Brighton’s Creative Industries Vision

Unlocking Createch in Sussex for the Next Industrial Wave

The sunny Sussex south coast is known for its beaches, festivals and liberal spirit but behind the postcard views lies an economic engine powered by creativity and innovation. As part of a strategic vision for creative industries, the coastal Sussex region is also being positioned as a key driver of growth and collaboration.

Greater Brighton’s creative industries are vibrant but vulnerable, delivering nearly £800 million to the local economy annually, supporting over 75,000 workers and freelancers and yet still under-recognised in regional economic planning. The region offers a wealth of skills, creative talent and significant growth opportunities for the creative sector. A new vision document, backed by regional and national policy, is putting the creative sector at the centre of a bold industrial strategy and it could transform Brighton into a national Createch powerhouse.

Brighton’s new regional vision aims to elevate the creative sector to generate jobs and investment opportunities through infrastructure and partnerships designed to foster long-term sector resilience, with coastal West Sussex included as a key area in the regional strategy. But how will this vision be brought to life?

Brighton’s Role in Nurturing the UK’s Creative Industries

This new innovative vision for the creative industries is a collaborative effort between the region’s local authorities, setting ambitious goals for the future. The vision document serves as the foundational plan for the sector, with research commissioned by the Fifth Sector consultancy and the Coastal West Sussex Partnership to guide its development.

Brighton & Hove is rightly extremely proud of its achievements and the contribution of its world class creative industries to the UK economy. The research commissioned highlights the opportunities faced and challenges within this innovative and growing sector, and the vision document aims to drive growth, release potential and re-energise the creative industries sector.

The modern industrial strategy highlights the need for national buy-in and efforts to secure local support, ensuring the vision sets a clear path to unleash the huge potential of Sussex as a whole. Sector consultancy and partnership work are central to addressing the challenges and opportunities faced by the creative industries, with the ultimate goal of fostering a thriving, sustainable and globally competitive sector.

Understanding the scale and significance of this emerging creative economy is key to recognising the size of the opportunity.

The New Regional Vision: Nurturing Creative Talent

The newly coined Greater Brighton area is doubling down on its commitment to creativity, laying out a bold new roadmap to support and grow the region’s creative industries. At the heart of this ambition is the recently launched Greater Brighton Creative Industries Vision, a strategic plan to position Brighton and the wider Sussex region as the UK’s leading environment for nurturing creative industry talent and building an inclusive economy. The vision is committed to fostering a successful and inclusive economy, ensuring that the benefits of creative sector growth are accessible to all.

The policy document focuses on three interconnected goals: strengthening pathways into creative careers, supporting the development of creative businesses and ensuring that this growth is inclusive, diverse and sustainable. The plan has developed and will continue to develop pathways for nurturing creative industry talent and retaining talent in the region. With this burgeoning sector already a significant contributor to the local economy, the plan is both an economic imperative and a social one, with a strong emphasis on providing creative industry talent.

Nationally, this strategy aligns with the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, which identifies creative industries as one of eight key growth sectors. At the same time, regional dynamics are shifting. As Sussex prepares for the potential appointment of a new elected mayor, more control over skills and employment funding will be devolved to the local level, creating new levers for change. The vision aims to retain talent in the region by providing robust support and new opportunities for creative professionals.

Role of the Greater Brighton Economic Board

The Greater Brighton Economic Board (GBEB), a coalition of local authorities, education providers and business leaders, is expected to play a central role. With strong sector representation, GBEB has developed the vision in collaboration with key stakeholders to strengthen routes into the creative industries and support creative talent at every level. With the region poised for potential investment deals tied to the devolution framework, GBEB is well positioned to channel fresh support into meaningful creative sector outcomes.

For Brighton and Sussex businesses, this represents more than policy – it signals a real opportunity to shape the future of work, culture and commerce across the region. The vision will provide residents with opportunities for meaningful careers in the creative sector, support individuals to start and grow their own creative businesses and attract creative entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs and businesses will benefit from employment support, targeted initiatives and a collaborative environment that has been developed to foster growth and inclusivity.

Creative Tech (Createch) and Digital Opportunity

At the intersection of creativity and technology lies Createch, an innovative and growing sector combining artistic talent with cutting-edge innovation. The region’s crucial creative industries sector includes key components such as the music industry and performing arts, which, alongside design, publishing and digital media, contribute significantly to the local economy. Globally, Createch is recognised as a major driver of economic growth, forecast to generate £18 billion in GVA and create 160,000 jobs in the UK alone over the next decade.

The government’s investment strategy reflects this trajectory. Through the CoSTAR programme (Convergent Screen Technologies and Performance in Realtime), the UK is channelling £75.6 million in R&D funding into emerging technologies across film, gaming and digital performance. It’s a clear sign that Createch is no longer niche, it’s national infrastructure, and the creative industry is strongly supported by strategic initiatives and funding.

Brighton is uniquely positioned to benefit from this trend. Already a well-established hub for digital media, the city is home to a vibrant games sector that continues to attract global attention. In 2023, IO Interactive, the Danish game studio behind the popular Hitman franchise, chose Brighton as the base for its new studio developing the upcoming James Bond game, 007 First Light. The team is expected to grow to 100 staff, bringing more high-skilled, high-value jobs to the city and increasing the number of residents employed in the creative industries sector.

Fostering Creative Identity in the Era of AI

Alongside gaming, artificial intelligence is reshaping creative processes across design, music, marketing and film. National policymakers increasingly see AI not just as a challenge to creative work, but as a powerful tool for innovation. The emphasis is shifting toward ethical and effective AI adoption, helping creatives stay ahead without sacrificing artistic integrity.

This thinking is echoed in government policy beyond the creative industries. For example, the Department for Work and Pensions’ ASK tool uses AI to streamline administrative tasks (and possibly spy on benefit claimants), freeing up time for frontline specialists. The message is clear: digital technology isn’t replacing people, it’s helping them do more of what they do best.

For creative professionals, entrepreneurs and founders in Brighton and Sussex, this digital evolution is not just a future to prepare for – it’s an opportunity to shape. In Greater Brighton and coastal West Sussex, creative industries thrive, supported by strong infrastructure, government vision and a collaborative ecosystem that continues to drive sector growth.

Building the Local Talent and Skills Pipeline

A thriving creative economy depends on more than vision and investment; it needs people with the right skills, pathways and support. For Greater Brighton to deliver on its creative industries strategy, developing a strong local talent pipeline is naturally key. There is a clear focus on strengthening routes from education to employment in the creative sector, ensuring that individuals and businesses can access and grow within the industry.

One of the core priorities outlined in the Creative Industries Vision is strengthening the bridge between education and employment. Too often, young people are steered away from creative careers due to a lack of visibility or support. The strategy acknowledges this gap and places a renewed focus on showing students – especially those less confident in technical subjects – that there is a viable future in the creative industries. Students should be supported through targeted initiatives and employment support, helping them navigate pathways into creative roles.

This is not just about jobs. It’s also about mental health, social mobility and belonging. The decline in music education is especially worrying given how powerful the arts can be in improving wellbeing. Reversing that decline will require deeper collaboration between schools, colleges and creative employers to provide residents with the skills and opportunities needed for meaningful careers in the sector.

Unleashing Potential in Brighton and Beyond

Of course Brighton is not starting from scratch. The Chichester College Group, which runs Brighton MET College, currently supports over 3,300 students in creative subjects from entry level through to Level 4. Facilities include a £3 million T-level TV studio, podcasting suites and performance spaces – all potentially underused resources that could be better promoted and integrated into the wider creative ecosystem. These efforts help retain talent in the region by offering clear pathways and support for creative professionals.

National momentum is also building. The UK Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper introduces a Youth Guarantee and partnerships with organisations like the Royal Shakespeare Company and Channel 4, aiming to widen access to creative opportunities and bring national cultural infrastructure closer to communities.

For local businesses and startups, this creates a two-way opportunity: to help shape the skills agenda through partnerships, and to benefit from a new generation of talent ready to contribute to the region’s creative growth. Win/win!

Securing the Future: Infrastructure and Collaboration

The creative economy doesn’t thrive in theory – it needs physical space, community support and consistent visibility. While Greater Brighton has the talent and ambition, it faces a critical challenge: the rapid decline of affordable creative space, despite being supported by local and regional organisations committed to sustaining the sector.

Since the pandemic, a huge number of affordable workspaces and studios have disappeared, squeezed out by rising rents and redevelopment pressures, particularly as the government aggressively pursues a national house building agenda. This loss is more than a logistical problem. It threatens the grassroots layer of the creative sector: the freelancers, makers and micro-enterprises that give Brighton its edge, all of whom need to be supported through targeted initiatives and funding.

Just recently the city lost the popular creative community space New England House after serving creatives with affordable professional studios and workshops for over 12 years. Its future is uncertain.

One solution gaining traction is to repurpose underused facilities, including university and council-owned properties, as part of a regional network of creative spaces. Supported by collaborative efforts such as the coastal West Sussex partnership, this would provide low-cost, flexible environments for experimentation and collaboration (much like New England House did), while preserving the city’s cultural identity. It’s an approach that aligns with the long-term planning currently underway at Brighton & Hove City Council.

Shaping a World Class Creative Industries Sector

As part of the City Plan 2041, the council is actively seeking input from residents and businesses to shape how creativity is embedded into the city’s future. This is a rare moment for artists, entrepreneurs and industry advocates to have a direct say and be supported in their ambitions. Ideas and proposals can be submitted by email to arts@brighton-hove.gov.uk which is an open door that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Beyond infrastructure, the region’s creative sector must also confront an issue of visibility. Too often, creative projects happen quietly or in isolation. But “the city can be the gallery.” From public art installations to pop-up performances and creative placemaking, Brighton has the opportunity to turn its streets and spaces into showcases for talent and innovation, helping to re-energise the creative industries and release potential across the community.

To make that vision real, stronger partnerships between developers, local authorities, businesses and artists are essential. Moving beyond token gestures or one-off commissions, these relationships must be rooted in sustained support, shared outcomes and mutual respect.

The challenge is real – but so is the momentum. With the right spaces and collaborations, supported by regional partnerships and strategic planning, Brighton’s creative future can be built from the ground up to re-energise the sector and release potential for the entire region.

A Region Ready for Creative Growth

Greater Brighton’s creative industries are no longer a side note to the economy; they are central to our future. With a clear regional strategy, national alignment and growing momentum across Createch, education and infrastructure, the opportunity ahead is real, immediate and not to be overlooked!

Key Takeaways:

• The new regional vision places creative industries at the heart of economic growth
• Createch and AI are unlocking new career paths and business models for the sector
• Stronger talent pipelines and affordable spaces are key to long-term resilience

JetSpace exists to support this future. With creative workspaces and serviced offices in Brighton and Shoreham, we’re ready to help creative businesses, freelancers and founders find the space and support they need to thrive in this next chapter of Brighton’s evolution as a creative powerhouse.

If you’re building something in Createch or the wider creative industries, and you need adaptable workspace to suit your growing needs, we’d love to help! Get in touch to find out more about latest availability and other businesses in your sector benefiting from JetSpace facilities.