About the Sussex Intelligence Unit
Who we are, what we track, and why we exist.
Methodology
The devolution moment is happening now.
The Sussex and Brighton Mayoral Combined Authority is taking shape. Governance structures, measurement frameworks and investment priorities are being set now, by people who don’t yet have the right evidence.
The window to shape the evidence base — and with it, the decisions that will define Sussex for a generation — is open. SIU exists to ensure that window is not missed.
Our outputs
- No independent regional evidence base exists for Sussex
- Devolution governance frameworks are being set now
- National data misses sharp local variation across the region
- Business, VCSE and policy leaders all cite the same gap
- SIU is independent of any single sector or institution
All outputs are designed for accessibility — in tone, format and AI discoverability.
What we measure
Four pillars. Tracked as a system.
Pillar 01
Growth
Business formation, inward investment, employment patterns, skills and productivity — across East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton at local granularity. Where the regional economy is strong, where it is fragile, and where opportunity exists.
Pillar 02
Infrastructure
Transport connectivity, broadband access, housing supply and energy infrastructure. The physical and digital foundations that determine where Sussex can develop, attract investment and sustain growing communities.
Pillar 03
Governance
Civic capacity, institutional effectiveness, accountability and the governance structures emerging from devolution. How power is exercised across the region, and whether those structures are equal to the challenges Sussex faces.
Pillar 04
Belonging
Community cohesion, social trust, civic participation, voluntary sector health and the informal networks that mean a neighbourhood actually functions. An evidence base that counts only economic output will produce governance that misses half of what makes Sussex work. Belonging belongs in the data.
Independence
Not a council product. Not a sector report.
SIU’s credibility depends on its independence. It is not produced by any single council, business body, academic institution or political organisation. No single partner, funder or sector shapes what gets measured or how findings are interpreted.
This independence is structural, not just stated. The partnership model — bringing together research, communications and analytical expertise from outside any single institution — means SIU can report on Sussex as a whole, without the constraints that come with institutional affiliation.
Every edition is published on the same terms for every reader. Partners receive advance access to intelligence — but they do not shape what the evidence says.
“An evidence base that counts only economic output will produce governance that misses half of what makes Sussex work. Belonging belongs in the data.”
What independence means in practice
- Research methodology published openly
- Findings reported regardless of who they favour or challenge
- No institutional affiliation to any council or political body.
The partnership
Three organisations. One platform.
The Sussex Intelligence Unit is a partnership between research, communications and analytical specialists — all Sussex-based, all independent.
Richard Freeman
Always Possible
Richard is Founder of Always Possible, the Sussex-based research, evaluation and facilitation specialists. He leads SIU’s research design and methodology, and brings deep knowledge of the Sussex civic and policy landscape built through years of community-facing and economic development work across the combined county.
Natalie Orringe
Strategy+Impact
Natalie is Founder of Strategy+Impact, a leadership communications consultancy for Boards and C-suite executives. With 25 years’ experience — including as a FTSE 350 CMO and local authority Assistant Chief Executive — she leads SIU’s communications, brand and audience strategy.
Bruce Nairne
Independent Researcher
Bruce is a Sussex-based researcher with extensive experience in regional data analysis and evidence synthesis. He leads SIU’s data gathering and analytical framework, ensuring the platform produces findings that are both rigorous and usable
Explore how SIU works.
Read about our research methodology, or get in touch to discuss partnership and commissioning.