Business advice & support

Chichester District Council's business contact programme

We have a dedicated team with a variety of specialist skills that can assist your business on its road to success. We are closely linked with support organisations that offer further training and advice, therefore we are ideally placed to offer networking and identify new business opportunities.

We can offer support and advice on:

• Access to business grants;
• Planning applications and enquiries;
• The key issues impacting on your business;
• Relocating to the district;
• The availability of business premises within the area

There are a variety of local and regional business support organisations that offer a wide range of different services to local businesses.

Chichester BID website

Chichester Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership - Business Navigator

Community Empowerment Ltd

Federation of Small Businesses (fsb)

Fernhurst Hub

Gov.uk - Businesses and self-employed

HM Government - Business Support

Innovate UK

Trading Standards

The Business Hothouse

For anyone with an established, growing business, a business idea or an early-stage business, The Business Hothouse is a government funded business support programme that offers free, expert-led workshops and 1-2-1 mentoring to help get your business idea going or your current business growing.

Workshops range from intensive boot camps for start-ups to supporting you through the range of business finance options to helping your business to become more productive and profitable. It's open to any to anyone aged 18+ in the coast-to-capital area.

Starting up a business

The support and advice we offer includes:

• Access to business grants
• Relocating to the district; and,
• The availability of business premises within the area

Gov.uk - Setting up has extensive advise for new businesses, please visit their website for more information.

Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership - Business Navigator

Community Empowerment Ltd

Fernhurst Hub

Gov.uk - Setting up

HM Revenue & Customs online advice seminars

Prince's Trust

Start-up Loans

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We know how difficult it can be when setting up a new business or relocating to a new area. This booklet has been put together as a guide to Chichester district based businesses, on the local support agencies available to them and the services provided here at Chichester District Council. The Business Welcome Pack provides information and links to relevant sources you might need when setting up a new business or when relocating an established business to the area.

  Business Welcome Pack (PDF) [5MB]

Chichester District Council has developed a strategy and are supporting businesses who want to move into or relocate within the district.

For more information please visit our newly launched Invest Chichester website, and if you would like an introduction to the district, please telephone 01243 534595.
 

Chichester District Council are delighted to announce that ShopAppy is coming to the district!

What is ShopAppy?

ShopAppy.com is a "shop and support local business" website. It is backed by VISA. This makes it easier than ever for people to browse, book and buy from their local businesses at their convenience.

ShopAppy believe that it should not be easier to shop with a warehouse in the middle of nowhere. Anyone should be able to shop with a businesses on your doorstep. ShopAppy's mission is not to create more online shoppers but to create a community of local shoppers that can opt to shop in the way they choose.

Sadly, high streets are under threat and physical spend has been moving online. This has been accelerated by COVID-19 with £3 in every £5 now being spent with larger online retailers.

Why should my business sign up?

ShopAppy provides a platform where all the products, services and hospitality are available from independent businesses in the district. It is a one-stop-local-online-shop! And because ShopAppy is search optimized, local people will find your business easily.

At ShopAppy we want to make it as easy as possible for businesses to get on board. The vendor dashboard is extremely easy to use and the ShopAppy team is always on hand to help. They do not take any commissions on sales only passing on a card processing fees of 2%.

ShopAppy.com have partnered with Chichester District Council to use the paid platform up to the end of March 2023.

How to register

Business can select the relevant area and register:

ShopAppy - register a Chichester business

ShopAppy - register a Midhurst business

ShopAppy - register a Petworth business

ShopAppy - register a Selsey business

ShopAppy - register an East Wittering business

You can find further information on the ShopAppy website, or if you want to talk to one of the ShopAppy team, please contact at jackie@shopappy.com.

Chichester District Council is calling for local entrepreneurs to take part in a Pop Up Shop Initiative, to help support small and start-up businesses in the district.

The scheme, which makes use of vacant properties owned by the council, provides affordable temporary premises. This means that smaller enterprises and start-up businesses will have the opportunity to trial business concepts and trade in a city centre location without the commitment or cost of a longer-term lease.

A property on Crane Street in Chichester City Centre is the first to become available as part of this initiative. Visit our commercial property page for further information.

Applications are now open for the Chichester City Centre Pop Up Shop scheme. This has now been changed to an open ended application process. Applications will be processed and assessed on a first come first served basis.

Please read the guidance notes carefully before completing the online application.

Pop Up Shop Guidance Notes (PDF) [2MB]

Pop up shop application form

If you have any questions regarding the application please email: popupshop@chichester.gov.uk.

As part of the Retail Support Programme and in collaboration with Horsham District Council and 5 other Councils within West Sussex, 10 free online training modules have been pre-recorded for businesses to access at their own convenience. Although the sessions are tailored for independent retailers other businesses will be able to access the modules and benefit from the free information. Businesses will be able to select the topics that best suit their needs.

Each module is presented by a specialist expert on the following key subjects:

• Measuring sales, tracking profitability
• Key steps for creating a marketing plan
• The importance of business planning
• Employing staff: an introduction to HR for small businesses
• Using social media for business outcomes
• Card payments and electronic point of sale
• Understanding today's customer
• Creating an exceptional customer experience
• Developing a quality customer experience for the modern independent retailer; and
• Developing new business models that work effectively and efficiently.

To find out more about this and to register, please visit the West Sussex Retail Training Hub website.

The Recover & Rise: SME Digital Accelerator series has now concluded. However, businesses can still access recordings of all the webinars from across the 4 series and up to 8 hours of free mentoring & support from a Digital Champion

The aim is to help small and medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) utilise digital tools and gain expert knowledge and advice on how best to grow their online presence, attract and retain new customers and work more productively.

The programme covers:

• Series 1: Getting Online
• Series 2: Customers and Marketing
• Series 3: Systems and Productivity
• Series 4: Growth Expansion and New Products. 

Green Growth Platform

The Green Growth Platform is the South East Hub of Clean Growth UK. They work with businesses to support low carbon and environmental business growth, including through the free Net Zero 360 programme.

A full-service net zero package for SMEs, it supports businesses taking the first steps on the net zero journey.

Low carbon business case studies

A growing number of West Sussex businesses, across sectors, are taking steps to better their environmental performance and improve their operations. They have inspiring and insightful stories that can help inform anyone considering adopting greener business solutions. Watch the YouTube series Low Carbon Business in West Sussex to hear their stories.

SME Climate Hub

The SME Climate Hub has partnered with Oxford University to support small businesses in reducing their carbon emissions and to provide climate solutions to contribute to climate action in society. The tools and resources on the SME Climate Hub website help all SMEs take concrete steps towards climate action across multiple pathways. They're the first step to getting started.

Take a look at the useful information on the website to find out how your business can reduce carbon emissions and gain a competitive edge.

£4000 is available for rural SME's upgrading their broadband.

West Sussex County Council has recently relaunched their Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme.  Now rural eligible premises can claim up to £4,000 each towards the installation cost of gigabit-capable broadband, when part of a group of premises.

Find out if your premises is eligible by checking your postcode on the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport website.

If you have any questions please email broadband@westsussex.gov.uk
 

If you're a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) then there's around a 1 in 2 chance that you'll experience a cyber security breach.

Falling victim to cyber crime can be devastating for your business, and when you consider that SMEs make up 99.9% of Britain's 5.5 million private sector businesses, it represents a real threat to the whole of the UK economy.

The National Cyber Security Centre has produced a Small Business Guide to improve cyber security within your organisation - quickly, easily and at low cost.

Following the five quick and easy steps outlined in the guide could save time, money and even your business' reputation. This guide can't guarantee protection from all types of cyber attack, but the 5 steps outlined  can significantly reduce the chances of your business becoming a victim of cyber crime.

The Coast to Capital Growth Hub team provides fully funded advice, support, investment and strategic leadership to help small and medium sized enterprises drive sustainable business success and regional economic growth in West Sussex, Brighton and Hove and East Surrey (Epsom and Ewell, Reigate and Banstead, Tandridge and Mole Valley).

They do this by:

• challenging, encouraging and enabling strategic change

• connecting you to business support programmes, experts, peer business leaders and funding opportunities

• helping you develop national and international opportunities

The Growth Relationship Managers

The Growth Relationship Manager provide you with long term free and impartial support. As part of their support they can undertake analysis to diagnose key areas of business improvement, helping you to unlock potential in your business operations.

Growth Champions

The Growth Champions are a network of consultants, all experts in their respected fields. The network can provide specialist support for businesses to unlock further growth. Coast to Capital are able to fully fund a day of specialist support from this Network.

GROWTHmapper Diagnostics & DNAsix

The Growth Relationship Manager can provide comprehensive business diagnostics through GROWTHmapper which includes a set of assessment questions designed to underpin coaching and advice, as well as a digital coaching programme 'DNAsix' that can help your business survive, compete and ultimately thrive in today's digital marketplace.

Investment in the Coast to Capital area

The Growth Hub supports investment enquiries and opportunities in partnership with the Department for International Trade and local partners. The team help identify solutions and support for existing and potential investors including those from overseas.

Contact the Growth Hub

The Coast to Capital Growth Hub website is regularly maintained with links to partner support and government information. Keep up to date with the latest news, information and events on Twitter and subscribe to the Coast to Capital Growth Hub Newsletter. To speak to a Growth Relationship Manager, complete the Coast to Capital Request Form online.

It's Local Chichester is the official internet business directory for Chichester containing hundreds of local organisations based in the Chichester district.

We are proud to be part of launching this exciting new service for businesses in the Chichester District, connecting local businesses with local customers and keeping trade inside the local economy. It is free of charge to register your business or to view the online business directory. For more information please visit the website.

The developer and partner charter is an informal voluntary agreement between Chichester District Council, developers, skills and training providers, and, where relevant, local businesses, to secure opportunities for local residents and local businesses arising from developments and associated business activities within the district.

Businesses are increasingly judged on the values they demonstrate. Adopting this charter is a public demonstration of those values. It shows a willingness to engage with the local community, support the local economy and it is not intended to be onerous or force partners to adhere to unachievable goals.

For more information about the charter, please see the relevant document.

Developer & Partner Charter (PDF) [79KB]

Why sign up to the Developer & Partner Charter? (PDF) [243KB]

The Chichester District boasts a variety of events and opportunities to meet and network with other businesses. The district council also works in partnership with local organisations to provide a rich variety of events, opportunities and discussion forums for the development of local people and businesses.

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Chichester BID website

Chichester Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Coastal West Sussex - Development Partnership

Petworth Business Association

Federation of Small Businesses (fsb)