An organisation of influential business people working together to make their communities better places to live is thriving in Brighton and about to take off in Crawley.

Under the umbrella of Common Purpose, a non-profit educational organisation, business representatives are finding out what makes a community tick.

In charge of the Sussex operation is Annie Alexander and her team of two, Barbara Blore and Julie Finney.

Across the UK there are a further 50 groups with a staff of more than 150.

The two Sussex schemes are run from offices given rent free by GMAC, the finance company based in Church Street, Brighton.

Annie is now preparing for the Crawley course and will soon be recruiting for the Brighton course which starts next February.

She said: "We run educational programmes which bring together middle to senior managers - people who are seen as leaders of the future.

"The recruits go through an education programme where they learn about the key issues, key organisations and key structures in their town. They find out who the key movers and shakers are and how to work together."

The organisation has support from Brighton and Hove Council but Annie stressed it is politically non-aligned.

"We try to make the groups as diverse as possible.

"We have big businesses, small businesses, big and small public sector and big and small in the voluntary sector.

"We also try to have a balance of men and women."

Common Purpose has operated in Brighton and Hove for five years but is new to Crawley.

Annie said: "People who have been through the scheme talk of unrivalled access to information, contacts and insights."

They also see their organisations establishing better and deeper links with the community in which they operate.

One partnership to spring from a Brighton course is between Legal & General and Brighton & Hove Sixth Form College.

L&G funded a computer suite in exchange for top-grade tuition for its employees.

People who have completed a Common Purpose course become advisers.

Paul Whitehouse, Chief Constable of Sussex Police, is chairman of the Brighton and Hove advisory group.

He said: "I have seen the beneficial effects which attendance on the programme can have on staff.

"Their awareness of the wider issues and their ability to deal with other agencies improved substantially."

For more information on Common Purpose, contact 01273 864474.