Ian Noble - newly appointed business connector for Hastings

What about a Business “Freegle” to Boost Hastings?

Hastings is strong on self-help, mix and match and patch and repair to solve its day to day problems of making do. Self-help organisations,  such as Freegle, Hastings Creatives and Hastings Network help small businesses, micro-businesses and the voluntary sector that make up Hastings’ creative community to network and exchange resources and expertise. What if a new initiative could bring extra resources and expertise into this sector, care of “our bank”, the nationalised Lloyds Banking Group?,  writes HOT’s Chris Cormack.

The Business Connectors programme, is run by Business in the Community, one
of 17 charities of which HRH the Prince of Wales is President. The programme
helps connect business men and women with charities, voluntary sector and educational organisations and tries to address the regeneration of Hastings through promoting employment, education and enterprise with the help of the connectors’ extensive business experience and connections.

Ian Noble is leaving his day job for 12 months to take up his new role as Business Connector for Hastings, his salary still met by the Lloyds Banking Group. He has already had two stints working with Lloyds Bank in Hastings and what he does not know already about the town, he will hit the ground running to learn.

“To be given the opportunity to work closely with businesses, charities and schools, on a full time basis, for the greater good of the local community is a dream job for me,” said Ian Noble.

The idea of engaging business connectors started in December 2010, marrying the government’s aspirations to boost the ‘Big Society’ with HRH the Prince of Wales’ call for businesses to step up activity in areas of greatest social need. UK senior business leaders responded with this brokerage scheme to maximise business impact in the most deprived areas. It  is supported by up to £4.8m from the Big Lottery Fund.

An interesting case study for the effectiveness of the scheme will be the co-operation between the business and voluntary sector in addressing the problems of St Mary in the Castle. Ian Noble has been appointed as one of the trustees of the charitable trust, which has been set up to oversee the management of this arts centre.  Substantial fundraising will be necessary to maintain this Grade II listed building, and given the Council’s financial plight, not much can be expected from this quarter.

Ian Noble can be contacted on 07801 250668 or ian.noble@bitcconnect.org and can be followed on Twitter @TN34Connector
You can find out more about the Business Connectors programme on their website.

Also in: Hastings People