Crawley Invest Conference: A Glimpse into a Thriving Future
It’s hard to believe it’s been over a month since I attended the Crawley Invest Conference. After letting the experience settle, I wanted to take the time to share some reflections and why I believe Crawley’s future is shaping up to be something special.
I spent my youth going to Crawley for shopping and leisure so it was amazing to be in this room which had a real sense of ambition and pride. Crawley has long been known for its connectivity between London, Brighton, and Gatwick but it was clear that the town isn’t resting on its laurels. With a £6 billion economy, 103,000 jobs, and 26% of West Sussex’s GDP attributed to it, Crawley is already a powerhouse. Now, it’s setting its sights even higher which was hugely encouraging.
Major investment programmes, like the £75 million Crawley Growth Programme and the £120 million infrastructure and housing upgrades, are paving the way for a sustainable, digitally-driven future. The aim? To become a green digital town by 2050, with all the challenges (and opportunities) that entails.
One highlight for me was hearing from major employers such as Elekta, a pioneering medical tech manufacturer that’s been operating in Crawley since the 1960s. Their Crawley site is now carbon neutral, and their commitment to local talent shows what’s possible when businesses invest deeply in their communities.
I was also fascinated by the innovation brewing locally. We heard from Christophe Williams, Director at Naked Energy’s work on high-density solar technology is a glimpse of the green future Crawley hopes to lead. With £30 million already raised and ambitious plans for a new Innovation Centre hub, it’s clear that the town isn’t just planning for the future, it’s building it.
Another key theme that resonated with me was infrastructure and skills that would take off (excuse the pun) in the area as London Gatwick looks to the future. With their plans for a £2 billion capital programme aiming for net zero by 2030 , reinforcing the strategic importance of this region just made a lot of sense. Gatwick alone supports thousands of local jobs, with more to come if its Northern Runway project moves ahead.
My Big Takeaway
What stood out most personally to me was a comment made by a local developer and infrastructure company leader during a 1-2-1 conversation. When I explained my role (and passion) for my business at Current Utilities helping businesses navigate utilities and procurement through my partners Full Power, he said something that has stayed with me:
“Not enough is said about good energy procurement.”
And he’s right.
In all the excitement about new builds, innovation hubs, and investment figures, the quiet but critical work of ensuring services, contracts, and infrastructures are procured properly often goes unnoticed. Yet good procurement underpins everything. From keeping costs sustainable, to ensuring projects deliver long-term value for the community. It’s a reminder that as we build bigger and better, we must also build smarter.
Final Thoughts
As Crawley and surrounding areas continue to scale up and be supported by business initiatives such as the the Manor Royal BID and the Crawley Chamber of Commerce getting the fundamentals right is crucial. From energy procurement to infrastructure planning, it all makes a difference.
So, if you’re a local business, business developer, or organisation in the area looking to ensure your utilities are aligned with your growth plans, I’d be happy to have a conversation. From data driven metering to working with the right supplier for your sector, it’s all about getting it right, and with honesty and integrity.
Good procurement might not always make the headlines, but it’s often what keeps the bigger ambitions moving forward.
Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to explore how myself and the corporate team at Full Power can support you. Sally@currentutilities.co.uk or find me on LinkedIn