Archives for Business - Page 2
End of the line?
To the horror of enthusiasts and holiday makers alike, Britain’s heritage railways, steam museums and traction engine rallies are facing a possibly terminal shortage of their essential fuel: coal. The…
Lightning strike
Full fibre broadband is coming to town. Since the 1990s when the internet first became commonplace in UK homes and workplaces, web technology has consistently developed faster than the services…
Using Instagram for business in 2022
By Benn Stanley Let’s start with some, quite frankly, staggering statistics for Instagram and let them sink ; As of January 2022, there were over billion Instagram users worldwide and…
John Bray
Standing the test of time By Ben Cornwell John Bray Estate Agents has been managing and selling houses in Hastings since 1872, making the company as old as the FA…
The Elephant in the Town Turning trees into tables
Elephant Timber Supplies is a small, specialist business supplying bespoke furniture makers and the general public with a unique selection of soft and hard woods. Located in a quiet corner…
New companies make good
Damien Pestell, owner of Be Your Business brings news of a local business expanding, the launch of a mobile shoe shop for kids and how a local company is using…
Charity shops
From humble beginnings to an important part of the high street By Rachel Holtom There are currently well over 11,000 charity shops in the UK, employing around 26,000 paid staff…
Natural connections
Damien Pestell, from Be Your Business meets Luke from Project Rewild and finds out how he found his true nature. I grew up in the 1980’s in the heart…
Journey to Freedom
Damien Pestell, meets Tim from The Bavard Bar and finds out about his journey from the courtroom to the stage and his search for freedom. Those who have been to…
Turning willow into winners
How Hasting supplies cricketers with bespoke bats. Although you’d be hard pressed to find its location, Hastings is home to England’s newest cricket bat manufacturer, GB Willow. Cricket bats have…
The Return of Provenance
Damien Pestell, owner and founder of Be Your Business, reflects on the return of provenance and meets Vedat Demiralp from Coban rugs, perhaps a role model for future business. When…
Keep on dancing
How Hastings School of Contemporary Dance survived tough times. The pandemic hit small businesses hard, particularly those in the arts sector. Fortunately one at least has responded to a succession…
New ways of working
By Damien Pestell During the 18th century the Industrial revolution changed the world, bringing wholesale changes, both economic and social. A huge, life-altering upheaval for those who lived through it.…
A Community of Makers
How The Yard supports small enterprises It’s a fair bet that a many Hastings’ residents don’t know of The Yard’s existence – despite passing the entrance when visiting Morrisons. Turn…
Light enough to travel
Boat building in a town with no harbour A boat so light it can be towed behind a bicycle. A boat that can be lifted with one hand. A boat…
New Creative Ventures
Damien Pestell, owner and founder of Be Your Business, meets four people who have started new creative businesses in Hastings. Since I moved to Hastings I have been struck by…
The Green, Green Shoots of Lockdown
Damien Pestell, owner and founder of ‘Be Your Business’ meets three local businesses which started up during the time of coronavirus. I read a wondrous story last week that warmed…
Small business confidence rebounds as shops re-open across Sussex
Close to two thirds (58%) of small businesses expect their performance to improve this quarter, and fewer than one in three (31%) expect theirs will worsen, according to the latest…
SEISS Round 4
If you are self-employed, HMRC should be contacting you about round 4 of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). This covers the period from 1 February to 30 April 2021.…
Support for women in business as Her Biz contract is confirmed for another year
It has been confirmed that business support organisation, Let’s Do Business Group will deliver Her Biz for another year. NatWest has agreed to continue supporting the programme following its success…
Filing your tax return early
We have now reached the start of a new tax year, one unlike any other. Whilst taxpayers have until 31st January 2022 to file their 2020/21 tax return, there may…
Broadband provider Lightning Fibre confirms Hastings rollout
Having announced a multi-million pound funding partnership with leading infrastructure and private equity investment manager, Foresight Group LLP, Lightning Fibre has confirmed full fibre installation across Hastings has started, eventually…
Employment and Support Allowance (income related) and earnings
By Judy Scott One in four people in Hastings are relying on benefits. Many are in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) because of health problems. If you get…
Hastings Tilts towards the Positive
By Nick Pelling One might think that anyone who set up new business in Hastings in the last 18 months, given the serial lockdowns, might now be feeling the truth…
Universal Credit and earnings
By Judy Scott One in four people in Hastings of working age are currently relying on benefits. Most are in receipt of Universal ; Earning is allowed. All claimants need…
Change to Tax Return “Deadline”
By the time you are reading this, the 31st January 2021 deadline for filing 2019/20 personal tax returns will have passed. In any normal year, this would mean that anyone…
Indys Are OPEN!
Food businesses are adapting quickly to drastically different circumstances and needs. Many now sell a wider range of goods and are doing deliveries – for the first time or on…
The HIP #ShopLocal List
During this second lockdown, HIP would love to support local shops offering delivery/online shopping during November with a #shoplocal list. Stay off Amazon and shop local for Christmas! If you…
Tier 2 restrictions and Covid support
RestrictionsWith the second lockdown ended, the entirety of East Sussex is being placed in Tier 2 restrictions. This means that, despite Hastings itself having relatively low rates of infection, it…
New Council grant scheme for local businesses
Hastings Borough Council has finalised its Additional Restrictions Grant scheme for businesses, and applications are now open. This scheme is a discretionary scheme, which means that although the funding has…
Support Local
With Christmas fast approaching and retailers soon to open fully, East Sussex designers have responded to an appeal to help from leading business organisations, The Alliance of Chambers of East…
Eveleigh & Read
Based in Hastings Town Hall, Eveleigh & Read are a local bespoke tailor. The business is run by Paul Read, who has retained the full name despite his original business…
Dual Job Support Schemes
Due to government announcements on 31st October, these schemes have been deferred and the furlough scheme will continue for now. The Chancellor had previously announced the Job Support Scheme that…
Redundancy Payments
The two Job Support Schemes are intended to help employers keep paying their employees, albeit likely reduced amounts. However, it is inevitable that some businesses will be so badly hit…
Chancellor’s Winter Economy Plan
Chancellor Rishi Sunak decided to abandon his planned Autumn Budget Statement. Instead, he announced several new support schemes to help the economy through the expected second ; PICTURE: SrikanthPeetha/nsplash Job…
New Kickstart Scheme
Barring any new announcements, the furlough scheme to support employers through lockdown will finish at the end of October. In the interim the Chancellor has announced two new schemes to…
Tax Questions & Answers
I am an employee, but I pay my own professional subscriptions. Is there any way of claiming these costs back and reducing my tax bill? Whilst most tax matters for…
The Prince Albert
In early 2019, Hastings-born Matt and his wife Trisala Tassell-Dawson were looking for a new challenge. But then, travelling down Queens Road one day, he spotted the ‘for sale’ sign…
Starting Self-Employment
As their employers suffer in the current pandemic and the furlough scheme winds down, some employees have found themselves being made redundant. Many will look for other employment but others…
‘Eat Out to Help Out’ Now Live
As the lockdown starts to ease and businesses are opening up again, some businesses are finding it harder to bounce back than others. One of the hardest hit business sectors…