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Graduate careers in Brighton

Photograph of Brighton

Brighton is one of the trendiest cities in the UK. Sandwiched between the sea and the South Downs its popularity has rocketed in the last few years due to its 'anything goes' reputation.

Constant development in the town centre has created a thriving, fun yet comfortable atmosphere for students and graduates alike. It has an eventful arts and media scene - each year the Brighton Festival showcases hundreds of performances, exhibitions and parades to mark the city's commitment to artistic development. As such, Brighton is an excellent place to begin if you want to pursue a career in media but there is also a lot of competition for jobs.

Many people who live in Brighton commute to London, although making the journey on a daily basis can be a real drag. Some Brightonians choose to work in other towns in Sussex, such as Hove, Horsham, Crawley, Shoreham and Lewes. Brighton hosts nationally known names in business as well as smaller companies, so there are plenty of options to suit your tastes.

Further information

For more information on what life in Brighton is like, see the VisitBrighton website www.visitbrighton.com which has in-depth guides to Brighton and the surrounding area as well as detailed listings of events and entertainment in the area.

In and around Brighton | Drink at... | Dance at... | Eat at... | Shop at... | The cost of living in Brighton | Getting work in the Brighton area

In and around Brighton

It is impossible to efficiently summarise all of Brighton's attractions but it can be said that the seafront is one of the most interesting. The haunting skeleton of the west pier symbolises the unusual and artistic nature of the city, while the fun rides and arcades of the palace pier represent the more carefree and fun side, where the candyfloss and crazy golf will take you back to your childhood.

Music and entertainment adorn the streets of Brighton at weekends and the beach is always full of people who have braved the pebbles to relax in front of the sea and watch the goings-on of the city. Up on the Downs you can hang-glide or mountain bike if you're after some action and adventure or for a more conservative day out you can tour the fascinating interior of the Royal Pavillion.

There are few commercial chain clubs or bars in Brighton but this only means that there are plenty of unique smaller venues to choose from.

Drink at...

  • Alicats: Underground cellar in the south Laines with great happy hour prices on weekdays.
  • Smugglers: Seven pool tables for fans of the game. Recently refurbished, the deceitfully tiny exterior opens into a huge pub.
  • Doctor Brightons: This is one of Brighton's more famous gay pubs but anyone is welcome.

Dance at...

  • Audio: This club is ideal for the avid music-lover, playing anything from urban beats to jazz or electro rock.
  • Funky Buddha Lounge: A tiny club right on the seafront with a fantastic student night on a Thursday and reasonable prices.
  • Honey Club: With three bars and two rooms, this quirky little club is different every night of the week and offers something for all.

Eat at...

  • Kensingtons: Above the shops of Kensington Street in the north Laines this place is well hidden but very cheap.
  • Puccinos: Be amused by the scribbles on the wall in this queer little café. Great hot chocolate and a delicious menu.
  • Komedia: The best comedy club in Brighton, which also offers a varied and reasonable menu with a Mexican twang.

Shop at...

  • Churchill Square: All the high street shops are situated in and around this shopping centre.
  • The Laines: Hundreds of individual shops for all sorts of unique gifts, clothing, furniture, decor and bric-a-brac.
  • The seafront: Here you can find art studios, tourist shops and water-sports equipment providers.

The cost of living in Brighton

Although living in Brighton is cheaper than living in London, it is still one of the most expensive places in the country. New property is being developed and the old improved throughout the city but its geography does not allow for much expansion. As the demand for housing increases in the next few years, so the price of accommodation is likely to increase as well.

As with other cities and towns in the south east the high cost of living means that recent graduates will often continue to share accommodation for a few more years before they can look at buying or renting independently.

These are some simple pointers for finding accommodation in the Brighton area:

  • www.accommodationforstudents.com and www.homesforstudents.co.uk are sites that have good search engines for finding properties in your chosen area. www.accommodationforstudents.com also provides a comprehensive list of local letting agents and landlords.
  • The Argus is a local newspaper with listings of properties available for rent in the Brighton area.
  • Kendrick Property Services and Peaceproperty Ltd both specialise in student letting but properties are snapped up quickly so you will need to check daily. MTM Property Services Limited has an excellent database of houses divided into the number of bedrooms on offer, as well as single room renting.

Getting work in the Brighton area

Past advertisements have seen some interesting positions advertised in Brighton, such as working for a company that organises stag and hen weekends for a selection of the many parties that visit from all over the country.

Positions are often available in the city's tourism sector but you'll find that there is competition for most jobs due to the popularity of the city. However, administrative positions frequently arise and can be a good starting point for working your way up within a company. Applying through temping agencies or following up ads for secretarial roles can seem menial but these kinds of jobs can help you get your foot in the door, develop contacts and improve your chances of further training and promotion.

If you want to pursue the Brighton trend for creativity then Artyfacts is a local newsletter that carries advertisements and job vacancies for artists and designers. This can be bought through the University of Brighton's website, which is also worth a look for its vacancy bulletins targeted at graduates looking to work in the Brighton area and beyond. The University of Sussex offers something similar at www.sussex.ac.uk.

The following is a list of employers that have advertised for graduates on the university web pages and local websites. Please note that these companies may not be currently recruiting, their names have been provided as a guideline to the type of work available and what areas to look in.

  • Babel Media: (software engineering, Brighton)
  • The Priory Partnership: (PR, Brighton)
  • Trusted Media: (project design, Hove, adjacent to Brighton)
  • Stelfox UK Ltd: (recruitment, Brighton)
  • Fleet Tutors: (tutoring, Brighton)
  • Doosan Babcock: (environmental engineering, Crawley, 40 minute drive)
  • Wildwood Public Relations: (PR, Horsham, 30 minute drive)
  • Mezars: (accountancy, Brighton)
  • GMC Publications: (publishing, Lewes, 30 minute drive)
  • Blue Design & Marketing Ltd: (design and marketing, Hove, adjacent to Brighton)

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