Over 200 businesses gather to discuss the state of Brighton & Hove

By Simon Robb

On the 21^st June, over 200 businesses gathered at the University of Brighton’s Sallis Benney Theatre on Grand Parade to discuss the state of Brighton & Hove with a panel of City leaders representing business, transport and recycling. Sponsored by ASB Law and organised by the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce, the event was kick-started by the Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, Bill Randall. He discussed prospects for building new offices, improving the performance of secondary schools and looking at a new economic strategy.

The audience submitted questions to a panel of local experts for debate. One popular issue concerned the City’s business brand. Julia Chanteray, Director of The Joy of Business and President of the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce, insisted that we needed to create well paid jobs in the hub of a vibrant tourism industry. Simon Fanshawe, Chair of the Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership, affirmed that we must stick with what we’re best at, the arts and culture market. He said: “Pleasure is what we bring to people. Brighton has a strong sense of its own ambition and pride” but “need[s] to capture a sense of innovation.”

It is an escalating fear that the school leavers and graduates of Brighton & Hove are unable to find work in a place that is saturated by more experienced people targeting the same jobs. Gary Peters, Director of BrightonandHoveJobs.com, agreed. He said: “There are not enough jobs for these graduates to walk into. An ideal city for me is one that encourages growth and jobs and this city doesn’t.” A member of the audience, Michael Yeoman, Director of South Downs Solar, admitted that school leavers are just as good as our graduates in the work place. Phil Frier, Principal of City College Brighton & Hove, concurred that apprentices are a great way forward and a way to back the kids.

But it appears that the City may struggle to accommodate large enterprises that can create these opportunities. Simon Fanshawe said: “There are big sites, but people feel attached to them.” He continued to say that we need to develop bigger sites for industrial use. These empty lots can be used for creating green, industrial and residential space.

Geoff Raw, Strategic Director of Place at Brighton & Hove City Council, agreed that high rise office development has a strong potential in Brighton. On the other hand, Oliver Asha, Director at Acumen Business Law, believes it will not be an easy task to accomplish. He said: “I don’t think that if we build they will come.” He continued to explain that big businesses want prime spots in the City where there is not ample space. Alex Morrison, MD of Cogapp backed this up, explaining that big businesses may not bring a positive impact. They require a lot of space and may move on if they’re not satisfied with their surroundings.

There are only four businesses in the City that employ more than 1,000 people. Larger businesses may create jobs, but could be detrimental to the environment. Thurstan Crockett, Head of Sustainability and Environmental Policy at Brighton & Hove Council, commented that a third of carbon emissions derive from the business sector. He said: “Businesses are not cutting that fast, but it’s no different to anywhere else.” Geoff Raw disagreed, arguing that Marks and Spencers are actively cutting carbon out of their supply chain.

Next in the line of fire was transport. Martin McGowan, Area Manager for Brighton at Southern Railway, was questioned by a member of the audience who complained of continuous maintenance taking place over the weekends. He said: “It is a necessary evil… We need to maintain our railway at a regular basis.” He said that without the maintenance the City would not have a fully functioning network and in turn could disrupt other train lines.

Parking has also been a vital issue for many years, creating problems for commuters and local residents. An audience member complained of the varying prices of car parks across the City. Geoff Raw defended his position stating that more cars would bring more pollution to the City, and it is unfortunate that many of the car parks are not owned by the council, so it is out of their hands.

It is an inevitable concern that discussing these issues is not the same as taking action. Simon Fanshawe defended the council, saying: “[By chatting] we are building relationships of trust and a narrative of the City we share. We have to find a way of creating dialogue between ourselves.” Thurstan Crockett disagreed: “We are chatting too much, we haven’t met our targets among the business communities. There are not enough doers.”

During the discussion a live poll was held for the audience to Tweet and text their opinions on crucial matters, like hiring apprentices, using vacant space for development and which employment sectors to support. It was clear that small businesses were interested in supporting school leavers with apprenticeships, but only if the space was available to accommodate them. Astonishingly, the majority of voters want Toads Hole Valley to be used as an industrial site.

After the debate, the panellists mingled with the audience to discuss topics in further detail. The outstanding turnout clearly demonstrated that small and larger businesses in the City are willing to share their knowledge and expertise with others, and offer their opinion on how they feel the industrial, economic and educational facilities should develop in the future of our thriving City. 

---

Event summary by journalist and copywiter Simon Robb.

Graphic by Excell Design.

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk