Celebrating 20 years – Seahaven Business Awards

For the President’s Award: for Artistic Enterprise:

SPONSORED BY MIKE SHORER FINE JEWELLERY

• Julia Dunstan Design runs a mobile ceramics and children’s art class business. Julia returned to education as a mature student, and discovering her passion for ceramics she took the initiative to bridge this gap, making this beautiful art form accessible to everyone locally.
• Paula’s Photography – A Newhaven based photographer who has turned her passion for photography into a business and  is equally at home taking photographs of community events, weddings, family portraits, dramatic scenery, pets, children and urban architecture.
• *WINNER* Rhapsody Artist Development – An organisation dedicated to creating a vibrant and supportive environment for young people to explore their passion for singing and performing. They offer weekly classes and a range of performance activities with an aim to foster technical musicality, boost confidence and teach essential musicianship skills. They make their training affordable, and focus on providing financial support to young people who would not get this opportunity in mainstream education or any other route. In just 18 months the club has grown to 40 members and performed all over Sussex. 

For the Best New Business Award:

SPONSORED BY THE NEWHAVEN ENTERPRISE CENTRE

• *WINNER* Awesome Accountants Ltd – Independent Chartered Accountant based in Newhaven, East Sussex who takes care of tax-related concerns – including preparation of accounts, system reviews, staff training, Xero implementation and helping set up new businesses.
• Serviced by Jamie – a niche business, unique in the south east of England, that was also only launched last year, carrying out maintenance and refurbishment on domestic and commercial coffee machines. A former barista and technician who spotted a gap in the market, Jamie and his partner Dani launched Serviced by Jamie.
• The Mewes Vets – is an independently owned vets in Peacehaven that only opened in January 2024. They are proudly independent and they run the clinic with integrity, flexibility, compassion and put the best interests of their clients and their pets at the heart of everything that they do.

For the Best Environmental Business award:

SPONSORED BY FINE MARKETING UK

• Long Man Brewery Ltd – based in the heart of the South Downs at Litlington, and is proof that great beer and great environmental practices can go hand in hand. The company thinks green, from its own malting barley on their farm in Litlington, to using water sourced from a natural borehole. Spent grain goes to local livestock, wastewater is filtered through a natural reed bed system.
• Sussex Dolphin Project – a leading marine conservation initiative committed to the protection of local dolphin populations and the promotion of ocean sustainability along our coastline. The organisation integrates sustainability into every aspect of its operations – from plastic free merchandise and zero waste events to environmentally conscious facility management.
• *WINNER* Take Good Care Ltd – a sustainable wellness lifestyle business founded in 2020 that combines self-care with ethical consumerism, offering a range of vegan, eco-friendly and fairtrade products that promote wellness while minimising environmental impact. All skincare products are vegan, cruelty free and made in the UK. The packaging is recyclable, plastic free or biodegradable. The owner says that is not just about selling products – it’s about changing mindsets and creating a better future.  

For the Health, Fitness & Wellbeing award:

SPONSORED BY EXPERIENCE IT NOW TRAVEL

• Chateau Velo – a spin-fit studio and café in Peacehaven offering the combination of exhilarating workouts and delicious post ride treats. They have broken down barriers to fitness with absolute ‘beginner’ rides to help build confidence as well as fitness, everyone moving at their own pace.
• Zara Yoga and Pilates – A lady that started by teaching at the Hillcrest Centre in Newhaven and now teaches regular yoga and pilates classes in Brighton, Saltdean, Peacehaven, Newhaven, Seaford, Piddinghoe and Rodmell. She also offers free or low cost classes — her message is: “When we care for ourselves, we are better able to care for others”. 
• *WINNER* Dancefit Peacehaven – This business was formed  under a different name in 2012 — with classes open to everyone – they have members aged 8 right up to 80. They keep their prices as low as possible to be fully inclusive. They are not a gym – there are no contracts, no bookings and no cancellation fees.

For the Business Person of the Year award:

SPONSORED BY SWINDELLS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

• Brenda Edwards (Teddy Treats Childrens Charity) – a lady that set up a charity that provides toys for children at Xmas via foodbanks, and sponsors young people to do what they love, whether it is singing or dancing lessons – when their parents are unable to afford the tuition fees.  It’s also paid for panto tickets for families, a football kit for a local club, free meals for children during holiday time.
• Georgia Sargeant (Sennies) – this business matches families who have children with Special Educational needs with qualified nannies, teachers and carers. The founder was herself diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. She started the business with just £10k and since then has built it to employ over 3000 professionals.
• Miranda Bearns-Lowles (Seaford Town Market) – Miranda describes herself as the organiser, manager, general repair person, table erector, and general dogs body for Seaford Town Market. Starting with just 12 stalls, it has now grown to getting on for thirty stalls with other stalls on a waiting list. She has helped to keep Seafordians shopping in Seaford and has built a real community
• *WINNER* Megan Mercer (Got Buns Huns) – an artistic cake baker based in Newhaven who has been baking and supplying cakes to the community over the last five years. As well as having a shop in Newhaven – she also creates custom cakes for all occasions.  More recently, she branched out into hosting Cake Decorating workshops, working alongside a café in Seaford. The shop is still attracting those Saturday morning queues before opening just as she did back in 2020 when her shop doors first opened.  

For the Best Customer Service award:

SPONSORED BY THE SUSSEX SIGN COMPANY

• *WINNER* Havens Connection Cafe – a community café based in the Hillcrest Centre in Newhaven that offers — as well as the usual hot drinks and delicious meals, a warm space for the elderly or lonely to sort out those challenging services that we’re all forced to do online nowadays. But there’s even more! With their pay-it-forward scheme those facing financial hardship can discreetly receive a free meal.  This initiative ensures that no one in the community has to go hungry. The Café is committed to more than just serving food and drink – they have created a space where people feel heard, valued and supported.
• Sussex Staffing Solutions – a Newhaven company which supports local businesses with temporary staffing and permanent recruitment. Their approach is to recruit only kind, caring, professional people who in turn will provide the very best in service and support. They are dedicated to building trust through open and honest communication, maintaining a high standard of professionalism.
• Lily’s Florist – a person who quit her bar job in 2019 as a single parent of two young children – quite a risk, to then take and set up a small floristry business in Peacehaven.  Before long she became a mobile garden centre delivering potted plants and compost to people’s doors between Newhaven and Saltdean.  She has also managed to ride out the cost of living crisis by offering ‘Fresh Friday Flowers’ – a lower priced bunch of flowers for £15 on a Friday!

For the Business of the Year award:

SPONSORED BY THE NEWHAVEN ENTERPRISE ZONE

• Whitfitt Training Gym – an independent health and fitness facility in Seaford that prides itself on being a non-intimidating environment for people of all ages and abilities. They have a strong link with the local cancer charity WOLO and offer free gym sessions and classes to families affected by cancer and to WOLO volunteers. They also work with the over 60s from the Seahaven area setting up a funded programme which will be aimed at training eight ‘over 60s’.   
• J. Kirby Electrical Ltd – a family business that prioritises skills and customer satisfaction and ensures their staff are equipped with the latest knowledge, training and qualifications to maintain a safe working environment for the team and their clients. From solar technologies and smart battery storage systems they are committed to shaping a more sustainable future. They are keen supporters of local charities and several local sports teams and have installed a public defibrillator in Seaford free of charge. 
• *WINNER* Madison Web Solutions – a leading web design and digital marketing agency based in Peacehaven – celebrating 15 years of excellence.  They’re  not only a service provider but also a trusted partner for local businesses, councils and charities. They sound like a great place of work, offering to their team of fifteen salaries that are nicely above the minimum wage, flexible working arrangements, mental health support and fun away days. They are committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2026 , they offer free public wi-fi near their office in Peacehaven and they support organisations like Haig Housing, Fighting for Pride and, particularly relevant this week, Care for Veteran. 

For the Lifetime Gold Business award:

SPONSORED BY TOMSETTS DISTRIBUTION

• J. Wagstaff Ltd – A family run company that started in 1911 in Peacehaven providing the local communities with guidance and help at a difficult time. The business today is still being run by a fourth generation member of the family, supporting local florists, a stone mason, painters, gardeners and many more. They consider themselves to be traditional family funeral directors but have also launched Coast Cremations to keep up with the demand for low cost unattended Direct Cremations.  
• Pebbles Daycare – a well established nursery in Newhaven led by a lady who has dedicated her entire life to this business.   She and her team have nurtured generations of families across Newhaven and beyond, including her own grandchildren.  Former youngsters have even returned as staff members!  And, as you’d expect, she’s deeply embedded in the local communities charities, schools and families.  
• *WINNER* V.R. Flowers & Son – A family business that was founded in 1948 by a bus operator and a milkman who saw an opportunity in post-war Britain. By 1975 they acquired a former builders’ merchant site at Station Approach in SEAFORD, where the store still stands today, run by a fourth generation in the family! This family’s commitment to their employees is unwavering.  They’re always looking for the best staff training, supporting team members through difficult times with full pay and time off when needed. They believe that furniture isn’t just about appearance – it’s about how it feels when you sit or touch it, something that you can’t replicate online. And in March, they opened a second shop in Lewes.