Putting local businesses in the driving seat of East Sussex economy

TEAM East Sussex (TES), the county’s business-led strategic advisory economic growth board, is calling on small businesses to help drive forward economic growth in the region by supporting a network of local business-led groups.

Following the recent closure of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) and the integration of its functions and services into East Sussex County Council, the county now has more control over its economic future, meaning plans can be put in place that directly benefit local businesses.

Thanks to a strong relationship between TES and East Sussex County Council, as well as close collaboration with the Chambers of Commerce, the FSB, schools, colleges and universities, the transition of Local Enterprise Partnership responsibilities to the County Council has been smooth.

TES provides the overall strategic direction for economic growth and is supported by sector specific subgroups, who themselves are networks of public/private bodies, organisations and individuals.

  • Business East Sussex (BES): A collaborative forum of business leaders, education and public sector organisations, coming together to support local businesses and help address local challenges, aiming to make East Sussex the best place in the country to do business – open to any business wishing to attend.
  • Culture East Sussex (CES): A network of cultural organisations, public bodies and individuals providing a collective, collaborative voice for culture across the county, to create opportunities for positive change for all of East Sussex.
  • Developers East Sussex (DES): A forum of construction, planning, housing and commercial developers taking an active role in the delivery of quality sustainable development in East Sussex.
  • Environment East Sussex (EES): The county’s strategic body for the environment and climate change, aiming to drive an improvement in environmental quality across East Sussex.
  • Skills East Sussex (SES): The county’s strategic body for employment and skills, aiming to drive workforce development and increase skills levels across a range of sectors.

The subgroups provide a voice for local businesses and TES is encouraging people to come forward, participate in planning for the future and share ideas for boosting economic growth in East Sussex. By working together, the teams can create a vibrant and prosperous business environment for everyone.

Chair of TES, David Sheppard said: “As we move forward under the new arrangements, we are confident that the legacy of partnership and collaboration fostered by SELEP will continue to thrive at a local level.

“TES will provide the overall strategic direction for economic growth and will do so with the knowledge and expertise of our sector specific subgroups.”

Since 1st April 2024 the activities that were undertaken by the South East LEP to support local growth have been undertaken by local authorities. If you are interested in future activity related to economic growth in the South East and wish to continue to hear updates on this work, please visit @EastSussexCC via Facebook, X (formerly Twitter and YouTube, or sign up to the Growth Hub Newsletter.

For more information on TES and the subgroups, or to potentially get involved, visit the ESCC website or contact Economic.Development@eastsussex.gov.uk.

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