How to build and grow 70 business – and counting!

As a business owner, you know how hard it can be to run a business – managing your time and workload, having to have the answer to everyone’s questions, and trying to create some semblance of a work-life balance. Now imagine overseeing not one, but seventy businesses. That’s the reality for Petrina Baldwin, owner of Hakuhana, a premium staffing partner operating out of our Churchill Square Business Centre in King’s Hill.

The business of people

Hakuhana is not your typical staffing agency. Instead of simply providing temporary staff, Petrina and her team act as the official employer, giving workers full employment status, pensions, healthcare, and other benefits. This Employer of Record model allows businesses to stay agile and focus on what they do best, while Hakuhana handles payroll, compliance, and HR admin.

With experience spanning sales, tax offices, technology, and construction, Petrina has been building and running businesses since 2004. Her ethos has always been to treat her employees the way she would want to be treated – with respect, support, and opportunity. That philosophy has grown Hakuhana into a trusted partner for businesses across the UK and USA, serving industries from healthcare and engineering to retail, education, and construction.

First Stop London.  Next stop, the world

Hakuhana’s story is one of bold moves and big risks. With a history of designed companies, Petrina took the dive and became self-employed in 2004, hiring for her own construction business which worked alongside London councils. The success of her hiring system meant the next logical step was to turn it into a business in 2008.

In 2014, Petrina flew to Wilmington, Delaware, to set up operations in a country where she didn’t know a soul. Within a week she had opened a bank account, started networking with local professionals, and even found herself being fitted for suits at DuPont.

“It could have failed, but we believed in the idea – and it worked,” says Petrina.

That same spirit of resilience helped Hakuhana navigate the challenges of Covid, pivoting operations to suit the UK’s stricter red tape while continuing to grow.

Hakuhana’s culture is what truly sets it apart. Staff describe it as a place where “you can be yourself,” where “opinions are valued” and “learning and progression” are actively encouraged. It’s an environment that blends professionalism with personality – summed up by one team member’s comment: “Petrina is a nutter – but she’s our nutter!”

Hakuhana’s rapid growth needed a space that would grow with it

As Hakuhana expanded, so did its need for a central hub. Petrina explains: “We were renting space in Margate, Gravesend, Faversham and Sittingbourne, but I wanted somewhere with easy motorway access, affordable parking, and a peaceful, secure setting.” The answer came in the form of Churchill Square Business Centre, where Petrina first hired a large project room before moving into a permanent office.

Since then, Hakuhana has moved several times within the business centre as its team has grown, taking advantage of the flexible licences that make it easy for businesses to scale up when needed. “We’ve always had our heart set on the largest suite on the square,” Petrina says – and with Hakuhana’s trajectory, that upgrade might not be far off.

Petrina’s vision is worldwide

Far from slowing down, Petrina’s ambitions are turning global. Hakuhana is rolling out enhanced benefits in the US, Canada, Ireland and the UK, including 401k pensions, legal and financial advice, and even care and end-of-life support packages. There are plans to explore corporate housing options, expand into Australia and the UAE, and continue work with councils, the NHS, and Network Rail on innovative staffing solutions.

Alongside Hakuhana, Petrina has recently launched Emperadora, an online department store that has already received over 800 five-star reviews – another testament to her entrepreneurial drive.

Petrina has launched or managed over 70 businesses across multiple sectors from construction to retail staffing

Having built more than seventy businesses, Petrina’s advice for entrepreneurs is refreshingly straightforward:

“Do your research – and never let anyone else’s reality become yours. If people don’t see your dream, you’re talking to the wrong people. Believe in yourself 100% and look after your health first – there is only one of you.”

Her approach to challenges is equally pragmatic: “Economies go up and down like the sea – as long as your boat is robust, you won’t sink.” For Petrina, common sense, gut instinct, due diligence, and good manners are the essential tools of success.

Hakuhana’s story is proof that when you combine vision with perseverance, you can build not just one successful business – but dozens.

If you’re looking for office space from a provider that wants to support your business success, get in touch.