Simon Pringle, CEO of Red River Software, took the stage at the Sussex Skills 2025 conference held at the American Express Stadium in Falmer this week, where business leaders, policymakers and educators came together to showcase progress on the Sussex Chamber of Commerce-led Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP).
Welcomed by Rose Read, Head of People and Culture at Brighton & Hove Albion football club, the conference celebrated the collaboration between employers, skills providers and wider stakeholders working to strengthen the region’s workforce and ensure businesses can access the skills they need to thrive.
As part of a diverse speaker line-up, Simon Pringle shared Red River’s experience of engaging with the LSIP and highlighted the tangible benefits of closer collaboration between businesses and training providers. He underlined how the initiative is helping companies like Red River identify the skills needed to future-proof their workforce, while also creating more opportunities for individuals across Sussex.
Speaking after his session, Simon Pringle said:
“The LSIP is not just a policy document, it’s a genuine framework for change. By bringing employers into the conversation and aligning training with real business needs, we can create a more agile, resilient and competitive Sussex economy. At Red River, we’ve seen first-hand how vital this collaboration is in developing the digital and creative skills our industry relies on. It’s a proud moment to see our systems be the power behind high-growth businesses here and around the world.
He add: “It was also great that the LSIP has contributed to the emergence of some agents of real change in the skills landscape in Sussex such as the digital boot camp company TechNative Digital.”
The event also heard from Richard Freeman who talked about the abundance of large and high-growth businesses we have in Sussex including some of Red River’s customers, as well as Jamie Zucker of Skills England on the role of employer voice in shaping skills policy and LSIP 2.0, and business leaders including Sarah Crush from Thakeham and Hayley Quinnell from The Flour Pot Bakery.
The day closed with forward-looking contributions from Peter Kyle, MP for Hove, and Mary Kemp, who explored the growing influence of artificial intelligence on the skills landscape.
Dan Shelley, from The East Kent College Group and compere for the event, praised the collective effort, he said:
“Only by working together can we change the system for the good of Sussex businesses, people and communities – let’s develop an even more dynamic LSIP that our new mayor can pick up and run with whoever is elected in May 2026!”
The Sussex Chamber of Commerce will now continue working with local employers and partners to build on the success of the LSIP.
