Chichester Festival of Business

Ten years of the Last Friday Club. One epic morning.

​Friday 1st May, 2026 | The Nest, Chichester Festival Theatre

​Always EPIC: Encourage. Purpose. Integrity. Community.

Why a Festival of Business?

Business awards are flawed by their design; they celebrate the few and not the many. Debbie & Emily wanted to change that with an event where everyone can be celebrated and feel supported.

When Debbie and Emily created the Last Friday Club in 2016, they wanted to create a business networking environment for the solo entrepreneur who was just starting on their journey or those that were many years in that had wisdom to share or still something to learn. All in the aim of feeling supported, whatever stage they are at.

From our earlier days meeting in coffee shops and bars, we've grown into a vibrant community of 100s, and regularly welcome more than 50 business owners who gather monthly to support, inspire, and collaborate with one another.

A colorful logo for the Chichester Festival of Business
Two women smiling and holding coffee mugs that say 'Last Friday Club,' standing inside a cafe with a menu board and other people in the background.

What we stand for, our EPIC values

  • Nighttime view through a large window showing a dark interior with shelves, objects, and a neon sign reading "WHAT IS YOUR STORY?"

    ENCOURAGE

    Everyone deserves the chance to be seen and heard

  • View of three pairs of shoes on a tiled floor with shadows of tree leaves and the words 'PASSION LED US HERE' written on the floor.

    PURPOSE

    Meaningful connections that meet your needs

  • Person wearing a black T-shirt with the text "Good intentions are not enough" printed in white, standing indoors with blurred people in the background.

    INTEGRITY

    Building business relationships built on trust

  • Graffiti on a wall with the message 'let's love our community' next to a large gear design, under a bridge, with trash bins and leafless trees nearby.

    COMMUNITY

    Supporting each other's growth and success

How Does It Feel To Work With Me?

  • You have transformed my business. Working with you has been an absolute game changer for my net profit, strategy and long term vision.

    —Shazia Mahmood, MFA

  • My colleagues and I all left buzzing. We left feeling we had a new passion for using LinkedIn for our organisation

    —Richard Fieldhouse Founder & Chair, NASGP

  • It wasn't a generic training session or a one-size-fits-all approach — she listened, understood how I work, and tailored the advice around that.

    - Leanne Smith, Founder, Bloombird Digital

  • What a powerhouse of information. Having had a Super Sixty, I realised I've barely scratched the surface of Debbie's knowledge and expertise

    —Louise Duggan Artist, Creative Mentor & Art Consultant

  • The biggest lightbulb moment was the relationship between my business page and my personal page. I now have a clear strategy

    -Katie Wilson Director, Blue Spire Accountants

  • I can now find my way around LinkedIn with the light on, instead of fumbling around in the dark

    -Ros Thompson Bach Flower Practitioner & Ambassador for Sage House (Dementia Support)

  • She really helped us overcome some imposter syndrome and feel more confident in shouting about our wins

    -Rachel Soothil Founder of BrightWord PR & Communications

  • I've been a lurker for years; she gave me the confidence, and the knowledge, to use the platform properly

    -Donna Duggan Mailchimp PRO Partner

  • I was amazed how much I'd learned, and how much my mindset had evolved in a single hour

    -Regan du Closel Life & Transition Coach

  • She can immediately grasp the path your business needs to take to achieve your goals

    -Barry Mooring Tatton Investment Management

  • She relayed the technicalities [of LinkedIn] in really simple terms, and made it real world

    -Helen Holmes-Fogg NHS Primary Care CEO

  • Debbie is such a breath of fresh air; you can't help but want to listen and learn.

    Emily Croucher Business Manager, national insurance brokerage

  • Clear, actionable advice I could apply straight away. I left more confident and motivated

    -Louisa Hughes Content Manager, BrightWord PR & Communications

  • Debbie has a brilliant way of making the platform feel far less daunting

    -Andrew McKellar Founder & MD, AIM Heritage & Development

  • She's always on top of the latest updates and shares them freely with her audience

    -Debbie Bailey, Director Southbourne Accountancy Limited

  • Debbie is absolutely brilliant: she gave me a new lease of confidence with my social media.

    -Sonya Matharu, Founder & Adviser, The Mortgage Atelier Ltd

  • I now feel I have a clear roadmap to help me build my presence and grow my network.

    - Margo Cole, writer and editor

Work With Debbie