Local Factsheet - Rother

Are you based in or looking to relocate and grow your business in East Sussex?

Your local Growth Hub offers a range of free online, telephone and face-to-face support (face-to-face support is offered on a case-by-case basis). A team of experienced Business Navigators can provide information to help guide businesses to sources of advice, support, and finance. Online information including: business networking calendar and local business news.

Eligibility: Available to businesses that have started trading.

Website: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/business/support/east-sussex-growth-hub

Tel: 01273 335878

E-mail: growth.hub@eastsussex.gov.uk

Provides information on business rates, licensing, planning, commercial property, environmental health, licences, and procurement. The council also signposts to local and national business support, funding and finance services.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses no yet trading.

Website: http://www.rother.gov.uk/businesssupport

Tel: 01424 787 000

Tel: 01424 787 550 - Licensing

East Sussex County Council offers information on licensing, finance and grants and signposts to available business support. Trading standards information is provided via the website.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading. Excludes the Brighton and Hove area.

Website: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/business/

Tel: 0345 608 0190 - switchboard

Tel: 0345 608 0197 - Trading standards

Online contact form: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/contact-us/contact-us-online/

Are you looking for help to develop your workforce?

Transform might just be for you.  The Transform Adviser team will work with employers across East Sussex, supporting them with 1-2-1 impartial advice to identify skills gaps in their business.  They can provide guidance on appropriate apprenticeship and skills training programmes, offer help to choose a learning provider and apply for apprenticeship levy transfer to cover the full cost of apprenticeship training.

Eligibility: Available for trading businesses employing staff. 

Enquiries from priority sectors are particularly welcomed:
Construction, Digital, Engineering, Health and Social Care, Land-based industries, Logistics and the Visitor Economy.

Website: https://www.sctp.org.uk/transform-esf-apprenticeship-levy-transfer-project/

Contact form: https://www.sctp.org.uk/transform-contact-form/

E-mail: TRANSFORM@eastsussex.gov.uk

Are you thinking about starting a new business or becoming self-employed?

Free, fully funded, short courses offered online, providing an introduction to the key considerations of starting a business or becoming self-employed.  Learners will gain two enterprise qualifications, and receive ongoing support for three months afterwards.  To register your interest, complete the online form.

Following completion of the course, participants have the option to join further free programmes focussed on digital promotion and digital skills in the business, covering areas including using digital technologies and software for word processing, presentations and spreadsheets and digital skills career progression.

They also provide access to a fully funded, self-paced online Functional Skills course to help people build on their abilities in English and Maths, equivalent to a GCSE qualification.

For ex-offenders who have left the prison service, Through the Gate Support, provides learners with the opportunity to gain a recognised business qualification.  Through a series of engaging sessions, the course covers all the basics of starting up, and supports learners to work with other specialist ex-offender agencies as part of their resettlement journey.  To make an enquiry contact the team by emailing referrals@kickoffinbusiness.co.uk. 

Eligibility: Available for people over the age of 19, not started trading or within the first 12 months of trading.

Website: https://www.kickoffinbusiness.co.uk

General contact form: https://www.kickoffinbusiness.co.uk/contact

A provider of business support and finance across the South East and East of England. Let’s Do Business Group offers business consultancy, business resources and training as a chargeable service, but also delivers a variety of fully funded business support services on behalf of local authorities and government organisations.

Eligibility: Information and templates for businesses not yet trading. Business advice is available to trading businesses at a cost.

Website: http://www.letsdobusinessgroup.co.uk/

Tel: 0844 415 2272

E-mail: info@ldbgroup.co.uk

People starting or growing a business in Sussex can access a range of advice and support services such as webinars and workshops, networking and events, a range of resources and research databases (COBRA, EMIS, Fame, GrantFinder, IBISWorld, Kompass, Local Data Online, Mintel, Statista) as well as business support and intellectual property information from the team and their business expert partners when you visit.  Located at Jubilee Library in Brighton, they also offer meeting spaces with audio-visual equipment.  The centre is part of the network of BIPC centres, and links in with the BIPC Local centres in the area located at Crawley, Eastbourne and Hastings libraries.  

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/bipc

Tel: 01273 296944

E-mail: BIPC@brighton-hove.gov.uk

A police-led and not-for-profit organisation providing support to help protect businesses from cybercrime. You will gain access to a range of different tools and resources providing you with practical steps to protect your business. Different membership levels are available, including a free membership package. A range of cyber resilience services are also available – more information can be found on the website. 

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business. 

Website: https://www.secrc.co.uk/

Brighton University can support your business with help to recruit university students via internships & placement opportunities, and the Careers Connect portal to post any job vacancies you have to offer graduates.  They also offer apprenticeships, peer to peer action learning group sessions, and a range of support for businesses looking to grow through innovation.  Whether you are looking to make efficiencies, explore new markets, or need specialist expertise and access to facilities for R&D projects, their knowledge exchange team can discuss your needs and explore the options with you.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading.

Website: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/business-services/index.aspx

E-mail: KnowledgeExchange@brighton.ac.uk

Enquiry form: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/business-services/talk-to-us.aspx

A programme for manufacturing companies in the South East of England. Made Smarter is designed to help accelerate growth, boost productivity and increase competitive edge through new digital technologies.
This includes support from Technical Experts to help businesses switch to advanced and automated technologies, up to 50% match-funding, specialist advice, leadership training and student placements.  

To find out more and make an enquiry, visit the website.

Eligibility: Manufacturing businesses trading longer than two years, with a turnover above £100,000.

Closing date: March 2026

Website: https://www.madesmarter.uk/adoption/in-my-region/south-east/

Innovate UK Business Growth (was Innovate UK EDGE) is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth. It provides intensive, specialist-led support to ambitious innovation-led businesses to help them grow and scale.

Each high-potential, innovative business is supported by a dedicated innovation & growth specialist local to them. The specialist will consider a business in the round and, working closely with its leadership, identify the most productive ways to accelerate its growth. This could be by working on the core business plan and value proposition or through exploiting innovation, accessing funding and finance, and/or expanding into new markets.

In particular, the specialists can help companies to develop an innovation-driven business plan; understand how to protect and create value from their intellectual property; develop a strategy to fund and finance their innovation, growth and be investment ready; connect to new partners for commercial, technology and R&D collaborations; and discover opportunities in overseas markets learning how to capitalise on them.

Innovate UK Business Growth  also offer the Scaleup Programme for enhanced support, the Global Incubator Programme and the Global Business Innovation Programme.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading (innovative businesses, looking to grow and scale their business in the UK market and internationally) with up to 500 employees (250 in Northern Ireland). It is not suitable for pre-starts, or for those businesses who have no ambition to grow through innovation or internationalisation.

Website: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth/

Online Contact Form: https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/business-growth-contact/ 

Tel: 0300 123 3066  (National Gateway)

Do you need legal advice? Lawyers for your business is a scheme offering a free half-hour consultation with a member of the Law Society.

The lawyer will not be able to deal with existing legal issues but can help with general legal enquiries about starting a business, employing people, contracts with customers and suppliers, taking on leased premises, business structures, health and safety and raising finance. When contacting a solicitor for a 30-minute free consultation you must advise you are calling regarding the Lawyers for your business scheme and use the named contact on the sheet sent to you from the service.

Eligibility: Available for businesses trading up to 12 months including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/

Tel: 020 7320 5650 - If you need help with using the find a solicitor section, Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm

E-mail: lfyb@lawsociety.org.uk - please include postcode or town/city in the e-mail.

For solicitors interested in joining the LFYB scheme
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/career-advice/individual-accreditations/lawyers-for-your-business

East Sussex County Council Grants and Loans offers a range of grant and loan options for businesses starting up, growing or looking to relocate to East Sussex.  They also release monthly updates on new and re-opening grant funding from other providers, including sources of funding support for community organisations.

Eligibility: Available to all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/business/support/grants

Tel: 01273 482205

E-mail: economicintervention.fund@eastsussex.gov.uk

Community organisations in Rother can apply for funding to benefit their local area. 

Grants covering up to 50% of costs are available up to £1,000.  Examples of projects include purchase of public open spaces for community use, activities focussing on inclusivity, community transport, environmental improvements, heritage and arts, pre-school and playground initiatives, sporting facilities, rural car parks, community centres and youth clubs.

Community organisations can also apply for a grant up to £1,000 for activities showing their commitment to helping the Rother District to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Larger grants are available to apply for twice a year, and are updated on the website when open.

The schemes are funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rother District Council.  Visit the website for full details of how to apply.  To discuss your eligibility to apply contact Rother Voluntary Action for advice. 

Eligibility:  Available to community organisations who have started trading and have a formal constitution document in place.  Includes charities, clubs and societies, CICs, CIOs, companies Ltd by guarantee and voluntary associations.  

Closing date: Applications for a small grant (under £1,000) can be applied for all year round. 

Website: https://www.rother.gov.uk/benefits-grants-and-funding/community-grants-scheme/

Email: communitygrants@rother.gov.uk

Community organisations in Rother can apply for grant funding, to benefit their local area. 

Rural Spaces Improvement Grant - up to £20,000 (80% of costs)
Support for projects in rural areas which improve local green and blue spaces.  Examples include community gardens, embankments, and bringing more natural features into existing public spaces. The areas of Bexhill, Cooden Beach, Little Common, Sidley and Pebsham are excluded.

Rural Community Infrastructure Grant - up to £20,000 (50% of costs)
Support for projects investing in better local amenities, such as public EV charging points, low carbon community energy equipment, and kitchen facilities in community hubs.  To discuss your eligibility to apply contact Rother Voluntary Action for advice.

The schemes are funded through the UK Rural Prosperity Fund and Rother District Council.  Visit the website for full details of how to apply.    

Eligibility:  Available to community organisations who have started trading and have a formal constitution document in place.  Includes charities, clubs and societies, CICs, CIOs, companies Ltd by guarantee and voluntary associations.  

Website: https://www.rother.gov.uk/regeneration/uk-shared-prosperity-fund/

Email: regeneration@rother.gov.uk

The Samuel Wilson Loan Trust offers Loans of up to £50,000 to people over 18 and under 40 years old for establishing and developing new businesses, and who are "in need by reason of ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage."

Loan amounts are dependent on the type of business: Loans of up to £50,000 are available for limited companies. Sole traders can apply for loans of between £25,000-£50,000.

Eligibility: Available for businesses who have been trading for less than 3 years, or a just about to start up a business. Please note that the Trust does not loan to any business whose primary trade is the manufacture or sale of alcohol. The process to access a loan can take between 2-4 months.

Website: Samuel Wilson's Loan Trust - City of London

E-mail: SWLT.Enquiries@cityoflondon.gov.uk (contact via e-mail only)

Are you looking to explore your loan & equity options?

FSE offers a range of loans and equity finance for innovative growth companies. You need to be able to demonstrate the potential for significant growth and investment-ready to apply. You can find more information on the funds available via the website.

Eligibility: Available to businesses that have begun trading.

Website: https://www.thefsegroup.com/

Tel: 01276 608 510

E-mail: fundingenquiries@thefsegroup.com

Offers business finance to businesses who might struggle to gain access to finance through mainstream lenders. Accredited business support partners of British Business Bank offering Start Up Loans, Recovery Loans and Growth Loans to businesses in the South East and East of England.

Business growth loans range from £20,000 - £150,000 and are available to businesses who have been trading for at least 24 months who are looking to grow. Some earlier stage businesses can be considered.

Website: https://www.letsdobusinessfinance.co.uk/business-loans

Tel: 0844 415 2272

E-mail: info@ldbgroup.co.uk

Rother District Council
Offers information on its site about how to do business with the council.
https://www.rother.gov.uk/business/tenders-and-contracts/

South East Business Portal
Portal for businesses looking to supply to Local Authorities in the South East. Registration is not required to browse opportunities.
https://sebp.due-north.com/
E-mail: ProContractSuppliers@proactis.com - the Portal Support Team

SE Shared Service e-Sourcing portal
The portal is a collaboration between public sector authorities in the South East region to provide a simple, secure and efficient way for managing sourcing and quotation activities, reducing time and cost for buyers and suppliers.
Website: https://in-tendhost.co.uk/sesharedservices/aspx/Home

Business East Sussex
Online events calendar 
https://southeastbusiness.org.uk/east-sussex/events/

Eastbourne unLtd Chamber of Commerce
Is the Chamber of Commerce for the East Sussex area
https://www.eastbourneunltd.co.uk/

Sussex Chamber of Commerce
They offer networking events throughout the region. Some are free to non-members, others are chargeable.
http://www.sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk/#

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
Events calendar for UK based businesses.
https://www.fsb.org.uk/event-calendar.html

Let's Do Business Group (LDBG)
Is the Chamber of Commerce for the Hastings and Rother area.
http://www.letsdobusinessgroup.co.uk/

ProfitNet
Profitnet is an innovative business development and support programme that enables small and medium-sized enterprises to help themselves and their peers. Developed by the University of Brighton, it has been successful for over 1000 businesses in the UK and Ireland.
https://www.brighton.ac.uk/business-services/profitnet/index.aspx

Rother District Council
Has a list of Commercial Agents on its website.
https://www.rother.gov.uk/business/support-and-advice/inward-investment-grants-and-loans/commercial-agents/