WE'RE FINALISTS!!! FlexSA Awards 2023 Finalists

Following a record number of entries, we have made it to the finals of the FlexSA Awards 2023.  The awards will take place on Thursday 23rd of November 2023.  The award we have been nominated for is Excellence in Customer Service, sponsored by our IT providers Technologywithin.

The annual gala dinner will take place at The Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, London.  We will be heading to the awards on the 23rd where the winners will be announced.

The team at Newhaven Enterprise Centre and Lets Do Business Group are delighted to have been recognised by Flexible Association for an award. We will of course keep you updated and good luck to all of those who have been shortlisted for an award.

Pumpkin Competition at The Newhaven Enterprise Centre 🎃

On the 27th of October we held our annual pumpkin carving competition. What a great turn out we had from our tenants and Newhaven Chamber members, there were some brilliant yet spooky pumpkins.

Our little judges from Denton Island Nursery came to over to pick their winners along with prizes gifted from local bussiness in Newhaven High St

Adults

1st Prize – Scary sharp teeth - Tom Hart, Sennies

2nd Prize – Scary teeth and hair - Julia Johnson, Fine Marketing

3rd Prize – Paw Patrol - Jodi Gormley, Foyne Jones

Children

1st Prize – Spider Man – Raffi, Terry Parris Associates

2nd Prize – Scary Face – Mia, New Reach PR

3rd Prize – Another scary face – Leo, Terry Parris Associates

Creating a greener and brighter future with the help of LED-UK and LoCASE – Newhaven Enterprise Centre

After receiving a grant from LoCASE and support from LED-UK in upgrading light fixtures and fittings in its communal areas, Newhaven Enterprise Centre is on the road to Net Zero.

Newhaven Enterprise Centre, based in Denton Island, Newhaven, is owned by Lewes District Council, and managed by business support organisation Let’s Do Business Group. The Centre provides a range of managed office spaces and units on flexible terms – spanning small one or two person units or mid size and larger incubator units. 

Tenants at the Newhaven Enterprise Centre span businesses of all sizes from a wide range of sectors – and are able to benefit from bookable meeting rooms, free parking, a full time reception service and regular networking events. Due to being managing by business support organisation Let’s Do Business Group, tenants can also benefit from free and impartial business support to help them grow.

In Summer 2022, Newhaven Enterprise Centre got in touch with Low Carbon Across the South and East (LoCASE). The LoCASE programme is supported by the European Regional Development Fund to enable businesses to become more competitive and profitable in their sector while protecting the environment and encouraging low carbon solutions. Working on plans towards Net Zero throughout the business, Let’s Do Business Group were able to secure a grant of £5k through the LoCASE programme for upgrades to Newhaven Enterprise Centre that could reduce emissions and provide future cost savings for the managed workspace.

Through the Hastings Chamber Area of Commerce, Newhaven Enterprise Centre contacted LED-UK to assess the feasibility and potential cost savings of an overhaul of lighting and fittings in the Centre.

After having a survey completed by LED-UK and securing a plan and estimate for the improvements, Newhaven Enterprise Centre was supplied and fitting with new LED lighting throughout the communal areas in the Centre and in some units – including emergency lighting with lithium batteries. The new lighting and fittings running on a lower wattage of 18w and providing more light at 1200Lm in communal areas, upgraded fixtures were also fitted in stairwells – operating from sensors, meaning energy was not being wasted when the areas were not in use.

“Steve from LED-UK was very knowledgeable, and took the time to understand our needs and come up with the most cost-efficient solution”

— Kaye Crittell, Let’s Do Business Group  

The initial free survey by LED-UK showed that the Centre could potentially have a saving of 70.62% by updating the lighting in communal areas in the Centre. This could potentially translate to £11,000 in yearly running costs, with a return on capital investment in the update being recouped with 1.7 years.

Since the updating of lighting and fixtures by LED-UK in August 2022, the replacement is not only expected to help reduce running costs for the centre, but also lead to a reduction in yearly maintenance costs due to the warranty of the new fixtures and durability.

On the project at Newhaven Enterprise Centre, LED-UK said ‘both the client and their tenants now have a ‘brighter future’ with all their businesses’.

Could LoCASE help your business with your plans to go green? Find out more about LoCASE

Sussex Staffing Solutions

Sussex Staffing Solutions – help starts at home

Grace Hanley, Company Director of Sussex Staffing Solutions explains how calling Newhaven Enterprise Centre ‘Home’ has provided her an excellent first impression for her business and giving her access to a community of supportive and helpful likeminded businesses.

Sussex Staffing Solutions is a family run, specialist employment service, providing trained nurses, care assistants, support workers and more to care homes, and healthcare clients within East Sussex. They also provide a recruitment and headhunting service for organisations nationwide- focusing on public and charity sector.

With over 20 years’ experience working in adult social care, working her way up through the ranks up to senior management, Grace has a solid understanding and knowledge of the industry, from hands on experience to strategy, making her the ideal person for a business of this nature. Grace started Sussex Staffing solutions in 2021, addressing a gap in the market and with the aim to approach recruitment in a more balanced and targeted way.

“Sussex Staffing Solutions is a business built on values. It’s not just about matching person A to job B, You need to understand the culture of that organization, it’s values, because otherwise you’re not going to make a good match.

I always do face to face interviews. I do this because I want to make sure each and every one of our team share the same core values as the organisation; that they are kind and person centred in their approach.”

— Grace Hanley, Sussex Staffing Solutions

No I in team

When looking for a space for the business to call home, Grace immediately looked at Newhaven, which would provide accessibility from her own home. Having looked at alternative locations, Grace was made aware of Newhaven Enterprise Centre, a business centre owned by Lewes District Council but run by Let’s Do Business Group on Denton Island, just outside Newhaven Town Centre.

Offering a selection of serviced offices and workshops of varying sizes, Grace was drawn to the professional, and welcoming environment as well as the affordable costs and flexible tenancy agreements.

“A great first impression was something that we really wanted and needed for our business space. If clients are coming in or we are conducting interviews the reception area of the centre is the first thing they see. The reception creates the first impression for our business, and here at Newhaven that first impression is fantastic. The centre, is clean, welcoming and the staff are all very helpful and approachable.”

— Grace Hanley, Sussex Staffing Solutions

One of other benefits Grace mentioned to being based at the centre is the accessibility to other small businesses. Through regular networking events, coffee mornings and even chats in the corridors you become a part of a community that all work together and support each other where they can. She highlighted that she has been able to virtually extend her team but utilizing the services of accountants, payroll specialists and even training providers all based at the centre.

“Newhaven Enterprise Centre is Newhaven’s best kept secret, but it shouldn’t be. Being here couldn’t be better for my business, its welcoming, professional, affordable, and the community of businesses here are amazing, for a small business we have access to a large corporation of expertise and knowledge all under one roof.”

— Grace Hanley, Sussex Staffing Solutions

Grace has also been able to benefit from free business support through the centre’s management Let’s Do Business Group.  Business Manager Chris Smith works regularly from the centre and can offer free support and advice to tenants on business planning, financial management and business finance.

“I've met with the business adviser, Chris. He helped me understand cash flow analysis and look at forecasting. I had a session with him and he was really helpful. It’s nice to know that he’s here and that I can pop my head around the door and ask the odd question.”
— Grace Hanley, Sussex Staffing Solutions

Future assignment

Looking at her next steps, Grace is now looking to develop her business, continuing to expand not only her client base but also her team of healthcare professionals. She is also looking to widen her reach into mental health and community health provision, utilising her excellent reputation to support recruitment in this area during this national shortage of care staff. Regardless of how big she grows, or how wide her reach is within the care industry, it is guaranteed that the core values of this business will always remain, “to provide quality, caring, professional team members to deliver excellent care and outcomes for every individual.”

“I created this agency because I wanted to make a difference. I think that’s probably the main thing that drives people into social work because it can be a stressful, challenging profession. I genuinely want to do things differently to enable better outcomes for individuals, it's those kind of values which continue to drive me and drive our business.”

To find out more about Sussex Staffing Solutions visit -www.sussexstaffingsolutions.co.uk

If you want to find out more about the available business space at Newhaven Enterprise Centre then please get in touch on newhaven@ldbgroup.co.uk