>BREAKTHROUGH Case Studies
A celebration of female business owners in East Sussex that took part in the South East Business Boost >BREAKTHROUGH programme.
The value of >BREAKTHROUGH is that somebody is absolutely focused with intent on your product or services, and who you are and how you can grow – so it is bespoke.
>BREAKTHROUGH participant, Bexhill
>BREAKTHROUGH participant, Eastbourne
>BREAKTHROUGH participant, Eastbourne
Delivered by always possible, in partnership with East Sussex County Council.
You can find out more about the South East Business Boost HERE.
Meet the >BREAKTHROUGH team
ASSOCIATE
Key skills
- Business growth strategy and operational efficiency
- Grant and tender writing
- Workshop facilitation and training
- Leadership coaching and mentoring
- Process improvement and organisational resilience
- Sales, bids and pursuit excellence
Experience
always possible (Associate, 2020–present): Specialist in business growth, strategy, facilitation and grant writing.
Mindsetup Ltd (Founder, 2019–present): Consultancy focused on streamlining operations, employee development and resilience.
KPMG (Head of Pursuit Operations / Senior Pursuit Manager): Managed pursuit teams to achieve excellence in bids and operational processes.
Coast to Capital LEP (Business Growth Champion): Delivered growth support for businesses across the South East.
Mentoring: Supported 60+ grant applications for capital projects; provides business mentoring through regional programmes.
Career span: Worked across public sector, FTSE100, Fortune500, charities and start-ups in roles involving efficiency, growth and operational improvement.
Qualifications
Diploma in Environment & Sustainable Development – Open University
Honours and contributions
- Best Businesswomen Award (2023)
- Named one of the UK’s Top 100 Female Entrepreneurs (2020) for inspiring peers and communities
- Chair of Trustees – Grassroots Suicide Prevention
- Board Member – Brighton Chamber of Commerce
- Student Mentor – University of Sussex Business School
- 20 years’ experience delivering efficiency, resilience and strategic growth across sectors
ASSOCIATE
Key skills
- Content creation (audio, video, written)
- Video/audio editing and basic animation
- Systems administration and audits
- CRM setup and management
- Website content management (WordPress)
- Creative design and data visualisation
- Research, proofreading and digital file management
Experience
always possible (Senior Communications & Systems Officer, 2019–2024): Oversaw communications strategies, GDPR compliance, CRM administration and system audits. Managed tools including WordPress, monday.com, MailChimp, HubSpot, Adobe Creative Suite and Google Workspace. Produced newsletters, infographics, video editing and online research.
Key projects:
Essex 2020: Managed website, newsletters, stakeholder relationships, video/animation and event administration. AudioActive: Facilitated focus groups, engaged young people and supported event organisation. GLIDE: Designed social media campaign, handled video editing and created administrative systems.
Dv8 Sussex (2014–2018): Student Services Coordinator – managed safeguarding processes and digital systems; earlier roles as Student Support Coordinator and Support Tutor.
YMCA DownsLink Group: Resident Support Worker (High Support) – safeguarding and mentoring vulnerable young people.
Freelance roles:
Music blog/reviews writer – developed research and Photoshop skills.
Media composer/music producer – built expertise in WordPress, video editing and Photoshop.
Qualifications
Extensive professional experience across communications, systems management and creative content production.
Proficient in WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Workspace, HubSpot, monday.com and other digital tools.
Honours and contributions
10+ years’ experience spanning youth work, mentoring, content creation and systems management
Specialist in aligning communications with system optimisation and digital tools
Recognised for blending creativity with strong administrative and technical capability
ASSOCIATE
Key skills
- Business development and partnership building
- Strategic collaboration and community engagement
- Mentoring and entrepreneurship support
- Project management and innovation facilitation
- Content and editorial development
- Sales, marketing and communications
Experience
techSPARK (Community Manager): Builds collaborative networks, delivers events and knowledge-sharing platforms. Project manages WECA Tech For Growth, supports Bath Spa Click Start, and works with Business West, University of Bath and UWE. Organises meet-ups (Third Thursday in Bath, TechConnect in Swindon & Wiltshire), curated Bath Digital Festival and delivered techSwindon summit.
University of Bath (Entrepreneur in Residence): Supports start-ups and scale-ups from research, students, graduates and the city’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
always possible (Strategic Advisor & Consultant): Contributes to projects on mentoring, strategic business support and community development.
Digital DNA (Project Manager): Leads creation and editorial development for Bristol Innovations Foresight.
Previous roles:
- Innovation for Growth Lead – University of the West of England
- Catalyst Programme Manager – Sussex Innovation Centre
- Marketing Communications Specialist – Henchman Ltd
- Relationship Manager – Inspire Elite
Honours and contributions
12+ years’ experience supporting founders, entrepreneurs and innovation ecosystems
Curator of regional tech and digital festivals, meet-ups and knowledge-sharing platforms
Recognised mentor at NatWest Accelerator and other entrepreneurship programmes
Advocate of collaboration as a driver of sustainable and inclusive growth
PROJECTS DIRECTOR
Key skills
- Project and programme management
- Business growth strategy and strategic planning
- Funding applications and grant coordination
- Evaluation frameworks and Theory of Change
- Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
- Placemaking and economic development
Experience
always possible (Operations Manager, 2020–present): Oversees strategic consultancy projects in change and impact planning, evaluation frameworks, major funding bids and business planning. Managed £500k+ ERDF-funded programmes and current UKSPF projects in Sussex and Surrey. Senior manager on economic evaluation for West Midlands Combined Authority and stakeholder engagement for Sussex Bay. Led legacy business planning for the 10-year Big Local project and long-term strategy for UK Research Integrity Office and health, arts and education clients.
Hush Fundraising (Fundraising Consultant): Provided consultancy to charities and cultural organisations on fundraising and donor strategy.
Creative & Cultural Skills (Partnership Manager): Built partnerships between education providers and employers in the creative industries.
Dv8 Sussex (Course Leader): Oversaw delivery of training courses and curriculum development.
London Word Festival (Co-founder & Co-director, 2008 onwards): Established and ran an award-winning creative business in London, with focus on event production, business development and fundraising.
Qualifications
- MA in Philosophy – University of Glasgow
- Help to Grow: Management Programme – University of Brighton (mini-MBA equivalent)
- Professional development: Continuous CPD via UK Evaluation Society
Honours and contributions
Co-recipient of the Paul Hamlyn Breakthrough Award (2009) for contributions to the creative and cultural sector
14+ years’ leadership experience spanning creative industries, training, social and economic development
Recognised for managing complex, high-value projects that deliver measurable business growth and productivity
ASSOCIATE
Key skills
- Strategic and operational management
- Business development and commercial growth
- Grants and funding consultancy
- Stakeholder engagement and partnership building
- Event design, delivery and hosting
- Communication, negotiation and public speaking
- Leadership development and coaching
Experience
always possible (Associate, 2020–present): Grant writer for the South East Business Boost programme; 1:1 business mentor providing commercial advice and growth strategies.
Coast to Capital Growth Hub (Growth Champion): Supported business and stakeholder engagement for initiatives including Newhaven Enterprise Zone and Gatwick’s Northern Runway Project.
Gatwick Diamond Business (Chief Executive, 2004–2018): Oversaw 400% increase in turnover and 250% growth in membership; influenced infrastructure development, lobbied on regional issues, and supported start-ups, inward investment and business retention.
Consider If (Consultant): Delivered strategic guidance, business development training and event management for private, public and health sector clients. Founded The Internet Innovation Forum, supporting 1,000+ SMEs to adopt commercial internet use.
Hospitality & retail career: Held senior management and operational roles at Forte Hotels, Penta Hotels, Peter Dominic Group and Whitbread.
Qualifications
Extensive professional experience in commercial leadership, business growth and economic development.
Honours and contributions
- Membership Ambassador – Gatwick Diamond Business
- Board member – Quality & Stakeholder Board (Crawley & Brinsbury Colleges)
- Member – Crawley Economic Task Force & Town Deal Board
- Chair, Transport Group & Management Group member – Manor Royal Business District
Honorary Faculty Member – Cecil B Day School of Hospitality, Georgia State University (student career visits and lectures)
Former Governor – Thomas Bennett Community College (campus and facilities planning)