January 2022 Newsletter
Happy New Year! 🎉
At Chalk Eastbourne, we're really excited about what the year has in store. What's new for you this year? Let us know what your business goals are and what you hope to achieve - either for yourself or your clients.
In The News
Tech used to enhance client retention by local law firm
It's not just companies within the digital industry that are using new technology every day. Eastbourne-based solicitors Stephen Rimmer LLP has recently adopted a digital solution to benefit from paperless end-to-end onboarding for their clients.
In response to increased workloads within the conveyancing team over the last 18 months, brought about by high demand within the property market, the firm has invested in Minerva to facilitate client onboarding.
Practice Manager Grant Sanders commented:
"In response to the challenges brought about by a conveyancing boom and a pandemic, we’ve brought in a fully electronic client onboarding solution that creates, sends and tracks quotations through a secure, branded, online platform. Crucially, we are using our people and enhanced processes to put our firm in the best position possible to turn this one-off spike into a long-term, loyal client base.”
It's great to see examples of how digital technology is being used within our town. If your company is a recent adopter of new automated processes (or are wondering about how to go about doing so), let us know - we'd love to hear your experiences.
Research study into the Creative and Technology Sector in East Sussex
You may be contacted over the next few months to answer questions and assist with Locate East Sussex's research into the Creative and Technology sector.
This research will identify the growth potential of the sector locally and nationally, looking at what issues it faces and what support it needs.
Ultimately the results of the survey will mean that data is available on the issues that matter to our community, so if you can spare some time when contacted to put your thoughts forward, this would be beneficial to us all.
Thanks for your support!
Featured profile
This month we caught up with Chris Hunnisett at Tubbs Computer Supplies to learn about his work.
Chris, we’ve heard various bits about you in the news previously - could you give us an introduction to yourself and your company?
"Tubbs Computer Supplies has been providing refurbished computers to local residents since 2013. We offer free IT disposal to companies and we sell higher spec computers and office equipment that are donated to us to cover our running costs, enabling us to supply our clients with a free computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.
"I started this CIC as a hobby, helping out family and friends. I've learned as I've gone along; there has been a lot of support both from businesses and personal friends. We were on benefits and couldn't afford a computer - I managed to get hold of one for the kids to use, and realised there must be others in the same boat. Before I started this, I could turn a computer on and play games, and I'd done a couple of computer courses at college. I've had lots of jobs, ranging from working at McDonald's to a stud farm, and I used to teach martial arts.
"We give to those who ask - this used to be about 15 computers per month but, during the pandemic, it's exploded to 150 per month. It helps to bridge the digital divide: the devices are used mainly to help children keep up with their education, help vulnerable people with work, training and accommodation opportunities, and help older people combat isolation and make healthcare easier to access."
Who do you typically work with and support?
"We work with a variety of politicians, businesses and schools to get computers to those who need them, including our MP Caroline Ansell, Councillor Stephen Shing, Morrisons, Asda, Adult and Children's services, DWP, Reed in Partnership, Brighton Housing Trust, CityFibre and Eastbourne DGH.
"In terms of who we support, we provide devices to all ages in our community. For example, we've given a computer to a child who was getting detentions for not doing their homework. The school knew about us and knew the child didn't have a computer, so put us in touch. This child now does their homework and no longer gets detentions.
"We were contacted by adult social care asking for help for a former street homeless person; they had had both their lower arms amputated and were typing with their nose. We set them up with a PC with voice recognition software.
"We supplied a computer to one retirement home, and some mobile phones to another, so the residents could stay in contact with family and friends while isolating."
Why Eastbourne?
"I grew up in Eastbourne and moved around the country, but Eastbourne is where my heart is. This is the only place I have lived that feels like home."
How can we support you?
"We know that a lot of people get new tech gadgets for Christmas, so we have teamed up with some local Morrison's stores (Eastbourne, Crowborough, Hastings and Seaford) to make it easy for you to donate your old laptops, tablets and phones - please drop them off at the kiosk/customer service desk between 1st and 6th February.
"You can also vote for Tubbs Computer Supplies, through Asda's Green Token Giving scheme, which could secure us £500 from Asda Foundation.
"If you are able to help us out with time, donations or devices, you can contact us at enquiries@tubbscomputersupplies.org."
Hear more from Chris in his own words, as featured on BBC Politics South East on 19th October 2020:
Would you like to feature in a future newsletter?
Some people don't like face-to-face chats or extra video calls, we get it. But we know you still have valuable insights and information that we (and our newsletter readers) would love to hear about!
So, if you have 10 minutes to spare and feel like a bit of self-reflection, we'd love to read your answers to the following questions:
Please provide us with details about you and your company (back story is good!)
What do you offer to businesses/customers?
What types of businesses/customers do you work with? (Any recognisable businesses that our readers will have heard about?)
Do you have an example case study about how you helped a client that you can share?
How did you get into the job you are doing? What did you study/what's your career path?
Why did you choose to work/live in Eastbourne? What do you think is special about it?
Is there anything particular that you're working on at the moment that you'd like our readers to know about?
There's no need to go into great detail on all of these points, notes are fine - but if one or other of the questions jump out at you, feel free to write a bit more. We'll compile your responses to feature in a future newsletter and on our website.
One Last Thing
Do you have any photos of Eastbourne that you could share with us for our social media? If so, please send them as attachments to hello@chalkeastbourne.com (we'll credit you!).
See you next month! 👋
