Damian Pulford, LBP Chairman and MD of Sussex Transport welcomed Tom Rutland MP to the park on the 7th March 2025, for the LBP MP Business Roundtable Lunch.

Kindly hosted by Paula Rosa Manhattan in their impressive Design Lab next to their Kitchen Showroom in Marlborough Road.

Businesses from a spread of industries on the park were treated to a delicious lunch provided by Andie and Emily at the Auctioneer's Kitchen and served in Paula Rosa Manhattan's beautiful Kitchen Showroom.

                                                                                               

Businesses were given an open forum to directly discuss with Tom the issues facing their industry and explain the impact each issue is having on their business growth.

                                                                                                                                                                   

The discussion was filled with a long list of concerns impacting all areas the business, from the crucial bottom line to government support, A27 improvements and a multitude of other issues. 

This event has hopefully provided Tom with a full range of issues in our area to feedback into government and help inform future strategy and decision making.

To view the full list and more detail please click here

LBP would like to thank Tom Rutland MP for making the time to attend this event and being open to hearing all the about the issues in area. LBP would also like to thank Paula Rosa Manhattan for hosting and Andie and Emily at the Auctioneer's Kitchen for their great lunch.

On Friday 7th March, Tom Rutland MP visited for his second tour of Lancing Business Park.

First on the list was Sussex Transport to meet Damian Pulford, MD and LBP Chairman. Damian gave Tom a full rundown of the history of the park and the BID, explaining the progress made over the years and the challenges ahead. Damian then gave Tom a site tour and a sneak peek into a selection of the luxury brands Sussex Transport support. Damian also explained about Sussex Transport’s Haulage, Logistics, UK Pick and Pack, Freight and Training arms, along with raising a concerning government procurement issue.

Next on the tour was Regency Radio in Winston Business Park, where Tom was introduced to their Chairman - James Crawley. James had a surprise up his sleeve as Tom was then greeted by the national institution that is DJ Mike Read, along with Jay Jackson- Chief Broadcaster and Dave Phoenix – Presenter/DJ. 

Tom was then showned the onsite Podcast Studio and treated to listening live in the studio to Lee Everest’s Morning Show and seeing a master in action.                  

            

Tom was then whisked off to meet Katy Hodgson owner of Wicker Gymnastics in Chartwell Business Centre.

Katy gave Tom a site tour explaining their range of community services and growth over the years.  Katy also explained they play a key role in supporting around 1000 children in the local area. 

Katy has been working with LBP to try to address parent pick-up and drop-off issues to improve child safety and avoid obstructions in Chartwell Road. This is a work in progress which LBP and Katy will continue to work on.

Last but by no means least was Shoreham Vehicle Auctions (SVA), to meet their MD Alex Wright and Michael Simmons - Operations Director.

Alex gave Tom an overview of SVAs staggering growth and their substantial investment in several additional sites to help ease the pressure on the park. Tom then visited the Sale Room to see where the auctions take place and trade all over the country. Tom even got to meet SVA’s Chestnut Tree House Owl and Bear.

LBP would like to thank these businesses for making time to enable this tour.

If you would like your businesses featured on a future tour, please email LBP by clicking here

LBP and UK Power Networks appreciate how essential a constant power supply is to business operations. LBP has therefore been working with UK Power Networks to:

• Help identify issues on the network
• Enable access 
• Update businesses
• Arrange a switch back to mains power schedule, which avoids business impact

Following recent issues on the park and the fire which occurred on Monday at the substation in Elm Grove, UK Power Networks has been dedicating a huge amount of resource to provide a full MOT for the following substations whilst the network is on generator power, avoiding the need to cut supply to businesses:

• Marlborough Road Car Park
• Shoreham Vehicle Auctions
• Paula Rosa Manhattan
• Elm Grove North
• Elm Grove Pumping Station

UK Power Networks explained there is a common misunderstanding regarding substations on individual business sites, leading to a belief that a substation feeds merely that one business, but that’s not case. All the substations on LBP, in Winston Road and Elm Grove provide a network power loop, connecting many businesses via each substation.

The loop consists of a double cable feed, which enables UK Power Networks to quickly react when a fault occurs, by redirecting the power feed to the second cable or alternative substation. It is therefore essential that unimpeded 24/7 access is granted to all substations, to allow UK Power Networks to quickly redirect if needed.

LBP is 99% occupied with many heavy industrial uses on the park and these power requirements are naturally placing a high load on the network. The current works being undertaken, along with the recent repairs in Commerce Way, Peter Road and Winston Road, are all helping to safeguard the supply for businesses on the park.

LBP will continue to work with UK Power Networks to encourage as much proactive maintenance as possible whilst we are on generator power and will update businesses when the switch back is rescheduled.

If your business has experienced any power issues this week, please report these to LBP on 07584 503729, so that we can make the most of the resources currently on the park and get these issued addressed for you. Thank you.

LBP are pleased to announce the LBP Committee selected Turning Tides to be the 2025 LBP Charity of the Year.

Turning Tides is the largest provider of homelessness services to single adults across West Sussex.

They don’t believe in ‘sticking plaster solutions', but support people at every stage of their journey, empowering them on a pathway to greater strength and independent living, offering support to permanent solutions.

Based in central Worthing, the charity offers a wide range of services across the county: from community hubs which connect people sleeping rough with the support they need to begin their journey out of homelessness, through to residential projects ensuring people have the skills, resilience and confidence to sustain them in their future.

People become homeless for all sorts of reasons: bereavement, poor physical or mental health; redundancy; addiction issues; leaving the armed forces; relationship breakdown and many others. Turning Tides also understand the stigma of being homeless. It’s not something people will readily admit to.

For every person you see rough sleeping, they estimate that there are another 20 ‘hidden homeless’ - people living in their cars and vans, or sofa-surfing, or sleeping in tents in fields or woodland on the edge of the town.

Can you be sure that everyone in your business has a safe, secure home to return to at the end of their working day?

There are many ways for your staff and business to get involved with Turning Tides, and support local people experiencing homelessness:

Why not start by booking in a team building exercise?

Our Sussex 3 Peaks Challenge on 28^th June 2025 is a 24k hike from Steyning up to Steepdown, along to Cissbury Ring and Chanctonbury before returning to Steyning. The walk, estimated to take between 7 and 8.5 hours, offers not just a physical challenge but also moments of reflection on rural homelessness and the difficulties people face while homeless

For further details of the walk please click here 

For more details about Turning Tides who can visit their website by clicking here

You can also find out more about working with Turning Tides to help make a difference by clicking the image below:

On Valentines Day, LBP hosted the 2025 LBP Charity Bake Off, raising £434.05 for Safe In Sussex. 

We were joined on the day by Jurgen Kraub, Great British Bake Off Star Baker and Tracie Davey CE of Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce, who kindly judged the wonderful entries.

All entrants put their heart and sole into their bakes and really did their companies proud.

In the Sweet Catergory the stand out Winner was this amazing Rasberry & Chocolate Cake which tasted as good as it looked, created by Andie & Emily at the Auctioneer's Kitchen. Still hard at work they sent Richard Dalwood from Shoreham Vehicle Auctions to collect their prizes.

            

The Sweet Runner-up was awarded to Denise Packham's Carrot Cake and Sussex Transport's MD, Damian Pulford collected the award on Denise's behalf.

            

In the Savoury Category, Snack Shack's Rebecca Cracknell was awarded Winner for her Sweet Chilli Jam Scotch Eggs and these sold out the quickest in the Bake Sale. But not to worry as Rebecca sells these in Snack Shack on a regular basis.

            

The Savoury Runner-Up also went to Andie & Emily at the Auctioneer's Kitchen for their flavourful Smoked Salmon, Leek and Tomatoe Quiche

In the Kids Category, the Winner was awarded to Fizz Creations' Keiron Fitzgerald for his delicious Cinnamon Buns.

               

The Kids Category Runner-up was awarded to Lucie Henderson of Sussex Transport for her delicious White Chocolate & Rasberry Cookies.

LBP would like to thank all entrants for taking the time to create these wonderful bakes and attendes for their generous donations which helped raised this welcomed funding for Safe In Sussex.

LBP would also like to thank Jurgen and Tracie for being wonderful judges, Lawerence Boon of Fizz Creations for kindly donating the prizes and Paula Rosa Mahattan for providing the venue.

At the end of the Bake Sale all leftovers were boxed up and taken to LBP's newly selected Charity of the Year. More news of this next week.

LBP are pleased to confirm that the 2024 LBP Big Clean has been booked for:

Sunday 29th December from 7am onwards

LBP will be undertaking a deep clean of the public highways across the business park to clear the debris and autumn leaves which have built up. The LBP Big Clean helps to raise the overall cleanliness of the public areas of the business park, ready for businesses to return in the New Year.

Please can all businesses share this information with their staff and ask that no vehicles are parked on the public highways across the business park from 7:00am on Sunday 29th  December, to provide unrestricted access to enable a thorough clean.

Many thanks.

To view details of last year's LBP Big Clean of each road on the park please click here

LBP are very pleased to announce that Cllr Paul Marshall, Leader of West Sussex County Council has reviewed Phase 1 of the LBP Road Improvement Works, confirmed Phase 2 and even planned Phase 3!

Back in May 2024, Phase 1 was temporarily placed on hold following continual rain and heavy HGV movements exposed the full extent of the required substructure works. West Sussex Highways quickly restructured the project and implemented a new Phase 1 Road Improvement Plan, which saw extensive substructure repairs throughout August and September 2024. As part of these works, FM Conway (infrastructure specialists) filled all the potholes with an interim surface to improve road conditions for businesses, staff and visitors to the park.

LBP then discussed the ongoing need for further works with Cllr Paul Marshall who kindly agreed to review the project and budget, to determine how best West Sussex County Council could support the needs of the second largest employment area in the county. 

LBP are pleased to now share the outcome of Cllr Paul Marshall’s project review: 

'As you highlight it has been another very difficult wet year having considerable impact across the highway network. 

I’ve sought advice from the team on the issues raised in your email and I’m pleased to confirm with the repairs to the substructure of the roads (“Phase 1”) now complete. The team has developed a plan comprising a further two phases, which will incorporate resurfacing of all the publicly maintainable roads within the Business Park.

• Phase 2: resurfacing of Spencer Road and Commerce Way. These two roads are a flexible (tarmac) construction, and the intention is to resurface them in the early part of 2025.
  

• Phase 3: resurfacing of all other roads within the Business Park. The remaining roads are a rigid (concrete) construction. Design work will take place over the winter with the aim of construction taking place during the 2025/26 financial year. A specialist product specifically designed for rigid roads is being investigated for this phase, with a view to ensuring a high quality and long-lasting finish is achieved
  

Both of the remaining phases can be carried out at night to minimise the impact on individual businesses. The funding for Phase 2 is already available, and whilst the budget for the 2025/26 financial year will not be confirmed until early 2025, funding has been provisionally allocated in the draft delivery programme to enable Phase 3 to take place in full.

Once all phases are completed this improved highways infrastructure will add value to the business park as a location for businesses in the region.’

LBP would like to thank Cllr Paul Marshall and West Sussex County Council for their understanding and support for the 250 businesses and 3000 employees who work on Lancing Business Park.

West Sussex Highways has also confirmed that as Phase 1 was implemented successfully whilst retaining business access, FM Conway’s services have been secured for Phase 2 and Phase 3 deliveries. LBP will therefore be working with West Sussex Highways and FM Conway to plan these deliveries to minimise impact to businesses on the park, especially our 24/7 operators. 

More news to follow in the New Year!

LBP would like to congratulate Phil Kennedy, MD of Eschmann Technologies Ltd in Peter Road, for being formally appointed to the West Sussex Economic Growth Board (WSEGB).

The WSEGB has been newly formed by West Sussex County Council, to drive forward economic growth and prosperity in the county. It is a business-led board providing a strategic voice on key issues to inform countywide investment decisions.

Phil’s appointment is a real achievement and is based on his wealth of global medical manufacturing expertise. At the helm of Eschmann, Phil is well established at leading British design and manufacturing of medical, dental and animal health products and services. Eschmann’s has more than a 190 years of continuous innovation experience, producing world leading products like their T20 Operating Table, which is still used in hospitals around the globe. 

Phil is also the Chair of the Association of British HealthTech Industries (ABHI) an organisation who support the HealthTech community to provide products and services that help people live healthier lives, acting as the voice of the industry. 

After many years on Lancing Business Park, Phil’s new appointment provides LBP with a direct route into the WSEGB, to help raise local business issues direct with the strategic decision makers in West Sussex.

On Wednesday 27th November, Adur & Worthing Councils' Business Support Programme funded a free Sustainability Workshop for businesses on the park.

Delivered by Kerry and Simon from Brighton University's Clean Growth UK, the workshop explained the benefits businesses would gain from starting their Net Zero Journey as early as possible.

This jargon busting workshop provided a clear picture of how important it is for businesses to start considering and reporting their Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions and how this action could help secure new contracts, customers and skilled staff.

Michael Simmons, Operations Director for Shoreham Vehicle Auctions (SVA) explained their three stage plan to becoming the first Zero Emissions Auction House in the country. Stage 1 of their plan included installing 145 solar panels which produce on average 150kWh of electricity per day and in the summer this can soar to 400kWh. Along with replacing gas radiators for electric, an electric company car, EV chargers, a new valet filtration system and even bee hives at their third site in East Worthing.

Stage 2 will try to reduce tailpipe emissions, instal more solar panels and bees. Once all CO2 has been minimised, Stage 3 will consider investing in local carbon offsetting projects to help improve the local environment. 

Paula Rosa Manhattan (PRMF) also provided a presentation of their Net Zero Journey which commenced back in 2008, achieving zero landfill as early as 2012. By 2020 their production was Co2 Neutral and in 2022 HVO (biofuel) was introduced within their transport fleet. This year will see their Scope 1 transport emissions reach carbon neutral, following a 90% reduction! Their plans continue, with 2030 delivering a Scope 3 emissions reduction of 50%, perfectly placing PRMF to attract new large-scale contracts.

PRMF has implemented many measures to reach these impressive achievements including Real Living Wage accreditation, Air source heating system, an all electric forklift fleet, EV Chargers, building insulation and removal of all PVC products from their offering. Lee Golby, PRMF's Sustainability & Compliance Manager has kindly offered to share more details of PRMF's journey, with any businesses on LBP wanting to consider their own Net Zero Journey. Please email LBP by clicking here and we will help connect you to Lee.

Kerry and Simon then shared surprising carbon measurements. Did you know that using a hand dryer uses 2grams, whereas paper towels use 10grams. Or that an avocado is 625grams as they mainly come all the way from Mexico and just switching the milk in your tea from dairy to soya could reduce the carbon from 71grams to 47grams. Small changes can equate to huge reductions in Co2 when multiplied across a whole business.

To top things off, Kerry and Simon explained about the £3K Adur & Worthing BSP Sustainability Grant, which attendees now qualify to apply for.

LBP would like to thank SVA and Andie & Emily at the Auctioneer's Kitchen for kindly hosting this event, SVA and PRMF for sharing their journeys, along with Adur & Worthing Councils' BSP Programme and Brighton University.

               

LBP will be working to provide all LBP businesses with more information to support their Net Zero Journey, so please keep checking in.