East Sussex Women in Business: Free Leadership Programme >BREAKTHROUGH 3.0 Now Open
BREAKTHROUGH 3.0 is a fully funded leadership programme for women in East Sussex—designed to support founders, freelancers, managers and charity leaders through growth and change. With expert mentoring, peer learning and practical tools, it’s here to help you lead with confidence and clarity.
We asked the team behind it, Always Possible, to tell us more…
Leadership can be lonely – but it doesn’t have to be
Whether you're running your own business, heading up a team in a larger company or quietly keeping the wheels turning behind the scenes, leadership can sometimes feel like a solo act. It’s exciting, it’s challenging – and let’s be honest – it can also be a bit overwhelming.
That’s where >BREAKTHROUGH 3.0 comes in.
Now in its third phase, this fully funded programme is designed to support women in East Sussex who are navigating growth, challenge or change in their work. That includes founders, charity leaders, freelancers, ops managers, HR pros, and women who might not always be front and centre of ‘traditional’ business support.
It’s about helping women in real jobs, in real organisations, to feel confident in their ideas and clear on their next steps – whatever those might be.
There’s no blueprint or tick box. Just space to reflect, tailored guidance, peer conversations that actually spark something and hands-on support from people who get it. It’s all shaped around those who sign up – so the workshops, mentoring and resources grow from what the group needs, not the other way around.
Delivery runs until March 2026, so the earlier you sign up, the more support you can access. First up is an online peer learning session on Wednesday 23rd July — a great chance to connect with others and shape what comes next.
This is exclusively for businesses and individuals based in East Sussex. That includes places like Lewes, Eastbourne, Uckfield, Hastings and beyond – but not Brighton & Hove (sorry folks, different pots of funding!).
If this sounds like something for you – or someone you know – take a look, share it around and don’t wait too long. Spaces are limited, and we’d love to see as many brilliant East Sussex women as possible making the most of it.
Who’s in the >B 3.0 team?
Emma Mills-Sheffield: Emma is a business strategy and operations specialist with 20 years’ experience across the public and private sectors. She founded Mindsetup Ltd to help leaders build efficiency and resilience, and has worked with everyone from FTSE100 companies to start-ups. A former senior lead at KPMG, Emma is also a leadership coach and has mentored over 60 successful grant applications. She was named one of the UK’s top 100 female entrepreneurs and won a Best Businesswomen Award in 2023.
Vicki Hughes: Vicki is a communications consultant, agency founder and mentor with over 30 years' experience. She helps organisations tell powerful stories, reach the right audiences, and lead with purpose — whether they’re large businesses, charities or NGOs. A confident speaker and passionate coach, Vicki champions the next generation of leaders driving positive change.
Fiona Anderson: Fiona is an experienced innovation and growth specialist, supporting businesses to build strong teams, improve customer experience, and drive sustainability. With a background in corporate banking and SME growth, she’s worked on major support programmes including BRITE and Innovate UK EDGE. Fiona brings expertise in business strategy, leadership development and ecosystem building — with a clear focus on unlocking potential.
Letitia McConalogue: Letitia is a skilled project manager and facilitator with a background spanning events, creative industries and community support. At always possible, she leads on business support and economic development projects — from stakeholder engagement to mentoring and communications strategy. She brings expertise in focus groups, research andpractical delivery, with a strong interest in small business, social innovation and creative enterprise.