Running a business can involve making decisions in areas where you simply do not have all the answers.
You might be deciding whether it is time to change your business structure, trying to get the fundamentals right, planning for growth or looking for expert advice before taking your next step.
Fortunately, there are opportunities for free business support in Eastbourne and programmes supported by local or regional funding, giving business owners access to specialist knowledge, practical workshops, mentoring and one-to-one guidance without having to fund everything themselves.
The programmes available will change over time, so we’ll use this page to highlight useful opportunities for Eastbourne businesses and help you find other sources of business support locally.
Funded business support can take many different forms depending on the programme and the needs of the businesses it has been created to help.
Support available to Eastbourne businesses may include:
Eligibility will vary between programmes. Some opportunities may be specifically for businesses trading within Eastbourne Borough, while others may be available more widely across East Sussex.
It is always worth checking the criteria before applying or booking.
One of the current opportunities is Step Up: Ltd, a fully funded programme delivered by Freedom Works specifically for businesses trading within Eastbourne Borough.
It has been designed for sole traders who want to better understand the differences between continuing as a Sole Trader and becoming a Limited Company.
For some businesses, incorporation can be an important part of their next stage of development. For others, remaining a sole trader may continue to be the right choice.
The important thing is understanding the implications before making that decision.
Step Up: Ltd includes expert guidance from Chris Barnard of Collective Concepts Accounting, an award-winning accountant and tax specialist.
The programme looks beyond simply asking whether becoming Limited sounds attractive. It explores the financial, legal and practical differences between the two structures, including areas such as:
The aim is to give business owners enough practical information to make a properly informed decision rather than changing structure simply because they feel they ought to.
There are two ways for Eastbourne businesses to take part in the current Step Up: Ltd programme.
The in-person workshop takes place on Tuesday 6 October 2026 from 8:30am to 12pm at Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club.
There is also an online webinar on Thursday 22 October 2026 from 4:30pm to 7pm, providing another option for businesses that would prefer to participate remotely.
Both are free to attend for eligible Eastbourne businesses.
You can find the current Step Up: Ltd events and booking information through Freedom Works Business Support on thebestof Eastbourne.
The support does not necessarily finish when the workshop or webinar ends.
Attendees can also access up to 90 minutes of follow-on tailored one-to-one business support.
The mentoring team of Chris Barnard, Carol Rigby and Rosie Murphy will be available to help attendees look more closely at their own circumstances and the particular questions or challenges affecting their business.
That personalised element means businesses can take what they have learned during the programme and consider how it applies to their own next steps.
Not every business is currently considering becoming a Limited Company.
For businesses that need support getting the essentials right, Freedom Works is also rolling out its Business Essentials programme across East Sussex from November 2026.
The programme is aimed at sole traders, early-stage businesses and micro businesses, with practical support covering areas including business planning, online essentials, marketing, sales, systems and finance.
We’ll continue to highlight relevant opportunities as new dates and programmes become available.
You do not necessarily need to be starting a business or facing a major problem to benefit from business support.
Free and funded programmes can be useful when you want to:
The right support will depend on where your business is now and what you are trying to achieve next.
As programmes change, we’ll continue updating this guide with useful free business support in Eastbourne and funded business support in Eastbourne available to local businesses.
You can also find local groups, organisations and other sources of support in our Business and Networking Organisations in Eastbourne guide.
