Business is built on small firms
Business in the Uckfield area is built on the back of many small firms, writes Paul Watson.
In East Sussex as a whole, 75 per cent of businesses employ five or fewer people, while 88 per cent employ ten or fewer.
But the Wealden Council area has the smallest average business size (six employees).
The figures are shown in a report just published called Focus on East Sussex.
The large number of small businesses reflects the high number of consumer service activities, such as shops, cleaning, pubs and leisure activities in the local economy.
The report states: "At the writing of this year's Focus on East Sussex we find ourselves emerging, if only tentatively, from the biggest downturn in economic activity for the last 50 years.
"The most visible impact of this downturn has been an increase in unemployment as measured by the increase in Job Seekers Allowance claims up to December 2009."
The impact of the recession will remain for some time and the main factors that will influence this are:
* speed at which jobs are created in the private sector of the economy so those made jobless during the recession can get back to work;
* although the drop in house prices has slightly increased housing affordability, the general economic outlook will continue to impact on people's ability to afford their own homes;
* and lastly at the national level there is significant public finance deficit which will result in lower levels of funding for all public sector organisations, including local authorities.
Reductions in the amount of money available to the public sector will hit the county hard because one-third of all people who work in East Sussex are employed in public administration, education or health.
The report adds: "Although we will eventually recover from the recession, there are still some tough times ahead for people in the county."
At the end of 2008, there were 22,205 active businesses registered for VAT and/or PAYE in East Sussex and of these Wealden had 8,085, almost double the number of businesses in any other district in East Sussex.
Of all East Sussex residents who are in paid employment, nearly one in four now travel outside the county to work. One in five of the commuters are going to London.
Most people are commuting to earn higher wages.
In 2009, the average gross weekly wage (before tax and national insurance are deducted) for employees who work full-time in East Sussex was £442.
This is 14% (£72) below the average for the South East, and 10% (£48) less than the average for Great Britain.
With the exception of the Isle of Wight, people who are employed in East Sussex receive the lowest average weekly wage of any county or unitary authority in the South East.
There are also significant differences between what people earn across the county.
The highest average full-time wage of £479 a week in Lewes is 24% (£93) higher than the lowest average full-time wage of £386 in Hastings.
Business forum
*A new Business Leaders Forum is to be launched in Eastbourne on June 10.
This is for those who run established businesses to share expertise for mutual benefit.
The forum is sponsored by MarketingMentor and the Institute of Directors.
Although attendance is by invitation, anyone interested can contact Tom Serpell of MarketingMentor. Follow the link above to his contact details.
Tourism survey results
*Only 16 per cent of the 206 businesses surveyed for the Wealden Tourism Survey 2009 responded. And that was up on the previous year.
Results show the average overall occupancy rates for the year were 54 per cent.
Summer occupancy levels were 66 per cent, whilst the winter levels averaged 31 per cent.
The overall occupancy rate was fractionally down on last year at 57.6 per cent.
The peak days for accommodation were Fridays and Saturdays, highlighting the demand in the area for weekend breaks, from leisure and wedding guests.
Website relaunched
*Wealden's online support for local businesses, www.wealdenbusinesshelp.org.uk, has been relaunched.
See also:
Personal shopper: Julie shows off her Uckfield wedding outfit
Uckfield recycling centre to be upgraded
Major plans for road resurfacing
UCTC resurrects plans for all-weather sports pitch
(Added to site Tuesday, June 1st, 2010)
