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 industries in the town in the growth sectors of the regional economy? Are the skills needs of these sectors being met?

Significant issues:

stated elsewhere in SWOT about the need to identify and attract ‘growth’ industries (not forgetting to actively support the needs and priorities of existing ‘growth’ industries

Need to identify skills training for current/future needs in local businesses (own premises or homebased as well as those businesses that need to relocate from ‘home’ to their own independent sites).

Not too sure what the growth sectors are (?)**
Unable to answer specifically but have some general feedback on skills/training from BOS 2002*/**.

Entrepreneurial training starts @ BCC at 13/14 years of age and is supported by EDEAL for existing/new businesses. AiRS supports training in the voluntary sector/ community skills area*

Need to recognise the unknown skills training needs of the self employed / home based people in the area****

*

**

?

How does the health of the local economy compare with other towns and the regional economy as a whole?

Significant issues:

Further potential needs exploiting even though there is evidence to demonstrate comparatively speaking, the vitality and viability of Crowborough is as expected of a town this size. Crowborough’s proximity to Tunbridge Wells (and to a lesser extent, Uckfield) is a significant factor in not being able to retain as much disposable income on the retail side.

More people in Crowborough and the hinterland need to know what local purchasing potential and opportunities there are.

Inadequate road/rail and economic base infrastructure.

As far as the retail sector within the town centre is concerned, a Retail Capacity and Impact Study commissioned by Wealden District Council in 1999* identified: “Crowborough is a reasonably attractive town centre with the vitality and viability expected of a town of that size**. It has the capacity and potential to attract, retain and sustain a higher level of disposable spending on (1) convenience goods and (2) durable goods****

It stated that with regard to its anticipated growth in population and available expenditure on convenience goods there was additional retail floorspace capacity that could be exploited which could increase the market share by reducing existing levels of leakage of available expenditure to competing foodstores in other towns****.

Nearly 400 businesses have premises in Crowborough representing retail, light industry and service industries and there are circa 1700 people that work from home within a 10 minute drive****

Business rates and rents are reported as high *****. Revaluation is seen as a threat*****

There continues to be a shortage of affordable and available offices and industrial units (particularly for start ups)***

In summary, there has been evidence within the local economy during the last 12 months that most of the local retail and service industry is maintaining its presence and position**, that new businesses are attracted to Crowborough and that there is potential for further growth and more local purchasing / networking****.

However, some retailers are finding trade and costs difficult. Crowborough does not have the same potential or opportunities as Uckfield***

Regional comparisons are not seen to be helpful in making comparisons (?).

Lack of road/rail infrastructure is seen as a disincentive to businesses looking to relocate inwards (as is the inadequate economic base to support larger companies)***

*

**

***

****

*****

Is there any significant cluster of businesses in the town (for example, tourism, specialist retailing, and engineering) and why is the town attracting these businesses?

Significant issues: there are clusters of businesses that are growing, some that employ quite a relatively high number of people and the vocational centre and training organisations need to recognise that. Need also to consider more holistic training and skills needs in north Wealden. Need a more comprehensive up to date audit (as with all audits, the questions need to be guided by the SWOT issues/findings). Need to consider balance of trade/business and ‘growth’ industries requirement

Need to identify, recognise and nurture the ‘niche’ market sectors (e.g. alternative therapies. Care Homes and perhaps printers and Financial Advisors)

See the other ‘employment’ SWOT theme*

*The top 3 industries employing most people are Wholesale and retail trades; repair of motor vehicles (17.4%); Real estate, renting and business activities (14.2%); Health and Social Work (11.5%) but need more definitive breakdown (?)

Crowborough employment figures by general clustering: 400 in Construction; 1700 in Distribution and restaurants (no hotel); 1400 in Public Administration, education and health; 500 in Manufacturing – reasons unknown (?) There also seems to be a higher than average number of alternative health businesses and residential care homes****.

Of the 820 businesses in the TN6 postcode area 22% (152) are ‘at home’ and assumed to be self employed.

Using the 820 database to look at cluster, there are 70 Head Offices; 168 Office and administration companies; 157 shops and other retail, outlets and the 152 business at home*****.

BCC offers Business Administration tuition for 14/16 year olds and Adult Education skills updating opportunities****

Student training in ‘retailing’ could be an option****

*

****

*****

?

What significant skills shortages or recruitment problems are existing businesses experiencing?

Significant issues: need up to date audit (TN6 data base again)

See other SWOT ‘training’ theme*

*From an analysis of the 2002 Business Opinion Survey returned by 92 of the 400 or so businesses in Crowborough with premises the following data relating to skill levels for recruits and existing staff as well as in house training was extracted:

• Of the 74 responses to the question about difficulties in recruiting a skilled workforce: 29% (18) said ‘YES’; 61% (45) replied ‘NO’
• Of the 72 responses about problems experienced in recruiting unskilled staff: 25% (18) said ‘YES’; 75% (54) replied ‘NO’
• Of the 62 responses to the question asking if there were skill shortages amongst current staff that could inhibit business growth: 24% (15) said ‘YES’; 75% (47) said ‘NO’
• Of the 83 responses to the question about in house training being provided: 80% (66) said ‘YES’; 20% (17) said ‘NO’
• Of the 85 responses questioning the provision of a training budget: 34% (29) said ‘YES’; 66% (56) said ‘NO’
• Of the 79 responses to the question about organisations other than their own providing training: 4% (3) said ‘otherorganisations provided all their training’; 43% (34) said ‘only part of their training was undertaken by an external trainers’; 53% (42) replied ‘no external organisation undertook any training’

Need more info on specific training needs/skills audit (?)

*

?

What is the mix of generic and sector-specific skills that local employers most value and most need to help their business?

Significant issue ; lack of detailed info re skills

See the analyses of 2002 Bos for a general picture. Need more skill specific info. (?)

Need to have comparative data from say Sussex Enterprise (?)

?

Can local people access training locally that will improve general skills levels in the community and work to the benefit of local businesses and the local economy?

Significant issues: are there suitable general skills courses and accessible venues in Crowborough and its hinterland?

*The number of 16-19 year olds within TN6, TN5, TN21 and TN22 reduced by 90 to 657 (a 12.62% reduction) in 2001/02 from the previous year which raises queries about access to suitable courses in the Wealden area

Looking at the 19+ age range within the TN6 and TN5 postcode areas, in 2001/02 nearly 60% of learners went out of East Sussex for their education. No data is available for later years. These figures could be as a result of lack of appropriate courses, lack of facilities and/or lack of access which could result from inadequate transport

*

What delivery agencies, trainers, and infrastructure bodies are active in the town? What facilities are available in the town that could provide a venue for local delivery of information, skills training, etc?

Significant issues: recently gained info suggests that a minority of local businesses want external courses provided in Crowborough. Perhaps need to test run/subsidise a few? Funding needed to subsidise courses for small businesses. How to reach all businesses in Crowborough and hinterland and identify current / future skills training requirements?

*BCC (including Adult Education), WKC, Wealden Institute, Tuition Centre(?), High Brooms (AgeCare) has a training suite

****

Plumpton College is prepared to come to Crowborough and provide a wide range of courses**** but need a venue***. Poor response about concept of local training provision from 120 e-mailed companies***

A number of local businesses have offered the use of a variety of sizes of rooms for local training (5-15 capacity)****

*

**

***

****

?

Where are decisions made about the provision of training opportunities within the town? By whom are these decisions made?

Information needed about training providers/agencies

The first thing to do is define what training is needed and then identify/approach training/business support agencies***/****

***

****

(?)

What issues has this highlighted

• Need to identify skills training for current/future needs in local businesses (own premises or homebased as well as those businesses that need to relocate from ‘home’ to their own independent sites)
• Further potential of local economy needs exploiting even though there is evidence to demonstrate comparatively speaking, the vitality and viability of Crowborough is as expected of a town this size.
• Crowborough’s proximity to Tunbridge Wells (and to a lesser extent, Uckfield) is a significant factor in not being able to retain as much disposable income on the retail side.
• More people in Crowborough and the hinterland need to know what local purchasing potential and opportunities there are.
• Inadequate road/rail and economic base infrastructures inhibit business retention, growth and attraction
• There are clusters of businesses that are growing, some that employ quite a relatively high number of people and the vocational centre and training organisations need to recognise that.
• Need also to consider more holistic training and skills needs in north Wealden.
• Need a more comprehensive up to date audit (as with all audits, the questions need to be guided by the SWOT issues/findings).
• Need to consider balance of trade/business and ‘growth’ industries requirement
• Need to identify, recognise and nurture the ‘niche’ market sectors (e.g. alternative therapies. Care Homes and perhaps printers and Financial Advisors)
• Need up to date recruitment and retention audit (TN6 data base again)
• Lack of detailed information available re: skills
• Are there suitable general skills courses and accessible venues in Crowborough and its hinterland?
• Recently gained info suggests that a minority of local businesses want external courses provided in Crowborough. Perhaps need to test run/subsidise a few? Funding needed to subsidise courses for small businesses.
• Need to decide how best to reach all businesses in Crowborough and hinterland and identify current / future skills training requirements