Business Training Programme
Horsham District Council's Business Training Programme is an exciting series of business training workshops, designed to provide skills development and enhanced opportunities for local businesses to share and learn from the latest best practice.
The programme covers a wide range of topics using a blend of online and in-person formats. Course content is delivered by locally based business experts in their fields.
Contents
- Access current training opportunities
- Express an interest in upcoming training opportunities available to book from Friday 5 December 2025
- Past workshops
- Let us know your business training needs
Current training opportunities
Here is a list of training opportunities currently available to access.
- Support from the Start Funding Webinar
- The Blindspot Business Growth Accelerator Programme
- How to Create a Strategy for Business Growth Video Series and 121 Support
- Business and Tax Advice 121 Support
- How to Make the Most of Your Market Stall Tops Tips Video Series
- Sales and Negotiation Skills Quiz
Support from the Start Funding Webinar
- Date and time: Tuesday 16 September 2025, 12:30pm-1:30pm
- Location: Online
Join SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval) for this webinar to find out more about an exciting funding opportunity for Sussex-based food and drink producers to prepare them for SALSA certification - designed to help businesses understand their existing food safety systems and the steps required to achieve SALSA certification.
Through a mentoring visit led by an experienced SALSA Mentor, businesses will receive tailored guidance and a bespoke action plan to bridge the gap between their current operations and SALSA requirements.
Supported by Horsham District Council and Mid Sussex District Council.
The Blindspot Business Growth Accelerator Programme
- Dates and times:
- Thursday 29 January 2026, 9:15am-12:15pm
- Thursday 26 February 2026, 9:15am-12:15pm
- Thursday 26 March 2026, 9:15am-12:15pm
- Location: Horsham Library, Lower Tanbridge Way, Horsham RH12 1PJ
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Horsham bus station (1-minute walk) and nearest train station is Horsham train station (17-minute walk)
Join Kate from Blindspot for Business for a series of interactive workshops, based on the successful "Blindspot Boardroom" concept, providing a unique opportunity for business owners to identify and address their most pressing challenges through guided peer-to-peer problem-solving.
Participants will gain practical insights, actionable strategies, and valuable connections to accelerate their business growth.
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.
Watch the video series on YouTube
Once you have watched the four-part video series you can apply for 121 support to help build your strategy. Email us with an outline of the support you need and to apply for a session with Mike.
Apply for 121 support from Mike Clare
Business and Tax Advice 121 Support
- Date and time: To be arranged upon booking
- Location: Coolham
Join Carolyn Burchell from Composure Accounting for a 121 session on business and tax advice, tailored to your needs. Complete the online enquiry form to apply for a session with Carolyn.
Apply for 121 support from Carolyn Burchell
How to Make the Most of Your Market Stall Top Tips Video Series
- Location: Online pre-recorded 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.
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.
Upcoming training opportunities
Here is a list of training opportunities which will be available to book from Friday 5 December 2025. You can express your interest today to be notified once bookings are open.
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 tickets with the remainder being paid by the Council on behalf of businesses.
Business Management
Health and Wellbeing
- First Aid for Mental Health 1-Day Course
- How to Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Workshop
- Emergency First Aid At Work 1-Day Course
Business Marketing
- Advanced Social Media for Business Masterclass
- Instagram Reels Masterclass
- Brilliantly Shot: Product Photography for Small Businesses Workshop
- Introduction to Podcasting Workshop
- Going On Camera Workshop
- Leveraging LinkedIn For Business Masterclass
Advanced Social Media for Business Masterclass
- Date and time: Thursday 15 January 2026, 9:30am to 4pm
- Location: WDR Ltd, Park Lodge, 60 London Rd, Horsham RH12 1AY
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Springfield Road or Blunts Way (2-minute walk) and nearest train station is Horsham train station (12-minute walk)
Join Michelle Betts from ByJove Media for a masterclass exploring each social media platform in detail so you can identify which ones you should be using for your business.
Explore how you should be using each platform, the metrics to monitor, and learn how to create a social media strategy for the rest of the year, planning content and the very latest dos and don'ts of social media.
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
First Aid for Mental Health 1-Day Course
- Date and time: Wednesday 21 January 2026, 9am to 5pm
- Location: WDR Ltd, Park Lodge, 60 London Rd, Horsham RH12 1AY
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Springfield Road or Blunts Way (2-minute walk) and nearest train station is Horsham train station (12-minute walk)
Join Jenny Legg from Training Legs First Aid for a 1-day course teaching you how to recognize and support mental health issues, manage stress, and handle situations like substance abuse and self-harm. It covers communication, when to seek professional help, and creating a supportive workplace culture.
The course doesn’t teach diagnosis or treatment but gives you the tools to help and signpost others effectively.
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
GDPR for Small Businesses Course
- Date and time: Wednesday 28 January 2026, 10am-4pm
- Location: The Bridge Leisure Centre, Wickhurst Lane, Broadbridge Heath, RH12 3YS
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Tesco Broadbridge Heath (3-minute walk)
Join Mandy Huntley - Data Protection for this introductory course exploring the fundamental elements of GDPR enabling businesses to make a plan for GDPR compliance and the maintenance required to stay compliant as their business grows and evolves. Topics include:
- An introduction to GDPR
- Lawful basis for processing data
- The rights of individuals
- How to evidence good governance
- What to do if something goes wrong (e.g., a cyber attack)
- Other data protection legislation
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
How to Use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Workshop
- Dates and times:
- Monday 2 February 2026, 10am-11.30am
- OR Wednesday 11 March 2026, 7pm-8.30pm
- Location: Horsham Park Barn, North Street, Horsham RH12 1RJ
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop and train station is Horsham train station (5-minute walk)
Join Jenny Legg from Training Legs First Aid for a workshop on how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
You will have seen an AED many times. There will be at least one in your workplace, and they’re popping up all over the place in shopping centres, airports, train stations, pubs and restaurants. By the end of this workshop you’ll know how to use a defibrillator, a life-saving piece of equipment.
There will be two dates available to book. Email us to be notified when bookings open.
Instagram Reels Masterclass
- Date and time: Tuesday 3 February 2026, 9:30am to 12.30pm
- Location: WDR Ltd, Park Lodge, 60 London Rd, Horsham RH12 1AY
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Springfield Road or Blunts Way (2-minute walk) and nearest train station is Horsham train station (12-minute walk)
Join Michelle Betts from ByJove Media for a masterclass on Instagram reels.
Want to know how to really leverage those Instagram Reels? Do you need to lip sync and dance? How you get those special effects? What does brilliant look like? Michelle is going to be delving into Reels in detail and will tell you everything you need to know. Bring your questions!
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
Brilliantly Shot: Product Photography for Small Businesses Workshop
- Date and time: Tuesday 3 February 2026, 9:30am-12:30pm
- Location: Mulberry Place, Old Guildford Road, Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 3JT
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Mulberry Gardens (4-minute walk)
Join Sophie Ward Photography for a hands-on workshop tailored to help participants create high-quality product images, using simple equipment and practical techniques. It’s perfect for those who want to showcase their products online, on social media, or in marketing materials without the need for expensive setups.
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
Introduction to Podcasting Workshop
- Date and time: Wednesday 4 February 2026, 10am to 4pm
- Location: Freedom Works Horsham, The Courtyard, 30 Worthing Road RH12 1SL
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Horsham bus station (1-minute walk) and nearest train station is Horsham train station (18-minute walk)
Join Geoff and Chris from Silvertip Films for a 1-day workshop showing you how to set up your podcast, distribute the episodes, build an audience, develop your content and niche, and much more. Geoff co-runs the Doctor Who podcast Who Corner to Corner and Chris runs the Secrets and Spies podcast.
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
Your Privacy Statement Workshop
- Date and time: Wednesday 11 February 2026, 10am to 4pm
- Location: Meeting Room, The Bridge Leisure Centre, Wickhurst Lane, Broadbridge Heath, RH12 3YS
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Tesco Broadbridge Heath (3-minute walk)
Whether you call this a privacy statement, notice or policy, it’s a fundamental document in your GDPR compliance. It should accurately reflect how you process data and it should be readily available.
Join Mandy Huntley - Data Protection for this session building on content covered in the GDPR for Small Businesses workshop. Learn the theory behind the various sections of a privacy notice and access help to compile a privacy notice for your business.
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
Going On Camera Workshop
- Date and time: Wednesday 11 February 2026, 10am to 2pm
- Location: Freedom Works Horsham, The Courtyard, 30 Worthing Road RH12 1SL
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Horsham bus station (1-minute walk) and nearest train station is Horsham train station (18-minute walk)
Join Geoff from Silvertip Films for a 1/2 day workshop which looks at how to build your on-camera presenting confidence. You'll look at planning a 1 minute piece-to-camera about yourself, reading from an autocue, planning and scripting your own content and do a practical demo video with you talking on camera!
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
Leveraging LinkedIn For Business Masterclass
- Date and time: Wednesday 18 February 2026, 9:30am to 12.30pm
- Location: WDR Ltd, Park Lodge, 60 London Rd, Horsham RH12 1AY
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Springfield Road or Blunts Way (2-minute walk) and nearest train station is Horsham train station (12-minute walk)
Join Michelle Betts from ByJove Media for a masterclass on leveraging LinkedIn for business.
Optimise your LinkedIn profile, grow your connections and learn what to post on the platform, as well as how to leverage the functions LinkedIn has e.g. events and newsletters. It's the platform to be using in 2026 as engagement on the platform continues to increase.
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
Emergency First Aid At Work 1-Day Course
- Date and time: Wednesday 25 February 2026, 9:30am to 4:30pm
- Location: Pulborough Village Hall, Swan View, Pulborough RH20 2BF
- Public transport: The nearest bus stop is Oddfellows Arms (3-minute walk) and nearest train station is Pulborough train station (18-minute walk)
Join Jenny Legg from Training Legs First Aid for a 1-day FAA Level 3 Award course to providing your business with training on a variety of emergency first aid situations in the workplace.
Email us to be notified when bookings open.
Past workshops
The following workshops have already taken place as part of the 2023-25 Business Training Programme:
Business management training
- Ready, Set, Grow! - 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.
- Emergency First Aid at Work courses - Jenny Legg of Training Legs First Aid ran 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.
- First Aid for Mental Health course - Jenny Legg from Training Legs First Aid ran a 1-day course on supporting mental health in the workplace.
- 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.
- Debunking the complications of Apprenticeship Talent - Amy Blick from exhilHRate HR Consulting hosted a masterclass on how to successfully unlock apprenticeship talent.
- People power strategy workshop - Amy Blick from exhilHRate HR Consulting ran an interactive and focussed session on attracting, onboarding and keeping talent.
Business marketing training
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- TikTok for business - Michelle Betts from ByJove Media ran a masterclass exploring social media platform TikTok and how businesses can use it.
- LinkedIn for business masterclass - Michelle Betts from ByJove Media ran a masterclass exploring social media platform LinkedIn and how businesses can use it.
- Instagram for business masterclass - Michelle Betts from ByJove Media ran a masterclass exploring social media platform Instagram and how businesses can use it.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Introduction to Video Editing workshop - Silvertip Films ran a workshop showing businesses how to take their self-filmed footage and edit it into slick, focussed video content to grow their online audience and business presence.
- WordPress training workshop - Britweb ran an online workshop on how to master WordPress.
- AI Unlocked: Authentic Content Creation for Small Businesses workshop - Michelle Betts from ByJove Media ran an interactive, beginner-friendly course demystifying AI and showing businesses how to save time, generate brilliant ideas, and create authentic content for their website, blogs, and social media.
Market trading training
- 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.
Let us know your business training needs
If you have any business training suggestions, please email Business.Support@horsham.gov.uk with the details and we will contact you if an opportunity should arise.