Invest Crawley Conference showcases its potential to become a key player in regional growth
The Invest Crawley Conference brought together leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss the future of the town and showcase emerging opportunities for investment, development and growth across the region.
The event on 10 June at the Create Building – home of the Crawley Borough Council – demonstrated the strong partnership working taking place across Crawley, with speakers and delegates sharing a collective ambition for a stronger, more prosperous future for the town.
Crawley 2040: A new Economic Vision and Growth Plan
Chaired by Jo Gumb, White Label Creative, the day opened with keynote speeches from Ian Duke, chief executive, Crawley Borough Council and councillor Michael Jones, leader, Crawley Borough Council.
They launched Crawley 2040: a new Economic Vision and Growth Plan, marking the beginning of its six-week consultation. The plan aims to create the conditions for Crawley to realise its potential to deliver major long term sustainable and productive growth.
You can find out more and have your say on Crawley’s Economic Vision and Growth Plan on our consultation page: https://investcrawley.co.uk/consultation/2026/have-your-say-crawleys-economic-vision-and-growth-plan
Councillor Michael Jones, leader, Crawley Borough Council, said: “We have an economy worth almost £6 billion pounds, with a population of just 124,000 – that’s the second highest job density in southeast England, with 97,000 jobs, an increase of 8,000 in the last five years. We are the seventh most innovative place in the UK, as measured by patents per capita and have over 3,400 businesses, including 35 major global firms.”
The Crawley Borough Council team also touched on their recent achievements including collaborating with Network Rail to progress plans to upgrade Three Bridges Station, a major gateway for the borough – and development of a new Growth Deal with West Sussex County Council.
Ian Duke, chief executive, Crawley Borough Council, said: “The vision and growth plan details a very clear ambition that by 2040 Crawley will have built on its existing strengths and levied its opportunities to be the southeast’s most dynamic and well connected sustainable economic hub… A town that harnesses the strength of London Gatwick, the innovation of Manor Royal, and the vitality of its town centre, creating a diverse, green, inclusive economy where people want to live and work. And a town that is proud of its communities, powered by skills, and leading in clean growth and digital innovation.”
The first panel and Q&A with the above speakers and councillor Atif Nawaz, Deputy leader, Crawley Borough Council and Clem Smith, head of economy and planning, Crawley Borough Council, expanded further.
Councillor Atif Nawaz, deputy leader, Crawley Borough Council said: “Any investment is welcome in Crawley, particularly when it involves and benefits our communities. For example, the new Institute of Technology will deliver high-quality education and training for high-skilled jobs, making it a real asset for Crawley.”
London Gatwick’s relationship with Crawley
The new Planning Performance Agreement between Crawley Local Planning Authority and Gatwick Green 1 Ltd was signed at the conference. Once delivered, the scheme will unlock growth, jobs, significant income for the local economy and opportunities for upskilling the labour force.
Richard Lennard, economic partnership manager, London Gatwick, shared an update on the Airport’s Northern Runway DCO Scheme.
Richard Lennard, economic partnership manager, London Gatwick: “Crawley is our home, allowing us access to a brilliant, diverse and talented community of people. Crawley is vital to the success of the airport, as we are vital to the success of Crawley.”
The airport contributes £861m to Crawley’s economy and supports nearly 12,000 jobs – around a quarter of its workforce last year were Crawley residents.
London Gatwick is planning to grow to 80 million passengers a year, supporting the creation of 14,000 new jobs and contributing an additional £1bn annually to the economy, through its Northern Runway scheme expansion scheme.
Joining Richard on a discussion regarding the additional runway were Steve Sawyer, Executive Director, Manor Royal BID; Caroline Milton, Partner – Audit & Assurance, Menzies LLP; Kevin McNulty, Group Strategy Director, ITS; and Fiona Anderson, Innovation Director, Oxford Innovation.
Caroline Milton, Partner – Audit & Assurance, Menzies LLP: “Our business recently relocated to Crawley and I really genuinely have been blown away with the business community spirit. We can see the economic benefits of moving to this area with a lot of good connectivity to London and other regions. It’s over delivered for us, and that has been brilliant.”
Launch of the Crawley Town Centre East Regeneration Plan
The conference saw the launch of the draft Town Centre East Regeneration Plan; focused on key areas around the former Town Hall, Crawley College, Queensway and The Boulevard. The draft plan sets out a long-term vision for how these sites and surrounding spaces could be improved over time. Speakers included Lynn Hainge, Economic Regeneration Manager, Crawley Borough Council, Giulia Robba, Director, Farrells and Daniel Collins, Head of English Regions and Wales, Director of Economics, Iceni.
The speakers were joined by Nick Burrell, Strategic Economic Growth Manager, West Sussex County Council, and Jon Rollings, Chief Operating Officer, Chichester College Group.
Daniel Collins, Head of English Regions, Director of Economics, Iceni, said: “I think one of the key things is public and private partnership and support, and I think what I’ve been really impressed with today is the range of people that we’ve got in the room, and the public sector presenting a united front in terms of all the growth that they want to see.”
Giulia Robba, Director, Farrells, said: “My ask for all of you is to believe in the vision…It’s not fixed. It’s flexible. It’s here to be delivered together, so believe in it, invest in it, and contribute to it, and Crawley will have a beautiful regeneration plan.”
Residents, businesses and visitors are invited to comment on the draft plan. You can find out more and have your say on the future of Town Centre East on our consultation page: https://investcrawley.co.uk/consultation/2026/have-your-say-future-town-centre-east
The last panel was Skills for the Future: Connecting Crawley to opportunity with Paul Rolfe, Associate Principal, Employers and Stakeholders, Chichester College Group; Zubin Masters, Director, Bond Bryan; and Guy Hannell, Area Director, Morgan Sindall Construction. They explored how Crawley is transforming its workforce skills development, with the Sussex and Surrey Innovation of Technology leading the charge.
Key messages included:
– The need for training new entrants and upskilling existing workers in construction skills
– Secondary education should be preparing students for the world of work
– Landmark buildings could be a tool for learning
– The importance of businesses engaging and education partnerships
Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority shares their plan
The closing keynote was delivered by Steve Skelton, Executive Strategy & Innovation Lead for the new Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority, rounding off the morning. The new Strategic Authority is now operational, representing West Sussex, East Sussex, and Brighton, and will coordinate across local boundaries to drive regional growth.
Key messages:
– An initial investment fund of over £1 billion over 30 years is available, with some funding accessible pre the 2028 mayoral election to kickstart impactful projects
– Crawley is recognised as a key economic hub, with high economic density and significant potential
– The authority will focus on devolved powers in key areas: skills and employment, public transport, business support, and housing and spatial planning
– A new long-term Prosperity Strategy for Sussex and Brighton is being developed, with stakeholder engagement planned throughout 2026, aiming for a draft by autumn and finalisation early next year
During lunch, delegates had the opportunity to discuss the Town Centre East Regeneration Plan with council officers and meet the planning team. An afternoon investor tour led by Adam Godfrey, Partner, SHW Property, transported conference attendees to key development and opportunity sites on Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus. The event concluded with a drinks reception at the Sussex and Surrey Institute of Technology.
Learn more about the current opportunities in Crawley through the Investment Prospectus: https://investcrawley.co.uk/news/2026/new-invest-crawley-prospectus-launched
Invest Crawley’s event partners for 2026 include:
Bond Bryan
Crawley Borough Council
Chichester College Group
Gatwick Diamond Business
London Gatwick
HDS Architects
ITS technology group
Manor Royal BID
Metrobus
Morgan Sindall Construction
Oander
SHW
Sussex and Brighton Strategic Authority
Gatwick Region at UKREiiF
Sussex & Surrey Institute of Technology