The CESSG is a multi agency steering group tasked to deliver the priorities in the City Employment & Skills Plan which will deliver or identify 6,000 new jobs for the city by the end of 2014.

It includes representation from Job Centre Plus, Brighton & Hove Albion in the Community; University of Brighton, National Apprenticeship Service, brightonandhovejobs.com, City College Brighton & Hove, Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce, the Community & Voluntary Sector and Whitehawk Inn.

The steering group has indicated that it would want to see detailed proposals in a future planning application before officially endorsing any scheme but it is pleased to see the draft proposals include 25,000 square metres of high-tech offices. The close proximity of the offices to the new Ecology Park on the western bank of the valley and the city’s universities a few minutes along the A27 bypass could make them ideal workspace for environmental industries.

The steering group also welcomed the provision of 700 residential units which it felt would go some way to alleviating the shortage of family homes for the city’s workforce and also a new school which would ease pressure on the city’s over-stretched education provision.