Burgess Hill Business Parks Association

What Burgess Hill Business Parks Association does

Burgess Hill Business Parks Association (BHBPA) is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, founded in 2003, that operates as the principal business membership association for organisations located within approximately a five-mile radius of Burgess Hill town centre and along the A2300 corridor in Mid Sussex, United Kingdom. Its core product is an annual membership subscription, layered with a searchable online Members Directory (directory.bhbpa.co.uk), a weekly email newsletter, a programme of in-person networking events including monthly main meetings and the newer Micro-Meet format for micro businesses and sole traders, locally delivered training courses, and a biennial BH Biz Star Awards programme (BHBiz24 in 2024 at Amex Stadium with 250 guests; BHBiz26 scheduled for September 2026 with two new categories). Underlying technology is conventional small-association SaaS: a WordPress website plus Members Directory subdomain, Microsoft 365 email, Xero for accounting, Apple iCloud for file backup and Google Analytics for site analytics, with no public API or AI components. Revenue is generated through annual membership subscriptions, tiered sponsorship of the biennial awards (Headline Sponsor Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors plus per-category sponsors), fundraising initiatives (e.g., Christmas Gingerbread for Safe in Sussex) and pay-as-you-go event tickets; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed.

BHBPA serves a heterogeneous member base from sole traders to multi-nationals (HPC plc, Edwards Vacuum / Atlas Copco, CAE, Ridgeview Wine Estate, Bio Productions) and operates a member-led governance model via a Board of Executive Officers and directors and a Steering Committee of representative members, chaired by Mark Jackson (HPC plc). The association positions itself as the collective voice of Burgess Hill business to Mid Sussex District Council, West Sussex County Council, Burgess Hill Town Council and the local MP, lobbying on planning, infrastructure, mobile connectivity, EV charging and policy matters. Recent strategic priorities (2025-2026) include Good Business Charter accreditation (achieved November 2025), EDI Working Group leadership via Dr Kul Verma (Non-Executive Director appointed July 2025), Sussex Skills 25 LSIP partnership with Sussex Chamber of Commerce, and engagement with the Gatwick Airport Economic Zone and the emerging West Sussex unitary authority transition.

The go-to-market is community-led: self-serve sign-up via the website, direct outreach by the CEO and Steering Committee, member referrals and word-of-mouth within the Burgess Hill business community; marketing runs through the weekly newsletter, a multi-page news blog, an active social media presence (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X/Twitter), PR via local council and chamber partnerships, and an SEO-optimised directory and event listings.

Name

Burgess Hill Business Parks Association

Legal name

Burgess Hill Business Parks Association Ltd.

Website

https://bhbpa.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BHBPA is a not-for-profit business association founded in 2003 that serves as the collective voice for businesses in and around Burgess Hill, West Sussex. It offers annual membership, a directory, a weekly newsletter, networking events, biennial awards and training to local sole traders, SMEs and multi-nationals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Burgess Hill

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: BHBPA is constituted as a company limited by guarantee and operates on a members-based subscription model. Members pay subscription fees (invoice details tracked: number, date, value). The Board exercises strong controls over costs to ensure cash is utilised for member benefit.
2. Awards event sponsorship: Biennial BH Biz Star Awards are supported by tiered sponsorship: a Headline Sponsor (Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors for both BHBiz24 and BHBiz26) plus per-category sponsors (Galloways, St Peter & St James Hospice, Thomas Mansfield, Plumpton Racecourse, MSDC, Mayo Wynne Baxter, Rubix VT, Epassi, Edwards, PVL UK Ltd, Time 24). Sponsorship visibility runs for more than 12 months across newsletters and social media.
3. Charitable/community fundraising: Fundraising initiatives (e.g., Christmas Gingerbread House Competition raising money for Safe in Sussex, Toy Appeal with More Radio) generate one-off donations from members for charitable causes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

BHBPA is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee that provides a membership-based business association for organisations in the Burgess Hill area of West Sussex, UK. Its core offering centres on annual membership subscriptions, complemented by a searchable online member directory, a weekly email newsletter, a programme of in-person networking events, the biennial BH Biz Star Awards, locally delivered training courses, and a schools outreach programme.

Product overview

Burgess Hill Business Parks Association (BHBPA) is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, not a unified software platform; its offering is a portfolio of association services delivered via its public website (bhbpa.co.uk) and the Members Directory at directory.bhbpa.co.uk. At the centre is the BHBPA Membership tier, around which the Members Directory, Weekly Newsletter, Networking Events programme (including Micro-Meet and the BH Biz Star Awards), Training Courses, Working with Schools STEM outreach, and Member Offers are organised as complementary modules serving the same member base of local start-ups, SMEs, and multi-nationals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BHBPA Membership Annual membership of the not-for-profit business association, open to manufacturing, services, public and charitable organisations ranging from start-ups to multi-nationals within approximately a 5-mile radius of Burgess Hill town centre and the A2300 corridor; members' liability is limited to £1 under the limited-by-guarantee constitution.
• Members Directory Searchable online directory at directory.bhbpa.co.uk that allows the public and members to find member businesses, view their listings, and make contact; members create their own listings to showcase their business to the BHBPA community.
• BHBPA Weekly Newsletter Regular email newsletter distributed to subscribers and members covering local business news, member announcements, upcoming events, government campaigns and BHBPA initiatives; weekly editions are archived as PDFs.
• BHBPA Networking Events Programme of in-person networking events including monthly main networking meetings at member venues, the Micro-Meet event series for small and micro business owners, Charity Roundtables, AGM, and an annual Quiz Night combining social interaction with member presentations.
• BH Biz Star Awards (BHBiz) Biennial business awards event organised by BHBPA, held at major venues such as the Amex Stadium. The 2026 edition (BHBiz26) introduces new Start-Up Star and Best Micro Business categories alongside established awards including Best Business, Green Champion, EDI Champion, Future Talent & Skills Champion, and Winning Workplace.
• BHBPA Training Courses Locally delivered business training courses scheduled throughout the year, including cybersecurity awareness training (CybilityXP Live: Level 1) and other professional development offerings for members and their staff.
• Working with Schools Programme Schools-engagement initiative promoting STEM together with careers and business skills development, including the Young Green Briton Challenge and the Green Power electric car racing club at Burgess Hill Academy, plus Mid Sussex Science Week participation.
• Member Offers Programme of exclusive discounts and offers available to BHBPA members from fellow member businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64% of members rate BHBPA 5 stars and 24% rate 4 stars on value for money (per 2026 AGM Member Survey)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core (annual joint event), minor (member), minor (eos networking), core (sussex skills 25 / lsip), minor (economic summit dialogue), minor (policy dialogue), major (accreditation body), minor (workplace lunch & learn), major (board-level edi partner), core (cybersecurity training), flagship (headline sponsor), core (best business sponsor), core (team of stars sponsor), core (charity champion sponsor), core (edi sponsor), core (community champion sponsor), core (future talent & skills champion sponsor), core (businessperson of the year sponsor), core (bright star sponsor), core (green champion sponsor), core (winning workplace sponsor), core (star apprentice sponsor), core (skills advisory panels), major (developer partner on burgess hill expansion) and major (sussex mba partnership).

• HHBA, EGBA & GDB (Haywards Heath, East Grinstead & Gatwick Diamond Business Associations)core (annual joint event)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Annual joint networking event held Tuesday 9th June 6-8pm at Chequers Mead, De La Warr Road; large cross-association networking gathering.
• Assist First Aid Trainingminor (member)Others · 19 February 2026New BHBPA member offering workplace first aid training across the country.
• Stryde (EOS Implementation)minor (eos networking)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 21 November 2025BHBPA hosts joint EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) networking events with Stryde; next event Tuesday 3rd December 2025.
• Accolade Financial Planningminor (member)Others · 20 November 2025New BHBPA member offering financial advice to individuals and businesses across investments, retirement planning, IHT and protection.
• Sussex Chamber of Commercecore (sussex skills 25 / lsip)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2025Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) partner; BHBPA is supporting Sussex Skills 25 on 30 September 2025 at the AMEX Stadium, Brighton, free to attend.
• Gatwick Airportminor (economic summit dialogue)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2025BHBPA CEO Richard Cox attended the Gatwick Economic Summit (Nov 2025) covering the Airport Economic Zone and devolution; engaged with new Gatwick CEO Pierre-Hugues Schmit.
• Gatwick Airport Economic Zone / WSCC Strategic Economic Growth Teamminor (policy dialogue)Others · 14 November 2025BHBPA is positioning itself as a sought-after partner as the new unitary authority takes shape; CEO Richard Cox met with Cllr. Garry Wall (WSCC Strategic Economic Growth Team lead).
• Good Business Chartermajor (accreditation body)Others · 4 November 2025Industry accreditation body that awarded BHBPA Good Business Charter accreditation in November 2025 for ethical business practices.
• Sam Rehan (Stress Consultant)minor (workplace lunch & learn)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 October 2025Workplace Lunch & Learn at member rate: 60-minute session on resetting work-related stress and avoiding burnout, by former scientist and stress consultant.
• Deep Insight (Dr Kul Verma)major (board-level edi partner)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2025Non-Executive Board Member appointment July 2025; brings expertise in leadership development, EDI and organisational change; leads BHBPA's EDI Working Group and serves as EDI Advisor on Steering Committee.
• Cybilitycore (cybersecurity training)Implementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 July 2025Cybersecurity training provider delivering gamified CybilityXP Live: Level 1 sessions for BHBPA members at The King's Centre, Burgess Hill (Aug 14 and Sept 11, 2025).
• Sherrards Employment Law Solicitorsflagship (headline sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Headline Sponsor of the BHBiz24 (2024) and BHBiz26 (September 2026) biennial awards. Long-standing BHBPA member (multiple years). Celebrated 25 years in business in 2024. Sponsorship visibility extends 12+ months across newsletter and social media.
• Mayo Wynne Baxtercore (best business sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Best Business category at BHBiz24 and BHBiz26 awards. Legal services firm supporting the local business community.
• Galloways (Accounting)core (team of stars sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Team of Stars category at BHBiz24; James Jarman of Galloways Accounting is BHBPA's Finance Officer (EO) and Director; David Conlan leads Galloways' Tax Advisory team and presents at BHBPA networking events.
• St Peter & St James Hospicecore (charity champion sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Charity Champion category at BHBiz24; hospice partner that benefits from BHBPA fundraising (e.g., Quiz subs).
• Thomas Mansfield Solicitorscore (edi sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Equality Diversity & Inclusion category at BHBiz24; employment law specialists supporting BHBPA's EDI agenda.
• Plumpton Racecoursecore (community champion sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Community Champion category at BHBiz24 and recurring host of BHBPA Autumn networking events (Sept 2024, Sept 2025, Sept 2026). Also holds seasonal open evenings for stakeholders including BHBPA.
• Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC)core (future talent & skills champion sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Future Talent & Skills Champion category at BHBiz24; partner on micro-business grants and local economic development. BHBPA CEO Richard Cox engages with MSDC's Economic Development team and MSDC leader Cllr. Robert Eggleston.
• Rubix VTcore (businessperson of the year sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Businessperson of the Year category at BHBiz24; won Charity Champion at BHBiz24.
• Epassicore (bright star sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Bright Star category at BHBiz24 awards.
• Edwards (Vacuum)core (green champion sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Green Champion category at BHBiz24; Edwards Vacuum is also a long-term BHBPA member (20+ years) and hosts BHBPA working group meetings.
• PVL UK Ltdcore (winning workplace sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Winning Workplace category at BHBiz24; won Best Business at BHBiz24; MD Nick Broom sits on BHBPA Steering Committee as Victoria Business Park Rep.
• Time 24 Ltdcore (star apprentice sponsor)GTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Sponsor of the Star Apprentice category at BHBiz24; MD David Shore is a BHBPA Director and Steering Committee member.
• Chichester College Groupcore (skills advisory panels)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2022Fifth largest college group in the UK; Chichester College Group invited BHBPA members to join Skills Advisory Panels validating curriculum, identifying new courses, and ensuring CCG meets employer needs locally and regionally.
• Panattoni (Developments)major (developer partner on burgess hill expansion)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2022World's largest privately owned industrial developer; purchased The Hub at Burgess Hill as part of ongoing speculative development plans. Building Panattoni Park Burgess Hill with 14 units from 8,136-142,815 sq ft; B1, B2, B8 consents; BREEAM Excellent. BHBPA actively engaged on planning and development issues.
• University of Sussex Business Schoolmajor (sussex mba partnership)Strategic or Co-development Partner · 17 August 2022New Partnership Scheme launched December 2022 enabling BHBPA members to partner with the University of Sussex Business School to bring new skills and talent into the local business community. Member of BHBPA.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BNI (Business Network International) UK: UK chapter of the global referral-networking organisation targeting local SME owners — directly overlaps BHBPA's networking and member-offer value proposition for sole traders and small businesses in a defined geography.

Broad incumbents

• Sussex Chamber of Commerce: Larger, county-wide business membership body that BHBPA partners with on Sussex Skills 25 / LSIP. Overlaps with BHBPA on networking, training, and lobbying but at broader Sussex scale and with deeper policy reach.
• Federation of Small Businesses (FSB): National UK membership body for small businesses and sole traders — the same end-member segment BHBPA targets with Micro-Meet. Provides comparable benefits (networking, lobbying, training) at national scale, competing for the same subscription wallet.
• Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce: Regional Sussex chamber offering networking, training, awards and lobbying — comparable scope to BHBPA but serving the larger Brighton urban market. Useful benchmark for what a more developed chamber programme looks like.

Regional players

• Gatwick Diamond Business Association (GDB): Adjacent peer: a wider Crawley/Gatwick-area business association that BHBPA collaborates with on annual joint events. Broader geographic footprint but similar member-led business voice function.
• Haywards Heath Business Association (HHBA): Direct peer: a neighbouring West Sussex town business association that BHBPA itself co-hosts joint networking events with. Same membership-based model, same SME-to-mid-market audience, same lobbying/local voice remit — only the geography differs.
• Hastings & St Leonards Business Community: A Sussex-coast town-level business association of broadly similar scale and remit to BHBPA — useful benchmark for member satisfaction, events programming and awards economics in a single-town UK association.
• East Grinstead Business Association (EGBA): Direct peer: another Mid Sussex town-level business association that partners with BHBPA on annual joint networking. Comparable subscription model, comparable size and event programme.

Others

• Mid Sussex District Council: Local authority partner and sponsor of BHBiz24's Future Talent category. Not a competitor, but the council's economic development team and grant programmes partially substitute for some BHBPA member benefits, framing the boundary between public and association support.
• Crawley Borough Council BID (Town Centre BID): Business Improvement District model for a Sussex town — uses a levy on local businesses to fund place-making, events and collective voice. Relevant comparable for BHBPA's local business-voice / events / lobbying remit, though funded differently.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/BHBPA_co_uk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@burgesshillbusinessparksas1570
• Facebookfacebook.com/p/Burgess-Hill-Business-Parks-Association-100089117718920
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bhbpa
• Instagraminstagram.com/burgesshillbusinessparksassoc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Burgess Hill Business Parks Association