The LEAP Business Start-up Programme is open to any resident living in the Lewes district who has aspirations to start their own business. It is an intensive business support programme that offers a £2500 prize in the form of a grant to one lucky winner. 

The LEAP Programme is split into the 3 stages

Stage 1 – Attendance at a virtual Start up workshop across 2 days in Feb or at a one-day face to face event on 16th Jan 2023. There is space for up to 15 candidates on each workshop.

The virtual workshop will be delivered in 2 parts as follows

Part One – Mon 6th Feb from 9.30am to 1pm

Part Two – Tues 7th Feb from 9.30am to 1pm

After the workshops have been held, 15 candidates are selected to move to stage 2. The remaining candidates are offered additional business advice and support under another mentoring programme.

Stage 2 – The selected candidates will be allocated a dedicated business mentor who will work with them to produce a business plan. During this period (and to help them complete the plan) they will also attend 4×3 hour workshops on Finance, Marketing, Legal and Social Media Marketing. The workshops will be offered as face to face or online. The business plans are submitted and judged when 5 finalists will be selected. The finalists will then present their plan to the judges at a mini–Dragons Den type event where a winner will be chosen. The winner will be announced at an awards event where they will win a grant of £2500 and the award – “LEAP Entrepreneur of the Year”.

Stage 3 – Additional mentoring support is offered to help candidates launch their business.

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR THE LEAP PROGRAMME TO ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP