We are delighted to announce that the 1066 Business Awards are returning for their third year, and for 2027 we've made some exciting changes to make the awards more inclusive, more accessible and easier than ever to enter.

Kootek Consulting's journey shows how the right support can transform business growth. Through the Luton Elevate: Take the Lead programme, founder Kevin Umeano gained the clarity to reposition the business as a trusted cybersecurity and risk partner, strengthen its market approach, and expand its impact. Backed by a business growth grant, Kootek Consulting is now helping more SMEs access affordable, enterprise-grade security and compliance solutions across Luton and beyond.

Starting and growing a business can be challenging without the right support. For more than 30 years, Let’s Do Business Group has worked alongside local authorities and partners to help entrepreneurs and established businesses build confidence, develop new skills and achieve sustainable growth. Discover how programmes across the South East and East of England have supported thousands of businesses, created jobs and strengthened local economies.

Let's Do Business Group, together with its subsidiaries Let's Do Business Finance and Let's Do Marketing, swapped their laptops for litter pickers on 10 July 2026 as part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the local community and environment.

Political Circles is an early-stage business offering facilitated political conversations designed to help people engage constructively across differing viewpoints. Through support from the Innovate and Elevate Rochford District programme, the founder accessed training and guidance to develop clearer messaging, improve digital marketing confidence, and begin building an online presence ahead of launching events.

2025 was a landmark year for Let's Do Business Group, delivering over £57 million in economic impact across the South and East of England. From £11 million in lending to over 1,100 jobs created, discover how our support helped businesses start, scale, and thrive.

Innovate & Elevate Rochford District Programme Helps Consultant Refine Her Marketing Strategy and Reach the Right Customers.

Following a long career in social care, Clare Emmins launched Empower (registered as Empowered Solutions Ltd) to help people navigate their care options and gain greater choice and control over their support. With guidance, peer support and a £1,000 grant from Smart Start Brentwood, she has successfully established the business and is now focused on growing its reach and services.

Jim Callender founded Oceanic Woodstore in Brighton in 2023 with a passion for making furniture that lasts. Now based at Newhaven Enterprise Centre, the business has grown steadily with support from Let's Do Business Group, including grant funding through the Newhaven Enterprise Zone's Low Carbon Investment Fund.

EraseMe was founded by Elvijs Izaks to help individuals and businesses regain control of their digital footprint by removing or de-indexing sensitive personal information online. Supported by the Smart Start Brentwood programme and a £1,000 grant funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, EraseMe has been able to invest in specialist software, SEO and marketing to grow the business and continue helping clients protect their privacy and online reputation.

Halo Creative Media is a growing creative agency helping to strengthen brands through professional design, digital marketing, websites, and video content. After joining the Smart Start Brentwood Business Support Programme, the business gained valuable guidance and a business grant that helped improve operational capacity, invest in upgraded creative technology, and build greater confidence for future growth.

Let's Do Business Group is proud to be working with Newhaven Enterprise Zone to deliver the NEZ Business Growth Fund – offering grants of up to £15,000 to businesses within the Enterprise Zone as part of the new Newhaven Forward 2026 – 2028 funding programme.

RISE (Reboot, Ideas, Skills, Enterprise) Hastings, a business and skills support programme, concluded in March 2026 - and Let’s Do Business Group proudly look back on the successful programme which supported over 300 local businesses and created and protected over 20 jobs.

The Backing Essex Business programme concluded in 2026 after nearly five years of delivering tailored advice, skills development, peer networking and bespoke support to businesses across Essex – having supported over 2,300 businesses, and creating over 1,000 jobs in the county

Luton Council is celebrates the success of the Luton Online Digital Marketing Launchpad, a two-year programme that has supported hundreds of local businesses to strengthen their digital presence, build confidence and grow sustainably.

Over three years, Let's Do Business Group has delivered free, specialist business support to start-ups and scaling businesses across Southend-On-Sea, commissioned by Southend-On-Sea City Council and funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. From one-to-one advisory sessions to fully funded workshops and access to finance, 259 businesses received tailored support that helped create 32.5 FTE jobs and safeguard a further 91 across the city.

Balaghi & Rose, a Luton-based specialist law firm, faced rising costs and an uncertain future before joining the Take The Lead Programme through the Luton Elevate Business Growth initiative. Through workshops, mentoring, and collaborative learning, the firm re-evaluated its strategy, completely redrafting its business plan and embracing new approaches to growth.

Let’s Do Business Group are delighted to share that they’ve been shortlisted for the Enterprise Support Organisation of the Year (over £750k turnover) award at the 2026 National Enterprise Network Awards

Rayleigh-based creative business, Studio 3 Art, has been crowned the winner of the Innovation & Tech Impact Award at the Rochford District Business Awards 2026, sponsored by Let’s Do Business Group.

The Newhaven Grant Schemes have closed after unlocking over £1.5 million in investment for local businesses. Delivered by Let’s Do Business Group in partnership with Newhaven Enterprise Zone, the programme supported commercial space improvements and low carbon initiatives across the town.