West Sussex Music

What West Sussex Music does

West Sussex Music is the designated Music Education Hub for West Sussex, operating as a registered charity (West Sussex Music Trust, charity number 1152703, company number 8524556) under the national Music Education Hub programme funded by the Department for Education and Arts Council England. The organisation delivers instrumental and vocal tuition, ensemble and orchestral programmes, whole-class instrumental lessons in schools, SEND-inclusive provision, holiday activity workshops, and instrument hire to more than 34,000 children and young people annually across the county. Its service portfolio spans individual and small-group lessons across brass, drums, percussion, guitar, keyboard, piano, singing, strings, theory, and woodwind; structured ensemble pathways including the Tomorrow's Orchestra Programme (TOP), Music Centres, Youth Orchestras & Choirs, DrumLab, and Play In A Band rock/pop bands; and dedicated SEND provision through Orchestras Inc. Flagship cultural partnerships with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Ballet and Opera, Glyndebourne, The Sixteen, English Touring Opera, and Chichester Festival Theatre provide premium performance and workshop opportunities.

The underlying technology stack is deliberately lightweight: remote lessons are delivered via Microsoft Teams and Zoom video conferencing, and the Digital Badges product provides credentialing for workshop completions. There is no proprietary software platform; the organisation's digital infrastructure is essentially website-led marketing (with online booking and donations via westsussexmusic.co.uk) supplemented by social channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube) and Mailchimp newsletters for schools, primary, and secondary audiences. Operational delivery is anchored in physical music centre venues at Crawley (The Mill Primary Academy), Bognor Regis (The Phoenix Centre), Worthing (Bohunt School and Northbrook College), and Slindon College.

West Sussex Music operates a hybrid revenue model combining recurring termly fees with public grant funding and ancillary commercial streams. Music Centre memberships are priced at £78 (single activity), £125 (two activities), and £160 (three or more) per term; holiday activity workshops are £39 per day; and a Youth Choir Summer Course is £85 for two days. Individual lesson fees operate on per-term or per-lesson pricing, while instrument hire is structured as a recurring subscription. A Bursary Fund underwrites accessibility, providing free places for pupils in receipt of free school meals, those in care, and refugees, plus half-price access for other state benefit recipients. The majority of school-based delivery is free or highly subsidised through DfE and Arts Council England national music hub funding, making the charity economically dependent on continued government policy support for music education hubs in England.

Name

West Sussex Music

Legal name

West Sussex Music Trust

Website

https://westsussexmusic.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

West Sussex Music is a registered charity and the designated Music Education Hub for West Sussex, delivering instrumental and vocal tuition, ensembles, school partnerships, and SEND-inclusive music programmes to more than 34,000 children annually across the county.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

Keywords

• Music education services
• Instrumental and vocal lessons
• Youth ensemble programmes
• Musical instrument hire
• School music programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Horsham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Music Centre Memberships: Termly membership fees for music centre activities including orchestras, choirs, bands, and ensembles. Membership includes one activity with options for multiple activities at discounted rates.
2. Holiday Activity Programmes: Day rates for holiday workshops including Play In A Band, Rap & Music Production, and other music courses during school holidays. Subsidised and free places available for eligible families.
3. Instrument Hire: Instrument rental services providing basses, guitars, saxophones, cellos, and other musical instruments at low cost to students.
4. Individual Lessons: Per-term or per-lesson fees for individual and small group instrumental and vocal lessons.
5. Public Funding: Funded by Department for Education national music hub funding and Arts Council England, enabling free or highly subsidised activities for schools and children.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

West Sussex Music delivers music education services to children and young people across West Sussex through individual and group instrumental and vocal lessons, ensemble programmes (youth orchestras, choirs, music centres, rock bands, SEND inclusive ensembles), school-based classroom and whole-class instrumental programmes, instrument hire, and holiday activity courses. It is the designated Music Education Hub for the county, funded by the Department for Education and Arts Council England, and works with more than 34,000 children annually.

Product overview

West Sussex Music is a music education charity (company number 8524556, charity number 1152703) providing high quality inclusive music education across West Sussex. The organisation operates a multi-component offering including individual and group music lessons (brass, drums, guitar, keyboard, piano, singing, strings, theory, woodwind), ensemble programmes (West Sussex Youth Orchestras & Choirs, Music Centres, Choirs, Rock bands), specialised inclusive SEND provision (Orchestras Inc.), advanced training (Tomorrow's Orchestra Programme), holiday activity courses (Play In A Band, Rap & Music Production, Youth Choir Summer Course), instrument hire services, and school-based programmes (Classroom Instrumental Lessons, whole class lessons, singing programmes, CPD training). The portfolio includes digital credentials (Digital Badges) and a Bursary Fund for financial assistance. Working with over 34,000 children annually, the organisation is funded through public funding from the Department for Education and Arts Council England.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Music Lessons Individual and small group instrumental and vocal lessons covering brass, drums and percussion, guitar, keyboard and piano, singing, strings, theory, and woodwind instruments for children and young people in West Sussex, delivered at music centres and online via Teams/Zoom.
• West Sussex Music Centres Termly membership-based local music centres (Crawley, Bognor Regis, Worthing - Bohunt School, Worthing - Northbrook College) providing regular ensemble sessions, orchestras, choirs, bands, and group learning opportunities for young people.
• West Sussex Youth Orchestras & Choirs Portfolio of county-level youth ensembles including orchestras and choirs providing performance opportunities for young musicians across West Sussex.
• Instrument Hire Low-cost rental of musical instruments (from bassoons to guitars, saxophones to cellos) for children and young people undertaking music lessons.
• Holiday Activities School holiday day-rate workshops including Play In A Band, Rap & Music Production, and other music courses for children and young people, with subsidised and free places available for eligible families.
• Play In A Band Rock and pop band programme where students learn to collaborate, develop song arrangements, stage presence, and live performance techniques while forming their own bands.
• Youth Choir Summer Course Two-day inspirational singing workshop programme for young people aged 13-18 held at Slindon College, culminating in a public concert.
• Orchestras Inc. Inclusive SEND ensemble programme providing music-making opportunities for children and young people with additional needs, including those attending special schools, mainstream schools with additional needs, and home-schooled students.
• Tomorrow's Orchestra Programme (TOP) Advanced orchestral development programme for young musicians offering intensive training and performance opportunities.
• DrumLab Specialised percussion and drum kit learning programme offering group sessions for drummers and percussionists.
• School Services Programmes delivered to schools including Classroom Instrumental Lessons (CIL), whole class instrumental lessons, singing programmes, CPD and training for teachers, and extra-curricular activities.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• West Sussex County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking in partnership with West Sussex County Council to deliver music education services across the county. West Sussex County Council supports the Creative County West Sussex initiative.
• London Philharmonic OrchestraflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering LPO Overture Days - free orchestral skills days for young people aged 10-15 playing at Grade 3-8 standard. Participants play alongside LPO musicians and learn about professional orchestra operations.
• Royal Philharmonic OrchestraflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering RPO Creative Workshop for SEND - free creative music workshops where children and young people make music with members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Royal Ballet and OperaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership delivering Royal Ballet and Opera 'Create and Sing' CPD programme - award-winning singing and performance programme for schools.
• GlyndebourneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership with Glyndebourne opera house for music education opportunities.
• The SixteenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with The Sixteen classical music ensemble for educational performances and workshops.
• English Touring OperaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with English Touring Opera for opera and music education experiences.
• Chichester Festival TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Chichester Festival Theatre for performance venues and cultural events.
• Worthing Symphony OrchestraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cultural partnership with Worthing Symphony Orchestra for music education and performance opportunities.
• Ovation MusicminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChichester-based music hub partner providing music and performance opportunities to children and young people, working together for the Ovation Rock Show events.
• Ensemble RezaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal ensemble partnership for music education and performance collaborations.
• Sussex Music HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated music education hub network across Sussex for regional music education coordination.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Music Mark: UK membership body representing Music Education Hubs and music services nationally. Provides sector coordination, advocacy, and CPD — overlaps with West Sussex Music's strategic positioning within the national hub ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Kent Music: Music education charity and designated Hub for Kent, offering individual lessons, ensembles, and whole-class programmes. Operates a near-identical model to West Sussex Music across an adjacent South East county.
• Hampshire Music Service: Designated Music Education Hub for Hampshire, providing instrumental tuition, ensembles, and school partnerships on a similar county-wide charity model. The most directly comparable peer to West Sussex Music in scope, governance structure, and funding model.
• Hertfordshire Music Service: One of the largest UK Music Education Hubs, delivering instrumental tuition and ensemble programmes county-wide. Highly comparable in operating model, scale ambition, and reliance on DfE/ACE funding.
• Berkshire Maestros: Charitable music education hub serving Berkshire with lessons, ensembles, and school partnerships. Closely mirrors the West Sussex Music service mix and operates on a similar subscription/grant funding blend.
• Tri-borough Music Hub (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea): Music Education Hub serving central London boroughs. Directly comparable in hub-designation model, school partnerships, and ensemble programming, although serving an urban rather than county footprint.
• Sussex Music Hub: Regional hub coordination body across Sussex, of which West Sussex Music is a core partner. Comparable network-coordination role and aligned strategic objectives with West Sussex Music.

Emerging players

• Future Talent: UK charity supporting musically gifted young people from low-income backgrounds. Partial overlap in target demographic (children/young musicians) and bursary funding model, though narrower focus on high-potential individuals.
• Awards for Young Musicians: UK charity providing financial and development support to young musicians. Adjacent mission to West Sussex Music's bursary programme and inclusive provision, though focused on individual grants rather than direct tuition delivery.

Regional players

• Bristol Plays Music: Music education hub serving Bristol. Comparable in service mix (lessons, ensembles, school partnerships) but operating in a distinct geographic region from West Sussex Music.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzIiRUIrqEfTrYHGpBKFJjQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/WestSussexMusic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-sussex-music-trust
• Instagraminstagram.com/westsussexmusic
• Xx.com/westsussexmusic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 West Sussex Music