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Author: tasmin abh

Available Office Space – FE4

Posted on by tasmin abh

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.

Download Brochure

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Explore Enterprise Support Service

Posted on by tasmin abh

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.
Apply Now!

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Finding Your Business Idea

Posted on by tasmin abh

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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Next Services

Posted on by tasmin abh

Our Tenant Case Study: Next Services

Next Services is a specialist building services company, set up by Robert Brown, providing bespoke mechanical, electrical and renewable solutions.

 

After more than 18 years rising through the ranks of a mechanical and electrical engineering company, Robert decided to set up his own business and moved into Ards Business Hub in 2019. With a background working on large community projects, he was well-placed to work with some of the biggest companies in the UK and the company has gone from strength to strength and now employs seven people plus additional sub-contractors.

 

The company offers solutions to their clients including installation design and project management in the commercial and industrial sector. The team have years of experience and have worked in a huge range of sectors including health, education, commercial, accommodation, leisure and government.

 

Quite a number of their projects have been across the water in the UK. They have just completed a major year-long project for a client in the prestigious area of Deansgate in central Manchester where they refurbished an impressive, listed building. The ground and first await speculative restaurateurs and the second, third and fourth are bespoke fully fitted office turn key developments. Next Services provided all the building services, design, lighting, life services, heating, ventilation and facilities for this exceptional development.

 

“We take great pride in our work and it’s a fantastic sense of achievement to see the completed project and what we have been able to achieve for our clients,” Robert said. 

 

What they say about Ards Business Hub:

 

Robert chose Ards Business Hub as his company’s base because he was so impressed with the quality of the building, from the entry atrium area to the high-spec offices and airy meeting rooms.  

 

“It has a very professional quality that made us feel right at home. When we were first starting the business, we needed to have client meetings here and our offices needed to reflect the high quality of the work we do within this industry. We felt that Sketrick House was aligned with who we are as a business. We believe Ards Business Hub played an important part in our development and growth as a company,” he said.

 

What we say:

 

Next Services first took an office in Sketrick House as they established the company and then moved to a larger unit in Strangford Park, which has been fitted out and refurbished to include office and storage spaces. 

 

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive, Nichola Lockhart said: “Their professionalism and eye for detail shows in everything this company does. We are delighted to have watched the growth of Next Services over recent years. Our flexible licence agreements at Ards Business Hub allows tenants to move between sites quickly and easily as their business requirements change.”

 

Find out more about Next Services here!

Is Self-Employment for you?

Posted on by tasmin abh

Is Self-Employment for you?

By Ethan McCullough

Did you know that there are around 5 million self-employed people in the UK, making up 15% of the labour market? 


Self-employment is more common than it seems, and this could be the year you finally fulfil that ambition of becoming your own boss and being in control of your future/destiny! 

 
Successful Start-Up Characteristics

Successful start-ups are only successful with the right person or people behind it. As a budding entrepreneur, it is vital that you possess some, if not all, of the following characteristics:  

 

Self-belief – If you don’t believe in yourself and your business, then who will!  

Resilience – Not everything is going to work first time and that’s okay!   

(Did you know that Sir James Dyson developed more than 5,000 failed prototypes before landing on the right design, which became the fastest selling vacuum cleaner ever made in the UK?) 

Creativity – You must be innovative, imaginative and have the incentive to push your business forward with new ideas.  

Commitment – You get out what you put in! Like anything in life, the more effort you invest in your business, the more successful it will be! 

  

Pros and Cons of Self-Employment

Now let’s look at some of the pros and cons of self-employment. It is important to remember that self-employment isn’t all sunshine and rainbows! If it was, then we would all be making the switch!  

 

Pros 

+ Creative freedom  

+ Independence  

+ Job satisfaction  

+ Personal Development

  

Cons 

– Long hours  

– Social isolation  

– Unpredictable finances  

– Lack of employee benefits 

 

Most people are waiting for the ‘right time’ to become self-employed, but the truth is that there is no ‘right time.’ You can, and will, learn and develop skills as you go along provided you are doing it for the right reasons.  

 

A support network is vital in running your own business and here at Ards Business Hub, we can be with you every step of the way! 

 

 

 

To find out more, and enquire about our available Business Support, get in touch with us today!

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CS Circuit Design

Posted on by tasmin abh

Business Support Case Study

Caleb Smyth - CS Circuit Design

Meet the new businesses supported by Ards Business Hub: CS Circuit Design

 

Caleb Smyth, a highly trained and experienced electronics expert who has been designing circuit boards since 1997, set up his own company CS Circuit Design in January 2021. Caleb works on everything from basic circuit boards to very intricate microprocessors.

 

Most of his work is with start-up companies in Northern Ireland’s burgeoning high tech industry, producing prototype electronic parts that his clients can use to demonstrate viability to would-be investors. However, because of the quality of his work, he has also been commissioned to work on finished products.

 

Caleb possessed all the technical skills to run a thriving company but decided to build on his business skills. He was familiar with Ards Business Hub and knew some of the staff so he turned to them for mentoring and support. “I enjoy learning new skills and believe in networking and talking to people so the staff at Sketrick House were the ideal people to help me take my business idea further. The CEO, Nichola Lockhart, suggested I do the 6 Steps to Success in Business Course,” he said.

 

The course consists of six free workshops covering topics such as personal development, market research, marketing, financial planning, legal aspects and business planning.

 

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

 

“The course at Ards Business Hub was very good and opened my eyes to the complexities of running a business. I am still learning but this course set me on the right path, showing me the aspects I needed to know, such as cash flow, the legalities, how to acquire the right company insurance. It was really practical.

 

“I would highly recommend anyone looking for business support and advice to approach the people at Ards Business Hub. They are very skilled in what they do and go out of their way to support you at every stage of development.

 

“The business is going very well and I am very grateful to everyone at Sketrick House for helping me out.”

 

What we say:

 

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive, Nichola Lockhart said: “Caleb is a very skilled technician and when I heard that he was looking to set up his own business, I thought we could help. He is working in an area of business that is booming in Northern Ireland and it is fantastic to see him using his experience to contribute to innovative products and new ideas.”

 

To find out more click here!

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JSW Developments Ltd

Posted on by tasmin abh

Our Tenant Case Study: JSW

Meet our business: JSW Developments

 

JSW Developments, set up by Killinchy man Josh Wilson, is a specialist construction company working solely in the private health care sector.

 

After serving his time as a joiner, Josh Wilson decided to set up his own business in 2012 – he bought a van and worked from his parent’s living room. His knowledge of the healthcare construction sector and its strict regulations gave him a unique niche and as the business took off, he moved into offices at Ards Business Hub in early 2020 to accommodate his growing staff team.

 

When Covid struck, he found his services were in even greater demand as there was an increasing need for private healthcare. His projects include mental health facilities, private health centres, dentist surgeries, CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health) units and specialist education buildings. This means he continually needs to upskill to keep track of all the changing regulations from CQC (Care Quality Commission) and OFSTED. In recent years, he has also launched JSW Flooring Solutions, specialising in hygienic floor and wall coverings.

 

“We have to carefully consider every element of the construction, from wall coverings to fixtures and fittings. It is essential that the appropriate choices are made to not only provide the required level of robustness but also to create the right atmosphere for each facility,” he said.

 

“When I began my training as a joiner, I never would have envisioned how my career and business would have developed. I am passionate about what I do and how this can help people within a healthcare setting,” he said.

 

While all of the company’s work is in England, he chose to stay firmly rooted in the Ards Peninsula, travelling regularly with the easy transport links and convenience to the City Airport.

 

What they say about Ards Business Hub:

 

Josh said he chose Ards Business Hub for the flexibility of the space and the easy rolling month to month terms. He took a small office initially but has opted for one three times the size as he took on new staff.

 

“The bigger office future-proofs the business giving us plenty of space as we hope to continue to grow the team. I looked at lots of office locations. I didn’t want the hassle of being in Belfast and when we saw what Ards offered, it was no contest. We especially love the free parking, the clean, well-presented meeting rooms and communal areas and, of course, our fantastic office.”

 

What we say:

 

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive, Nichola Lockhart said: “JSW Developments shows how you can be based in Northern Ireland and trade successfully in Great Britain. This company is creating new jobs by adapting to the ever-changing needs of the health care sector.”

 

Find out more about JSW Developments at www.jswdevelopments.co.uk

Tenant Testimonial – Peter Magee ActionCoach

Posted on by tasmin abh

Tenant Testimonial - Peter Magee ActionCoach

One of our tenants at Sketrick House, Peter Magee from ActionCOACH Bangor had this to say about setting up his business here at Ards Business Hub…

 

“As soon as I walked in, I knew it was perfect for me. It’s very professionally run and has a lovely ambience that is very welcoming for my clients. In addition to the great office space, I needed conference rooms for seminars and other meetings and the space at Ards is truly first class.”

 

Thank you so much for the kind words, Peter! We are happy to have you with us at ABH!

 

To read the case study Peter completed with us, click here!
 

Find out more about ActionCOACH Peter Magee at: https://bangor.actioncoach.co.uk/meet-the-team/

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Nordica Design

Posted on by tasmin abh

Our Tenants Case Study: Nordica Design

Ryan Irvine started Nordica Design in early 2022 and has moved into a unit at Strangford Park in Ards Business Hub.


Meet our business:

Nordica Design is an exciting new multi-faceted company with an amazing pool of creative talent spanning design, specialist joinery and shopfitting working on a range of projects across the UK and Ireland.

Started by Ryan Irvine who has 12 years’ design and joinery experience, the company designs and creates furniture, displays and other units for exhibitions, events, commercial and residential interiors, shops and television and movie sets. In just a short time, they’ve made a big impact and this year were shortlisted for two IDI (Institute of Designers in Ireland) awards for two projects for Singer Porsche and Copeland Distillery.

“It’s been an incredibly busy year and we are working hard to fulfil the many projects that have come in from a vast network of clients. Our industry was really hit during Covid, so it’s great to see things returning to normal again,” he said.


Why he chose Ards Business Hub:

“I was specifically seeking a starter unit of about 1000 square feet with a roller shutter but nothing was available. The team at Ards Business Hub took my details and promised to ring when something came up and I was delighted when it did.”

“I really like the convenient location with easy access to the motorways to get to both Belfast and Dublin. Plus, the units are secure and in good condition.”


What we say:

Nichola Lockhart, Chief Executive of Ards Business Hub, said: “Nordica Design is an exciting new company that takes the ideas expressed by their clients and then turns them into a reality whether that’s for the domestic or commercial market. Their skills in design and building are second to none and we were delighted that just the right unit came up at the right time for them.”


Find out more about Nordica Design go to www.nordicadesign.ie

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Uniform Store NI

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Our Tenant Case Study: Uniform Store NI

Meet our businesses: Uniform Store NI

Uniform Store NI is a growing business that has been well established in the Ards area for many years. Previously known as Crawford Embroidery, Business owner Stephen McVeigh has a shop on the High Street in Newtownards but has taken a unit in Ards Business Hub’s Strangford Park in order to develop the embroidery and online sales sides of his business.

An increasing number of customers buy school uniforms online and Uniform Store NI supplies both uniforms and PE kits for approximately 40 schools. In addition, the company provides embroidering, not only for school uniforms but for many other local businesses.

“Once a child has tried on their first uniform, parents know how to go up the sizes as their children grow. During the pandemic, customers got used to buying everything online and this has led to a huge increase in sales for us. We plan to take on an additional three full-time people as well as casual summer staff during the peak buying periods so this dedicated space will give us room to grow,” Stephen McVeigh said.


What they say about Ards Business Hub:

Uniform Store NI needed a space large enough for its embroidery machinery and the extensive stock of uniforms, PE Kits and leavers’ hoodies. Stephen explains that he was keen to keep the company in the local area and was delighted when a unit became available at Ards Business Hub.

“The unit had everything we needed with a partitioned office and enough space on the floor for the machinery. It also has easy access for deliveries and handy parking. I really like the friendliness here and the team have been so helpful,” he added.


What we say:

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive, Nichola Lockhart said: “Uniform Store NI is a recognised brand on the High Street in Ards and we are delighted to be part of their journey as they expand their online business. By focusing on this area of growth, they have the potential to create new jobs and build the business even further.”

 

Find out more about The Uniform Store NI at www.uniformstoreni.co.uk/

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

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