Enterprise Case Study 1

Worthing - Micro Business Support Centre

Wavehill undertook a strategic survey for the small and home-based business groups within the Worthing First local economic partnership. The project was part of a three part study into the needs, demand and feasibility of establishing a facility to encourage the creation and growth of micro and small businesses within Worthing and the surrounding area.

The difficulty with this contract was identifying businesses that traded from home. We realised it would be essential to find the right sources to target home business people. We teamed up with BT to identify home based business telephone lines and using this data made a real impact on the survey. This shows that surveys need to use high quality data in order to deliver high quality results.

Needs Analysis of Local Businesses

Based on a robust and valid sample of 400 interviews with small and home based businesses which provided an accurate estimate of demand and a clear picture of just what sort of facility and support structure would best cater for their needs.

Provide Location and Development Options

Wavehill provided a clear idea as to the type of units that should be built and the optimal sizes in terms of floor space and the necessary information to scope the requirements in terms of land, location and the component facilities and help start to identify the partners that need to be engaged.

Future Planning - Scoping of next phase

Wavehill developed a forward action plan and assisted in identifying development partners, potential sites and put together the public private partnership that was required to deliver the development.

During this project Wavehill gained in-depth knowledge of the SEEDA corporate plan and Regional Economic Strategy.

Client: Worthing Borough Council