Plumpton Business Breakfast
PLUMPTON businesses are well aware of the marketing and trade opportunities to be gained from the additional tourism that the South Downs National Park will offer.
The Plumpton Business Team (part of the Plumpton Village Action Plan) held its first Business Breakfast to demonstrate to local businesses the opportunities available through marketing and networking.
In addition to local businesses involved in working the land, such as farmers and other countryside managers, the rural economy is made up of a large number of micro businesses – some working from home in the village, others from small business premises established in redundant farm buildings.
Nearly fifty local businesses were treated to a full English breakfast on 17th November at the Half Moon pub. As well as the two largest employers, Plumpton College and Plumpton Racecourse, the trades represented ranged from accountancy, plumbing and heating services, electricians, architects, garage services, health and well-being related services, food producers, and many more.
In a warm atmosphere created instantly by the glowing open fires, guests heard, from Des Lambert, Principal, and Don Cranfield, Head of Rural Business Training, at Plumpton College, how Plumpton, as the ‘Middle Gateway to the Downs’ has a real opportunity to benefit from additional visitor numbers to the South Downs and how the College’s Rural Business Centre can offer businesses advice and guidance, including ways of increasing their visibility in rural areas.
Katherine Hale, Project Manager for Collabor8, explained that the National Park Authority is in the process of drawing up its management plan which will include a Business Support section to help promote rural business, and assist businesses draw up sustainable business plans. Collabor8 has already helped 14 clusters of communities across the area with financial support including Plumpton with sponsorship of the 16 new walks leaflets for the Village Action Plan Footpaths initiative. The objective is to support local economies and recreation in a sustainable way.
The gathering also heard from Lucy Knott, Economic Development Officer for Lewes District Council who commended the event organisers for bringing together in one room so many businesses. She noted the advent of a new Business Directory which is being put together for local businesses and which promoted enthusiastic support from the attendees.
The meeting continued to talk about issues such as parking at the station and transport links for staff, the need for improved broadband, signage, a local directory, ‘Buy Local’ initiatives and much more.
Those present said that they found the event useful and wanted the initiative to continue with further structured events. People networked and new relationships were made – with deals being struck within minutes of the event drawing to a close.
Paul Nicholson, Business Team Leader, said “Our focus here was to bring together local businesses in an informal networking event. This was the first such meeting and many had never attended such an event before. The response was encouraging and the links made on the day invaluable”.
Although the event was free, participants were asked to make donations which raised £250 for Honeybees Playgroup and the Plumpton Activity Scheme – two community based schemes for children.
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