Celebrating 50 Years of Sussex Business Times: A Legacy of Local Business, Storytelling & Community

Fifty years ago, long before the rise of digital publishing, social media, and the always-on news cycle, one man had a simple but powerful idea: to create a publication that championed the businesses and entrepreneurs of Sussex. That man was Alan Harvard, and in 1975 he founded what would become one of the region’s most enduring business institutions — Sussex Business Times (SBT).

Half a century later, as SBT celebrates its 50th anniversary, the magazine doesn’t just look back on an extraordinary history it stands proudly as a living, breathing part of the Sussex business ecosystem. Still publishing. Still innovating. Still telling the stories that matter.

This is the story of those fifty years. The founders, the custodians, the evolution and the vision for the next fifty.

The Early Years: One Man’s Vision Becomes a Community Institution

When Alan Harvard launched SBT in 1975, Sussex’s business landscape looked very different. The region’s economy was built around manufacturing, tourism, local retail, and fast-growing professional services. But there was no single publication dedicated to capturing the pulse of business life across the county.

SBT changed all of that.

Alan quickly built a reputation for creating a magazine that was of the community, not just for it. It became a hub for local news, interviews, insights, events, and conversations that mattered to business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs.

One of the most iconic elements of SBT during these early decades was their Networking Lunches, the magazine’s flagship event for many years. It was a place where business leaders met, deals were done, stories were shared, and relationships were built. The event helped cement SBT’s role as the beating heart of Sussex’s business network long before LinkedIn existed.

A New Era Under Lee Mansfield (1997–2017)

In 1997, SBT entered a significant new chapter when Lee Mansfield acquired the magazine from Alan. Under Lee’s leadership, the publication modernised, expanded, and transformed into a widely recognised regional brand.

One of the defining features of Lee’s stewardship was evolution. He took SBT from a black-and-white publication with a colour cover and centre section to a far more contemporary and visually dynamic magazine, a huge step forward for the era.

Distribution also skyrocketed. What began as a 5,000-copy print run grew to 25,000 at its peak, making it one of the largest regional business publications of its kind.

Competition came and went. Market conditions shifted. Technology changed everything. But SBT remained. And Lee remained its guardian for two remarkable decades.

Reflecting on the journey, Lee says:

“It’s been amazing to have run and been involved with this publication for nearly 30 years, and to still see it serving the local business community is a proud achievement. Sam has excelled in giving this community a relevant magazine and platform in a very difficult publishing arena. SBT has seen many competitors come and go, and that is down to its local-focused content and Sam’s determination to keep the Sussex business community engaged in not just SBT but a multitude of platforms that complement it! I am proud to still be involved even from the back benches! There is more to come!!!”

In 2017, after 20 years of ownership, Lee made the decision to step back, but not step away, and the next generation of leadership began.

A New Chapter: Sam Thomas Takes the Helm (2017–Present)

In December 2017, Sam Thomas acquired SBT and ushered in one of the most transformative periods in the magazine’s long history. With a vision rooted in storytelling, community, and modern media, Sam saw SBT not just as a magazine but as a platform for authentic connection.

His mission was clear: to evolve SBT into something that honoured its heritage but was built for the future.

Where other publications struggled to adapt to digital change, SBT expanded.

Where many local magazines pulled back, SBT doubled down.

Where traditional media leaned into transactional advertising relationships, SBT focused on community, collaboration, and genuine narratives.

Reflecting on the honour of leading this legacy into the modern era, Sam says:

“It has been a privilege and an honour to keep this amazing publication and Lee’s legacy  going since 2017. I truly believe in the power of storytelling and I look forward to continuing to serve the business community with its incredible stories and insights.

I am also delighted to pass over the Managing Director role to my amazing colleague Jackie Irving, who will continue driving the growth of our business club and magazine.

None of this would be possible without our incredible community, sponsors, and contributors who make publishing this magazine possible every single month. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. This publication exists because of you, and for you.”

This belief that stories connect us, define us, and move us forward, has become central to SBT’s evolution today.

From Print to Platform: The Birth of County Business Clubs

One of the most significant milestones in the modern era of SBT was the creation of County Business Clubs (CBC)  launched by Sam shortly after acquiring the magazine.

CBC was built on the idea that stories deserve a home beyond the printed page.

• A home where entrepreneurs could connect, learn, collaborate, and share insights.

• A home that rejected the traditional, transactional style of networking.

• A home that put storytelling at its heart.

CBC grew quickly into a powerful regional community  a “professional ecosystem” designed to help members find meaningful connections and unlock genuine growth.

But CBC was never separate from SBT. It was inspired by it. Powered by its heritage. Strengthened by the trust that SBT had built over decades.

And now, in SBT’s 50th year, the next evolution arrives.

Introducing Sussex Business Club: The Official Members’ Club of Sussex Business Times

To mark this milestone anniversary, CBC is being rebranded as SBC -Sussex Business Club, the official members club of SBT.

The ethos and manifesto remain the same, a powerful articulation of what community truly means:

• All business is symbiotic in nature.

• You can be inspiring your peers one day, and learning from them the next.

• People buy people.

• Stories connect us more deeply than sales pitches ever will.

SBC exists to:

• champion authentic storytelling

• create trusted spaces for connection

• curate insights from real business experiences

• grow communities across Sussex

• nurture entrepreneurial spirit

• bring people together through events, media, and meaningful conversations

It is the natural evolution of what SBT has always done,  just on a broader, more dynamic, and more collaborative scale.

At its core, SBC is a celebration of Sussex itself: its leaders, its innovators, its businesses, and its stories.

The DNA of SBT: Community, Collaboration & Storytelling

Across its 50-year history, SBT has proven one thing: it survives because it evolves.

It evolves because it listens.

It listens because it belongs to the people who read it, contribute to it, partner with it, and believe in it.

From Alan’s early vision…

To Lee’s decades of dedication…

To Sam’s modern transformation and digital expansion…

To the launch of Sussex Business Club…

To the upcoming leadership of Jackie Irving…

SBT stands as a testament to the power of local business communities when they come together around shared purpose and shared stories.

This magazine has featured thousands of businesses over half a century.

It has covered recessions, recoveries, pandemics, celebrations, and transformations.

It has profiled the region’s most inspiring leaders and spotlighted its rising stars.

It has fostered friendships, collaborations, partnerships, and movements.

It is, in many ways, a living archive of Sussex business history.

Looking Ahead: Celebrating 50 Years & The Road to Issue 500

As SBT steps into its 50th anniversary year, another extraordinary milestone is on the horizon: its 500th issue, set to land in 2026.

Two huge achievements.

One incredible celebration.

To mark this moment in history, SBT will be hosting a special 50-year anniversary and Issue 500 celebration party in April 2026,  bringing together contributors, partners, advertisers, members, leaders, and friends from across the decades.

It will be a moment to honour the past, celebrate the present, and look confidently toward the future.

A future built on everything SBT stands for.

Storytelling.

Authenticity.

Community.

Connection.

Growth.

The foundations that have carried it for 50 years — and will carry it for the next 50.

Fifty Years of SBT. And Still, This Is Only the Beginning.

Few publications survive five decades. Even fewer remain relevant. Fewer still continue to innovate and expand.

Sussex Business Times is part of that rare group.

From a black-and-white print magazine to a multi-platform community ecosystem…

From First Friday Lunches to the Sussex Business Club…

From 5,000 copies to 25,000…

From Alan Harvard’s vision to a vibrant regional movement…

SBT is not just a magazine.

It is a legacy.

A voice.

A community.

A catalyst for connection and growth across Sussex.

As SBT celebrates 50 years, its mission remains unchanged:

To tell the stories that shape our business landscape.

To bring people together.

To shine a light on success, resilience, innovation, and purpose.

And to champion the region that built it and continues to believe in it.

Here’s to the next fifty years of Sussex Business Times.

Here’s to Issue 500.

And here’s to the power of storytelling, community, and connection.

The story continues and the best chapters are yet to come.