The Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership (BHEP) is an unincorporated partnership of 38 individuals representing each sector of the city's economy. Working with the local authority, a wide range of businesses and the Local Enterprise Partnership [LEP] it publishes the economic strategy for the city and encourages and facilitates its delivery.

Gary Peters, 36, is the MD of ICP Executive Search and the local jobs board brightonandhovejobs.com, the sponsors of the Brighton & Hove Albion football strip. He is also a trustee of Albion in the Community and he has been a member of the Economic Partnership for two years.

The Chair’s main responsibility is to oversee the projects that the Partnership engages in and to ensure that a balanced voice is heard from the business community as well as encouraging local businesses to get involved and volunteer.

Gary said, “I’d like to thank the outgoing chairman Simon Fanshawe. Simon has led a fantastic campaign for the last 12 years and achieved so much for the city. Under his leadership the Partnership published three economic strategies and brought a real focus to bear on the strategic use of land in the city. He also built up the reach of the partnership and its evidence-based analysis of the local economy to make it one of the most influential voices in Brighton & Hove."

Speaking of his new role Gary said, “As a true Brightonian and a local business owner, I'm genuinely delighted to be the Economic Partnership’s new Chair. My personal aim is to tighten the links between public, private and voluntary sectors so that we talk less, do more, and work collectively to ensure Brighton & Hove becomes an even better place to live and do business."