TV firm brings jobs boost for Aldwick

The arrival of expanding Satellite Customer Services Ltd in Aldwick Road means one of its largest commercial premises is again occupied.

The television firm is on its way to becoming one of the two biggest employers on the parade after its move into the former solicitors' offices last Friday after they had been empty for about a month.

When the expansion is complete, 40 workers will be employed by Satellite Customer Services Ltd on the ground floor of the building.

They will consist of three directors, two managers, five administrative staff and 30 salesmen and women once the final vacancies are filled. Most positions are full time.

Company founder, and one of the directors, Shanna-Ray Hyde said the firm began just three years ago with only the directors and one other member of staff.

The initial premises were in part of former bed and breakfast house in Nyewood Lane.

'We have outgrown that and so we decided to move premises,' she explained. 'Aldwick is one of my favourite areas locally and it made sense to stay here.

'We wanted to remain in Aldwick because the majority of staff live just around the corner.

'It's nice for them to be able to walk in to work and, being close to the seafront, they can go down to the beach after work or before they come in.'

The company offers insurance to satellite television customers and can also arrange for upgrades to their current programme package deals.

Its expansion means it fills the entire ground floor of its new premises '“ comprising 1,458sq ft '“ with one main, front, room and seven offices to the rear.

Miss Hyde said further expansion was planned in the next two years but she expected the company to stablise at its current size for the rest of 2007.

The nature of the firm's work, and the local workforce, means that the firm's presence has little effect on the congested parking situation along Aldwick Road.

Aldwick Business Association chairman Tim Holland, an estate agent, said the newcomers were a welcome boost to the commercial presence of Aldwick Road.

'It's always important that business premises should be occupied. The more companies there are in the street, the busier it is and the more prosperous it becomes.

'The extra workers in the area will also boost the other businesses by providing extra customers for them.

'That can only benefit all of us here,' he said.

The recently formed association had 30 members out of an estimated 60 commercial concerns along Aldwick Road.

The group's strength was growing, explained Mr Holland, as more company owners realised the benefits of banding together to raise the road's profile and stage initiatives to ensure they benefited from some of the regeneration set to take place in central Bognor.