insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 02 - April 2015 | Page 97

BUSINESS

BRIGHTON AND HOVE
UP TALENT WINNER REVEALED

This year the Brighton Racecourse played host to the 10th Young Start-up Talent
(YST) showcase revealing the Brighton and Hove 2015 winner, Jodie Deakin, with
her luxury leather pet accessory company, Hounds and Hides.
When asked how she felt about her recent
victory, a tongue-tied Jodie simply said, “I just
didn’t expect it all. I’m so shocked!”
Dan Simpson of Hartley Fowler
commented that “Jodie is absolutely a worthy
winner. She has drive, she knew what she
wanted to do and I think she’s going to be a
very successful business woman.” He later went
on to describe the evening as “very inspiring.”
Multi-award winning young entrepreneur
Ben Towers spoke at the event, shedding light
on what it’s like to be a young person in the
business world. Having begun his business
at the age of 11 he inspired not only the
youngsters in the audience but all business
enthusiasts including the finalists. Towers
commented that this was not like most award

ceremonies. “You don’t just come away with an
award. The prize fund is an awful lot of money
and services for a young person and you’ve
got intros to great connections and high-class
sponsors that provide help as well. I think that’s
one of the great benefits.”
Other speakers included Angi Mariani of
Latest TV who are filming a six part mini-series
following the young entrepreneurs of Young
Start-up Talent; and previous winner, Natalie
Evans, with her successful, organic juice
business 42Juice.
Natalie described the support from the
services she has had over the past year as
‘amazing’ and said, “the most valuable part of
the experience is having the expertise.” When
asked what her advice to the 2015 winner

would be she said, “If you want to make it
work you have to be dedicated, work hard and
everything else will follow.”
Jodie, this year’s winner, has walked
away with £50,000 worth of business products
and services donated by local sponsors to
support the start-up of a successful business.
One of the sponsors, Abbey Moreton, from
Brighton Chambers of Commerce reflected
on the initiative saying: “It has direction, it has
talent for sure and it encourages creativity,
entrepreneurship, forward thinking and a sense
of responsibility which is important.”
To find out more about Young Start-up
www.youngstartuptalent.co.uk.

MEMO EVENTS RELAUNCHES THE WEST SUSSEX BUSINESS EXPO
Memo Events Limited, part
of the Memo Group, which
organises the UK’s largest and
most popular business shows,
has relaunched the West Sussex
Business Expo.
The business to business
exhibition, which is set to return
on 4 February 2016, has been
running in West Sussex for the
last three years, with its first
event held in 2013 at Fontwell

Park Racecourse.
Group director, Matthew Larcome, is keen to drive economic growth
in West Sussex and is encouraging all businesses to get involved with
the next show. “We launched this show to help West Sussex businesses
to grow and prosper,” says Matthew. “The economy is changing and so
is our event. We’re keen to see lots of businesses attend the event who
are ready to grow and invest into their companies, and by attending our
events, they’ll be able to network and meet local suppliers who can help
fulfil their needs.”
The next West Sussex Business Expo will run on 4th February 2016
at Butlins Conference Centre, Bognor Regis.
For more information visit www.westsussexbusinessexpo.co.uk.

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