500 Issues. One Community. A Personal Reflection.

There are moments in life and business where you’re invited to pause…

Not to look back with nostalgia, but to reflect with perspective.

This is one of those moments.

500 issues of Sussex Business Times.

Half a century of stories.

Thousands of businesses.

Countless conversations, connections, and collaborations.

And for me… nearly a decade of being a custodian of something much bigger than myself.

Taking the Baton (2017)

Back in December 2017, I was given the opportunity to take on Sussex Business Times.

If I’m honest… I don’t think I fully appreciated what that meant at the time.

This wasn’t just a magazine.

It was, and still is, the beating heart of the Sussex business community.

My first issue was Issue 418, the Rockinghorse 50th anniversary edition.

A charity that remains incredibly close to my heart.

And since then…

82 issues later…

I’ve had a front-row seat to some of the most inspiring stories this county has to offer.

Entrepreneurs.

Leaders.

Start-ups.

Scale-ups.

Family businesses.

Purpose-driven organisations.

People who, every single day, are showing up… building something… and often doing it against the odds.

What I’ve Learned

If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s this:

∗ Stories are everything.

Not the polished versions.

Not the highlight reels.

The real stories.

The setbacks.

The pivots.

The moments of doubt.

The quiet wins no one sees.

Because that’s where connection lives.

“In a world full of noise, stories are what make us feel… and feeling is what makes us connect.”

Over the years, I’ve seen first-hand that business isn’t built on transactions…

It’s built on relationships.

And relationships are built on understanding.

And understanding comes from storytelling.

From Magazine to Platform

When I took this on, I didn’t just see SBT as a publication.

I saw it as a platform.

A platform to bring people together.

A platform to create conversations.

A platform to move beyond traditional “networking”…

Into something more human.

That thinking led to the creation of business clubs, events, and communities that sit around the magazine today.

Because the truth is…

People don’t remember adverts.

They remember how you made them feel.

They remember the story.

They remember the connection.

Why This Matters Even More Now

We’re now living in a world powered by AI.

Content is everywhere.

Information is instant.

And noise is constant.

But here’s what I believe more than ever:

∗ The more digital the world becomes… the more human connection matters.

AI can write content.

It can generate ideas.

It can even tell stories.

But it can’t replace lived experience.

It can’t replicate genuine emotion.

And it can’t build real relationships.

That’s why storytelling isn’t becoming less important…

It’s becoming everything.

Because in a world of automation…

Authenticity is the differentiator.

The Power of Community

If SBT has taught me anything, it’s this:

∗ You don’t build a business alone.

Behind every cover story…

Every feature…

Every issue…

There is a community.

A community that supports each other.

Champions each other.

Challenges each other.

And most importantly…

Shows up for each other.

That’s what Sussex has always done brilliantly.

And it’s what makes this magazine so special.

“SBT has never just been about business… it’s always been about people.”

A Personal Turning Point

Over the past few years, something shifted for me.

Through the stories I’ve had the privilege to share…

Through the conversations I’ve been part of…

Through my own journey…

I found something deeper.

A sense of purpose.

A mission that now sits at the centre of everything I do:

∗ To change the narrative around success.

∗ To create spaces for honest conversation.

∗ To remind people that it’s okay to not be okay.

That path has led me to build Different Hats and the You Alright Mate? movement.

And it’s changed how I see everything.

Including this magazine.

Because at its core…

SBT has never just been about business.

It’s always been about people.

Passing It On

And that brings me to this moment.

As we celebrate 500 issues, a milestone we’ll also be marking together at our Soho House celebration, I also find myself at a personal crossroads.

After nearly a decade as custodian…

I’ve been reflecting on what the next chapter looks like, both for me, and for SBT.

Over the coming months, I’ll be stepping back slightly to focus more deeply on the mission and work that sits at the heart of everything I do.

But this isn’t an ending…

It’s an evolution.

One that I’m incredibly excited about.

We have some exciting announcements to share soon about what’s next for SBT, how it continues to grow, evolve, and serve this incredible community in new and meaningful ways.

And alongside that…

I’m proud to continue this journey with Jackie Irving as Managing Director.

Jackie plays a vital role in the continued growth of SBT and the wider business community we are building.

Her energy, integrity, and passion for people are a huge part of what makes this all work.

And I’m excited for what we will continue to build together.

Thank You

To everyone who has been part of this journey…

Contributors.

Partners.

Sponsors.

Readers.

Friends.

Thank you.

This magazine only exists because of you.

And every single story shared has added to something far bigger than any one issue.

500 Issues… and Still Just the Beginning

From Alan Harvard’s vision…

To Lee Mansfield’s stewardship…

To the chapter I’ve been fortunate enough to play a part in…

And now to Jackie’s leadership…

SBT continues to evolve.

But its purpose remains the same:

∗ To tell the stories that matter.

∗ To bring people together.

∗ To celebrate the human side of business.

500 issues is a milestone.

But it’s not the destination.

It’s just another chapter…

In a story that’s still being written.

Here’s to the next chapter.

Here’s to the power of story.

And here’s to the community that makes it all possible.

By Sam Thomas
SBT Chief Storyteller