Bright, optimistic colours inspired by the Cretian landscape have taken over F-ISH Gallery for the next five weeks. Kritikos is the work of painter Peter Waldron, who works from a studio in the Old Town as well as the Greek Island.

This new show begun as an examination of the cacti common to Crete, but has spiralled into something more spontaneous and abstract.

Curator Simon Hedges said: “The artwork requires some involvement from the viewer. None of the paintings at the exhibition are chewing-gum for the brain, like watching your favorite soap on television, but more like a great book or film you would recommend to a friend, they are uplifting, possessing genuine warmth.

This airy space on Robertson Street, with its long, unadorned walls, suits the work well, comfortably accommodating canvases up to 14 feet square, made by joining panels of smaller canvases.

This dedicated artist has filled his work with subtle references to the style he loves, from the iconography of the Greek Orthodox Church to William Morris, making for a rewarding show.

Simon added: “He is an artist who loves and understands paint. He revels in its plasticity and relishes colour and tone. “The palette is that of Crete and Peter (Petros) himself – full of life.”

Book your place on 08454 090561 to see Peter in conversation with curator Simon from 6-8pm on Thursday, March 11.

The group will host its first Bexhill event at Quakers Mill in Bexhill old town on Wednesday, March 17 from 6pm.

Ladies will enjoy bubbles and canapes from chef Ronny Balle plus a talk from Sue Kennedy of SuCouncelling. There will be a tour of the Quakers Mill plus a chance to win prizes.  Bexhill’s Sugargroup will run every other month.

Organiser Lisa Phillmore said: “The group provides and environment conducive to meeting other cool and working women in the area. Whether working full time, part time or a few hours here and there, Sugergroup is a refreshing way to network.”

“Guest speakers inspire, ideas and experiences are shared, and relationships formed, usually over a cocktail. The monthly ‘get togethers’ are held in confortable and stylish surroundings. This enables like minded women to do what they do best; socialise and network naturally.”

Sugargroup was started in Hastings by Geraldine Brooks, a former MD with the Virgin group, after living in the US  for 12 years. Lisa is helping her with the expansion to Bexhill.

Lisa added: “I went along to Sugargroup in Hastings and not only did i meet some wonderful women i also had a great time, I thought its time something like this came to Bexhill.”

Geraldine said: “Many women do not attend the more conventional networking meetings and i wonder why. The reasons they gave inspired me to start something different, and i hope we have achieved and alternative approach to networking with Sugargroup. I am delighted Lisa has come on board and we are really excited about the future. She is full of great ideas.”

For more information contact Lisa Phillimore on 07850 812855 or email geri@sugargroup.co.uk. The event costs £15 per lady and includes drinks and canapes. To book now visit the website at www.sugargroup.co.uk.

The University of Sussex in partnership with Wired Sussex will deliver 175 graduate internships. The internship will provide a 20 day (minimum) graduate-level placement within any small to medium companies in the Sussex Counties.  For companies with more than 30 employees, the programme is offered within the following sectors: digital, design, environmental, life science and pharmaceutical, advanced engineering and manufacturing, professional and financial services.  The placement can support any aspect of the business and employers will pay the graduate at the minimum wage.

The programme is open to recent graduates from institutions throughout the UK but who are resident in the Sussex Counties.  Commitment from companies who are interested in participating is sought by March 12th 2010.

For more information please contact the Business and Enterprise Team at the University:

phone: 01273 877 800

email: graduate.internships@sussex.ac.uk

web: www.sussexinternships.co.uk

Download following PDF for more information

The Centre, located on the 5th floor of Queensbury House in Hastings town centre, will be a unique space for networking, accessing resources, meeting clients and partners, co-working, desk and exhibition space.  It will be equipped with work stations that include the complete Creative Suite for Adobe and Apple Final Cut Studio software.

The subsidised educational programme will include short courses, master classes and enterprise skills workshops specifically designed for the digital creative industry.

Margaret Wallis, Centre Director at University Centre Hastings says, “Hastings already has a strong creative sector and the University of Brighton, Sea Space and Hastings Borough Council see this as a development priority.  Our Broadcast Media courses were highlighted by the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2008. The quality of our industry-standard facilities is matched by our staff, many of whom have worked with leading media and entertainment companies. 

“With the funding granted to us by Hastings Borough Council and building on the investment made by Sea Space in the Creative Media Centre, we wish to work in partnership and support the growth of a vibrant creative business community.  This project is about growing this vibrant sector and ensuring we keep talented individuals in Hastings.”

For more information on courses and using the Centre please contact Esther Brown Esther.brown@brighton.ac.uk or visit www.brighton.ac.uk/mediaenterprise

Debi Arnold has been introduced as Studio Hastings’ marketing strategist, working alongside existing members graphic designer Kristina Alexander, copywriter Christophe Philipps, and online specialists Pete Mason and Kim Clarke.

With over 25 years experience, Debi’s worked across almost every marketing sector, with ‘start-ups’ and European and globalmarkets, in industries as varied as pharmaceutical and B2B. She has built an outstanding portfolio and garnered prestigious awards – twice winning the 3M Marketing Excellence Award and winner of the B2B Magazine Campaign of the Year and BOSS Young Professional of the Year.

Debi brings with her the carefully developed Marketing MOT which is famous amongst her clients – a bespoke 50 question checklist she’s honed throughout her career, analyzing objectives, strategies, timelines and budgets – to help Studio Hastings’ clients make the most of their business.

Debi says, “This is an exciting move for me.  More than ever, Studio Hastings can give a business the design, writing, online – and marketing – edge it needs in an evolving marketplace. The world of business has changed and we are encouraging businesses to change with it, just as we have.”

To find out how Studio Hastings can help your business work harder in 2010, contact them at info@studiohastings.co.uk or on 01424 533102.

The European Commission is encouraging enterprising film lovers to prove their creativity and skills by producing a short video that deals with the following questions: What is entrepreneurship all about? What could encourage people to become entrepreneurs? What could counteract old prejudices and offer new visions of entrepreneurship?

“Entrepreneurship – A different way of life”

“Entrepreneurship – Challenges and rewards”

“Entrepreneurship – The way into the future”

The winning video in each of the three categories will be awarded €3,333, the videos in second place will be awarded €2,222, and those in third place will receive €1,111. Each prize will be a lump sum and is not intended to cover the production costs of the videos or any other expenses.

Five additional “special winners” will be awarded €555 each. These special prizes are reserved for persons aged 25 or younger.

The producers of the best videos will be invited to a special award ceremony on 25 May 2010 in Brussels, as part of the 2nd “European SME week”.

Target audience

The competition is open to all natural and legal persons who are citizens or residents of a Member State of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Serbia, Turkey and Israel.

Students of cinema schools and universities, business and management schools, members of business networks and associations, entrepreneurs and professionals…all are invited to portray their ideas and own experiences in the field of entrepreneurship.

How to take part?

All you need to do is produce a short video (one to two minutes) in the category of your choice by 9 April 2010, upload it on the internet or mail it to us and register on our website.

More information on terms and conditions, news on the jury and Q&A.

Matthew Noble, NCAS Legal’s managing director, has been working with Conveyancing Direct since September 2008, delivering Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) courses and continuous professional development training. NCAS Legal is a registered provider of the CLC syllabus and is accredited by the CLC as a CPD trainer.

Andrew Palmer, Operations Director of Conveyancing Direct said: “We have had excellent results in a much faster timeframe than other training providers can offer. In the most recent exams there were three commendations and a distinction with the joint highest mark in the country!”

NCAS Legal has used the training suite at the Creative Media Centre in Hastings to provide the courses, and Matthew Noble credits the relaxed and pleasant atmosphere as one of the reasons for his client’s success. “As a company that specialises in legal training, we also tutor clients towards professional examinations,” says Matthew. “This training can take place either at the client’s premises or at the Creative Media Centre’s facilities; the quality of our training facilities is therefore not only fundamental to our success but also a reflection of our brand.”

For more information on NCAS Legal’s services, call 0872 040 9150.

Local firm Nick Wates Associates has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award by the Royal Town Planning Institute for a website about community planning. The award is for projects which advance ‘significantly the science and art of town planning’.

The Community Planning Website is an international website run from the company’s offices in Hastings’ Creative Media Centre.  It provides good practice guidance on how to engage local communities in planning for the future with a wealth of practical information.

The Editorial team is led by Nick Wates, former Director of the Hastings Urban Conservation Project, and designer Keith Gillies. Development of the website has been assisted by others based at the Centre and the site includes illustrations from several local planning and regeneration projects.

As one of 32 finalists over 12 categories, the company will be visited over the next few months by the Award’s judging panel.  The award winners will be announced at a reception in the Hilton Hotel, London in February.

Hastings-based Collins & Hayes is over 130 years old and prides itself on time-honoured values of quality and craftsmanship, that’s why, when it came to their most important promotional tool, they returned to designcrew.

“At designcrew, we’re really passionate about what we do and we always want to go that extra mile for our clients,” explained managing director Danny Grando. “We knew that the Collins & Hayes project was one where we had to emphasize their style and modernity while still showing their traditional skill and expertise.”

Danny, who has over 30 years of experience in the field, established designcrew in 2000 and is based at the Creative Media Centre in Hastings; their clients include, major manufacturing companies, service industries, and charity based organisation.

Graham Stewart Design Director for Collins & Hayes. “with such a prestigious brochure we wanted a design company with creativity, flair and organization, and designcrew meet all of these crucial requirements.

Keegan Ford, winners of awards for “Outstanding Contribution to the Community” & “Innovative Business of the Year”, has partnership agreements in place with many Local Authorities across the UK to provide businesses with opportunities to raise their local profile through the sponsorship of highways roundabouts.

In addition to Keegan Ford’s partnership agreements with Councils in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Berkshire, Wales, Hampshire, Kent and West Sussex, the recently commenced local initiative to offer East Sussex’ roundabouts to companies is proving extremely popular with the local business community. Local company Martin Hawkins Building has recently secured the sponsorship of the main gateway roundabout into the historic town of Battle, and Martin and Lisa Hawkins (pictured) commented:

“We had been waiting a long time to be able to sponsor this very busy roundabout, so when Keegan Ford and the County Council made the opportunity available we acted very quickly to secure it. This ensured that by having the Martin Hawkins name constantly in view of so many people every day we could thereby significantly raise our regional profile and ensure that it becomes locally known and referred to as our roundabout.”

Companies wishing to similarly sponsor a roundabout in Sussex or elsewhere in the UK can do so via the website at SponsorThisRoundabout.com or by contacting Keegan Ford Sponsorship on 0845 2741 118.