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Enterprising ways
Since its opening just over two years ago Newhaven Enterprise Centre has become a hot house for new and developing companies alike providing an excellent climate for success.
Basepoint Business Centres provide a wide range of high quality office space and workshops designed for all kinds of small to medium businesses and having celebrated its second birthday all the offices, studios and workshops in the Newhaven Enterprise Centre have been filled, proof that the centre is a great success for the Newhaven business community.
However, this does not mean that there will be no availability as the ‘easy-in, easy-out’ rolling two week licence agreements are a major attraction, providing flexibility and avoiding the financial commitment of a long-term lease. People are free to stay as long as they like – or to leave with as little as two weeks’ notice.
The Centre itself is owned by Lewes District Council and is managed by Basepoint, a company with 25 similar centres around the country. Basepoint in turn is owned by the Act Foundation, a charity which match funds money raised by each Centre’s adopted charity.
“As a business Basepoint generates around half of the money the Act Foundation distributes in a year, it is a great feeling to know that we work for a company whose profits go into making a difference, whether it be a new tailor made wheelchair for a growing child or the entire new wing of a rehabilitation centre”
Claire & Kathryn who run the Centre are developing a waiting list, as Claire says “We can never be sure who will be leaving at the end of the month so we hope to keep in touch with anyone who thinks they might like to join us. There is a real buzz in the Centre nowadays which is good news for all the people working here. We have companies here who provide services for other businesses and it’s great to hear that they have gained new clients from within the building, it has become a real business community within the greater business community of Newhaven.”
The building, which was designed to house a wide variety of small businesses, has been home to more than fifty companies during the past two years. Some have moved in, moved into larger or smaller units, taken additional space and moved out and already a couple have returned as they had contracted but are now expanding again.
For many it represents the first step from the home office or garage into purpose-built premises. Others, who are not yet ready to move out of the home, have taken up the virtual licenses which provide many of the advantages of having an actual office, including a business address.
A variety of other groups and businesses have made use of the state of the art facilities including meeting and training rooms with a range of equipment from flip charts to the more high-tech smartboards, projectors, laptops and even video conferencing.
All sorts of events have been held there too, from car boot sales raising funds for the Family Centre’s special soft play area for small children with special needs to Newhaven Chamber’s AGM and various networking events and part of the recent climate change event ‘Isn’t it Bonkers?’
Impressively Claire & Kathryn have found time in their busy lives to raise funds for Children In Need, (Claire dressed in her pyjamas for the day), Macmillan Cancer Care (Kathryn ran in the London Marathon and the Centre joined in the recent BIG Coffee Morning) and local charity Searchlight, currently the Centre’s adopted charity.
If you want to know more about the Centre, contact Claire or Kathryn on 01273 615250 or email newhaven@basepoint.co.uk or visit their website www.basepoint.co.uk
Phil Lewin, Woody’s Bar & Grill / Golf at Peacehaven
As you drive east along the Brighton Road towards Newhaven you’ll find nestled on the top of a hill a building with flags hailing ‘Golf @ Peacehaven’, ‘Woody’s Bar & Grill’ and ‘Whites Fitness Suite’. It’s here that we meet the proprietor of this hidden gem and our interviewee for today, Phil Lewin.
Phil, a PGA Golf Professional himself, took on the previously member owned ‘Peacehaven Golf Course’ back in April 2007, and here he explains the thinking behind the concept of the three elements of the business that we see today.
After assessing the business models and understanding who their market audience was, Phil and his business partner, Ben Porter, tailored the 3 different business’s to what they believed their customers wanted. “We decided it had to be more than just a golf course so although we are committed to looking after our existing members we also needed to provide a brand new membership scheme where playing golf became more affordable for the whole community and based around the flexibility of paying a discounted fee only when they decide to play. We are also not ‘exclusive’, we welcome everyone, we don’t even have a dress code as such – look, I’m wearing jeans!
In developing the clubhouse to be more than just a building for golfers, we created ‘Woody’s Bar & Grill’ to attract breakfast, lunches, snacks and special functions and parties. It’s important to make people feel comfortable when they come here to eat and drink. A passer-by will not drop into a golf club for lunch so we had to make the dining experience separate from the golf so the décor of the lounge and restaurant reflect this message.”
There is also the well-equipped ‘Whites Fitness Suite’ which sets out to offer the most affordable and flexible membership scheme in the locality. With a set up of effectively three separate businesses, promotion of them is done independently. This makes them focused at attracting people to enjoy the restaurant or the gym without feeling they have to be members of the golf club.
As well as overseeing their Newhaven business, Phil and Ben run a golf academy business in Spain as well as a business providing GPS solutions for golf resorts across Europe and the Middle East. The GPS systems allow the golfer to view a graphic of each hole with exact distance information to all points on the course, such as the flag position and distances to all hazards whilst they are playing.
Phil has a refreshingly positive approach to business, though his feet are remain firmly on the ground, “As a business owner, what’s important right now is cash, cash and cash! If nothing else keep your eye on the cash flow every week and know your numbers. Also you should try and keep upping your game, bringing in new ideas and actually monitor the results.” Indeed Phil’s philosophy extends to his marketing and promotional activities, “try and make sure you are consistent in what you deliver and that the customer always has a good experience as possible.”
“Our customers are our most effective advertising, so if we care for them then there is a good chance that others will get to hear about us.”
An easy thing to say and sometimes hard to achieve but with this kind of enthusiasm and positivity it’s easy to see why the grass is green over here!
Further information:
Woody’s Bar & Grill
Brighton Road, Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 9UH
t: 01273 514049
e: henry@woodysbarandgrill.co.uk
www.woodysbarandgrill.co.uk
Events
RNLI tour and talk
Sunday 12th September 2010
Curry Night
Monday 13th September 2010
BBQ Breakfast
22nd September 2010
Denton Island Indoor Bowls Club - Open Weekend
Date: Saturday 25th – Sunday 26th September 2010
HR Talk - Sue Lucas Associates
Date: 14th October 2010
Veolia Talk
Thursday 11th November 2010
Xmas Dinner
Friday 3rd December 2010
Find out more >>>
Breakfast Club
The Newhaven Chamber of Commerce Networking Breakfast Club meets weekly and is an excellent way to meet new customers and suppliers for your business.
Forthcoming speakers:
8/9/2010 - John Lawrence, Tennyson Suite
15/9/2010 - Visitors Day, everyone welcome
22/9/2010 - David Poynter,
D K Poynter & Co.
29/9/2010 - Mike Steer, Payline
6/10/2010 - Richard Excell, Excell Design
3/11/2010 - David Foster Associates