Comment Magazine Issue 5

Brighton
Business Pulse
Brighton is celebrated around the
world as a tourist destination with a
thriving and exciting cultural scene.
What is perhaps less well-known is
its dynamic and expanding business
community. Some 1,500 start-up
and young digital and technology
businesses call Brighton home, giving it
the headlines
80%
of businesses in Brighton are
predicting revenue growth of
between 10 and 50 per cent.
40%
of businesses will be recruiting staff
in 2016. Only eight per cent expect
to decrease their headcount.
52%
believe that being located in
Brighton is ‘very advantageous’
or ‘advantageous’ to the future
growth of their business.
TRAFFIC
Brighton’s poor traffic network and
excessive congestion is the biggest
bugbear for businesses.
the name ‘Silicon Beach’.
Coffin Mew opened its office in
Brighton in 2015 to support both
businesses and individuals. The
Brighton Business Pulse is in part a
celebration of the business community
in this wonderful city, recognition of
what works, and what could be done
Confidence
Are you feeling more or less confident
about the prospects for your business
than you were 12 months ago?
76%
More
Less
confident
confident
In the next 12 months
Brighton’s businesses
will be:
21%
65% Launching a new product
or service
31% Recruiting
24% Opening a new office
20% Seeking investment
6% Exporting
better. It also marks our first anniversary
as part of the local community.
Earlier this year we asked business
leaders for their views on the economy,
business confidence and why they
chose Brighton. Brighton’s future as a
hub for dynamic, entrepreneurial and
new businesses looks assured.
Just under half (44%) of businesses
surveyed intend on raising finance
in the next 12 months. This is how.
33% VCs or angel investment
25% Bank loan
20% Peer to peer
20% Overdraft
17% Factoring
4% Own reserves
4% Grants
14