About this Event
Overview
Whether you're shaping a new idea or have just taken your first steps into self-employment, Brighton & Hove Business Launchpad is your chance to gain the essential knowledge, confidence and support you need to start your business journey on solid ground.
This fully funded, full-day programme brings together expert facilitators, practical workshops, and the city's leading business support partners - all designed to help you move from “I’ve got an idea…” to “I know what to do next.”
Date: Wednesday 4 March 2026
Time: 9.00am – 3.15pm
Location: PLATF9RM, Floor 5 & 6, Tower Point, 44 North Rd, Brighton BN1 1YR
Delivered by Freedom Works on behalf of Brighton & Hove City Council’s Growth Hub, the programme offers clear, jargon-free guidance tailored to anyone taking their first business steps.
What to Expect
This high-impact day features three expert-led workshops, each designed to give you the essential tools and confidence to build early momentum in your business.
We’ve structured the day to create an inclusive, welcoming and practical learning environment with space to reflect, take notes, connect with others and meet the city’s business support partners.
Programme Schedule
9.00–9.30 — Registration & Refreshments: Arrive, meet the team, enjoy a hot drink, and connect with local business support partners.
9.30–9.45 — Welcome & Introductions: An introduction to the day, our partners, the venue and how to get the most from the programme.
Workshop 1: Laying the Foundations (Carl Southwell, Startup Street)
9.45–11.15
Understand what self-employment really involves, validate your business idea, and learn the essential practical steps to get set up correctly.
You’ll cover:
- The realities of starting a business (pros, cons and common early pitfalls)
- Understanding your customer and the problem your idea solves
- Simple, low-cost ways to test your idea
- Legal and practical essentials: business structure, HMRC, insurance, bookkeeping
- Creating your first 30–90 day action plan
Workshop Outcome: Leave with clarity on your idea’s viability, legal next steps, and a practical action plan.
Meet Your Speaker: Carl Southwell helps early stage founders get clear, confident and ready to move. He runs Startup Street, supporting people to turn early ideas into real businesses through simple tools, straightforward planning and a strong focus on action. Carl has spent years working with local communities, councils, sports foundations and business networks, helping thousands of people start and grow projects that make a real difference. His style is practical and encouraging, cutting out the noise and showing people what actually works in the real world. Carl brings energy, modern thinking and a genuine passion for helping founders take their first steps.
11.15–11.30 — Break & Partner Networking
Workshop 2: Strengthening Financial Confidence & Growth Readiness (Emma Hardwick, Plus Accounting)
11.30–13.00
Build confidence with your numbers so you can make good decisions early on and plan for sustainable growth.
You’ll learn:
- How to price your product or service correctly
- What costs to expect in your first year
- Creating a simple budget and understanding cashflow
- Funding options for new businesses
- What “growth readiness” looks like for early-stage founders
Workshop Outcome: Leave with a basic cashflow, pricing model and clarity on your financial next steps.
Meet Your Speaker: Emma Hardwick joined Plus Accounting in 2008 as a trainee accountant and went on to qualify as a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) in 2015. She now leads the firm’s Outsourcing and Advisory services, working closely with start-ups and growing businesses to help them build strong financial foundations from day one. Emma is passionate about helping founders make sense of their numbers, set up scalable systems, and gain the confidence to make informed decisions as their businesses grow. Her practical, down-to-earth approach makes even the most daunting financial topics feel accessible and manageable.
13.00–13.30 — Lunch & Networking A relaxed chance to speak with partners and ask tailored questions. Lunch is provided.
Workshop 3: Building Visibility & Customer Connection (Stu Davies, Creative Bloom)
13.30–15.00
Learn how to identify your customer, craft your value message and take your first marketing steps — without needing a big budget or complicated strategy.
You’ll explore:
- Who your customer is and what motivates them
- How to explain what you do clearly and confidently
- Early marketing channels that work for beginners
- Basics of digital visibility (Google, social media, listings)
- Building trust, generating leads and simple sales conversations
Workshop Outcome: Leave with a customer profile, a one-sentence pitch, and a simple starter marketing plan.
Meet Your Speaker: Stu Davies makes digital marketing simple, effective, and easy to manage - no tech jargon, no fluff. As Head of Agency at , he’s helped hundreds of small businesses cut through the noise and attract more customers. Whether it’s getting your website working for you, improving your social media, or making sure people actually find you on Google, Stu knows what works. His advice is practical, no-nonsense, and tailored to business owners at all stages of their journey.
15.00–15.15 - Signposting to Further Support & Close: Discover how to access free, ongoing support through the Brighton & Hove Growth Hub, BIPC, Brighton Chambers, Barclays Eagle Labs, Freedom Works, PLATF9RM and more.
Why Attend?
This programme is designed for Brighton & Hove residents if you:
- Have a business idea but don’t know where to start
- Have recently begun trading and want more structure
- Want clear, simple and supportive guidance
- Prefer practical learning over jargon
- Want to connect with Brighton and Hove’s business support ecosystem
By the end of the day, you will feel more confident, more informed, and more supported to start your business - with a clear understanding of what to do next.
Meet the Business Support Partners
You’ll have the chance to meet and speak with:
- Brighton & Hove Growth Hub
- BIPC Brighton & Hove
- Barclays Eagle Labs
- Freedom Works / PLATF9RM
- Brighton Chambers
These organisations will be on-site to offer guidance, signposting and information on the ongoing support available after the event.
Who Can Attend?
Brighton & Hove residents aged 19+ who have a credible idea and want to start a business, or who are in the early stages of a new business.
Book Your Free Place
This programme is fully funded, but places are limited. So don’t miss this opportunity to gain clarity, confidence and momentum in your business journey.
Sign up here today and take your first business steps with expert guidance.
Find out more about the Brighton & Hove Growth Hub: https://businessbrightonandhove.co.uk/
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
PLATF9RM Brighton - Coworking, Offices & Events, 44 North Road, Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom
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