In this issue we look at the following:
- Bexhill Neighbourhood Board seeks local business views
- Start Smart Grow Strong Free Workshops
- Little Gate Supported Apprenticeships
- Ambition to Action SME support
If you have a business event that you would like us to promote or a success story that you would like us to share, please let us know at businessalerts@rother.gov.uk
Bexhill Neighbourhood Board Seeks Local Business Views
The Bexhill Neighbourhood Board has been working since May 2024 to oversee £20 million in funding for Bexhill that will be received over the next 10 years from Central Government.
The Board is made up of 12 members and is led by Chair Abi Newbury FCA.
Bexhill Neighbourhood Board is working with the community and businesses to understand Bexhill’s needs and vision for the future, and would like to speak with as many Bexhill businesses as possible.
Dates and times of meetings to do this to follow – please help the Board make the most of the opportunities we have for Bexhill.
Contact can be made to the Bexhill Neighbourhood Board by email at: info@bexhilltownboard.co.uk
Start Smart Grow Strong Free Workshops
The Start Smart, Grow Strong programme is coming to Rother, with two fully funded workshops at the iconic De La Warr Pavilion, Marina, Bexhill-on-Sea.
Whether you’re starting out or levelling up, these free sessions can help you grow your business with confidence, with upcoming sessions on topics including:
Start Smart – Building the Foundations of Your Business – 30 September 2025 – with Phil Ashford’s expert guidance, you’ll unpack the basics of sustainable business setup—from legal and financial know-how to smart planning tools and confidence-building strategies.
Smart Marketing – Turning Strategy into Action – 21 October 2025 – Marketing expert Alex Ryan will help you create a clear customer journey, select the right channels, and make every marketing move count.
You can sign up for the upcoming Start Smart, Grow Strong workshops at the De La Warr Pavilion, at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/start-smart-grow-strong-112761617411
The workshops come as East Sussex Growth Hub have launched a new dedicated website recently, that brings together the range of advice and support options available to local businesses, including upcoming training courses to help bolster skills and promote business growth opportunities in the local area.
Little Gate Supported Apprenticeships
Little Gate’s Supported Apprenticeship Programme is now proudly entering its 7th year, funded by The National Lottery. Over this time, the programme has grown from strength to strength, as a key pathway helping change the employment landscape for young people with Learning Disabilities, Autism, or both across Rother, Hastings, Eastbourne and Wealden.
By working closely with both trainees and employers, the programme ensures that young people are given the opportunity to develop their skills, confidence and independence, while businesses can benefit from enthusiastic, reliable employees.
With over 43 successful placements to date and an impressive 100% retention rate over the last two years, the Supported Apprenticeship model is working to creating real, lasting change in the workplace and in the lives of the apprentices themselves.
Employers who take part in the programme gain access to a motivated local talent pool and also receive ongoing, specialist support from Little Gate’s expert team, to seek to help ensure that both the business and the apprentice thrive.
To find out more and discover how your business can benefit while making a real difference, you can contact Little Gate’s Supported Apprenticeships Lead at the following email address: daxaparmar@littlegate.org.uk
Ambition to Action SME Support Opportunity
Ambition to Action is giving Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in East Sussex the chance to benefit from tailored support to help grow their business.
The fully-funded programme is currently running from now until March 2026, for eligible ambitious SMEs in Rother, Wealden, Eastbourne and Lewes.
Delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, the programme provides up to 16 hours of tailored support, including one-to-one expert advice, action planning using the GROWTHmapper® tool, and access to peer learning cohorts.
Support to SMEs is focused on helping businesses to scale, innovate and diversify, with expertise in areas such as leadership and strategy, digital adoption and AI, access to finance, export readiness and low-carbon transition.
Funding for the project is being provided by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and the partnership between Rother, Wealden, Eastbourne and Lewes District Councils, with the project managed by East Sussex Council.
More information is available on the Ambition to Action website, with an introduction to the programme via Teams also taking place on 23 September 2025, led by Martin Hall, Programme Manager, with details at the following link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/2e11c80a-4050-4233-bcff-9cf13727e1a3@483417e1-e776-477f-9fa0-a32183dc39ec
