#3: “We Need To Be Hungry - We Need To Be Challenged”

Host: Richard Freeman Guest: Kyriakos Baxevanis – entrepreneur, systems thinker, and founder of Little Jasmine Therapies & Spa, Nostos restaurant, Nostos Catering, Be Well Live Well, and The Brighton Hive

This episode is brought to you in partnership with: Projects - Brighton’s home for better business. With two spaces in the heart of The Lanes, Projects offers flexible work space options, including coworking, offices, meeting and event spaces - all designed to bring people together to do their best work.

In this energetic third episode, Richard Freeman speaks to Kyriakos Baxevanis, a Greek-born entrepreneur who has spent the last 20 years building a portfolio of people-focused businesses across Brighton & Hove. From wellness and hospitality to housing and food systems, Kyriakos brings a systems lens to everything he does — and makes a compelling case for a more joined-up economic vision for Sussex.

Through stories of grit, failure, reinvention and growth, Kyriakos shares his personal journey from sleeping on a friend’s sofa to founding one of Brighton & Hove’s most dynamic business empires. 

Topics include:

• Why mindset is the first barrier to business growth

• What hospitality and wellbeing can teach us about economic ecosystems

• Why Brighton’s strengths are also its risks: space, talent, housing

• The need for hospitality corridors between Worthing, Eastbourne, Crawley and Chichester

• Why businesses need to share, not just scale

• Lessons from running social networking clubs and housing for staff

• How a future Sussex mayor could unlock new regional coordination

• The power of 'agglomeration' — and why we need it here

• What growth means

Economic strategy doesn't just start and end with inward investment and tech clusters. Kyriakos speaks candidly and passionately about why the region must think in systems for retail, hospitality and wellbeing - and why local businesses need incentives, tax cuts and an ambitious hunger in order to thrive.

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• Nostos – Kyriakos’ award-winning restaurant 👉 Nostos
• Help to Grow: Management – Government-backed programme Kyriakos references as a success 👉 Help to Grow - UK Government / University of Brighton
• The Economy of Hospitality: UK Hospitality Sector Report Industry insights into the impact of hospitality on regional economics 👉 UKHospitality.org.uk
• Brighton & Hove Economic Strategy (2024 - 2027) Highlights from the council’s approach to business growth and skills 👉 Brighton-hove.gov.uk
• Local Skills Improvement Plan (Sussex Chamber) Referenced in the episode as a regional skills planning framework 👉 Future Skills Sussex
• OECD: The Role of Wellbeing in Economic Development Relevant to Kyriakos’ vision for workplace wellbeing as part of growth 👉 Read the report
• The Big Fat Greek Networking Club Kyriakos’ monthly networking event for SMEs and local leaders 👉 More info

• Sussex And The City project hub Explore resources, blogs and events connected to this podcast and the wider public engagement programme. sussexandthecity.info

• Sussex And The City LinkedIn page

• Host: Richard Freeman

• Guest: Kyriakos Baxevanis

• Sound design / editing / original music: Chris Thorpe-Tracey

• Production management: Letitia Mc Conalogue

• Recorded at: Projects: The Lanes, Brighton

Want to contribute your voice to the debate on devolution in Sussex? Visit sussexandthecity.info to find out more, sign up for future events, and access resources.