Helen Grant visited new-concept enterprise connecting business and community in the heart of the Weald.

Helen spent time with Emma and Stuart discussing the benefits of coworking as well as other community initiatives hosted at The Hive.

As Cranbrook’s very first full-service hot desking and social hub for local businesspeople and the community, The Hive is a brand-new concept, incorporating elements of a new-age internet cafe and a collaborative coworking centre, but delivering so much more besides.

The Hive provides an environment that stimulates enterprise, and allows local businesspeople to take a break from home-working and interact with like-minded individuals. Members of the public can use the Buzz Lounge to meet friends and enjoy free wi-fi during the day, or relax with delicious food and drinks across other areas of the hub after 5pm, when The Hive “goes social”.

Key features include:

• Highly flexible hot desking space with hyper-fast wifi and dedicated IP internet
• Multiple business support services including: dedicated areas for organisations to promote themselves and/or host meetings; workshops; one-to-one mentoring; access to funding; and much more
• Exhibition of art by talented local artists and guest international artists
• Delicious Anglo-Greek cuisine combining authentic and local produce
• A diverse range of business and social networking events throughout the year

Commenting on the visit, Helen Grant, said: ‘I am hugely excited to be visiting the Hive in Cranbrook. This an impressive and innovative venture which responds to the ever-changing needs of the modern workplace whilst also creating a social hub at the heart of Cranbrook’s wonderful and unique rural community. Supporting businesses to create jobs for local people is an absolute priority for me, particularly in our more rural areas, and I am delighted to offer this new project my support.

Wow the Hive is such a cool place and exciting for Cranbrook. A lovely  building and great décor  and furniture. It has everything for the social community. Its coffee lounge, Great Greek food from its authentic kitchen for lunches and dinner 6 days a week. Great place to hang out with family and friends. A lovey place for a private events or party or for hire. Lovely local Art, For the business community super-fast broadband, with meeting rooms for hire. Support from the business group Enterprise Nation to help with starts up and business growth. And very flexible working hot desks for flexible desk space.

This is a great innovation for Cranbrook. Even better they do live music and Greek nights I will certainly be back with friends. I truly hope that Cranbrook and the local villages and support groups and businesses get behind the Hive “

The Hive Co-founder, Emma Wood, commented: “We are thrilled to be welcoming Helen Grant, and showing her around Cranbrook’s first hospitality hub which aims to support the community – at the heart of the community.” Wood continues: “As the number of self-employed professionals and homeworkers has increased over the past few years, hot desking has become a popular way of connecting otherwise isolated individuals, although there still is marked lack of coworking opportunities in more rural communities such as The Weald. Our core objective is to provide a central support hub for local businesspeople to work how and when they want.”

“Apart from providing flexible working opportunities, The Hive also offers a vibrant social calendar including regular charity, networking and exhibition launch events throughout the year. By combining corporate and social networking opportunities in this way, The Hive caters to the needs of the whole community.”