Having advised more than 10,000 Sussex people on starting their own businesses, EDEAL is now offering to help small businesses grow.

Until now, the local enterprise agency for East Sussex has focused on helping start-up and new businesses launch and find their feet.

Chief executive George Collier said: "The start-up process is very focused and depends strongly on the drive and determination of one or two people.

"But time and again, when the opportunities to grow beckon, it becomes a sort of commercial Catch 22.

"People say 'we could grow but we don't really know how - or we lack the skills - to do it, so we don't do it'.

"Our new operation can help businesses bridge the growth gap.

"In a sense, it's EDEAL itself growing up.

"Our business like any other must look at its markets and develop new skills and products for them.

"The business scene is changing so fast and everyone needs to adapt quickly."

A whole range of new services for every aspect of business - from strategic planning to management development - are available, together with a continuously developing series of training courses, seminars and workshops.

George said: "We were established here in Eastbourne in 1983 and since then EDEAL has supported in excess of 10,000 individual clients.

"The majority are in new small start-up businesses.

"That is the purpose of enterprise agencies - they are very much about helping people start self-employment."

Courses on all aspects of starting a business are available and its team of advisers hold regular sessions in most of the bigger towns in East Sussex.

Crowborough, Uckfield, Heathfield and Hailsham have weekly sessions where anyone looking for advice on starting a business can get help.

George has been with the organisation from the start and has helped it grow over 17 years.

He said: "It started with one man and a part-time assistant and now it has six full-time staff and five part-time advisers, as well as a pool of 40 associates who provide a whole range of business services."

EDEAL is not Government funded and although its advice sessions are free, it is a proper company which is paid on its results.

He said: "We are not part of a Government organisation or run by a bank or insurance company. Our core advice service is independent.

"The advice we give is confidential but most importantly it is free of charge and by that I mean genuinely free.

"Uniquely in Sussex, EDEAL does provide its advice service totally free of charge for as often and as long as anyone gets some benefit from it."

EDEAL has recently been working in partnership with other organisations and Eastbourne Borough Council to develop small workshops and offices for start-up businesses.

Although they are not due to be opened until later in the year, every unit has been taken.

George said: "The local economy is buoyant and there are a lot of people who are thinking of starting up on their own.

"My advice to them is be sure to get the best advice - talk to the experts. It can be a lot easier with a bit of help and a lot harder without it.

"It costs nothing to find out."

EDEAL can be contacted on 01323 413500.