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Author: Ards Business Hub

Property Rental – Strangford Park

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Sitting proudly at the foot of Scrabo Tower is Strangford Park.

 

We have an exciting office space available to rent within Strangford Park; this 240 square foot office is ideally suited to a client-facing office environment.

 

This contemporary office is located within the Administration Block of the park and offers a modern, bright space to ambitious business owners. With free car parking, use of a kitchen and a breakout area and access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

To find out more, complete our Property Enquiries form and Angela, our Property & Conference Co-ordinator, will be in contact with you.

 

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‘6 Steps To Business Success’ Case Study – Kiri Cottage Crafts

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We love to hear success stories from past participants of our Workshops.  Christine Casey recently attended our ‘6 Steps To Business Success’ course and her business, Kiri Cottage Crafts, is growing day by day – read her story here.

 

Please introduce yourself.
 
My name is Christine Casey, and I live on the Ards Peninsula, between Kircubbin and Portaferry. I learned to knit over 50 years ago, and have been on a quest to learn new crafts ever since then! I also coach horse riding, and practice a range of equine and human bodywork and energy work.
 
What is the journey of your success in to business?
 
My Grandmother, Mother and Aunt were all knitters and crocheters.  My Grandmother knit and sold Aran jerseys to America in the 1960s and 70s, and could turn her hand to nearly any textile craft. Between the three of them they taught me to knit and crochet and gave me every encouragement to learn more crafts. I learned to spin at the ‘Womens’ College ‘ in Belfast (sadly closed a long time ago), in the early 80s, and have been spinning ever since. I have demonstrated spinning at various venues for a number of years and started to teach friends to spin, then became a member of the then Ards Council Creative Peninsula collective which opened up more demonstration and teaching opportunities. More recently I attended the Ards Business Hub excellent ‘Go for it’ programme, and was subsequently assigned a mentor to help me write a business plan. Ards and North Down Council have been very supportive in helping me to create and advertise ‘craft experiences’, and the DAERA Rural Development Cluster group also, in offering opportunities to benchmark with successful experience providers, and in funding the development of a website. To date, with this support, I have run a number of successful, fun workshops where participants have learned to spin, use a peg loom, and make friendship bracelets, amongst other things.
 
Tell us more about your business?
 
As a crafter, I am keen that the knowledge and skills of traditional crafts are retained and actively practiced. I hope to achieve this by running classes, providing demonstrations and talks. I have a small workshop at home where I run half and full day workshops, and am happy to go to other venues to run bespoke events for groups. My key crafts workshops are knitting, spinning, peg loom weaving, and crochet. I have also offered workshops to learn how to create a ‘book angel’ using a paper folding technique; a ‘weaving in a nature’ experience, using natural fibres and foliage; friendship/pony bead bracelets, and I am planning to offer workshops to create mandalas, dream catchers and ‘God’s Eyes’ (good luck charms). The list will increase as I learn more, and as I am asked to run workshops using different crafting skills.
 
Who would you say has offered you the greatest support in your business journey?
 
All of the above! Hard to single any one person or organisation out – from my family, through to the local and central government programs – support has always been there and I am very grateful for it.
 
What goals do you have for the business 3 years from now?
 
To run an ever increasing range of craft workshops on a regular basis, sufficient to allow me to retire from my ‘main stream’ work, and have a little extra finance to reinvest in yet more skills, equipment and supplies.
 
How did your experience on the 6 steps programme help you on your business journey?
 
It was a really good first step. The material was very clear, with as much practical help as I could possibly ask for. It was well structured within the 6 modules, and delivered over a 3 week period which helped to keep me connected to what I was learning. The mentor was excellent and the business and financial plans that she developed for me were first class – well above my expectations.
 
If you could offer advice to anyone thinking of starting a business, what would it be?
 
Attend this program! Take your time, do one thing at a time and don’t rush into starting.
 
How did you find your experience with Ards Business Hub?
Excellent.
 
Find further information on Kiri Cottage Crafts visit their website www.kiricottage.co.uk.  Ards Business Hub thank Christine for her participation and wish her the best for the future.
 
Our next ‘6 Steps To Business Success’ course commences on 7th June 2022.  Register your interest here.
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Have you ever wanted to be your own boss? Look no further and sign up to our 6 steps to Business Success Workshop now!

Posted on by Ards Business Hub

Have you ever wanted to be your own boss? Had a business idea but stuck with what steps to take to make it a reality? Do you live in the Ards & North Down borough?

Due to demand and in partnership with Rosemary Morrison from Directus we have another session of our ‘6 Steps To Business Success’ Workshops commencing on 7th June 2022 – free of charge.

Don’t delay – limited spaces available.  Complete this form to register your interest today and secure your place!

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Looking for an innovative meeting space?

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Ideally located 20 minutes from Belfast, with free on site parking, we have a range of meeting spaces available with everything on site to ensure a stress free and enjoyable experience.

 

Free tea or coffee provided with every booking and a full catering menu available on request.

 

Contact Angela, our Property & Conference Co-ordinator, today on 02891 819787 for further information.

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Meet Our Tenant – Lauren Pinkney

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Lauren commenced her tenancy with Ards Business Hub in June 2021 and is located at Strangford Park.  Find out more about her below: –

 

Please introduce yourself.
I’m Lauren and I’m the owner of Lauren Pinkney Health and Fitness Ltd.

 

What is your business and when was it established?
I offer a variety of small group training sessions as well as 1-2-1 personal training from a private studio. I started my business in 2016 and secured my own premises last year.

 

Why did you start your own business?
I wanted to help others see how beneficial exercise can be for their mental and physical health, making it accessible for all and make it less intimidating. Having my own business allows me to do this to the best my abilities and give my clients what they need – opposed to them adapting to a gym, I can adapt for them.

 

Who would be your clientele?
I have 3 main areas of clientele and find these often overlap:

Mental and physical health conditions including cardiac rehabilitation, MS, PTSD.

Pre and post natal clients (pregnant and new mums)

Females who want to train in a safe, comfortable and friendly environment with likeminded individuals.

 

What have been your hardest challenges and/or greatest achievements?

Challenges would most definitely be Covid and how it impacted our industry… but positively, Covid, has created a tighter sense of community amongst clients, support encouragement and a sense of wellbeing and achievement that are needed now more than ever. I’m proud of how welcoming, supportive and encouraging all my clients are towards each other in and outside of the gym. There has been some true friendships made.

 

What’s next for your business?
I would like to continue and expand my portfolio of charities and other organisations I work with to provide programmes for them and their users.

 

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I hated P.E. in Secondary School… look what I do now and I love it.

 

If you would like to get in touch with Lauren email laurenpinkneyhealthandfitness@gmail.com .

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Meet Our Team – Lucy Hare

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Meet Lucy!

Name
Lucy Hare.
Business Role
Facilities Coordinator.
What do you do at Ards Business Hub?
All things maintenance & H & S for tenants, across the 3 sites.
What do you enjoy about the work you do?
The diversity of the day-to-day challenges, liaising with tenants and building a rapport with the ultimate satisfaction of a job well done. I love nothing more than a place of business looking smart and inviting and of course safe for everyone involved.
What motivates you in work?
Results – Love to see things through from start to a satisfying end.
What is your favourite thing to do when not working?
Chill in the garden with family, a glass of something long and cold and an exotic BBQ (weather allowing) 🤣.
What is one interesting thing about you that most people do not know?
I have recently returned from the Algarve where I lived and worked for 17 years.
What’s your favourite famous or inspirational quote?
Everything happens for a reason!
If you could have dinner with one person, past or present, who would you choose – and why?
My Grandmother – her wealth of knowledge and experiences through trying times was incredible. She died 8 years ago aged 103.

Contact Lucy on info@ardsbusiness.com.

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Meet Our Team – Amanda Speers

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Meet the Amazing Amanda!

Name

Amanda Speers

Business Role

Administrative Assistant – Job Share Position

What do you do at Ards Business Hub?

All aspects of Administration, answering the phone, meeting and greeting visitors to the site. Making everyone that walks through ABH doors feel welcome!

What do you enjoy about the work you do?

Varied roles and meeting people.

What motivates you in work?

Challenges, and problem solving.

What is your favourite thing to do when not working?

Walking my 8 month German Shepherd and playing with my son.

What is one interesting thing about you that most people do not know?

I own 2 goats, 2 fish, 1 Dog and 1 Cat and soon to get some rescue hens to add to my menagerie.
What’s your favourite famous or inspirational quote?

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana

If you could have dinner with one person, past or present, who would you choose – and why?

My Grandad, he always had wise words and wisdom and also made me laugh.

Contact Amanda on info@ardsbusiness.com 

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Need a room for your next meeting or conference?

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Affordable, professional Rooms to Hire!

Looking for a venue to host your next meeting or conference?

With views of Scrabo Tower, Ards Business Hub’s Sketrick House offers the perfect location.   Whether you want to book a room for an hour, half day, full day or even for an evening, we’ve got you covered!

To book: Simply complete this form and a member of our team will be in touch.

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Mental Health Awareness Workshop

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At Ards Business Hub it’s imperative that we recognise and encourage positive health and wellbeing for our 74 tenants and their staff.

 

Terry Gorman (tag) from Talking Therapy NI (tag) delivered a free Mental Health Awareness Workshop for our tenants to attend, here in Sketrick House.

 

The aim of this workshop was to raise the awareness of mental health issues in the workplace & to promote the importance of looking after the mental health of staff & volunteers.

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Contact Us

Ards Business Hub
Sketrick House
16 Jubilee Road
Newtownards
Co. Down
BT23 4YH

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