Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership

Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership
Name	Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership
Formation	2011
Status	Local enterprise partnership
Purpose	Regional economic growth
Headquarters	Lewes
Region served	West Sussex; Brighton and Hove; Croydon; Reigate and Banstead; Mole Valley; Mid Sussex; Crawley; Horsham
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	Tim Bowles

Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership is a local enterprise partnership formed in 2011 to coordinate regional economic development across parts of South East England, including Sussex and Surrey. The organisation works with local authorities, business groups, and national bodies to shape infrastructure projects, skills initiatives, and investment programmes in the area encompassing Brighton, Croydon, Crawley and surrounding districts.

History

The partnership was established following the 2010 policy changes introduced by the Cameron ministry and the Localism Act 2011 to replace regional development agencies with business-led partnerships, alongside contemporaneous initiatives like the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Early governance involved local councils such as Brighton and Hove City Council, West Sussex County Council, and Surrey County Council working with business organisations including the Confederation of British Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses. Major milestones include the production of strategic economic plans aligned with national programmes such as the Local Growth Fund and engagement with transport bodies like Network Rail and Highways England. The partnership has navigated national funding competitions alongside other entities such as the South East Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, and metropolitan initiatives like the London Enterprise Panel.

Geography and Membership

The partnership covers a geography spanning coastal and inland locations from Hastings and Littlehampton to Croydon and Reigate, incorporating unitary and district authorities including Brighton and Hove, Crawley, Horsham District Council, Mid Sussex District Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council and Adur District Council. Membership mixes private sector leaders from firms such as American Express, Gatwick Airport Limited, Thales Group, and regional chambers like the South East Chamber of Commerce with representatives from higher education institutions including University of Sussex, University of Brighton, Crawley College, and specialist providers like Chichester College Group. Cross-border interactions occur with Greater London Authority agencies, transport bodies including Transport for London, and infrastructure stakeholders such as Gatwick Airport and regional ports like Newhaven Port.

Governance and Leadership

Corporate governance has featured chairs, chief executives, and board members drawn from corporate and civic sectors; leadership roles have included figures with backgrounds in finance, aviation, and academia linked to organisations like HSBC, BAE Systems, EasyJet, and universities such as University of Surrey. The board operates alongside committees focused on transport, skills, and housing, interfacing with statutory bodies including Homes England and funding programmes administered by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Transport. Local authority leaders from councils such as Brighton and Hove City Council and West Sussex County Council sit on panels that engage stakeholder groups including the Caterham and District Chamber of Commerce and professional bodies like the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Strategic Priorities and Economic Plans

Strategic documents produced by the partnership set priorities in areas such as transport connectivity, innovation, skills, and housing supply, referencing national strategies like the Industrial Strategy and funding mechanisms such as the Local Growth Fund and the European Regional Development Fund. Plans have emphasized growth sectors including advanced manufacturing linked to BAE Systems and Ricoh, digital creative industries connected to Brighton Digital Festival partners, financial services anchored by American Express operations, and aviation and logistics centered on Gatwick Airport. Skills strategies coordinate with providers such as City College Brighton and Hove and apprenticeship programmes operated in partnership with organisations like the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

Projects and Investments

Major projects include transport upgrades partnering with Network Rail and Highways England on rail electrification, station improvements at Gatwick Airport railway station, and road corridor investments affecting the A23 and A27 corridors. Regeneration and placemaking initiatives have targeted town centres such as Brighton and Crawley, involving property developers, housing delivery bodies like Peabody Trust and urban agencies similar to Homes England. Innovation and business support projects have worked with science and enterprise parks tied to University of Sussex Innovations and incubators connected to Brighton i360 stakeholders. Investment programmes have included capital allocations from national competitions alongside private finance sourced from institutions like Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group.

Funding and Budget

Funding streams have combined national allocations from ministries such as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government with competitive funds including the Local Growth Fund, Getting Building Fund, and legacy European Regional Development Fund grants administered through regional bodies. The partnership leverages match funding from local authorities—examples include budget contributions from West Sussex County Council and Brighton and Hove City Council—and co-investment from private-sector partners ranging from multinational corporations to community development finance institutions such as Big Society Capital.

Performance and Impact

Performance assessment uses metrics tied to job creation, housing delivery, skills outcomes, and transport capacity, comparing local results with national indicators produced by bodies like the Office for National Statistics and evaluations by the National Audit Office. Reported outcomes include business growth in digital and professional services clusters, improved rail and airport connectivity affecting Gatwick Airport passenger throughput, and targeted housing completions in partnership with registered providers like Clarion Housing Group. Independent scrutiny has referenced programme adjustments in response to wider shocks including the COVID-19 pandemic and national policy shifts from the UK government.

Category:Local enterprise partnerships