Greater Brighton and neighbouring coastal West Sussex are well known as places where creative industries thrive, with thousands of residents employed in this innovative and growing sector.

From the music industry and performing arts to publishing, architecture, design, fashion and textiles, the region offers a wide range of skills and talent and has huge potential for growth.

To help maximise this potential, a new regional vision has been published, to support and grow the Creative Industries in the Greater Brighton and Coastal West Sussex region and create a world-class Creative Industries sector.

Partnership working

Unleashing potential: a creative industries vision for Greater Brighton and coastal West Sussex’, is based on research commissioned by the Greater Brighton Economic Board (GBEB) and the Coastal West Sussex partnership from the Fifth Sector consultancy.

Greater Brighton and Coastal West Sussex’s creative industries comprise 10,225 companies and a workforce of 54,428 people. In addition, more than 21,000 creative freelancers live and work in our region.

Supporting creative industries

The vision document aims to support creative industries, strengthen routes into the sector and develop a successful and inclusive economy in the region.

It highlights the sector’s strengths and suggests ways to retain talent, attract creative entrepreneurs and innovators, provide residents with skills and opportunities for meaningful careers and ensure everyone benefits from the sector's economic, social and cultural impact.

It also recognises the challenges and opportunities faced by the region and sets out a vision for the region to be recognised as the best place in the UK for creative talent to succeed.

Innovative vision

Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council and Chair of the Greater Brighton Economic Board, said: “We are extremely proud that through a collaboration between local authorities, academia and sector representation, we have developed this innovative vision for the region – the first of its kind.

“We want to ensure that people from every community have the opportunity to develop their capabilities to the full – from access to training and skills to support in starting and growing their own creative businesses.

“In short, we are aiming to become the best place in the UK at nurturing creative industry talent.

Ambitious and achievable

“Our vision is relevant, ambitious and achievable. It has the potential to secure local and national buy-in from both industry and government; the Modern Industrial Strategy highlights the UK’s creative industries as one of 8 growth-driving sectors and acknowledges the need to drive growth in the sector.

“Devolution in Sussex provides our region with an enhanced opportunity to re-energise our creative industries, release potential and make our towns and cities better places in which to live, visit, work and study.”

Brighton & Hove City Council has formally approved the next stage in advancing devolution for the region, giving its consent to the creation of a new Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for Sussex and Brighton. The decision, agreed at this week’s Cabinet meeting, marks a decisive moment in the city’s long-term push to secure greater local control over economic growth, housing, transport, and skills development.

The proposed Sussex and Brighton MCCA would bring together the upper-tier local authorities of East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, and Brighton & Hove City Council under a single strategic framework led by a directly elected mayor. The aim is to unlock new funding and devolved powers from central government, enabling Sussex to compete more effectively with other regions that already benefit from devolution deals, such as Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, and the North East.

Council Leader Bella Sankey said the creation of a Mayoral Authority represented “a significant step forward in unlocking new funding and opportunities for our region.”

“It will enable us to secure greater investment and deliver ambitious plans for job creation, affordable homes, and integrated public transport,” she said. “Through a Mayoral Authority for Sussex and Brighton we can shape a stronger, more connected, and economically vibrant future for our city and region.”

The Cabinet’s approval follows several months of discussion with partners across Sussex and engagement with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Under government guidance, any new Combined County Authority (CCA) requires the formal consent of all participating upper-tier councils before a deal can be finalised and laid before Parliament.

Once all councils in Sussex have given their consent, the Government will begin the legislative process to create the new body — a move that would pave the way for the first Sussex Mayoral election in May 2026.

If approved, the Sussex and Brighton Mayoral Combined County Authority would take on a range of strategic powers and funding streams that currently sit with Whitehall. These would include investment funds to support regional economic growth, housing delivery and regeneration projects, local transport planning, and the coordination of skills and employment initiatives.

The combined authority would act as a platform for joint decision-making across local government, business, and education partners, strengthening coordination between councils and reducing duplication of effort. Proponents argue that such an arrangement would allow Sussex to speak with a unified voice when bidding for government funding or attracting private investment — something that has historically been fragmented across local boundaries.

In practical terms, a Sussex-wide devolution deal could unlock hundreds of millions of pounds in additional funding over the coming decade. For Brighton & Hove, that could mean new opportunities to deliver affordable homes, invest in public transport connectivity, and expand green and digital infrastructure.

It could also strengthen the region’s response to shared challenges — from the cost-of-living crisis and climate adaptation to coastal erosion, workforce shortages, and the need for better east-west transport links.

Supporters of the new Mayoral Authority argue that a unified Sussex model would reflect the region’s interdependent economy and shared infrastructure. The county’s major employment centres — including Brighton, Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, Hastings, and Eastbourne — already rely heavily on each other’s labour markets and transport networks.

By aligning housing growth, skills training, and transport investment, the new authority could help unlock cross-boundary projects that are currently constrained by fragmented governance. Examples might include accelerating rail and bus integration across the coast, supporting low-carbon industry clusters, and developing innovation corridors linked to the universities of Brighton, Sussex, and Chichester.

In addition, local leaders believe a Mayoral Authority could give Sussex a stronger national voice. Regions with combined authorities have, in recent years, benefited from direct access to ministers and greater influence over central policy design. Metro mayors such as Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester) and Andy Street (West Midlands) have shown how devolved leadership can leverage investment and drive local growth agendas that respond to regional needs.

While the proposal has broad support across Sussex, some councillors and residents have expressed concern about ensuring that local identities and decision-making are not diluted under a single regional structure. Brighton & Hove’s leadership has been clear that devolution will enhance, not replace, local democracy.

“The intention is not to centralise power away from our communities,” a council spokesperson explained, “but to bring powers and funding closer to them by negotiating directly with government through a Sussex Mayor.”

The proposed governance model would retain the autonomy of existing councils while creating a joint strategic layer focused on major investment and development decisions. Each constituent authority would continue to manage its own local services, from housing management to waste collection, while the Mayoral Authority would concentrate on growth, infrastructure, and economic planning.

With Brighton & Hove now formally on board, attention turns to West and East Sussex County Councils, which are expected to consider their own approvals in the coming weeks. Once all have agreed, officials will submit the final proposal to DLUHC for consideration. The government will then undertake public consultation and prepare the statutory order to establish the new authority, expected to be laid before Parliament in 2025.

If the timetable proceeds as planned, Sussex could join the next wave of English regions with devolved powers by spring 2026, with elections for a directly elected mayor taking place shortly afterwards.

For Brighton & Hove, the hope is that this new arrangement will provide a stronger platform to deliver on the city’s priorities: inclusive growth, affordable housing, better transport connectivity, and action on climate change.

Council Leader Sankey summed up the ambition:

“Brighton & Hove is proud to play its part in shaping the future of Sussex. Devolution is about unlocking potential — for our people, our businesses, and our communities. By working together across the region, we can secure the powers and resources needed to build a fairer, greener, and more prosperous Sussex for generations to come.”

Sussex leaders from across the region came together for the first meeting of a new Partnership Board, marking a key milestone in the journey toward establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex & Brighton.

The meeting on Friday 10 October focused on preparations for devolution for Sussex & Brighton, which promises to bring decision-making closer to communities and unlock new funding for locally agreed priorities.

Board members discussed the strategic opportunities that devolution can bring, including the potential for stronger regional collaboration and greater investment to address shared challenges in areas such as economic growth, transport, housing, and the environment and a unified voice for Sussex & Brighton on the national stage.

This collaborative effort follows the government’s positive response to a joint proposal from the Leaders of Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council. As a result, Sussex was invited to join the government’s Devolution Priority Programme and following a public consultation was given the go ahead to move forward with the creation of a new Mayoral Combined County Authority for Sussex and Brighton.

Key steps remain before the formal establishment of the Mayoral Combined County Authority, including formal consent from three upper-tier councils in Sussex and the approval of the necessary legislation in Parliament. In anticipation, preparatory work is already underway, including appointing an interim Chief Officer to guide the early work to create the new body.

The meeting also provided a platform to reaffirm their commitment to ensuring the new authority is ready to deliver from day one.

Leader of West Sussex County Council, Cllr Paul Marshall, said: “Working together will provide us all with the opportunity to shape how the combined authority will bring benefits to the residents, communities and businesses of Sussex. It will give the area a voice at the centre of government for those issues will which help to bring further economic growth including on transport and infrastructure. I look forward to working with our partners in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex in delivering a new combined authority.”

Leader of East Sussex County Council, Cllr Keith Glazier, said: “This meeting was an important first step in the process of helping to shape the vision of the new Mayoral Combined County Authority, and ensuring it reflects the unique needs, challenges, and aspirations of our communities. It is great to see all three authorities working so closely with key local partners to make the most of this opportunity for Sussex and we look forward to continuing this partnership and working with residents and organisations to make devolution a success.”

Brighton & Hove City Council Leader, Cllr Bella Sankey, described the meeting as “an important milestone for Sussex & Brighton” adding that “devolution will bring influence and financial investment closer to local communities so we can decide how to create more jobs and affordable homes and deliver better integrated public transport.”

The Royal British Legion (RBL) in Sussex is proud to announce a new partnership with Brighton and Hove and Metrobus, in support of the 2025 Poppy Appeal.

This year, the RBL has proudly put Second World War veterans at the heart of commemorations to mark the 80^th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) and Victory over Japan (VJ). To highlight this new partnership, 80 Buses For 80 Years, each bus network will feature 80 poppy-decorated buses, which will raise awareness for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal in the Sussex region, and bring attention to the RBL’s vital work supporting the Armed Forces community.

Members of the public will be able to follow the poppy buses as they make their way around Sussex. Through their online platform, users can view the live location of the poppy buses, making it easier than ever to spot them on their routes, take photos, or support the Appeal from afar.

Buses will feature fundraising posters and information on physical displays to help encourage donations and raise awareness of the RBL’s Poppy Appeal.

Brighton and Hove and Metrobus are also generously offering free travel for volunteers for the Poppy Appeal period, helping them reach key fundraising locations. To qualify for free travel, volunteers will need to have their badges, or volunteer card when boarding.

The funds raised from the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal goes towards supporting veterans and the Armed Forces community. From mental and physical recovery programmes, help with finances, housing, and adapting to civilian life, to building camaraderie, the RBL is there for everyone in the Armed Forces community including serving personnel, veterans and their families.

Andy Brown Poppy Appeal Manager for East Sussex at the Royal British Legion, said:

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Brighton and Hove and Metrobus in Sussex for this year’s Poppy Appeal. This partnership will strengthen the presence of the Poppy Appeal in the area, assist volunteers, and raise funds so that the Royal British Legion continue its vital work in supporting the Armed Forces community.”

Ed Wills, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Buses, and Metrobus, said:

“I’m proud to once again support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. From displaying poppies on our buses to joining the commemorative event at Gatwick and offering free travel to collection volunteers, we’re honoured to play our part. It’s a fantastic cause that resonates deeply with our communities, and I hope everyone gets behind the appeal again this year.”

Credit: David Grimstone / Brighton & Hove Buses

Buses across Sussex will display a moving tribute to the Armed Forces community.

As part of a partnership between the Royal British Legion (RBL), Brighton and Hove Buses, and Metrobus to support the 2025 Poppy Appeal and honour the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) and Victory over Japan (VJ), each bus network will feature 80 poppy-decorated buses.

Passengers will be able to track the poppy buses in real-time via an online platform, allowing them to spot the vehicles, take photos and show their support across the region.

Andy Brown, Poppy Appeal manager for East Sussex, said: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Brighton and Hove and Metrobus in Sussex for this year’s Poppy Appeal.

"This partnership will strengthen the presence of the Poppy Appeal in the area, assist volunteers, and raise funds so that the Royal British Legion continue its vital work in supporting the Armed Forces community."

The buses will feature fundraising posters and information displays to encourage donations and raise awareness of the RBL’s work.

Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus are also offering free travel to Poppy Appeal volunteers during the campaign, provided they show either a badge or volunteer card when boarding.

Ed Wills, managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus, said: "I’m proud to once again support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

"From displaying poppies on our buses to joining the commemorative event at Gatwick and offering free travel to collection volunteers, we’re honoured to play our part.

"It’s a fantastic cause that resonates deeply with our communities, and I hope everyone gets behind the appeal again this year."

Money raised through the Poppy Appeal helps fund the RBL’s support for veterans and the wider Armed Forces community.

This includes mental and physical rehabilitation programmes, financial and housing assistance, and help with the transition to civilian life.

The RBL also supports serving personnel, veterans and their families, promoting camaraderie and community.

The poppy buses form part of a wider effort to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, placing veterans at the centre of this year’s commemorations.

The RBL hopes the partnership will boost community engagement, raise vital funds, and ensure the sacrifices of the Armed Forces are remembered across Sussex.