This Community Project will focus on an analysis of current local business, whilst developing a USP for Billingshurst which will provide a "hook" upon which to hang any future promotion of business in the community, mainly in the High Street and Jengers Mead.

Secondly the project will enable us to place a Business Advisor in Billingshurst for one year. Funding for this exercise will total £40,000 and to meet this the Partnership have received funding of £20,000 from SEEDA whilst the Community Partnership have contributed £5000, from its general community fund and the consultant organisation will provide the balance of £15000 - together the latter two contributions make up the 'matched' amount to enable us to draw down the aforementioned £20,000.

The main aims of this second exercise are, in outline, as follows:-

• 250 "one on one" interviews to ascertain the needs of business in Billingshurst, the problems faced in gaining local employment by the unemployed and young people, and devising a "way forward. This will be developed through 12 workshops run during the next 12 months. (2011 to 2012)

• Particular attention will be paid to the needs of retail within our community and in particular the problems faced with the Jengers Mead business area.

• Of the total funding £10,000 will be available to market and publicise Billingshurst to tourists and visitors. It is also proposed to launch a "shop local" campaign.

It is proposed to run the two separate groups as 'interlinked' We need to encourage as much local input as is possible. Therefore any local businesses or professional people who would like to contribute to this project should get in touch with the Community Partnership and join in with this work on behalf of the business community of Billingshurst.