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East Sussex Business Guide & Directory
Local Enterprise and
Apprenticeship Platform
(LEAP)
LEAP is a partnership project led
by Lewes District Council that
seeks to enhance the skills base,
support local businesses and
foster a stronger entrepreneurial
spirit and culture across Lewes
District. LEAP aims to promote
pathways to work for those
not in education, employment
or training.
LEAP has two main strands:
1. Entrepreneur Awards. LEAP
offers a programme of free
training workshops, profes-
sional mentoring, support and
advice to residents of Lewes
District that are seeking to
start their own business. This
culminates in a ‘Dragons’ Den’
whereby local business leaders
vote on who wins a cash prize
to help get their business
dreams off the ground.
2. Apprenticeships. LEAP is a
conduit and brokerage service
for local people seeking
employment, as well as a busi-
ness support service helping
to negotiate through the
bureaucratic minefield of
apprenticeship recruitment.
Already, LEAP has seen almost 20
aspiring entrepreneurs complete
the training programme, with
winners of LEAP Entrepreneur of
the Year including Equine Elite
and
The Tiny Vineyard Co
).
One of our recent trainees
commented that
LEAP’s training was
invaluable…without it I’d still be
focusing my heart and soul on a
dead end. I now have a viable
business instead!
LEAP also has a number of
positive success stories on the
apprenticeship element of the
scheme and is successfully
engaging with local employers to
simplify the recruitment process.
LEAP continues to work closely
with key partners to develop
‘Information Hubs’ to provide
local young people with advice
and work ready skills.
Get in touch with LEAP by our
dedicated website at
phone the LEAP team on
0300 330 1450.
Make this year your LEAP year!
Helping young
people into business
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