Build & Thrive: Your Toolkit To Finding Customers & Winning Contracts

🚀Stand Out Online | Win More Work | Grow Your Business 🚀

Build & Thrive is your chance to access expert support, practical tools, and free mentoring – all fully funded by Eastbourne Borough Council. Designed for Eastbourne’s sole traders and small businesses (10 employees or less), the event includes targeted support for those working in the Trades & Construction sector.

What’s on Offer?

🔧 Action-Packed Half-Day Event - Join us in November for a dynamic morning of hands-on workshops designed to help you attract customers, win contracts, and strengthen your business operations. You’ll hear from real-world experts, a keynote speaker from the Trades sector, enjoy networking opportunities, and be first in line for free online 1:1 mentoring.

Why Attend?

• 🎓 Expert-led, interactive workshops & insight from our Keynote Speaker
• 🛠 Practical, no-fluff support you can act on immediately
• 🎁 Priority access to free, tailored mentoring
• 🤝 Networking with local businesses and support organisations
• 🍽 Free breakfast and refreshments

What you’ll learn…

💡 Building Your Online Presence (Stu Davies, Creative Bloom)

📈Get found online with better branding, websites, SEO & social media.

💡Streamlining the Customer Journey (Steph & Debbie, Stebbington)

💰Turn enquiries into confirmed jobs with great quotes and CRM tools.

💡 Mastering Referral Marketing (James Armstrong, Social Firefly)

📢 Use online reviews and word-of-mouth to win more work.

What else?

🍳 Fuel Up - Start your day with a breakfast roll on arrival, stay energised with refreshments, and connect with peers and support providers.

🎤 Special Guest Keynote - Hear from Sara Hawes from Hawes Construction Group, a leading figure in the Trades/Construction industry, sharing insights on what it takes to thrive in Eastbourne’s business landscape. And also hear from Kris Dann from Dann Electrical an Easbourne based electrical business sharing his valuable insights and knowledge within the trades sector.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Free Follow-On Mentoring

After the event, attendees will be eligible for up to 3 hours of personalised 1-1 mentoring, delivered online for flexibility and convenience. Topics include marketing, sales, branding, productivity and more. *Spaces are limited and on a first come first serve basis.

🎯 Sign up from November 11th on the event day, and get paired with a business expert matched to your needs.

Who Can Attend?

✅ Sole traders, early-stage entrepreneurs and small businesses in Eastbourne with 10 or fewer employees

📍 Please note: This programme is only open to businesses within the Eastbourne Borough. Businesses must have the core business address located and trading from the Eastbourne Borough.

If you're unsure whether you're eligible, check using the Find your local council tool on GOV.UK.

Meet Your Business Support Partners:

At Build & Thrive you won’t just learn from expert speakers - you’ll also have the chance to connect with local business support organisations dedicated to help you grow, scale and succeed:

• Lewes District & Eastbourne Borough Councils
• East Sussex Growth Hub
• The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
• East Sussex College Group
• The Best of Eastbourne
• CITB
• The Foundry
• Lets Do Business
• Eastbourne Chambers
• Hawes Construction Group
• Dann Electrical
• The Best of Eastbourne

Book Your Free Place Now

Don’t miss out on this action-packed event - Register NOW and start building a stronger, more successful business.

*This programme is funded by Eastbourne Borough Council from local employment and training contributions generated from qualifying developments in accordance with the Local Employment and Training Supplementary Planning Document.