Explore every episode of the podcast Sussex And The City
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1: Sussex Is Changing - But Is Anyone Paying Attention? | 05 May 2025 | 00:30:46 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 1: Sussex Is Changing - But Is Anyone Paying Attention? Host: Richard Freeman In the debut episode of Sussex and the city, host Richard Freeman sets the scene for one of the most pressing and under-discussed transformations affecting Brighton and the wider Sussex region: local government reorganisation and the introduction of a directly elected mayor. Joining Richard is political communications strategist Geri Silverstone, who unpacks the complexity of devolution in Sussex, the imminent shift to unitary authorities, and what this means for representation, power, and public services. They explore the risks, opportunities, and democratic dilemmas of a new combined authority model - asking what kind of leader Sussex really needs, and what’s at stake if we get it wrong. Topics include:
With humour, insight, and urgency, Richard and Geri begin a public conversation that aims to inform, challenge, and prepare people across Sussex for the biggest governance shift in a generation. SIGN UP HERE for regular emails on change, as it happens. 📚 Key references and further reading
Want to contribute your voice to the debate on devolution in Sussex? | |||
| #2: Devolution In Sussex? It Will Fail Without More Trust | 11 May 2025 | 00:26:08 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 2: Devolution In Sussex? It Will Fail Without More Trust
Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: In this thought-provoking second episode, host Richard Freeman is joined by Emily O’Brien – a councillor, campaigner and sustainability expert – to explore the democratic tension at the heart of Sussex’s devolution plans. Emily doesn’t hold back in describing the current proposals as a “weird halfway house,” warning that what’s billed as a decentralising revolution may, in practice, centralise power even further. With deep insight and real urgency, she argues that what's on the table could strip away local democratic accountability, weaken community agency, and concentrate too much influence in the hands of a single elected mayor and a tiny executive board. But this isn’t just critique – Emily offers practical alternatives for building a model that truly empowers people and places across Sussex. Topics include:
This is a critical listen for anyone who wants to understand what’s at stake as Sussex stands on the brink of the biggest governance change in a generation. 👉 Sign up for regular updates on devolution and change in Sussex 📚 Key references and further reading
👉 Subscribe for investigative reporting
Want to contribute your voice to the debate on devolution in Sussex? | |||
| #3: “We Need To Be Hungry - We Need To Be Challenged” | 18 May 2025 | 00:24:39 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 3: “We Need To Be Hungry - We Need To Be Challenged”
Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Projects - Brighton’s home for better business. With two spaces in the heart of The Lanes, Projects offers flexible work space options, including coworking, offices, meeting and event spaces - all designed to bring people together to do their best work. 🔍 Episode summary In this energetic third episode, Richard Freeman speaks to Kyriakos Baxevanis, a Greek-born entrepreneur who has spent the last 20 years building a portfolio of people-focused businesses across Brighton & Hove. From wellness and hospitality to housing and food systems, Kyriakos brings a systems lens to everything he does — and makes a compelling case for a more joined-up economic vision for Sussex. Through stories of grit, failure, reinvention and growth, Kyriakos shares his personal journey from sleeping on a friend’s sofa to founding one of Brighton & Hove’s most dynamic business empires. Topics include:
Economic strategy doesn't just start and end with inward investment and tech clusters. Kyriakos speaks candidly and passionately about why the region must think in systems for retail, hospitality and wellbeing - and why local businesses need incentives, tax cuts and an ambitious hunger in order to thrive. Do you get our free, bite-sized emails on everything that is happening in real time? 👉 Sign up for regular updates on devolution and change in Sussex 📚 Key references and further reading
Want to contribute your voice to the debate on devolution in Sussex? | |||
| #4: "Devolution Is A No-Brainer... And This Is Not A Brighton Takeover" | 25 May 2025 | 00:23:07 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 4: Devolution Is A No-Brainer... And This Is Not A Brighton Takeover
Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Strategy + Impact - The Sussex-based consultancy helping leaders in government, business and charity shape change with communication strategies that drive real results. 🔍 Episode summary Richard Freeman speaks with Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council, about the city’s central role in kickstarting the Sussex devolution process - and why she believes this is a no-brainer for the region. Bella shares her case for why more power and funding should flow out of Westminster and into Sussex, and why collaboration across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton is not just possible - but essential. She addresses the scepticism, acknowledges fears, and lays out her vision for a more inclusive, connected, and empowered future for communities across the region. This is Bella speaking as a political leader and strategist - but also as someone who knows that trust, transport, and teamwork are going to make or break devolution in Sussex. Topics include:
This is a must-hear episode for:
Do you get our free, bite-sized emails on everything that is happening in real time? 👉 Sign up for regular updates on devolution and change in Sussex 📚 Key references and further reading
Want to contribute your voice to the debate on devolution in Sussex? | |||
| #5: We Know Sussex Can Be Braver About Housing | 01 Jun 2025 | 00:28:18 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 5: We Know Sussex Can Be Braver About Housing
Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Silverstone Communications – Sussex’s specialists in stakeholder engagement for planning, development and infrastructure. Helping councils, developers and communities shape more inclusive, transparent growth. 🔍 Episode summary In this ground-level episode of Sussex And The City, Richard Freeman visits the world of modular construction, circular supply chains and pragmatic social housing – by way of a brilliant conversation with Dick Shone, the founder of Boutique Modern, the UK’s first B Corp certified modular housing manufacturer. From a Newhaven-based factory, Boutique Modern is quietly building one of the most forward-thinking models for affordable, sustainable housing in the country. Their work with councils across Sussex is already proving that locally-built, high-quality homes don’t need to cost the earth – environmentally or financially. Dick explains why modular is not prefab, why his company insists on sourcing within 25 miles, and how modern housebuilding should start with listening to how people actually live. He also makes a strong case for a Sussex-wide skills and housing strategy that’s rooted in real opportunity – and calls on all future mayoral candidates to see what’s happening in his factory before they make big promises. This episode is about what our economy is for, and what it means to build places we’re proud of. Topics include:
This is essential listening for:
Do you get our free, bite-sized emails on everything that is happening in real time? 👉 Sign up for regular updates on devolution and change in Sussex 📚 Key references and further readingBoutique Modern – Sussex-based modular housing pioneers Modernise Or Die – The Farmer Review of UK Construction Labour Model (2016) – Report referenced in the episode Homes England Strategic Plan – Guidance on regional housing investment Newhaven Enterprise Zone – Supporting local innovation and growth
Sussex And The City project hub Sussex And The City LinkedIn page 🎧 Production credits
Want to contribute your voice to the debate on devolution in Sussex? | |||
| #6: The Ocean Doesn't Care About Political Boundaries | 08 Jun 2025 | 00:25:09 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast
Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: 🔍 Episode summary In this episode, Richard Freeman talks to marine scientist Dr Lewis White, the research lead for Sussex Bay — a bold and growing coalition driving environmental and economic recovery across 100 miles of coastline. Lewis is no ordinary scientist. A global expert in aquatic genetics, he brings a powerful, pragmatic perspective to the role of nature in regional development. With Sussex Bay gaining international attention and cross-party praise, this conversation explores why the coast is an untapped asset for health, jobs and sustainable growth. From ecosystem restoration to inclusive governance, this episode dives into:
Lewis also explains how a £50m investment target is a call to build infrastructure that doesn’t just withstand climate change, but actively improves lives. This is an inspiring and grounded take on how regionalism can work with nature, not despite it. 👉 Sign up for updates, resources and events at sussexandthecity.info 📚 Key references and further reading
🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman 📣 Get involved Want to join the conversation on devolution, environment and the Sussex of the future? | |||
| #7: It's Time For A Sussex Digital Strategy | 15 Jun 2025 | 00:26:13 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast
Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: 🔍 Episode summary In this future-facing episode, Richard Freeman sits down with product innovation heavyweight and grassroots organiser Rose Tighe to ask: is Sussex and Brighton already a tech region – and if so, why isn’t anyone coordinating it? From leading product strategy at Amazon and Sky, to co-creating Brighton AI (a 1,800-strong community of digital doers), Rose has spent decades navigating change – and building systems that make it useful. Now, she’s at the heart of a regional conversation about what good digital infrastructure actually looks like. This episode explores how devolution could help shape a bold, collaborative, regional tech strategy - if we get it right. Topics include:
This is a pragmatic and passionate call to action - for mayors, freelancers, policymakers and product teams alike. 👉 Want to help shape a regional tech strategy? 👉 Stay up to date with the wider project at sussexandthecity.info 📚 Further reading and links
🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman 📣 Get involved Devolution isn’t just a government thing. It’s a people thing. | |||
| #9: “If You Want To Talk About Devolution, Turn Up At The Food Bank” | 29 Jun 2025 | 00:28:28 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 9: Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: 🔍 Episode summary What does grassroots activism have to do with devolution? In this powerful episode, Richard sits down with Kaia Allen-Bevan, a leading voice in education reform and racial justice, to explore what it really means to build a future where every community is heard. Founder of the award-winning social enterprise Youth The Gap, Kaia speaks from lived experience – growing up in Whitehawk, leading Brighton’s Black Lives Matter protests at just 17, and now shaping national conversations on allyship, inclusion and structural change. This conversation unpacks how young people are engaging with power (or not), why policy language creates distance, and what politicians need to do differently if they truly want to build trust in Sussex’s most marginalised communities. Topics include:
If you care about representation, accountability, or just understanding what the next generation of leaders really expect from the system – this episode might be unmissable. 👉 Explore Kaia’s work and related resources:
📚 Further reading and links
🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman 📣 Get involved Want to help reimagine democracy, identity and regional change in Sussex? | |||
| #8: Why Sussex Culture Punches Above Its Weight | 22 Jun 2025 | 00:28:04 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast
Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: 🔍 Episode summary In this bold and wide-ranging episode, Richard Freeman is joined by cultural powerhouse Stuart Drew, long-serving Director of the iconic De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill. They unpack the serious role of culture in economic growth, skills, tourism – and why Sussex’s creative institutions are already delivering public value by stealth. As regional devolution looms, Stuart argues it’s time for leaders to stop treating the arts as an optional extra. From pioneering skills pathways and radical programming to building a pan-Sussex cultural brand, this conversation explores the real potential of culture to lead, not follow, the next phase of regional transformation. Topics include:
This is a rallying cry for policymakers, funders and mayors: invest in what’s already working, and stop asking culture to prove itself again and again. 👉 Explore Sussex’s creative sector and the De La Warr Pavilion:
👉 Stay up to date with the wider project at sussexandthecity.info 📚 Further reading and links
🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman 📣 Get involved Devolution isn’t just a government thing. It’s a people thing. | |||
| #10: Investment In Sussex Skills Needs More Than Duct Tape And Goodwill | 06 Jul 2025 | 00:29:41 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 10: Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: 🔍 Episode summary In this deep-dive episode, Richard speaks with Dan Shelley, one of the South East's leading thinkers on skills and regional development, about the real infrastructure behind economic inclusion: adult education, technical training, and making the skills system actually work for Sussex. Dan unpacks the role of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) – a pan-Sussex strategy he helped shape – and why aligning education and economic strategy is vital. From digital bootcamps to hospitality apprenticeships, he highlights the collaborative groundwork already underway – and sets out what’s needed next, especially if Sussex is to make the most of devolved powers. 🎯 Why this matters for devolution With a mayoral combined authority likely on the horizon, the episode explores how a reformed skills agenda could:
“The skills system is a big, beautiful mess – but Sussex is ready to tidy it up.”
Topics include:
📚 Further reading and links 🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman 📣 Get involved Want to help reimagine democracy, identity and regional change in Sussex? | |||
| #11: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Part One) | 13 Jul 2025 | 00:33:58 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 11: Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: 🔍 Episode summary This week, Richard meets someone who actively wants to lead devolution in Sussex and Brighton. Sally-Ann Hart, the former Conservative party MP for Hastings & Rye, is seeking her party's nomination to become the first directly elected mayor for the region. They discuss why she wants the job, what she learned representing one of the UK’s most deprived constituencies, and her priorities for a region grappling with inequality, infrastructure gaps, and identity. Sally-Ann reflects on her time in Parliament during the COVID-19 pandemic, her passion for early intervention, and how she thinks coastal towns like Hastings have been misunderstood and overlooked for too long. 🎯 Why this matters for devolution This is the first time on the podcast we’ve heard directly from someone who wants the mayoralty – and the power that comes with it. Sally-Ann outlines how she’d approach leadership of a 1.7 million–strong region, and makes the case that:
🧠 Topics include:
📚 Further reading and references:
🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman 📣 Get involved Want to help reimagine democracy, identity and regional change in Sussex? | |||
| #12: If No One Understands Devolution, What’s The Point? | 20 Jul 2025 | 00:29:18 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 12: If No One Understands Devolution, What’s The Point? Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Richard speaks with Flo Powell, PR strategist and co-owner of Brighton-based agency Midnight Communications, about trust, language, and the colossal communications challenge facing Sussex’s devolution journey. With 30 years of regional insight, Flo doesn’t pull punches. She shares sharp reflections on how local authorities handle public engagement, why badly written surveys aren’t just annoying – they’re dangerous – and what might happen if a mayor is introduced before people understand what one even is. This episode unpacks why messaging matters now more than ever – and what it will take for Sussex to speak with a unified, human voice. 🎯 Why this mattersIf you want 1.7 million people to back structural change, they need to know what it means for their lives, homes and businesses. Flo argues that the devolution process risks failure if leaders don’t:
“People won’t engage if they don’t know what they’re being asked. This is a once-in-a-generation moment – and the messaging is miles off.” 🧠 Topics covered include:
“Trust is rock bottom. So you’ve got to lead with humanity – not bureaucracy.” 📚 Further reading and references
Host: Richard Freeman Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution in a way people understand?👉 sussexandthecity.info – for more episodes, resources and events. | |||
| #15: Small Is Beautiful - But Sussex Needs Scale | 10 Aug 2025 | 00:28:52 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 15: Small Is Beautiful - But Sussex Needs Scale Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: In this candid conversation, Richard sits down with Sussex-born-and-bred enterprise champion Simon Chuter to explore how devolution could shape a more joined-up, ambitious business landscape – and why the mayoralty’s first job should be to fund what works. Simon draws on over a decade supporting founders, scale-ups and investors across the county – from student entrepreneurs at the University of Sussex to experienced business leaders seeking growth capital. He makes the case that Sussex has all the ingredients for a thriving scale-up culture, but too often fails to connect its pockets of excellence into a coherent regional story. This episode digs into what scaling really means, why it matters for job diversity, and how barriers like talent, finance, leadership, markets and infrastructure could be tackled with smart, evidence-based investment. 🎯 Why this matters "I'd like to think that it's possible to create a grand narrative, to create a grand community across the region, across the county of Sussex - it’s certainly possible, but there are huge pockets of inequality, not just in the county, but in the city that we're sat in now. Telling a cohesive story that brings people together when you've got different politics across the region, different ideas, different values, different sets of beliefs, is… messy. That’s what I’m getting my head around now - slowly but surely." 🧠 Topics covered include:
"It's about creating good jobs. That’s fundamentally what it's about for me: good jobs for good people in good places. How do we create an economy whereby people can do really great work, in a way that has significant impact? The way we do that is by growing businesses who can employ at that scale. Small is beautiful, yes — but there’s an opportunity to do something else as well. It’s additive rather than a takeaway." 📚 Further reading and referencesScaleUp Institute – What is a scale-up? Logical Progression – A scale-up research report for the Brighton and Sussex economic area 🎧 Production creditsHost: Richard Freeman Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution in a way people understand?👉 sussexandthecity.info – for more episodes, resources and events. | |||
| #14: We Can Be Better At Communicating Complexity | 03 Aug 2025 | 00:28:26 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 14: We Can Be Better At Communicating Complexity Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Richard speaks with Natalie Orringe, one of the UK's most thoughtful voices on public engagement, communications and strategic leadership. A former agency director turned local government insider, Natalie shares what she learned as the first-ever Chief Marketing Officer in a London borough – and why local government communications roles like that matter more than ever in a climate of public cynicism, fractured trust, and rapid political change. Now based in Brighton, she works across public and private sectors helping leaders make their strategy meaningful, human and heard. This is a good companion piece to episode 12, and our chat with Flo Powell. 🎯 Why this matters Now Sussex is getting an elected mayor and a new tier of governance, it also needs a total reboot in how it talks to people. Natalie argues that clarity, storytelling, and genuine dialogue must sit at the heart of the process
💬 “People aren’t stupid – but they’re sick of being spoken down to.” 🧠 Topics covered include:
“Employers say they want talent. But they need to take responsibility for building it – not just hoping someone else will.” 📚 Further reading and references
Host: Richard Freeman Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution in a way people understand?👉 sussexandthecity.info – for more episodes, resources and events. | |||
| #13: Sussex Is Full Of Talent. But Employers Aren't Finding It. | 27 Jul 2025 | 00:28:01 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 13: Sussex Is Full Of Talent. But Employers Aren't Finding It. Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Richard speaks with Dan Wallman - a long-time force in Sussex creative/digital learning and founder of Tech Native Digital - about why our tech skills system hasn't been working, and what it will take to build one that does. From pioneering creative training at DV8 Sussex to helping shape the region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan, Dan has spent 20 years connecting talent with opportunity.
As a partner piece to episode 10, exploring the further education and policy approach to the labour market in Sussex, this episode gets under the skin of what local employers need. And how digital bootcamps, and a focus on junior career pathways, are some practical tools Sussex needs to help people thrive where they live. With devolution and a regional mayor on the way, Dan argues that we need to go full throttle on a digital skills revolution. 🎯 Why this mattersA regional, employer-led approach to tech training that is inclusive and bold could:
“Bootcamps alone won’t fix this. We need strategy, collaboration and systems that actually work for people.” 🧠 Topics covered include:
“Employers say they want talent. But they need to take responsibility for building it – not just hoping someone else will.” 📚 Further reading and referencesTech Native Digital – Dan’s digital skills bootcamp and consultancy Sussex Chamber – LSIP Hub – Local Skills Improvement Plan Dabbble – Work experience innovation platform by Jim Byford DV8 Sussex – Dan’s former creative college supporting thousands of learners in Brighton and Bexhill 🎧 Production creditsHost: Richard Freeman Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution in a way people understand?👉 sussexandthecity.info – for more episodes, resources and events. | |||
| #20: From Polycrisis To Possibility: A Regenerative Sussex Vision | 14 Sep 2025 | 00:36:44 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 20: From Polycrisis To Possibility: A Regenerative Sussex Vision Host: Richard Freeman What if Sussex stopped “greening” the old system and started building a regenerative one? Richard talks with Jenny Andersson, whose Really Regenerative Centre helps places and organisations align economy, culture and ecology with living-systems principles. Jenny argues that Sussex could lead in bioregional transformation, from food systems and bio-based construction to cross-Channel place identity, but only if we drop short project cycles and back long-horizon, participatory, whole-place design. How can we think properly about scale vs. ecosystems, profit and purpose, and why a mayor must be a visionary convener, not just a manager. Jenny has spent a decade exploring regenerative design — aligning economy, culture and ecology with the principles that have sustained life for 3.8 billion years. She argues Sussex could lead the world in food reform, climate-friendly housing, and bio-based materials — but only if it dares to move beyond short projects and embrace long-term transformation. This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Kreston Reeves – one of the UK’s leading accountancy and advisory firms and among the first to achieve B Corp status. With offices in Brighton, Chichester and beyond, they help Sussex organisations grow with clarity, confidence and purpose — from tax strategy and audit to ESG reporting and succession planning. “Over 1000s of years in Sussex, you can see that there’s always been a culture of making, not making in vast numbers, but making small runs of incredibly high quality product.” “This shift, this leap to having a regenerative economy, is about us learning how to really deeply and radically collaborate and look at the good of the whole before we look at individualism.” 🧠 Topics covered include:
“We need a person who really understands… how do all those different stories of place come together in shared purpose to make a whole?” 📚 Further reading and referencesHost: Richard Freeman Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution so it actually works for people and places? | |||
| #19: The Lessons From North Yorkshire | 07 Sep 2025 | 00:31:41 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 19: The Lessons From North Yorkshire Host: Richard Freeman Sussex is heading for devolution—new unitaries, a directly elected mayor, and big expectations. So what does it really take to go from theory to action? Richard talks to James Farah, Chief Executive of the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority, about how his region navigated local government reorganisation and launched a mayoral combined authority - then moved quickly from promises to projects. York & North Yorkshire (like Sussex) spans rural, coastal and urban communities, a national park, diverse economies and different political colours. James shares how they built trust, agreed an economic framework before the election, created “quick win” pipelines for year one, and put in place the relationships and rigour to sustain momentum. It’s a candid, highly practical conversation about power, place and delivery — packed with lessons Sussex can use now. This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Galloways Accounting – Sussex’s largest independent accountancy practice, with six offices from Worthing to Brighton to Eastbourne to Uckfield. They combine deep local knowledge with cutting-edge cloud tools to help family businesses, charities, tech start-ups and professional practices manage cash flow, R&D tax credits, payroll, succession planning and more. “Where combined authorities work best, they don’t do to each other. The mayor doesn’t do to the councils, and the councils don’t do to the mayor. They work in partnership - on shared priorities, with shared resources.” “The big prize is certainty. Longer-term settlements let you plan 10 years out, build a pipeline, and be more ambitious. Then an integrated settlement lets you blend transport, skills, housing and net zero around outcomes for people and places.” 🧠 Topics covered include:
“We’re not just a big city—we’re a region of 30+ towns. Invest in town centres and footfall to build momentum.” 📚 Further reading and references
Host: Richard Freeman Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution so it actually works for people and places? | |||
| #18: Bridges Not Borders; Rethinking Sussex’s Link To The World | 31 Aug 2025 | 00:29:53 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 19: Bridges Not Borders; Rethinking Sussex’s Link To The World Host: Richard Freeman Richard speaks with Graham Precey from across the Channel in Normandy to unpack why the Newhaven–Dieppe ferry is more than a boat: but a living bridge between Sussex and Normandy that carries tourists, freight, ideas and identity — and a testbed for decarbonising short-sea shipping. Graham traces a career in corporate social and environmental impact long before 'ESG' was a buzzword, and explains how that experience now fuels a community-led, binational mission: cutting ~41,000 tonnes of CO₂ from the route, protecting a 200-year lifeline, and turning Sussex’s “over-the-horizon” into an everyday, low-carbon local journey. This is a practical conversation about infrastructure that people can see and use — ferries, ports, pallets and power — and how open, ego-free convening is bringing councils, operators, businesses and residents together to solve a problem that matters. 🎯 Why this matters“It’s a bridge. 368,000 people and a whole lot of pallets cross it each year. It’s real economy, not just the cloud — and right now about 41,000 tonnes of carbon go straight up the funnel. We need to change that, and we are.” “If I were the Sussex mayor, I’d start with the real assets: Gatwick, Shoreham, Newhaven. They bring in people and trade you can count. Then ask: how do we make them work together — and cleaner — fast?” 🧠 Topics covered include:
Host: Richard Freeman Let’s Do Business Finance – powering the ambitions of entrepreneurs and small businesses across Sussex and beyond. As an accredited British Business Bank delivery partner, they’ve supported hundreds of start-ups and scale-ups with loans from £500 to £150,000 – filling the funding gap left by high street banks. With expert advice and tailored finance packages, they’re backing local jobs, boosting business confidence, and helping communities thrive. 📣 Get involved Care about cleaner, faster, fairer Sussex connectivity? Want the new Sussex mayor to consider ideas like the Newhaven–Dieppe link to become a flagship for green growth? Explore more episodes, resources and events: | |||
| #17: The Case For Bold, Female-led Climate Entrepreneurship In Sussex | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:23:12 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 17: The Case For Bold, Female-led Climate Entrepreneurship In Sussex Host: Richard Freeman This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Plus Accounting – The leading B Corp certified firm of Chartered Accountants dedicated to Brighton & Hove. Serving growth sectors from video game studios and creative industries to healthcare, property, life sciences and cutting-edge tech, their team support start-ups, scale-ups and long-established enterprises with tailored tax planning, R&D claims, audits and advisory. Richard speaks with Maddy Cooper, founder of Flourish – a Brighton-based agency pioneering the intersection of sustainability and artificial intelligence. After two decades running big-brand campaigns, Maddy walked away to build something new: a platform that helps businesses turn genuine sustainability investments into legally compliant, motivating marketing. In this conversation, she shares candid reflections on the barriers facing ambitious founders in Sussex, the risks of “greenhushing,” and why the region must decide whether it wants to stay small and safe – or back the kind of scale-ups that could put it on the global map. This is a bold take on female-led innovation, AI, climate responsibility and what devolution could mean for businesses that want to do good and grow fast. This is a good companion piece to episode 15, and the conversation with Simon Chuter. 🎯 Why this matters "Businesses in Brighton and Sussex have an opportunity to thrive if they really embrace sustainability. But too often I see small-scale thinking. Big, bold, ambitious thinking requires bravery — without it, we’ll be blocked in our growth." 🧠 Topics covered include:
"A business like Flourish can be – and will be – the next Brandwatch or bigger. But no one here is helping me do that. At the intersection of sustainability and AI we can transform industries, careers and communities. What’s missing is the support, the money, and the ambition." 📚 Further reading and references
Host: Richard Freeman Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution in a way people understand?👉 sussexandthecity.info – for more episodes, resources and events. | |||
| #16: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Parts Two & Three) | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:29:16 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 16: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Parts Two & Three) Host: Richard Freeman Different Hats – founded by Sam Thomas in 2024, Different Hats brings together 20 years of helping Sussex businesses tell stories that convert. From producing over 100 podcast episodes to hosting live events and building a powerful network of regional leaders, they’re shaping authentic storytelling that sparks change. Richard sits down with two heavyweight West Sussex Conservative figures — Tim Loughton and Cllr Paul Marshall — who until August were both contenders for the party’s Sussex mayoral nomination. Though neither are in the race now as Katy Bourne secures the nomination, their perspectives reveal much about what’s at stake as Sussex prepares for devolution. Tim draws on 27 years in Parliament to argue that a Sussex mayor could finally secure the infrastructure and investment the county he feels it has long been denied. Paul, meanwhile, reflects on his time as leader of West Sussex County Council, emphasising productivity, connectivity and collaboration as the pillars of a future Sussex economy. Between Westminster experience and local government pragmatism, both men paint different but overlapping pictures of what Sussex needs from its first mayor - and the risks if we don’t get it right. 🎯 Why this matters"We’re the seventh largest economy in England, but we’ve seen so much money drain to the Treasury without enough coming back. Sussex needs far greater control over how we invest in our own infrastructure. That’s why I became a convert to devolution — because other metro mayors are getting things done that I could never achieve as an MP." – Tim Loughton "Connectivity leads to opportunity. Poor connectivity leads to poor outcomes. If you can’t move easily across Sussex — east to west, north to south — you can’t unlock productivity or create the standard of living people deserve. A mayor’s role is to convene, to align ambitions, and to deliver on that long-term." – Cllr Paul Marshall 🧠 Topics covered include:
🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Want better public communication in Sussex? Want to help shape devolution in a way people understand? | |||
| #21: Why Brighton’s Nightlife Matters For All Of Sussex | 21 Sep 2025 | 00:27:57 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 21: Why Brighton’s Nightlife Matters For All Of Sussex Host: Richard Freeman Richard sits down with Nick Connaughton, the Australian-born co-director of The Old Market in Hove, to explore the realities of running an independent cultural venue at a time of financial pressure, rapid change, and new opportunities. Nick talks about The Old Market’s history – from 19th century trading space to equestrian school, to an arts hub rescued by the creators of Stomp. Today, TOM thrives on “performance at the messy edges”: projects that blur music, theatre, technology and community. This episode explores how Sussex’s creative sector could tell a bigger regional story under devolution – and whether Brighton’s nightlife and cultural ecosystem can survive without a bold, joined-up strategy that connects with the wider Sussex story. This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Galloways Accounting, Sussex’s largest independent accountancy practice. With six offices from Worthing to Brighton to Eastbourne to Uckfield, they combine deep local knowledge with cutting-edge cloud accounting tools. They support family businesses, charities, tech start-ups and professional practices - helping clients streamline finances, manage cash flow and plan for growth. Their specialist teams in R&D tax credits, payroll and succession planning keep Sussex enterprises competitive and compliant. To see how Galloways powers smarter financial decisions across our county, visit wearegalloways.com 🎯 Why this matters “I wonder whether I had slightly rose-tinted glasses… because I think in my head, if Brighton and Sussex have it sorted, there’s great arts institutions, great venues, great cultural organisations, an abundance of NPOs. They must be really well networked, connected together, and everything must flow really perfectly between them all. But I guess a lot of what I’ve come to realise… is that there is a lack of resource, there are very small teams, there is competition over audiences, competition over artists.” 🧠 Topics covered include:
“It’s trying to get back to, I think, what does a cultural ecosystem look like? Even looking at the example of a forest canopy: you need those really tall trees up there, but sometimes if they get too tall, they do block out a lot of the light underneath. And then, similarly, if you get too thick a mid-growth or an undergrowth, then everything starts to die out. So it’s trying to think quite clearly about, what is our role in that ecosystem?” 📚 Further reading and references🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Want a joined-up Sussex story? Want to help shape devolution so it actually works for people and places? 👉 https://sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events. | |||
| #22: "Communities have an expectation" | 28 Sep 2025 | 00:27:30 | |
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 22: "Communities have an expectation" Host: Richard Freeman In this conversation, Richard sits down with Cllr Sophie Cox, Leader of Worthing Borough Council and one of the youngest council leaders in Sussex. Sophie took on the top job just days before the 2024 local elections – and now faces the challenge of steering Worthing through historic structural change. As district and borough councils prepare to merge into new unitaries by 2028, Sophie offers an honest, on-the-ground perspective on what this means for local democracy, frontline services and community power. She shares why Worthing’s Thriving Together initiative is setting a new benchmark for participatory engagement, and how councils must learn when to lead, when to listen – and when to get out of the way. This episode asks big questions about how local government reorganisation and devolution intersect, and what’s at stake for towns like Worthing as Sussex heads toward its first ever mayoral election in 2026. This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Digital Islands – established in 2017 by Gavin McWhirter, they deliver fully funded business support programmes in partnership with local authorities across Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. From half-day workshops and one-to-one mentoring at the East Sussex Business Hub, to in-person marketing clinics and peer networking, they’ve helped hundreds of small firms start, grow and thrive. 🎯 Why this matters“Councils need to evolve and change as communities need us to – and sometimes that’s about just getting out of the way and allowing things to happen naturally and organically.” 🧠 Topics covered include:
“It doesn’t have to start with another layer of government. We need to open up the conversation, look at all the options, and make sure community voice is truly embedded.” 📚 Further reading and references🎧 Production credits Host: Richard Freeman Want a joined-up Sussex story? Want to help shape devolution so it actually works for people and places? 👉 https://sussexandthecity.info — episodes, resources and events. | |||