MORE than 180 businesses from across East Sussex came together for an event aimed at helping them to maximise their growth potential.

The BEST4Biz conference, held at the Buxted Park Hotel, near Uckfield, was organised jointly by the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex (ACES) and East Sussex County Council.

At the event, the county council launched the Commercial Property Refurbishment Fund – a £500k fund to support bringing back into use vacant commercial property in the county.

Delegates also heard talks from business experts, who revealed new ways for businesses to communicate with their customers and clients and how better to use emerging technologies, funding opportunities and marketing strategies.

Those attending were reminded that the Government’s Regional Growth Fund for businesses requiring capital finance is available for another four months.

Organised in association with Sussex Business Times magazine and the East Sussex SME Commission, the conference featured keynote speakers and ‘breakout sessions’, exhibitors and a ‘question time’ panel.

Cllr Rupert Simmons, East Sussex County Council lead member for economy, said: “One of our key aims as a council is to support ways of helping businesses to develop and grow, and the conference was an ideal way to achieve this.

“We were delighted to support this event, which allowed business representatives from across East Sussex to benefit from the expertise of some highly respected figures from across the business community.”

ACES, the Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex, includes the East Sussex Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors, which between them represent over 4,000 businesses across the county.