EDF Small Business and Enterprise Nation Launch Brighton Pop-Up Shop Initiative to Support High Street Growth for UK Small Businesses

EDF Small Business and Enterprise Nation Launch Brighton Pop-Up Shop Initiative to Support High Street Growth for UK Small Businesses

(IN BRIEF) EDF Small Business and Enterprise Nation have launched the next phase of their Powering Local Businesses partnership with a new pop-up shop initiative designed to help small businesses test physical retail without the financial risk of securing a traditional high street space. Applications are open for businesses to take part in a free two-week residency at a dedicated pop-up shop in Duke’s Lane, Brighton, running from June 29 to July 26, 2026. The initiative is aimed at small businesses looking to sell in person for the first time, trial a new location or build brand awareness with new audiences. The wider partnership will also provide sustainability grants, free EV chargers from EDF’s Pod business, expert webinars, a Retail Sessions Podcast series, additional resilience-focused grants and a second pop-up shop later in the year. The programme builds on a first-year campaign that supported almost one million UK small businesses with resources, advice and tailored support.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 1-Jun-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — EDF Small Business and Enterprise Nation have opened applications for a new pop-up shop initiative in Brighton, giving small businesses the chance to take their first step onto the high street without the usual cost and commitment of a physical retail space.

The initiative forms part of the next phase of the Powering Local Businesses partnership, a joint programme designed to help UK small businesses grow, become more resilient and access practical support for sustainable development.

Through the new scheme, selected businesses will be offered a free two-week residency at a dedicated pop-up shop in Duke’s Lane, Brighton. The retail space will operate from June 29 to July 26, 2026, giving participating businesses an opportunity to meet customers face to face, test in-person sales and explore whether a high street presence could support their next stage of growth.

The pop-up shop has been created for small businesses that want to sell products in a physical setting for the first time, trial a new location or raise brand awareness among new customer groups. By removing upfront retail costs and reducing risk, the initiative aims to make high street trading more accessible to founders who may otherwise be unable to test a bricks-and-mortar format.

The Brighton project is one of several new elements being introduced under the expanded EDF Small Business and Enterprise Nation partnership. The wider programme will include sustainability grants, electric vehicle charging support, expert-led webinars, podcast content and further retail opportunities later in the year.

The partnership follows a successful first-year campaign that supported almost one million small businesses across the UK with advice, resources and tailored business support. Its next phase continues that focus while placing additional emphasis on sustainability, resilience and practical growth opportunities for local firms.

Claire Nutt, Director of Small Business at EDF, said small businesses play an essential role in local communities and need practical opportunities to grow. She said the Brighton pop-up shop will help businesses test physical retail, reach new customers and gain confidence while avoiding the usual barriers and costs associated with high street premises.

Aaron Asadi, CEO of Enterprise Nation, said many small businesses are interested in retail space but are discouraged by the risk and long-term commitment involved. He said the initiative will allow founders to explore new markets, connect directly with customers and gain valuable experience in a supportive environment.

Alongside the Brighton pop-up shop, the Powering Local Businesses programme will provide five £5,000 grants to help businesses invest in energy-efficient equipment and sustainable infrastructure. It will also offer five free EV chargers from EDF’s EV charging business, Pod.

Additional support will include a new series of the Retail Sessions Podcast, lunch and learn webinars addressing key business challenges, and 25 further £1,000 grants focused on sustainability and business resilience. A second pop-up shop is also planned for later in the year.

Applications for the Brighton pop-up shop are now open and will run until mid-June.

Alongside the pop-up shop initiative, the Powering Local Businesses partnership will also deliver:

• Five £5,000 grants to support investment in energy-efficient equipment and sustainable infrastructure
• Five free EV chargers from EDF’s EV charging business, Pod
• A new series of the Retail Sessions Podcast
• Lunch and learn webinars covering key business challenges
• Twenty-five additional £1,000 grants focused on sustainability and business resilience
• A second pop-up shop planned for later in the year

Applications for the Brighton pop-up shop are now open until mid-June.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://www.enterprisenation.com/poweringlocalbusinesses/

About EDF

EDF is driving the transition towards An Electric Britain – a secure, affordable, low-carbon future for everyone. As Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we are investing more than £100 million weekly in Britain’s electricity infrastructure. We supply millions of customers with electricity and help homes and businesses switch to electricity for heating, transport and industrial processes.

We operate five nuclear power stations and more than 35 onshore wind farms and three offshore wind farms. Since 2009, EDF has invested almost £9 billion in the nuclear fleet to improve reliability and extend station lifetimes. The five generating stations currently supply about 12% of the UK’s electricity demand.

EDF is building the UK’s nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. We are a minority investor (12.5%) in and major supplier to a replica plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes. EDF Group companies Framatome and Arabelle Solutions have a presence in the UK and manufacture critical equipment such as reactor pressure vessels and turbines.

EDF is enabling its 5 million customers, both in business and at home, to choose electric solutions that save cash and carbon, whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity, selling energy back to the grid or installing solar panels or a heat pump. In 2025, EDF’s Customers business was ranked as one of the Sunday Times’s Best Place to Work.

It is also one of the UK’s leading developers of renewable energy through EDF power solutions UK and Ireland. We have more than 2GW of renewable generation in operation and over 10GW in construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage.

We are one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Dalkia, is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest technical service providers.

Media Contact:

media@edfenergy.com

SOURCE: EDF