Trading Standards Business Advice Service
Bespoke business advice from our Trading Standards Team is normally chargeable. However, in recognising the need to support businesses making changes as a result of the UK’s exit from the EU, we will not charge for advice relating to EU Exit. In addition, to support the rural business economy we do not charge for advice to the farming community.
Ensuring that your business complies with trading standards laws is important, but can sometimes be confusing. We are here to help.
From start-ups and small businesses to importers and manufacturers we can help you navigate complex regulations to protect your business and support good customer service.
Our business advice is delivered by BAASP (the Business Advice and Support Partnership); a partnership of local authority regulatory services across the South East including East Sussex County Council Trading Standards. By sharing knowledge, resources and expertise we can provide the best support and advice for local businesses on Trading Standards, Environmental Health, Licensing and Fire Safety regulations.
- BAASP launch on YouTube
Contact us for business advice:
Telephone: 0345 60 80 197
Email: baasp@eastsussex.gov.uk
Website: Business Advice and Support Partnership
Additional information:
This is a chargeable service.
Bespoke advice
When you contact us for the first time we will register your business. Advice is available at £95 per hour (£114 including VAT) and any advice given will be confirmed in writing or by email.
If your enquiry is going to take more than one hour to deal with, the Trading Standards officer will give you an estimate of the time needed.
Once agreed, payment will be requested over the phone before any advice is given. We are unable to accept payment in cash or by cheque.
Please note: we do not charge for EU Exit or farming related advice.
Primary Authority Partnerships
Primary Authority Partnerships are considered for all businesses who have a shared interest in compliance. A charge of £1,900 (VAT exempt) is made to include 20 hours of business advice and support, with charges of £95 (VAT exempt) per hour for additional work thereafter.
Our VAT number is GB191803754.
*Charges may be altered in the future. Correct as of April 2024.
- The Business Support Scheme (‘the Scheme’) is managed and administered by East Sussex Trading Standards Service, which is part of East Sussex County Council. These terms and conditions apply to the provision of advice by East Sussex Trading Standards Service under the Scheme. By requesting advice from East Sussex Trading Standards Service you agree to be bound by and to comply with these terms and conditions.
- In these terms and conditions the expression “we” is a reference to East Sussex Trading Standards Service and the expressions “you” or “your” is a reference to the person or organisation requesting business advice (the Customer).
- Subject to the overriding provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, all information provided by you as part of the Scheme will be treated sensitively and kept securely.
- East Sussex Trading Standards Service undertakes to ensure that only adequately trained officers provide advice, that the advice will be impartial and that all reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that it is correct at the time at which it is given.
- Upon receipt of your request for advice, we will allocate it to an officer who will become the point of contact for your enquiry. The officer will endeavour to respond as soon as possible, but in any event within three (3) working days of your initial enquiry. The officer will then advise you of the expected timescale for providing the requested advice.
- East Sussex Trading Standards Service is a law enforcement department which is empowered to enforce a variety of civil and criminal statutes. We have a duty to investigate any allegation of a breach of such legislation and the provision of advice under the Scheme does not affect this duty in any way.
- Where advice is provided under the ‘Primary Authority’* mechanism then it may have binding influence on Trading Standards Services nationally. Your named contact officer will be able to fully explain what this means for your business if it is applicable to you.
- In seeking to obtain business advice from East Sussex Trading Standards Service, you undertake to provide details of your business; including trading name(s), legal name, postal addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses and the nature of the business, as well as contact details for the person requesting the advice. Advice cannot be given until this information has been received.
- In applying for business advice you agree to pay charges for officer time incurred by East Sussex Trading Standards. There is a minimum charge for advice given in response to each enquiry. You will be advised of the charge before any advice is given.
- Payment is accepted by Credit or Debit Card only, in advance of any advice being given. We regret that we are unable to accept cash or cheques for services provided.
- The provision of advice under the Scheme does not entitle your business to use any logo of or claim any affiliation with East Sussex Trading Standards or East Sussex County Council.
- If you are not satisfied with the quality or timeliness of the information provided to you, we ask that you please contact us at the earliest opportunity so that your designated officer or his / her Team Manager can attempt to resolve the issue. If this is not possible or desirable then you will have recourse to East Sussex County Council’s official complaints procedure. See Customer feedback.
- If you do not have access to the internet please do not hesitate to contact us on 0345 6080197 or write to us at East Sussex County Council Trading Standards, County Hall, St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE.
*A Primary Authority for the purposes of s.23A of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008.
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