#19: The Lessons From North Yorkshire
Sussex And The City
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 19: The Lessons From North Yorkshire Host: Richard Freeman Guest: James Farrar - Chief Executive, York & North Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority 🔍 Episode summary Sussex is heading for devolution—new unitaries, a directly elected mayor, and big expectations. So what does it really take to go from theory to action? Richard talks to James Farah, Chief Executive of the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority, about how his region navigated local government reorganisation and launched a mayoral combined authority - then moved quickly...
info_outline
#18: Bridges Not Borders; Rethinking Sussex’s Link To The World
Sussex And The City
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 19: Bridges Not Borders; Rethinking Sussex’s Link To The World Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Graham Precey – social impact leader (ex-Head of Sustainability, Legal & General); community convenor for the Newhaven–Dieppe (“Le Havre de Paix”) ferry decarbonisation effort; Normandy–Sussex bridge-builder 🔍 Episode summary Richard speaks with Graham Precey from across the Channel in Normandy to unpack why the Newhaven–Dieppe ferry is more than a boat: but a living bridge between Sussex and Normandy that carries tourists, freight,...
info_outline
#17: The Case For Bold, Female-led Climate Entrepreneurship In Sussex
Sussex And The City
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 17: The Case For Bold, Female-led Climate Entrepreneurship In Sussex Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Maddy Cooper – Founder of Flourish This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Plus Accounting – The leading B Corp certified firm of Chartered Accountants dedicated to Brighton & Hove. Serving growth sectors from video game studios and creative industries to healthcare, property, life sciences and cutting-edge tech, their team support start-ups, scale-ups and long-established enterprises with tailored tax planning, R&D claims,...
info_outline
#16: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Parts Two & Three)
Sussex And The City
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 16: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Parts Two & Three) Host: Richard Freeman Guests: Tim Loughton – former MP for East Worthing & Shoreham Paul Marshall – Leader of West Sussex County Council This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Different Hats – founded by Sam Thomas in 2024, Different Hats brings together 20 years of helping Sussex businesses tell stories that convert. From producing over 100 podcast episodes to hosting live events and building a powerful network of regional leaders, they’re shaping authentic storytelling...
info_outline
#15: Small Is Beautiful - But Sussex Needs Scale
Sussex And The City
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 15: Small Is Beautiful - But Sussex Needs Scale Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Simon Chuter - business growth strategist, founder of Scale Up Sussex, former Head of Centres & Investment Services at Sussex Innovation This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Kreston Reeves – one of the UK’s leading accountancy and advisory firms and one of the first to achieve B Corp status. With offices in Brighton, Chichester and beyond, they help Sussex businesses grow with clarity, confidence and purpose – from tax strategy and audit to ESG...
info_outline
#14: We Can Be Better At Communicating Complexity
Sussex And The City
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 14: We Can Be Better At Communicating Complexity Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Natalie Orringe - Founder, Strategy + Impact This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Be Well. Live Well. – A data-led workplace wellbeing model helping Sussex employers boost performance and productivity by putting health at the heart of their culture. 👉 🔍 Episode summary Richard speaks with Natalie Orringe, one of the UK's most thoughtful voices on public engagement, communications and strategic leadership. A former agency director turned local...
info_outline
#13: Sussex Is Full Of Talent. But Employers Aren't Finding It.
Sussex And The City
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 13: Sussex Is Full Of Talent. But Employers Aren't Finding It. Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Dan Wallman - Founder, TechNative Digital This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Different Hats – Strategic storytelling, curated events and creative content from Sam Thomas and co, helping Sussex leaders spark real change across business and communities. 👉 🔍 Episode summary Richard speaks with Dan Wallman - a long-time force in Sussex creative/digital learning and founder of Tech Native Digital - about why our tech skills system...
info_outline
#12: If No One Understands Devolution, What’s The Point?
Sussex And The City
🔍 Episode summary Richard speaks with Flo Powell, PR strategist and co-owner of Brighton-based agency Midnight Communications, about trust, language, and the colossal communications challenge facing Sussex’s devolution journey. With 30 years of regional insight, Flo doesn’t pull punches. She shares sharp reflections on how local authorities handle public engagement, why badly written surveys aren’t just annoying – they’re dangerous – and what might happen if a mayor is introduced before people understand what one even is. This episode unpacks why messaging matters now more...
info_outline
#11: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Part One)
Sussex And The City
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 11: Why I Want To Be Mayor (Part One) Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Sally-Ann Hart – former MP for Hastings & Rye This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Digital Islands – Delivering fully funded business support to small firms across Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since 2017. 👉 🔍 Episode summary This week, Richard meets someone who actively wants to lead devolution in Sussex and Brighton. Sally-Ann Hart, the former Conservative party MP for Hastings & Rye, is seeking her party's nomination to become the first...
info_outline
#10: Investment In Sussex Skills Needs More Than Duct Tape And Goodwill
Sussex And The City
The Sussex And The City Podcast – Episode 10: Investment In Sussex Skills Needs More Than Duct Tape And Goodwill Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Dan Shelley – Chair, Sussex Local Skills Improvement Plan Board This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Let’s Do Business Finance – A British Business Bank-accredited lender, providing tailored funding and expert advice to new and growing ventures across Sussex since 2004. 👉 🔍 Episode summary In this deep-dive episode, Richard speaks with Dan Shelley, one of the South East's leading thinkers on skills and regional development,...
info_outlineThe Sussex And The City Podcast
– Episode 11:
Why I Want To Be Mayor (Part One)
Host: Richard Freeman
Guest: Sally-Ann Hart – former MP for Hastings & Rye
This episode is brought to you in partnership with:
Digital Islands – Delivering fully funded business support to small firms across Sussex, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight since 2017.
👉 digitalislands.co.uk
🔍 Episode summary
This week, Richard meets someone who actively wants to lead devolution in Sussex and Brighton. Sally-Ann Hart, the former Conservative party MP for Hastings & Rye, is seeking her party's nomination to become the first directly elected mayor for the region.
They discuss why she wants the job, what she learned representing one of the UK’s most deprived constituencies, and her priorities for a region grappling with inequality, infrastructure gaps, and identity.
Sally-Ann reflects on her time in Parliament during the COVID-19 pandemic, her passion for early intervention, and how she thinks coastal towns like Hastings have been misunderstood and overlooked for too long.
🎯 Why this matters for devolution
This is the first time on the podcast we’ve heard directly from someone who wants the mayoralty – and the power that comes with it. Sally-Ann outlines how she’d approach leadership of a 1.7 million–strong region, and makes the case that:
-
The mayor must unite coastal, urban, and rural communities
-
Economic growth and job creation must be priority one
-
Existing skills strategies can be scaled, not reinvented
-
Private investment and local pride are key tools for regeneration
-
Data and accountability must be baked into the new system
🧠 Topics include:
-
What a regional mayor could do that councils can’t
-
Lessons from Hastings and the challenge of changing culture
-
Coastal regeneration, the blue economy, and green jobs
-
The need for tailored plans, not blanket policies
-
Dealing with political division and bringing partners together
-
Building trust, dashboards, and visibility for the mayor’s office
📚 Further reading and references:
- Sally-Ann Hart (Wikipedia)
- Sally-Ann Hart (They Work For You profile)
- All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coastal Communities (APPG)
- Levelling Up the South East – APPG Inquiry Report
🎧 Production credits
Host: Richard Freeman
Guest: Sally-Ann Hart
Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey
Production management: Letitia McConalogue
Recorded at: Projects: The Lanes, Brighton
📣 Get involved
Want to help reimagine democracy, identity and regional change in Sussex?
Join the conversation and find resources at sussexandthecity.info