Bognor Regis MP teams up with digital hub to launch new local business forum

A new surgery for Bognor Regis businesses with MP Nick Gibb has been held for the first time as the local trade community has pledged to stronger collaboration.

The roundtable-style discussion was held at the creative and digital coworking hub The_Track, based at Bognor Regis railway station, where local business owners had the chance to come together and discuss their vision for the local area.

On the agenda was an open conversation about the realities of operating a business in the area, and attendees had the opportunity to put forward their ideas about how their local working environment could be improved.  

In attendance alongside Mr Gibb were seven businesses and organisations, including the Salvation Army, Bognor Regis Community Learning Project, and representatives from the local police force and town council, who all found the first meeting to be so beneficial that the MP committed to continuing the forum on a quarterly basis.

The_Track, based in Bognor Regis Railway Station, hosted the event to offer a platform to the businesses in their network and in the local area. The Track is operated by Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq), a network of coworking and business support sites across the UK and is led by West Sussex County Council with the support of Coast to Capital LEP.

Georgia Alston, Community Manager of The_Track, said that the discussion seemed to be beneficial for the attending businesses: “The_Track has already become such an important part of the local business community and we’ve achieved so much in a fairly short space of time. We’ve held countless workshops, supported numerous people into starting businesses and we provide a home for some incredibly exciting ventures, so when the opportunity came to host this forward-thinking session with Nick and local entrepreneurs, it was a no-brainer.

“The roundtable was really positive for all involved. Members of our local business community were pleased to have the opportunity to share ideas in a mutually supportive group. There’s so much positive work and regeneration already going on in Bognor Regis, and this group gives us the chance to add some fantastic contributions from our local businesses to that process.”

Social Media Marketing Consultant Rachel Markie of Seaglow Media, based at The_Track, attended the roundtable and said: “The aftermath of the pandemic and its isolation had left some local businesses feeling a little disconnected, and so now was the time to really address this and come together.

“The roundtable group of attendees were all very involved in the debate and there were lots of ideas thrown in around how we can make our local area even better. We all had our chance to contribute and it feels like our insights have really been heard.”

Nick Gibb MP said: “It was great to meet those businesses who are so determined to make a difference to our town. The session was a promising step forward in what will, I hope, become an ongoing collective effort to deliver improvements for Bognor Regis that businesses and residents alike can be proud of. 

“I look forward to supporting and working closely with these organisations and individuals who are at the centre of our community, and leading the way in achieving their vision for a town where local enterprise can thrive.”

For more information about The_Track, visit thetrackbr.co.uk.