Spanish here to learn from North Bersted business park

The members of the Spanish National Business Parks Association toured the Southern Cross Industrial Estate to meet company representatives.

Most of the occupiers of the estate, off the A29, have formed themselves into a business improvement district.

This has seen them increase security around the site, improve its image and put up better signs.

The work has seen the estate praised by the UK BIDs Advisory Service as one of the best.

The high reputation led the Spaniards to choose the estate to learn more about how the improvement districts can be set up in their country.

The Southern Cross businesses were helped by Arun District Council's BIDs project manager, Chris Shepherd, when they agreed the new status in 2006.

Cllr Norman Dingemans, in charge of the council's economic and cultural development, said everyone involved with the Southern Cross BID should be proud their work was so highly valued.

"It was the first industrial estate BID in the south-east outside of London when it was established in 2006 and has gone from strength to strength, undertaking a number of projects to improve the area in which the businesses work," he stated.

These projects are funded by an increase in business rates.

The extra money goes only on specific services which the companies want and local councils do not provide.

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