Coast to Capital

What Coast to Capital does

Coast to Capital is an economic development consultancy headquartered in Brighton, United Kingdom, operating as a not-for-profit private limited company (Coast to Capital Limited, Company No. 08166412). Founded in 2011 and incorporated in 2012 as the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Lewes District, East Surrey and Croydon, the organisation transitioned to independent status in 2021 and continues to deliver regional economic development services across the South East. It serves three primary customer segments — local authorities, businesses (SME to enterprise), and public sector partners — addressing pain points around limited in-house economic development expertise, complex funding acquisition, and project delivery compliance.

The company's core offering is a portfolio of nine interconnected consultancy services: Funding Search & Bid Writing; Project Management & Monitoring; Economic Development & Strategy; Investment Plans & Business Cases; Research, Data & Analysis; Convenorship & Advocacy; Grant & Loan Scheme Setup; Property & Regeneration; and Business Support. The Property & Regeneration service is differentiated by proprietary spatial analysis software that produces 3D architectural capacity and massing studies combined with development appraisals, overlaid on satellite imagery in context with surrounding buildings. Pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed; engagements are multi-year contracts with local authorities, businesses and public sector partners. Distribution is relationship-led through direct consultancy engagements across the South East, complemented by a content-marketing website (coast2capital.org.uk), email marketing via MailChimp, and social presence on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

The business model mixes professional services (consultancy fees from local authorities and enterprise clients such as Gatwick Airport and The Jockey Club) and managed services (administration of a £275m Local Growth Deal portfolio comprising more than 90 projects, including UKSPF programme management for multiple councils). To date the organisation claims to have attracted more than £300m of public investment into the region, supported 18,845 businesses, delivered 9,000 new and safeguarded jobs, 227,523 m² of commercial floor space, over 4,500 residential units, around 1,000 new apprenticeships, and over 6,500 learners. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 band with a senior-professional lean.

Name

Coast to Capital

Legal name

Coast to Capital Limited

Website

https://coast2capital.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Coast to Capital is a UK not-for-profit economic development consultancy headquartered in Brighton, delivering funding acquisition, project management, economic strategy, property/regeneration and business support services to local authorities, businesses and public sector partners across the South East of England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Consultancy

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Public Finance Activities (92113)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Asset & Investment Management (BPAIAEAG), Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG), Infrastructure & Project Finance Advisory (BPAHADAO)

Keywords

• Economic development consultancy
• Funding bid writing
• Grant programme management
• Spatial development appraisals
• Urban regeneration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Three Bridges

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Consultancy Services: Delivers expert support to local authorities, businesses and public sector partners. As a not-for-profit organisation with a commercial mindset, they provide services while being committed to making a positive, long-term impact.
2. Grant and Fund Management: Manages strategic investments through Local Growth Deal and Growing Places Fund. Successfully attracted more than £300million of public investment to upgrade regional infrastructure and invest in business growth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Coast to Capital is a not-for-profit economic development consultancy delivering nine advisory services to local authorities, businesses, and public sector partners: Funding Search & Bid Writing, Project Management & Monitoring, Economic Development & Strategy, Investment Plans & Business Cases, Research Data & Analysis, Convenorship & Advocacy, Grant & Loan Scheme Setup, Property & Regeneration (incorporating 3D spatial analysis software for development appraisals), and Business Support. The organisation also manages public investment programmes (Local Growth Deal, Growing Places Fund, UKSPF) on behalf of regional partners.

Product overview

Coast to Capital is a not-for-profit economic development consultancy with a commercial mindset, offering a portfolio of advisory services rather than a unified software product. The core service offering comprises nine interconnected consultancy services: Funding Search & Bid Writing, Project Management & Monitoring, Economic Development & Strategy, Investment Plans & Business Cases, Research Data & Analysis, Convenorship & Advocacy, Grant & Loan Scheme Setup, Property & Regeneration (which includes spatial analysis software for 3D development appraisals), and Business Support. These services are delivered to local authorities, businesses, and public sector partners to drive sustainable economic growth across the South East region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Funding Search & Bid Writing Comprehensive funding searches and persuasive bid writing to help clients identify and secure funding opportunities from various sources. Targeted at local authorities, businesses and public sector partners.
• Project Management & Monitoring Strategic planning, coordination and execution oversight driving successful project outcomes for local authorities, businesses and public sector partners.
• Economic Development & Strategy Delivery of impactful projects and programmes that unlock investment and drive sustainable economic growth and prosperity for regional partners.
• Investment Plans & Business Cases Building robust business cases for strategic, profitable investment decisions, including financial modelling and risk analysis for clients.
• Research, Data & Analysis Comprehensive research and data analysis services enabling informed decision-making using cutting-edge tools and methodologies, for local authorities and partners.
• Convenorship & Advocacy Service harnessing collective power through networks and collaboration, organising events and roundtables to advocate for change and progression across the South East.
• Grant & Loan Scheme Setup Setting up and managing grant and loan schemes with robust compliance procedures and tailored implementation for funders and administrators.
• Property & Regeneration Progressive property development and urban regeneration service including spatial analysis software for 3D architectural capacity studies and development appraisals, for local authorities and developers.
• Business Support Bespoke business engagement support including targeted engagement sessions, dedicated resource subscription, and access to specialist expert networks for organisations of all sizes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over £300m public investment attracted to the region
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Gatwick AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Coast to Capital led a consortium including Gatwick Airport, Crawley Borough Council, Manor Royal Business Improvement District and West Sussex County Council in submitting an innovative bid for a Gatwick Freeport in 2020.
• Crawley Borough CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Gatwick Freeport bid consortium; recipient of Local Growth Funding for Crawley Growth Programme (£14.6m)
• Manor Royal Business Improvement DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Gatwick Freeport bid consortium led by Coast to Capital
• West Sussex County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Gatwick Freeport bid consortium; delivery body for multiple Local Growth Deal projects including Burgess Hill Place and Connectivity (£10.9m) and Crawley Growth Programme (£14.6m)
• University of BrightoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery body for Advanced Engineering Centre project; received £7m Local Growth Funding with £7.9m match funding
• Brighton & Hove City CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery body for Brighton Circus Street regeneration (£2.7m), Royal Pavilion Estate (£3m), and Digital Catapult projects (£1.76m)
• RicardocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Brighton for Advanced Engineering Centre for low-carbon engine research; received funding for hybrid powertrain testing facility
• London Borough of CroydoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery body for Fairfield Halls refurbishment (£14.23m LGF) and Dearman Engine investment
• University of ChichestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery body for School of Nursing (£1.2m) and Engineering Digital Tech Park at Bognor Regis campus (£8m)
• Chichester CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivery body for Crawley College STEM building (£4.9m) to address local skills shortages

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Arup: Global engineering and consulting firm providing economic and place-based advisory services, including funding strategy and business case support to UK local authorities.
• WSP: International professional services firm offering economic development, planning and infrastructure advisory to UK public bodies — broader incumbent competing in adjacent project advisory.
• Grant Thornton UK LLP: Mid-tier advisory firm with public sector and economic development advisory teams that compete with C2C for council and regional body mandates across the UK.
• Mott MacDonald: Global engineering and development consultancy with a large UK economic development advisory practice that competes for LEP and council strategic advisory work, though much broader in scope.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consultancy with place-making and economic development capabilities competing for the same UK public sector mandates, albeit as part of a much wider portfolio.

Direct peers

• Amion Consulting: Manchester-based economic development consultancy offering economic research, strategy and funding support to LEPs, councils and combined authorities — a near-twin operating model.
• SQW Group: UK economic development consultancy providing research, evaluation and strategy services to LEPs, local authorities and government — directly comparable in customer base and service mix to Coast to Capital.
• Metro Dynamics: UK economic development consultancy focused on place-based growth strategy, funding and evaluation; comparable service portfolio and public sector client base.
• Steer (formerly Steer Davies Gleave): Economic and transport advisory firm providing economic impact analysis, business cases and strategy to public bodies — overlapping economic development advisory offering.
• Regeneris Consulting (part of Hatch): Economic development and regeneration consultancy advising on funding bids, business cases and impact assessments for UK public sector clients; operates in the same niche as Coast to Capital.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coast2capital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coast to Capital