Network Xpress Events
Supporting Sussex Businesses
About us. Network Xpress exists to bring the right people into the right rooms. We create event-led platforms where directors, founders and business leaders can connect properly, have honest conversations and generate real opportunities. Whether it’s exhibitions, peer groups or live pitch events, everything we build is designed to help Sussex businesses grow, collaborate and move forward with purpose.
Our vision is simple. No business leader in Sussex should feel like they’re building alone. By connecting our events, communities and initiatives under one umbrella, we are creating a stronger, more joined-up network where ideas turn into action and relationships turn into long-term results.
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Active Directors’ Hub Members
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Exhibition Delegates at SBS Shows
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Years Delivering Sussex Business Events
Starting Network Xpress
Network Xpress began in 2017 with the launch of the Mid-Sussex Business Expo in Burgess Hill. Built from a desire to create more engaging and commercially focused events, the show set out to move beyond traditional exhibitions and deliver something more dynamic for local businesses.
From the outset, the ambition was clear: bring energy, creativity and structure into the regional events space. That first expo laid the foundations for what would later become the Sussex Business Show, establishing Network Xpress as a confident new operator within Sussex.
One Year Later
Just one year later, the vision expanded from a single expo to three regional events: the Mid-Sussex Business Expo, East Sussex Marketing Expo and West Sussex Tech Expo. It was a bold step, driven by the belief that Sussex businesses wanted more structured opportunities to connect, showcase and grow, and I felt real momentum building behind the brand.
Expansion and Evolution
As more directors, founders and start ups began attending, it became clear that exhibitions alone were not enough. 2018 marked a turning point, shaping the foundations of what would become The Directors’ Hub and The Tiger’s Pen, shifting the focus from events alone to long-term business support and deeper relationships across Sussex.
Reset and Rebuild
By March 2020, we had three expos running and the business was finally gaining financial traction. Then COVID brought live events to an immediate halt. Almost overnight, 97% of revenue disappeared. It was a hard stop and a sobering moment for the company.
Rather than sit still, we moved online, partnering with Network My Club and using the Remo platform to host a virtual expo that proved surprisingly successful. The downtime gave me space to rethink everything. We consolidated into one county show and built the foundations for The Directors’ Hub, The Tiger’s Pen and what would later re-emerge as Yacht Friend also was re-launched.
Three years later
After lockdown, our first live return in 2022 proved there was still real appetite for face to face business events. It was a strong comeback and a reminder that people still value being in the same room together. We had a Star Wars Troop join us from a galaxy far, far away too. Which was great fun.
In 2023, we made a bold decision to move away from Ardingly and the South of England Showground and bring the event into the heart of Brighton. After a lunch with Flo Powell, co founder of Midnight, the idea to host the show at Brighton Dome felt right. It gave the event character, energy and a more central identity. With one flagship show now leading the way, we were set.
We integrated The Tiger’s Pen into the programme and saw serious growth within The Directors’ Hub. Membership climbed from twelve to twenty eight within a year, proving the shift was working.
The tide has turned…
By 2025, the rebuild had come full circle. After losing 97% of revenue during the pandemic, the business returned to positive equity and recovered the losses of the previous five years. It was steady, focused work, but it proved the long term direction was right.
The Sussex Business Show is now firmly established at Brighton Dome, entering its third year in the venue and becoming a fixture in Sussex business diaries. Meanwhile, the Directors’ Hub has grown from just three founding members to more than sixty five active leaders across the county.
The Tiger’s Pen has now supported over thirty start ups, with eight receiving structured investment and mentoring to help them scale. One example is STIX Mindfulness in 2023, which secured backing that enabled the launch of a fully functional ecommerce website, significantly accelerating its growth.
Freelance Events Team
Sonny Cutting
Network Xpress
Founder of Network Xpress, creating event-led platforms that connect directors, founders and ambitious businesses in Sussex.
Martin Leppard
H2 Productions.
Event operations lead for the Sussex Business Show, managing venue logistics, technical delivery and exhibitor experience.
Richard Bignell
Our HR People
HR consultant supporting The Directors’ Hub, advising on governance, compliance and responsible leadership standards.
Jo Stuart
Ayres Consulting
Management consultant leading The Tiger’s Pen, helping founders strengthen pitches and attract investment in the pen.
A Few of our Clients
