People at work

Workplace based Gross Value Added (GVA) per head

GVA indicates the level of economic activity within an area by measuring its production of goods and services. It is a measure that allows comparison of areas, and highlights variations in performance with a region, and trends over time. The GVA figure (workplace based) divided by the total residential population (resident based) gives an estimate for GVA per head, whilst not a measure of productivity it is, nevertheless, a widely used measure to indicate the economic well-being of an area and provides comparison with other areas.
The data uses NUTS3 areas which splits West Sussex into:-
  • West Sussex South West (WSSW) and includes Adur, Arun, Chichester and Worthing
  • West Sussex North East (WSNE) which includes Crawley Horsham and Mid Sussex.

March 2021 performance

COVID-19 is having a significant impact on the county’s economy with businesses being hit hard through significant levels of furloughed workers, job losses, business retraction all of course brings with it severe consequences on our communities – including the increase in unemployment levels and take up of Universal Credit.  The West Sussex Economy Reset Plan has been developed and was adopted in November 2020.  The Economy Reset Plan is an update of the Economic Growth Plan 2018-2023, and sets out our priorities for supporting the recovery of the West Sussex economy.    
It has nine priority themes, setting out where the County Council can make a difference.  The themes focus around the economic challenges in the different parts of the county; business support for start-ups and existing businesses; employment and skills; the two key sectors hit hard by the pandemic - the visitor economy and the health and social care sector, and lastly the opportunities to encourage digital infrastructure, application of digital technology to boost business productivity and enhancement of digital skills.  The importance of embedding climate change and the environment underpins the Reset Plan approach.   
Progress on the Plan’s headline actions is on track and fully in accordance with the commitments set out.  The focus in last three months includes:
Tracking the state of the economy and the impact of COVID-19 on the local economy as far as we are able given the lack of detailed timely data for local areas, this is captured in monthly snapshot reports which are available here: http://www.businesswestsussex.co.uk/covid19snapshot
Progress on initiatives for enterprises and businesses include:
  • Recover and Rise Programme with 500 + businesses
  • Mobilising new programmes for low carbon and boosting innovation
  • Supporting The Track to be ready for launch when the time is right
  • Progressing Horsham Enterprise Park
 Work is underway on consideration of the employment and skills landscape, and where the Council can support corporately and in partnership which has been informed by commissioned reports and includes supporting initiatives such as kickstart and the Council’s apprenticeship levy support for businesses.
 Under the new West Sussex Digital Support Programme, coordinating a countywide effort with the Districts and Boroughs and the LEP for businesses, people and places with Phase One of the programme agreed and £140k funding secured
 Progressing support for the visitor economy sector which has been so hard hit by COVID and which has included:
  • Experience West Sussex Destination Partnership Shop Sussex campaign for festive season, Summer in West Sussex campaign, buy in to regional `Gourmet and Gardens` campaign, and representing the needs of businesses
  • Established Sussex Tourism and Culture Recovery Group (via SRF) to maximise opportunities to support sector recovery through Sussex collaboration and brand
We have worked with District and Borough Councils on refreshing and maintaining the Growth Deals, which will include the continuing assessment of the impact of COVID and emerging needs.
 There has been progress on the delivery of key schemes in deals for next financial year including: Eastern Gateway; Manor royal Highways improvements: Portland Road Worthing  and Burgess Hill. 
Over the last 5 years growth in West Sussex was higher than the South East region. WSSW was considerably lower at £22,985 than that for England at £29,356 or for the region at £30,356, though WSNE reflects more favourably with higher levels than the South East region at £30,639.