The high-tech high-growth Sussex industry worth more than £1 billion a year

Based around the growing of fruit and plants in industrial glass-houses, some 500 businesses are part of the sector, including big players Nature’s Way Foods, Barfoots and Hall Hunters.

Clustered in West Sussex around Bognor and Chichester - areas which get more winter light then anywhere in the UK – the sector supports 4,000 full time jobs and another 7,000 seasonal positions.

Although many workers are migrant pickers and packers, as many are skilled staff working in technology, IT, engineering, sales, logistics and warehouse management.

The glasshouses have transformed the industry over the last 20 years and enable growers an unprecedented level of control over the growing environment, ridding them of pesticides and insects.

With an increasing focus on energy efficiency – which is cost effective as well as environmentally prudent – growing companies are able to effectively reverse the greenhouse effect by carbon capture, and even produce their own energy which can be sold back to the national grid.

The huge growth in the industry is being driven by an increasing focus on self-sufficiency and food security, with supermarket customers demanding home-grown produce, according to John Hall of the West Sussex Growers’ Association.

But despite the overwhelming positive outlook for the industry, there are critical factors which could hold it back, he warned.

“Especially with the political situation at the moment, food security is very high up the agenda”, he said.

“It has thrown into the question the security and price of importing produce, making it even more important that we produce as much of our plant crops as we can.

“There are huge opportunities of skilled jobs for people coming into the sector. But we need more training facilities and do more work with High Education and Further Education colleges to get the skills we need.”

Part of the problem is a to do with PR, with the industry not naturally appealing to young graduates entering the workplace.

And as wall as a skills gap at the technical level, the Brexit vote has also created the prospect of a shortfall of labour at the basic level.

Restrictions to the free movement of people to live and work across Europe could have a dire impact on the industry, which relies heavily on a migrant workforce.

“At the operational end, we can’t get enough local workers”, Mr Hall added. “It’s not about money, because it costs the same to employ someone born in the UK or not. The issue is the availability of labour.

“We have big concerns at the moment if restrictions are brought in. It could be a big problem not just for us for a lot of industries.”

His concerns have been echoed by British Summer Fruits. Laurence Olins, chairman of the industry body, has called for a seasonal workers entry permit scheme if migrant labour restrictions are brought in.

He said: “The decision by the UK electorate to leave the EU will mean that there is now a serious question mark over the future availability of sufficient numbers of seasonal workers to harvest our 100,000 tonne annual crop of berries.

"If our current pool of labour is to be severely curtailed, or prohibited in future, then the whole viability of our home grown industry will be at risk.

"The likely result is that berries will be imported, at high prices and environmental costs, both of which would be against the wishes of the UK consumer.

“Also British farmers could decide to transfer some of their enterprises to northern Europe where there is an ample supply of labour and suitable land. Either option would be a negative result for our country, the economy and the consumer.”

Mr Hall was speaking after his appearance at the launch of a report into the rural economy, produced by Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership.

The report found that 22 per cent of the region’s businesses are rurally based, and account for 27 per cent of total GVA.

Shining examples of world class companies include Rolls Royce Motor Cars at Goodwood, Tesla Engineering in Pulborough, and Barfoots, an intensive food production company in Bognor.

While intensive food growing has emerged as a major force, the rural economy is no longer just the suppliers of food, commuter labour and leisure opportunities for urban areas.

Professional and business services are the biggest rural industry, making up one in five.

According to the report, people and businesses are moving from the city to the countryside and, changing the face of local economies and labour market.

Julie Kapsalis, Coast to Capital board member and chair of its rural economy committee, said: “The rural economy contributes £13 billion or 27% of our area’s output annually.

“However, there are some issues which are holding back the sector; our rural businesses and resident populations are growing, driving the need for more housing and employment space.

“Poor transport connectivity, access to childcare and higher housing, inadequate broadband speeds and lack of suitable business premises are all major issues facing the rural economy and can make it difficult for some residents to access employment.”

She added: “The future brings great opportunities for the rural economy such as possible airport expansion at Gatwick and improved infrastructure.

“We know that growth has to be sustainable, that is whilst protecting and enhancing our beautiful rural environment.

“We will make the most of these opportunities through our action plan for sustainable rural growth which will follow in autumn 2016.”