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Christmas is coming...
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Welcome to the November edition of the West Sussex Growth Hub newsletter! The year is speeding towards the festive finale, and Christmas is just around the corner - the perfect time to get your business ready for the seasonal rush.
Whether you’re planning to boost sales or simply survive the busiest few weeks of the year, we’re here to cheer you on and make sure you finish 2025 on a high. So, grab a hot drink, take a moment to breathe, and dive into this month’s newsletter.
Who are we?
West Sussex Growth Hub is fully-funded by the Department of Business and Trade and delivered through West Sussex County Council. We provide free, tailored business support for organisations in West Sussex, of all sizes, connecting you with the right advice, support and resources to help your business achieve it's goals.
Get in touch with the team today!
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Women in Innovation Awards – Grant funding available!
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Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is offering up to 60 Women in Innovation Awards to women founders and co-founders of micro, small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK.
Successful projects will receive up to £75,000 of grant funding and bespoke business support for 12 months.
Your project must:
• have a grant funding request of up to £75,000
• last for 12 months
• start on 1 July 2026
• end on 30 June 2027
Find out more and apply now here!
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Horsham Business Training Programme - Opens this December
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Horsham District Council's Business Training Programme is an exciting series of business training workshops, designed to provide skills development and enhanced opportunities for local businesses to share and learn from the latest best practice.
The programme covers a wide range of topics using a blend of online and in-person formats. Course content is delivered by locally based business experts in their fields.
Bookings for the next round of business training workshops open Friday 5 December 2025, with some workshops, 121 sessions and video series available to access now.
Explore what's on offer and express your interest today.
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Register now for Frontier Tech: Engineering the Impossible with Sussex Innovation
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Are you interested in learning about the emerging technologies set to reshape your industry?
Join Sussex Innovation and the experts from the University of Sussex to find out more about the opportunities presented by quantum computing and advanced AI, as well as practical insights into R&D, product development and innovation funding.
When and where are the events?
The programme will feature three events across Sussex, each bringing together a small, select group of local businesses:
• Brighton Session (Wednesday 26th November 2025)
• Eastbourne Session (Thursday 22nd January 2026)
• Haywards Heath Session (Thursday 12th February 2026)
For more information and to sign up for your chosen session, visit the website.
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One month until Christmas: Top tips for businesses
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Stay visible
People are busier, but online activity rises. Keep showing up with short, helpful content to stay front-of-mind during the festive rush.
Make the most of last-minute sales
Promote bestsellers, gift options and simple “ready now” offers. Service-based businesses can highlight remaining December slots and encourage early January bookings.
Avoid December overwhelm
Prioritise the tasks that genuinely need completing this year. Anything non-essential can wait. Streamline, delegate and protect your energy.
Encourage repeat business
Small gestures such as thank you messages or early January incentives can strengthen relationships and drive repeat bookings or purchases.
Prepare for January now
Draft content, outline upcoming offers and tidy your systems. A little planning now creates a smoother start to the new year.
Keep engagement simple
Ask quick questions, share helpful reminders or show behind-the-scenes moments. Make interaction easy for your audience.
Look after yourself
Set boundaries, schedule breaks and remember that not everything must be completed before the 25th. A steady December sets you up for a stronger January.
And of course, if you're needing some extra support or advice during this period and beyond, get in touch with us by emailing WSCC.GrowthHub@westsussex.gov.uk, or completing an enquiry form here.
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West Sussex Growth Hub – Business Support Clinics
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We are thrilled to continue offering our free Business Support Clinics, following the fantastic success of the last two series. Running from June through to the end of 2025 – and now with even more clinics arranged for 2026, this is your chance to access tailored, expert advice that could transform your business.
Each 1-hour, one-to-one session is led by our expert Growth Hub team and designed to give you practical, actionable insights across three core areas:
• Operations & Scale-Up – streamline, grow and future-proof your business.
• Social Media Content – cut through the noise and attract your ideal customers.
• Finance – returning later in 2026.
View our full event listings on our Eventbrite.
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Essential insights for UK SMEs: Industry, Infrastructure & Tech in Australia webinar
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Join the Department of Business and Trade Business Academy on 3rd December from 9-10am for an insightful webinar where their experts will reveal why Australia is fast becoming a top destination for UK businesses.
What’s in it for you?
• Understand the strategic benefits of entering the Australian market
• Explore thriving infrastructure sectors and their growth drivers
• Learn how advanced manufacturing is opening doors for SMEs in specialised markets
Why now?
Australia is investing $15 billion across priority sectors like renewables, medical science, transport, defence, and more. This means huge opportunities for UK companies ready to expand globally.
Meet the experts:
• Bob Eggleton, Senior Consultant from Strategy Australia
• Philip Hare, Director & Senior Consultant from Strategy Australia
Sign up and get started on the website here.
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Future CEO Peer Support Programme - Coming to Horsham
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We’re thrilled to see our first Future CEO cohort off to a cracking start in Worthing!
This programme is designed for business owners who’ve built something solid and are now asking, “What’s next?”
Future CEO isn’t a seminar or networking event. It’s a small, carefully selected group of local leaders meeting monthly to tackle real business challenges together. Each session is structured, confidential, and led by an expert facilitator, with tailored 1-to-1 coaching included. It’s all about strategy, mindset, leadership, and clarity, a space for honest conversations and practical support.
Following the success in Worthing, we’re now looking to launch our Horsham cohort in 2026 and are seeking ambitious business owners to join. We’re looking for people who:
• Have traded for 2+ years
• Turn over £250k+
• Employ 3+ people
• Are open to learning and sharing
If that’s you, email our programme lead Luke Brice to express interest here.
Even if it’s not the right fit for you, please share with someone who might benefit, the right nudge can make all the difference!
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