Member Article

Hastings businesses benefit £900k from SUCCESS Creative Fund

Creative businesses in Hastings have benefitted from a boost to support their growth plans thanks to the SUCCESS Creative Fund, administered by Hastings Borough Council.

The SUCCESS Creative Fund has been supported by the Regional Growth Fund. It was officially launched by Cllr Peter Chowney, lead member for regeneration in December 2013 and offered businesses in three regions of the South East a chance to access a share of a £2m fund to grow their business and create new jobs.

Since its launch, the SUCCESS Creative Fund has awarded a total of £908k to local creative businesses to help them realise their goals, with 23 businesses creating 92 new full time jobs in their first year of growth.

Cllr Peter Chowney explained: “Hastings is home to many creative businesses and this fund has helped to grow existing businesses and attract new business to the town.

“Immersive Album Ltd is based in Hastings and was one of the beneficiaries of the Success fund which matched private investment and has allowed the company to grow its production and software ambitions. The company devises new ways for music to be presented, evolving the vinyl sleeve of yesterday and updating it to a multimedia digital canvas.

“Other notable success stories are the Kino-Teatr, a state of the art facility with over 100 auditorium seats, integrated bar, restaurant and gallery and internationally acclaimed designer Louise Body. The SUCCESS funding is helping Louise to grow her business by developing new products and expanding into new markets.”

Across all three regions, the fund has supported a total of 51 businesses and created a total of 271 new full time jobs in year one, with a forecast of 461 positions over the three year period for which businesses are monitored.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .