Business Training Programme
Horsham District Council's Business Training Programme is an exciting series of business training workshops, projected over three years (2023 to 2025). The Horsham District-focussed programme seeks to help entrepreneurs and business leaders build-in resilience to their business models, keep them well informed and enable opportunities for upskilling.
Using a blend of online and in-person formats, the programme provides skills development and enhanced opportunities to share and learn from the latest best practice. Course content is delivered by locally based independent business experts in their fields.
Please note:
- For each workshop, there is a maximum of 1 place per business. Please contact us if you need more places.
- These courses are being provided by Horsham District Council for businesses in the Horsham District. Some courses have a nominal cost to the ticket with the remainder being paid by the Council on behalf of businesses.
Contents
Here is a list of training available for 2024-25. To find out more, click on the course name.
Business management training
- Business and tax advice 121 sessions
- How to create a strategy for business growth video series and 121 support
- Emergency First Aid at Work courses
- Sales and negotiation skills quiz
Business marketing training
Market trading training
To make sure you're the first to know the latest updates on the Business Training Programme, sign up to our fortnightly business e-newsletter.
For a list of workshops that have already taken place for 2023-25 click here.
If you have any additional business training suggestions, please email BusinessDevelopment@horsham.gov.uk with the details and we will contact you if an opportunity should arise.
To support businesses to become more sustainable, we have listed public transport options for each in-person workshop. Did you know your business can access discounts on Southern rail, bus travel, active travel benefits and more through easitHORSHAM? Contact easitHORSHAM to find out more.
Current training opportunities
Business management
Business and tax advice 121 sessions
Join Carolyn Burchell from Composure Accounting for a 121 session on business and tax advice.
- Date: From September 2024
- Time: To be arranged upon booking
- Location: Coolham
How to create a strategy for business growth video series and 121 support
Join Mike Clare from Intrinsia for this online video series, where you will be taken through the process of developing and refining strategies, to enable you to identify and achieve the growth you want and adapt to changes in the business environment when they arise. Mike will also take you through how to best prepare for successful implementation of your plans.
Once you have watched the four-part video series, you can apply for 121 support to help build your strategy.
- Location: Online pre-recorded video series. Sign up for free to the West Sussex Business Hub to access.
Emergency First Aid at Work courses
Join Jenny Legg of Training Legs First Aid for a series of 1-day FAA Level 3 Award courses to provide training for businesses on a variety of emergency first aid situations in the workplace.
Courses are available in Henfield and Storrington.
Henfield First Aid course
- Date / time: Thursday, 20 February 2025, 9:30am to 4:30pm
- Location: Henfield Hall, Coopers Way, Henfield, BN5 9EQ
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Henfield High Street (2-minute walk).
Storrington First Aid course
- Date / time: Wednesday, 19 March 2025, 9:30am to 4:30pm
- Location: Chanctonbury Leisure Centre, Spierbridge Road, Storrington, RH20 4BG
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Reed Close (3-minute walk).
Sales and negotiation skills quiz
How good is your business at making sales?
Take a five-minute online quiz to test how effective your business is at sales and negotiation.
This aims to inform businesses and the Council alike of the need to improve skills in this area and identify future training requirements.
Business marketing
Instagram for business masterclass
Join Michelle Betts from ByJove Media for a masterclass exploring social media platform Instagram and how your business can use it.
- Date / time: Thursday, 6 March 2025, 9:30am to 12:30pm
- Location: Horsham Library, Lower Tanbridge Way, Horsham, RH12 1PJ
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Horsham bus station (1-minute walk) and the nearest train station is Horsham train station (10-minute walk).
WordPress training workshop
Join britweb for an online workshop on how to master WordPress for your business.
- Date / time : Tuesday, 11 March 2025, 10am to 12pm
- Location: Online
Market trading
How to make the most of your market stall: top tips video series
Join Brendan from the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) to learn useful tips, as a market trader, on how you can make the most of your market stall. The five-part video series covers what to bring, social media for market traders, maximising your stall layout, pricing and signage and taking cashless payments.
- Location: Online pre-recorded video series. Sign up for free to the West Sussex Business Hub to access.
Past workshops
The following workshops have already taken place as part of the 2023-25 Business Training Programme:
- Don’t Panic! Changes to Social Media - Michelle Betts from ByJove Media hosted a free ‘Don’t panic! Changes to social media’ workshop for local businesses, exploring recent changes to social media platforms and how businesses can work with these to maximise reach and engagement.
- TikTok for business - Michelle Betts from ByJove Media ran a masterclass exploring social media platform TikTok and how businesses can use it.
- Recruiting via social media - Michelle Betts from ByJove Media and Amy Blick from exhilHRate HR Consulting ran a masterclass exploring the benefits of recruiting via social media and which platforms would work best for businesses' recruitment strategies.
- Debunking the complications of Apprenticeship Talent - Amy Blick from exhilHRate HR Consulting hosted a masterclass on how to successfully unlock apprenticeship talent.
- Budget setting and cash flow forecasting for small businesses - Carolyn Burchell from Composure Accounting ran two practical and relevant sessions aimed at limited companies and sole traders to help them gain the knowledge and confidence needed to create their own budgets and forecasts.
- Ready, Set, Grow! 7 intensive SME support workshops - the team from Digital Islands ran 7 expert-led workshops, helping businesses in their first two years of trading including 1-2-1 progress review sessions. They developed an action plan including tax and accounting, HR and recruitment, PR marketing and social media for businesses.
- How to make the most of your market stall - Brendan and Tania from the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF) ran an interactive workshop on how to make the most of your market stall.
- People power strategy workshop - Amy Blick from exhilHRate HR Consulting ran an interactive and focussed session on attracting, onboarding and keeping talent.
- Advanced social media for business masterclass - Michelle from ByJove Media ran an Advanced Social Media Masterclass, designed specifically for local businesses. The workshop dived into strategy, content planning, and insider tips to help businesses stand out and achieve real results.
- Making your brand picture perfect workshop - Sophie Ward Photography ran a fun and informative photography workshop, covering business branding and organizing imagery, followed by a 30-minute hands-on photography session to bring attendees' ideas to life.
- Introduction to videography for small businesses workshop - Silvertip Films ran a workshop on how to make video work for businesses with tips, tricks, practical work and more.
- LinkedIn for business masterclass - Michelle Betts from ByJove Media ran a masterclass exploring social media platform LinkedIn and how businesses can use it.
- Product photography workshop - Sophie Ward Photography ran a workshop on product photography to equip businesses with the skills and confidence to create stunning content that will make their business stand out from the rest.
Did you miss one of these workshops and wish you could have attended? Let us know by emailing BusinessDevelopment@horsham.gov.uk to inform future training opportunities.
The Horsham District Business Training Programme is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.