Jobs in Brighton and Hove | Pictures of Brighton and Hove

With its somewhat decadent past and flamboyant present, Brighton is often referred to as the playground of the 21st century. Nestled between the South Downs and the English Channel on the south coast, Brighton’s grandiose ambitions were confirmed when it joined with neighbouring Hove to form the newly created City of Brighton and Hove in 2000.

Then and now
Starting life as a small fishing village in the 11th Century, Brighton (formerly Brighthelmston) became the UK’s first major seaside resort in the early 1800s. It’s proximity to the capital, aided by a fast expanding railway network, led to it being affectionately known as ‘London-By-The-Sea’.

Brighton’s railway industry pedigree stimulated the growth of an engineering industry that flourished during the Second World War but came to an abrupt halt by the 1980s. The declining fortunes of Britain’s manufacturing industry hit Brighton hard and the sector went into irreversible decline.

Since unemployment in the city reached its peak in the 1990s, Brighton and Hove’s economy has been transformed from a low-wage, manufacturing based economy to a highly skilled one centred on education, culture and media. Today the economy is estimated to be worth over £4bn.

A wide variety of restaurants, hotels and shops are all vital to the success of a seaside industry and subsequently many independent and chain businesses thrive in the area. The leisure sector continues to employ a significant proportion of the workforce, accounting for around 8% of all jobs whilst retail employs around 16%. However the town has always been keen to establish itself as more than a ‘bucket and spade’ economy.

In the 1960s two universities were established, the University of Brighton (formerly Brighton Polytechnic) and the University of Sussex. Along with the city’s Further Education College, Brighton’s two universities have established themselves as the UK’s leading providers of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Arts, Architecture, Education, Sport, Health, Business Management, Science and Engineering are some of the main course areas that are covered by the universities, with campuses spreading from central Brighton all the way to Eastbourne, 25 miles east.

The education sector in Brighton now accounts for around 10% of the working population – significantly higher than the UK average – and over 10% of Brighton and Hove’s total population is made up of students.

As the highest populated area in Sussex, Brighton was the obvious choice to become the administrative centre for all local government and public services. The city often plays host to annual political party conferences and infamously hosted the Conservative party conference in 1984 which was the target of an IRA attack. Today, local government employs around 10 per cent of the workforce.

Arguably the most significant transformation that has taken place has been the development of the financial and business services sector that currently employs around 25% of workers in Brighton. By far the biggest employer is US financial giant, American Express.

Headquartered at Amex House - locally known as the ‘wedding cake’ office - in Edward Street, American Express has based its European operations in Brighton for over thirty years and employs around 4,000 workers in a variety of roles.

Brighton’s creative environment has led to a high number of people opting for life as a freelancer. Over 20% of the local workforce has opted for self employment – 7% higher than the national average.

The advent of the Internet has contributed heavily to this growth, allowing many people to enjoy the quality of life that Brighton has to offer, whilst still being able to connect with businesses operating out of the bigger cities in the UK and across the world.

And where the talent goes, the businesses often follow. Along with Oxford, Brighton and Hove is one of the UK’s most important media hubs. With more than 300 media organisations based in and around the city limits, the media sector employs over 3,000 people.

Key business districts
As well as businesses sprawling on or close to Brighton's seafront, there are a few hubs on the outskirts of the city where you can find clusters of companies

The most notable of these is the Sussex Innovation Centre (SInC) which is one of the premier business incubators in the UK. Situated near the Univesity of Sussex it offers functional andmodern business accommodation, as well as easy access from the A27.

If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Brighton and Hove.

Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Brighton and Hove below.

Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Brighton and Hove or find out more information on the local area.