Brighton and Hove is a vibrant, creative city on the South Coast of England that prospered during the Regency era. With the famous Royal Pavilion and ...
Brighton and Hove is a vibrant, creative city on the South Coast of England that prospered during the Regency era. With the famous Royal Pavilion and iconic Brighton Pier it is steeped in history. Alongside this rich heritage Brighton and Hove has a unique contemporary identity and is regarded as one of the UK’s premier leisure destinations. With a host of top clubs, bars, restaurants and shops to choose from, Brighton has something to offer everyone.
This quality of life, together with Brighton’s entrepreneurial culture, makes the city an ideal location for business. Other factors adding to its appeal include Brighton’s strategic position in the buoyant economy of the South East and its proximity to London. These benefits have helped Brighton and Hove City Council to attract a significant amount of inward investment into the area over recent years. In addition it has encouraged an increase in new business start-ups with a further rise expected in 2012.
National statistics show that there was a 20% increase in UK business start-ups in 2011. As well as being a testament to entrepreneurship, this could also be a reflection of record levels of unemployment and the difficulties many are experiencing in finding a way back into the jobs market. It is perhaps significant that two of the fastest growing demographics among those launching start-ups are women and the over-fifties, two groups that have both suffered as a result of job losses.
Of the 471,000 start-ups during 2011, over 60,000 were in the South East, second only to London. As Brighton is at the economic heart of the region, this underlines the advantages the city enjoys when it comes to business. Anyone considering a start-up on the South Coast over the coming year can expect the support of Brighton and Hove City Council. Together with Brighton Chamber of Commerce they offer a range of face to face meetings, workshops and online advice to budding entrepreneurs.
In addition the council recognizes that Brighton is not immune to the effects of the recession and offers further support to assist business retention. This includes commercial property business rates assistance, in the form of extended instalment arrangements, and promoting awareness of small business rate relief. Other measures are a pledge to make fast payment to SMEs, and more flexible terms for leaseholders of council owned commercial property. Together with Brighton’s strong start-up and micro-business base, these measures provide opportunities for anyone considering starting a business in Brighton and Hove during 2012.
