The Hive
The Hive is at the centre of Lewes High Street in more ways than one.
First, it is located at 66 High Street in a historic building literally in the heart of the town. Second, and most importantly, it strives to have an open door and groups together freelancers and small businesses of different sectors.
Established for several years, The Hive offers flexible office and desk space at affordable prices and has become a long-established bastion of the local business community.
Claire Kirtland, who moved from London to Lewes in the early 2000s, was moved to run The Hive. Never owning a business before, she sought to bring her skills in events management and business development but found with it she had created a community.
Claire is experienced in creating credit unions, business development and events organisation, and her passion for bringing together people drives the Hive. From stakeholders and users, from freelance accountancies to start-ups, The Hive’s strange structure, an entire historic listed building in the heart of Lewes rather than an open plan office, allows the space to feel varied, allowing businesses to develop and grow in key stages that would suit them.
“The Hive only works when the users are invested in it, they’re community-minded in the way they live and work. It’s a win-win situation; companies want to invest in The Hive as much as The Hive invests in them.”
After coming back from holiday in Australia, she revaluated The Hive and how it can better serve her community. She thought that there was a need for the building to be decorated and re-carpeted, and the communal kitchen and toilets had to be updated. She strove to not just to maintain the living standards for a modernised office complex, but rather enhance the user’s working life.
Claire knew that the work had to be done quickly. So, after a phone call to the Business Loans team and a subsequent visit, the team was able to process her application quickly. The whole process of enquiry to delivery of the loan took less than six weeks.
“My Business Loan helped me make The Hive a better place for my members, and their support has allowed me to keep focused on better serving my clients”