We have built a connected business support eco-system combining specialist growth advice, high-street support, local supply-chain development, sustainability and strong partnerships with Chambers of Commerce.
Through tailored programmes and dedicated town-based relationships, we help businesses overcome barriers, build resilience, access new markets and turn ambition into sustainable growth.
Our business support approach is designed to create a resilient, sustainable and locally-rooted economy by helping businesses overcome barriers, strengthen capability, improve productivity, access markets and funding, and adapt to changing conditions.
Working with partners, we provide responsive, place-based support that connects businesses to expertise, encourages collaboration and innovation, and contributes to thriving high streets and communities.
This programme was designed to help ambitious businesses turn growth plans into practical results. Funded through £100,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Fund investment, this project was delivered in partnership with East Sussex County Council and other local district and borough councils.
It combined structured diagnostics, dedicated business advisers, tailored action plans and specialist expertise to support 33 enterprises, while generating 24.5 actual and anticipated jobs against a target of nine.
FlyThru Ltd is a specialist aerial-data business that needed greater strategic clarity as it planned expansion.
Adviser-led discovery and GROWTHmapper diagnostics identified priorities around strategic direction, succession planning and a unified long-term vision.
A one-page strategy and five-year roadmap followed, with anticipated impact of two new roles and 30-40% turnover growth within 12 months.
The Founder from Bonjour Kids received one-to-one support on growth strategy, financial planning, recruitment, intellectual property and trademarking.
The result was clearer strategic direction, improved recruitment and onboarding, stronger marketing and positioning, and a secured trademark.
“I feel like I’m finally making progress on building the business.”
A Brush With Love is a specialist supplier to veterinary practices that used GROWTHmapper and ongoing adviser support to understand its challenges, strengthen strategic foundations and focus on the resources and funding needed to scale.
This created momentum for sustainable expansion.
Director, Fay Barker, said the structured support helped create “real momentum” in a way that one-off workshops could not.
This Sussex-wide programme is helping to strengthen local supply chains by encouraging independent food, drink, retail and hospitality businesses to source more products from Sussex. We joined the initiative in April 2025, giving local businesses opportunities to discover new suppliers, promote Sussex products and build stronger connections with producers and other businesses. Participating businesses pledge to stock or serve at least six additional Sussex products, helping to increase local sourcing while supporting provenance, sustainability and the retention of economic value within the local economy.
By March 2026, 26 Wealden businesses had made the Sussex Six pledge, while across participating districts, 175 businesses had committed to at least 1,050 additional Sussex product lines. A further 343 unique businesses engaged through pledges, events and promotional activity.
Wealden’s launch event attracted 85 registrations, while a social-media workshop attracted 52. A Buyers Meet Suppliers event reached more than 50 businesses and organisations, and 152 Wealden businesses are now listed in the Sussex Food and Drink Directory.
This programme was created to help independent businesses navigate an increasingly challenging high street environment and build stronger, more resilient operations. We worked in partnership with East Sussex County Council and East Sussex Growth Hub to bring more than 35 years of independent retail and small-business experience directly onto local high streets. The fully funded programme provided businesses with practical support to step back from day-to-day pressures, identify opportunities and build confidence, while also creating a clearer picture of the challenges facing each town.
Direct engagement highlighted common pressures including low footfall, rising overheads and business rates, changing consumer behaviour, limited marketing capacity and weak e-commerce engagement.
The programme delivered 332 business engagements across Wealden, alongside six face-to-face workshops, three webinars and six practical ‘How To’ guides, with a digital Retailer Toolkit extending its reach. Crucially, the work also created an evidence base for future action, identifying opportunities to improve collaboration, marketing, footfall, wayfinding and e-commerce.
These awards celebrate local businesses demonstrating environmental leadership and sustainable practices. We supported the awards through sponsorship of the Best Green Business category at the Uckfield Business Awards 2026, delivered in partnership with Uckfield Chamber of Commerce.
The awards also help to showcase practical examples of innovation and responsible practice, encouraging wider adoption and strengthening the reputation and resilience of the local business community.
Our work with Chambers of Commerce across Uckfield, Crowborough, Hailsham and Heathfield is central to our relationship-led approach to business support. Each town has a dedicated Wealden Officer, who attends Chamber meetings, helping shape and promote support, identify emerging issues and connecting businesses with specialist advice. This creates a valuable feedback loop between us and the business community, enabling more responsive support and ensuring local businesses are active partners in strengthening their town centres and local economy.
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