The future of business was among the subjects discussed during a debate in Brighton recently. The State of the City debate was organised by Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce and attracting inward investment to the south coast city was high on the agenda.
One of the contributors was Brighton and Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat. Brighton and Hove is the UKs first Green Party led council and Mr Kitcat controls a budget of £720 million.
He said that Brighton and Hove was a great place to do business but the city should also work with its neighbours as they had more commercial property space at the moment. He went on to promise this was changing and cited the approval of new office space on the site of the Astoria as an indication of this. Brighton and Hove is a city of tomorrow Mr Kitcat added.
Indeed, last year the Centre for Cities annual index named Brighton and Hove as one of the cities likely to drive the UK’s economic recovery. The report highlighted that the city has a strong private sector which has survived the recession with relatively few job losses.
Another factor is that Brighton and Hove has the third highest business stock in the country with the creative and digital industries occupying a high percentage of commercial property in the city.
However other contributors to the debate raised concerns over a number of issues. Tony Mernagh of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership said that the city is in desperate need of high quality office space.
It’s a fantastic place to live he added and the Economic Partnership, together with the council, was working hard to attract more inward investment.
He also pointed out that businesses had expressed concerns over the Brighton brand, business support and transport problems. Prohibitive commercial property business rates and rents were also cited as obstacles to business.
Mr Mernagh also urged businesses to take an ethical approach by treating staff well, offering a living wage and paying their bills on time. We need to live and do business less selfishly he said. He added that neighbouring councils were keen to work with Brighton and Hove with the mutual aim of creating jobs.
As for Brighton and Hove being a city of tomorrow Mr Mernagh suggested that without action today it always would be. He said; “We’re all waiting for someone to turn Brighton into a super city but it’s us. We are the people who have to do it.”
Do you run a business in Brighton? Do you agree it’s a fantastic place to live and work or are issues like commercial property business rates and rents creating a burden on your business? Tell us what you think.
Previous Post
Investors in African Agricultural Land Gather in London
