News: Brighton & Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat on job growth

Brighton & Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat on job growth

New research shows that the Brighton, Hove and Adur area has created 6,400 private sector jobs between 2010 and 2012, the seventh highest total of all 64 UK urban areas, according to the think tank Centre for Cities. We have the highest growth rate in England, and relative to our size we are even out-competing London for private sector job growth. This is great news, which shows our city is continuing to outperform the region and our competitors, and credit goes to our fabulous local businesses for all their hard work that these figures represent.

To keep up this progress it’s important that we work with our neighbours. For example we are bidding for a government ‘City Deal’ programme. When agreed with ministers, the Greater Brighton city region – including councils and businesses in Brighton & Hove, Worthing, Mid-Sussex, Lewes and Adur – will be able to access new powers, funding, and the flexibility to spark new economic development.

Under our City Deal plan, we hope to create another 8,500 new jobs across the region over the long term, establish a creative tech centre in the New England quarter, and a network of university backed business hubs on the South Coast.

The same Centre for Cities’ research also showed how difficult it is for cities outside of London to both keep up economically and maintain independence. Many other cities see their brightest and best leaving for the capital to find work. We’re lucky that here in Brighton & Hove so many people stay after university to set up businesses, and contribute to the local economy. But it’s essential that we keep aiming for a balanced economy that supports both school leavers and graduates. By pressing ahead with our joint work on the City Deal and continuing to improve support for growing businesses in our city, we can continue to buck the trend.