The Brighton Connectiv: September 2024

A celebration of dynamic 'doing' by and for people who live, work, love, build and collaborate in Brighton & Hove. Use this news to reach out and build a connected web.

Richard Freeman

Sarah Ticho

Charlie Symonds

, and 2 others

Sep 16, 2024

Edited by Richard Freeman, CEO of always possible

A quick welcome to new section sub-editors for Business & Tech - the insipring Grace Prior and Maureen Imiegha from Brighton’s wünder-network Silicon Brighton 🫡

Southeast Angels x Google Cloud

Brighton-based investor network Southeast Angels has entered a new partnership with Google Cloud to offer enhanced support to its portfolio companies. This strategic alliance will grant startups in Sussex access to Google Cloud’s advanced technologies and resources.

The collaboration is all part of wider move to give Brighton & Hove startups a competitive edge in the technology sector.

Brighton holds top spot for investment outside London

Brighton & Hove has only maintained its recently-earned position as the highest-ranking UK city outside the capital for private investment, according to corporate law firm Irwin Mitchell.

The city continues to attract investors with its strong local skills and robust infrastructure, despite economic challenges. Coventry also saw significant improvement, being the only city to boost its overall investment score year-on-year. The report highlights regional disparities and identifies areas like Stockport, Bradford and Doncaster as emerging hotspots for growth.

Read more here.

Plus Accounting is the latest B&H business to join B Corp ranks

Plus Accounting, one of the biggest accountancy firms focused just on Brighton & Hove, has achieved B Corp certification. This means they’ve joined the steadily growing list of businesses accredited for doing good not just for their clients, but for the planet and community too.

There are around 25-30 B Corp businesses in Brighton & Hove - ranging from tech to retail, co-working spaces to design to professional services. It is the UK city with the 4th largest number of registered B Corps behind Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh.

More details on Plus Accounting’s score can be found on their B Corp profile.

Grace and Maureen are from Silicon Brighton.

Future Creators and Talent Accelerator have teamed up to lead the Coastal Catalyst project, a two-year initiative to boost creative skills for young people along the Sussex coast.

The project, backed by £900k from Arts Council England, will develop new employability and skills pathways into creative industries for those aged 14-25. By creating Creativity Hubs in Eastbourne/Newhaven, Bexhill, Brighton and Bognor Regis, the project aims to equip young people with essential creative, digital, and business skills through job placements, apprenticeships and mentoring.

Coastal Catalyst is a collaboration between cultural institutions, local authorities, educational institutions and businesses, with consortium members including the University of Brighton, East Sussex College, the Department for Work & Pensions, and Arun District Council. These partnerships will leverage cross-sector professional networks to ensure young people are equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in the region's creative industries, contributing to long-term economic growth along the Sussex coast. The creative industries are a major driver of the UK economy, contributing over £125bn annually, with Brighton & Hove alone generating more than £1.5bn in turnover last year.

The project is led by Future Creators, a Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival initiative aimed at nurturing the creative potential of young people, and Talent Accelerator, a De La Warr Pavilion programme focused on developing creative careers. Since its launch, Talent Accelerator has helped over 6,000 young people explore careers in the creative sector.

Brighton Fashion Collective

Join Brighton Fashion Collective in celebrating the launch of Sustainable Fashion Week Brighton 2024! They will be hosting a drinks reception at Helm Gallery with collaborators, designers, and friends of Brighton Fashion Collective.

Join them for a drink and stay for the flash runway, a sneak peek of the runways at Saturday's main event at Brighton Dome. The full programme can be found here

New chief executive for Brighton Dome & Festival

Lucy Davies has been appointed the new chief executive of Brighton Dome & Brighton Festival, set to take up the role in early 2024. Currently the executive director at London’s Young Vic Theatre, Davies brings a wealth of experience, having previously held leadership roles at the Royal Court Theatre and National Theatre Wales.

Davies expressed her excitement about leading these iconic cultural institutions, highlighting the festival's dynamic energy and the Dome's historical significance.

Read more here.

MacGregor hits the right notes

Joanna MacGregor CBE, the globally-renowned pianist and composer - and newly appointed artistic director of the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra - has been lauded for transforming the orchestra with her bold and innovative approach.

In an interview with Classical Music mag, she discusses her vision of expanding the orchestra’s repertoire, introducing diverse programming, and engaging new audiences. MacGregor’s leadership is credited with revitalising the organisation, bringing fresh energy while honouring its rich history.

Read more here.

Brighton artist gets 30-year retrospective in print

Romany Mark Bruce, the artist behind Brighton's powerful AIDS Memorial Sculpture, is launching a new book, Sculpting Colour. His sculpture, unveiled in 2009 at New Steine Gardens, stands as a significant tribute to those lost to HIV/AIDS, symbolising hope and remembrance.

The book offers an intimate look into his creative journey, exploring his unique approach to combining colour and sculpture. Bruce, whose work has deeply impacted the Brighton arts and LGBTQ+ community, shares insights into his artistic evolution and the significance of public art.

For more details, read here.

The Hürzeler effect?

Brighton & Hove Albion’s men’s team have not yet lost a game under the youngest permanent manager to ever lead a Premier League team. Known for his tactical creativity and innovative methods, 31 year old Hürzeler has already shown his ability to develop teams with limited resources, earning his reputation in Germany’s lower leagues.

Are big things possible this year?

Read more here.

Brighton & Hove’s community heartbeat

SameSky has long been a pillar of community celebration in Brighton, especially through its signature events like the Children’s Parade and Burning the Clocks. Robert from Same Sky explains that these two events capture the spirit of what they stand for—bringing people together through light, sound and stories. The Children’s Parade, in collaboration with Brighton Festival, is a joyous celebration of imagination with thousands of children transforming the streets with costumes, puppets, and sculptures. Burning the Clocks, however, takes a quieter, more reflective tone, marking the winter solstice with lanterns and a symbolic fire to let go of the past year. Both events showcase the power of community-made art to foster connection and creativity.

But keeping these massive events alive isn’t easy. SameSky isn’t regularly funded, meaning they rely heavily on grants, donations, partnerships and and collaborative support from local businesses.

Get in touch with Robert Baston if you have an idea for collaboration.

Get on your bike

Sussex Blazing Saddles is a National Lottery Heritage Funded project, exploring the transformative impact of the advent of bicycles on women and society from the 1890s to 1928, when women won the right to vote.

With partners across Worthing, Brighton & Hove, Newhaven and Bexhill they've uncovered stories of pioneering women cyclists, which they tell through a touring exhibition, talks, cycle rides, upcycling sewing workshops to remake cycling fashion, and free outdoor performances. Join them in the last few weeks here

Toni Finnimore is founder of The Social Society

Social work stars shine in 2024 awards finals

Staff students from Brighton & Hove City Council and the University of Sussex have been named finalists in the 2024 Social Worker of the Year Awards.

Jennifer Gander, from Brighton & Hove City Council, is in the running for the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognising her career-long dedication. Also from the council, Hannah Adams is up for Children’s Social Worker of the Year, and Lorna Cornett is nominated for AMHP Social Worker of the Year.

Representing the University of Sussex, Hannah Louise Barnes is a finalist for Social Work Student of the Year, and Rebecca Stephens for University Social Work Lecturer of the Year. These nominations celebrate their extraordinary contributions to social work in the city.

You can see the full list of finalists here.

Global award for midwifery app tackling racial health disparities

Ruby Jackson, a midwifery student at the University of Brighton, has developed Melanatal, an app aimed at improving maternal care for people of colour. Inspired by her placement in Ghana, Ruby created the app to help clinicians better identify conditions like jaundice on darker skin tones.

Ruby's innovative work earned her a spot on the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme and recognition as one of two global winners in a digital health challenge.

Learn more about Melanatal here.

Sussex Bay conversations

Following a packed launch at Brighton Dome in June, the team have recently appointed Dr Lewis White, a marine biologist to work with communities to co-produce the first-ever area-wide blueprint for seascape recovery across one hundred miles of coastline, from Camber Sands to Selsey Bill.

The team are holding several #SussexBay conversations with local people sharing ideas on a range of topics from ethical finance, and storytelling to gallery exhibitions, thinking together about how we can all get involved with our connection to nature.

If you are organising an event or would like to share ideas with the Sussex Bay team, or join the e-newsletter, reach out to hello@sussexbay.org.uk

They’re just not into you

Research highlighted in Brighton Journal suggests seagulls may not be as obsessed with your chips as many believe. While seen as the great and fearless scavengers of the south coast, these birds will always prefer foraging for their natural diet when given the option.

Neeltje Boogert, Research Fellow at The University of Exeter, explains why here.

Brighton restaurants make Uber Eats top ten list for South East

Several Brighton restaurants have made it into the top ten list of most popular Uber Eats spots in the South East. The list celebrates the best-performing eateries based on customer demand and satisfaction. Brighton’s vibrant food scene continues to stand out, with a variety of local favourites recognised for their top-quality service and dishes that keep residents and visitors coming back for more.

Full list and details here.