Why not be a good egg this Easter and help children in your local community.

Children spending time in hospital over the Easter holidays can often miss out on a visit from the Easter Bunny, but with your help we can make sure no child is without an Easter treat. 

Cathedral Wealth Management are on the hunt for Easter Egg donations for Rockinghorse Children’s Charity and My Sisters’ House, so children in our local community won’t miss out on the Easter Bunny. 

All donations will be split between the 2 charities. 

You can drop off your Easter Egg donations at The Cathedral Wealth Management offices or Creations Hair Salon in Chichester, before Sunday 24th March. 

The Sussex Snowdrop Trust Presents
“Prancing around in Tights”An evening with Hugh Bonneville
15 June at Arundle CastleTickets £35.00

English stage and screen actor, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey and the Paddington films) will be joining The Sussex Snowdrop Trust for an evening at Arundel Castle, Lower Lawns on 15th June from 7pm.

Guests will be welcomed with a glass of Digby Fine English sparkling wine, the country’s leading blending house based in Arundel, and served with canapes from Earth Catering of Chichester.

This will be a wonderful event  that brings together the community and local suppliers together in support of our charity and we look forward to hearing Hugh’s stories and anecdotes from his life and career.

Help raise vital funds by joining us for this extra special evening with Hugh in the enchanting setting of Arundel Castle.

Sponsor: atomos – wealth and financial wellbeing

Sussex and South East accountants Carpenter Box has announced that it has joined Sumer, the UK’s fastest growing accountancy and professional services group.

The firm, with offices in Worthing, Brighton, Chichester, Crawley, Portsmouth and London, now forms part of the rapidly expanding Sumer network, which focuses on serving small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs). 

Sumer has become a top 15 UK accountancy practice in just 12 months, having established hubs nationwide led by eight leading regional firms. Carpenter Box operates the South hub and sees being part of Sumer as an important step in delivering its ambitious expansion plans. Separately, the firm recently reached an agreement with Jones Avens accountants to merge the Chichester and Portsmouth practice into its south coast operations.

Alan Edwards, Managing Partner of Carpenter Box said: “We are delighted to be joining Sumer Group, which shares our vision and values and will play a valuable role in helping us achieve our plans for the future. As such, this decision represents a significant milestone in the Carpenter Box journey because it will enable us to enhance the value-adding services we offer to our clients, invest in new technologies, grow our geographic reach, and offer our people new and enhanced opportunities.”

Sumer’s mission is to champion the vital role that SMEs play in the UK economy. The Sumer Group of firms employs more than 1,000 colleagues across over 40 offices, with further ‘hub’ announcements imminent. The Group’s operating rationale is to bring together the best in business services by uniting like-minded accountancy practices embedded in their local communities to harness the power of collaboration for the benefit of SMEs. 

Carpenter Box is an award-winning firm of chartered accountants, tax specialists, business advisers and independent financial advisers with a reputation for innovation and excellence. The practice, with a team of 240 people, continues to expand across the south and in London, helping businesses grow in a profitable, sustainable and tax-efficient way.

www.carpenterbox.com

Entry Deadline approaching

The CCCI is very pleased to be organising the Chichester and Bognor Business Awards this year – with the gala event being held on 14th June, at the Avisford Park Hotel

You can get involved for FREE

Come on get nominating now, you can nominate any local business and/or enter your own company for an award and it’s totally FREE.  With 15 categories there’s so much to choose from.

Peer recognition – Nominate someone today!

Have you nominated a business for an award yet?  It’s really easy to do, just follow the link and your away, it takes moments but it means so much. You can nominate more than one business too so why not spread the love!

Enter or Nominate – Chichester Chamber of Commerce & Industry (chichestercci.org.uk)

It’s really important to us to make this showcase event successful in every way and recognising your peers is how you can help us to do this.  Is there a business you feel has really made a difference, do they make your professional life easier? Do you get things done because of their input, supply or support?  Let us know – this is your opportunity to give them a Shout Out!

Put YOUR business on the Awards map

It’s not just about nominating other businesses – YOU can enter the Chichester and Bognor Business Awards too – and yes it’s free to do so, so what are you waiting for?

Entering your business is a great way to recognise all the hard work you and your team have put into making your company a success.  We are so fortunate to be in an area with so much to offer, with businesses that work hard to support the local economy, hospitality and the environment; from new businesses on the cutting edge of innovation to family run businesses who’s ingenuity and hard work has seen them build over decades making them household names within our community.

Enter or Nominate – Chichester Chamber of Commerce & Industry (chichestercci.org.uk)

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship is a great way to get involved in this event – though many of the categories have already been snapped up we do still have one or two opportunities available for Award Category Sponsorship – want to know more, then contact Zelda Reeves today ([email protected])

Other sponsorship opportunities are available, it’s not just about putting your name to an award – there are also opportunities to sponsor table centre pieces, official programme opportunities and advertising. Why not look at something bespoke for the evening.  Contact Zelda today and start the conversation. 

Current Sponsors:

Awards Category Sponsors

Sussex and South East accountancy firm Carpenter Box has reached agreement with Jones Avens accountants to merge the practice into its south coast operations.

The merger expands the Carpenter Box network into Hampshire for the first time and will see Jones Avens, which has offices in Chichester and Portsmouth, rebranded Carpenter Box Jones Avens. Carpenter Box currently serves its growing client base from offices in Worthing, Brighton, Chichester, Crawley and London. 

Commented Alan Edwards, Managing Partner at Carpenter Box: “We are delighted to welcome Jones Avens into the Carpenter Box family. The firm is a great fit for our growth strategy, with its culture of customer service excellence and staff development, and will enable us to expand both the range and reach of our services to existing and prospective clients.”

David Knight, Partner at Carpenter Box Jones Avens added: “This merger represents a significant milestone in our journey. By joining with Carpenter Box, we will unlock additional resources, expertise and services that will directly benefit our clients by providing access to additional specialist knowledge.”

“This is a very positive move for both firms, our clients and our people and we look forward to working with our Jones Avens colleagues to grow our presence in the Chichester and Portsmouth areas.”  

Peter Reading, office lead at Carpenter Box’s Chichester office

The merger brings together two firms with a combined 215+ year track record of providing tax planning, advisory services and financial planning expertise to clients in Sussex, Hampshire and beyond. 

Carpenter Box is an award-winning firm of chartered accountants, tax specialists, business advisers and independent financial advisers with a reputation for innovation and excellence. The firm continues to expand across the south and in London, with specialist teams helping businesses grow in a profitable, sustainable and tax-efficient way. 

Next year West Sussex County Council will hold a whole-council election, giving you the chance to vote for your representative.

So now is a good time to think about about whether you would be interested in representing your local community and becoming a county councillor.

Local councillors come from all walks of life and with varying backgrounds, experiences, and family lives. The most important thing is a desire to make a difference for your community.

We are organising events across West Sussex between February and June for anyone wanting to find out more about becoming a councillor.

Be A Councillor’ and make a difference in West Sussex – West Sussex County Council

Thank you to everyone who gave their views on Our Council Plan and proposals for the 2024/25 budget.

The responses we received highlighted your preferences including:

The results of the consultation have been considered by our Performance & Finance Scrutiny Committee and shared with Cabinet ahead of its meeting next Tuesday, 30 January.

Cabinet will review the refreshed Council Plan, the 2024/25 revenue budget and capital programme. Their recommendations will then proceed to Full Council, which takes place on Friday 16 February.

At Full Council, the proposals and any amendments proposed by other political groups will be presented and debated, followed by a vote.

You can find agendas for each meeting, watch the meeting webcast live or watch again at a later date in the links above.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrates 20 years as a leading supporter of the nearby Chichester Festival Theatre – a continuous relationship that dates from the start of motor car production at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood in 2003.

Rolls-Royce is one of a select group of Platinum Sponsors at the world-renowned venue, which lies just a couple of miles from the marque’s Goodwood site.

Chichester Festival Theatre was founded in 1962, financed by donations from local businesses and individuals in an early example of what today would be called crowdfunding. The main auditorium seats up to 1,300 people, with a ‘thrust stage’ design equally suited to musicals and epic drama. A Grade II* Listed building, it underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2014.

The opening night was on 3 July 1962, under the artistic directorship of the legendary actor, Sir Laurence Olivier, and the company became the nucleus of his new National Theatre company.   In the six decades since, many productions including musicals, new plays and classic revivals have transferred successfully to London’s West End and toured both nationally and internationally. Its flagship Festival Season runs from April to October and attracts almost a quarter of a million theatregoers annually; the Theatre also runs an extensive programme of workshops and events for the local community.

As a Platinum Sponsor, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is an important contributor to the Theatre’s artistic and outreach work, promoting the creativity and excellence that are central to the marque’s own values. The relationship also underlines the deep roots Rolls-Royce has established in the local community since it chose Chichester as the location for its new home in the early 2000s.

In 2007, the partnership was recognised with a Sustainability Award from Arts & Business South East. The following year, Rolls-Royce’s beautiful, landscaped grounds provided a glorious setting for Chichester Festival Youth Theatre’s open-air promenade show, Toad of Toad Hall.

Kathy Bourne, Executive Director of Chichester Festival Theatre, says:

“Rolls-Royce is a leading light of Chichester’s business community and we’ve hugely valued the company’s generous sponsorship over the past 20 years, ever since the Goodwood-based manufacturing plant was first established. We share with Rolls-Royce a strong commitment to our local community and an international reputation for excellence, flying the flag for British expertise worldwide. We offer them our warmest congratulations on their 20th anniversary and our thanks for their ongoing support.”

The 2023 Autumn Statement

Jeremy Hunt has unveiled the Autumn Statement 22nd November 2023, prompting questions about its implications for personal finances.

Maintaining tax efficiency throughout your financial planning journey is crucial for achieving financial goals. Understanding the impact of tax and benefit changes, and discussing these with your financial adviser, is essential.

Before the Autumn Statement, there was considerable speculation about potential tax cuts and their compatibility with responsible economic growth. The changes announced in the Chancellor’s “Autumn Statement for Growth” are framed against a backdrop of reduced debt, controlled borrowing, modest growth, and lower inflation.

Here’s a summary of the key changes that could affect individuals and businesses, along with a reminder of important unchanged provisions in financial planning.

Relevant for Individuals:

The most significant changes for employed individuals revolved around National Insurance.

For investors and savers, ISA and JISA contribution limits remain unchanged, with proposed changes aimed at simplifying and enhancing flexibility. Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax remain untouched.

Apart from National Insurance changes, all other personal tax thresholds, exemptions, and allowances remain unchanged or frozen until April 5, 2028. This status quo may lead to an increase in basic, higher, and additional rate taxpayers, necessitating informed tax and financial planning.

Announcements were made regarding the National Minimum Wage increase to £11.44 per hour and improvements to Universal Credit and Housing Allowance Rules.

Relevant for Businesses:

A notable measure for businesses is the permanence of “full expensing” for qualifying capital equipment expenditure beyond April 2026. This means that companies can continue to fully deduct 100% of qualifying expenditure from taxable profit. This announcement comes amid the recent increase in the main rate of corporation tax to 25%.

While the National Insurance reductions for the self-employed were highlighted, there were limited benefits for businesses regarding employer costs. The rise in the minimum wage might increase costs for some businesses.

With the tax and benefit system’s increasing complexity, coupled with the crucial role of tax efficiency in financial objectives, regular discussions with financial advisers are imperative to ensure alignment with changing contexts and personal goals.

The value of investments with St. James’s Place is directly tied to fund performance and may fluctuate. Investments may result in returns less than the amount invested. Taxation levels and reliefs are subject to change based on individual circumstances.

*The data presented this article is sourced gov.co.uk The information obtained from this source has been accurately represented and faithfully documented 24th November 2023

Kindly supplied by Cathedral Wealth Management

Congratulations to CCCI Members, Victoria Hilditch and her team at Vinco Marketing who have designed all the product tags and the point of sale for the Snapper plant in John Lewis which is part of their Christmas Ad campaign. These tags can be seen in every John Lewis up and down the country.

The main concept was created by Saatchi & Saatchi but we are so excited that our independent local business was able to play a part in this huge campaign.

To learn more about this amazing achievement please click on the link below:

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