Overview
Eastbourne showcases a diverse economic landscape with significant activities in professional, scientific, technical activities, retail trade, construction, and health and social work. A notable focus on technology and CleanTech sectors, reflected in the raisers in Internet platforms and Software-as-a-Service, indicates a forward-looking business environment. The city’s employee growth of 7.82% and the presence of 19 scaleups suggest a dynamic and evolving economic sector.
Employment and Business Growth
- Total Employees: Eastbourne employs 24,213 individuals. The 7.82% employee growth rate signifies a healthy and expanding job market.
- Top Sectors with Rising Employment: The sectors experiencing the most growth include Internet platforms, SaaS, analytics and insights, internet and networking hardware, and CleanTech.
Sector Dynamics
- Leading Sectors: The top sectors by number of companies are professional, scientific and technical activities (986 companies), retail trade (834 companies), and construction (805 companies). These sectors are pivotal in driving the city’s economic activity.
- Sectoral Growth Trends: The growth in technology-focused sectors like Internet platforms and SaaS indicates a shift towards a more digital and service-oriented economy.
Company Trends
- Total Companies: There are 7,490 companies in Eastbourne, reflecting a diverse and robust business ecosystem.
- New Companies in 2 Years: The addition of 1,757 new companies over the last two years underlines a thriving entrepreneurial spirit.
- SMEs and Exporters: The city has 5,897 SMEs and 109 exporters, indicating a strong base of small and medium enterprises with international reach.
- Companies with Foreign Parentage: 69 companies have foreign parentage, highlighting international investment and diversity in the business landscape.
- Company Cessations: 659 companies ceased operations, which should be analysed for potential areas of improvement or market shifts.
Business Continuity
- Spinouts and Fundraisings: Eastbourne has a budding innovative ecosystem with 0 spinouts and 32 fundraisings, showing early-stage business activities.
- Patent Owners and Grantees: The presence of 4 patent owners and 6 grantees demonstrates a focus on innovation and intellectual property.
Human Capital
- Gender Representation in Founders and Directors: 14.29% female founders and 30.07% female directors indicate progressive gender diversity, though there’s room for improvement.
- Age Distribution of Directors: Directors’ age distribution is fairly balanced, with a higher concentration in the 50-60 age range (26.45%).
Conclusion
Eastbourne’s economy is characterised by a healthy mix of traditional and emerging sectors, with a significant push towards technology and innovation. The city is experiencing steady business growth, with a particular emphasis on SMEs and technology sectors. However, there is a need to foster greater gender diversity in leadership roles and to address the reasons behind company cessations to ensure sustainable economic development.