Business body seeks to secure ‘brilliant future for region and future generations’ with new plan

An ambitious business plan to help rebuild the regional economy has been launched by West Sussex’s local enterprise partnership.

Along with other local enterprise partnerships across England, Coast to Capital has a crucial role to play in helping to support economic recovery and new business realities.

The pandemic and lockdowns have had a profound impact on the regional economy.

In comparison with the overall UK economy, which declined by 9.9 per cent in 2020, the region performed significantly worse, with an estimated contraction approaching 17 per cent.

Before Covid-19, about ten per cent of the economy was linked to Gatwick Airport, and approximately ten per cent of the region’s workforce commuted to London.

In its new business plan, Coast to Capital has refocused efforts on adding value to regional growth.

This includes building even stronger relationships with key businesses and sectors.

The local enterprise partnership will be concentrating on the most important opportunities to sustainably grow a business base, attract investment, develop skills and generate jobs.

It will be working with partners to collaborate on the delivery of new priority projects for the region: bringing unique added value to help convene the public, private and education sectors on issues which will transform the region.

There is significant demand from partners for support in developing these regional projects, and it will form a major part of Coast to Capital’s work.

This represents the most significant change in the organisation since it was founded in 2010.

Coast to Capital, which also covers Brighton and Hove and East Surrey, aims to pioneer what an effective local enterprise partnership looks like to support local authorities, businesses and the voluntary and community sector in delivering their wider priorities.

Julie Kapsalis, Coast to Capital chairman, said: “As a region which has always made a significant net contribution to national prosperity, Coast to Capital has a lot to offer.

“This plan builds on the vision that I set out at our AGM in September of last year. I am committed to leading a local enterprise partnership that makes bold decisions, aspires to be best in class as well as securing a brilliant future for the region and future generations.

“On behalf of the board, we look forward to working closely with our partners across the region in the delivery of this business plan.”

The business plan can be viewed in a fully accessible format at coast2capital.org. uk/business-plan

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