Greater Economic Board Annual Report 2019/20 April 2020 Gatwick Greater Brighton Economic Board Members 2019/20 M23

7 Local Authorities ■ ■ A23 Adur District Council Lewes District Council ■ Arun District Counci ■ Mid District Council ■ Brighton & Hove City Council ■ Worthing Borough Council ■ Crawley Borough Council 3 Business Partnerships ■ Adur & Worthing Business Partnership Horsham ■ Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership Balcombe ■ Coastal Partnership 2 Universities Local Enterprise Mid-Sussex District ■ University of Brighton ■ University of Sussex Partnership Haywards ■ Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Heath Further Education Partnership College National Park Authority A23 Uckfield ■ Greater Brighton Metropolitan ■ South Downs National Park Burgess College (GBMet) Authority Hill

East Sussex Gatwick Airport Ltd Henfield Greater Brighton is all about recognising that the economy knows no boundaries. The whole really is greater than the sum of the partsSouth Downs National Park Plumpton

West Sussex South Downs National Park Steyning Ringmer Lewes District Lewes Patcham Glyndebourne Arun District Brighton & Hove Kingston

Adur Shoreham Arundel by Sea South Downs National Park A27 Lancing Angmering Sompting Shoreham Portslade Ford Worthing by Sea

Littlehampton Rottingdean Peacehaven

Biosphere border A259 Newhaven Bognor Regis Vision statement A growing, modern economy that is international, creative, connected, talented and resilient

Our aspirations

5G

International Creative Connected Talented Resilient An international brand, Acknowledged innovation An efficient travel Attract talented individuals Economic resilience – identity and recognition in specific sectors network with effective to live, learn, work and enabling an economy that regional, national and invest in the City Region is dynamic and learns to Maximising the potential Maximising the international connections adapt to external forces of our international opportunities through A modern and integrated gateways knowledge sharing and Ubiquitous fibre-to- approach to skills Environmental resilience commercialisation the-premises digital provision – of infrastructure and Utilising the connections infrastructure food production, exploring of our universities to gain Investing in infrastructure Effective upskilling and circular economy benefits access to international of our creative and cultural The most 5G-enabled City reskilling in workforce skills and expertise economies Region in the UK development Social resilience – of Greater Brighton communities and the wellbeing of residents International highlights in 2019/20 – Extending our reach

Pitching for our Place Investment Heading Inward The Board commissioned Breeze Strategy Work around establishing the Inward to work on two important streams of work; Investment Desk has started and will run until a Greater Brighton ‘Pitch for Place’ and the summer. The Desk has already started establishing a Greater Brighton Inward generating leads and adding value to existing Investment Desk. work. Learning from good practice elsewhere, processes and structures are being developed The Pitch for Place work involves creating so that maximum benefit can be derived from an identity and narrative for the City Region. the new service. Our region is in direct competition with many other UK and international city regions for limited investment resources. To be able to attract investment, talent and get our share of Government funding, it is essential that we know what our offer is and then communicate it clearly, consistently and emphatically. The narrative will shape our offer around why the City Region is a great place for investment – both from the private sector and Government.

DID YOU KNOW? Greater Brighton is home to almost 1 million people

4 Greater Brighton Economic Board | Annual Report 2019/20 Creative highlights in 2019/20 – A growing creative economy

Supporting Business These are key priorities for the Greater Brighton In 2019 The Board spoke to over 1,500 City Economic Board and the results from the Region businesses about business growth survey are influencing interventions we can in the region, the success stories and the make as a Board, and the investment we will challenges being faced. be campaigning hard for Central Government to make. We asked some questions about what makes Greater Brighton a great (and not so great) The evidence gathered is also helping shape place to do business. The good stuff is helping the business support offer available us to build the Pitch for Place narrative around why Greater Brighton is a great place to live, This includes the recently launched Business work, learn and invest. There’s plenty to say. Hot House led by the University of Chichester with the Greater Brighton Economic Board as However, nothing is perfect in any region and a partner. The Business Hothouse is an £11m the common challenges identified include ERDF Programme that will provide business the cost of housing, cost of public transport, support across various strands, including; congestion and access to talent. Productivity and Growth, Access to Finance and Monetisation of Innovation. Full details can be found at www.chi.ac.uk/hothouse

5 Greater Brighton Economic Board | Annual Report 2019/20 We Create Healthy Futures – Work has been underway to explore and Entrepreneurs Network understand the growing Creative Economy The Greater Brighton Economic Board is proud across the Greater Brighton region. The to support the University of Brighton’s Healthy City Region has an impressive and uniquely Futures Entrepreneurs Network established vibrant, varied creative economy, ranging this year. Healthy Futures provides a platform from computer gaming and digital software, for the development of collaboration in health to more traditional creative sectors such as innovation and research across the City Region. photography, music, fashion and performing The network is a space which facilitates arts. The University of Sussex has already opportunities and fosters a community for identified that creative industries are very enterprise research and innovation in the field important to the Greater Brighton region, of human health. generating turnover in excess of £1.5 billion and have grown by more than one-quarter in the past five years. This study, to be completed in the summer, will identify opportunities to accelerate growth in the Creative Industries, and support from the Board will be sought to support these initiatives.

DID YOU KNOW? There are over 35,000 businesses located in Greater Brighton, providing 360,000 jobs

6 Greater Brighton Economic Board | Annual Report 2019/20 Connected highlights 2019/20 – A focus on digital

Going Digital in January, and sets out projects and other Action on Transport The Government has made it clear that digital activities that will be delivered over the next four In November 2019 Transport for the South connectivity and next generation digital services years to achieve this vision. East, the emerging Transport body for the are a priority, so forward-thinking cities and south east of , published its draft city regions like Greater Brighton are looking to strategy and invited stakeholders to comment. move ahead quickly in this space. The Board submitted a response which clearly outlined the key priorities for the City Region, In October the Board approved the ambitious and our expectations of the Strategy going Digital Strategy for Greater Brighton which forwards. We look forward to seeing how identified how the Digital arena cuts across 11 the Strategy evolves and we will continue thematic areas including, Business, the Internet to make the strongest possible case for the of Things, Retail, Visitors and Transport. In interventions we need to ensure that we deliver many domains Greater Brighton is amongst the the sustainable, healthy, accessible, safe most advanced in the UK. The existence of and integrated transport system that the City the West Sussex Gigabit Programme, a strong Region needs. cluster of creative digital businesses, the 5G Testbed and funding secured to establish a 5G ring, provide a strong platform on which to move forwards.

With the fibre in place there is a need to create services that will make use of the digital infrastructure that is built and produce a clear benefit for the region. Businesses need to maximise the opportunities that full fibre enables. All sectors must capitalise on DID YOU KNOW? the benefits from Citizen Wi-Fi roll out and Open Data to maximise retail and visitor The Greater Brighton experiences. At the start of the year, the Board held a workshop with stakeholders which fed Economy is worth into the Board’s Digital Action Plan, approved around £30bn

7 Greater Brighton Economic Board | Annual Report 2019/20 Talented highlights 2019/20 – Great people doing great things

Expert Opinions responsible way. Against the backdrop of This was followed, in February, with an With a population of nearly 1m, three fantastic climate change, economic uncertainty and article by Corrine Day for the Municipal universities and an excellent skills base, the inequality, entrepreneurs and business leaders Journal. Corrine’s article promotes the Greater Brighton region is doing great things. In are increasingly looking beyond the bottom Newhaven Enterprise Zone with focus on the October, the Board launched its ‘Experts Media line and acknowledging that there is more government’s #highstreets fund for which Guide’ capitalising on the wealth of expertise to company life than just making money. Newhaven has moved onto the next stage of within the region on a whole range of subjects. Examples include businesses ensuring that the application process. their supply chains are ethical, reducing waste In December, Professor Adam Tickell produced and embracing the circular economy to reduce an article that was published in the Municipal their environmental footprint. All of which aligns Journal. The article focused on work of the with the Board’s vision to pursue growth in University of Sussex Business School, on the City Region that is both responsible and social purpose and doing business in a socially sustainable.

8 Greater Brighton Economic Board | Annual Report 2019/20 Resilient highlights 2019/20 – Ensuring our future success

Building Resilient Infrastructure Towards 2030 – Energy & Water 6. Hydrogen Hub – Bringing together industry, local businesses, transport providers The majority of local authorities within Greater Our Ten Projects and other stakeholders to investigate the Brighton have declared a climate emergency 1. Water Neutrality – New development and the Board has set out its vision for the demands offset by water efficiency visits to feasibility of hydrogen production and use in City Region to be carbon neutral by 2050, or existing homes Greater Brighton, including developing the before. supply chain 2. Water recycling – Direct water recycling The Greater Brighton Infrastructure Panel has for toilet flushing in new large scale 7. Modernising local energy grids – Taking been overseeing work on the region’s Energy developments rural homes off oil by switching to heat and Water plans. The plans are a culmination pumps as the energy source of a huge amount of technical work and 3. Integrated Efficiency visits - Customers stakeholder engagement and include innovative offered free, bespoke two-hour home visits 8. Coordinating the Transport Revolution - pilot projects which include Riding Sunbeams; offering water and energy efficiency advice Coordination of a network of EV charge working with Network rail to power the network and products points across the Greater Brighton area, to through renewable energy and working with meet the needs of residents, businesses and organisations Southern Water to power the waste treatment 4. Carbon capture projects - Create new works through community energy. These plans habitats and capture carbon projects also recognise the need for higher than current including support for Sussex kelp forest 9. Scaling up home energy efficiency – Retrofit building regulations to support clean growth in energy efficiency solutions in council owned homes and buildings in the region housing stock and commercial space. 5. Rain gardens - Rain gardens / permeable surfaces / rewilding domestic gardens to be encouraged across domestic, public and 10. Renewable generation in the community – commercial buildings Community energy schemes, solar schools and solar energy car parks.

9 Greater Brighton Economic Board | Annual Report 2019/20 A Growing Membership

In October 2019, Arun District Council was In October Leader of Arun District welcomed as a member of Greater Brighton, Council, Cllr Dr James Walsh, said: bringing 5,300, businesses, 54,000 jobs, “We are delighted to become part of the 159,000 residents and a university into an Greater Brighton region and help contribute to expanded City Region. The addition of Arun the growing success it has had in bringing in increases the number of jobs in Greater funding for major projects and helping to create Brighton by 12 per cent to around 529,000. jobs and prosperity.” Arun includes the towns of Arundel, Bognor “Arun has plans for 20,000 new homes, 74 Regis and Littlehampton with key employment hectares of employment space and a good sectors including tourism, advanced track record of delivery. We have a progressive manufacturing and horticulture. Companies approach to development and pipeline projects in Arun include Rolls Royce, Body Shop and and firmly believe we can make a significant Butlins. contribution to the economy of the city region.” Arun hosts a campus of the University of Chichester, named by WhatUni Student Choice The chairman of Greater Brighton, Awards in 2019 as 14th best higher education Cllr Daniel Humphreys, said: institution out of 131 institutions. The Bognor “I’m delighted to welcome Arun District Council Regis Campus boasts the flagship £35m to the city region. The Council was keen to Engineering and Digital Technology Park which join because they, like we, see the benefits of is home to the Engineering and Design and working together to improve the economies Creative Digital Technologies Departments. of our places because investment doesn’t recognise council boundaries.”

10 Greater Brighton Economic Board | Annual Report 2019/20 Remarks from the Chairman

Daniel Humphreys Leader of Worthing Borough Council As another successful year for the Greater as a way to share best practice and to help Our combined work to promote the region Brighton Economic Board draws to a close each other through the crisis. And this is the across the world, our emerging energy and the world in which we operate is obviously main reason that we join forces. Our shared water plans, the development of a world dominated not by plans for economic recognition that the realities of our economic class digital infrastructure and support for development but the coronavirus pandemic area transcend the municipal boundaries within our creative industries are all coming on at and the effects it is having on our region. we which operate and that what is good for the pace. Prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus Concern for our families, friends and economy in one area is good for the residents pandemic we had successfully raised the communities is paramount. The immediate of the whole region is what binds us. profile of the region and set forward persuasive effects on our economy have been to cause arguments that Greater Brighton must not be great challenges for businesses and employers. As we emerge from the current crisis we will overlooked in the ‘levelling-up’ agenda. The Greater Brighton Economic Board will continue to work together to ensure that we have a large role to play in helping to boost provide businesses and employers with the As we emerge from this crisis we’ll continue employment numbers and opportunities again necessary platforms upon which they can to ensure that our voice is heard loudly and following this crisis. best recover. Our work on environmentally clearly. sustainable growth will be more critical than The network of councils, education providers ever in assisting the businesses in our region. and business groups that the Greater Brighton And this is just one area in which we’re Partnership has brought together and fostered pushing forward. over the past five years has proven invaluable

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6879 Brighton & Hove City Council Communications Team