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Here are some of the business support programmes running in Brighton and Sussex. 

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Help to Grow

The University of Brighton’s management programme, Help to Grow, is a 12-week mini-MBA style course, completed alongside full-time work. It’s designed for leaders and senior managers of businesses with five or more employees, and focuses on developing management skills, advancing responsible business practices, and help with understanding how to innovate your business model.

Their cohorts run in both Brighton and Crawley locations. Find out more here.

DCMS Create Growth Programme

A first of its kind opportunity targeted at creative businesses with the potential to grow, the free Create Growth programme is a Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) initiative to support high-growth, pre-start up creative businesses outside of London to become investment ready.

Eligible businesses will access an intensive programme designed to improve their leadership capacity, so they’re better placed to access finance – plus get access to national and regional angel investor networks interested in creative industry investment opportunities.

The programme, delivered by Innovate UK, launched in January 2023 and run until March 2025. If you’re interested, and to find out if your business is eligible, find out more here and register your interest by contacting: info@createsoutheast.org.uk. 

Student Consultancy Programme with the University of Sussex

Get help with marketing, strategy, management and growth projets in your business through the University of Sussex's Student Consultancy Programme. Students will focus on a project or challenge in your business for a combined 100 hours. 

With academic supervision, they'll create and present recommendations on projects to help you develop new marketing strategies; evaluate sustainability challenges in your sector; or ways to grow your customer base.

There's no financial obligation. Find out more and how to express your interest here. 

Barclays Eagle Lab

Free-to-access programmes from Eagle Lab include support for funding readiness; programmes for black and LGBTQI+ founders; developing digital products and engagement between startups and large businesses to share core strategic thinking. 

Plus the newly launched Eagle Lab Academy - free access to online skills learning for leaders and teams, with more than 50 modules and courses to help start, develop and scale your business and team.

Find out more about Barclays Eagle Lab, including support programmes available here. 

Sussex Innovation

Sussex Innovation is a business incubator hub, providing a business network and offering growth and innovation consultancy, advice, and office space. Their paid support offerings include: 

  • Sussex Innovation’s Catalyst Team places skilled University of Sussex graduates and placement year students into businesses when there are too many projects and not enough hands. 
  • Practical business support to suit your needs from ideas sounding boards to strategic interventions, and everything in between.

Find out more about additional business support on Sussex Innovation’s website here. To get started, contact businesssupport@sinc.co.uk.

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