the Newhaven economy and Community

Enterprise Works owns a newly refurbished 22,000 square feet factory in Newhaven. With space for up to 30 companies, Enterprise Works represents a new concept for manufacturing in Newhaven where businesses are given a range of support services.

Tel: 01273 511560
www.enterpriseworks.co.uk

Newhaven Enterprise Gateway
The Newhaven Enterprise Gateway has been set up to provide a complete range of services for entrepreneurs and new or young companies in Newhaven and the surrounding areas. The Gateway helps companies gain access to training, business advice, local mentors, funding and new business networks as well as giving advice.

Proposals are currently being developed for an Enterprise Gateway building on Denton Island to complement the existing Business and Training Centre and the new nursery. The building will provide approximately 40 units of office accommodation for tenants and aspiring entrepreneurs which can be rented on a flexible basis. It is hoped that work on the building will start in 2006. Funding for the initiative will come from the South East England Development Agency.

Tel: 08450 363000 (local rate)
www.newhavengateway.com

Sussex Enterprise
Sussex Enterprise is the largest business organisation supporting and representing businesses in Sussex. They were established as a business-led membership organisation to help companies develop their businesses.

Their role is to grow the local economy by:

• providing a comprehensive range of business support and employee development services
• working with key partners in the business community
• local authorities and the education sector to create a climate where businesses can thrive

Sussex Enterprise has over 2,500 member companies of all sizes and from all industry sectors. In addition, a further 2,700 companies are members of town chambers across the county that are affiliated to them. They are the eighth largest Chamber of Commerce in the UK. Over 12,500 businesses a year use their business services.

Tel: 01444 259259
www.sussexenterprise.co.uk

Locate East Sussex
Locate East Sussex is the inward investment agency for East Sussex. They offer a complete relocation package and aim to make a businesses move to East Sussex County as smooth as possible. They now have an online searchable database of all available commercial property within the County and can provide a range of customised support and advice.

Tel: 01424781877
www.locateeastsussex.org

Selective Finance for Investment
Selective Finance for Investment (SFIE) is offered in the form of a project grant and is available to all companies. The minimum grant application is £10,000. It is for 10%-20% of Capital Expenditure (at SEEDA's discretion). There is also a special Small and Medium sized Enterprises supplement which is also discretionary.
Grants are assessed on an individual basis and negotiated as the minimum necessary to enable the project to proceed. The amount awarded depends on several factors, i.e. the area, project need, number of jobs created or safeguarded and the impact it will have on the economy.

Tel: 01444 259259
www.sussexenterprise.co.uk

Local Education Services
Local education providers are working closely with employers to address their training needs. There is a range of collaborative working between Sussex Downs College (www.sussexdowns.ac.uk), the Newhaven Community Employment Partnership (NewCEP), Tideway Secondary School (www.tidewayschool.org) and others to develop customised training solutions.

Sussex Downs College operate a modern training and business centre from Denton Island adjacent to the town centre from which a range of support services are delivered. Newhaven is close to both Brighton and Sussex Universities with which it has strong links.

Sussex Downs College
Sussex Downs College operates a modern training and business centre from the Denton Island Training and Business Centre adjacent to the town centre from where a range of support services are delivered. Sussex Downs College recently received funding from South East England Development Agency via the East Sussex Economic Partnership to deliver local training and support to individuals and businesses.

The Newhaven Technology Training Access Points (NEWTAP) project is an innovative approach to IT training initiated, developed and managed by Sussex Downs College.

Tel: 01273 511 400
www.sussexdowns.ac.uk