Brighton Fibre
Building Brighton's Independent Full Fibre Network with Support from Let's Do Business Finance
When Mark Mason and his co-founder Leo Brown launched Brighton Fibre in 2020, they weren't simply starting another internet provider. They were responding to a problem they had experienced themselves: poor broadband infrastructure across Brighton & Hove.
Rather than relying on existing networks, the pair took the ambitious decision to build their own full fibre infrastructure from the ground up.
Six years later, Brighton Fibre owns and operates more than 50km of fibre network across the city, providing high-speed broadband directly to homes and businesses while remaining proudly independent. Along the way, funding from Let's Do Business Finance through the British Business Bank's Growth Guarantee Scheme has helped accelerate the company's expansion without compromising its long-term vision.
Building a network from scratch
For Mark and Leo, creating something from the ground up has always been part of the attraction.
“We founded Brighton Fibre in 2020 because we were becoming increasingly frustrated with the poor broadband options available to businesses and residents across Brighton & Hove. Rather than relying on existing infrastructure, we decided to build our own full fibre network from the ground up. Both Leo and I have always enjoyed building something from scratch, either in the physical or digital world.”
“We’ve had to carefully balance ambitious growth with cash flow while competing against much larger providers with significantly greater financial resources.”
Unlike many telecommunications providers, Brighton Fibre has remained independently owned throughout its growth. Today, its customers range from homeowners looking for a faster, more reliable broadband connection to businesses that rely on dependable connectivity every day. Many choose Brighton Fibre because they value responsive local support and the reassurance of dealing directly with the company that owns and operates the network, rather than a large national provider.
But with independence comes its own set of challenges. Building telecommunications infrastructure requires significant upfront investment, with every metre of fibre installed needing to be funded long before it begins generating revenue.
Without utilising external equity investors, the business reached a point where it needed to explore funding options that would allow it to continue expanding while retaining founder ownership.
That's where Let's Do Business Finance came in.
Finding the right funding partner
Brighton Fibre was introduced to Let's Do Business Finance through a recommendation. From the outset, Mark says the experience felt different.
“From our very first conversation, Gary took the time to understand our business and the unique challenges of funding telecommunications infrastructure. Rather than treating it as a standard lending application, he listened to our story and understood the hurdles we’d faced securing funding elsewhere.”
Working together, Let's Do Business Finance helped Brighton Fibre secure a £150,000 loan through the British Business Bank's Growth Guarantee Scheme.
What is the Growth Guarantee Scheme?
The Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS) is a government-backed lending programme delivered by the British Business Bank to help smaller UK businesses access finance they may otherwise struggle to obtain.
Rather than lending directly, the scheme provides lenders with a government-backed guarantee on part of the loan, making it easier for viable businesses to secure funding for investment and growth.
The scheme supports businesses looking to invest in areas such as expansion, equipment, property, working capital and infrastructure, helping them unlock growth while contributing to the wider UK economy.
Let’s Do Business Finance are an accredited lender under the scheme, providing loans of up to £250,000 for businesses looking for funding for growth.
Accelerating expansion
The £150,000 funding enabled Brighton Fibre to relocate its operations and build a new fibre exchange, while continuing to expand its network across Brighton & Hove.
The investment also allowed the business to accelerate its infrastructure programme rather than waiting for future revenues to fund growth.
“The funding allowed us to invest in infrastructure that will support the business for many years to come and gave us the confidence to continue expanding at the pace we had planned.”
More than business finance
For Mark, the relationship with Let’s Do Business Finance extended well beyond securing funding.
“Gary provided valuable advice on the next steps for growing the business sustainably, which made the relationship feel far more like a partnership than simply arranging finance.”
Throughout the application process, that hands-on approach continued.
“The whole process was straightforward, professional and refreshingly personal. Gary remained accessible throughout, kept us informed at every stage and understood both the commercial and technical aspects of what we were trying to achieve. Having someone who genuinely understood our business made a significant difference.”
Looking ahead
Today, Brighton Fibre has grown from two founders into a team of seven local employees, all focused on delivering reliable, high-performance. Throughout that growth, the company has remained committed to making sensible investment decisions and delivering an excellent customer experience, an approach that continues to shape its future.
For the future Brighton Fibre's ambition remains clear: to become Brighton & Hove's leading independent full fibre provider.
"Our focus is on continuing to grow sustainably while investing in the infrastructure needed for the next stage of the company's development. Everything we build is with a long-term view, creating infrastructure that will serve the city for decades."
Advice for growing businesses
Having successfully secured funding while maintaining full ownership of the company, Mark believes other businesses shouldn't be afraid to explore finance if it aligns with their ambitions.
"Have a clear vision for where you want the business to go and don't be afraid to seek funding if it helps you achieve that vision. The right finance, used responsibly, can accelerate growth without compromising the quality of the business."
Just as importantly, he says, choosing the right funding partner matters.
"Finding a lender that understands your business and supports your long-term ambitions is just as important as the funding itself."
To find out more about Brighton Fibre, visit www.brightonfibre.com
If you are looking for a partner to support your business growth, Get in Touch