Supporting Essex businesses to start, grow and innovate
Over the past year, Let’s Do Business Group has helped more than 70 businesses across Brentwood and Rochford to develop their businesses, build new skills and identify opportunities for growth.
Between September 2025 and September 2026, we delivered two programmes funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Brentwood Borough and Rochford District Council: Smart Start Brentwood and Innovate & Elevate Rochford.
Both programmes were designed around a simple aim: to give local businesses access to the practical support, advice and opportunities they need to move their businesses forward.
The results
Across the two programmes, we supported:
71 businesses
24 entrepreneurs
9 new jobs created
20 businesses adopting new technologies or processes
Behind those numbers were businesses at different stages of their journey — from entrepreneurs taking their first steps into business to established businesses looking for ways to grow, improve their processes or reach new customers.
Smart Start Brentwood
Smart Start Brentwood supported 41 businesses and 18 entrepreneurs during the programme.
The programme brought together workshops, one-to-one support and financial assistance to help businesses tackle some of the practical challenges involved in starting and growing a business.
Workshops covered subjects including:
Starting a business
Marketing for beginners
Accessing funding
Scaling your business
Growing businesses were also able to access £10,000 worth of grant funding, helping them invest in their businesses and support their growth plans.
Businesses could also access free marketing workshops delivered by Let’s Do Marketing, the specialist marketing agency within Let’s Do Business Group. These sessions provided practical guidance on areas such as marketing strategy and reaching customers.
The programme supported five new jobs and helped 10 businesses adopt new technologies or processes.
““The discussions that were tailored to each of our businesses were my favourite part of the workshop. The presenters were approachable and I liked the opportunity to meet other business owners””
““I’ve enjoyed learning more about managing finances. Since this is something I’m struggling with right now, I found the information really helpful.””
Innovate & Elevate Rochford
In Rochford, Innovate & Elevate Rochford supported 30 businesses and six entrepreneurs.
The programme focused on helping businesses identify opportunities for growth and then giving them the practical support to take action.
A key part of the programme was the Elevation Lab — a four-week, four-session programme designed to give businesses a focused package of support around growth.
Participants had access to:
One-to-one mentoring
Marketing workshops
Support around accessing funding
Practical guidance to help identify opportunities for growth
The programme contributed to four new jobs being created, while 10 businesses adopted new technologies or processes.
““I loved that the sessions were interactive, easy to understand, with real life examples””
““The pace of the programme was good and everything was explained well””
More than just workshops
While workshops were an important part of both programmes, the support went beyond simply attending a training session.
Businesses could combine group learning with one-to-one mentoring, giving them the opportunity to talk through their individual challenges and apply what they had learned to their own business.
This practical approach meant businesses could focus on the areas that mattered most to them — whether that was improving their marketing, exploring funding opportunities, introducing new technology, creating jobs or developing a plan for growth.
Making a difference locally
The outcomes from Smart Start Brentwood and Innovate & Elevate Rochford show how practical, targeted business support can help local businesses take their next step.
Across the two programmes, businesses have not only accessed advice and training, but have gone on to create jobs and introduce new technologies and processes.
For Let’s Do Business Group, this is at the heart of what we do: making business support accessible, practical and relevant to the businesses and entrepreneurs who need it.
We’re proud to have worked alongside businesses across Brentwood and Rochford over the past year and to have played a part in supporting their continued development.
These programmes have now come to an end, but to explore support available for businesses, visit our Business Support page