July Newsletter 2025
- Jane Brook
- Jul 30
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 1
Welcome New Members!
Levelling Up - AI Tourism Project Update
We are excitied to share that the tourism AI project is nearing completion!
During the last month we have undertaken filming in and around Rye to produce a montage film that showcases a good mix of the tourist highlights of our town - including food and a drink, history and heritage, activities and culture. Thank you to all of those businesses who helped make this possible by providing access and their time to assist and in some cases appear within the film. The film will form the backdrop to a new website where the AI tourism tool will ‘live’. A new set of tourism heritage boards has been created for installation at Station Approach, along with new carpark signs - each of these will prompt immediate access to our live tourism information guide. The signage and heritage information has now been approved by the Town Council and by Rye Heritage Centre.
It has been a great deal of work for our volunteer team to liase with the contractors and businesses. The AI tool is still in its extensive testing phase but we are moving towards a completion date at which point we will launch publicly.
Update on Levelling Up Revenue Project - BID consultation
Our consultation and engagement process has continued throughout July. Early in the month we held four workshops open to eligible businesses within the BID area being considered. Two were in-person, and two were on-line. The Task Group listened closely to those views expressed in the workshops and acknowledged that there are some within the area who disagree with the concept of a BID on principle and were not open to engaging further. However, for those who have engaged with ideas and would like to consider a business plan, the Task Group will begin the process of developing an early draft of a business plan based on the ideas and comments that have been contributed. Once is complete it will be distrubuted to all eligible businesses within the BID area for consideration. After this round of consultation, we can consider whether there is sufficient support for the chance to vote on becoming a BID.
The consultation period has been extended by a few months to accommodate this. In the meantime, a comprehensive updated Q&A addressing the most often asked questions about the BID process; why it is being considered for Rye, how it is being funded and what the process involves is published here and also on the Rye BID website.
The priority for this important consultation process must be to ensure everyone has a good, clear and correct understanding of the BID process. We hope that Q&A will prevent any misinformation being circulated so please take a look, and if there are any further points that you feel are unaddressed then please get in touch with the task group at hello@ryebid.co.uk.
Did you know that Rye Chamber is a member of ACES, The Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex. Together we represent 4,000 businesses and 18,000 voters so policy makers listen to us! Over the last 10 years we have been very successful working together and have:
Secured £70 million to improve the A27
Secured a £3 million for a business case study at the Dept for Transport which found there is a “strong business case” for a new A27
Persuaded the GMT and Aslef to move the rail strike away from East Sussex
Introduced a £6million rough sleeper initiative to East Sussex to tackle homelessness
Lobbied successfully to improve broadband connectivity from 3 mbps over 75% of the county to over 100 mbps over 96% of the county.
With over 140 members, Rye Chamber on the border of Kent and East Sussex might be the most distant member of the Alliance but we have the largest number of members in the Rother District. On 19th September all ACES executives will meet centrally to discuss the future of the Alliance in light of looming local government challenges with devolution plans.
Rother District Chambers thinking strategically
Battle Chamber Rye Chamber met with Battle Chamber to discuss the challenges our respective towns will face with local government reorganisation and RDC’s asset disposal policy. Plans are in development to consider how stakeholders might collectively challenge the processes underway.
Following Rye's lead, Battle Chamber advised that they have looked at the BID process for their town and would like to pursue a feasibility study when funds allow.
Bexhill Chamber
Rye Chamber also met this week with Bexhill Chamber at their request to seek advice on their own BID feasibility study which will likely take place in the autumn this year.
Backing Your Business
The Government today launched its new plan for small business. You can read it in full here. Today's press launch focused on the cost to small businesses from late payments but the new framework also addresses access to finance, cutting red tape and regulation, encouraging the night time economy, boosting hospitality, and skills development. We'll report back in next month's newsletter once we've had a chance to digest it in full.
Retail Crime & Anti-Social Behaviour
We reported last month that the Chamber has challenged Rother on the lack of visibility about sign ups to the DISC scheme. The response was disappointing as they are effectively using GDPR as a means to not disclose details. We have subsequently discovered that Bexhill businesses have experienced the same issues with signing up to the scheme. This is a scheme rolled out across Rother, funded by Levelling Up, for the benefit of businesses and yet currently access to it is difficult. This is unacceptable and we will continue to press for answers.
#ShopKind Campaign
The DISC newsletter reported this month that: retailers, police and unions came together to promote the #ShopKind campaign week, at the start of July.
ShopKind is supported by a wide range of stakeholders such as the British Retail Consortium (BRC), Usdaw and the Home Office to encourage kind behaviour in shops and acknowledge the essential role of shopworkers in our communities, as well as raising awareness about the scale and impact of abuse they face.
The campaign comes as the Crime & Policing Bill continues to pass through parliament, introducing a variety of measures to protect retailers and their staff and tackle retail crime.
These include increasing police presence in neighbourhoods and high streets, introducing a standalone offence for assaulting a shopworker, and using interventions to help take offenders out of the cycle of reoffending. Figures from Usdaw, the Shopworkers Union, show that 77% of shopworkers were verbally abused and 53% were threatened at work over the last year.
Policing minister Diana Johnson said: “Stealing from shops and abusing retail staff is unacceptable and the government wholeheartedly supports the #ShopKind campaign. “We are taking robust action to stop this criminality and are bringing in a new specific offence for assaulting retail workers and have ended the effective immunity for shop theft of goods under £200.
To help promote the campaign, retailers can download materials from the official National Business Crime Centre website. These include posters you can print out and hang up in-store, as well as social media assets to promote the campaign online.
Pontins still a Chamber priority
Rother District Council has failed to respond to the latest request for information on the next meeting with Britannia Hotels and stakeholders which was promise ‘early in the new year’ back in November. Our MP continues to lobby for movement on this issue and we are now 20 months on from the closure of the site with no clear plan in place. We can assure our members that this is still very much on the Chamber radar.
Station Approach Toilets
The Chamber has renewed efforts to try and work towards a long term solution for the Station Approach toilets. We are working alongside District Councillors Timpe and McGurk and Town Councillors Hansen and Hoggart as well as the Town Clerk. The plan is for the Town Council to secure the lease on the property from Network Rail and then sublet to a CIO formed to manage the loos going forward. Fundraising would be required in order to refurbish the property and install pay-to-pee turnstiles in order for the facilities to self-sustaining. This process won’t be quick but it is the only option if Rye is to ensure the facilities are fit for purpose going forward.
Rye Town Council
We attended Town Council on the 28th - the most pressing business conducted was as follows:
The process of finding our next town Councillor is underway. There will not be a by-election as too few electors in the area requested one, so instead our next Town Councillor will be co-opted.
RTC have until the 30th of September to submit their expressions of interest in taking on assets from Rother District Council. The Town Council agreed to immediately move to survey parishioners to establish the level of support for greater control over local/assets/services and preference for those asset/service transfers and whether Council Tax payers are prepared to pay more for greater local control and accountability.
Sussex Film Office
The Sussex Film Office is looking for more Sussex businesses to become Film-Friendly approved - visible, trusted and ready to support shoots with transport, catering, accommodation, kit and more. If you become Film-Friendly approved it means you’d be:
Listed on their Production Planning Map sent daily to filmmakers
Promoted as a trusted supplier on our website and directory
Positioned for direct enquiries from production teams
Recognised as part of Sussex’s growing screen industry
They are offering a 10% discount on membership if you quote Rye Chamber on booking. You can apply via their website https://sussexfilmoffice.co.uk/companymembership/
TV Show Opportunity
BBC Science Unit has approached us regarding the casting of a new health and well-being show. They are looking for people who want to start a new healthy habit or find new ways to boost brain power. If you’d like to apply please email the following address with your name, age, location and contact number: caroline.mccaw.ext@bbc.com
East Sussex Growth Hub
The East Sussex Growth Hub, in collaboration with Freedom Works has announced the launch of Start Smart, Grow Strong - a brand-new FREE business support programme designed to equip local entrepreneurs with the practical tools, strategies and confidence they need to thrive.
Running from September 2025 to February 2026, and fully-funded by Eastbourne Borough Council, Rother District Council and Wealden District Council, this initiative offers a mix of in-person and online workshops tailored specifically for pre-start, start-up and micro businesses across East Sussex. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, the programme provides real-world advice, peer support, and direct access to expert mentors.
Registration is free and open now. For more information, dates, and to register your place, visit the programme's Eventbrite page.
Anyone up for inter-chamber netball?
ACE Corporate Fitness are appealing for interest after a brilliant turnout at their recent inter-chamber football tournament, which brought together over 70 people from the Eastbourne, Seaford, Hailsham and Uckfield Chambers. Carys Charnock, Marketing and Events coordinator syas, "We’re now planning our next event: an inter-chamber netball tournament on Saturday 4th October at Hampden Park Sports Centre in Eastbourne. We’d love to make this one even bigger, and we’re inviting chambers from across all of East Sussex to get involved."
"The event will be a fun, active day open to all abilities, with the focus on community, connection and a bit of friendly competition. Whether your members are seasoned players or complete beginners, they’re very welcome to take part.
At this stage, we’re just gauging interest, so if your chamber or any of your members would like to enter a team, please reply and let us know."
If any Rye Chamber Members would like to fly the Rye flag and get a team together, you can contact Carys at carys@acecorporatefitness.co.uk
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
Ground Up Business Early Entrepreneurial Meet-up - Monday 4th August 6am Ground Up Coffee Shop.
Rye Pirates and Smugglers Day - Saturday 9th August, Rye (Muster at the Gun Garden 10am)
Hailsham Chamber Big Summer BBQ - Saturday 9th August from 4pm. Tickets are £20 pp.
Rye Internation Jazz & Blues Festival - Thursday 21st - Monday 25th August.
Tenterden & District Chamber of Commerce - 3rd September, networking at Chapel Down Vineyard. 5.30pm - reserve your place via secretary@tenterdenchamber.org
NOT A MEMBER?
Join over 140 businesses that benefit from the work of the Rye Chamber. It costs just £50 a year - regardless of the size of your business. Visit our website to learn more.
See you next month!
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