On Thursday 24 September 2026, under the old oak beams of Pangdean Barn at Pyecombe, the Burgess Hill Business Parks Association gathered the business community of Mid Sussex together for the BHBiz26 Business Awards. Somewhere around nine o’clock, with the candles flickering along the mantel and more than 170 people holding their breath, our name was read out as the winner of the Shooting Star award.
We are still a little stunned. We are also enormously grateful, and this article is our attempt to say thank you properly. Not only to the judges and sponsors who chose us, but to every single business that entered, every finalist who sat at those tables with us, and every person who gave up an evening to celebrate what is quietly wonderful about doing business in Burgess Hill.
If you are a Sussex business owner reading this because you are looking for a marketing agency in Mid Sussex, welcome. We will tell you a little about ourselves further down. But first, this night was about far more than us, and we would like to tell you about all of it.
A barn full of stars
The BHBiz awards have grown over the years into the biggest business awards in Mid Sussex, and BHBiz26 was a record year. The BHBPA received more entries than ever before, with over sixty finalists spread across ten categories, and the evening was headline sponsored for another year by Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors, who have supported the association for a long time and clearly love the community as much as we do.
The evening opened at six in the garden, in glorious late September weather at the foot of the Downs, with a drinks and canapés reception sponsored by Ridgeview Wine Estate, whose English sparkling wine is made just a few miles away at Ditchling Common. There is something rather lovely about toasting Sussex business with a glass of Sussex fizz, and Ridgeview also happened to be a finalist in the Green Champion category, so they were being celebrated as much as they were pouring.
As the glasses were filled, a troupe of dancers performed in the shade of the barn’s vast mulberry tree, retelling A Midsummer Night’s Dream, that old story of love, magic and confusion in an enchanted forest. Richard Cox, Chief Executive of the BHBPA, called the evening “A Mid Sussex Night’s Dream” afterwards, and it is hard to think of a better description.
Dinner was a three course affair of locally sourced food prepared under the watchful eye of Nikky Currie and her kitchen team, and the room itself, dressed in greenery, candlelight and flowers, felt more like a family wedding than a corporate awards night. That is the BHBPA’s great gift. They make you feel that you belong.
Alison Bennett MP and the value of local business
At half past eight, Alison Bennett, the Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex, took to the stage as the evening’s guest speaker. She spoke warmly, and from the heart, about what local business means to a town like Burgess Hill. Her message, echoed in the words she wrote for the evening’s programme, was that businesses in our town make an enormous contribution to life here. They create jobs, they support the local economy, and they help to make Burgess Hill a vibrant place to live and work. Behind every one of them, she reminded us, are people whose talent, commitment and ideas keep the town moving forward.
She said that awards like BHBiz26 are a chance to recognise those people, to celebrate what they have achieved and to highlight the important role they play in the wider business community. It was a generous and thoughtful speech, and it set exactly the right tone for the awards that followed. Thank you, Alison, for giving your evening to us.
Over £2,500 for St Peter & St James Hospice
Before a single award was handed out, the room had already done something wonderful. The chosen charity for BHBiz26 was St Peter & St James Hospice, which provides expert care to adults living with a life limiting illness in Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath, Lewes, Uckfield and everywhere in between. Their care extends beyond patients to friends and families too, and their mission is simply to give people the best possible care, in the right place, at the right time.
Hospice volunteers passed among the tables during dinner with raffle tickets, and by the time the draw was made the evening had raised over £2,500 for the hospice. That figure represents a great deal of kindness from a great many people, and we are proud to have been in a room that gave so freely. If you would like to add to it, you can donate to St Peter & St James Hospice here.
The Shooting Star award
The Shooting Star award, sponsored by UK Growth Coach, celebrates growth. In the words of the category brief, it recognises businesses that have taken decisive action to pursue their ambitions and drive progress in challenging times, companies that are not only growing but are showing resilience, innovation and leadership along the way.
We were shortlisted alongside three businesses we admire enormously. PVL UK Limited, the Burgess Hill vehicle livery and conspicuity specialists, who were finalists in no fewer than five categories this year. Remarkabull Marketing, a fellow Sussex marketing business whose work we rate very highly. And Social Innovation 4 All CIC, a community interest company doing brilliant things with young people and social enterprise. To be chosen from that shortlist is humbling, and we want each of them to know that we think they are all shooting stars in their own right.
Tim Rylatt and the team at UK Growth Coach have championed Sussex businesses for years, and it meant a great deal to receive this particular award from a sponsor who understands what growth really costs a small business in effort, nerve and late nights.
A word from Stuart
Stuart Farrell-Humphrey, founder of Phoenix Media Marketing, said:
“I have been in business a long time, and I can say, hand on heart, that I have never felt prouder of a team than I did on Thursday night. Winning Shooting Star is lovely, of course it is. But what really moved me was looking around that barn and seeing so many people we know, respect and work alongside, all cheering for each other. Burgess Hill is a town that gets on with things quietly, and nights like this remind us how much talent there is here.
“This award belongs to every member of the Phoenix team, and to every client who has trusted us with their business. Growth for us has never been about getting bigger for the sake of it. It has been about doing better work, learning new things, especially in AI search and generative engine optimisation, and helping local businesses be found by the people who need them. Thank you to the BHBPA, to UK Growth Coach, to the judges, and to everyone who entered. We are in very good company.”
A word from Tommy
Tommy James, who was himself a finalist in the Bright Star category, said:
“Being shortlisted for Bright Star was a real surprise, and then to see Phoenix win Shooting Star on the same night was just brilliant. I have learnt so much from this team over the past couple of years, and I love that we get to work with businesses on our own doorstep. Sitting in that room with clients, partners and friends all celebrating together is something I will not forget in a hurry. Thank you to everyone who has been so kind to me since I joined. Burgess Hill really does look after its own.”
A busy night for the Phoenix family
Shooting Star was not the only category in which Phoenix Media Marketing was recognised. We were also finalists for Team of Stars, sponsored by Burgess Hill Town FC, and Stuart was shortlisted for Excellence in Leadership, a category sponsored by Brandon Harris of the Entrepreneurial Operating System. Tommy’s Bright Star nomination, sponsored by Travail Employment Group, made it four nominations in all.
We were also delighted to provide the event flowers for the evening, so if you noticed the blooms on the mantel and the tables, that was us. It felt like a small way of giving something back to an event that has given us so much.
Every finalist, because every one of them deserves it
Awards nights are, by their nature, about winners. But the simple truth is that every finalist in the room had already won something: the respect of a judging panel led by Susan Fleet MBE of Lea Graham Associates, and a place among the very best businesses in Mid Sussex. Susan put it beautifully in her opening remarks: “We have an extraordinary community of businesses, organisations and individuals, full of talent, commitment, innovation and, above all, people who care about what they do and the difference they make. Tonight is about celebrating all of that. Being a finalist is a tremendous achievement, and you should all be immensely proud of what you have accomplished.” So here, category by category, is everyone who was shortlisted at BHBiz26. Please click through, discover them, and if you can, do business with them.
Bright Star (sponsored by Travail Employment Group)
The Bright Star award recognises the special individuals who, in the sponsor’s words, “simply get the job done properly” and who a business would struggle to manage without. This year’s finalists were Andrew Haimdas of The Jonathan Lea Network, Chantelle Barrow of Rewards Training & Recruitment, Debbie Smith of Atlas Copco Edwards, Emily Jones of the Tech-Takeback Foundation, Harriet Morphew of BSE|3D, Ree Kahn of Rose Media Group, and our own Tommy James of Phoenix Media Marketing.
Green Champion (sponsored by Auditel)
Auditel believe that recognising green initiatives inspires others to innovate and put environmental responsibility at the heart of their operations. The finalists were ABCOM IT Solutions, the Adelphi Group of Companies, BSE|3D, Courier Express, Ridgeview Wine Estate and Spirit of the Downs.
Shooting Star (sponsored by UK Growth Coach)
Won by Phoenix Media Marketing, with fellow finalists PVL UK Limited, Remarkabull Marketing and Social Innovation 4 All CIC.
Winning Workplace (sponsored by Thomas Mansfield Employment Law)
Thomas Mansfield celebrate employers who take their responsibility seriously, communicate openly and foster an atmosphere of mutual respect. The finalists were Bennett Oakley Solicitors, PVL UK Limited and Travail Employment Group.
Future Talent & Skills Champion (sponsored by Burgess Hill Girls)
Burgess Hill Girls sponsored this award for organisations developing the skills and confidence of young people. The finalists were the Adelphi Group of Companies, BSE|3D, the Tech-Takeback Foundation and the Woodlands Meed Supported Internship Programme. Woodlands Meed took the award home, and deservedly so. Their programme helps young people with special educational needs and disabilities into paid work, at a time when only around one in twenty do so nationally. If your business could offer a placement, please get in touch with them.
Excellence in Leadership (sponsored by Brandon Harris, EOS)
A category about leaders who set the tone, create clarity and enable people and businesses to thrive. The finalists were David Graffham of Delta Security Management, Stuart Farrell-Humphrey of Phoenix Media Marketing, Daniel Stoner of Base Insurance Brokers, Nick Broom of PVL UK Limited and Philip Todd of BSE|3D.
Ethical Business Star (sponsored by Galloways Accounting)
Galloways sponsored this award to celebrate businesses committed to fairness, transparency and accountability. The finalists were Amanda Anstee Editing & Proofreading, PVL UK Limited, Strategic Management Partners and the Tech-Takeback Foundation.
Charity & Community Champion (sponsored by LB Enclosures)
LB Enclosures sponsored a category close to our hearts, recognising those who give time, energy and resources to make a difference. The finalists were ABCOM IT Solutions, BSE|3D, Burgess Hill & District Pantry, Deb Week of Safe in Sussex, Lee Andrews of Mid Sussex Golf Club, Mike Oliver of Mike Oliver Associates, the Tech-Takeback Foundation and The Woolpack.
Micro Business Star (sponsored by Mid Sussex District Council)
Mid Sussex District Council sponsored the award for the small businesses that make up around ninety per cent of the local economy. It was the biggest category of the night, with finalists Amanda Anstee Editing & Proofreading, Deep Insight, Remarkabull Marketing, Resilience Continuity Consulting, Rose Media Group, Strategic Management Partners, The Zen Den Mortgages & Protection, Travail Employment Group, Uckfield Logistics Training Services and UK Growth Coach.
Team of Stars (sponsored by Burgess Hill Town FC)
Burgess Hill Town FC know a thing or two about teamwork. The finalists were Bennett Oakley Solicitors, the Operations, Art, Events and Freight departments at EBISS, Pangdean Barn, Phoenix Media Marketing, The Jonathan Lea Network and Travail Employment Group.
Best Business (sponsored by Mayo Wynne Baxter)
Mayo Wynne Baxter sponsored the evening’s headline category, championing organisations that drive growth, creativity and positive impact across the region. The finalists were Bennett Oakley Solicitors, BSE|3D, PVL UK Limited and UK Growth Coach.
Our thanks
An evening like this does not happen by accident. Behind it are months of work by a small group of people, and we would like to name them.
To Richard Cox, Chief Executive of the BHBPA, and to Esther, Wes, Steve and Susan on the organising committee, thank you for building something that truly brings a town together. To Susan Fleet MBE and the judging panel, who read every entry with care and, we suspect, had some very difficult decisions to make, thank you. To Sherrards Employment Law Solicitors, our headline sponsor, and to every category sponsor named above, thank you for putting your names and your money behind local business.
To Pangdean Barn, for a venue that made everyone feel welcome, and to Nikky Currie and the kitchen team for a wonderful dinner. To Ridgeview for the welcome, to the students of Burgess Hill Girls who helped the evening run so smoothly, and to the volunteers from St Peter & St James Hospice who worked the room with such warmth. To Alison Bennett MP, for her time and her kind words. And to the Mid Sussex Times and Sussex Express, for telling the stories of businesses like ours.
Finally, to our clients. You are the reason we exist, and every campaign, website, video and search result we have ever delivered has been for you. This award is yours too.
About Phoenix Media Marketing
Phoenix Media Marketing is a full service marketing agency based in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, a few miles up the road from Burgess Hill and a proud member of the BHBPA. We work with local and regional businesses across Sussex and the South East on SEO, AI search and generative engine optimisation (GEO), PPC, content, digital PR, social media and video. We are a small team, we care a great deal about the businesses we work with, and we are proud to call Mid Sussex home.
If you are a Sussex business owner who would like to grow, whether that means being found on Google, showing up in AI search results, or simply telling your story better, we would love to hear from you. You can get in touch with us here, or just come and say hello at the next BHBPA networking event. We will be the ones still smiling about Thursday night.
