Sussex And The City

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #40 Why The Sussex Plan Doesn't Yet Add Up Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Peter Lamb MP – Member of Parliament for Crawley 🔍 Episode summary Local government in Sussex is on the brink of its biggest structural change in decades. Councils may be merged, boundaries redrawn, and a new mayoral authority introduced - but what does that actually mean in practice?...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #38 Universities, Knowledge And The Future Of Sussex Prosperity (Part One) Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Joanna Havers - Associate Director for Knowledge Exchange, University of Brighton 🔍 Episode summary Universities are often discussed in terms of teaching and research. But there is a third role that is becoming increasingly important: knowledge exchange...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #37 Can Dolphins Be A Symbol Of A Prosperous Future Sussex? Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Lloyd Gofton – Director, Sussex Dolphin Project 🔍 Episode summary Richard is joined by Lloyd Gofton, ocean communications specialist, conservation leader and Director of the Sussex Dolphin Project. Together they explore how dolphins have become more than a remarkable...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #36 From Vineyards To Data Labs - Don't Underestimate Sussex' Rural Economy Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Jeremy Kerswell – Principal & Chief Executive, Plumpton College   🔍 Episode summary Richard is joined by Jeremy Kerswell, Principal and Chief Executive of Plumpton College, one of the UK's last remaining independent specialist land-based colleges, set...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #35 Growing A Global Business In Sussex Could Be So Much Easier Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Matt Barker – Founder & CEO, MPB 🔍 Episode summary Richard is joined by Matt Barker , founder and chief executive of MPB , one of Sussex's biggest global business success stories - built from modest roots in Brighton and now operating at serious international scal...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode #34 Devolution Is Only As Local As It Feels Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Cllr Julia Hilton – Deputy Leader, Hastings Borough Council 🔍 Episode summary Richard is joined by Cllr Julia Hilton, Deputy Leader of Hastings Borough Council and one of Sussex's most outspoken voices on local government reorganisation and devolution. Julia brings a fiercely place-b...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 33: Devolution Can Make Us More 'Sussex'. But It Is A Big Leadership Challenge Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Rt Hon Peter Kyle MP – Secretary of State for Business and Trade; MP for Hove & Portslade 🔍 Episode summary This episode opens a new year and a new series of Sussex And The City , recorded at a moment of political shift but strategic acceleration. R...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 32: EMERGENCY PODCAST! Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Martin Webb, independent candidate for Mayor of Sussex & Brighton   No Sussex mayor until 2028 The government is set to delay the first elections for newly created regional mayors in four areas - Greater Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, Hampshire and the Solent, and Sussex and Brighton. The BBC reports that ba...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 31: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Part Five)  Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Martin Webb, independent candidate for Mayor of Sussex & Brighton 🔍 Episode summary In this wide-ranging conversation, Richard sits down with Martin Webb — a man whose CV could easily be many separate careers. Martin was a defining figure in Brighton's 90s and 00s nightlife, running club...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 30: Opportunity In Sussex Starts With Being Seen Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Donna O'Toole — founder of August Recognition; co-founder of Rewards App 🔍 Episode summary In this week's episode, Richard meets Donna O'Toole - multi-award-winning entrepreneur, awards strategist and lifelong Sussex resident - whose journey from Arundel Castle to global busines...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 29: Sussex Money Matters: Tackling Debt And Building Trust Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Emma Norledge - Deputy CEO, Wave Community Bank 🔍 Episode summary What if the future of devolution wasn't just about power – but about money that stays in Sussex? In this episode, Richard Freeman talks to Emma Norledge , Deputy Chief Executive of Wave Community Bank, a...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 28: Why Sussex Needs To Look After Its Shopkeepers Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Shiv Misra - founder of Kindly 🔍 Episode summary In this episode, Richard Freeman talks with Shiv Misra, founder of Kindly, a Brighton homegrown supermarket with a difference; fair prices, no plastic, and no gimmicks. Shiv's story is one of grit, optimism and retail reform, bu...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 27: Is Art Sussex' Civic Superpower? Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Lesley Samms - founder of Pure Arts Group 🔍 Episode summary In this conversation, Richard Freeman sits down with artist mentor, curator and Pure Arts Group founder Lesley Samms – a powerhouse advocate for visual artists across Sussex and beyond. Lesley shares her journey from leaving behind...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 26: Can Sussex Lead On Closing The Loop? Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Steve Creed - co-founder of Circular Brighton & Hove 🔍 Episode summary In this conversation, Richard Freeman sits down with Steve Creed – a Canadian-born sustainability consultant and leading voice in Sussex's circular-economy movement. Steve has spent decades connecting the dots betwee...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 25: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Part Four) Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Dr Ben Dempsey - Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of Sussex & Brighton 🔍 Episode summary In this special episode, Richard Freeman sits down with  Ben Dempsey , the newly selected Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of Sussex & Brighton – and only the second confirmed name on the ball...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 24: Sussex Microbusinesses Are Hiding In Plain Sight Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Rachael Dines - Director, Shake It Up Creative 🔍 Episode summary In this episode, Richard Freeman talks with Rachael Dines , founder of Worthing-based marketing agency Shake It Up Creative and a well-known voice in the Sussex small business community. Rachel has worked at th...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 23: Minding The Gap - Sussex Transport And Transparency Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Paul Bromley - Community Rail Line Officer, Southeast Communities Rail Partnership 🔍 Episode summary In this episode, Richard speaks with Paul Bromley , former political journalist, local newspaper editor, and now a leading voice in community rail and sustainable transpor...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 22: "Communities have an expectation" Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Cllr Sophie Cox - Leader of Worthing Borough Council 🔍 Episode summary 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 –...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 21: Why Brighton's Nightlife Matters For All Of Sussex Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Nick Connaughton – Co-CEO & Executive Director, The Old Market (TOM) 🔍 Episode summary 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 financ...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 20: From Polycrisis To Possibility: A Regenerative Sussex Vision Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Jenny Andersson – founder, The Really Regenerative Centre 🔍 Episode summary 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 organisatio...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 19: The Lessons From North Yorkshire Host: Richard Freeman Guest: James Farrar - Chief Executive, York & North Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority 🔍 Episode summary 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 E...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 19: Bridges Not Borders; Rethinking Sussex's Link To The World Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Graham Precey – social impact leader (ex-Head of Sustainability, Legal & General); community convenor for the Newhaven–Dieppe ("Le Havre de Paix") ferry decarbonisation effort; Normandy–Sussex bridge-builder 🔍 Episode summary Richard speaks with Graham Precey from...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 17: The Case For Bold, Female-led Climate Entrepreneurship In Sussex Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Maddy Cooper – Founder of Flourish 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 indust...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 16: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Parts Two & Three) Host: Richard Freeman Guests: Tim Loughton – former MP for East Worthing & Shoreham Paul Marshall – Leader of West Sussex County Council This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Different Hats – founded by Sam Thomas in 2024, Different Hats brings together 20 years of helping Sussex businesses tell...

The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 15: Small Is Beautiful - But Sussex Needs Scale Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Simon Chuter - business growth strategist, founder of Scale Up Sussex, former Head of Centres & Investment Services at Sussex Innovation This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Kreston Reeves – one of the UK's leading accountancy and advisory firms and one of the first...