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Archive news



George in Award-Winning Transformation

WHEN two relative novices in pub management and the hospitality industry decided to invest in a down at heel venue in Robertsbridge, there were more than a few sceptics looking on wondering if John and Jane Turner had undertaken a project that wouldn't enjoy the happy ending it deserved.

However, in May, at the Ten Sixty Six Business Awards sponsored by HSBC, three years of meticulous planning, significant investment and total commitment to quality customer service, was recognised when they became the Overall Ten Sixty Six Business of the Year.

Jane said: “Accepting the award gave John and I immense pride and was a very welcome endorsement of our efforts to return the George Inn to its former glory.”

For full story see June Observer Page 2 coverage

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Crimping Entrepreneurs Bring City to Hastings Salon

VISIT world famous hair stylist Nicky Clarke in London’s Mayfair and you’ll be immediately struck by the refinement and high end quality that you’d expect from a salon in one of the most exclusive localities in the world.

No surprise perhaps, but wander down West Street in the Old Town and that welcome sense of exclusivity and class is recreated inside Mitchell & Millyard.

Andrea Brown (nee Millyard) and Anna Mitchell know what they like and all the evidence suggests their growing number of loyal clients share their tastes in hair styling and approach to elegant interior design.

For full story see June Observer Page 2 coverage

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Contract Leaves Sonia Beaming

A LOCAL company is celebrating a major national contract success. Beaming is an Internet Service Provider and supplies specialist high quality broadband support, network systems and telephony products to businesses from all across the UK.

The growing team has beaten off competition from a number of global competitors to land a contract for the supply of broadband and telecoms services to over 200 business advisers within the North West Business Link area.

For full story see June Observer Page 2 coverage

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FAT Promotions: from beginner to boardroom

WHEN Fiona Allman-Treen took her first tentative steps into business in 2001 with the launch of FAT Promotions, little did she know that her fledgling company would become one of the fastest growing and most successful digital media companies in the area.

With a global portfolio of clients, Fiona now employs a rapidly expanding team at her Castleham headquarters and a network of the best graphic online designers.

Early in the life of FAT Promotions, Fiona attended a startup workshop run by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise. The course gave her the help and advice she needed to focus her plans.

For full story see May Observer Page 2 coverage

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Leida in styling at Warp and Weft

WALKING through the Old Town in Hastings always turns up something a little bit special, a bit different perhaps, but above all, worth a second look. Warp and Weft Styling is exactly that.

So much more than a clothes shop. An independent retailer of stylish clothing, mixed in with fashionable ideas and advice for how to make you and your home look special.

Like her shop, the driving force behind Warp and Weft, Leida Nassirpour, offers a great deal more than initially meets the eye. Think Gok Wan. Think Kevin McCloud. Leida is a stylist for men and women and has extended her skills into the home too.

For full story see May Observer Page 1 coverage

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Eastbourne Chamber welcomes Jonathan

HASTINGS Area Chamber of Commerce Manager and Let’s do Business organiser, Jonathan Dolding, met with counterparts in Eastbourne recently to speak to Chamber members about the continued success of Let’s do Business and its expansion into Brighton & Hove.

The response from businesses to the first ever Let’s Do Business exhibition in the city has exceeded every expectation with all stands being sold ahead of schedule.

For full story see May Observer Page 1 coverage

Church conversion is The Source of great things

EVERY weekend and during the school holidays, the old church in Braybrook Terrace is full of children, teenagers and young people in their 20s and 30s.

But this congregation is different. The faithful who flock from as far a field as Kent, and even France, are here to visit one of the most respected, and coolest, BMX stores in the UK.

But the Source is about much more than just bikes. In addition to the most high tech BMX hardware in the world, the converted church offers an ever increasing number of loyal fans the best in BMX fashions, an indoor skatepark and the opportunity to rub shoulders with a team of BMX-ers whose expertise is second to none.

For full story see April Observer Page 2 coverage below...

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Leadership & Management success

FOLLOWING the very successful pilot run last November, Ten Sixty Six Enterprise ran a further Advanced Leadership & Management course in March for eleven local business leaders.

60 second interviews with three of the leaders who attended appear in the pdf linked below.

If you’d like to find out more about the next course on 8th July contact Jeremy Green or Ian Smallwood on 01424 205500.

For full story see April Observer Page 1 coverage below...

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Women in Business lunch with Ten Sixty Six boss

The Chief Executive of Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, Graham Marley, was the VIP guest speaker at the latest Women in Business Lunch Club, organised by Ashdown Hurrey.

Over 50 guests at the Royal Victoria Hotel listened to a speech about the support available to local businesses from the team at Ten Sixty Six Enterprise.

Graham said:

"Hastings benefits from a large number of entrepreneurial and business-minded women, each one making a significant and valuable contribution to the local economy. We work with lots of women in business, providing bespoke training, specialist advice and access to funding."

For full story see April Observer Page 2 coverage below...

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It's a new city adventure for Let's do Business

THE number one exhibition event in Sussex will break new ground in May when it welcomes business owners, directors and entrepreneurs to the much loved Brighton Racecourse.

This bold move into Brighton & Hove follows countless requests from the business community in the city asking for an event of their own.

Let’s do Business Exhibition Organiser, Jonathan Dolding, said:

“This is a very exciting time for everyone who has helped develop and grow the Let’s do Business brand. The formula for the exhibition remains popular as ever and this move into Brighton is an obvious next step for us. Levels of interest are extremely high and this is reflected in very buoyant pre-event sales.”

For full story see March Observer coverage below...

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Re-fit boost for Rama

AFTER working with Ten Sixty Six Enterprise on a Rother District Council funded business support and mentoring project, Rama Patel is now welcoming shoppers to his exciting new-look store which has been completely refurbished and redecorated.

Rama decided to take advantage of the business support scheme and worked with Ten Sixty Six Enterprise Business Adviser Keir Dellar and the WARR Partnership to develop his business and source avenues of funding for the project.

Speaking to Business matters, Rama said: “Keir has been invaluable for the business in support, advice on finances and funding issues, the way forward and areas of improvement. I found discussing the business with an unbiased professional helps reassure and provide confidence on critical decisions.”

For full story see March Observer coverage below...

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It's all in the eyes

AN INNOVATIVE project that examined the real experience of shoppers in Hastings has proved a huge success with business owners in the town.

Managed by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and Town Centre Management and funded by Hastings Borough Council, the tailored programme of mystery shopping, customer service training and business advice, generated 100% satisfaction ratings in a recent survey with many reporting increased footfall and turnover.

For full story see March Observer coverage below...

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Local Leaders Positioned for growth

SEVEN local business leaders took advantage of more than £2,700
of grant funding to help them access the first bespoke advanced
Leadership and Management training to be delivered by Ten Sixty
Six Enterprise.

The pilot was so successful that two more dates have been booked to meet demand from other business leaders.

March 18th will see the second training programme delivered in association with Martin Riley, of Re-Bal, which is delivered through a mix of coaching sessions and a workshop. Having caught up with some of the November attendees, this is what they had to say:

For full story see February Observer coverage below...

For full details or to book click the links below....

For full details of Advanced leadership

Click here for a copy of the Booking Form

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Financial Intermediary Service

LOCAL finance company Capitalise Business Support has picked up another valuable contract to support businesses struggling to access to finance. Capitalise will now be delivering the Financial Intermediary Service (FIS) across Kent & Sussex for Business Link.

The service developed in conjunction with the Federation of Small Businesses, enables businesses to access specialist financial diagnostic advice through a mixture of one to one clinics, telephone advice and financial intermediary support between businesses and lenders, where problems accessing finance or increasing lending costs have arisen.

FIS is neutral, impartial and free to access and provides a contact point for entrepreneurs encountering problems accessing new bank finance, or renewing existing bank facilities, in the current climate. Sean Dennis, Managing Director, said: “Whilst many lenders needed to tighten their credit control, this has led to greater problems for businesses accessing finance. This excellent service enables us to help mediate between lender and their client to try and achieve an amicable solution.”

If you have any questions about the service, please go to www.businesslink.gov.uk/businesshelp or call Capitalise Business
Support on 0845 601 8326.

For full story see February Observer coverage below...

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How green is your magpie?

AFTER returning from France a couple of years ago, Josie Richards found herself back in Hastings considering her options. Whilst working abroad, Josie became aware of the continental attitude to recycling and environmental issues and wanted to do something in Hastings that tied in with her environmental philosophies.

For advice, Josie turned to Ten Sixty Six Enterprise which was able to help re fine her plans through a variety of support, including the highly successful Let’s Start Talking Business and Let’s Get Started training programmes; they even supplied a marquee in the town centre to help
her conduct her market research surveys!

To find out more about Ten Sixty Six’s support programmes call 01424 205500 or visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk

For full story see February Observer coverage below...

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Businesses Get Grant Support

Ten Sixty Six Grant Advisers rounded off the year in style with confirmation that several local businesses they have been helping are able to access nearly £80,000 of funding, towards projects that will help develop and grow their businesses in 2010.

Jeremy Green, one of six regional specialists commented ‘we are delighted to have helped so many local companies access funding that will make a significant difference to them’

We are running two case studies this month to show how they are already benefiting from this funding and will keep you updated on developments as other projects get underway in the coming months.

For full story see January Observer coverage below...

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Loan Funds Available

Whilst we prefer to focus on moving businesses forward and out of recession rather than dwell on its impact, it is clear many businesses have suffered and continue to do so.

The Credit Crunch has severely restricted access to finance and as we know cash flow is the life blood of any business. That is why Capitalise Business Support is delighted to advise it still has funds available to support start up and existing businesses.

The Source and Carianne are just two examples of local businesses we’ve been able to support with funding provided by Hastings Borough Council, via our stand and working capital loans.

Take a look at how we helped both businesses and give us a call if you think we might be able to help you. With one simple call we can quickly clarify whether you are eligible, and don’t worry if you are not based in Hastings as we have funding available across the whole of Sussex, Kent & Surrey.

For full story see January Observer coverage below...

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Lets Get Started

In actual fact 2010 is not just a New Year, it’s a new Decade too and maybe just the opportunity for a new start for you?

If you live in the Hastings area, now is your chance to test your business ideas through a series of one day workshops and expert mentoring, to gain the skills you need to make your business dreams turn into reality.

We are recruiting now for the next programme running throughout February and March 2010. Applications are welcomed from anyone who has a good idea and the drive to turn it into a viable business.

Candidates must be able to devote the necessary time to attend the workshops, meet their mentor and have an exceptional determination to make their business ideas work.

Chris Hoggins did just that and here is what he had to say ‘’1066 has helped me form my ideas into a solid business plan. Providing me with practical knowledge on how to develop my products into a viable fledgling business. My creation, the Squiggly Norman, is now stocked in stores and available on the internet. Without Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, this probably would have never happened."

For further information and to confirm eligibility call Sharon Fitzhugh on 01424 205500 or visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk Closing date for applications is 22nd January 2010. The programme is available to anyone over 18 and not in full time education.

For full story see December Observer coverage below...

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Community Business Coaching Extended in Hastings and Rother

Would you like to run your own business? It is probably easier than you think – and Ten Sixty Six Enterprise can help you turn your skills and interests into a business.

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise is increasing the amount of free ongoing business enterprise coaching support to help people set up their own business.

If you are 19+, live in the Hastings and Rother area and are not working, or working under 16 hours a week, you are probably eligible for free support

The team of community coaches will provide intensive, ongoing one-to-one support to clients helping them to identify and overcome their individual barriers to self-employment.

If you are interested in finding out more about how Coaching might help you move closer to self-employment call Sharon Fitz-Hugh on 01424 205500.

This is a SEEDA/European Social Fund project run by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise in conjunction with Chichester College. The project is further funded by Hastings Borough Council.

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Ten Sixty Six Enterprise Business Coaching

Want to start your own business or have a great idea you are passionate about?

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise’s Business Coach Clive Gross offers free, confidential and informal one-to-one coaching to anyone in the Hastings and St Leonards area thinking of starting their own businesses or looking to develop an existing one through on-going support to help unleash their individual business idea or passion.

Clive works with all types of new small businesses or individuals with a business idea at any stage of development – for the ‘euraka’ moment through to starting up and beyond. His coaching approach centres on you as the entrepreneur rather than just on how to write a business plan or open a business bank account – although he can help with that too!

Clive has run several of his own businesses - from a record shop and label in London to a gallery and café in Eastbourne – and has also worked as a PR and Marketing Manager in the leisure industry, and been a product and sales manager in the music and entertainment industry.

Clive was previously part of the Bizfizz business coaching initiative, established jointly by the Civic Trust and New Economics Foundation in 2002 – and has already assisted almost 350 individuals and new businesses here in Hastings!

To find out more about how Clive could help you, call him on 01424 205509 or 07771 645263 for a confidential and informal chat. You can also email him at clive.gross@1066enterprise.co.uk

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Custom Eyes

Why do large supermarket chains like Tesco dominate? Because they invest a lot of time and effort examining their business from the customer’s perspective.  

Based on that winning principle, “Custom Eyes” is a brand new project aimed at the independent retail, tourism and hospitality sectors in Hastings and St Leonards.  

At the heart of the project lies a planned programme of mystery shopping by Hastings-based company Shopper Anonymous UK; one of the UK’s leading mystery shopping specialists. Evidence shows that, where mystery shopping is undertaken, both customer loyalty and increased sales usually follow. Businesses that agree to participate will receive free, independent feedback from specialist advisors on their customer experience and be encouraged to put an action plan of improvements in place.

Where appropriate, the project will offer free, in-store Customer Experience Enhancement workshops facilitated by a local, specialist training company, Metamorphosis. The workshops for staff and managers work through such things as how space can be used for maximum effect, improved visual merchandising and buyer psychology.

And there’s even more because, participants can then take advantage of a detailed independent business review which will help review how your business is performing. Not only is this completely free too, it will work with you to pull the key elements from this, the Mystery Shop and Customer Experience reviews to target the key priorities to put you in control.

Rob Woods, Town Centre Manager says “Not surprisingly in the current economic climate, the demand from business is high. With the agreement of managers and owners, we have already carried out around 30 mystery shops in different parts of Hastings and St Leonards and several customer experience workshops. I would recommend this programme to other small businesses. Those that have already taken advantage tell me how very easy it is to become blinkered in the day to day running of your business. An “outsider” coming in with a professional and inspirational approach re-enforces the things that are already great about the business but also helps to encourage new, money-spinning ideas”.

If you would like to get involved or simply want to find out more simply contact Rob Woods, Town Centre Manager Hastings and St Leonards on 01424 205516.

Click here to download our PDF guide

For full details or to book click the links below:

Click here for full details of the Advanced Leadership

Click here to download you free Booking Form

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Managing the Downturn

There's no escaping the fact that these are challenging times for business, whether large corporate's or sole traders. Download our useful guide to managing the downturn for your business, including preparing for the inevitable upturn to follow!

Click here to download our PDF guide.

Last call for Hastings Training Fund

The SME Training Fund, a one-off training grant is nearing to an end on the 31st of March 2009.
This is the last call for Small Medium Enterprises based in Hastings and Bexhill to benefit from 70% contribution towards their training costs, up to £1,000 per employee and 10 employees maximum*.

Funding may cover any training needs you have identified in your business delivered by an accredited training provider.

Please call now on the direct telephone number 01444 259 167 or e-mail to aliki.lempidaki@sussexenterprise.co.uk to find out about your entitlement to this training support offer. The funding is provided on a first-come, first served basis and is available for a limited time only.

*Criteria apply:

  • Size of SME: 2-250 employees
  • No sole traders/self employed
  • 1 year+ trading life
  • No previous recipients of the fund

 

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More New Ideas for Start Ups

After a very successful pilot last year, Ten Sixty Six Enterprise has secured a new contract to continue delivering business start up workshops in association with Barclays Bank and the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies throughout 2009.

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise spokesperson Sean Dennis said ‘we are delighted to be able to continue working with these two high profile national organisations, to deliver this fantastic course. It is an ideal starting point for anyone thinking of setting up in business’.

The course will help you find out how to set up a business, what’s involved, it looks at what business skills you already have and areas you may need to work on.

This highly interact free half day short workshop shows you how to fail in business (and how not to!), looks at whether your business idea is really up to it and includes time for a reality check.

Finally, it will cover the next steps you should be looking at and where you can find additional support to develop your plans.

Sean went on to say ‘in recession self employment often becomes a realistic option for many people, especially those facing redundancy. We have already seen an increase in enquiries this year from people looking to find out what’s involved in running your own business and this course really is an excellent starting point for them’.

To book a place or find out more, call Ten Sixty Six Enterprise on 01424 20500 or visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk

Click here to download our pdf guide

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What’s Your New Year’s Resolution?

It may not feel like it to many in the business community but never the less Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce would like to wish all businesses in Hastings and Rother a very Happy New Year.

So 2009 has arrived; what will it bring? Well to state the blindingly obvious one thing is clear, there will be a lot of difficult times to come. Retail is clearly feeling the brunt of things at present and many other sectors will face similar challenges as the year progresses.

As we have said in our two earlier articles, in these unprecedented times it is more difficult than ever to predict what is likely to happen in the future. Looking forward and considering your plans in different ways is still absolutely crucial as it will help focus your attention on the key things you need to do and the areas that you can control and act upon, whilst considering the effects of varying situations.

The theme throughout our articles written in conjunction with Hastings Borough Council has been to advise businesses to look where they are now and where they want or need to be. The simple fact in business life is there are no magic or miracle cures. In short the necessary actions are to look at your business and be able to say that you have done all you can that is within your control. Ask yourself some of the following questions to identify areas you may need to work on:

  • Finance ~ do you know how much cash your business needs in the next 6 – 12 months? Do you know your profit margins and what you are doing to improve them? Have you got robust systems in place to credit check clients and how to effectively manage your debtor book?
  • Customers and markets ~ what is your marketing strategy? Do you know who your most profitable clients are? What client group are you targeting, how and why? Do you know what you customers really think about you? Are you doing everything you can for your customers?
  • Staff ~ Have you got the right team around you? Do you need to review your team? Are all your staff working effectively for the business? Do you and your staff have development plans? How will these plans help to achieve the business aims? Where can you improve productivity and efficiency?
  • Planning ~ Have you got your business, strategy and marketing plans in place or up to date? Do you know where you are heading and why? Can you fund this? Do you know what resources you need to achieve these plans?

The UK Government has made many statements and proposals about how it will be supporting the business community, some of which will take time to filter through and fully understand. As with making your forecasts this leaves uncertainty so focus on what help is already at hand through schemes such as the Hastings Borough Council’s, Local Enterprise Growth Initiative or Business Link’s support. There is already a great deal of help and support available that you can access right now.

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise is able to offer Business Reviews to businesses in Hastings and Bexhill and the wider Rother area, which will help you answer any of the questions you have not been able to answer from the above list plus many more.

So what’s your New Years resolution? Continue doing the same as you’ve always done and hope for the best, or seek out the professional, confidential and in most cases free advice that is available to help you tackle the challenges of recession?

Make your New Year’s resolution pay dividends and pick up the phone to Ten Sixty Enterprise on 01424 205500, to discuss what help there is for you and your business, whether it is on strategy, funding, staff, training and much more.

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New Image for Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce

Launched at Lets Do Business by the recently appointed Chairman, Clive Galbraith, the brand new identity for the Chamber of Commerce reveals our ambition for the organisation; continually seeking to broaden our offer and our appeal to local businesses. Congratulations to Paul Rumble of D C Property Maintenance who was the winner of a year’s free membership, we are pleased to welcome you Paul, just as we are the seven other businesses who signed up on the day.

We are happy to work together with the Local Authorities to bring about improvements, but when we disagree with a piece of policy we will not shy away from saying so, whether that policy is local, regional or national. Our strength is that the membership is growing month on month; drawing members from both Hastings and our rural hinterland. Attendance at our monthly meetings allows members to network, to debate topical subjects and to discuss issues that affect their own business. Members come from all quarters, manufacturing, retail, hotels & leisure industries and from the service sector.

Recently joined member David Thompson of Evershed Thompson who lives in Northiam says that “My original motive for joining Hastings Chamber was to network and improve opportunities for my business, but I thoroughly enjoy the meetings and now feel part of the local business community”.

If you want to find out more and become part of our exciting future, visit the website www.hastingschamber.co.uk or call Linda Williams on 01424 205511

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Don’t Panic Pike!

Well bar receiving the government’s official figures that the economy has shrunk for the second successive quarter; we are at the start of a recession.

In the second of three articles from Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and Hastings Borough Council we turn our attention to key things you can do right now to tackle the impacts of a recession head on ~ how to manage cash.

Many of you reading this will have never experienced managing your business through a downturn, let alone a full blown recession and it can make for a very uncomfortable ride; especially when there are so many external factors that you have little or no control over. But there is still plenty within your hands that you can control.

It’s a well worn Bank Manager’s phrase but it is never truer than now ‘Cash IS King’. It doesn’t matter how profitable you are; if you haven’t enough cash in your business at the right time you could be in very serious trouble.

If you haven’t already started to take action then now is the time to do it. So when you’ve had your fill of Christmas, what better time than the usually quiet period between Christmas and the New Year to review your procedures and forecasts to make your New Year resolutions.

So some key things you can do straight away:

  • Review your key costs and be willing to ask for reductions.
  • Check your stock levels especially your ‘nice to have’ items and slow moving stock. Think of it as cash sitting on the shelves. Shift it and get that cash in your bank account.
  • Make sure your suppliers are not asking you to pay sooner than is reasonable.
  • Credit check clients, especially new ones.
  • Monitor your debtors regularly and be firm but fair in chasing arrears or declining to do further work.
  • Check all other expenditure including personal expenses.

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise has a wide range of support that will help you manage your cash and finance better. With Hastings Borough Council funding through the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, we already help many established clients with business and strategic planning; access to finance support, as well as coaching for younger businesses to manage their cash.

For those that are struggling to raise finance through traditional routes, Capitalise Business Support continues to make available loan finance to those with viable propositions.

Sean Dennis, Business Services Manager concluded ‘it is vital businesses take control of their cash right now before it takes control of them. If business owners need help doing this then we are ready and waiting to help them’.

If you want help taking control of your finances contact Ten Sixty Six Enterprise on 01424 205500 or visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk

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Hastings & St.Leonards Chamber of Commerce is changing…

Hastings & St.Leonards Chamber of Commerce is changing its name.
The new chamber will be called The Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce, and with the name change, comes a whole new perspective.
The new chamber will encompass businesses, from fledgling start-ups to established multi-nationals, from the travel-to-work area around Hastings and St.Leonards, effectively from the Kent and East Sussex border in the east to Pevensey in the west and northwards to Flimwell. It will be every serious business’s influential and important link to local government. Already, through effective lobbying, the Chamber has won a commitment of better rail services on the Hastings-Charing Cross line and been promised by central Government that the much needed improvements to the A21 have been moved up the Government’s action list.

The new Chamber officially launches at next Thursday’s Let’s do Business exhibition, the county’s top business-to-business event and invites existing and prospective members to visit their stand to find out what benefits membership can bring.
The Chamber’s Chairman, Clive Galbraith is very upbeat about the new enterprise:
“More and more, with economic, legal and general day-to-day pressures of running a successful operation, businesses need strong representation in discussions and negotiations with local, regional and national Government. By re-defining our geographical area and increasing our membership we also increase our authority to represent businesses, whatever their size, in our area.” Clive said.
“We also hold well attended monthly meetings where members have the opportunity to talk to leading politicians, local government representatives and community leaders and quiz them on areas that are important to them” he continued.

The Chamber has over 300 members and affiliates, is the only business group that Hastings Borough Council consults with and has representatives on a number of local committees that not only influence how funding is spent locally but, very importantly, how businesses are affected.

There are regular debates on key business and local issues and numerous networking opportunities for your business throughout the region through our close association with Bexhill, Battle and Rye Chambers
Other benefits include priority access to Ten Sixty Six Enterprise’s wide range of business advice and support services, including 10% discount on all training and priority exhibitor booking for next year’s Let's do Business and all events run by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise.
Visit the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce stand at Let’s do Business and find out how membership can really help you do business. If you join now, you will be able to attend our next regular monthly meeting at The High Beech Hotel on Thursday, November 27 and our Christmas Networking Event on Wednesday, December 17 at The White Rock Hotel.
“Networking is the most rewarding and cost-effective way of increasing my business” says member Fiona Allman-Treen of FAT Promotions “ …and with the greater influence that the Chamber now has, my voice is being heard. I would advise anyone running a business in the area to join”.

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No time for the Fainthearted

Read any newspaper headline, switch on the TV or listen to the radio and the business news all seems to be bad. With all this economic doom and gloom it can be very easy for business owners to feel remote and start believing everything they read and hear.

There is no doubt we have seen unprecedented volatility in world stock markets; only government intervention staved off the potential collapse of the banking sector and credit is certainly going to be harder for some to access; but it is not all bad news in the real economy.

So whilst one of our retail clients recently commented, the current climate “is not for the fainthearted”, another is consistently seeing 100% growth in their year on year sales.

Sean Dennis Business Services Manager commented ‘It is certainly a very mixed picture and whilst we are probably at the early stages of the recession, most local businesses we are speaking to, are still saying they have seen little or no material impact as yet.’

So whilst we are facing a very different economic climate, there is still a great deal of positive news and activity to counteract some of the negative press of late.

In order to support local business in these challenging times Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, in partnership with Hastings Borough Council, are putting together a series of articles in Business Matters over the coming months to help focus on the challenges they might be facing and highlight potential solutions or support they can access.

With the Government announcing more free “Health Checks” this first feature looks at local support already available that businesses can already access, much of which is free.

Health checks are an ideal starting point for many clients. These are available free of charge to most businesses via Business Link’s Small Business Review and other local schemes such as Anchoring Business. They are the perfect opportunity to take stock of where you are now, the challenges you face, where you want to be and how to get there.

A recent client, Angela Lumb from The Hastings Baby Shop, Queens Road, Hastings said ‘the review gave me an excellent overview of my business and helped me to develop a strong and realistic business plan. Reassuring and supportive.’

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise can provide access to National Schemes such as those provided by Business Link and Train to Gain, and local projects funded by Hastings Borough Council’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative Programme. These provide a wide range of advice, support and training to enable local businesses assess the real impact of current challenges and how to respond positively to them.

Elsewhere on these pages is plenty of good news too – next week’s Let’s do Business Exhibition, the best opportunity to network
face-to-face with owners, directors and key decision-makers of business from across Sussex; plus we are announcing our training short courses provision for 2009; and the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce is developing a new profile in the interests of providing local business with an improved forum for networking and lobbying of local and National Government.

Next month we shall look at putting you in control of your finances – but for now the message from Sean Dennis is ‘there is no need for businesses to be alone, there is plenty of quality support available to help tackle the current and future difficulties we are all facing; all they have to do is pick up the phone or call in and we will help identify what support is available for them’.

For a free confidential discussion on local or national support simply call 01424 205500 or visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk .

Business Link can also be contacted via their website www.businesslink.gov.uk and for Train to Gain call 0845 751 2288.

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Short Courses that Pay Big Dividends

Many of you will know next week sees the eagerly awaited 2009 Let’s do Business, Hastings event. Whilst much of our focus will be on the official launch of the new Chamber, we will also be holding a second launch; next year’s Short Courses Training Brochure, which is set to be bigger and better than ever before.

With increasing numbers attending our courses, we have been working hard to innovate and add even more value too ensure our range of short courses are not only better and broader, but continue to fit our ethos of providing practical, cost effective and timely solutions to businesses, which focus on their needs and the people within them.

In terms of innovation we are particularly delighted to announce collaboration with the University of Brighton’s Collaborative Training Centre, which will also see us deliver a range of very high quality short courses to fulfil even more real business needs.

Sean Dennis, Business Services Manager said ‘These courses draw on expertise from both within and outside of the university and are backed by the university’s quality assurance processes. We see there is a real need for this type of quality provision from trusted local providers which also avoid the additional cost & time resources of sending staff to London or further a field’

The new brochure will be provided to everyone who comes to Let’s do Business, but if you can’t make the day simply call 01424 205500 or visit our website www.1066enterprise.co.uk to request a copy.

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Let's Get Started

Anyone who is thinking about starting a business should visit the White Rock Theatre on October 22nd between 10AM and 4PM.

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise have organised an exhibition for people who are thinking about starting their own business. As well as the exhibition of businesses who start up businesses, there are experts on hand to provide one to one advice, a free taster session and the opportunity to join a brand new start up programme that will provide even more help.

Graham Marley from Ten Sixty Six Enterprise said 'This is the second Lets Get Started event we have run, and we are delighted to have a range of experts coming along who can help businesses with information and advice – these include McPherson and Partners Accountants and Gaby Hardwicke Solicitors. Advice on finance will be available from a local Bank, and Capitalise Business Support who can provide loans to people who are not able to access bank finance.'

At 10.30 there is a free business start up workshop called 'Let's Talk Business Ideas'. This three hour workshop will help you look at your own strengths and weaknesses, your ideas, common mistakes people make when starting a business, looking at what your customers want, and what your competitors do.

To guarantee a place at the workshop contact Sharon Fitzhugh on 01424 205500

'With the economic climate as it is more people are thinking about starting a business, and this is a great opportunity to get free information'.

The exhibition is open between 10AM and 4PM, and is free.

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New Ideas for Businesses

Economic uncertainty sometimes drives major life events for people, which in turn often spurs people into self employment, maybe taking forward those dreams they’ve had for years but never done anything about.

Whether or not the current economic turmoil is spurring you on, Ten Sixty Six Enterprise has just launched a new start up workshop to help anyone looking at going it alone.

The new course is being delivered in association with Barclays Bank and the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies. Spokes person Sean Dennis, from Ten Sixty Six Enterprise said 'we are delighted to be working with two high profile national organisations, to deliver this fantastic half day course. It is an ideal starting point for anyone thinking of setting up a business'.

The course will help you find out how to set up a business, what’s involved, it will take a look at what business skills you already have and areas you may need to work on.

This highly interact free half day short course will show you how to fail in business (and how not to!), look at whether your business idea is really up to it and include time for a reality check.

Finally it will cover the next steps you should be looking at and where you can find additional support to help develop your plans.

'We are linking our next short course into the Let's Get Started event at the White Rock Theatre on Wednesday 22nd October, so that attendees can get even more support from the wide range of exhibitors that will be there' Sean advised.

To book a place for find out more, call Ten Sixty Six Enterprise on 01424 20500.

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Bookkeeping Your Insomnia Cure!

Now for most of us bookkeeping is not the most exciting part of running a business and it certainly isn’t why we went into business (unless you are a bookkeeper of course!). However, if you fail to do it or just get it badly wrong at best it costs you more with your accountant, at worst it could have catastrophic consequences for your businesses.

With the economic downturn we are facing it is even more important that we are on top of our financial game. Whilst an easy solution could be to just outsource it, DIY bookkeeping is a great way of cutting your overheads & having a much tighter control on what is actually happening in your business.

This is all great in theory but where on earth do you start?

Well the good news is it doesn’t have to be complicated, difficult or expensive because Ten Sixty Enterprise has joined forces with Chris Bendall of Balanced Accounting LLP to deliver two half day short courses.

‘First Steps’ is specifically for those either starting off or who are already struggling with their books; whilst ‘Next Steps’ is ideal for those that already have a basic understanding but now need more advanced know how.

Both courses use software developed by Ten Sixty Six in order to focus on bookkeeping without the need for expensive software such as SAGE or QuickBooks.

To find out more contact Sharon Fitzhugh at Ten Sixty Enterprise on 01424 205500 or visit our website www.1066enterprise.co.uk training section. Alternatively you can contact Chris Bendall ACA at contact@balancedaccounting.co.uk

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E- Business

In these competitive times the use of electronic tools to help promote and sell is an increasingly important part of marketing and business development.

But where do you start? E-Commerce, blogs, Pay per Click, pods, Google Ads, Paypal, online catalogues, the list of jargon goes on and often leaves you feeling that you are not in control.

‘At Ten Sixty Six we regularly have clients tell us that they haven’t a clue where to start or their website doesn’t attract new clients’ Sean Dennis, Business Services Manager told us. ‘Yet when we ask how they market their site, they either don’t or wouldn’t know where to start’

‘But this is a crazy situation’ Sean went on ‘if you don’t know how to market your website, or who is visiting it, it’s no wonder they are not gaining traffic and ultimately clients’.

Since the E-Biz Centre closed businesses are finding it even harder to get answers to these sorts of questions and much more. To help Ten Sixty Six has developed a series of practical half day short courses that will inform you of low cost e-business solutions.

So, whether you are still developing your business idea; are trading but have no e-business presence or already have a website but it could be improved; then we are sure one of our short courses will provide the knowledge and skills to put you in control. To find out more please visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk/training or call 01424 205500

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The Chamber of Commerce is changing. Can you help us create a new image?

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise are looking for creative designers based within the Hastings travel to work area, to design and produce a new logostyle and strapline for the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce, the new name for the Chamber of Commerce in Hastings and its travel-to-work area.

From the initial statements of interest, we will select three companies to submit designs, from which one will be chosen to produce the selected logo and strapline to various print ready formats.

We will pay a fee for the chosen logo and the selected company will then be contracted for one year to design a range of marketing materials including portable exhibition stands, stationery, promotional brochures, leaflets and flyers, merchandise and outdoor media.

Expressions of interest (to be received no later than 23 July) and further information is available from Graham Marley at Ten Sixty Six Enterprise.

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Is your business prepared for the Credit Crunch?

The media is full of scare stories about the impending Credit Crunch and the impact that it is likely to have on small business. As a small business owner, you need to make sure that you are prepared for any consequences this economic climate is likely to have on your business.

To help local business Ten Sixty Enterprise Agency and HSBC’s East Sussex Commercial Centre are joining forces to support the national NFEA (National Federation of Enterprise Agencies) Credit Crunch Week from Monday 28th April – Friday 2nd May.

This dedicated week of events will offer new and existing small businesses owners the opportunity to benefit from free, independent, professional financial advice - from those concerned with raising finance for a new business to those under financial pressures with their existing businesses.

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and its in house team of specialist advisers will be supported by local HSBC Commercial Managers, Nigel Bishop, Tony Burt and Phil Gobbett in advising businesses throughout this week devoted to financial support.

Commenting on the launch of this activity, Tony Shrimpling Head of The HSBC Commercial Centre has said: “We know from talking to small businesses in Hastings and Rother that they are worried about what they are reading and hearing, and we know that many entrepreneurs, particularly those who have started businesses in recent years, have not had the experience of managing their business through a downturn.”

To find out more information or book your dedicated Credit Crunch advice and support meeting call Ten Sixty Six Enterprise on 01424 205504 or visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk

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1066 Business Awards

The Hastings & Rother business community gather today to recognise the outstanding achievements of local businesses at the 4th 1066 Business Awards ceremony, organised by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and sponsored by HSBC Bank Plc. Guests at The Powdermills Hotel, Battle, will be joined by keynote speaker John Bird, founder of The Big Issue Magazine and Foundation.

With a record number of applications this year, competition has been stiff. John Males, partner at Hailsham-based Accountants and Business Advisers, Watson Associates, comments, "The high standard and variety of applications across the board made the judging of entries difficult. On behalf of the judges, I would like to congratulate all of those submitted entries."

Tony Shrimpling, from HSBC, pictured with 2007 winner, Naomi Ridley from Hastings Furniture Service, says, “We are delighted with the response to this year’s event and our continued sponsorship highlights our support and commitment to the entire local business community.”

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise would like to take this opportunity of thanking HSBC and the individual category sponsors for their support of the 2008 Awards.

Sponsor of the Best Start-Up Award, Capitalise Business Support provide finance for new and existing businesses, which cannot access loans or credit from mainstream providers.

Sponsor of the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community, Chartered Accountants Manningtons provide expert advice and clear thinking across 1066 Country – www.manningtons.net

Sponsor of the Outstanding Social Enterprise Initiative, Hastings College the Hastings College Services to Business Team will take care of all your training needs – www.hastings.ac.uk

Sponsor of the Customer Care Award, Battle & District Chamber of Commerce promote and protect the trade, commerce, manufacturing, professional and general interests of the Town – www.battlechamber.org

Sponsor of the Retailer of the Year Award, Priory Meadow Shopping Centre includes over 50 retail stores and an expanding car-park, offering a mix of big-name retailers and a wide selection of high street names – www.priorymeadow.com

Co-sponsors of the Hospitality, Tourism & Leisure Award - Hastings Borough Council and 1066 Country Marketing work together to promote the whole area as an all year round visitor destination - www.1066country.com or www.hastings.gov.uk

Sponsor of the Outstanding Individual Achievement Category, NatWest RBS offer a range of financial solutions for the growth and development of local SME’s – www.natwest.com

Sponsor of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, University of Brighton research and development services and specialist facilities benefits businesses of all sizes, across a range of industry sectors – www.brighton.ac.uk

Sponsor of the Sustainable / Green Business of the Year – Ten Sixty Six Enterprise help businesses start, improve and develop across 1066 Country – www.1066enterprise.co.uk

Sponsors of the Overall Business of the Year, HSBC, offer an award winning online business internet banking service, a comprehensive business telephone banking service, and a full range of business products. For more information visit – www.hsbc.co.uk/business

See your Observer for a full list of winners – www.hastingsobserver.co.uk

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Big Issue Founder to speak at 1066 Business Awards

John Bird, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Big Issue, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s 1066 Business Awards Ceremony, to be held at the Powdermills Hotel, Battle on Friday 14th March.

Sponsored by HSBC, the Awards celebrate the success over Hastings and Rother business over the past 12 months.

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, Chief Executive, Graham Marley says, “To have such a renowned entrepreneur and motivational speaker as John support this year’s event is a great privilege“.

Since setting up The Big Issue Magazine and Foundation to help the homeless help themselves some sixteen years ago, John has become an authority on motivation and the ascendancy to achievement. Amongst the places he has spoken are the UN in New York, Nairobi and Istanbul, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace.

The UN Scroll of Honour, an MBE and the 2005/6 Beacon Prize for Creative Giving are just three of the many accolades and awards he has received. Since the inception of The Big Issue in 1991, John has overseen its development into the UK's most successful social enterprise, stretching from Tokyo to Totnes and helping thousands of homeless people worldwide.

With a deadline for entries of Friday 8th February, there is still some time to get your business the recognition it deserves.

The Awards provide an ideal opportunity for businesses of any size, age or sector to shout about what they’ve achieved over the past 12 months.

With a wide range of categories, there really is something for everyone. The 2008 Award categories are:

Business Start Up
sponsored by Capitalise Business Support
- Open to any business that has been trading for less than 24 months.

Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community
sponsored by Manningtons
- Open to any business which can demonstrate an outstanding contribution to the local community through the support of local community organisations, charities, schools or partnerships.

Outstanding Social Enterprise Initiative
sponsored by Hastings College
- Open to any social enterprise, charity or community group which can demonstrate a sustainable business strategy.

Customer Care Business of the Year
sponsored by Battle & District Chamber of Commerce
- Open to any business which can demonstrate outstanding customer service

Retailer of the Year
sponsored by Priory Meadow
- Open to any retail business that can best demonstrate strong growth, an innovative approach to customer and employee relations together with creativity to increase sales.

Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure
sponsored by Hastings Borough Council and 1066 Country Marketing
- Open to any business that can demonstrate exceptional financial returns, innovation, strong growth and market leadership in the field of tourism, leisure or hospitality activities.

Individual Achievement
sponsored by NatWest RBS
- Open to an exceptional individual whose effort and determination has made an exceptional contribution to a business resulting in a positive gain for the organisation.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year
sponsored by University of Brighton
- Open to an exceptional individual aged under 30 who has set up or developed a new business, product or service.

Sustainable (Green / Eco) Business
sponsored by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise
- Open to any business, which can demonstrate sustainable / green business practices, or the development of products and services that will benefit the wider community or environment.

All entrants into the above categories will be considered for the top accolade of HSBC Business of the Year 2008, scooped last year by Hastings Furniture Service.

For further details or application forms, please visit www.1066businessawards.com or call 01424 205500

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Ten Sixty Six Enterprise - Case Study: Trade Counters turn up the heat

Having worked for a leading nationwide plumbing and heating supplies company for several years, Steve Bloomfield felt the trade deserved a better deal and, in May 2002, began Trade Counters Plumbing and Heating Supplies from his home.

Steve had only been in Hastings two years and had little knowledge of the local market so he used his sales experience to produce and distribute hundreds of mail shots, handle telephone canvassing, follow-ups and build an effective database of new contacts.

This effort developed into Trade Counters Direct, and Steve bought his own van and began delivering fittings directly to plumbers and heating engineers at extremely competitive prices, a service that understandably proved very popular.

The business expanded rapidly, had quickly outgrown Steve’s home and was now operating from a low, sub-basement lock up. Steve took on his first member of staff but space was still at a premium and most of his stock had to be displayed on the pavement outside to give them room to move inside. It was late 2004 and the business was still only 18 months old.

It was time to take the plunge. Steve found an old, closed and run down woodworkers shop on the main road in Ore village and undertook a complete refurbishment of the premises to create Trade Counters Plumbing and Heating Supplies.

He found Ten Sixty Six Enterprise on the Internet, made contact with Business Mentor Sean Dennis. Sean helped Steve control his expansion programme and successfully prepare a grant application for internal shop fittings and quality fascia signage.

“It was very helpful to be able to speak to someone from business who had no axe to grind, no bias, and no ulterior motive. Sean’s advice and mentoring really made a difference,” said Steve. “The grant application form filling was certainly worth the effort. I would not have been able to complete the refurbishment work to such a high standard without it.”

So successful was the help that Steve went back to Ten Sixty Six Enterprise for a second grant in May 2005. This time, for more showroom fixtures and fittings, a stair lift to ensure the new first floor bathroom showroom was fully DDA compliant and further signage for the new expanded premises.

Again, Ten Sixty Six Enterprise came up trumps.

Steve has taken Trade Counters from nothing to a turnover around £1,000,000 in less than five years and is still in contact with Sean and the team at Ten Sixty Six Enterprise.

Would he have done it without Ten Sixty Six Enterprise?

“I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. But I know they certainly helped.” He said.

Steve has now joined Ten Sixty Six Enterprise’s new BizFizz committee as part of the management team as he feels the help that he received is worth passing on to other entrepreneurs.

After all, there’s no substitute for experience!

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House of Commons Expansion

Local MP Michael Foster and Sean Dennis director of Hastings based Capitalise Business Support (CBS), which provides Sussex and Kent businesses with financial support, gave a presentation to MPs at the House of Commons, about the organisation, plans to expand into new areas and how CBS can benefit their local constituencies.

The achievements of the organisation were highlighted through a presentation from CBS client Carol Sands, who opened a café/bar and performance venue, The Rooms, in St Leonards in Sussex 18 months ago. Despite having a good business idea, Carol, like many others, faced barriers when it came to securing financial support, being refused business loans when she approached the banks.

The financial support and business advice from CBS helped her to start-up and now she is developing rehearsal space and a recording studio. “Our scheme is aimed at achieving positive social change and bringing wealth to local communities, especially disadvantaged ones, through supporting new and existing businesses,” explains Sean. “We saw in Carol’s proposal not only a great business idea but something that also had the potential to really improve and assist the regeneration of the St. Leonards area.”

The Right Honorable Margaret Hodge MBE MP Minister of State for Industry and the Regions attended the presentation and commented that they had used a great opportunity to promote the scheme, showcase their clients, and show how CBS can help the MP’s constituents.

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Bizfizz comes to Hastings

Want to start your own business or have a great idea you are passionate about?

Bizfizz is a national business coaching initiative run jointly by the Civic Trust and New Economics Foundation – and it has just placed its’ first coach in the South East here in Hastings, funded by the Government’s Local Enterprise Growth Initiative through Hastings Borough Council.

Bizfizz offers free, confidential and informal one-to-one coaching to anyone thinking of starting their own businesses or looking to develop an existing one through on-going support to help unleash their individual business passion.

Bizfizz works with all types of businesses or business ideas at any stage of development and centres on you as the entrepreneur rather than just on how to write a business plan or open a business bank account – although it can help with that too due to its’ close links with 1066 Enterprise and the wide range of courses they offer.

The Bizfizz coach in Hastings is Clive Gross. Clive comes from three years working as a PR and Marketing Manager for a local leisure trust, but has previously spent most of his career in the music and entertainment industry, running several small businesses of his own from a record stall in London to a gallery and café in Eastbourne.

To find out more about Bizfizz and how it could help you, call Clive on 01424 205509 or 07771 645263 for a confidential and informal chat. You can also visit www.bizfizz.org.uk

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Gimme Five! Hastings firm celebrate 5 years’ success after 3 day start-up workshop.

There can’t be many people who haven’t heard of 1066 Enterprise and the help and advice they give to start up businesses in Hastings and St Leonards - but how often do we hear what became of the companies who benefit?

Having completed a 3 day start up workshop back in March 2001, local web design firm FAT promotions opened its doors for the first time - and are still going strong 5 years later. “We simply couldn’t have done it without their help, their advice was invaluable” says founder Fiona Allman-Treen. “Not only did they set us off in the right direction, they went on to support and mentor us through that all-important first year”. The company also benefited from ongoing support from Graham Marley and his team regarding growing the business and taking on additional staff as the client list grew to include larger blue chip companies and even an airline subsidiary! “They even chipped in some funding to help make sure we continued to grow” continues Fiona. “Now we recommend them to all our clients, especially those just starting out in business as their office is the best place to start”.

For full details of all the start-up workshops and latest courses from 1066 Enterprise, visit their website at www.1066enterprise.co.uk.

LINKS:
www.fatpromotions.co.uk
www.1066enterprise.co.uk

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Hastings - The Place to do Business

Despite national trends showing a 20% reduction in people looking to start up in business, Hastings appears to be bucking the trend according to the latest figures from Ten Sixty Six Enterprise.

Offering a diverse range of services, from group workshops to one-to-one mentoring, Ten Sixty Six Enterprise has had another record year with a 10% increase in the number of clients seen, who are looking to set up in business.

“One of the reasons for this seems to be the continued interest in the area for people relocating not only for a better quality of life but also for the amount and quality of business support services on offer locally to help people start up,” says Sean Dennis, Business Services Manager at Ten Sixty Six Enterprise.

Jennifer Beaumont-Whyte is just such a person. She moved to Hastings from London in 2005 and has just set up her business ‘Beyond Boundaries’, which provides lifestyle coaching for business women. (www.beyondyourboundaries.com)

Jennifer says, “This is a great place to live and work after the hustle and bustle of London. The support I have received from Ten Sixty Six Enterprise has been tremendous and I am really looking forward to developing and growing my business with their support.”

To find out how Ten Sixty Six Enterprise can help start up, develop and grow your business contact 01424 205500 or visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk

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Are women realising their business potential?

Despite the fact that on a national scale fewer females are setting up in business compared to their male counterparts, the gap between male and female entrepreneurial activity is narrowing, with female entrepreneurship now standing at 46% of male entrepreneurship levels. In 2003 it stood at 42.9%.

Sean Dennis, Business Services Manager, at Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, says, “There are many reasons why more and more women are starting their own businesses. Some of these include a means of returning to work, easier access to finance and a way of balancing the demands of earning an income and keeping a busy family running or for that matter any mix of these.”

However, research also suggests that whilst increasing numbers of women are exploring the self-employment option, many do not ultimately progress any further than this.

Given the subject of Women’s Enterprise is an important area for the Department of Trade and Industry, Ten Sixty Six Enterprise is now working with the South East England Development Agency to help research this area.

“As such, we are very keen to speak with women in the ‘pre start up’ phase to identify the key issues facing potential women entrepreneurs, explore ways to address their needs and assist them in overcoming barriers which hinder them from starting their own business”, continues Sean.

From this research Ten Sixty Six Enterprise aims not only to identify cost effective approaches to overcoming these barriers but also assist those women who have attended pre-start programmes to take the final step of starting an actual business. In addition it will enable Ten Sixty Six Enterprise to encourage collaborative working among local partners and to share best practice.

If you would like to help with these aims please contact Sean Dennis, Business Services Manager, Ten Sixty Six Enterprise 01424 205504 or e mail sean.dennis@1066enterprise.co.uk

For further advice on how Ten Sixty Enterprise already helps hundreds of people each year to start up and succeed in business contact 01424 205500.

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Small businesses warned about financial brokers

Small businesses in East Sussex are being warned to be wary of financial brokers who are targeting firms with ‘pie-in-the-sky’ promises of cheap commercial mortgages.

East Sussex County Council’s trading standards service says that the brokers claim to be able to get cheap commercial mortgages and verbally offer a low interest rate. However, when it comes to the crunch of the written contract the rate is much higher but the brokers still demand their fees.

One company – Gateway Finance.co.uk Ltd, which has its registered office in Crowborough, has had its advertisement withdrawn by ‘The Publican’ magazine after a string of complaints from pub landlords across the country. The company were allegedly failing to provide access to loans, at either the interest rates, or the amounts, that had been promised by its sales reps.

A look at their standard written contract shows that there was actually nothing in writing to specify the interest rate or the size of the loan. In effect, the company was simply stating that it would “endeavour to secure a source of finance”.

The company in question is now in a ‘corporate voluntary arrangement’, which is an insolvency process used to try to rescue a firm that has been unable to meet its debts.

Councillor Bob Tidy, Lead Member for Community Services, said: “When dealing with any sales rep, especially from a firm you haven’t dealt with or heard of before, always ensure that the key elements of what they are saying is included in their written contract.

“Trading standards regularly get complaints of this nature from people running small businesses, who realise too late that they have signed a written contract that bears little relation to the sales pitch they were given. This leads to real problems later when trying to prove what was actually agreed. The bottom line is if the contract fails to reflect what the sales person has been saying then don’t sign it”.

For further information please contact: Martin Fitzgerald on 01273 481691 or email martin.fitzgerald@eastsussex.gov.uk

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More business for approved trader scheme

More East Sussex companies are demonstrating their commitment to good customer service by signing up to East Sussex County Council’s approved trader scheme.

A further 23 businesses have joined the Council’s ‘Buy With Confidence’ scheme bringing the total number of members up to 138. Another 30 companies are currently going through the application process.

The latest firms to join were welcomed at a recent ceremony attended by Council Chairman, John Barnes and Lead Member for Community Services, Bob Tidy.

Councillor Tidy said: “The Buy With Confidence initiative is a dream double for the community. It’s good news for consumers who can be confident of a reliable and customer-friendly service if they use one of the businesses on the list. And it’s good news for traders as they benefit from the publicity and potential extra business of being an ‘approved trader’.”

Council Chairman John Barnes added: “I was delighted to be able to welcome so many new businesses to the scheme, which goes from strength to strength. It was good to see firms coming from right across the county and to know that we are dealing with a win-win situation - a scheme that is great for the customer, particularly the elderly, who need to know who they can trust, and good for the businesses themselves."

The Buy With Confidence scheme is co-ordinated by the Council’s trading standards service. It puts consumers in touch with approved traders who have agreed to provide high standards of customer service, including dealing promptly with any complaints. The traders have also undergone rigorous checks and an audit before they join. Any business can apply to become members of the scheme. The list of approved traders runs from builders to wine merchants and from chauffeurs to upholsterers.

If businesses want to find out more about joining the scheme they should contact the County Council’s Buy With Confidence team on 01323 418215 and select option 2. Consumers who want to find an approved trader should call the same number and select option 1.
The list and information on joining the scheme is also available online by visiting the County Council’s website at www.eastsussex.gov.uk/buywithconfidence

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Up Close & Personal – businesses visit schools & adult community learning project

Fourteen local business people took time out last Thursday on a visit to educational projects in the Greater Hollington area of St Leonards designed to look at ways in which they could offer practical support.

“The aim of the Up Close & Personal programme is to bring some of the deprivation statistics that are quoted about the town to life”, says Jonathan Dolding, Business Broker at Ten Sixty Six Enterprise and organiser of the day. “It’s really to highlight some of the everyday issues that residents face, what’s being done to address them and look at ways in which the private sector can contribute.”

The day, led by David Tate, High Sheriff of East Sussex, visited Robsack Wood Primary, including a tour of lessons and a chance to speak with pupils and teachers. The group then moved on to the Horizons Community Learning project. The business leaders had the opportunity to speak and listen to testimonials of local adults who have returned to education, studying courses such as ways into work, nursing, digital photography and creative writing. To conclude the visit, the group moved on to Filsham Valley school, enjoying a tour of the school from senior prefects and a presentation about the schools’ bid for business & enterprise specialist status.

David Tate, commented, “The visit was well organised with a good mix of large and small businesses, which gave a broader range of reactions. The visits were interestingly different, and I look forward to seeing some of the projects that come about as a result.”

The visit included representatives from the following businesses: Arrow FM, BT Local Business, Creative Partnerships, Fuga Ltd, McDonalds, ROK Build, Style Promotions, Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, The Hastings Centre, The Observer Newspaper and Trilobyte Technologies.

For more information on the Up Close & Personal programme and how your business can get involved, contact Jonathan Dolding on 01424 205507 or e-mail jonathan.dolding@1066enterprise.co.uk

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Ten Sixty Six Enterprise gains IIP accreditation

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, the Enterprise Agency for Hastings & Rother and Chamber of Commerce for Hastings & St Leonards, has been awarded Investor in People status.

Investors in People is the national standard that sets a level of good practice for training and development of people to achieve business goals.

“Our people are the key to us operating as a successful company and are central to our company culture. Training and developing the team increases staff retention, loyalty and productivity, which in turn increases customer satisfaction and at the end of the day improves the bottom line”, comments Graham Marley, Chief Executive of Ten Sixty Six Enterprise.

Graham is pictured receiving the award from Hastings & Rye MP Michael Foster in front of 90 local businesses at the Business Luncheon Club on Wednesday 21st September.

iip accreditation award presentation

Above From left to right are: John Hodges (company Director), Julie Walker (Principal, HCAT), Michael Foster, Graham Marley, Linda Williams (Chamber of Commerce) and Sally Coveney (Deputy Principal HCAT)

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Dates for the Diary

The Hastings & St Leonards Chamber of Commerce

The Ten Sixty Six Enterprise & HCAT Business Luncheon Club

At the Beauport Park Hotel: 12- 2pm

For information about the Chamber of Commerce or the Business Luncheon Club, please contact Linda Williams at Ten Sixty Six Enterprise on 01424 205511.

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New Entrepreneur Scheme

We are delighted to announce our 7th running of this highly successful start up programme and invitations for the new cohort are now invited. The new programme will start September, to find out more and how to apply click here.

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Danish Multinational supports Stamco through University project

Danish Multinational supports Stamco through University project

An innovation development programme bought 12 managers from a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company to see Stamco, providers of timber, building and garden materials, in Hastings.

This unusual combination was the result of an exciting strategic business and innovation project managed by CENTRIM at the University of Brighton. The Danish team conducted an intensive 3-day review of Stamco’s business including their DIY and Trade offering at the Hastings branch, their business model, strategy and processes and a competitor analysis.

Their findings were presented at a workshop with the Stamco management team. The workshop included their findings, business innovation ideas and a number of practical and relevant exercises for business development.

John Cornelius, Operations Director at Stamco, said “this was a great and rare opportunity for us to work with an international company from a different sector that could take a wholly independent view of our business. They did an incredible job in a short time and gave us a powerful presentation that was hugely beneficial. We are keen to keep up the momentum to drive our business forward.”

The event was particularly well timed, because it coincided with a strategic review that is currently being undertaken in-house. Emma Pearce, Marketing Manager, at Stamco said “we would like to thank Dave Francis at CENTRIM for giving us the opportunity to work with Novo Nordisk. We have had really positive feedback from Denmark about how the project was very valuable to their innovation activities as well as for our strategy process.”

Stamco is also working with the University of Brighton on other projects and recommends that other local businesses consider the variety of ways that they can receive commercially-beneficial assistance. For further information contact Emma Pearce on 01424 456820.

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Social Enterprise: The Rooms

Summer 2005 sees the opening of the latest addition to the new face of St. Leonards - The Rooms recording and rehearsal studios. The Rooms offers a variety of facilities to satisfy and inspire those with a creative bent, as well as providing a homely meeting place and community hub in the heart of the town.

The fully equipped, professional recording studio and soundproofed rehearsal space cater for bands and musicians looking for a relaxed environment in which to hone their skills. Experienced resident staff are on hand to offer advice and assistance, while on a more social level, The Rooms has a broader outlook. Through its integrated vegetarian café, bar and relaxation area, owners Carol and Rob Sands will be offering a variety of workshops and events aimed at developing creativity in the community. In addition, there is a gallery display space for visual artists and a performance space for music and spoken word, providing an outlet for local talent to reach a wider audience.

The opening of The Rooms is the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and dedication on the part of the Sands', who have both been active participants on the local music scene for many years. Recognising their calling early on, they are eager to use their musical knowledge and open-hearted outlook for the benefit of the wider community: The Rooms aims to operate a non-exclusive policy, making the facilities affordable to anyone and everyone through the innovative SkillShare programme. SkillShare enables participants to effectively trade their skills in return for the use of facilities at The Rooms.

In a move that has mirrored the rejuvenation of Western Road itself, the Sands' have invested much time and effort in completely renovating the premises; transforming the tired corner plot into a vibrant and welcoming centre for creativity, thus providing a base and support framework for community-based arts projects and workshops. Over the forthcoming months, creative-minded people across the area can look forward to a variety of events and one-day programmes including DJ, guitar and vocal workshops, studio techniques and music industry talks.

Further information on all of the facilities available at The Rooms, as well as details of forthcoming workshops and events programmes, can be obtained by calling into The Rooms at 33-35 Western Road, St. Leonards, by calling 01424 713555, by emailing info@therooms.org.uk or via the website at: www.therooms.org.uk.

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Scholarship Programme Runs Again

Scholarship Programme Runs Again

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise are delighted to invite applications for their 7th cohort of the New Entrepreneur Scholarship programme. The national scheme provides 90 hours of free business advice to budding entrepreneurs from the most deprived wards of Hastings and St Leonards.

Successful scholars will start the programme in September which will run over the next 5 months. The series of workshops and dedicated mentoring will help scholars develop their ideas and test them for viability. They will then be able to apply for grant funding of up to £1,500 towards their start up costs.

Sean Dennis Business Services Manager at Ten Sixty Six confirmed ‘this scheme continues to deliver fantastic results; time and again scholars tell us that without the advice and ongoing support received their ideas never would have got off the ground’.

An early scholar Angela Lumb of The Magic Wardrobe will shortly commence her third year of trading; she said ‘the training and advice I received from the New Entrepreneur Scholarship programme was a superb grounding in the world of business that has been invaluable during my first two years of trading. I am just moving premises and once again can draw on the skills I learnt’

To find out more about the programme or register your interest please contact Sharon Fitzhugh on 01424 205504.

Photo shows Angela Lumb meeting Michael Foster MP, Nigel Griffiths MP & Sean Dennis.

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Home Care Agency Team Keen to Learn

Quality Home Care, based in St. Leonards and serving people in Hastings and Rother, is committed to ensuring that 95% of their staff are trained to NVQ Level 2 in Care. The company have invested in a dedicated training centre and are working with Care Connect Learning so that their Home Care Workers are able to study for their NVQ's on line at times that are convenient to them.

Ishbel Reed, Training Officer said: "With full training our staff feel like they have a career rather than just a job. We let our staff have access to the training suite in the evenings and weekends so they can work at their own pace. Some of our staff have had no experience on computers but the Care Connect package offers basic instructions and within a short time they are whizzing around the keyboard. Staff are doing the training because they want to and feel a sense of ownership."

The agency has gone from strength to strength since being taken over by Zoe Rushton, Loretta Southgate and Sandra Kursey in April 2004. When they bought the business there were 25 employees. Now they have over 300 service users' in the community and 75 staff providing 1600 hours of care per week.

Zoe Rushton, Registered Manager and a Director of Quality Home Care, said: "As the agency has got bigger our need for training became a focus. Home Care Workers often have unusual hours and we wanted to find a way that would make training convenient for them. We pay for all our staffs training, giving extra personal support when needed and because of this they are committed to staying with us. This ensures our service users' have a greater continuity of care. The training gives them self-esteem and job satisfaction. If you treat your staff well, they treat the customers well."

Trevor Bandey, Business Development Manager for Care Connect Learning, said: "We are very pleased to be working with Quality Home Care. Their commitment to training is admirable. The government requires that Domiciliary Care Agencies should have 50% of the care hours they provide to be given by NVQ2 qualified staff by 2007. Quality Home Care will be far ahead of these requirements by next year."

Quality Home Care - 01424 715733
Care Connect Learning - 020 7613 0999 / www.careconnectlearn.co.uk

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Made in Hastings Celebrates 1st Birthday

Made in Hastings, celebrated its first birthday and the launch of its website at the beginning of the month with a party at its Old Town shop. The 6 local artists began trading in June 2004 to sell locally made quality products and rapidly became stockists for further local artists and craftspeople.

“The past year has been an exciting journey and a steep learning curve for the six of us”, says potter Judith Rowe, “we have certainly learnt a great deal about running a business, and it’s been great to celebrate the success of the last twelve months with our friends, customers and suppliers.”

The Old Town shop is now pleasantly crowded with the work of over 50 local suppliers, including children’s tepees, jewellery, paintings, pottery, clothing and many more accessories for the home and the team has been forced to take on an additional member of staff.

“We are very keen to preserve the fact that everything in the shop is functional…. We’re not a gallery, we want to sell beautiful locally crafted products that can be used on a daily basis”, continues Judith.

Made in Hastings has not only received much local interest, but has enjoyed regional and national coverage in Country Living, The Guardian, the BBC’s Homes & Antiques magazine and a recent feature on BBC Southern Counties radio, all of which have brought people into the town from further afield.

Made in Hastings – 82 High Street, Old Town / 01424 719110 / www.madeinhastings.com

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Let's do Business 2005 – 18 more exhibition stands for top inter-trading event

Following the sell out of exhibition space in the main auditorium at the third Let's do Business exhibition, organisers can now confirm that there will be an additional 18 stands to meet the increasing demand from local businesses to feature at the event.

Organiser of the event, Jonathan Dolding says, “The demand for businesses to be at the event has been fantastic…to be sold out in June for a November event is testament to how the format of the event is regarded by the local business community. We have therefore added a further 18 exhibition stands in the Jubilee Room at the Hastings Centre to complement those in the main hall.”

Let's do Business 2005 is sponsored by Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, BT Local Business, NatWest, Sea Space and Sussex Enterprise and will take place from 10am – 5pm at The Hastings Centre on Thursday 10th November.

For information on exhibiting, directory advertising or simply visiting Let's do Business 2005, register online at www.letsdobusiness.org, e-mail info@letsdobusiness.org or call 07074 423123.

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Growth for Telham Training

Local company, Telham Training Ltd, has recently seen massive growth following the launch of their new Services to Business in the Hastings and St Leonards area. Sarah White, company director started the business in 2004, identifying a gap in the local market for tailor-made group and one-to-one IT training.

Telham Training offers a broad range of training packages covering from Microsoft Office to Intuit Quickbooks, targeted to support small and medium sized companies. Recent growth has been attributed to the company’s newly developed Floor Walking Service.

“Companies have found our new service particularly helpful. Our trainers work onsite to provide unobtrusive training and support for individual staff at their workstations with minimal disruption to the office routine. This has proved very cost effective and it can also reduce productivity bottlenecks within the company” says Sarah White, Director.

Telham Training Ltd – 01424 775191 / www.telhamtrainingltd.co.uk

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Home Computing is no longer taxing

Home Computing is no longer taxing

A number of years ago the government announced plans to encourage employers to provide their workforce with computers for home use. Unfortunately, they made the scheme so complicated people needed a degree in applied mathematics to work it out. Unsurprisingly it failed to deliver the anticipated benefits.

In a review of the process the Inland Revenue simplified matters and as a result an employee can now be provided with a computer for use at home without being taxed with a benefit in kind

Patrick Lee is a Partner at Hasting based accountants Ashdown Hurrey: “The employer who buys the equipment will be able to recover the VAT and the employee will get the use of the equipment through salary sacrifice, which will save tax and employee’s national insurance at the marginal rate. The employee will not be subject to tax on the benefit in kind for using the equipment whilst it is owned by the employer.”

The employee can buy the equipment from the employer at its market value without any liability to tax. Most schemes will provide for a three-year equipment loan period at which time the computer, which will be of negligible value, will be sold to the employee for a nominal figure.

Patrick added: “For a higher rate taxpayer, a £1,000 computer system would have a net cost to the employee of approximately £420, saving £580. For a basic rate taxpayer, the cost would be approximately £570 with a saving of £430. On top of this, the employer will be saving approximately £110 on the deal.”

For more information contact Patrick Lee at Ashdown Hurrey on 01424 720222 or email patrickl@ashdownhurrey.co.uk for details of how the scheme can work for you.

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Further success for Locate East Sussex

This month has seen the culmination of much work by Locate East Sussex, the Investment Promotion Agency for East Sussex.

It has launched its new website, www.locateeastsussex.org, which provides support and information to businesses considering the County as a location, and offers the capability of searching for available premises using an on-line commercial property database. This database is populated by all the main commercial property agents operating within East Sussex.
It has also continued its success in the recruitment sector by helping to locate a well-established national agency, Hays Specialist Recruitment Ltd, in offices in Hastings’ Town Centre. A team from Hays’ Construction and Property Division will operate from the offices, which are in Bank Buildings, above Subway. Currently, the team comprises three consultants, who have been seconded from within the Division. It is hoped that future positions will be filled by locally recruited staff.

Hamish Monro, Chairman of East Sussex Economic Partnership said: "This adds to the success of the previous month and confirms the confidence that recruitment agencies appear to have in the area’s economic renaissance."
To contact Locate East Sussex call 01424 205512 or email enquiry@locateeastsussex.org or visit their website at www.locateeastsussex.org.

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Rural Broadband success

The last in a series of three rural broadband events was held at the offices of Westridge Construction on the Bodiam Business Park this week.

Around 60 rural businesses have been represented at the events, staged at rural business parks across Rother, and organised by The Broadband Centre. The events were intended for businesses with specific broadband enquiries, for those wishing to experience broadband and for those with IT or technology issues to discuss. East Sussex Broadband were also promoting £100 grants for businesses wanting to get broadband for the first time. They were joined by SEEDA staff who were on hand to discuss other local business regeneration projects.

Broadband Centre Marketing Manager Tara Leigh-Jepson said “We’ve had some really good feedback from those who attended. I think they appreciated the opportunity to meet other rural businesses in a relaxed, local setting. And we had some great business success stories too. For instance, we managed to introduce two businesses to each other – one who was able to offer maintenance on the product of the other. Previously, maintenance required a costly call-out to engineers from a manufacturer. So the events have really been worthwhile”.

The events were sponsored by The Broadband Centre a SEEDA regeneration project part-financed by the EU and supported by BT. The centre provides free, impartial IT advice to businesses in the Hastings and Rother.

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Natural Flow

Three years ago, David Ball and Trisha Walmsley dreamed of opening a shop to sell their fair trade instruments and clothing.

But a meeting with Ten Sixty Six Enterprise opened their minds to bigger and better things, leading to the launch of www.naturalflowdirect.com on the world wide web where the company is now distributing their range of Djembe drums, percussion instruments, and clothing throughout the world.

Their relationship with Ten Sixty Six started with a ‘Business Start Up’ workshop. It was here where they learned the importance of having a proper business plan, and, as David puts it, the benefit of proper ‘fiscal planning’.

Today, the company trade with a large ‘shop’ on eBay, their own site and through the fair trade portal www.getethical.com. They also visit musical festivals and outdoor events, and travel throughout Asia and Africa sourcing new products directly from the producers. The fundamental principle of the company is to source from fair trade partners whenever possible, is a member of the British Association of Fair Trade Shops and is an ESCC Trading Standards ‘Buy with Confidence’ Approved Trader. This year, turnover has increased by over 40% and now their only concern is keeping up with demand.

David maintains constant contact with Ten Sixty Six and appreciates them being available for help and support and likes the benefits of having a “sounding board” close at hand. He plans to stay with Ten Sixty Six “as long as they will have us”.

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Business Scholars Required

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise is now recruiting aspiring entrepreneurs for its thirteenth New Entrepreneur Scholarship programme, which will start in December.

This highly successful programme which has supported over 100 scholars during the past 5 years is offering up to 15 places to people who want to see if they can set up in business.

With its mix of structured training and mentoring support over 4 months, it helps you to develop business skills and test your ideas before launching. For those completing the programme and demonstrating potential viability for their idea, there is also a discretionary grant towards eligible set up costs.

Angela Lumb, The Magic Wardrobe Queens Road, Hastings was an early scholar, she said ‘This really is an excellent programme which I would strongly recommend anyone looking to start in business to apply for. The sound business skills I learnt from the scheme have been invaluable to me over the years & instrumental in helping set up my second business, The Hastings Baby Shop.’

If you live in Hastings or Bexhill and want to check if you qualify for the New Entrepreneur Scholarship, or for any help in starting your business contact Sharon Fitzhugh on 01424 205500 or visit www.1066enterprise.co.uk

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Enterprise Week

Next week sees the 3rd annual Enterprise Week running from 13th to 19th November. Still primarily focused on raising entrepreneurial awareness to the young its success has grown to now encompass many areas.

Once again Ten Sixty Six Enterprise is supporting this week long event with the following activities:

  • Monday 13th ~ drop by and see us in the Priory Shopping Meadow we are there all day giving advice on how to help your business start, grow and prosper
  • Tuesday 14th ~ drop in afternoon from 2 pm at Ten Sixty Six Enterprise, Summerfields Business Centre, Bohemia Road, Hastings
  • Wednesday 15th ~ as part of Women’s Enterprise Day we will be running our 3rd FREE half day Women into Business workshop on successful planning and raising finance
  • Thursday 16th ~ Let’s do Business, the largest inter-company trading event in East Sussex with over 100 exhibitors in one place at one time. As this is also Social Enterprise Day we will be delivering a specialist seminar at the event called Demystifying Social Enterprise
  • Friday 17th ~ sees the start of our monthly business start up modules covering legal issues, business planning, finance and marketing

If you would like to find out more about the above events call 01424 205500 and have a successful Enterprise Week

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Could you be a business Scholar?

Ten Sixty Six Enterprise is delighted to announce it is looking to recruit aspiring entrepreneurs later this month for its fourteenth New Entrepreneur Scholarship programme, which will start later on in the year.

This highly regarded programme which has supported over 100 scholars during the past 4 years is now offering 10 new places.
It provides a structured mix of training and mentoring over 4 months to enable people to develop their business skills and test their business ideas. For those completing the programme and demonstrating potential viability for their idea, there is also a discretionary start up grant available for items such as initial rent and insurance costs, purchase of machinery and computer equipment and further training.

Angela Lumb, The Magic Wardrobe, Queens Road, Hastings was an early scholar, she said ‘This really was an excellent programme which I would encourage anyone looking to start in business to apply for. I have just started my 4th year of trading, which I know is largely due to the sound business skills I learnt from the scheme’

So if you live in Hastings or Bexhill and want to see if you qualify for the New Entrepreneur Scholarship, or for any help in starting your business contact Sharon Fitzhugh on 01424 205500

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