Top Growing East Sussex Businesses

Located in the South East of the United Kingdom, East Sussex is not only renowned for its picturesque landscapes and coastal charm but also for its burgeoning business scene – featuring both nationwide and internationally renowned companies, as well as innovative independent businesses. Over the years, the region has become a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, with numerous businesses experiencing remarkable growth and expansion and contributing to positive change in our communities. In this article, we’re highlighting some of the top-growing and successful businesses in East Sussex that have been making waves in their respective industries. 

AVID PLC, Lewes 

Avid Plc has been designing, manufacturing, and supplying pet MicroChips and scanners for over 31 years in the UK, with the aim to unite missing pets with their owners through their innovative technology. Based in Lewes, East Sussex, they’re one of the leading pet MicroChip suppliers in the UK, providing their products and services to veterinary practices, rescues and more across the UK – demand for which has only grown in recent years as new legislation comes in requiring pet owners to MicroChip their pets.  

Find out more about AVID Plc 

Burger & Bird, Peacehaven 

Having opened in 2019, Burger & Bird has truly revived the food scene in Peacehaven. Offering a family friendly restaurant experience that can attract locals and tourists alike, they’ve been able to create more steady employment in the town, and have acted as a catalyst for more independent shops and retailers to move into the area following their success. 

See more about Burger & Bird

Kurt J. Lesker, St Leonards on Sea 

Since its inception in 1954, Kurt J Lesker has grown from a regional manufacturer and distributor of vacuum components to a leading worldwide provider. With their head office based in the industrial hub in the north of St Leonards on Sea, they’ve grown to employing over 400 people, with 1,600+ of their systems in place for companies all over the world.  

See more about Kurt J Lesker  

Medica Group PLC, Hastings 

From a small business built above a flower shop in 2004, Medica is now the UK’s market leading teleradiology provider, one of the biggest businesses in Hastings, and one of the most successful in Sussex. Their innovative service is in use by over 100 NHS hospitals in the UK, and has stayed true to their ‘patient first’ ethos since their inception – with a steadily growing team of clinical professionals. In recent years, they relocated the business from Battle, East Sussex, to the nearby town of Hastings to allow for growth – and in 2019 expanded their reporting team internationally. As of July 2023, the business was purchase by IK Partners to accelerate even further investment and growth of the business. 

See more about Medica 

Lightning Fibre, Eastbourne 

Founded in 2018, Lightning Fibre came on the scene with the aim of building a future-proof and cutting edge full fibre network that was centred on community and quality customer service. In 5 short years, Lightning Fibre has installed their own infrastructure connecting thousands of homes and businesses, and created almost 200 local jobs in the process. 

See more about Lightning Fibre

Community Playthings, Robertsbridge 

Created in the late 1940’s by a group of young families in a Christian community called ‘The Bruderhof’ Community Playthings began producing and selling wooden toys as a means of income after moving their settlement during the Second World War. Moving from Georgia, USA, to then Buckinghamshire, UK, the business continued to expand until their eventual move to Robertsbridge in East Sussex, where they created a community of several hundred people on the outskirts of the village. As the importance of learning through play became more widely adopted in the UK, the business continued to grow in both scale and popularity – their quality solid wood products becoming the favoured choice of nurseries, schools and families all over the world. Today, Community Playthings’ products are the benchmark of safe, high quality learning environments, and contributing to sustainable production practices through their use of quality wood materials. 

See more about Community Playthings  

The examples mentioned above represent just a snapshot of the thriving businesses that have found success in the county – whether it’s through their adaptability to a challenging economy, their innovative ideas and operations, sustainable practices, or making a positive impact on their local community.