HB Safety Consultancy

HB Safety Consultancy

HBSC is a thriving safety consultancy formed by Hayley Burgess

Meet our business:

 

HBSC Ltd was founded in 2011 by highly experienced consultant Hayley Burgess, who was the first woman in Northern Ireland to receive third party accreditation from the IFE (Institution of Fire Engineers).

 

From their base in Sketrick House, the four-person team look after clients across the whole of the UK and Ireland offering health and safety risk management and training as well as fire safety.

 

“I did my Master’s degree part-time while also working full-time as a supermarket manager. Since then, I’ve wanted to continue to build my skills and knowledge and share them with my clients,” she said.

 

All the consultants are highly qualified, continually updating their skills to keep up with modern legislation. For example, Hayley is not only a Registered Fire Risk Assessor (Life Safety) with the Institution of Fire Engineers, she is also a Chartered Fellow Member of The Institution of Occupational Safety & Health (IOSH) and listed on the Occupational Safety & Health Consultant’s Register (OSHCR). 

 

What they say about Ards Business Hub:

 

HBSC moved into offices at Sketrick House in December 2022 as the company was growing and needed additional office space for their admin team. Hayley had been providing Health and Safety support to Ards Business Hub so she immediately knew the location would suit her and her team.

 

Because she travels extensively, she wanted handy road links and proximity to Belfast City Airport as well as free, convenient parking.

 

“It’s the professional atmosphere at Ards Business Hub that really stands out. If we have training sessions or clients visiting, we know that they will enjoy visiting us here,” she said.

 

What we say:

 

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive, Nichola Lockhart said: “This is a well-established business that delivers a first class health and safety service across the UK and Ireland. Hayley Burgess is blazing a trail for women in this most specialised of fields and provides a great example that should encourage more women to enter the health and safety and risk management profession.”

 

Find out more about HBSC.

Meet our Tenants

Meet our Tenants at Nendrum Park

Would you like to know more about the fabulous tenants that are located at Ards Business Hub?

Click on the image below and explore an interactive map of Nendrum Park.

 

Need help using the map?

 

Once you click on the image below it will open up as a pdf in a new tab.

Click on any of the location icon’s and you will be directed to the tenant’s website or social media platform!

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Mike’s Fancy Cheese

Our Tenant Case Study: Mike's Fancy Cheese

Mike’s Fancy Cheese has been at Ards Business Hub since the company was first started by Michael Thomson a decade ago.

 

When Belfast man Michael Thomson first got the idea of making his own cheese, he knew that Newtownards was the perfect location. To make great cheese, you need the best milk, so after getting plenty of advice from the team at Clandeboye Estate Yogurt – who were also based at Ards Business Hub for many years – Mike found two nearby dairy farmers to supply his new business.

 

He went to England to study cheese-making in 2012 and then ran a successful crowdfunding campaign to get the business off the ground. He moved into a unit at the Hub’s Strangford Park to start making Young Buck, his signature blue cheese, made to a recipe that started from a book called Practical Cheesemaking that was published in 1917.

 

The cheese was a massive success and he and his team – three full time and one part time – now make enough cheese to sell to suppliers throughout Northern Ireland, Ireland, the UK and Europe as well as selling direct to customers in a shop in Belfast and online, mainly by subscription. The shop and the online business also carry an extensive range of Irish cheeses.

 

“When I started the business, I had a good idea that the cheese would be a success. There was no one else in Northern Ireland producing a cheese like it. And no cheeseboard is complete without a blue. At the very start we sold the cheese at pop up events and festivals but now about 70 per cent is sold wholesale,” he said.

 

What they say about Ards Business Hub:

 

For Mike the location was key to his choice to move to Ards. The positive recommendation by long-term tenant Clandeboye Yogurt – which has only recently moved to its own premises – helped cement the decision. Mike’s Fancy Cheese has now taken on a second unit in the park as it plans for growth – either increasing its production or trialling a brand-new cheese.

 

Mike said: “We absolutely love it here and I honestly don’t think we could have done it anywhere else. Not only are we close to our suppliers but the units are perfect the needs of a food production business. We make cheese three or four days a week, and this is such a nice, relaxed atmosphere in which to work.”

 

What we say:

 

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive, Nichola Lockhart said: “Mike’s Fancy Cheese has become one of Northern Ireland’s food heroes. Mike had such conviction in his product and he and his team work hard to continually develop the business. We are delighted that they chose to start their story here at Ards Business Hub.”

 

 

Find out more about Mike’s Fancy Cheese here.

Black Modern Media Productions

Business Support Case Study

Dean Black - Black Modern Media Productions

Meet the new businesses supported by Ards Business Hub: Black Modern Media Productions

 

Dean Black, the CEO of Black Modern Media Productions, has always had a passion for gaming, which led him to develop an interest in digital content creation and website design.

 

The ICT graduate from Bangor found himself pursuing a career in customer service for ten years, but after a period at home with his fiancé who was expecting their son, he realised that his work-life balance was wrong and he wanted to pursue his dream of running his own digital media company.

 

He had worked on various content creation projects with companies, providing photography and videography to help with their online brand profiles and his work began to get noticed.

 

“It was then that a very close friend of mine introduced me to a potential customer that was looking for some content creation and marketing for their business and had been impressed with my work. On that day, Black Modern Media Productions was born,” he said.

 

Dean had the skills to create fantastic online content but needed to learn the basics of running his own business. He contacted Go For It NI and they put them in touch with a business advisor based at Ards Business Hub.

 

What he said about the business start programme at Ards Business Hub:

 

“The service provided by Ards Business Hub was fantastic. They showed me how to secure the funding to buy essential camera and office equipment and helped me every step of the way to develop my business plan.

 

“The advisors continue to provide me with advice, equipping me with the financial skills to run the business. They are continually sending me links to any classes or networking events that would help me grow the company. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.”

 

“The business is going from strength to strength and I’m flat out working for a range of companies. As well as working with companies in Northern Ireland, work takes me to London, Dublin, Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh.”

 

What we say:

 

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive, Nichola Lockhart said: “Dean is a perfect example of someone who is harnessing his passion and interests to create a highly successful new business. Content creation is a fast growing industry in Northern Ireland and we look forward to helping him as much as we can in the future.”

 

Find out more about Black Modern Media Productions here.

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McCoubrey Property Management

Business Support Case Study

Matthew McCoubrey - McCoubrey Property Management

Meet the new business supported by Ards Business Hub: McCoubrey Property Management

 

Newtownards man Matthew McCoubrey spent 20 years in the building trade before deciding to set up his own business in November 2021.

 

Matthew had been doing a range of jobs for years, helping homeowners maintain the interior and exterior of their properties and two years ago he made the decision to go out on his own. He offers assistance maintaining and improving the home, including repairs and painting and decorating and much more.

 

He contacted Louise Davidson from the Go For It programme at Ards Business Hub, who gave him the advice he needed to start and run his own business.

 

“I’m now working six or seven days a week, as word of mouth has been excellent for my business. Twenty years of experience working in construction has given me the skills to do a really good job. I believe that preparation is one of the most important factors in producing good quality work,” he said.

 

What he said about the business start programme at Ards Business Hub:

 

“I decided to contact the team at Ards Business Hub to find out about Go For It and I received a lot of help in how to register the business and put all the legal requirements in place. I learned how to balance my books and get them ready to send to my accountant.

 

“Staff at Ards Business Hub have been helping me with the social media side of things, how to promote my business using the available channels. I have been in constant contact with them and it has been brilliant.

 

“They have been a great help and have made life a lot easier for me.”

 

What we say:

 

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive, Nichola Lockhart said: “Matthew is using his 20 years of experience in the building trade to ‘build’ an excellent new business. His attention to detail and willingness to learn all of the tools to setting up and running a new company means he has built a secure foundation for the future. We look forward to seeing how his business grows and thrives in the years to come.”

 

Find out more about McCoubrey Property Management by going to their Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/McCoubreyProperty/

 

Available Office Space – AB6 & AB7

Available Office Space

We have two new available office spaces at Strangford Park;

 

Office Space: AB6
Size: 300 sq ft
Rent (Ex VAT): £300.23

 

Office Space: AB7
Size: 300 sq ft
Rent (Ex VAT): 330.23

 

Would you like to find out more about our available unit? Please complete our Property Enquiry Form, and someone from our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

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Available Office Space – FE4

Available Office Space

Are you a small business owner in need of an office space to start expanding your business?
 

Sketrick House takes pride in its prime location, nestled at the base of the iconic Scrabo Tower. This cutting-edge office building offers a contemporary, well-lit environment, tailored to meet the needs of forward-thinking business owners.

 

We have a new office available at Sketrick House.

 

Unit: FE4
Size: 450 sq ft
Rent (Ex VAT): £430.70

 

Would you like to find out more about our available unit? Please complete our Property Enquiry Form, and someone from our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

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Explore Enterprise Support Service

Northern Ireland (NI) Explore Enterprise Support Service

The Northern Ireland (NI) Explore Enterprise Support Service is a new initiative delivered by Enterprise Northern Ireland in partnership with The Princes Trust NI which provides self-employment or employment support to economically inactive individuals across Northern Ireland.

 

This is a free service that provides an insight into starting a business or allows you to take the first steps to gaining employment.  You do not need to have a business idea to join.

 

The NI Explore Enterprise Support Service offers mentoring and training at a pace tailored to your needs and you have the opportunity to work towards achieving a level 2 qualification.
 
Our experienced Business Mentors will support participants through a range of activities including:
  • One-to-one tailored mentoring and guidance
  • Workshops and Level 2 training
  • Support from the wider ecosystem
 
To be eligible for this service you must be:
  • Aged 16 or over
  • Economically Inactive (those not in employment who have not been seeking work within the last 4 weeks and/or are unable to start work within the next 2 weeks)

 

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

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Available Office Space – C5

Available Office Space

Are you a small business owner in need of an office space to start expanding your business?

 

Strangford Park offers a range of industrial units, with sizes ranging from 330 to 1600 square feet, and office spaces ranging from 60 to 450 square feet, catering to the needs of start-up and SME businesses across various sectors.

 

Our commercial units can be customised to meet your specific requirements, and all come equipped with essential amenities like electricity and water connections at the point of entry.

 

When it comes to our office spaces at Strangford Park, you can expect a clean and professional environment featuring carpeted floors, freshly painted walls, power sockets, telephone points, and efficient Economy 7 Heating.

 

We currently have one available unit at Strangford Park;

Unit: C5
Size: 1030 sq ft
Rent (Ex VAT): £426.59

 

Would you like to find out more about our available unit? Please complete our Property Enquiry Form, and someone from our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible.

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Finding Your Business Idea

Finding Your Business Idea

By Ethan McCullough

One of the most common conversations I have with people is how they have always dreamt of starting their own business but are unsure of what to do.  However, most of the time the answer is much more obvious than it seems, and all it takes is a bit of self-reflection!

 

Firstly, think of any skills you have, including very specific skills as well as broader ones. (Read our blog post on Self-Employment to learn more about these skills) How might these be applied to a business idea? Then, consider what you are passionate about. This is important because this passion will help weather the potentially challenging times as you start your business. For instance, if you are excellent at woodworking and passionate about vintage furniture, a good business idea might be a furniture restoration service.

 

Next, study the environment around you, including your job, daily life, and hobbies. What problems do you encounter that are not currently being solved? Consider how you’re business idea might solve any problems you’ve found in a way that taps into your knowledge, skills and passions.  If your hobby is to hike, for example, you could start a hiking gear rental company or a hiking tour company.

 

The next place any entrepreneur should look when coming up with new business ideas is their own network of family and friends. After all, these are the people who know you best and will be most likely to support your new venture. By asking those closest to you for ideas, you’ll not only get some great suggestions, but you’ll also get an idea of what kind of business would be a good fit for your skills. Your friends and family will also have very different perspectives than you. They have their situations they deal with every day that you may not have thought of.

 

A great way to come up with new business ideas is to think about ways you could make existing tasks easier or more efficient. For example, let’s say you’re a real estate agent. You could come up with a service that helps people find their dream home by doing all the research for them. By thinking about ways to make everyday tasks easier, you’ll be able to come up with plenty of new business ideas that have the potential to be successful without all the mental effort.

 

There are millions of business ideas out there. Here at Ards Business Hub, we can provide you with the skills to become your own boss. If you are interested in starting a business, but unsure where to begin, contact one of the business support team to discuss how to turn an idea into a reality.

 

 

 

To find out how you can turn your dream of being a small business owner into a reality, get in touch with us today!

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