Sussex And The City

– Bonus episode

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Andy Burnham – Mayor of Greater Manchester

🔍 Episode summary

This special bonus episode goes back into the archive, sharing Richard Freeman's January 2022 interview with Andy Burnham, originally recorded for The Possibility Club.

At the time, Burnham was already one of the most prominent voices in English devolution. Today, his arguments about Westminster centralisation, regional power, transport, homelessness, young people, skills and public trust feel directly relevant to Sussex as it begins its own devolution journey.

The conversation explores what it means to lead a region with visibility, convening power and a clear story of place. Burnham argues that devolution should start with people's lives, not abstract structures, and that impact should be measured through "names, not numbers".

For Sussex, the episode offers some perspective. If a future mayor is to mean anything, they will need to do more than manage structures. They will need to build trust, connect councils, businesses, charities and communities, and make regional leadership feel human.

🎯 In this episode

Why Andy Burnham believes England is too centralised What Greater Manchester can teach Sussex about devolution Why regional leaders need power, visibility and a clear story How Burnham measures impact through human stories, not just statistics Why young people, transport, skills and homelessness became mayoral priorities How creativity and culture shape civic leadership Why collaboration has to start from the grassroots How a mayor can use convening power to bring people together

🧠 Key themes

Devolution is not just about structures. Burnham argues that real devolution should give places the power to act on the issues affecting people's lives.

Impact needs to be human. Data matters, but Burnham makes the case for measuring change through lived experience and real stories.

Young people need a stronger place in regional policy. The conversation covers life readiness, mental health, skills and whether education is preparing young people for the world they are actually entering.

Collaboration works best when it starts from place. Burnham describes how Greater Manchester brought councils, charities, businesses, faith groups and communities together around shared missions.

Sussex should pay attention. The episode raises useful questions about what kind of mayoral leadership Sussex might need: visible, practical, collaborative and rooted in local identity.

💬 What Andy says

"Politics lives too much in the world of numbers and statistics."

"It should all be about names, not numbers."

"To build resilience, you need to take power out and enable places and people and organisations to do much more for themselves."

"Devolution creates that possibility."

"Collaboration starts with where you are."

"If you build collaboration from the bottom up, that actually is the way to make more impactful, meaningful change."

🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Andy Burnham Original podcast: The Possibility Club Producer / editor: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Produced by: always possible

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– Episode #43

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Gavin Stewart – Chief Executive, Brilliant Brighton BID / Executive Director, Brighton Economic Growth Board

🔍 Episode summary

Brighton and Hove has always had a complicated relationship with its own story. To some, it is one of the UK's most creative, entrepreneurial and culturally alive cities. To others, it is a place under pressure from rising rents, empty shops, homelessness, graffiti, changing consumer habits and a fragile public realm.

In this episode, Richard Freeman speaks with Gavin Stewart, Chief Executive of Brilliant Brighton (Business Improvement District) and Executive Director of the Brighton & Hove Economic Growth Board, about what is really happening in the city centre economy.

Gavin explains the role of the Business Improvement District, how businesses collectively fund projects such as Christmas lights, street dressing, security ambassadors and support for local traders, and why Brighton's high street story is more nuanced than the familiar 'UK city in decline' narrative.

The conversation explores vacancy rates, independent retail, landlords, inward investment, tourism, the changing purpose of the high street, and what Brighton needs to do if it wants to remain distinctive, resilient and economically important.

As Sussex moves towards devolution and a future mayoral authority, Brighton's role becomes even more significant. Is it the region's economic engine, its cultural shop window, its tourism magnet or something more complex? And how can Brighton's success create a ripple effect across the wider Sussex economy?

This is a conversation about high streets, but also about confidence, identity, partnership, investment and what kind of city Brighton & Hove wants to become.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Brighton Hive.

Brighton Hive is a growing community built on the idea that business works better when it behaves a bit more like nature.

Founded by Kyriakos Baxevanis, the award-winning entrepreneur and former Sussex and the City podcast guest, Brighton Hive brings together people, organisations and purpose-led brands to create something more connected, more human and more useful than going it alone.

Inspired by how a natural hive functions, it is about everyone playing a part, sharing skills, supporting each other and building something bigger than any single business.

Rooted in Brighton and focused on food, wellbeing and community, the Hive is already home to ventures including Nostos Greek Restaurant, Little Jasmine Spa and Be Well Live Well.

Find out more at brightonhive.co.uk

🎯 In this episode

Why Brighton's city centre story is more complicated than "boom" or "decline" What a Business Improvement District actually does How Brighton businesses collectively invest in the city centre experience Why Brighton's retail vacancy rate is lower than many people assume How independent shops help shape the city's distinct identity Why landlords are such a powerful but under-discussed force in high street change What inward investment could look like for Brighton and Hove How tourism, retail, housing, schools, culture and lifestyle all shape the local economy Why devolution could change how Brighton works with the rest of Sussex What a future Sussex mayor should understand about Brighton's economic role

🧠 Key themes

Brighton is not collapsing, but it is under pressure. The city centre still performs strongly in many areas, but rising costs, changing shopping habits and public realm challenges are affecting confidence.

Independent businesses remain central to Brighton's identity. The city's character depends on small, creative and distinctive traders, particularly in areas such as the North Laine and The Lanes.

Vacancy rates only tell part of the story. Empty units are visible and send a negative signal, even when the data shows Brighton performing better than the national average.

Landlords have a major influence over the future of the high street. Rent levels, lease terms and the willingness to back more experimental uses all shape what kind of city centre can emerge.

The high street needs to become more than retail. Culture, leisure, circular economy, repair, food, events, social infrastructure and public experience all matter.

Devolution could help Brighton make a stronger case for investment, but only if the city works in genuine partnership with the rest of Sussex rather than behaving like the whole region revolves around it.

💬 What Gavin says

"We've got one of the lowest vacancy rates in the country."

"We all believe in the city so much, and we all really want it to succeed."

"We're not a cookie-cutter type place."

"It's a market, and there's very little we can do to curb those businesses opening up."

"Our success is a partnership."

"The diversity of that group is absolutely its strength."

"There is an opportunity for much more leisure usage of the high street."

"I'm a big believer in working together. I'm a big believer in this region."

You might enjoy our podcast investigation into the first 20 years of Brighton & Hove as a city

THE BRIGHTON PARADOX

🎧 Sussex And The City production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Gavin Stewart Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

📣 Get involved

👉 sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

– Episode #42

"The Antidote To Division Is Community"

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Kevin Richmond – former CEO, Sussex Community Foundation

🔍 Episode summary

Sussex is full of wealth, talent, creativity and civic energy. It is also home to deep inequality, entrenched coastal deprivation, loneliness, mental health pressures and communities facing rising need.

In this episode, Richard Freeman speaks with Kevin Richmond, founding CEO of Sussex Community Foundation, about what he has learned from nearly 20 years connecting local philanthropy with grassroots organisations across the county.

Kevin explains what community foundations do, why small charities are often closest to the people most in need, and how local giving can reach places that bigger systems often miss.

The conversation explores the gap between the wealth that exists in Sussex and the needs that sit alongside it, from Hastings and Bexhill to Eastbourne, East Brighton, Crawley, Littlehampton and beyond.

As Sussex moves towards devolution, Kevin argues that the voluntary and community sector cannot be treated as an afterthought or emergency safety net. It is part of the core infrastructure of the county: trusted, local, responsive and often holding communities together long before official systems arrive.

This is a conversation about money, but also about trust, power, pride, inequality, local agency and why any serious future plan for Sussex has to start with the people already doing the work.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Impact Initiatives.

Impact Initiatives is a community-led charity proving that local action still packs a punch.

Working across Brighton and Hove and beyond, Impact Initiatives supports people facing some of life's toughest challenges, from social isolation and homelessness to mental health pressures and financial hardship.

Their approach is practical, compassionate and rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the chance to feel connected and valued.

Through community hubs, peer support networks and targeted wellbeing programmes, they help turn loneliness into belonging and crisis into stability. It is steady, often quiet work, but its impact ripples widely across Sussex neighbourhoods.

Find out more at impact-initiatives.org.uk

🎯 In this episode

What Sussex Community Foundation does and why it exists Why most charities are small, local and often hard to find How philanthropy can reach grassroots organisations with deep community trust What Kevin has learned from nearly 20 years of Sussex giving Why coastal deprivation remains one of the county's most entrenched challenges How local charities help people regain confidence, connection and agency Why philanthropy cannot replace public services, but can take risks and back local action How devolution could strengthen or weaken local community power Why Sussex's wealth does not always connect with Sussex's need What a future Sussex mayor should understand about the voluntary sector

🧠 Key themes

Small charities are often closest to the people and places experiencing the greatest need, but they are not always visible to donors, public bodies or larger institutions.

Philanthropy works best when it builds trust, backs local people and strengthens community agency, rather than parachuting in solutions from outside.

Sussex contains sharp contrasts: significant wealth, vibrant communities and deep-rooted deprivation often exist very close together.

The coastal strip faces long-term economic challenges that cannot be solved by charity alone, but grassroots organisations are essential to any meaningful response.

Devolution could bring useful strategic focus, but there is a real risk that localism is weakened if power moves further away from communities.

The voluntary sector should be seen as civic infrastructure, not a back-up plan. It carries weight across health, education, loneliness, poverty, youth opportunity and community resilience.

💬 What Kevin says

"Our mission is to build a fairer and more equal Sussex through investing in local community action."

"The vast majority of the charity sector is grassroots."

"Sussex is full of people who see a problem and say, let's sort this out."

"The grassroots is where the hope is."

"Philanthropy can never be a substitute for public services."

"You don't solve things by parachuting in."

"Invest and let go of control."

"Giving back is one of the most rewarding things you can do in your life."

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🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Kevin Richmond Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

📣 Get involved

👉 sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

– Episode #41

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Louise Blackwell – producer, cultural strategist and founder of Creative Crawley

🔍 Episode summary

Culture is often treated as the product of a vibrant place, and a thriving economy. A mural here, a festival there, something colourful once the serious work of housing, transport and economic growth has been done.

This episode makes a very different argument.

Richard Freeman speaks with Louise Blackwell, one of the most influential cultural producers working in Sussex, about Crawley, creativity and why arts and culture should be understood as part of the region's civic infrastructure.

Louise grew up in Crawley before building a major national career in the arts, including co-founding Fuel, one of the UK's most respected independent producing organisations. More recently, she has brought that experience back into Sussex through Creative Crawley and Crawley's Creative Playground, securing £millions in funding to help local people shape what culture looks like in their own town.

Together they explore why Crawley matters in the cultural life of Sussex, how culture can improve safety, confidence, belonging and public space, and why devolution creates a rare opportunity to rethink the role of creativity across the county.

This month, it was confirmed in parliament that arts, culture and high street regeneration will become the responsibilities of directly elected mayors and their strategic authorities. So it is timely to discuss power, participation, identity, regeneration, young people, civic pride, and who gets to tell the story of Sussex next, through the lens of devolution.

Read the prospectus for culture in West Sussex co-convened by Louise to focus the mind on the opportunity of devolution.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Wild Purpose.

Wild Purpose helps build stronger communities through nature and intergenerational understanding.

This week is Global Intergenerational Week, which champions meaningful connections between generations across the world. Wild Purpose works across Sussex and beyond, running learning and community programmes that bring adults of all ages together to understand one another, gain fresh perspectives and grow life skills.

Their co-mentoring programme, community connection walks, conversation cafes, and growing and creative allotment sessions are all designed with a collaborative, nature-based ethos.

In a county shaped by coastline, countryside and a strong independent spirit, Wild Purpose asks what becomes possible when we take the connection between people and place seriously.

Find out more at wildpurpose.org

🎯 In this episode

Why Crawley deserves a stronger place in Sussex's cultural story How Louise's own Crawley upbringing shaped her career in the arts Why Creative Crawley was created How local people helped identify the town's cultural gaps and opportunities Why murals, festivals and creative activity can be part of civic infrastructure How culture can support safety, pride, belonging and regeneration Why Crawley's diversity, young population and location make it culturally important What devolution could mean for arts and culture across Sussex How cultural strategy can connect tourism, skills, innovation and community life Why Sussex needs to tell a bigger, bolder cultural story

🧠 Key themes

Culture is not an optional extra. It shapes how people feel about where they live, how they use public space, and how communities build confidence and connection.

Crawley has often been underestimated in Sussex's cultural identity, but its diversity, young population, new town heritage and location between London, Brighton and Gatwick give it huge creative potential.

Creative work becomes more powerful when it is rooted in listening. Louise describes how residents, community groups, businesses and local leaders have helped shape Creative Crawley's approach.

Devolution could create new opportunities for Sussex to think more strategically about culture, but only if creativity is understood as central to growth, skills, health, tourism and place-making.

Sussex's cultural story is bigger than the familiar postcard version. It includes Crawley, Worthing, Chichester, Bexhill, Eastbourne, Brighton, rural communities, grassroots festivals, underground music, contemporary circus, youth theatre and creative education.

The challenge is not just to celebrate culture, but to organise it better, resource it more intelligently, and connect it to the places and people who are too often left out of the story.

💬 What Louise says

"There is something going on here, because it's not just me advocating."

"What is missing is places and opportunities for people to come together and for their lives to get better through arts and culture."

"We have such a broad definition of what creativity and culture is."

"Nobody's taking it for granted that arts and culture is valuable. I have to show it by doing."

"Where the money lies is where the power lies."

"It could change the lives of people in Sussex and change the perspective of Sussex as the most exciting cultural destination in the UK."

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🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Louise Blackwell Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

📣 Get involved

👉 sussexandthecity.info - episodes, resources and events

The Sussex And The City Podcast

– Episode #40

Most Of Sussex Is Countryside. But Who Speaks Up For It?

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Paul Steedman – CPRE Sussex

🔍 Episode summary

Chats about Sussex often jump straight to the coast, the cities, Gatwick, growth sectors or investment opportunities. But most of the county is not urban and not coastal. It is farmland, woodland, river systems, villages, protected landscapes and the spaces in between.

In this episode, Richard speaks with Paul Steedman from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) - Sussex Chapter, about why the countryside needs to be taken far more seriously in conversations about growth, devolution and the future shape of Sussex.

This is a good companion episode to our conversation with Jeremy Kerswell at Plumpton College about skills in the rural economy. Recorded at a moment when the region is being asked to think strategically about housing, transport, clean energy and economic growth, this discussion looks at what is at stake for rural Sussex and for the county as a whole.

Paul brings a long view to the conversation. CPRE has spent decades campaigning for the protection, regeneration and long-term future of the countryside. But this is not about saying no to change, rather than what kind of change Sussex needs, where it should happen, and who gets to shape it.

Together they explore the pressures facing the countryside, from housing and planning to food systems, transport, climate adaptation and energy infrastructure, and ask whether devolution could help Sussex think more clearly and more strategically about the relationship between its urban and rural futures.

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This episode is brought to you in partnership with Plumpton College.

Set in the heart of the South Downs, Plumpton College is one of the UK's leading specialist colleges for agriculture, wine, animal management, environmental conservation and sustainable land use.

Celebrating 100 years this year, Plumpton continues to train the next generation of farmers, winemakers, conservationists and food producers who will help shape Sussex's future. From world-class wine education to research in agri-tech, sustainable farming, enterprise and nature recovery, Plumpton combines practical learning with deep expertise.

In a county defined by its countryside, coast and land-based innovation, Plumpton remains one of Sussex's most important institutions.

Find out more at plumpton.ac.uk

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🎯 In this episode

Why the Sussex countryside is too often overlooked in conversations about growth and devolution What CPRE Sussex is really trying to protect, and what it is not How planning policy is shaping pressure on green space and rural communities Why housing need and countryside protection do not have to be in conflict What devolution could mean for transport, energy and strategic planning in Sussex How rural voices could be lost in new governance structures unless they are built in properly Why food security, local supply chains and farming infrastructure matter more than ever What a Sussex mayor should understand about countryside, climate and land use Why public transport remains one of the biggest long-term issues for rural Sussex How the relationship between towns, cities and countryside could define Sussex's future

🧠 Key themes

The countryside is not just a backdrop to Sussex life. It is central to the county's economy, identity, health, food systems and environmental resilience.

Debates about growth in Sussex often lean too heavily towards urban development and headline housing numbers, without fully understanding the wider value of rural land and communities.

There is a strong case for better strategic planning across Sussex, particularly around transport, energy, housing and climate adaptation. Devolution could help with that, but only if environmental responsibilities are built in from the start.

The tension between local democracy and strategic governance is becoming sharper. Rural communities may benefit from joined-up decision-making, but they also risk becoming more remote from power.

Housing is part of the answer, but not in its current form. The discussion highlights the need for the right homes in the right places, including social rent, better options for downsizing, and development that is connected to transport and community need.

Food, farming and countryside infrastructure are too often treated as niche issues, when in reality they are part of Sussex's long-term economic and social stability.

💬 What Paul says

"People have a deep love for the Sussex countryside."

"The countryside is not just economics. It's about health, wellbeing, and what makes Sussex an attractive place to be."

"Growth, per se, is not necessarily a great outcome."

"There's been something missing for a good long while now, which is strategic level planning."

"You can never do democracy on the cheap."

"The housing we need is housing for social rent."

"Rural Sussex bus networks and indeed restoring some train services would make a really big difference to people's lives."

🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Paul Steedman Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

📣 Get involved

👉 sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

The Sussex And The City Podcast

– Episode #40

Why The Sussex Plan Doesn't Yet Add Up

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Peter Lamb MP – Member of Parliament for Crawley

🔍 Episode summary

Local government in Sussex is on the brink of its biggest structural change in decades. Councils may be merged, boundaries redrawn, and a new mayoral authority introduced - but what does that actually mean in practice?

In this episode, Richard Freeman speaks with Peter Lamb, MP for Crawley and former leader of Crawley Borough Council, about the realities behind local government reorganisation and devolution.

Recorded just before the government delayed its decision on Sussex's future structure, this provocative conversation offers a candid, insider perspective on how these reforms are being shaped, and challenged, from within.

Peter brings a rare combination of experience: a former council leader who understands how local government works on the ground, now sitting in Parliament as part of the governing party. His view is direct and, at times, sharply critical of his own government.

Together they explore whether the case for reorganisation still holds, what's at stake for places like Crawley, and whether devolution can genuinely deliver better outcomes for Sussex - or simply add another layer of complexity.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Crawley Innovation Centre.

Located at the heart of Manor Royal, one of the South East's most significant business districts, Crawley Innovation Centre provides flexible workspace, meeting facilities and on-site support for growing companies.

Designed for start-ups, scale-ups and established teams, it offers a professional base without unnecessary friction, alongside a strong focus on collaboration and community. With excellent transport links, including easy access to Gatwick, it connects Sussex businesses to national and international markets.

Find out more at crawley-ic.co.uk

🎯 In this episode

• Why the original financial case for local government reorganisation is being questioned
• How merging councils could affect accountability and local representation
• The political tensions behind decisions on council size and structure
• What reorganisation could mean for Crawley and similar urban economies
• Why Sussex's geography makes governance particularly complex
• The risks of creating large authorities that don't reflect local identities
• The promise of devolution, and why it still matters
• How a Sussex mayor could reshape investment, transport and growth
• Why transport infrastructure remains one of the region's biggest challenges
• How economic strategy can fail when it ignores real-world geography

🧠 Key themes

Local government reorganisation is being driven as much by politics as by economics. The original argument around cost savings appears weaker when applied to smaller, proposed unitary authorities.

There is a growing tension between efficiency and accountability. Larger councils may streamline services, but risk becoming too distant from the communities they serve.

Sussex is not a single, unified economy. It is a collection of distinct areas - coastal, rural and urban - each with different priorities, which makes a single governance model difficult to get right.

Devolution still offers potential benefits, particularly in transport, housing and economic coordination. But the current approach may not align with how people actually live and work across the region.

The balance between local identity and regional strategy remains unresolved, and will shape whether these reforms succeed or fail.

💬 What Peter says

"The case for reorganisation just doesn't stack up financially in the way it's being presented."

"You end up with local government that's too big to be accountable and too distant to understand communities."

"Crawley is a very different economy to much of Sussex, and that matters when you're designing governance."

"Devolution is the right idea. But the way we're doing it risks missing the point."

"You can't build a strategy if you don't understand how places actually function."

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🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Peter Lamb MP Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

📣 Get involved

👉 https://sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

The Sussex And The City Podcast

– Episode #38

Universities, Knowledge And The Future Of Sussex Prosperity (Part One)

Host: Richard Freeman

Guest: Joanna Havers - Associate Director for Knowledge Exchange, University of Brighton

🔍 Episode summary

Universities are often discussed in terms of teaching and research. But there is a third role that is becoming increasingly important: knowledge exchange.

In this episode, Richard Freeman speaks with Jo Havers, Associate Director for Knowledge Exchange at the University of Brighton, about the role universities play in shaping the Sussex economy, partnerships and innovation.

As the conversation around devolution and a potential Sussex mayoral authority gathers pace, the role of universities as anchor institutions becomes critical. Universities connect research, talent and ideas with businesses, public services and communities - but their contribution to local growth is often poorly understood.

Jo sits right at that intersection between the university and the wider world. Her work focuses on building partnerships that link research, student talent and industry needs with real economic and social outcomes.

Together they explore how universities are hoping to help shape the next chapter of Sussex's economic story.

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This episode is brought to you in partnership with Plus Accounting.

Founded in Brighton in 1992, Plus Accounting is the city's leading B Corp-certified firm of chartered accountants, supporting businesses that are shaping the Sussex economy. Their clients range from video game studios and creative agencies to hospitality brands, life sciences companies, property developers and fast-growing tech firms.

Whether you're launching a start-up, scaling a business, or running a long-established organisation, Plus offers specialist support in tax planning, audit, R&D tax relief, and strategic business advice. They combine technical expertise with a genuine understanding of the local economy — helping businesses grow sustainably and responsibly. To find out more, visit plusaccounting.co.uk

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🎯 In this episode

• Why knowledge exchange is now a central part of what universities do

• How universities support business growth, community organisations and local government

• The role of universities as anchor institutions in regional development

• Why Sussex's economy is diverse but fragmented compared with other regions

• The opportunities and blind spots within the UK Government's Industrial Strategy

• Why graduate talent and higher-level skills must be part of regional growth plans

• The importance of building a shared economic narrative for Sussex

• How universities help students connect with local SMEs and career pathways

• Why productivity should be about better outcomes, not simply "more output"

🧠 Key themes:

Modern universities are no longer simply places of teaching and research. They increasingly act as civic partners, connecting knowledge, research and talent with local economic and social challenges.

Sussex has strong sectors - from creative industries and engineering to green growth and digital technology - but they are dispersed rather than clustered. That creates resilience but makes it harder to tell a clear economic story.

Skills policy often focuses on lower-level training. But a regional growth strategy must also include graduate talent, research capability and innovation capacity.

A Sussex mayor could provide the coordinated leadership and national voice needed to bring together universities, businesses and public institutions around a shared regional strategy.

"Knowledge exchange is really what it says on the tin; taking academic learning and asking how it can benefit society, culture, communities and the economy."

"Sussex isn't a single industrial cluster. It's a conurbation of different strengths, and we need to start telling that story."

"Students want to stay here. The challenge is creating the opportunities that allow them to do that."

"Productivity can't just mean more jobs and more output. It has to mean better outcomes for people and communities."

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🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Joanna Havers Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

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👉 https://sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

The Sussex And The City Podcast

– Episode #37

Can Dolphins Be A Symbol Of A Prosperous Future Sussex?

Host: Richard Freeman

Guest: Lloyd Gofton – Director, Sussex Dolphin Project

🔍 Episode summary

Richard is joined by Lloyd Gofton, ocean communications specialist, conservation leader and Director of the Sussex Dolphin Project.

Together they explore how dolphins have become more than a remarkable coastal sighting, but instead emerging instead as a symbol of a future Sussex that is environmentally ambitious, science-led and ready to place its natural assets at the heart of its identity and growth.

With more than 25 years' experience in communications, Lloyd began his career in PR, marketing and digital strategy, running his own agency for over a decade and working with global brands and NGOs including WWF, Greenpeace, RSPCA and Médecins Sans Frontières. A mid-career shift into conservation saw him move from corporate storytelling to environmental campaigning, later working with Wildlife Heritage Areas, Conservation Careers and Blue Planet Society.

In Sussex, he is best known as one of the driving forces behind the Sussex Dolphin Project. Since 2018, the volunteer-led initiative has gathered vital data on dolphins, whales and porpoises in the eastern English Channel – an area long overlooked in formal marine research.

What began as a mission to prove cetaceans are present off the Sussex coast has grown into a pan-Sussex citizen science movement spanning Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Hastings and beyond. Pods of up to 500 dolphins, humpback whale sightings and thousands of public reports are reshaping how residents see their own coastline.

Dolphins, Lloyd explains, are the "gateway species" to ocean literacy – a compelling hook that draws people into wider questions about biodiversity, protection and our relationship with the sea.

As Sussex considers devolution and a new era of regional identity, this episode asks whether the ocean could move from backdrop to centre stage; as science, skills, wellbeing and sustainable economic opportunity.

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This episode is brought to you in partnership with Newhaven Enterprise Zone.

Newhaven Enterprise Zone's mission is to transform Newhaven into a thriving and dynamic business destination by 2030, with a repurposed town centre designed to support growth sectors and boost the economy.

Its investment plan includes seven key initiatives, including targeted grant programmes to drive productivity, business growth and inward investment – helping to create sustainable, inclusive jobs that benefit the whole community.

For the wider Sussex economy, this signals a shift towards higher value employment, stronger skills pipelines and enterprise rooted firmly in place. Newhaven Enterprise Zone is working to ensure Sussex leads rather than follows.

Find out more at newhavenenterprisezone.com

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🎯 Why this matters

The English Channel is often framed as a shipping corridor. In reality, it is a biodiverse and globally significant marine environment.

Citizen science projects like the Sussex Dolphin Project are turning community curiosity into usable research data, and local pride into conservation action.

As devolution conversations focus on housing, transport and economic growth, this episode highlights the strategic importance of natural capital, eco-tourism, marine research and environmental identity in shaping Sussex's long-term direction.

If Sussex wants a distinctive regional narrative, the sea may be one of its strongest and most unifying assets.

🧠 Topics covered include:

Lloyd's shift from corporate communications to ocean conservation The role of the National Oceanography Centre in global climate science Why dolphins are the "gateway species" to ocean literacy How citizen science strengthens marine research The evidence for whales and dolphins in the eastern English Channel Building protection through data and storytelling Balancing eco-tourism with conservation ethics Regional identity and the politics of devolution How Sussex could position itself as a marine innovation leader

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Every £ supports production costs.

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🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Lloyd Gofton Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

📣 Get involved

Have you spotted dolphins off the Sussex coast? Should marine conservation sit at the heart of Sussex's devolved future?

👉 https://sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

The Sussex And The City Podcast

– Episode #36

From Vineyards To Data Labs - Don't Underestimate Sussex' Rural Economy

Host: Richard Freeman

Guest: Jeremy Kerswell – Principal & Chief Executive, Plumpton College

🔍 Episode summary

Richard is joined by Jeremy Kerswell, Principal and Chief Executive of Plumpton College, one of the UK's last remaining independent specialist land-based colleges, set across 800 hectares at the foot of the South Downs.

Plumpton is not an ordinary college campus. It is a commercial farm producing millions of litres of milk, a vineyard bottling tens of thousands of bottles each year, a butchery, a dairy, an equine centre, a horticultural hub in Brighton, and a major regional employer serving agriculture, viticulture, forestry and environmental management.

Jeremy, who grew up in Sussex before returning a decade ago to lead the college, reflects on what it means to run an education institution that is also a business, a working estate and a skills engine for a sector facing national shortages.

The conversation explores the productivity challenge in farming and food, the rapid advance of technology in land-based industries, and the growing demand for apprenticeships and higher-level technical skills. It also tackles rural transport barriers, infrastructure gaps and the reality that accessing education in Sussex is often far harder than it looks on a map.

"Feeding the world and saving the planet are the two biggest global challenges we face – and they can be achieved in harmony."

This episode asks whether devolution could finally align transport, housing, skills and economic growth in a way that works for rural Sussex just as much as its towns and cities.

This episode is brought to you in partnership with Gaby Hardwicke Solicitors.

Gaby Hardwicke is one of Sussex's most established law firms, supporting individuals, families and businesses across Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings. From commercial and employment law to family, property and dispute resolution, they anchor expert legal services firmly in the region. But a standout strength is their dedicated Rural & Agricultural team, advising farmers, estates and landowners on land management, diversification, succession, environmental schemes and the shifting economics of countryside life.

In Sussex, where our rural economy, landscape and identity are entwined, this expertise matters. Gaby Hardwicke helps the county grow, adapt and protect what makes it unique, blending modern legal knowledge with deep local understanding. Visit gabyhardwicke.co.uk.

🎯 Why this matters

Land-based industries are often dismissed as traditional or declining. In reality, they are technologically advanced, globally connected and facing significant skills shortages.

Sussex's rural economy is central to its identity, landscape and visitor appeal – yet transport, infrastructure and fragmented governance make long-term planning difficult.

Jeremy argues that if Sussex is to lead in sustainable land management, food innovation and environmental technology, it will need joined-up strategy, employer-led skills planning and fewer structural silos.

🧠 Topics covered include:

• What it really means to run a college that is also a farm and commercial estate
• The national skills gap in agriculture, viticulture and environmental management
• Robotics, data and digital literacy in modern farming
• Why land-based industries are more advanced than many assume
• The cost and complexity of rural transport for students
• SEND, socio-economic barriers and access to education in Sussex
• Whether devolution could genuinely join up skills, infrastructure and growth
• Why Sussex should be leading the UK in sustainable land management
• What a successful Sussex in 2035 might look like

🎧 Production credits

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Jeremy Kerswell Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

📣 Get involved

Should Sussex lead the UK in green growth and land-based innovation? Can devolution fix transport, skills and infrastructure for rural communities?

👉 https://sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events

– Episode #35

Growing A Global Business In Sussex Could Be So Much Easier

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Matt Barker – Founder & CEO, MPB

Richard is joined by Matt Barker, founder and chief executive of MPB, one of Sussex's biggest global business success stories - built from modest roots in Brighton and now operating at serious international scale.

What began as an eBay side project while Matt was a student has grown into the world's largest platform for buying, selling and trading professional photography and video equipment, employing more than 500 people globally, with over half still based in Brighton.

Matt talks candidly about why MPB succeeded because of Brighton's culture and creativity - and why it often succeeded in spite of the city's infrastructure, property market and lack of meaningful business engagement.

The conversation ranges from devolution and leadership, to skills gaps, transport, commercial space, and his perception that there is a failure to recognise Sussex's own success stories until they're already global.

"I don't think MPB would be what it is if it hadn't been founded in Brighton. But I also don't think Brighton really noticed us until about three years ago."

This episode is about what it really takes to grow a business in Sussex - and what a future Sussex mayor will need to understand if devolution is going to deliver anything more than new structures and old habits.

Matt argues that Sussex risks missing a once-in-a-generation opportunity if devolution is shaped by the same voices, the same reports, and the same transactional approaches to business.

If Sussex wants growth that sticks, and spreads beyond Brighton, it needs to understand why so many businesses never make it past a certain point, and why those that do often have to look elsewhere for leadership support.

This is a challenge to policymakers, councils and future mayors: listen earlier, engage properly, and fix the basics.

• How MPB grew from a student eBay project into a global platform

• Why Brighton's creativity and diversity mattered more than formal support

• The invisible ceiling facing Sussex businesses at 20–50 staff

• Why CEO-level support networks don't really exist locally

• Commercial property, listed buildings, and the constant fight for space

• What a Sussex mayor should actually understand about growth businesses

• Why devolution risks being shaped by the "usual suspects"

• Brighton's uneasy relationship with the rest of Sussex

• Transport, skills and connectivity; and what really holds growth back

• Why fixing cleanliness, perception and basic infrastructure matters more than shiny strategies

MPB – company background and global platform

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Matt Barker Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey Production management: Letitia McConalogue

Want devolution that actually works for businesses and places? Want Sussex leadership that understands how growth really happens?

👉 https://sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events