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 see The Bavard Bar will know that it is a…
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 remained largely unaltered since the game’s inception in the early…
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 I was much younger I remember my mother being excited…
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 of unprecedented challenges with imagination and innovation and is emerging…
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. Over 200 years later, the digital revolution created similar sweeping…
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 right instead of left on Waterworks Road and you’re among…
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 designed and built in Hastings. Already creating an admiring buzz…
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 two things: its abundance of creativity and the kindness of…
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 my heart. It was about a lady who started an…
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 Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) study of almost 1,700 UK…