World's first vegan toffee factory has opened in Newhaven. 

Locate East Sussex and St Leonards-on-Sea based LDBF, has supported over 3500 entrepreneurs across the South East to access finance over the past 5 years alone. Delivering inclusive economic development with a customer-focused approach, the partnership has helped people to start businesses, increase job opportunities and provide goods and services to the local economy. LDBF also provides investment and growth loans to established businesses looking to finance the next steps to scale-up. Lesley Jeavons said:

The support we have received from Locate East Sussex has been huge in terms of business growth. Since the loan, we have built our very own vegan toffee factory – a dream we’ve had for a long time which is finally starting to become a reality.

Sean Dennis, Managing Director of LDBF, said: “Working closely with Locate East Sussex is a great partnership and as one of the first delivery partners of Start-Up Loans in 2012, it is hugely rewarding, having reached the £15m mark of lending. It's a privilege to reflect on the incredible amount of new entrepreneurship that the scheme has stimulated in the region and the legacy that has already been created.”