You need to consider what the information you have gathered tells you in the light of these questions:

Write your answers here. Base them on the information you have gathered:

Conclusion

It's a Fact

Strength

Weakness

Opportunity

Threat

Need more info

Are there shortfalls in the range of services offered by local bank branches, financial institutions and other business support services? If so, what are they?

Significant issues:

• need to establish current training needs and priorities/providers and venues/funding to subsidise costs for small businesses.
• Need to review levels of local business support and promote it more widely.
• Need to carry out up to date audit of business support and promote it.
• Need to re-visit the original objectives of BAG and review:
• Set up ‘panel’ of experienced local business people to make themselves available by offering a ‘surgery’ on a regular basis to businesses that wanted help, ideas or advice.
• Business mentors
• Identification of and pursuit of funding sources
• ‘One stop shop’ for business support from agencies
• Training and accreditation of businesses/promote to residents / businesses
• Local pools of graduates to support local businesses during long holidays/gaps years to take on projects not able to be undertaken by existing staff
• Need a ‘one stop shop’ approach based in Crowborough as first port of call / drop in centre to signpost enquiries
• Need to exploit/capitalise upon BCC and the Vocational Centre

Difficult to comment authoritatively about the banks and the level of support they provide, although Lloyds TSB Bank Commercial Manager showed an initial interest at one stage (Autumn 2004) by attending a breakfast meeting and that was followed up with a discussion about BAG activities;

The newly appointed manager of HSBC attends the Business Lunches regularly and networks****

No contact at all with any building society***

See Business Support network / personal contact details for information provided to each business with premises (circa 400)* However, there must be no doubt other avenues/sources of support available (?)
*BCC are working in Partnership towards setting up a Vocational Centre****

*Plumpton College/Sussex Enterprise put together a wide ranging locally held training programme which was circulated (early February 2005) to the 120 or businesses**** but there was very little demand identified**. However, a straw poll taken at the January 2005 business lunch indicated that about 20 businesses said they may be interested in such a facility.

Was an objective to establish a Crowborough based Business Clinic; likely to happen via EDEAL.

WDC Regeneration dept being downgraded *****

*

**

***

****

*****

?

Are there any opportunities to expand support for local businesses?

Significant issues:

• It was planned to have a ‘meet the business support agencies’ (which were keen to be involved) but lack of time/bodies to set it up resulted in it being postponed but not forgotten.
• Crowborough will be included on the Business Clinic round as from April 2005
• Business Support speakers will continue to be invited to business lunches
• Speakers on such topics as ‘rates’ planning have been highlighted as a need – lack of time/bodies negate this being done
• Timing of events create difficulties regarding attendance – many local businesses live outside the town ; business lunches do not suit retailers; retailers do not attend breakfasts – need bodies / time to provide/experiment with a wider range of events
• Would make a tremendous difference if the 120 or so e-mail listing could include all the business e-mail addresses but need time, funding, a person and info to achieve that – many articles related to business support have been issued via e-mail in past 12 months or so
• Retailers need active support
• If e-mail distribution list was expanded – would result in more local businesses being updated
• Exploit biz website

Volunteer Business Mentoring was something explored during the early part of 2004. EDEAL were willing to become involved but it slipped down the list of priorities due to other more pressing commitments. It is still something that should be pursued****

Sussex Enterprise and Plumpton College are talking about the possibility of offering locally held business related training courses across a range of topics****

Beacon Community College are working with other Colleges in north Wealden to set up a Vocation Training Centre****

Local businesses have been provided with business support / personal contact details that outline what each****/** agency/authority can offer (2003)

*Of the 92 businesses that replied to the BO Survey in 2002, a number had had dealings with some of the 10 business support agencies / authorities listed in the survey.

Analyses of the 2002 survey showed that up to 25 contacts had been made by some businesses (Sussex Enterprise and Federation of Small Businesses); others had had 17 or 18 contacts for one reason or another with the Crowborough Business Association, former Chamber of Commerce and Town Council; as had 10 with Wealden District Council (Econ Dev).(?)

*Until 2002, few had contact with The Business Group but since the early summer of 2002, over 400 businesses in and around the town have had at least 6 newsletters, another 400 businesses in the TN6 postcode area have had a mailshot(June 2004) with about 120 business people receiving regular information by e-mail

Need to have more bodies to help organise and promote events***

Need to use e-mails to better effect to more businesses / as with biz. Web site****

See significant issues****

*

**

***

****

?

Is there is a need to create, develop and or fund business events?

Significant issues:

• Crowborough is a town that is one of the lowest category of places that meets any funding criteria and completing a Healthcheck appears to be the only way in which sources of funding via SEEDA is more likely to be achieved.
• A networking evening has been identified as a need.
• Training needs to be subsidised for small businesses
• Web site needs more promotion (development)
• See list of projects identified by BAG
• Not enough support for organising events

*Various events have been organised during last 18 months or so (Quarterly lunches; monthly breakfasts, Market Sector meetings) so some identified needs have been met. There are regular business related e-mailings to 120 or so businesses.

There is a recognised need for more Retail meetings but the long awaited merger of the CBA / Business Group is on hold at present pending CBA AGM/Accounts***.

There are a number of business support initiatives that need to be followed up but there is a need for help to progress these projects and a need for funding*** to facilitate them.

****/***The Crowborough.biz website requires further development and promotion – more funding needed

A variety of meetings with a variety of funding source bodies have been held without success** (apart from WDC****)*****

*

***

****

*****

Is employment growth within only some industry sectors, or spread more widely?

Significant issues:

• need to ensure a balance of business is created and sustained in Crowborough.
• Need to ensure the retail sector is supplemented by ‘niche’ businesses that would not compete with current businesses
• Business expansion = job growth
• More local purchasing = job growth

There is employment growth in some sectors and contractions in others; for some sectors there is no information available*/****/*****.

Not just from the supermarkets developments point of view but also from a wider local business viewpoint, it would be very useful to know the ‘growth company’ sectors, to establish their premises current/future expansion needs and to be able to target and encourage those growth industries that would supplement Crowborough business profile(?)****. Need to use and add to current (database**/****) information(?)

*

**

****

*****

?

How much confidence is there within the business sector?

Significant issues:

• lack of synergy, confidence amongst town centre retailers.
• Need more info to assess market sector expectations and then to design a programme to ensure realism and practical aspects can be delivered in close liaison with retailers who need to take responsibility for helping to make it happen.
• Need to reach all businesses and include them in any survey rather than rely on existing database.

This overlaps with other SWOT themes (employment)*/ and there is evidence of confidence* and this needs a current validation(?) possibly but at Town Centre Retail level there is a combination of lack of confidence, an element of apathy and almost complacency or collective indifference or even resignation that ‘nothing they can do’ to revive or sustain the business***/*****.

There is a need to get the Town Centre retailers to work together much more and recognise that there are a number of initiatives they could ( or others could support them to ) work towards helping them to help themselves prepare for the inevitable threats of increased competition from the supermarket developments and the introduction of car parking charges*****

Must include all businesses in any audits/surveys, build up database identify issues and ensure all have an opportunity to contribute?

*

**

***

****

*****

?

Is the number of jobs available locally increasing or decreasing?

Significant issues :

• need to achieve more ‘growth’ industries in the town, need to retain the businesses we have at present.
• Need to increase the amount of disposable spend within Crowborough.
• Need to promote and develop the biz website and increase local purchasing/spending / local business to business transactions through the town and hinterland

This overlaps with other SWOT themes (employment)*

Changes in numbers of employees between 1999 and 2002 show: ***a 17% (500 down to 400) reduction in Manufacturing; 8% (1200 down to 1100) reduction in Banking, Finance and Insurance etc; and a 25% (400 down to 300) reduction in Other Services (whatever they are(?)***

However, **Construction has increased by 33% (300 to 400); Distribution, hotels (none) & restaurants increased by 13% (1500 to 1700) and Public Administration, Education and Health by 8% (1300 to 1400). These trends could well continue but efforts are needed to attract growth**** industries to the town. The threat of introduction of car parking charges in a few years time is a major concern, as is the possible relocation of WDC and other relatively major employers*****

*

**

***

****

*****

?

What opportunities are there for job creation from the expansion of existing local firms?

Significant issues:

Difficult but

• need to capitalise on any relocations of existing larger companies
• also need to ensure existing companies achieve their potential within their existing premises
• need to find out current position with as many companies as is possible

This overlaps with other themes*

The BOS survey 2002 identified* a small number of firms that had plans to expand their businesses during the next 12 months and there was a mix of those that could accommodate expansion within their own premises** and some that would need to relocate**/*****

The most recent comments (2004) about amalgamating 3 split sites in Crowborough and the only option to achieve a one site operation would be for those companies to relocate elsewhere (Uckfield)(?)

Another large local company has received planning approval to extend it existing premises****

There is a degree of confidence that was not apparent 2/3 years ago, there is scope for growth in jobs but equally importantly there is potential for increased training amongst existing businesses****.

However, there are recruitment and retention issues for many businesses e.g. retail, residential / nursing homes caused by the extent of out commuting and more competitive salaries in, say Tun Wells*****

The threat of car parking charges being introduced will adversely effect recruitment and retention of staff as well as retail and some service sectors*****

*

**

***

****

*****

?

How vigorous is the local economy - based on new business start-ups / closures?

Significant issues – need to set up process that measures this?

This overlaps with other themes* but no local information is available (?) The TN6 database is a useful indicator of new businesses (?) 40+ businesses in 6 months (BT!!) but no details of closures

*

?

What issues has this highlighted?

• Need to recognise the value and number of ‘home based’ businesses and offer Crowborough based support/identity
• need to establish current training needs and priorities/providers and venues/funding to subsidise costs for small businesses.
• Need to review levels of local business support and promote it more widely.
• Need to carry out up to date audit of business support and promote it.
• Need to re-visit the original objectives of BAG and review:
• Set up ‘panel’ of experienced local business people to make themselves available by offering a ‘surgery’ on a regular basis to businesses that wanted help, ideas or advice.
• Business mentors
• Identification of and pursuit of funding sources
• ‘One stop shop’ for business support from agencies
• Training and accreditation of businesses/promote to residents / businesses
• Local pools of graduates to support local businesses during long holidays/gaps years to take on projects not able to be undertaken by existing staff
• Need a ‘one stop shop’ approach based in Crowborough as first port of call / drop in centre to signpost enquiries
• Need to exploit/capitalise upon BCC and the Vocational Centre
• It was planned to have a ‘meet the business support agencies’ (which were keen to be involved) but lack of time/bodies to set it up resulted in it being postponed but not forgotten.
• Crowborough will be included on the Business Clinic round as from April 2005
• Business Support speakers will continue to be invited to business lunches
• Speakers on such topics as ‘rates’ planning have been highlighted as a need – lack of time/bodies negate this being done
• Timing of events create difficulties regarding attendance – many local businesses live outside the town ; business lunches do not suit retailers; retailers do not attend breakfasts – need bodies / time to provide/experiment with a wider range of events
• Would make a tremendous difference if the 120 or so e-mail listing could include all the business e-mail addresses but need time, funding, a person and info to achieve that – many articles related to business support have been issued via e-mail in past 12 months or so
• Retailers need active support
• If e-mail distribution list was expanded – this would result in more local businesses being updated

• Crowborough is a town that is one of the lowest category of places that meets any funding criteria and completing a Healthcheck appears to be the only way in which sources of funding via SEEDA is more likely to be achieved.
• A networking evening has been identified as a need.
• Training needs to be subsidised for small businesses
• Not enough active support for organising events
• need to ensure a balance of business is created and sustained in Crowborough.
• Need to ensure the retail sector is supplemented by ‘niche’ businesses that would not compete with current businesses
• Business expansion = job growth
• More local purchasing = job growth

• lack of synergy, confidence amongst town centre retailers.
• Need more info to assess market sector expectations and then to design a programme to ensure realism and practical aspects can be delivered in close liaison with retailers who need to take responsibility for helping to make it happen.

• Need to reach all businesses and include them in any survey rather than rely on existing database

• need to achieve more ‘growth’ industries in the town
• Need to retain the businesses we have at present.
• Need to increase the amount of disposable spend within Crowborough.

• Need to promote and develop the biz website and increase local purchasing/spending / local business to business transactions through the town and hinterland

• need to capitalise on any relocations of existing larger companies

• need to ensure existing companies achieve their potential within their existing premises
• need to identify issue, current usage and potential re Broadband in residential and business communities
• Need to exploit FSB membership expanding e-mail coverage in locality
• To need identify and sustain active support amongst business community