Launchpad Southend

LinkedIn Do's & Don'ts for Success
2025-11-20 09:30 - 11:30 UTC | Online
LinkedIn has emerged as a powerful platform for professionals to connect, network, and advance their careers.
Join us as we delve into the essential do’s and don’ts of LinkedIn, uncovering the key tactics to optimise your profile, expand your network, and engage effectively with potential customers and collaborators.
Whether you are just starting, or you are a regular user looking to enhance your profile, this webinar is designed to equip you with practical insights in how to make the most of the platform.
We will also look at LinkedIn Campaign Manager including how to create audiences and paid ad capabilities.
Event details:
Time: 9.30am – 11.30am
Location: Online (ZOOM)
Cost: £30pp

Meet the Host:
Stacey Pretty | Marketing Director, Let’s Do Marketing

Stacey is the Marketing Director of Let’s Do Marketing, a marketing consultancy and services agency which is tailored to specifically support new and small businesses with organising and fulfilling their marketing ideas. With over 17 years of marketing experience, working in both B2B and B2C environments, Stacey has extensive experience in managing, creating, and promoting a variety of products and services using both online and offline marketing tools. Understanding the challenges faced by new and small businesses, Stacey seeks to simplify the complexities of marketing, with an approach focused on effectiveness and consistency, ensuring that every marketing effort translates into tangible results. For Stacey, marketing isn’t just about campaigns; it’s about building relationships and fostering an excellent customer experience.

LinkedIn Content That Connects and Builds Trust
2025-11-20 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us as we gear up for Small Business Saturday on 6th December with our series of free, virtual webinars designed to help small businesses grow.

Each webinar is hosted by successful small business owners and recorded for later viewing.

Attend 10 sessions, and receive a free gift from us! LinkedIn isn’t just for job seekers, it’s a powerful platform for business growth. In this practical and energising session, LinkedIn coach Ashley Leeds shows you how to boost your visibility, attract the right audience, and turn connections into customers.

You will learn:

– Spot and fix the top 3 LinkedIn mistakes most small businesses make

– Transform your profile into a powerful, client-attracting asset

– Come up with simple content ideas that drive clicks and conversations

– Show up consistently on LinkedIn in just 15 minutes a day – Build genuine connections with your ideal audience (without the awkward sales pitch)

Sign up for more webinars in this series here: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

How to achieve Small Business Sustainability through Local Collaboration
2025-11-21 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us as we gear up for Small Business Saturday on 6th December with our series of free, virtual webinars designed to help small businesses grow.
Each webinar is hosted by successful small business owners and recorded for later viewing.
Attend 10 sessions, and receive a free gift from us! In this session, sustainability expert Adam Bastock explores how small businesses can achieve meaningful environmental change by working together at a local level. Discover why collaboration rather than competition, is key to sustainability success!
You will learn:
– Practical ways small businesses can support each other.
– How community events spark action and partnerships more than formal training
– Identify quick wins for collective environmental impact.
Sign up for more webinars in this series here: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

Getting Started with Influencer Marketing
2025-11-24 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us as we gear up for Small Business Saturday on 6th December with our series of free, virtual webinars designed to help small businesses grow.
Each webinar is hosted by successful small business owners and recorded for later viewing.
Attend 10 sessions, and receive a free gift from us!
Influencer marketing has become one of the most powerful tools for brands looking to connect with their audiences in authentic and engaging ways. This is no surprise, as people love to be able to see a product tried and tested by someone they admire. In this session, Social Media Expert Katherine George will take you through the steps necessary to launch your own influencer campaign.
You will learn:
– How to find the right influencer for your brand
– Understand the process behind an influencer lead campaign
– The benefits of using influencer to support your brand Sign up for more webinars in this series here:
https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
2025-11-25 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us as we gear up for Small Business Saturday on 6th December with our series of free, virtual webinars designed to help small businesses grow.
Each webinar is hosted by successful small business owners and recorded for later viewing.
Attend 10 sessions, and receive a free gift from us!
Do you ever feel like a fraud, despite your accomplishments? You’re definitely not alone, imposter syndrome affects high achievers across all industries and can often impact their business and potential negatively. Coach Jane Galloway will lead an empowering webinar designed to help you understand, challenge, and overcome imposter syndrome. Through relatable insights and practical tools, Jane will guide you toward building lasting self-belief, allowing your full potential to be reached.
You’ll learn:
– What imposter syndrome really is and why it’s so common
– How to overcome imposter syndrome
– How to reframe your self-doubt and boost your self confidence
Sign up for more webinars in this series here: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

Why brand awareness ads are NOT a waste of money
2025-11-27 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Essex
Join us as we gear up for Small Business Saturday on 6th December with our series of free, virtual webinars designed to help small businesses grow.
Each webinar is hosted by successful small business owners and recorded for later viewing.
Attend 10 sessions, and receive a free gift from us!
Brand awareness campaigns are often underestimated, but they can be the launchpad for a successful Meta ads strategy. In this webinar, Michaela Parker will show how to unlock their potential and not be discounted.
You will learn:
– Why brand awareness campaigns can set the stage for long-term success with Meta
– Three overlooked campaign types that deliver powerful results
– How to interpret and value awareness metrics the right way
Sign up for more webinars in this series here: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

How to Find the Right Investors
2025-11-28 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us as we gear up for Small Business Saturday on 6th December with our series of free, virtual webinars designed to help small businesses grow.
Each webinar is hosted by successful small business owners and recorded for later viewing.
Attend 10 sessions, and receive a free gift from us! Need investment to launch or grow your business? Paul Grant shares proven strategies to secure capital through crowdfunding, angel investors, venture capital, and more. Ideal for startups or scaling businesses, this one-hour webinar offers a clear, step-by-step approach to raising funds.
You’ll learn:
– How to choose the best investment route for your business
– The fastest ways to find and connect with investors
– How to deliver a winning pitch
– How to value your business and avoid legal pitfalls Join for insider tips and a live Q&A to tackle your funding questions!
Sign up for more webinars in this series here: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

Create a Rock Solid Business Plan
2025-12-01 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us as we gear up for Small Business Saturday on 6th December with our series of free, virtual webinars designed to help small businesses grow.

Each webinar is hosted by successful small business owners and recorded for later viewing.
Attend 10 sessions, and receive a free gift from us!

A strong business plan is the foundation for growth and resilience, allowing you to make confident decisions and stay focused on what drives your business forward. In this webinar, business strategist Emma Mills-Sheffield will share practical ways to build a plan that works for you.

You will learn:

– ⁠How to prioritise what really matters in your business plan

– ⁠Tools to help you build and challenge your plan

– How to monitor your progress and make sure you’re on the right track during the year

Sign up for more webinars in this series here: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

Money Made Simple: Cash Flow Forecasting for Small Businesses
2025-12-02 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us as we gear up for Small Business Saturday on 6th December with our series of free, virtual webinars designed to help small businesses grow.
Each webinar is hosted by successful small business owners and recorded for later viewing.
Attend 10 sessions, and receive a free gift from us!
Managing money can feel overwhelming, especially for small or one-person businesses. Join Simon Rigby in breaking down the essentials of cash flow forecasting into clear, simple steps you can apply right away. You’ll learn how to predict your income and expenses, avoid cash shortfalls, and make confident financial decisions without needing an accounting degree.
You will learn:
• What cash flow forecasting is (and why it matters more than profit).
• A Simple method to forecast your cash flow using real numbers from your business.
• Spot potential cash gaps early—and know what actions to take.
• Practical tips and tools to keep your business financially healthy.
• Walk away with confidence in managing your money, not fear of it.
Sign up for more webinars in this series here: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

Stress Smarts: Thrive Under Pressure
2025-12-03 11:00 - 12:00 UTC | Zoom
Join us as we gear up for Small Business Saturday on 6th December with our series of free, virtual webinars designed to help small businesses grow.
Each webinar is hosted by successful small business owners and recorded for later viewing.
Attend 10 sessions, and receive a free gift from us!
Stress is often seen as an inevitable part of the entrepreneurial journey but it doesn’t have to be. In this session, Helen will help you look beyond the clichés to understand what stress really is and identify hidden triggers that quietly undermine wellbeing and decision-making in business. Helen will also be sharing practical techniques to effectively handle the pressures of entrepreneurial life.
You will learn:
– The true nature of stress and why it’s often misunderstood
– How to identify hidden stressors (mesotrauma®) specific to founders
– Learn and apply tips to start hacking your stress response
Sign up for more webinars in this series here: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour

Insights for SMEs on Surviving Recessions and Transforming into Leading Businesses
2025-12-04 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Online
In an era of economic uncertainty, resilience and adaptability are the true hallmarks of successful businesses.
This interactive online workshop is designed specifically for midsize to larger SMEs that are navigating transformation and growth during challenging economic times.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday 4th December 2025
Time: 10:00AM – 1:00PM
Location: Online (ZOOM) Workshop
For: Businesses based in Essex (excluding Thurrock)
Led by an experienced business coach, this session will explore how to build resilience, manage resources effectively, and create a forward-looking strategy that balances immediate operational needs with long-term investment.
Through practical insights and real-world examples, participants will learn how to:

Sustain operations and manage resources effectively during economic downturns

Balance short-term stability with long-term strategic investments

Encourage innovation and agility while maintaining strong governance

Identify new opportunities for growth amid market disruptions

Participants will gain actionable frameworks, real-world case studies, and proven strategies to strengthen their business fundamentals, enhance decision-making, and position their organisations for future leadership.
Whether your business is preparing for the next economic shift or actively working to scale sustainably, this workshop will equip you with the tools and insights needed to thrive, not just survive.
Who Should Attend:

CEOs, Managing Directors, and Senior Executives of SMEs

Business Transformation and Strategy Leaders

Financial and Operations Managers involved in growth planning

Don’t miss this opportunity to future-proof your business and connect with peers who share your ambition for lasting success.

About the host:
Ross Moran, Business Advisory Manager
Over two decades focusing on new venture creation and business transformation, Ross has worked in multiple finance, management, and technology roles within small and large organisations. Implementing new business models and developing a deep understanding of how technology process improvements intersect with business lifecycles and ecosystems has given Ross a unique perspective on most aspects of business including market research, new product development, raising finance, sales, marketing, and business transformation.

This workshop is provided courtesy of Backing Essex Business. Fully-funded by Essex County Council and delivered by Let’s Do Business Group. Backing Essex Business (Formerly Back to Business Essex) is here to support business growth across the county, promoting economic growth and creating jobs, by providing free business support, access to finance and training.

For more information visit https: www.backingessexbusiness.co.uk

Please click here to see the Backing Essex Business Privacy Policy

HR Prime FREE Training Session- Company Branding- Attracting Customers and Enhancing Your Reputation
2025-12-04 11:30 - 12:30 UTC | Online
HR Prime FREE Training Session
Company Branding: Attracting Customers and Enhancing Your Reputation
Join us for an exciting online training session where you will learn all about company branding. Discover how to attract customers and enhance your reputation in the market. Don’t miss this opportunity to take your business to the next level!
Please register to secure a spot!

Using AI in Bid Writing – Opportunities and Risks
2025-12-16 09:30 - 10:00 UTC | Online
Essex Growth Agency is pleased to offer this free webinar for businesses and organisations across Essex. Join us for an insightful session on how Artificial Intelligence is shaping the future of bid writing. Discover practical ways AI can support your bidding process, the potential risks involved, and expert tips to improve success rates.
Date: 16th December 2025
Time: 09:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Agenda:

Introduction – Overview of Thornton & Lowe
The Importance of Effective Writing – How strong writing impacts success rates
What’s Involved in Writing – Key considerations for a winning bid
How AI Can Help – Practical applications for bid writing
How AI Can Be a Risk – Understanding limitations and compliance issues
Q&A Session – Your questions answered

Speaker:
Charles Grosstephan, Director of Development, Thornton & Lowe
About Thornton & Lowe:
Thornton & Lowe is a leading Bid Management and Bid Writing Consultancy with a success rate of nearly 80%, supporting businesses across all sectors nationwide to plan and secure contracts and frameworks.

Workshop 4: AI in Tendering – Practical, Compliant & Competitive Use
2026-01-23 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Launchpad Southend, Launchpad Airport Business Park, Rochford, SS4 1YH
This workshop helps micro and small businesses understand how to use AI safely, ethically, and effectively in their tendering process

Overview
AI is transforming how businesses approach public sector bidding. This two-hour workshop helps micro and small businesses understand how to use AI safely, ethically, and effectively in their tendering process.
What You’ll Learn

UK public sector guidance on AI in procurement
How AI can support drafting, compliance checks, and idea generation
Risks and red flags to avoid
A four-step framework for integrating AI into your bid process

Outcomes

A buyer-aligned approach to using AI in tendering
Improved efficiency without compromising quality
Confidence in ethical AI use
A smarter, more competitive bid strategy

Delivery
This workshop is hosted by Launchpad Southend and delivered by BIZphit LLP. It is fully funded by Southend-on-Sea City Council and Rochford District Council.

The Starting line - Building your Business
2026-01-23 18:00 - 21:00 UTC | Sands By The Sea, Icon Building, Southend On Sea, SS1 1EE
Overview

This event is for young entrepreneurs looking to learn the skills they need to grow a business

The event itself will feature networking at a relaxed setting by the sea. Entrepreneurs have the chance to connect with people growing their own skills or even established business owners.
We will also be featuring three unique guest speakers with diverse experience around growing a business:

Magdalena Mahdy, a qualified financial strategist, bookkeeper and tax accountant with extensive entrepreneurial experience, is the founder of ProfitMIND, from DIY training to full-service strategic consultancy, bookkeeping and accounts, supporting businesses at every stage. Combining her background in business mentoring at the University of Essex for the past 9 years with her extensive experience of running small businesses, she empowers entrepreneurs to better understand and leverage their financial data, helping them connect, engage, and thrive with their finances to drive better business decision-making.
Gabrielle Burt, Owner of ‘Gabs Grazing’ and ‘Gabs the home of Gabs Grazing’ a 23 year old self made business owner from Southend who set up a Grazing bar, Deli and night time vibe venue in Leigh on Sea.
Jessica Revell and Gareth Prior are the co-founders of Pocket Power, a psychology-led wellness and life-coaching app created from lived experience, professional expertise and an unwavering belief that access to support should never depend on money.Neither Jessica nor Gareth came from a tech background. They stepped away from established careers, taught themselves to code from scratch and built Pocket Power from the ground up, driven by their own experiences of adversity, recovery and personal transformation
Jessica’s background includes lived experience of disordered eating, serious physical injury, and Sarcoma recovery, alongside years of study in nutrition, fitness and holistic health.
Gareth is a psychologist specialising in human behaviour, habit change and neurodiversity, with a late diagnosis of Asperger’s and dyslexia shaping both his work and advocacy.Together, they built Pocket Power with one clear mission: to remove financial barriers to mental, physical and nutritional support and to give people practical tools to change their lives, not just their outcomes.Pocket Power is live on both app stores in 175 countries, is completely free to use with full access, and has been recognised with multiple industry awards, including being named in the Essex Top Tech 50, winning Wellness App of the Year (London & South East), and Jessica being nominated for the WomenTech Global Awards – Female Founder Rising Star.

At The Starting Line, Jessica and Gareth will share their journey. Not just the wins, but the reality of starting with nothing, learning as you go, leading with purpose and building something meaningful from the ground up.
Following the presentations the group will have opportunities to ask questions and learn more about those in the room.

Breaking Down the Basics of SEO
2026-02-12 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Online
Get your business found online by the people who need you most.

Tired of feeling like your website is invisible? You’re not alone. Many small business owners put time and effort into building their website but still struggle to show up in search results.

This workshop will help you fix that. You’ll learn simple, practical SEO strategies that bring more visitors to your site, attract your ideal customers, and help your business grow. We’ll break down the jargon, showing you how to optimise your website, create content that ranks, and use free tools to see what’s working.

By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make your business more visible online — and feel confident doing it yourself.

Event details:
🕙Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
📌Location: Online (ZOOM)
💷Cost: £30pp +VAT

What You’ll Learn:

Understanding Search Engines: Gain insights into how search engines work and how they determine the ranking of web pages.

Keyword Research and Optimisation: Learn how to strategically incorporate keywords into your content to increase visibility and attract the right audience.

On-Page SEO Techniques: Explore the critical on-page elements that contribute to a website’s SEO success.

Off-Page SEO Strategies: Delve into off-page SEO factors, including backlink building and social signals. Understand how to cultivate a strong online presence beyond the confines of your website.

Technical SEO Essentials: Uncover the technical aspects of SEO, such as site speed, mobile optimisation, and crawlability.

Measuring and Analysing SEO Performance: Explore key metrics and tools to measure the effectiveness of your SEO efforts.

Meet the Host:
Stacey Pretty | Marketing Director, Let’s Do Marketing

Stacey Pretty is the Marketing Director at Let’s Do Marketing, where she helps small and growing businesses turn their marketing ideas into real results.

With more than 19 years of hands-on experience in both B2B and B2C marketing, Stacey’s worked on everything from digital campaigns and content strategies to traditional promotions. She’s seen what works, and what doesn’t, for small businesses trying to make their mark.

Stacey’s mission is simple: to make marketing easier to understand and more effective for business owners who have a lot on their plates. Her sessions focus on practical, achievable steps that bring consistency, confidence, and results.

Privacy Notice
By registering for this event, you agree to Let’s Do Business Group processing and managing your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Your data will only be used for the purposes of managing your event registration and any relevant communications.

Better You, Better Business
2026-02-18 10:00 - 11:00 UTC | Online
When you’re running a small business, the ability to listen, truly listen, can make the difference between clarity and confusion, alignment and tension, progress and burnout.
Yet unspoken assumptions, mental clutter, and rushed conversations often get in the way, draining your energy and undermining performance.
This month, we’re stripping listening back to its essentials.

Beyond Hearing: The Power of Focused Listening
A Grounded Approach to Listening to Others, and Yourself, for Better Decisions

Join us for a powerful, practical session designed to help you shift from passive hearing to Focused Listening, so you can make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and lead with greater confidence and wellbeing.
In this session, you’ll learn how to:

Reduce overwhelm by recognising and clearing limiting internal narratives.
Understand what’s really being communicated by listening beneath the surface of clients, staff, and partners.
Strengthen decision-making through intentional, grounded, present communication.
Build resilience using wellbeing-focused listening techniques that support both personal and business growth.
Come away with practical tools you can apply immediately—in conversations, in leadership, and within yourself.

Our speaker for February will be Alison Theaker from Live Life For Me.

Alison has 30 years’ experience in public relations and management as a practitioner, academic, and author. In 2009, she founded The Spark to help small businesses and sole traders reach their full potential.
Her Public Relations Handbook (7th edition, 2024) is widely used on UK undergraduate PR courses. She completed an MPhil in 2023 on mentoring for women entrepreneurs in rural areas, tutors marketing apprentices at Cambridge Marketing College, and is an adjunct lecturer at Exeter University.
With colleague Anne Hope, Alison develops courses and resources supporting women through menopause, including the 5-session online course Menopause Redefined, in partnership with holistic GP Dr Johanneke Kodde.
Meet your host:

Anna M Stapleton Mental & Emotional Resilience Coach, is committed to elevating health, wellbeing, and personal development within the small business community. Anna empowers entrepreneurs to develop emotional intelligence, embrace accountability, and unlock their potential, for themselves, their teams, and their businesses.
Secure your place today and take the next step toward clearer communication, confident decision-making, and a stronger, more resilient you.

Unlocking global growth | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-19 12:00 - 12:30 UTC | Online
The UK continues to expand its network of free trade agreements (FTAs), creating new opportunities for businesses that know how to take advantage of them.
In this Lunch and Learn, John Austin-Sheridan from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will explain what the UK’s FTAs mean in practice for growing businesses, and how you can start using them more effectively.
With a particular focus on India, this session will explore the commercial opportunities the agreement will unlock when it comes into effect later this year, and how UK businesses can prepare now to benefit.
The webinar will also introduce DBT’s export services, outlining the practical support available to help businesses enter new markets, reduce barriers to trade and scale internationally.
This session is ideal for businesses that are already exporting, as well as those considering international growth for the first time.
Topics covered in this session

The UK’s free trade agreements and what they mean for your business

The India trade agreement and the opportunities it will create when it comes into effect this year

How DBT’s export services can support your international growth

About the speaker
John leads the Free Trade Agreement Utilisation team’s work on the India trade deal at DBT.
He works closely with the business community, as well as DBT teams in the UK and overseas, to help organisations understand and make the most of the opportunities created by the UK’s trade agreements.
Through this work, John supports businesses to turn trade policy into practical, commercial outcomes.
If you have any questions you’d like John to answer during the webinar, please send them to events@enterprisenation.com.
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How to join the online webinar
When you register for the webinar, you’ll receive an automatic email, including the Zoom link to access the event. The event will begin at the time and date stated in the registration information. If you don’t receive the link within two hours of signing up via Eventbrite, please let us know by emailing events@enterprisenation.com. (Note: It may be in your junk folder.)
About Enterprise Nation
Enterprise Nation is the UK’s most active small business network, helping thousands of people turn their good idea into a great business. Join today to get everything you need to start and grow your small business, in one place

Strategies for Successful Email Marketing
2026-02-25 09:30 - 12:00 UTC | Online
Learn how email marketing can help your business grow.
Ever feel like your emails just aren’t getting noticed? You’re not alone! Many small business owners send out emails but aren’t sure how to make them really work.

In this workshop, you’ll learn the basics of email marketing — how to write messages people actually want to read, send them to the right people, and see what’s working (and what’s not).
We’ll cover simple, practical steps to help you:

Get started in collecting data

Creating emails that connect with your audience

Share updates, offers, or stories that keep people interested

Use easy tools to send and track your emails

By the end, you’ll feel confident using email as a simple and effective way to stay in touch with your customers and grow your business.

Event details:
🕙Time: 09:30am – 12:00pm
📌Location: Online (ZOOM)
💷Cost: £35pp +VAT

What You’ll Learn:

Building a Solid Foundation: Learn the fundamentals of email marketing, from creating subscriber lists to segmenting your audience for targeted messaging.

The Legal Bits: Get an understanding of the legalities of email marketing including Marketing Consent (GDPR) and unsubscribes.

Crafting Irresistible Content: Dive deep into the art of crafting emails that captivate your audience.

Automation and Personalisation: Explore the power of automation to streamline your email campaigns and the art of personalisation to create a tailored experience for each recipient.

The Customer Journey: Learn how to utilise email marketing for more than just conversion. Nurture your customers and create touchpoints to improve customer engagement.

Analytics and Optimisation: Learn how to track and interpret key metrics, identify areas for improvement, and optimise your campaigns for maximum impact.

Meet the Host:
Stacey Pretty | Marketing Director, Let’s Do Marketing

Stacey Pretty is the Marketing Director at Let’s Do Marketing, where she helps small and growing businesses turn their marketing ideas into real results.

With more than 19 years of hands-on experience in both B2B and B2C marketing, Stacey’s worked on everything from digital campaigns and content strategies to traditional promotions. She’s seen what works, and what doesn’t, for small businesses trying to make their mark.

Stacey’s mission is simple: to make marketing easier to understand and more effective for business owners who have a lot on their plates. Her sessions focus on practical, achievable steps that bring consistency, confidence, and results.

Privacy Notice
By registering for this event, you agree to Let’s Do Business Group processing and managing your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Your data will only be used for the purposes of managing your event registration and any relevant communications.

The Elevation Lab - Rochford District
2026-02-25 10:30 - 2026-03-18 13:00 (Europe/Paris) | Rayleigh Club, Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh, Essex, SS69QS
Designed for 20 ambitious managers and business owners, this programme provides a powerful blend of strategic learning, practical tools, and personalised support to help participants lead with confidence and accelerate business growth.

Over the course of the programme, participants will gain access to more than £2,000 worth of high-quality professional development, including hands-on workshops, expert mentoring, and ongoing guidance tailored to their business challenges.

The 4 workshops in this programme include:

Innovation: Building a Future-Ready Business
25th February 2026 – 10.30 am – 1 pm
This workshop equips participants with the mindset, tools, and practical frameworks needed to build an innovative, resilient, and future-ready organisation. The session focuses on identifying growth opportunities, navigating disruption, and embedding innovation into everyday decision-making. By the end, participants will have a clear roadmap for strengthening their organisation’s adaptability and long-term competitiveness.

2. Funding Innovation: Finance Readiness and Success
4th March 2026 – 10.30 am – 1 pm
This workshop demystifies the innovation funding landscape, helping participants prepare their business for investment or grant success. Participants will learn how to assess financial readiness, articulate value clearly, and match their innovation to the right funding sources—including grants, loans, private investment, and partnerships. Get guidance on refining financial projections, strengthening business cases, and avoiding common pitfalls. By the end of the session, participants will understand what funders look for and will leave with the confidence and tools to pursue funding effectively.

3. Marketing for Growth
11th March 2026 – 10.30 am – 1 pm
This practical, interactive workshop is designed to help businesses create clear, compelling marketing that supports sustainable growth. Participants will work on defining strong, consistent messaging, improving the customer journey at every touchpoint, and engaging customers more effectively to maximise existing resources. The session will also explore how purposeful engagement can drive retention and growth, alongside practical ways to use measurement and data to track performance, understand what’s working, and make informed marketing decisions that support long-term success.

4. Pitch Perfect: Communicating Your Innovation Story
18th March 2026 – 10.30 am – 1 pm
This workshop helps participants craft a compelling and confident pitch that brings their innovation to life. Through guided practice, participants learn how to structure their narrative, connect with their audience, and communicate complex ideas with clarity and impact. The session covers storytelling techniques, pitch deck essentials, and delivery skills for both in-person and virtual settings. By the end, participants will have a polished pitch outline and the skills to present their innovation in a way that inspires action—whether for customers, partners, or investors.

Please note: This programme is for business leaders and managers based in the Rochford District of Essex.

The Innovate and Elevate Rochford District Programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a UK Government initiative providing funding for local investments to support the government’s five national missions, including economic growth, making the UK a clean energy superpower, and breaking down barriers to opportunity. From April 2025 to March 2026, UKSPF will continue to support local projects focused on communities and place, supporting local businesses, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

A Guide to Managing the Risks of Social Media Workshop
2026-03-03 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Online
Do you understand how to tackle the risks of Social Media?

Social media can be a powerful tool – but it also comes with risks. Every business of every size is vulnerable to online abuse, misinformation and reputational damage. The more platforms you use, the greater the potential for things to go wrong.
This practical and engaging session will help you understand your legal and safeguarding responsibilities, and how to manage your online presence with confidence. You’ll learn how good moderation not only protects your organisation but also builds trust, encourages engagement and strengthens your brand.
Led by experienced trainers, this course will equip you with the tools to create safe, inclusive and value-led online spaces. It will be a mix of discussion, theory and hands-on demonstration.
To make this workshop as bespoke as possible we will ask you a few short questions when you register in order for us to understand the needs of the group, but we will cover the following areas:

Moderating Facebook pages and groups, including live moderation and banning users
Moderation tools across other social platforms including Instagram and X
Zoom moderation and how to manage meetings and webinars safely
How to respond to and manage reviews, especially on Google and Facebook
Setting a tone and policies that reflect your businesses’ values Balancing openness with safety in your online spaces
Understanding the legal responsibilities around online activity

The session will also include a confidential Q&A – either in a group or one-to-one – where you can raise specific concerns or challenges you’ve faced.
Our social media workshops are popular, and places are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Who Should Attend
This training is for all staff who have responsibility for what is posted on social media, either as part of their daily role or because they are in a management or CEO position. For organisations with Boards, it also is aimed at trustees with legal responsibilities. No prior knowledge is required, although some experience of using the platforms will be helpful for the hands-on demonstrations.
What’s Included

The workshop lasts for 2 hours but attendees can stay on for a further 30 minutes for additional discussions and advice.
After the workshop, we will send you a pack containing all the advice, tips and links discussed during the session.
You will also be able to pass on follow-up questions to our trainers, SRX Consultancy, who will offer practical support (via email or a quick call) to ensure you are able to put everything you learned into action.

About the Trainers
SRX Consultancy is a boutique PR, social media and communications agency specialising in areas including charity and small business. Their bespoke and tailored training sessions have been running for 10 years – attended by staff from hundreds of charities, organisations, and small businesses, always receiving positive feedback. This workshop will be delivered by Simon Rothstein and Lauren Soar.
Date: Tuesday 3 March 2026 10.00am – 12.00pm
Virtual: Zoom Platform
Cost to attend: Members £95.00 + VAT and Non-Members £150.00 + VAT

Tackling late payments and getting money moving | Lunch and Learn
2026-03-09 12:00 - 12:30 UTC | Online
In this Lunch and Learn, the team from the UK’s Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) will explain the free support they can provide for small businesses who are dealing with late payments.
They’ll also discuss the Fair Payment Code and its role in building a culture of prompt payment across the UK, and share top tips for protecting your business against the challenge of payments not arriving on time.
Topics covered in this session

How the SBC can help you get paid

How to champion prompt payments with the Fair Payment Code

Top tips to protect your business against late payment

About the speakers
The Office of the Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) is an independent public body established by Government under the Enterprise Act 2016 to tackle overdue payments and unfavourable payment practices in the private sector.
It supports small businesses to get paid quickly and on time, influences large businesses to improve payment times to suppliers and works with all business to raise payment practice standards across the UK.
The OSBC has a statutory duty to review enquiries and investigate formal complaints made by small businesses regarding late and overdue payments, as well as providing advice and support on issues relating to overdue payments and payment practices in the private sector.
It undertakes a range of activity to improve outcomes for small businesses and works across Government, and with partners in the private and third sector, to raise awareness of the impact of overdue payments and unfair payment practices.
If you have any questions you’d like the OSBC team to answer during the webinar, please send them to events@enterprisenation.com.
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How to join the online webinar
When you register for the webinar, you’ll receive an automatic email, including the Zoom link to access the event. The event will begin at the time and date stated in the registration information. If you don’t receive the link within two hours of signing up via Eventbrite, please let us know by emailing events@enterprisenation.com. (Note: It may be in your junk folder.)
About Enterprise Nation
Enterprise Nation is the UK’s most active small business network, helping thousands of people turn their good idea into a great business. Join today to get everything you need to start and grow your small business, in one place.

Scale My Biz - Smart Start Brentwood
2026-03-11 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | online workshop
Timing is everything in business. Knowing when—and how—to invest your resources can make the difference between sustainable success and costly mistakes.
Scale My Biz is a free, two-hour online workshop designed to help established businesses understand the critical difference between growth and scaling, and how to make informed decisions when expanding operations.
This workshop is specifically for SMEs with established, repeat customers who are already selling products or services.
It is not suitable for pre-starts or early-stage start-ups.
Workshop Details
Date: Wednesday 11th March
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Who should attend: Businesses and entrepreneurs based in the Brentwood District with an existing customer base
What You’ll Learn

The business conditions required for sustainable growth

The key differences between growth and scaling

Real-world examples of successful scaling

How to identify leverage points within your business

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for scaling effectively

How to prepare your business for growth or scaling

If your business is already trading and you’re considering your next phase of expansion, this workshop will give you the clarity and tools you need to scale with confidence.

The Smart Start Brentwood Programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a UK Government initiative providing funding for local investments to support the government’s five national missions, including economic growth, making the UK a clean energy superpower, and breaking down barriers to opportunity. From April 2025 to March 2026, UKSPF will continue to support local projects focused on communities and place, supporting local businesses, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
This popular programme is delivered by Let’s Do Business Group.

Are you protected from Cybercrime Workshop?
2026-03-19 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | The Innovation Centre, Knowledge Gateway, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3ZQ
From banking, shopping, ordering, deliveries and significant business activities through streaming to social media, businesses, organisations and people are spending more time than ever online.
Cyber security is an important part of daily life, whether you’re connecting to public WiFi hotspots or scrolling through social media. As such, it’s important to learn all that you can so that you can keep yourself, your business, your money, treasured memories, family and friends safe.
An unmissable opportunity to hear from cyber experts who see the devastation cybercrime can visit upon unwitting business owners and their staff.
Experts from Essex Police will explain cyber security best practices, outlining potential threats and empowering businesses to take steps to prevent or report cybercrime.
In this workshop you can hear from experts from Essex Police’s Business Crime and Cyber Prevent Team, will have the opportunity to take part in a special Cyber Escape Room challenge, an Open Source Intelligence demo, using standard tools to research a target and participate in a Q&A session at the end.
This session is designed to:
• Help you understand the potential threats, vulnerabilities and mitigations
• Provide you with the knowledge and tools to protect yourself and your organisation
Date: Thursday 19 March 10.00am – 12.00pm
Venue: The Innovation Centre, Knowledge Gateway, Boundary Road, Colchester, CO4 3ZQ
Cost to attend: Free for Members Non-Members £45.00 + VAT

Breaking Down the Basics of SEO
2026-04-09 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | Online
Get your business found online by the people who need you most.
Tired of feeling like your website is invisible? You’re not alone. Many small business owners put time and effort into building their website but still struggle to show up in search results.
This workshop will help you fix that. You’ll learn simple, practical SEO strategies that bring more visitors to your site, attract your ideal customers, and help your business grow. We’ll break down the jargon, showing you how to optimise your website, create content that ranks, and use free tools to see what’s working.
By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make your business more visible online — and feel confident doing it yourself.

Using Canva to Create Content
2026-04-22 13:00 - 14:30 UTC | Online
Learn how to design eye-catching graphics that elevate your brand and engage your audience without needing a design degree or expensive software, with this beginners guide to using Canva!
Struggling to create professional-looking visuals for your business? Many small business owners find themselves overwhelmed by design tools or rely on costly designers for every project. Introducing Canva – your key to success (and less stress!)
In this workshop we’ll be looking at the potential for our business by using Canva – and you’ll learn how to navigate the platform, design with purpose and ease, and maintain brand consistency to captivate your customers and build marketing materials that help you to reach your business goals. By the end, you’ll have the confidence and skills to produce high-quality visuals that resonate with your audience, put your best foot forward, and unlock new possibilities for your marketing!
What You’ll Learn:

Getting Started with Canva: Understand how to sign up, set up your account, and navigate the platform’s interface.

Creating a Brand Kit: Learn how to establish a cohesive brand identity by setting up your brand kit, including logos, colours, and fonts.

Designing Graphics: Discover how to create various graphics, from social media posts to posters, using Canva’s templates and tools.

Resizing Designs: Master the art of resizing your designs to fit different platforms and purposes, ensuring consistency across all your materials.

Practical Application: Participate in a live session where you’ll see how easy it is to create a graphic for a business campaign, and get the guidance from an expert on how to use the platform for your own business.

Lunch & Learn Webinar: Why ESG is Good For Business and the Planet
2026-04-29 12:30 - 13:00 UTC | Online
Join the experts at Positive Planet to understand why ESG is good for the planet and good for business.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is rapidly becoming a core business priority, not just for large corporates, but increasingly for SMEs. This lunch & learn webinar provides a practical introduction to ESG, breaking down its key phases from materiality assessment through to strategy development and effective reporting.
We will explore why ESG data requests are accelerating across supply chains, driven by investors, regulators, and larger organisations, and what this means for smaller businesses. Beyond compliance, the session will highlight how ESG can be used as a genuine competitive advantage, introducing five key levers that can unlock strategic value, from cost savings and risk management to revenue growth and brand differentiation.
Finally, we will cover clear, actionable steps to help you get started on your ESG journey, ensuring you can respond confidently to stakeholder demands while building long term business resilience.

First steps for implementing AI into your business | Lunch and Learn
2026-04-30 12:00 - 12:30 UTC | online workshop
Heard everyone talking about AI but still aren’t sure what it actually means for your business?
Have you tried a tool or two, felt quietly underwhelmed and wondered if you’re missing something obvious?
In this Lunch and Learn, Charlotte Boundy explains how to start using AI and automation in a way that’s practical, clear and specific to how your small business works.
It’s a hands-on session where you’ll see automation working in real time, interact with it live and leave with a clear picture of where to focus first in your own business.
The tools exist – the question is knowing which ones are right for you.
Topics covered in this session

How to identify the tasks in your business that are ready to automate right now

Where you could be saving the most time and money with AI

How to choose the right AI tools for your business without wasting time on the wrong ones

About the speaker
Charlotte has spent 12 years working in business operations, first in London and then building Bright Spark Collective from the ground up during COVID.
In that time, she’s worked with close to 100 UK founders across a wide range of industries, helping them build businesses that run more smoothly and demand less of them personally.
If you have any questions you’d like Charlotte to answer during the webinar, please send them to events@enterprisenation.com.
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How to join the online webinar
When you register for the webinar, you’ll receive an automatic email, including the Zoom link to access the event. The event will begin at the time and date stated in the registration information. If you don’t receive the link within two hours of signing up via Eventbrite, please let us know by emailing events@enterprisenation.com. (Note: It may be in your junk folder.)
About Enterprise Nation
Enterprise Nation is the UK’s most active small business network, helping thousands of people turn their good idea into a great business. Join today to get everything you need to start and grow your small business, in one place.

Making your business visible in an AI-powered world
2026-05-06 02:00 - 15:00 UTC | online workshop
Your customers are still searching. They’re just not searching the way they used to.
AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Google’s AI Overviews and voice assistants have quietly changed how people discover businesses, products and services. And most small business owners have no idea it’s happening.
Fortunately, you don’t need a big budget or tech team to fix it. You just need to know where to show up and how.
In this practical Tech Hub webinar, certified Google and Meta trainer Padebi Ojomo walks you through five clear, actionable steps to make your business discoverable in an AI-powered world.
You’ll get a straight answer to the question every small business owner should be asking right now – when an AI tool recommends a business like mine, will it recommend me?
What you’ll learn

Why AI search is different from traditional Google search and what that means for your business

The simple content changes that make AI tools more likely to surface your business

How to audit your current online presence for AI visibility in under 30 minutes

Which free and low-cost tools actually help (and which ones to ignore)

Your personalised next step based on where your business is right now

Who should attend

Early stage e-commerce founders launching or growing their first online store

Product-based businesses planning to scale their brand in the future

Founders who want to prepare their e-commerce brand for paid marketing and growth strategies

About the speaker
Padebi is a certified Google and Meta trainer based in Milton Keynes, specialising in practical AI adoption for small business owners.
She’s trained over 24,000 entrepreneurs across 17 countries through Meta’s official programmes. She’s the founder of The GPT Club and holds the UK Global Talent Award for her work in digital technology.
How to join the online webinar
When you register for the webinar, you’ll receive an automatic email, including the Zoom link to access the event. The event will begin at the time and date stated in the registration information. If you don’t receive the link within two hours of signing up via Eventbrite, please let us know by emailing events@enterprisenation.com. (Note: It may be in your junk folder.)
About Tech Hub
A collaboration between Google and Sage and built by Enterprise Nation, Tech Hub offers an accessible solution to support small businesses to adopt the technology they need to run and grow their ventures.

Action Hour: The Creative Leader – UK–USA Special
2026-05-06 16:00 - 17:00 UTC | Webinar
On 6th May at 4:00 PM, I’ll be joining Stefan Mumaw (TEDx Speaker, LinkedIn Learning Author & bestselling writer) for a special UK–USA collaboration:
✨ Action Hour: The Creative Leader – UK–USA Special ✨
We’ll be diving into creativity in leadership, how to bring ideas to life in organisations, and how leaders can inspire cultures of innovation. It’s going to be practical, energising, and honestly… such a fun session to deliver.
Here’s the link to join us:
👉 Register here: https://seats.org.uk/event/action-hour-the-creative-leader-uk-usa-special/
I would really love to see you there; your presence would mean a lot.
If you know anyone else who would benefit from this session, please do pass along the invite (attached). The more creative minds in the room, the better!
