Brighton & Hove is a great place for business and innovation. Would you agree with that? 💭
On Monday, I attended the BIPC Coffee morning alongside Cllr Goddard and Cllr Robins.
SMB owners and entrepreneurs from all corners of the city came together to speak to us, and we listened. Now, as Lead Councillor for Equalities and Community Safety, you probably don't think that my portfolio has anything to do with the city's economy, but it does.
How can we empower people to start their businesses? How can we break down barriers and connect ideas with funding opportunities? This is where the BIPC at Jubilee Library comes in. It provides 121 expert advice and access to a wealth of free information - business databases, market research reports, company data and intellectual property information - as well as a hub for entrepreneurs to network and attend events.
As a city, we need to ensure that entrepreneurs get the support they need to develop their ideas and businesses locally, utilising the power of the two world-class universities, the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton. We need to create spaces where start-ups can be born and thrive, and we need to do all we can to persuade big names in the tech industry to come to Brighton and invest in this superb location.
This is how we create jobs and opportunities and reduce inequality and poverty. This is how we can diversify our local economy. I'm glad that our lead member for economic development, Cllr Ty Goddard, understands this and is taking up the challenge.
I want Brighton & Hove to play a key role in innovation both nationally and globally.
What are your thoughts on our city's economy and its future?
Thank you for sharing our study, it's great to know that you found it useful!