Uckfield Matters Magazine - July 19 #143
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usinessmatters<br />
HIGH STREET OR HOME BASED?<br />
by Sue Edwards<br />
The <strong>Uckfield</strong> Festival is celebrating its 20th year. Since its first year,<br />
during those years business in <strong>Uckfield</strong> has thrived, despite major<br />
knock backs such as floods and fire.<br />
It is inevitable that such incidents will<br />
have substantial negative impact on<br />
the town, however we are lucky to have<br />
strong community groups to help in<br />
such difficult times. Big events such as<br />
the <strong>Uckfield</strong> Festival, Weald on the Field<br />
and the <strong>Uckfield</strong> Carnival continue to<br />
play a big part in keeping <strong>Uckfield</strong> ‘on<br />
the map’. These events continue to be<br />
well supported by local business.<br />
HOW HAS UCKFIELD HIGH<br />
STREET CHANGED?<br />
In past years <strong>Uckfield</strong> has seen some<br />
shops standing empty for months.<br />
However more recently, even in<br />
uncertain times, it is good to see that<br />
<strong>Uckfield</strong> continues to be a popular and<br />
profitable place to expand business or<br />
indeed set up a new one. Some evidence<br />
of this can be seen in the High Street,<br />
with quicker turnover of empty shops,<br />
and some businesses expanding into<br />
larger, more prominent premises.<br />
HIGH STREET OR HOME-BASED?<br />
For many business owners, much can<br />
be gained from regularly attending<br />
networking events, and over the last<br />
few years these have increased locally.<br />
As a home-based business owner<br />
myself, I consistently meet others in<br />
a similar situation who find it easier<br />
to work from home, and in fact don’t<br />
need a High Street premises. This<br />
is particularly the case for parents<br />
juggling business with bringing up a<br />
family. Not only is working from home<br />
the cheapest option, but it can help<br />
business owners to create the sought<br />
after work/life balance that we all crave.<br />
With a thriving business community<br />
in <strong>Uckfield</strong>, there is plenty of business<br />
support available, without the need to<br />
go further afield.<br />
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