Sussex Bay®

What Sussex Bay® does

Sussex Bay is a non-profit regional partnership programme, established around 2022 and operational by 2024, hosted by Adur & Worthing Councils under UK local-government governance. It coordinates nature recovery, blue economy development and community participation across 100 miles of Sussex coastline from Selsey Bill to Camber Sands, including intertidal river systems and marine area out to 12 nautical miles, serving a region of 1.7 million residents within a £51.75bn economy that includes more than 74,000 businesses. The trademark Sussex Bay® and logo are owned by Adur & Worthing Councils, which also provide governance, financial and democratic oversight.

The programme operates as an interconnected portfolio rather than a unified software product. The Blue Natural Capital Lab is the funding vehicle and the UK's first such initiative for testing marine restoration financing models; the Blueprint for Seascape Recovery provides the evidence-led shared framework and serves as the voluntary marine extension to Sussex's two Local Nature Recovery Strategies; the Sussex Bay Alliance is the developing network of businesses, communities and schools; the emerging Centre for the Blue Economy connects universities, colleges, ports and businesses around marine innovation and skills; Sussex Bay Champions is a volunteer network launching in 2026; and Meaningful Futures CIC is a place-based leadership and work-experience programme for 14-24 year-olds funded from Spring 2026. A 2026-2031 Delivery Plan links habitat recovery, investment, participation and practical delivery.

Revenue is derived almost entirely from grants and donations rather than commercial sales. The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is the primary funder enabling the Lab and Blueprint, with The Crown Estate, Rewilding Britain and other philanthropic sources providing additional support, and the public contributing via a Crowdfunder campaign for restoration projects. A core team of approximately six (Founder/Head Dean Spears, Seascape Research Led Delivery Lead Dr Lewis White, a part-time project coordinator and named consultant collaborators) is supplemented by a ten-person Voluntary Strategic Advisory Group, with all activities, events and volunteering offered free to participants.

Name

Sussex Bay®

Legal name

Sussex Bay (programme hosted by Adur & Worthing Councils)

Website

https://sussexbay.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sussex Bay is a non-profit regional partnership hosted by Adur & Worthing Councils that coordinates nature recovery, community participation and blue economy development across 100 miles of Sussex coastline, funded by foundations, donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Conservation and Blue Economy Development

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPADALAI

Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Climate, Environment & Sustainable Development Programs

SECONDARYEUAMANAM

Offshore Wind & Marine Spatial Planning Regulation

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro & Geothermal)/Policy & Regulatory Consulting for Renewables

Keywords

• Marine conservation
• Coastal restoration
• Blue economy
• Blue natural capital
• Nature recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Sussex

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. External Funding and Grants: Sussex Bay is an externally funded programme hosted by Adur & Worthing Councils. It does not receive public funding through Council Tax or other taxation. The organization operates with support from funders including the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and other high integrity funders. The Blue Natural Capital Lab funds the Blueprint for Seascape Recovery. Revenue is derived from grants, donations, and collaborative funding rather than commercial product/service sales.
2. Donations and Crowdfunder: The organization accepts donations through Crowdfunder campaigns for specific projects. Public donations support restoration initiatives and community programmes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sussex Bay is a regional partnership programme that coordinates nature conservation, marine habitat restoration and blue economy development across 100 miles of Sussex coastline (Selsey Bill to Camber Sands). It delivers work through programmes such as the UK Blue Natural Capital Lab, the Blueprint for Seascape Recovery, the Sussex Bay Alliance, the emerging Centre for the Blue Economy, Sussex Bay Champions and Meaningful Futures. Its services include funding facilitation for marine restoration projects, evidence-led strategic planning, community participation, skills pathways, and convening partners across local government, universities, ports, businesses, NGOs and communities.

Product overview

Sussex Bay is a regional partnership organization (not a unified software product) focused on nature conservation and shoreline restoration across 100 miles of Sussex coastline. Its portfolio consists of interconnected programs: the Blue Natural Capital Lab serves as the funding vehicle; the Blueprint for Seascape Recovery provides the strategic evidence base; the Sussex Bay Alliance mobilizes business and community participation; the emerging Centre for the Blue Economy drives economic development; Sussex Bay Champions enables grassroots engagement; and the Delivery Plan coordinates implementation. The organization does not offer a software platform or technical product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UK Blue Natural Capital Lab: The UK's first Blue Natural Capital Lab - a collaborative initiative testing new ways to fund and deliver marine restoration projects.
• Blueprint for Seascape Recovery
• Sussex Bay Alliance (SBA)
• Centre for the Blue Economy

Products and services

• UK Blue Natural Capital Lab The UK's first Blue Natural Capital Lab, which tests new ways to fund and deliver marine restoration projects by bringing together communities, regulators, researchers, project partners and potential funders to explore better seascape planning, funding and project development. The Lab pays for all of Sussex Bay's work.
• Blueprint for Seascape Recovery A regional blueprint that brings together evidence, expertise and lived experience to understand the Sussex seascape, the pressures it faces and the opportunities for recovery. It forms the voluntary marine extension to the two Local Nature Recovery Strategies covering Sussex.
• Sussex Bay Alliance A developing free membership network of businesses, communities and schools working together to drive positive change for nature, people and the economy through practical action for nature recovery across the Sussex coastline.
• Centre for the Blue Economy An emerging partnership bringing together universities, colleges, ports, businesses and public partners to connect marine innovation, skills, infrastructure, investment and nature-positive growth across the Sussex region.
• Sussex Bay Champions A network of local volunteers who act as friendly links between communities, partners and the coast, helping share knowledge, spark ideas and inspire collective action for a healthier marine environment across the Sussex Bay region.
• Meaningful Futures A place-based leadership and work experience programme connecting young people with employers, skills, experience and future careers in the blue economy, developed with colleges, employers and community organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• £13.33 economic value generated per £1 invested in previous coastal innovation programmes in West Sussex
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Meaningful Futures CICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Place-based leadership and work experience programme; funded partnership (Spring 2026) connecting young people aged 14-24 with employers, projects and careers shaping the future of Sussex Bay coast; developed by Sussex Bay, colleges, employers and community organisations
• Adur & Worthing CouncilscoreOthersHost organisation for Sussex Bay programme. Provides governance, financial and democratic decision-making arrangements. Owns the Sussex Bay trademark.
• Shoreham PortcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnchor of the Centre for the Blue Economy; working trust port with Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan; home to Shoreham Port Industrial Cluster supporting 200+ businesses and 1,600+ direct jobs; live environment for testing and deploying innovation
• University of BrightoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for applied research, environmental science, community engagement, health, design and place-based innovation; hosts PhD researcher overseeing science aspects of artificial reef at Shoreham Port
• University of ChichestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey strategic partner and lead university in development of Centre for the Blue Economy; connects marine science, business clustering, culture, education and investment to unlock blue economy potential
• University of SussexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImportant role in marine research and evidence-led nature recovery; Dr Valentina Scarponi leads marine monitoring for Sussex Kelp Recovery Project; established dedicated Kelp Lab for research
• Chichester College GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in Centre for the Blue Economy; enrols around 25,000 learners annually including 3,000+ apprentices; invested £29.2 million in STEM and technical facilities aligned to clean growth and digital sectors; key for skills and workforce pathways
• Arun District CouncilsupportingOthersLocal authority partner in the Centre for the Blue Economy development
• West Sussex County CouncilsupportingOthersLocal authority partner in the Centre for the Blue Economy development
• Sussex and Brighton Strategic AuthoritysupportingOthersStrategic authority partner in Centre for the Blue Economy development
• Connected Places CatapultsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation partner in Centre for the Blue Economy; bringing expertise in connected places and innovation deployment
• National Oceanography CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner providing marine science expertise and evidence-led approaches to nature recovery
• Rewilding BritainsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organisation partner in nature recovery network
• Environment AgencysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory partner working on environmental protection and nature recovery
• Harbour OysterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarine conservation organisation founded by Lottie and Poppy Johns; partners on native oyster restoration at Littlehampton Harbour using Ostrea edulis to improve water quality, enhance biodiversity and restore lost marine habitats
• Littlehampton Harbour BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in oyster restoration project at Littlehampton Harbour; provides licensing and operational support for marine habitat restoration
• Sussex Nature PartnershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Blueprint for Seascape Recovery workshops and Local Nature Recovery Strategies integration
• Always PossiblesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity engagement consultancy commissioned in late 2024 to work with over 200 community members across the region to inform ongoing engagement and participation work; engagement report submitted April 2025
• Sussex UnderwatersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in community engagement report editing (Amy Carey); underwater photography and marine documentation
• Boxless BCorpsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSussex-based B Corp partner in completing independent Regional Inclusion Maturity Assessment for local authority landscape between Selsey Bill and Camber Sands
• Brighton MET CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in pilot work connecting younger people with employers and real-world projects
• Northbrook CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in pilot work connecting younger people with employers and real-world projects
• BHASVICsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurther education partner in pilot work connecting younger people with employers and real-world projects

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: A partnership organisation coordinating nature recovery, sustainable development and community engagement across a defined coastal region. Comparable as a similarly structured, regionally scoped coastal partnership mobilising multiple stakeholders around marine and terrestrial ecosystem recovery.
• Rewilding Britain: National rewilding charity promoting large-scale nature recovery across UK landscapes and seascapes. Directly comparable as Sussex Bay is an existing partner; both pursue ecosystem-scale restoration with a mix of science, community and funder engagement.
• Sussex Wildlife Trust: The county-level wildlife trust operating across Sussex, focused on local nature recovery, land and marine habitat management, and community engagement. Directly comparable as a regionally-scoped conservation organisation working in the same geography and overlapping ecosystem-restoration agenda.
• Marine Conservation Society: UK-wide marine conservation charity focused on ocean recovery, marine protected areas, sustainable fisheries and citizen science. Comparable as a marine-focused conservation organisation seeking to influence policy and mobilise public participation around UK marine restoration.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust: Major UK conservation charity managing significant coastal and marine-adjacent landholdings with public engagement programmes. Comparable as a broader incumbent with coast-focused projects, substantial funding base, and national-scale brand comparable to where Sussex Bay aspires to operate.
• RSPB: UK's largest nature conservation charity, operating nature reserves and policy advocacy across terrestrial and marine habitats. Comparable as a broad incumbent with established fundraising scale, brand recognition and policy influence that dwarf Sussex Bay's regional programme.
• The Wildlife Trusts: UK federation of 46 local wildlife trusts covering terrestrial and marine conservation. Comparable as the broader incumbent umbrella for county-level trusts like Sussex Wildlife Trust, providing national campaigns, brand reach and policy influence that Sussex Bay cannot match independently.

Others

• Natural England: UK government's statutory advisor on the natural environment, including marine conservation zones and Local Nature Recovery Strategies. Comparable as the upstream regulatory and policy body whose frameworks (LNRS) Sussex Bay's Blueprint is designed to extend.

Regional players

• Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority: Statutory authority managing a UK national park with extensive marine and coastal habitats. Comparable as a coastal-focused public body combining conservation, community engagement and marine spatial planning responsibilities in a defined region.
• Kent Wildlife Trust: County wildlife trust covering Kent, including significant coastline along the Thames Estuary and English Channel. Comparable as a neighbouring regional conservation organisation with overlapping marine and coastal habitat priorities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sussex-bay
• TikToktiktok.com/@sussexbay

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Sussex Bay®