Aspiring entrepreneurs in Brentwood are being invited to take their first steps into business with Smart Start Brentwood, a programme of free, practical workshops designed to help residents turn ideas into viable businesses.
Smart Start Brentwood is funded by Brentwood Borough Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, helping to ensure local residents can access high-quality business support at no cost and supporting economic growth and entrepreneurship across the borough.
Delivered by business support specialists Let’s Do Business Group and hosted online and at the Holiday Inn Brentwood, Smart Start Brentwood offers hands-on guidance for people at the very beginning of their business journey. From shaping an idea and understanding finances to building confidence and marketing effectively, the programme provides accessible support for anyone thinking about starting a business.
The programme launches into 2026 with Start My Biz, a free three-hour workshop taking place on Wednesday 21 January, 10am–1pm. This interactive session is ideal for budding entrepreneurs or those curious about self-employment, offering essential insight into what it really takes to start a business.
https://lets-do-business-group.cademy.io/start-my-biz-smart-start-brentwood
Accessing Grant Funding – Thursday 28 April, 10.30am–1pm
The Accessing Grant Funding workshop will guide new and early-stage entrepreneurs through the often confusing world of business grants as well as launching the Smart Start Brentwood Grant Programme which will provide 10 x Up to £1000 grants to local businesses.
https://lets-do-business-group.cademy.io/accessing-grant-funding-smart-start-brentwood
Following this, Her Biz begins on Wednesday 28 January, a dedicated programme created to support women living in Brentwood Borough who want to start their own business. Running over three weekly sessions (28 January, 4 February and 11 February, 10am–1pm), Her Biz focuses on building confidence while covering business planning, finance, funding, marketing and the practical steps needed to launch successfully.
https://lets-do-business-group.cademy.io/her-biz-smart-start-brentwood
Later in the programme, Marketing for Beginners takes place on Tuesday 17 March, 10.30am–1.30pm. This practical workshop is designed for new and early-stage businesses and breaks down modern marketing into clear, jargon-free steps, helping participants identify their audience, create a strong message and develop a simple marketing plan they can use straight away.
https://lets-do-business-group.cademy.io/marketing-for-beginners-smart-start-brentwood
For established businesses looking to grow, Scale My Biz will be delivered as a free, two-hour online workshop on Wednesday 11 March, 10am–12pm. Designed for SMEs with repeat customers, this session explores the difference between growth and scaling, helping business owners understand when the timing is right to invest and expand.
All in person sessions take place at:
Holiday Inn Brentwood, Brook Street, Brentwood, CM14 5NF
Places are limited and must be booked in advance.
For full details and booking links, visit:
👉 www.backingessexbusiness.co.uk/smart-start-brentwood
