Category Archives: Economy

County’s £417 million spending plans approved

VITAL services in East Sussex will be supported with a £417 million budget after councillors approved spending plans for the new financial year.

The 2021/22 budget, which includes no new cuts beyond some of those already identified last year, was agreed by East Sussex County Council at a meeting of the Full Council today (Tuesday).

A council tax increase and social care levy totalling the equivalent of £1 a week for a Band D household, was also agreed in a bid to safeguard services against increasing costs and growing demand.

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Council supports National Apprenticeship Week

An engineer and a female student going over blueprints on a construction site.

An engineer and a female student going over blueprints on a construction site.

APPRENTICESHIPS in East Sussex will be given a boost this week as the county council supports National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), which runs from February 8 – 14.

As well as highlighting the national campaign, the council is officially launching its £600,000 Transform programme this week which supports businesses to access apprenticeships.

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Apprenticeship training boost for East Sussex businesses

Small and medium sized enterprises across the county will be able to access support for apprenticeship training following a successful funding application to the European Social Fund and a match funding pledge by East Sussex County Council.

A maximum of £600,000 will be available for up to two years, with a possible third year extension, after the Council agreed to match £300,000 from the Fund. Match funding from the council’s Apprenticeship Levy, will help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) access apprenticeship advice and funding.

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Truckers driving home for Christmas thanks to urgent Sussex operation

DOZENS of lorry-drivers were arriving safely back in mainland Europe today after an urgent and successful Christmas operation at Newhaven port in Sussex.

Teams of volunteers from the NHS, along with St John Ambulance and British Red Cross volunteers, worked late into the night and early in the morning to help the drivers get Covid tests to allow them to board ferries to Dieppe in France. Continue reading →