Issue - items at meetings - Overview of the business community and the employer's perspective

2.1     The Commission received a presentation from Sarah Springford, Director, Brighton Chamber of Commerce and Gavin Stewart, Executive Director, Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership in relation to the business community and the employer’s perspective.

2.2      Gavin Stewart made the following points:

·       It was important to look at the global, national and local perspective.

·       There were encouraging signs in the local economy but it was noted that 21% of the local employment base was the public sector and that £68,000,000 of savings needed to be found by local authorities in the next 4 years. This would have a huge impact.

·       Types of employment important to the city included financial services, tourism, digital and creative industries, environmental industries, the health sector and retail and leisure sector.

·       The City Plan asked for 24,000 new homes to be built by 2016 and 112,000 square metre of workspace by 2016.  This would be difficult to achieve. 

·       The city was highly educated but there was a skills gap.  Higher value jobs were needed.

·       The city was below average in pupils obtaining 5 good GCSEs.

·       The large numbers of commuters in and out of the city was creating a huge pressure on the transport system.

·       Pay in the city was below national and south east average. There was a need to work with regional partners in future.

·       There was a need to build greater connectivity between public, private and third sector employers in the city.

2.3      Sarah Springfield made the following points:

·         The Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign had been run by   Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce for the last 4 years.  Local    businesses were being encouraged to join the campaign.  It was           the only business led living wage campaign in the country.

·         The campaign had just signed up its 250^th business. 5 new        members had been signed up on 20^th January. 

·         2,795 salaries had been raised as a result of the campaign.

·         Digital businesses and third sector charities found it easier to sign       up to the campaign.  It was more difficult for tourism and the retail       and service industries.

·         Most recently surveyed businesses had felt a positive impact.

·         41% of businesses have said they would not pay to be accredited       to a national campaign.

·         Brighton Chamber of Commerce would like to sign up more       businesses and extend the campaign.

·         Brighton Chamber of Commerce is a not for profit           company       and is not part of the local authority or government funded.

·         It is important to think about how local businesses could be       encouraged to grow, thrive and be supported.

2.4     In response to questions and in general discussion the following points were made:

·       Overall family incomes had taken a big hit.

·       In answer to questions relating to parental employment and to what extent children were an important issue for business; and how Universal Credit may affect businesses, it was explained that issues like pensions and Universal Credit were not being discussed at present by smaller businesses.  It was a hand to mouth existence for many businesses in the city.  Smaller businesses were not able to get involved in childcare.

·       Smaller businesses could be quite flexible but needed to be well managed and required resources.

·       In answer to a question on how the Chamber of Commerce could push ahead with the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign and ensure people earned enough to live and work in the city, it was explained that the campaign was trying to point out the benefits of a living wage, however there were limited resources to carry out this work. There was a desire to carry on running the campaign and  sign up bigger companies.  One idea was to make the living wage a contractual requirement in the procurement process. 

·       Questions were asked about encouraging small businesses to grow; getting people on JSA back into work; and Greater Brighton devolution. 

·       Small companies needed to be supported.  Devolution would encourage growth hubs. Work needed to be carried out with companies to change options regarding employing people who had been out of work for some time.

·       People needed to be helped to become ‘work ready’. 

·       The process of greater Brighton devolution had commenced and the issue would become more important

·       There were large numbers of small businesses in the city and many would not follow the traditional route of growing into a huge team.

·       A great deal of work had been carried out on apprentices and Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce had started to work with City College on this issue.

2.5     The Commission thanked Ms Springfield and Mr Stewart for their presentations and response to questions.