Book your place for December’s small business surgery at Jubilee Library

The council’s small business ambassador, Councillor Mohammed Asaduzzaman, will host his next surgery at the Business & IP Centre (BIPC) at Jubilee Library on 16 December.

The sessions, which must be booked in advance, will run from 5pm to 7pm with slots available to book through Eventbrite.

Due to the high demand for places at previous surgeries, please only book a slot if you are sure you will be able to attend.

Councillor Asaduzzaman’s bi-monthly surgeries aim to help build a strong dialogue with business owners and entrepreneurs.

Exploring opportunities

The surgeries are already proving to be successful, with small business owners and entrepreneurs benefiting from meeting Councillor Asaduzzaman and exploring opportunities for their business, building on the work of the BIPC and the new Growth Hub digital service.

They include:

  • Two year 10 students starting a photography business, who were linked up to local networks to promote their business and access support through the BIPC in Jubilee Library
  • A retailer facing multiple challenges, who was linked with council teams to help with his queries
  • A catering business supported with start-up advice on key steps, following Cllr Asaduzzaman’s own experience of starting and running a successful restaurant business.

Creativity and community values

Councillor Asaduzzaman said: “As someone who has served this city both as a civic leader and now as small business ambassador, I’ve had the privilege of working directly with the people who power our communities.

“From local shops to market traders and those running our beloved festivals, these small businesses are more than just economic units – they are cultural contributors, employers and anchors of trust on our high streets.

“Brighton & Hove is known for its independence, creativity and community values. That spirit starts with our small businesses and it’s our responsibility to ensure they have a voice in shaping our city’s future.

“As the region moves towards devolution, we want to make sure our independent businesses can harness the potential benefits.”

Councillor Asaduzzaman’s role builds on the council’s existing support for city businesses, with the surgeries playing an important role in bringing businesses together and enhancing engagement.

Next month he will be visiting the Brighton Crime Reduction Partnership to explore focusing on business safety, antisocial behaviour, and strengthening links between retail and nightlife business owners.

Future plans also include launching a Shop Local campaign, supporting the council’s ambition to ‘grow a diverse and sustainable economy with a thriving independent business base.’

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