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People HQ

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Our Tenant Case Study: People HQ

Meet our business: People HQ Ltd

 

Greg Quinn started People HQ, a consultancy offering expert Human Resources and Recruitment solutions, in 2019. Greg wanted to share his 25 years of HR leadership experience working in industry and has been adding value to clients such as Linden Foods, Dale Farm, Downeys Cars, On Track Technicians and Avondale Foods.

 

People HQ take a holistic approach to business and people strategy, helping their clients by providing ‘HR Solutions’ that support business owners and senior management teams. Services offered include Fractional HR Director Support to help develop and deliver a HR Strategy, Retained HR Support to support day to day HR matters, Management Development Programmes and HR Best Practice Workshops to help build capability across teams. Recruitment support is offered for key salaried roles.

 

Greg and his team know that its ‘people’ that makes a business great, hence the name People HQ!

 

“People are at the heart of everything we do. Our aim is to help businesses achieve their goals by offering a full service that supports the team. Each client has a different requirement; be it recruiting the best talent, providing on-going support to businesses that don’t have an HR department or developing a growing management team. We look at what each business needs and see how we can help them get the best for and from their people.” he said.

 

What they say about Ards Business Hub:

 

People HQ originally had an office in the centre of Newtownards but wanted a larger space to give them room to grow. “We had been searching for just the right location. When a unit came up in Sketrick House in Ards Business Hub in October 2022, I was delighted. It is exactly what we need as the business grows,” Greg said.

 

“I particularly like the meeting and conference rooms, which are ideal for our training work. The centre is very professional; it creates a strong impression for our clients and enhances our own brand,” he added.

 

What we say:

 

Nichola Lockhart, CEO of Ards Business Hub, said: “Greg and his associates have a wealth of experience in the HR and Recruitment industry.  They take a people-centric approach and adapt to the needs of their clients. Their expertise and understanding of how to support teams and develop talent are invaluable to their clients.”

 

Find out more about People HQ here: www.peoplehq.co.uk

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Nightcap Event Group LTD

Posted on by tasmin abh

Our Tenant Case Study: Nightcap Event Group LTD

Declan Holmes and Dean McFarland are joint owners of Nightcap Event Group Ltd.

Meet our businesses:

Nightcap Event Group Ltd provides drinks and cocktail services for weddings, corporate events, private parties and hospitality businesses as well as providing highly trained hospitality and events staff for venues.

Lifelong friends Declan and Dean came up with the idea to make and serve cocktails at events in 2013. Over the past nine years, the business grew, expanding to a wider range of drinks events – including a bespoke gin bar where people build their own cocktails – but also creating an agency providing highly trained people for hospitality venues.

“After Covid, staffing became a huge issue for so many venues but we have on our books 150 people who are trained and skilled casual hospitality and events staff who we can send to prestigious venues across Northern Ireland affected by shortages in the labour market,” Declan said.

Why they chose Ards Business Hub:

Ards Business Hub is very convenient and provides a great arterial route into Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland. In addition, they were looking for a space with a ground floor for their equipment and a mezzanine level for offices.

“Ards Business Hub is perfect for us. We have a great space at Strangford Park which provides an office and stores plus we can use the conference rooms for staff training, which is very important. We’ve also had excellent support and advice from the team at Ards Business Hub, which will help us continue to grow,” said Declan.

What we say:

Nichola Lockhart, Chief Executive of Ards Business Hub, said: “Nightcap Event Group Ltd is a dynamic, inventive and growing business, which is meeting the challenges of a difficult economic climate by diversifying and changing its business plan.  Declan and Dean quickly saw that the hospitality industry was suffering from staff shortages and set up an agency to meet that need.”

To find out more about the Nightcap Event Group Ltd go to: https://nightcapeventgroup.com/

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Hara at Home

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Our Tenant Case Study: Hara at Home

Meet our business: Hara at Home

Hara at Home is a new gourmet delivery ‘meal at home’ business created by Roz and Andy Turner, chefs who have worked in some of the best Michelin-starred restaurants.

Each month, the pair create special menus serving two people. The meals, which are devised to take as little preparation by the customer as possible, are then placed in specialist packaging designed to keep the food chilled while in transit and delivered right to your door on a Friday.

The couple met at two-Michelin Star restaurant Chapter One in Dublin but both have worked at many prestigious restaurants in their careers. Andy was a chef for Marco Pierre White and also at The Bennelong, the fine dining restaurant at Sydney Opera House. Roz started at Shu in Belfast before joining Paul Flynn at The Tannery in Dungarvan, and has worked in London Michelin star restaurants Texture and The Clove Club. The pair spent several years at an upscale restaurant in Barbados before returning to Northern Ireland where they ran Hara in Hillsborough. Post Covid, they sought a change and decided to take their luxury dining at home business to a new level.

“People had become accustomed to collecting restaurant meals to serve at home but we felt there was a gap in the premium market for food that is delivered right to your door,” Andy explained.

What they say about Ards Business Hub:

To build their business, they moved into a unit in Strangford House and have set up a professional kitchen that can cope with their growing orders.

“We wanted to locate the business near our home and when we saw Ards Business Hub, we knew it would be perfect. It’s ideal for a start up as there was no real outlay and they offer a short-term lease. At the moment we have one member of staff but plan to grow so we have the space for that. The team at Ards have also been amazing and really looked after us. Nothing was too much trouble.”

What we say:

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive, Nichola Lockhart said: “Hara at Home is a new business that is really meeting a demand for gourmet dishes prepared by top chefs and delivered to homes throughout Ireland. It is very exciting for us at Ards Business Hub to see a company reacting to market trends and delivering an innovative product.”

 

Find out more about Hara at Home at www.shophara-food.com/

Follow them on Instagram @hara.at.home and Facebook @hara.at.home

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Inspiring Yarns

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Our Tenant Case Study: Inspiring Yarns

Meet the business:

Inspiring Yarns is so much more than a wonderful shop selling hand-dyed yarns, embroidery supplies, craft kits, looms and spinning wheels. The company ethos is to reduce social isolation and improve mental health and well-being through group knitting and crochet projects.

The social enterprise started in February 2021 when Claire noticed the impact of isolation during the lockdowns. She believed knitting with friends could have a huge impact on the lives of people in Northern Ireland. The three directors moved into Ards Business Hub in November 2021 and held their first course in the new shop.

“Arts can bring people together and the simple activity of knitting or crocheting with others while you chat can decrease social isolation and improve mental health. The social enterprise has grown more quickly than any of us could have imagined and we are now running courses right across Northern Ireland,” Claire said.

 

What they say about Ards Business Hub:

Inspiring Yarns – which employs five people – has just taken a second unit in Strangford Park. In one unit, they have their shop and run workshops while the second unit allows for storage and a work space trying new techniques in fibre production for spinning and weaving. It will also be home to a new, innovative digitally automated knitting machine – possibly the first in Northern Ireland.

“Ards has a great history in the textile industry so we were really keen to be based in this area. In fact, many of our clients used to work in the large factories here so it gives us a chance to hear their stories and to preserve these craft skills. We really like the spirit of Ards Business Hub; it’s very friendly and we’ve got to know the other tenants near us. The free parking appeals to our customers and we’ve recently received a grant to install a disabled toilet into our unit.”

 

What we say:

Nichola Lockhart, Chief Executive of Ards Business Hub, said: “Ards Business Hub is also a social enterprise so are delighted that Inspiring Yarns chose to locate in Strangford Park. They reinvest all their profits from sales in the shop back into the work they are doing in the community.”

 

Find out more about Inspiring Yarns at: https://inspiringyarns.co.uk/

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New Staff Appointed at Ards Business Hub

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New Staff Appointed at Ards Business Hub

Two new staff members have been appointed to key positions to help boost our mission to deliver expert business support to the Ards and North Down area.
 
Iain Simpson is the new Facilities, Health and Safety Co-ordinator, while Tasmin Parkinson is Marketing and Administration Executive.
 
Ards Business Hub Chief Executive Nichola Lockhart said their skills would bring a mix of experience and energy to the centre’s management team.
 
She said: “These are two really key appointments as we continue our work in stimulating the local economy by encouraging people with ideas and drive to start their own businesses. We want to ensure that these entrepreneurs have the best facilities and support possible to flourish in the business world.”
 
Iain had previously worked for 12 years in Facilities Management for Deloitte in Belfast. A trained plumber, Iain became interested in facilities management and was able to use his technical skills and knowledge in his new profession. A large part of his job is in managing all of Ards Business Hub’s Health and Safety regulations, making sure that contractors working on projects at the centre’s three sites –Sketrick House, Strangford Park and Nendrum Park – have the right qualifications and skills to work for an ISO Accredited Company. “It’s fantastic to join this team. I am really enjoying it, every day is different and you get to meet so many people and that’s one of the things I love about it,” he said.
 

Tasmin, from Dundonald, studied Marketing at Ulster University. It is the 23-year-old graduate’s first full-time job since leaving collegeand she is relishing the challenge. She said: “I’m so excited that Ards Business Hub has given me this fantastic opportunity. Marketing touches on all areas of the business and I’m looking forward to making a real impact.” Tasmin is responsible for running all of the Hub’s social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. She will be working to reach a wider demographic to encourage younger people to consider a career in business. She will also be involved in expanding the centre’s already busy conferencing and room hire service, getting out the message to businesses that Ards Business Hub has excellent facilities for running all kinds of events.

 
She said: “I grew up in a generation that is always on social media and my role will be making sure we are paying attention to marketingtrends and that everything we post is relevant. I will be making a big push to let people know what is available here.”

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Are you in need of a professional meeting space? We have you covered!

Posted on by tasmin abh

Are you in need of a professional meeting space? We have you covered!

Are you looking for a quiet space to host a meeting or conference?
 
Located in the contemporary Sketrick House, our modern, bright, and spacious meeting spaces are the ideal place for you to host your next meeting!
 
Get in touch with us today to book or enquire about one of our rooms!
 
 

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ActionCoach

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Our Tenant Case Study: ActionCoach

Peter Magee is a coach with the international business coaching company ActionCOACH.


Meet the business:

Peter is using the experience he has gained in senior management roles over the past 20 years to coach company owners looking to develop their businesses and create a healthy work-life balance.

He was ready for a fresh challenge himself, wanting to give something back to the business community in Northern Ireland. He chose ActionCOACH, a worldwide established franchise, because he felt the global reach and experience of the company gave a strong framework of support that would deliver strong results for his clients.

His goal is to help 1000 local businesses over the next ten years to face the challenges of time, team and money in order to flourish and grow. He added: “Coaching is like having a business gym; we want to help businesses, make them stronger and healthier by addressing any issues that are holding them back.”


Why he chose Ards Business Hub:

Having moved to Bangor 22 years ago, he wanted to set up his business in the local area. After viewing many different options for office space, he chose a unit in Sketrick House in Ards Business Hub because it offered exactly what he required.

“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.”


What we say:

Nichola Lockhart, Chief Executive of Ards Business Hub, said: “Peter has been a really positive asset to our business community at Ards Business Hub. He has great energy and his ethos to tackle problems and take on goals and challenges is a real inspiration to us all.”

 

Find out more about ActionCOACH Peter Magee at: www.bangor.actioncoach.co.uk/

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Body Success opens third women-only gym

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A County Down fitness company has opened its third women-only gym at Ards Business Hub after the success of its personalised training programmes.

 

Body Success Fitness, which has gyms at Bangor and Holywood, has seen huge growth since the end of the pandemic and has further plans for expansion in the next 18 months.

 

After a long career as a personal trainer, Jim Gordon decided to open a new fitness studio exclusively for women after speaking to many clients who felt uncomfortable in a traditional gym.  “The atmosphere can sometimes be intimidating in a big gym, especially if you haven’t trained before and may not know how to use the equipment. Over and over women were telling me they wanted their own space with classes focusing on functional training,” he explained.

 

He opened Body Success Fitness in Bangor six years ago as a hybrid gym and training facility with classes running throughout the day supporting women not just to lose weight but to be healthier, fitter and stronger.  “Functional training is about being able to move better which in turn boosts confidence and can also help with mental health. We also work with our clients on nutrition and overall wellness,” he added. 

 

After the lockdowns lifted, there was a boom in interest in health, prompting Jim to open the third fitness studio at Ards Business Hub to cater for demand.  “We’ve had great success with people who have trained to improve health, lose weight and recover from illness. One great example of this is Gillian Cousins who lost two and a half stone after coming in to train with us in 2020. She loved it so much, that she has now qualified as personal trainer and works for us,” he said.

 

Ards Business Hub Chief Executive Nichola Lockhart said they were delighted to welcome the new gym to the park.  “Jim and his team are passionate about health and wellbeing and this shows in their classes, which are all about support and camaraderie with a group of like-minded people. We’re glad to be part of the journey of this great company as it grows and develops,” she said.

 

To find out more about Body Success Fitness go to www.bodysuccessfitness.co.uk

Clandeboye Yoghurt opens £2m creamery to continue growth

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Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt has opened a £2 million creamery that will allow the company to quadruple production in order to grow sales with the potential to move into new markets.


The new site on the Clandeboye Estate sees the company moving from its original incubator site at Ards Business Hub after fifteen years of sustained growth.


General Manager Bryan Boggs explained that the company has grown between 30- 40% year on year since its inception in 2007 and needed a purpose-built factory in order to continue to develop and seek out new markets.


“When we first came to Ards Business Hub we had two staff and processed 300 litres of milk each week. Now we employ 20 people and process 6000 litres per day,” he said.  “It had always been our dream to build a sustainable business on the Clandeboye Estate, powered by green energy, using milk from our own herd,” Bryan added.

The business was the idea of the late Lady Dufferin who hired Bryan, an experienced food technician, to create an artisan yoghurt using milk from her herd of pedigree Holstein and Jersey cows. 


After developing the process at Loughry College, Bryan took a unit at Ards Business Hub to start production and prove that there was a market for the locally made yogurt.  Bryan explained: “As a small start-up, we didn’t want to risk a long-term lease and the unit at Ards allowed us to trial the product. Plus, all the food production units are fully serviced so there was no additional investment in the site needed.”


Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt started in a single unit with its first sales from a stall at St George’s Market. As it began to supply the Hastings Hotel Group and then all the major supermarkets in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, it took an additional three units.


Now with the new creamery allowing for increased capacity, the company is looking into new markets, particularly in England, Scotland and Wales, which would require a massive increase in production.  “Our close-knit team has played a hugely important role in this move and this new purpose-built factory will allow us to grow further. We are right on the parkland at Clandeboye and can see the cows that produce our milk out the window, so it’s a real farm to spoon journey,” he said. 


Nichola Lockhart, CEO of Ards Business Hub, said that she and her team were proud of the role they played in helping this thriving business through its journey from start up to becoming a major supplier of high-quality local yoghurt.  “Clandeboye Estate Yoghurt is one of Northern Ireland’s true food heroes. They had a clear vision to create an artisan product and built their business through quality, hard work and dedication. Ards Business Hub is a social enterprise and our aim is to help businesses grow and flourish and we are delighted with the success of this company,” she said.


All the food production businesses are located within the Hub’s Strangford Park site giving tenants access 24 hours a day seven days a week.  As the food businesses are located within the same area it is a good networking opportunity which may be beneficial for new businesses.


Other food businesses located there include Arctic Cubes, A Slice of Heaven, Mike’s Fancy Cheese, Bara Bakehouse and Hill’s Mixtape.

Contact Us

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

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