October’s meeting with Chamber member ‘Lightning Fibre’
Continuing on our series of celebrating highly successful local businesses, Hastings Chamber members heard from Lightning Fibre about the journey they’ve been on over the last few years, along with the challenges they’ve faced and how they were able to over them to continue their growth in East Sussex.
In our October members meeting held at Hastings Commons, members were seated after a morning of networking, where they were introduced to Lightning Fibre’s Sales & Marketing Director, Rob Reaks, who gave a presentation on their journey over the past few years.
Founded in 2018 as a small Full Fibre ‘AltNet’ (Alternative Network) in Eastbourne after attending a start-up workshop by Let’s Do Business Group, they were able to secure substantial funding in October 2020 to help with expansion. Since then, the company has grown to 200 employees, moved into its headquarters premises at Moy Avenue, and has provided to thousands of happy customers across the Eastbourne, Hailsham, Heathfield, and Hastings areas.
Members were informed about the history of fibre and the process it entails, as well as the different options available for households and businesses. We also heard about the challenges they’ve faced including the COVID pandemic, Brexit, War in Ukraine, and inflation to name a few. Lightning Fibre has also had a large impact on the local community, supporting events such as Pirate Day, Frost Fair, Hastings Comedy Festival and St Michael’s Hospice’s ‘Follow that Duck’ Campaign.
During the last part of the meeting, we were also joined by Co-Founder of Hastings Emergency Action Response Team (HEART), Alastair Fairley. Hastings HEART, founded in March 2020 during the COVID lockdown and their Facebook group quickly grew to 3,200 members with 1,100 volunteers. Strength in community is a huge belief for them, with volunteers supporting people isolating through shopping, collecting medication, transportation for NHS workers, and even dog walking!
Hastings HEART has continued their support through different vaccination programmes and research as well as through a range of support services like a befriending network and community information hub. With the upcoming male cancer awareness month (Movember) approaching, Hastings HEART is promoting awareness of cancers specifically targeting men in the local population.
The initiative is part of the Core20Plus Connectors programme, and is developed by Sussex Health & Care Partnership, to tackle health inequalities in the community and support people in a variety of ways to improve health outcomes. One of the key priorities for the programme is to deliver improvements in one of the key challenges for health in Hastings – Cancer.
To donate to the Movember Foundation, visit: https://uk.movember.com/mospace/14974550
If you would like to take part in the campaign, members are encouraged to shave on the first day of November, taking a photo at the start with progression photos throughout and then at our November members meeting we will take a final group photo. Hastings HEART will also be hosting a series of events and activities to join in.