A Get Sussex Working Plan has been developed in response to the government’s Get Britain Working white paper. The government has asked all areas to produce tailored plans to align with local opportunities and priorities.
The Get Sussex Working Plan sets out how Sussex will meet this requirement by reducing economic inactivity and increasing long-term employment, taking a whole-system approach to employment, health, post-16 education and skills support across the county.
The plan was developed by West Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council with other key partners including the Department for Work and Pensions and the Sussex Chamber of Commerce. The plan was formally endorsed by West Sussex County Council in October 2025.
Evidence and collaboration
The plan has been informed by:
- local statistical evidence on employment, skills and economic trends
- engagement with local stakeholders including businesses, education providers and community and health organisations
- alignment with national Get Britain Working strategic priorities
Governance
The plan is overseen by the Get Sussex Working Partnership Group, which brings together representatives from:
- West Sussex County Council: Economic Growth - Public Heath
- East Sussex County Council: Employment & Skills - Public Health
- Brighton & Hove City Council: Skills & Employment - Public Health
- The Department for Work & Pensions (DWP)
- Sussex Chamber of Commerce (employer representative body)
The Partnership Group provides strategic oversight and coordination of the plan, monitoring progress against the ambitions and targets. This helps to ensure that it reflects local labour market needs and opportunities, aligns health and employment priorities and supports integrated, place-based solutions.
Additionally, the plan was endorsed by the Sussex Integrated Care Board.
Implementation Plan
Initial high-level actions have been developed to deliver the Get Sussex Working Plan across Sussex. Activities in the Implementation Plan are grouped into categories to align with the ambitions.
Each of the 3 councils also has its own local area implementation plan to support and enable the pan-Sussex ambitions, while progressing local opportunities and priorities.
The Implementation Plan is a live and evolving plan, to be delivered and reviewed over the coming decade. Updates will be published on this page.
Supporting documents
- Get Sussex Working Plan Executive Summary (PDF, 1.4MB)
- Get Sussex Working Plan (PDF, 11MB)
- Sussex Implementation Plan - shared ambitions (PDF, 1.3MB)
- West Sussex Implementation Plan (PDF, 1MB)
- Labour Market Data Mapping and Analysis (PDF, 4.7MB)
- West Sussex Stakeholder Report (PDF, 4MB)
- Sussex Stakeholder List (PDF, 2.2MB)
The above documents may not be suitable for users of assistive technologies.