Error while connecting to SQL Server Express Edition from SCT

I have installed SQL Server Express Edition and SCT in my system. I tried connecting to SQL Server from SCT. But, while testing, it throws an error saying "com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerException: The TCP/IP connection to the host <hostname>, port 1433 has failed. Error: "Permission denied: connect. Verify the connection properties. Make sure that an instance of SQL Server is running on the host and accepting TCP/IP connections at the port. Make sure that TCP connections to the port are not blocked by a firewall.". Can someone assist. Thanks