- What is your name and what is the name of your business?
I’m Debbie Beasley and I have two businesses; AHS Nice Work Ltd and AHS Wellbeing which is a CIC (Community Interest Company).
- What do the businesses do and who are your customers?
AHS Wellbeing is a specialist wellbeing company co-founded by Simon Adby and me in 2011. We provide consultancy services across the health and fitness sector, but over the past few years our primary focus has been on falls prevention. This is because falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in adults over 65 and one in three adults who sustain a hip fracture as consequences of a fall, will die within a year.
Our falls prevention programme is funded by Public Health through West Sussex County Council. We deliver NICE-compliant exercise classes based on the Later Life Training (LLT) model, supporting people who are at risk of falling or who have previously experienced a fall and are at increased risk of it happening again.
Participants attend our programme for 24 weeks, during which they take part in evidence-based strength and balance training designed to improve mobility, confidence, and independence. By reducing the likelihood of future falls, the programme helps to lessen demand on NHS services, preventing avoidable hospital admissions and reducing pressure on hospital beds.
Referrals come from GPs, hospitals, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare professionals and we deliver classes at community venues across West Sussex.
The second business, Nice Work, is a sport event organiser, predominantly focussed on running events. We do 5km’s, 10km’s, marathons, local events such as Haywards Heath Bike ride and the Mid-Sussex Marathon. We have recently done a multi-sports event too so we are branching out into other areas.
I feel that whilst both companies offer different products, the common link is that they both keep people active. I strongly believe that staying active – whatever sport or activity you choose – improves quality of life and is vital for managing the ageing process. I also love seeing the pleasure it brings people – from running across the finish line or being able to walk without their walking stick for the first time in years – it makes me feel I’m doing something worthwhile.
- What’s the history of the business & what’s your role within the business?
I am a director of both businesses. Simon and I knew each other for many years having both worked in the health and fitness sector and we decided to set up our own business in 2011. Initially, we began as a consultancy and then went on to get involved with programmes like Falls Prevention.
Nice Work was owned by a gentleman who wanted to retire and approached us to ask if we wanted to buy the business 7 years ago. We did, and it’s worked well and been very successful.
- How long have you had an office/dedicated desk/flexi pass here at Freshmill and why were you looking for a space like this?
I’ve had a dedicated desk at Freshmill for nearly two years now! Nice Work has lovely offices down in Rye, but it’s a long commute, so I usually go there once a week. Before joining Freshmill, I worked from home for the rest of the week, but I found it really blurred the lines between work and home life. It just wasn’t the right fit for me.
Discovering Freshmill was the perfect solution. I love coming here because I can get my head down, focus properly, and be productive during the day. Then, when I head home, I can genuinely switch off and relax. And at this time of year, the air conditioning is an added bonus!
- Why does Freshmill work well for you and your business?
Freshmill works really well for me, particularly because Simon is also local so he often pops in so we can meet up and have a chat together. Also, importantly, it’s really useful to have a base for the business in West Sussex as the main offices are in Rye and we do a lot of work this side of Sussex.
- What is the most important lesson you have gained from your career so far?
I have three lessons that have learnt…
Firstly, it is important to keep committed to your core values. Opportunities come along and circumstances change and it is easy to get distracted and go off at tangents, but it’s important to remember your core values. I am always happiest when I am doing something I really believe in.
I also think it is really important to look after your team. I have managed lots of teams over the years and if you look after them you get back more than what you put in. We are lucky to have a really great team based in Rye.
Lastly it is key to remember that when one door closes another always opens. Sometimes at different stages of life you question why has that happened? But later you look back on it and realise, if that hadn’t happened it would not have allowed another amazing opportunity to arise and so it all makes sense!
- Where do you hope to be in 5 years’ time?
Retired probably! I am 63 now, and I am working now towards how I might exit the business but in a positive way and that will be phased over those five years. However, I am not one to sit around and do nothing, I would find that very difficult so I am sure I will still be doing some sort of voluntary work in this area, it is just that I will be able to choose what I do and when!
- What advice would you give your younger self just starting out?
It would be to believe in myself more and trust my instincts. I had quite an unusual childhood because I was ice skating from a very young age, so I grew up in a fairly sheltered sporting environment. Looking back, I think that made me a little naïve in some situations. If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would simply be: believe in yourself a little more and trust your own judgement.
- What is your favourite quote/mantra?
‘No failure, only feedback’. I have been a fitness coach in the past and that has always been my mantra, and I brought my daughter up that way too. If you try something and it doesn’t work, just learn from it and then you can move forward.
- If you could, who would you switch places with for the day, and why?
I have thought about this quite a lot and I think it would have to be Jayne Torvill. My reason for saying that is because I would like to skate with Christopher Dean again. I have skated with him before, but I would love to do it again, perhaps on the day they won the Olympics with the Bolero! I also really admire how the two of them didn’t just win the Olympics but have made a business out of their success with their Ice shows and TV work etc. What they have created is very impressive.
