Coast to Capital will be formally launching our 2017/18 Business Plan at our Partnership Board meeting at the end of this month.  The Business Plan sets out the work we intend to deliver over the coming year and highlights our priorities which include innovation, skills, infrastructure, business support, trade, housing and destination management.  We will be renewing our Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) this year and this meeting will be the start of a series of opportunities for businesses and partners to discuss the priorities for the region and engage with this important piece of work.  If you would like to input to the development of the SEP please complete this form to register your interest.

Newhaven Open for Business 

Coast to Capital Supports Innovation

Coast to Capital is providing £1.2m of Local Growth Fund to provide a state of the art testbed in Brighton to help small, innovative businesses across the UK develop new products and services that can benefit from 5G.  Set to be significantly faster than 4G, 5G is due to be rolled out across the UK from 2020 and will provide more stable connectivity and support the development of place-based technologies like driverless cars and connected smart cities.  The 3-year programme of engagement with businesses is supported by funding from Digital Catapult and is being led by Wired Sussex and the University of Brighton.  For more information read our press release. 

Taking advantage of global markets is key to the future economic success of the Coast to Capital area.  To help achieve this we have allocated £1.5m funding to increase the support the Department for International Trade (DIT) provides to SME to achieve growth through international sales.  SMEs will be provided with a significant level of additional support, and subsidised activities and events.  This programme will not only bring significant benefit to SMEs directly but will also have a positive impact on the local community and economy through job creation and supply chain opportunities. Further information on international related support activity can be found on the Growth Hub website or by contacting the Growth Hub team on 0800 977 4146.

This year, Coast to Capital will be supporting events across the region that align

with our priorities and provide clear benefits to the region.  Our Sponsorship Fund has already supported Horsham STEMfest and Crawley STEMfest, events designed to inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. These events culminate in the Big Bang Fair South East which takes place at the end of the month and is also supported by Coast to Capital. We are also lead sponsor of the British Science Festival which is co-hosted by the Universities of Brighton and Sussex and takes place in Brighton in September.  Applications for sponsorship funding from public, not for profit, voluntary, and social enterprise organisations will be invited in September.