Launchpad Southend

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.

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
